The Fire of the Heart
What you are, the world is.
And without your transformation,
there can be no transformation of the world.
j. krishnamurti
In alchemy, the fire is representation of the process in which we transmute one thing into another. In life, the fire is the symbol and essence of the life-force that animates our being. Fire can be the force that burns us up or it can be the force that we are. We can create with it, or be consumed by it. In both cases, when the fire is present, so is transmutation in the form of change. It is the inner fire that drives us and keeps us moving forward, ever changing, and ever growing thus transforming our lives from within. As we metamorphose into new and higher expressions, the world around us reflects back to us that which is now within us. When we consciously focus our fire, the way in which we perceive the callings of growth, change becomes less threatening and less of an attack. You see, as we identify with our fire, our life-force, the divine aspect of our being, we become less attached to the ego’s idea of our identity. The ego is a perfect deliverer of opportunity for conscious and deliberate transmutation, ego is the source of fear we feel when a change is present that could loosen the grip of rigid ideology. Identifying with the fire is not the destroy the ego, it is to observe it, and heal that which needs healing, love that which needs loving, change what needs changing, all to move us into a higher vibration and align us with our true purpose and calling.
As we all experience the energy of shifting currents in our consciousness, as a whole and as individuals, the spark of joy in which we would normally find ourselves glowing with can seem to dim out of sight. “Why must this be so hard?” is a question which I have heard many times recently. The pressure of old wound and belief being pulled to the surface for healing is high, forcing us to face our hindrances of moving forward. Not to stress, this is a part of the shift, and is necessary in every form. As the quote from j. krishnamurti states at the beginning, if we wish for the world to be different, we must be willing to be different ourselves. As we face and heal our wounds and fears, we set the tone for others to do so as well. Our experience in the art of heal thyself raises the universal consciousness, allowing for greater healing in all instances of time and space. We heal our ancestors, we heal our families, we heal our neighbors, we heal the planet, and it all starts right where you are sitting.
The call to be in alignment with our heart and the eternal flame cannot be avoided in life; it is how we respond to the call that makes the difference. If we fight it kicking and screaming all the way, as most of us have experienced, life can lose it luster. But if we follow the path of the heart, that which knows us in every way including all our fears and secrets, we can flow with the currents of change and shine. There is no judgment from the infinite part of us; judgment is a condition of the ego. Self forgiveness and self love are the threads of mastery. We have all come here to grow and heal, how we have chosen to do so does not matter. What matters is that we have had the courage to be here and that now, in this time of great growth, we are seeking the fire within. That is power.
There is only one time when it is essential to awaken.
That time is now.
Buddha
A short meditation for connecting to your fire.
Take a moment today to sit quietly. If it is possible, go outside into the suns warmth, find a calming breath and allow yourself to feel your fire. Generate a feeling of warmth in your body as you are sitting in the warm summer sun. If you cannot sit in the sun, or you are in the southern hemisphere in the midst of winter, imagine the sun or a fire place warming you. Try your best to feel the warmth on you, and then within you. An infinite sun rests within, we only need to give it space and remove our clouds of perception to let it shine. As you go deeper within and your heart is warm and radiant with the fire of being, thoughts and feelings can rise, just allow them to do so, however do not become attached to them, just observe and focus on your fire. When you have come to the place where the source of warmth is now within you, observe how it feels to be the fire. Find the place in your body that seems to be the center of the flame, and bring it into your heart. Allow it to melt any resistance to pure love and joy that is around your heart. If there are feelings and thoughts flashing about some heartbreak or betrayal, take the opportunity to release any resentment and anger into the flame. (it is important to note here that you are releasing the pain into the flame, not burning the persons involved) If the warmth feels good and there are no images or feelings flying around your inner landscape, just enjoy the connection with the heart fire and let it refuel your spirit. The point is to be, simply being with your heart and spark of life. Sit with it as long as you like, and as you choose to return bring yourself back into awareness, give thanks to creation, God, whatever it is that you recognize as source for the opportunity to connect.
Getting into this space regularly will allow an easier connection with the infinite calm and love that is creation manifest. It will supply you with all that is needed to surmount any dark nights.
© 2010 Samuel Strickland
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What you are, the world is.
And without your transformation,
there can be no transformation of the world.
j. krishnamurti
In alchemy, the fire is representation of the process in which we transmute one thing into another. In life, the fire is the symbol and essence of the life-force that animates our being. Fire can be the force that burns us up or it can be the force that we are. We can create with it, or be consumed by it. In both cases, when the fire is present, so is transmutation in the form of change. It is the inner fire that drives us and keeps us moving forward, ever changing, and ever growing thus transforming our lives from within. As we metamorphose into new and higher expressions, the world around us reflects back to us that which is now within us. When we consciously focus our fire, the way in which we perceive the callings of growth, change becomes less threatening and less of an attack. You see, as we identify with our fire, our life-force, the divine aspect of our being, we become less attached to the ego’s idea of our identity. The ego is a perfect deliverer of opportunity for conscious and deliberate transmutation, ego is the source of fear we feel when a change is present that could loosen the grip of rigid ideology. Identifying with the fire is not the destroy the ego, it is to observe it, and heal that which needs healing, love that which needs loving, change what needs changing, all to move us into a higher vibration and align us with our true purpose and calling.
As we all experience the energy of shifting currents in our consciousness, as a whole and as individuals, the spark of joy in which we would normally find ourselves glowing with can seem to dim out of sight. “Why must this be so hard?” is a question which I have heard many times recently. The pressure of old wound and belief being pulled to the surface for healing is high, forcing us to face our hindrances of moving forward. Not to stress, this is a part of the shift, and is necessary in every form. As the quote from j. krishnamurti states at the beginning, if we wish for the world to be different, we must be willing to be different ourselves. As we face and heal our wounds and fears, we set the tone for others to do so as well. Our experience in the art of heal thyself raises the universal consciousness, allowing for greater healing in all instances of time and space. We heal our ancestors, we heal our families, we heal our neighbors, we heal the planet, and it all starts right where you are sitting.
The call to be in alignment with our heart and the eternal flame cannot be avoided in life; it is how we respond to the call that makes the difference. If we fight it kicking and screaming all the way, as most of us have experienced, life can lose it luster. But if we follow the path of the heart, that which knows us in every way including all our fears and secrets, we can flow with the currents of change and shine. There is no judgment from the infinite part of us; judgment is a condition of the ego. Self forgiveness and self love are the threads of mastery. We have all come here to grow and heal, how we have chosen to do so does not matter. What matters is that we have had the courage to be here and that now, in this time of great growth, we are seeking the fire within. That is power.
There is only one time when it is essential to awaken.
That time is now.
Buddha
A short meditation for connecting to your fire.
Take a moment today to sit quietly. If it is possible, go outside into the suns warmth, find a calming breath and allow yourself to feel your fire. Generate a feeling of warmth in your body as you are sitting in the warm summer sun. If you cannot sit in the sun, or you are in the southern hemisphere in the midst of winter, imagine the sun or a fire place warming you. Try your best to feel the warmth on you, and then within you. An infinite sun rests within, we only need to give it space and remove our clouds of perception to let it shine. As you go deeper within and your heart is warm and radiant with the fire of being, thoughts and feelings can rise, just allow them to do so, however do not become attached to them, just observe and focus on your fire. When you have come to the place where the source of warmth is now within you, observe how it feels to be the fire. Find the place in your body that seems to be the center of the flame, and bring it into your heart. Allow it to melt any resistance to pure love and joy that is around your heart. If there are feelings and thoughts flashing about some heartbreak or betrayal, take the opportunity to release any resentment and anger into the flame. (it is important to note here that you are releasing the pain into the flame, not burning the persons involved) If the warmth feels good and there are no images or feelings flying around your inner landscape, just enjoy the connection with the heart fire and let it refuel your spirit. The point is to be, simply being with your heart and spark of life. Sit with it as long as you like, and as you choose to return bring yourself back into awareness, give thanks to creation, God, whatever it is that you recognize as source for the opportunity to connect.
Getting into this space regularly will allow an easier connection with the infinite calm and love that is creation manifest. It will supply you with all that is needed to surmount any dark nights.