Welcome to our 3rd edition of Pangaea - Shelter along the Spritual Paths
With this issue of Pangaea Revisited, we will address the concept of shelter - a place of refuge, of safety, of security - a constant in a sea of change.
It is said that the only constant is change. If that were the case, one would think we would be used to it by now. The truth, as I see it, is that there is another "constant" in the equation and that is the self - the experiencer of the change. Because our nature is eternal, unchanging - change is something that just does not fit - however, because we live in a temporarily manifested world, it is all around us and within our experience. We cannot escape it, not even for a moment. Change, for most people, is something to dread. Even little changes. Even changes that would place them in a more desirable condition. So what then when change occurs that is sudden, unplanned for, or by the dictations of others, including Mother Nature. Change can be so stressful that when it happens on a large scale it is known as a "devastating catastrophe".
I personally see that change - big change - is coming, in one way or another, through conscious choice or through force. One can hardly miss seeing changes upon the horizon, like the full masts of ships approaching through the mist from a far off distant land and heading, without delay, to our shores. Political. Environmental. Economic. Social. Our world cannot continue as it is now structured on greed, careless consumption, and mindless exploitation. This is a linear structure which leads to a dead end. We can consciously choose to restructure our world on enlightened principles before it implodes or we can just keep going until we can't go anymore and things are restructured for us. One way or another, change is coming. (quick look at the word "stress" - there is "stress" as in anxiety, but "stress" also means to urge, to press - so perhaps the experience of "stress" and "distress" - which means two stresses - is an urging from those with higher knowledge that we need to look at something and make some changes).
Imagine time as being a river, for it is within the currents of time that change strips us of the familiar. In this river, what do you hang on to. Where is your shelter? Are you hanging on to things that will go down the river with you? Are you hanging on to things that will PULL you down the river? As things defined by relative time and space start to disappear, where is your shelter? In times of mortal danger (change of body - BIG change) - where is your shelter? In times of emotional pain (change of feelings - ouch) - where is your shelter? In times of mental anguish (change of conceptual framework - big job) - where is your shelter? As the things and people and activities we use to define ourselves start to slip away - where is your shelter? From what we do in the world, to our socio-economic status, to the people we love, to the body we possess - if it were all to change tomorrow - where is your shelter?
This publication is an offering to you from travelers, like yourself, who have found shelter along many different paths. In this issue, they share where they have found shelter.
It is said that the only constant is change. If that were the case, one would think we would be used to it by now. The truth, as I see it, is that there is another "constant" in the equation and that is the self - the experiencer of the change. Because our nature is eternal, unchanging - change is something that just does not fit - however, because we live in a temporarily manifested world, it is all around us and within our experience. We cannot escape it, not even for a moment. Change, for most people, is something to dread. Even little changes. Even changes that would place them in a more desirable condition. So what then when change occurs that is sudden, unplanned for, or by the dictations of others, including Mother Nature. Change can be so stressful that when it happens on a large scale it is known as a "devastating catastrophe".
I personally see that change - big change - is coming, in one way or another, through conscious choice or through force. One can hardly miss seeing changes upon the horizon, like the full masts of ships approaching through the mist from a far off distant land and heading, without delay, to our shores. Political. Environmental. Economic. Social. Our world cannot continue as it is now structured on greed, careless consumption, and mindless exploitation. This is a linear structure which leads to a dead end. We can consciously choose to restructure our world on enlightened principles before it implodes or we can just keep going until we can't go anymore and things are restructured for us. One way or another, change is coming. (quick look at the word "stress" - there is "stress" as in anxiety, but "stress" also means to urge, to press - so perhaps the experience of "stress" and "distress" - which means two stresses - is an urging from those with higher knowledge that we need to look at something and make some changes).
Imagine time as being a river, for it is within the currents of time that change strips us of the familiar. In this river, what do you hang on to. Where is your shelter? Are you hanging on to things that will go down the river with you? Are you hanging on to things that will PULL you down the river? As things defined by relative time and space start to disappear, where is your shelter? In times of mortal danger (change of body - BIG change) - where is your shelter? In times of emotional pain (change of feelings - ouch) - where is your shelter? In times of mental anguish (change of conceptual framework - big job) - where is your shelter? As the things and people and activities we use to define ourselves start to slip away - where is your shelter? From what we do in the world, to our socio-economic status, to the people we love, to the body we possess - if it were all to change tomorrow - where is your shelter?
This publication is an offering to you from travelers, like yourself, who have found shelter along many different paths. In this issue, they share where they have found shelter.
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The Shelter on a Unitarian Universalist Path
click for more discussions fromThe Unitarian Universalist View thru the eyes of Rev. Charles Davis
May nothing evil cross this door,and may ill fortune never pry
about these windows; may the roar and rain go by.
By faith made strong the rafters will withstand the battering of the storm
This hearth, though all the world grow chill, will keep us warm.
Peace shall walk softly through these roome touching our lips with holy wine,
'til every casual corner blooms in to a shrine.
With Laughter drown the raucous shout, and though these sheltering walls are thin,
may they be strong to keep hate out and hold love in.Click for more....
about these windows; may the roar and rain go by.
By faith made strong the rafters will withstand the battering of the storm
This hearth, though all the world grow chill, will keep us warm.
Peace shall walk softly through these roome touching our lips with holy wine,
'til every casual corner blooms in to a shrine.
With Laughter drown the raucous shout, and though these sheltering walls are thin,
may they be strong to keep hate out and hold love in.Click for more....
The Shelter on a Baha'i Path
click for more discussions fromThe Baha'i View thru they eyes of Rafael Castillo
The Shelter on a Pagan Path
click for more discussions fromThe Pagan View thru the eyes of RavenHarte
This is an amazing time to live, a tumultuous time, a scary time even, but an amazing one. As a female in our society, if I weren’t living in THIS country, during THESE times, I couldn’t be who I am right now. I couldn’t be an “out of the broom closet” Pagan female, let alone a Priestess and leader in my spiritual community. In fact, even in this same country at this same time, I couldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for constant and scary change – change both in our country and populace, AND change in myself. Click for more....
The Shelter on a Vedic Path
click for more discussions fromThe Vedic View thru the eyes of Dulal Chandra dasa
When one is in distress there is the natural tendency to seek shelter and protection, and as long as we are accepting the body as our self, we will always be put into a distressful condition due to this illusory conception of life....Click for more....
The Shelter on a Beauty Way Path
click for more discussions fromThe Beauty Way View thru the eyes of Robin Lynn Rainbowfeather
I remember when I made the request of my teacher, Will Rockingbear, for the Vision Quest Ceremony – to spend 4 days and 4 nights on a mountain with no food or water in order to cry for a vision, to receive clarity of purpose, to deepen my connection with the divine and to open myself further to who I truly am ...Click for more....
The Shelter on a Universal Spirit Path
click for more discussions fromThe Universal Spirit View thru the eyes of Wilda Spalding
Perhaps, ‘shelter’ is a hidden wondrously raw cave in the Negev, or stories told of a tent with one flap of welcome always opened, a crowded downtown Rescue Mission cot on a bitter cold night, or the warming words of a shared Creed, loyalty to a flag, the encircling embrace of the arms of a loved one, the aromas of Thanksgiving meals, or the bubbling words of fountains of Faith mixed with the clay of daily living? ...Click for more....