charity
Self-Charity Is Your Spiritual Responsibility
Charity truly begins at home. To be truly charitable to others, we must first be kind and generous to ourselves.
Whether we view “charity” as giving alms to the poor, showing kindness to strangers, or extending non-judgment in times of questionable behavior, it is imperative that we first take care of our own needs. Why? Because we cannot freely and easily give to others what we have not given to ourselves.
Our true nature as incarnated spirit beings is to be loving, kind, and giving. However, it is our spiritual duty to take care of ourselves first so that we can offer more to others and make a real difference in the world.
Self-charity, or prioritizing our own needs before helping others, involves several key components.
Self-awareness is critical, requiring regular self-reflection and mindfulness to stay in tune with our mental, emotional, and physical states. Prioritizing self-care through activities such as regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga is essential.
Mindful time management helps balance work, rest, and play, ensuring we don’t overcommit and have enough downtime to recharge.
Emotional management is essential and includes healthy ways to process and express emotions, such as journaling, talking to a trusted friend or therapist, or engaging in creative activities. Setting boundaries, learning to say no, and protecting our time, energy, and resources help us manage our lives effectively. Seeking support when needed, whether from friends, family, or professionals, ensures that we don’t carry burdens alone.
Let’s Heal The World With Love And Kindness
When we truly open our eyes to the wonderful world around us, what we see is the amount of benevolent abundance available to us. There is an endless supply of good things, too abundant to list, and we are welcome to share in all that is here.
Many understand this and live in harmony with all that is provided. Some do not.
The world we inhabit is a treasure trove of beauty, resources, and blessed opportunities. From the breathtaking vistas of nature to the profound wisdom found in the simplest moments of human connection, there is no shortage of wonders and miracles to behold.
When we attune our senses to this abundance, we begin to realize how much is available to us at any given moment. This awareness can shift our perception of life from one of scarcity to one of infinite possibility.
However, there is a fine line between appreciating abundance and falling into the trap of greed. Satisfaction is a state of contentment that comes from within. It is the realization that what we have is enough, that we ourselves are enough.
Greed, on the other hand, is a restless desire for more, driven by a sense of “lack.” This insatiable hunger is often rooted in spiritual emptiness – a void that we mistakenly try to fill with external possessions and accomplishments.
Free Yourself From Karmic Debt
One of the most important things we must do before we leave this life and embrace the next is to ensure that our karmic debts are completely resolved. By doing so, we leave this world unburdened and ready to embrace our next existence with complete bliss.
Now, if the consequences you may suffer in the afterlife are not of much concern to you, and you feel that karma is not really your problem, you may want to reconsider.
Carrying the heavy burden of karmic debt can also cause considerable misery and struggle in our present daily lives, manifesting as recurring negative patterns and obstacles that hinder our progress and well-being.
Our unresolved karma often leads to dysfunctional relationships, financial difficulties, health problems, and emotional turmoil as past harmful actions generate corresponding negative consequences. An ongoing state of karmic debt fosters feelings of frustration, helplessness, and despair, making it difficult to achieve happiness, joy, fulfillment, and peace.
By carrying the weight of unresolved karmic debt, you may find yourself trapped in a cycle of suffering, unable to break free and achieve the positive, fulfilling life you desire.
Karmic debt is a concept rooted in the spiritual principle of karma, which is a fundamental belief in many Eastern philosophies and religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism. Karma refers to the universal law of cause and effect, whereby every action has a corresponding reaction. Our poor choices and negative actions create a spiritual debt. By acknowledging this debt and resolving our past mistakes, we achieve a state of inner peace, higher consciousness, spiritual growth and enlightenment.
My Mystical Encounter With A Music Box
I go through my house at least once a year to get rid of some of the clutter. I even have a large bin labeled “donate,” and when stuff has outlived its usefulness, it goes in there.
Recently, I took some of these unwanted items to the charity thrift store they were intended for.
Whenever I go into an antique or thrift store, I immediately lower my psychic awareness and energetically shield myself as a precaution. I have to, or the energy residue and imprints in those places will wreak havoc on my auric well-being and state of mind.
Not protecting my energy and not blocking out incoming psychic impressions in such an energetically dense environment would be like hanging out at a funeral home, absorbing everyone’s sadness and grief and then taking it home with me. It is basically the psychic empath equivalent of sunbathing on the beach for hours without sunscreen!
Before I learned how to “unplug” and “shield up,” I would feel so unbalanced and completely drained afterwards that I would lie in bed for days to recharge my batteries. I would feel overwhelmed with emotional and psychic overload, which is both mentally and physically toxic. Fortunately, over the years I have learned how to protect my auric energy and “turn off” my psychic abilities to use at my discretion only when needed.
After dropping off my bags at the store, the man behind the counter went into sales mode and excitedly informed me that he had just received a ton of cool new items. His sales pitch was charming, and I decided to poke around the store for a few minutes to see what I could find. I had no intention of buying anything, and thankfully I didn’t. I didn’t need any more clutter!
An Empath’s Intervention Can Save A Life
This morning after I finished meditating, instead of logging on to work as usual, I felt intuitively guided to visit a local coffee shop that I had visited a few days before.
While I was there I had noticed a girl working there who seemed extremely sad. Her aura clearly showed me this. I also intuitively saw that she had probably been crying before she came in that day.
While waiting for my order, I tuned into her energy field to see what information I could get to help her, even indirectly. Normally I would not do this in public, but this poor girl really tugged at my heartstrings for some reason.
I immediately had more intuitive flashes about her and her boyfriend. I saw him being very mean, controlling and abusive to her, and also cheating on her with numerous women.
I also realised that she was living with him instead of him. I had a strong feeling that if she stayed there with him, things would get really bad in the long run – to the point where she might even have to go to a refuge for victims of domestic violence.
But as we did not know each other, I did not feel it was my place to interfere by giving her unsolicited advice. Nor did I want to embarrass her or myself! So I just prayed for her in silence and sent her some healing energy, but kept my premonitions and insights to myself.
Grieving The Loss Of Loved Ones With Grace
Few of us have not experienced the loss of a loved one, a parent, a partner or even a child. Most of us have also witnessed or experienced the many ways in which people try to cope with such an insurmountable loss.
Coping with the huge gaping hole that such a loss leaves in our lives can have a negative impact on people’s behaviour. Some turn to extremes: alcohol, drug abuse, overeating, prescription drugs, or any of the other things people use to numb their pain and deflect the overwhelming feelings associated with loss and grief.
What we ultimately learn is that there is no set time frame in which such profound pain can be dealt with. It can take weeks, months, years or even decades for some. But even when the worst is over, we never really get over the sense of loss. We simply learn to cope and get on with our lives, forever changed, as best we can.
However, the greatest tribute we can pay the loved ones we have lost is to grieve with grace and dignity. Abusing substances or indulging in other distractions may temporarily numb our pain, but how does that honour the memory of the one we professed to care so much about? It also does not allow us to confront and process our emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. Grieving is natural and necessary. When we try to avoid our grief, we miss out on opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and ultimately finding peace with the loss.
Spiritual Maturity Is A Lifelong Journey
What does spiritual maturity mean to you? Every time I ask someone this question, I get all kinds of different answers.
A Baby Boomer I asked said it meant going to church, donating to charities, studying the Bible, and following the Ten Commandments.
When I asked a Gen Z client, she said it meant minding your own business and not caring what others think of you because it is none of your business what they think. She also said she was a Wiccan and didn’t believe in wishing negative energy on others, because she knew it would only come back to her if she did.
I recently asked four people at a social gathering, and they had different opinions on the subject. They were in their 30s and 40s and had a young teenager with them. Interestingly, one thing they all agreed on was that it is spiritually mature to create healthy boundaries with family and friends for your own mental and spiritual well-being. One woman shared, for exxample, that if she hadn’t stopped hanging out with one of her friends, she would have hit rock bottom emotionally.
“I just could not put up with the way she treated me. I used to spend a lot of time stressing about the things she would say and do. I was always overthinking every toxic interaction with her, and our so-called friendship was not good for my mental state,” she explained. “So, for me, spiritual maturity is walking away from those who bring you down.”