It’s Always Darkest Before The Dawn

Concepts of the Divine, with an ever-changing definition, have been part of the human experience since the beginning of time.  Most of the world’s people throughout history continue to recognize a place for divinity in life.

Our spiritual journey, throughout the ages, has been steeped in mystery and often, superstition and dogma. Organized religions have historically attempted to answer deep questions, and have sometimes provided comfort and solace to people during times of upheaval.

However, the most important questions have been left unanswered. For example, we know precious little about ancient, prehistoric cultures that worshiped the Sacred Feminine. Earliest recorded myths and legends have been lost or destroyed, and most stories that remain portray not only a divine battle of the sexes, but a difficult, contentious relationship between the divine and human beings.

The Greek gods, for example, were capricious and mean-spirited. They plotted all sorts of obstacles that humans either did, or did not overcome in order to survive. Guile and trickery also set the stage for many myths from various indigenous cultures, in early human-god myth making.

With the rise of monotheistic religions, mankind was taught to blindly accept whatever lot the almighty doled out, fairly or unfairly. Emphasis was placed on omnipotent power, absolute authority and greatness, beyond any human capacity to comprehend, much less participate in.

These attitudes toward humans’ relationship with God have been echoed in authoritarian family and community practices, and even the military forces of nations. God became the ‘Almighty Father in the Sky’ issuing strict orders. There was no room for questioning in an authoritarian family or society. “Because I said so,” was reason enough to blindly obey. Punishment for infractions or disobedience was swift and sure.

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning ~ Louis L’Amour

God, the Omnipotent Father, while present to mete out punishments, was largely (as with many modern day fathers) not available for what was called the so-called “women’s work” of child-rearing. Many have grown up virtually fatherless, in a climate in which it was culturally virtuous that “children be seen and not heard”.

The climate today is changing, and it is a welcome change. The new children are beginning to be heard, and are questioning the authoritarian “because I said so” attitude that has relied on blind acceptance for so long. Called “blind faith” and deemed a virtue in the past, it is becoming recognized as ignorance or naïve thinking.

Many are also questioning this: why is there such a separation in what we call life and death? Why can’t the journeys on this side and the other be more integrated? We hear various versions of “we’ll understand it all, by and by”, and other such mysterious terms. The time for truly understanding these mysteries is now.

This brings me to my second question: why the mystery about your identity? I have acquired some understanding about Divine nature, and have developed my own spirituality. It is a part of who I am, personally, and it just doesn’t make any sense for me to attempt to impart it upon anybody else. I have a hunch that personal spirituality must be learned by all people now. It’s high time.

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul ~ Swami Vivekananda

Humanity is on a precipice now. There may have been a time when mystery and separate worlds were necessary, but that time is over. We need a legacy of connection now, so the living will let the dead “rest in peace” between incarnations.

Many souls are not up to the challenge of enlightenment. Others believe we are ready for major transformation, but we need all the information and conscious support we can get. A cliché comes to mind: that it’s always the darkest before the dawn. Well, please bring us the dawn!