Page 12 - 201001 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - January 2010

January 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 02/02/2010 8:33 AM Page 12 12 Four Phases of Spiritual Evolution Four Phases of Spiritual Evolution Adapted from the speech given at the First Spiritualist Church of Austin on Oct. 14, 2007 By Erik Stearns, aka Two Feathers Ghostwood, now White Soaring Eagle Do you remember the famous line in the movie “Contact” where Mr. Hadley asked Dr. Arroway, “Wanna take a ride?” In this article, we’re going to take one; so buckle in. We’re going to take a journey both of a you got to do this or that; or you’re going to die looking at things. Thus enters the path of a civilization and that of a single person of some horrid disease, or Al Qaida is going to Shadow Walker. through the four phases of spiritual evolution. come after you!” Yet I look at the media and I’m For those of you who don’t know what Are these phases simultaneous, or are they saying to myself, “Is this all that there really is? this is, a Shadow Walker is one who walks in linear? It’s both. Is this all that exists out there?” between dimensions and causalities, not only to The first phase is fear. The second The instant response that I found for that see what’s going on, not only to see what’s phase is discernment. The third is power. The when I was journaling was a quote from Max really going on, but to report back what’s last but not least, yet maybe the easiest to Depree that says, “Risk is like change, it’s not a happening to those who want to know and who transition, is that of death. Here’s how it choice.” Max is right, because what we are will listen. This is done in various ways for the works. Of course death is not a foregone doing is changing; and the way that temporal purpose of achieving and maintaining a higher conclusion as many of you may know. It is cosmology and quantum physics works in or greater balance. It’s not an easy path to walk. merely transition. But let’s not get ahead of regards to timelines and causality, etc., is that But at the same time, they also lead us through ourselves. there is always change; and because there’s our fears by giving us these multiple viewpoints Phase I - FEAR: This is the first always change, then there are multiple avenues – even if they are seemingly so absurd. Einstein thing that we have to deal with. Franklin D. and dimensions to move through. said it best when he said, "If at first the idea is Roosevelt is quoted with the famous saying There are many ways with dealing with not absurd, then there is no hope for it." This is in relation to the economic depression of the any situation. Sometimes, though, we don’t very true, I believe; because we have to think 30’s when he said, “The only thing we have choose the best one – and I’ve been as guilty of outside of the box. It’s fear that constructs that to fear is fear itself!” He was absolutely right. that as the next person. However, fear box. But now days and we look at and treat challenges us to explore those places that we So then when we start to deconstruct everything with fear. Now days we’re would not usually investigate; because even that “box reality” and hopefully not going bombarded with things like, “Oh my god! though we deny those places, they still are a part through what so many often do - shattering. The Media is telling us this or that is so of us. They still give us a choice and an Either way, we question everything around us awful! We’re all in danger! Things are just so opportunity for a balance from which to work and within us, including beliefs and things shocking and frightening; and we must be from. which we’ve taken to be gospel are thrown out worried and scared because we’re making it Because we live in fear, we begin to put or at least challenged. Thus we’re given the so huge!” Thus we must give that medicine up all these boundaries and restrictions upon opportunity to move into the second phase of more power by feeding fear into it, because ourselves. “Oh we can’t do this or that. We don’t our development which is discernment. it’s the only and right thing to do! Let’s face want to leave here and go over there.” Well, Phase II – DISCERNMENT: What is it. Whether in the media or elsewhere, what why not? What’s the consequence? What are it? Discernment is being able to truly see things do you hear more of; things that are positive you protecting yourself from? for the way that they are. In a way it’s also the and empowering, or things that are meant to Yet the answer that one often gets is “I ability to present a viewpoint that maybe people scare the hell out of you? This fear don’t know.” Yet when one listens to that have never thought of before. mongering couldn’t be further from the truth, answer, the revelation is, “I fear the unknown.” Here’s an example. Take this quote from but sadly it most commonly is the “advice” So how do we deal with the unknown? a song by the local band, DreamTrybe: If I were that is followed. Remember that there is no security. A quote that to say, “Give me freedom from my labor; and I As I was pulling out quotes for each answers this is, "There is no security on this will build a temple greater,” what does that section, I found that most of them fell under earth, there is only opportunity." - General mean? It means two things off the bat. It could this category with the second most falling Douglas MacArthur. Another one that struck me say that if you let me slack off a bit, I might under Power. It’s probably because that this is as a perfect dovetail is this: “You need to plan build you something greater than you thought. the stage we are currently at and it’s the first the way a fire department plans. It cannot Or, if you give me reward from all of my labors one that is usually experienced when we are anticipate fires, so it has to shape a flexible that I perform, then I will be motivated to do kicked out of our comfort zones or our organization that is capable of responding to greater works than you had originally “cradles of innocence”. unpredictable events." - Andrew Grove, CEO anticipated. That’s an example of what So how do we deal with fear? Intel. It's what Shakespeare was talking about discernment can be about. One of the gifts of moreover, what is that we fear? We obviously when he referred to the "undiscovered country". discernment is being able to play with feel that we are risking something; or that we Thus, if one has a plan of action, then viewpoints and examine the possibility that are risking the loss of something. Examples there goes fear. Even if we don’t have a plan of there are more possibilities than immediately are friendship, or trust of another, or a loved action or if that plan of action is just to say, “I’m meet the eye. one, someone else’s life, or even that of your going to let it happen the way that it wants to,” This is a start on a path to knowledge. own. It doesn’t matter. There’s still fear then one has a plan and a choice is made. This is interesting because the Heyokah because we feel there’s a risk of losing it. In When we realize that fear is nothing and other similar sacred paths demonstrate this. the whole world it seems that this is echoed more than an illusion, then we realize that there Be aware when you come upon a village and all around us and we’re told, “Oh my god, are other dimensions to thinking about and they say, (Continued on Page 14)