The Gift of Light

"Each one prays to God according to his own light."

 Mohandas Gandhi
 

Around the Winter Solstice each year, there are Religious, Spiritual and Cultural events that are a celebration of light.  Light and the ideas that it symbolizes is fundamental to just about every belief structure. The Sufis for example, light lamps as a metaphor for destroying the inner darkness within each of us. Through the symbolic act of creating light with a lamp, the Sufis believe each of us can overcome ourselves and experience a mystical state of union with our beloved.  For Jews and Christians, a festival of lights at this time of the year commemorates the cycles of birth and rebirth.   There is Diwali, a Hindu festival held toward the end of the fall commemorating the triumph of good over evil, symbolized by the lighting of ornate oil lamps.   Another example is Chaharshanbe Suri, an ancient Persian festival dating to the early Zoroastrian  period when bonfires are lit to keep the sun alive.  

Our teachings embrace a belief that the creative nature of the Universe (God) is in perfect realization in humankind and is embodied in our light.  In our very essence and by virtue of our existence, we are the light.  We do not often think of ourselves in this way.  Yet, we are an active element of the energetic and creative processes of the Universe.  Furthermore, the light of human experience is necessary to bring the work of God to completion on the earth plane.  Our goal is to express that light to one another and see the presence of the Divine in each other's faces.  This is the gift of the Universe and of our life - to know we are a pure expression of the light, which is Divine. 

Each of us carries a portion of Divine light.  The importance of this and what we believe the light to represent is different for each of us.  One way of conceptualizing the light within us is to think in terms of a Divine connection - that there is an essence of the creative energy we think of as God within us. As we continue to pursue our spiritual practices, more light is "entrusted" to us and present within us.  The magnetizing force of this light benefits our unfolding, meaning more knowledge and understanding of the operation of God and nature becomes known to us.  There is also a benefit to all of humankind.  When we think of being of service and spreading the light, a term often used in spiritual circles, one of the greatest gifts we can give is by expanding that light and keeping it safe.  We do this through keeping our thoughts on a higher-level, and avoiding baser human emotional responses.  Each of us possesses this gift in service to God, to others and us.

There are times in each of our lives when we have experiences that reinforce what we are learning on the earth plane.  One day at the end of my meditation period, a friend of mine who died a few years earlier appeared in the room.  I walked with him through the last years of his life, which were marked with illness.  My reaction in the moment was immediate and intense.  I told him how much I missed him and the gratitude I have for our years of friendship.  In the next moment, he turned and started to walk across the room.  As he did, a clear field of energy, much like a clear film began to form.  As it closed between us like the lens of a camera, the field of energy separated us.  Telepathically, he communicated that upon his death the world changed by the absence of his light.  He wanted me to know the importance the light he carried during his lifetime.   To think our individual light is an important part of the cosmic plan was not something I had completely understood. 

Many of us were brought up to believe that the light is outside of us.  The Saints and Sages, for example, are beings of who possess a greater light and with it knowledge and power beyond our range of knowing. Through their lives, we have models for living the spiritual path and ways of sharing our light.      We also think of light as the source of illumination that wards off darkness in the physical world.  The lamp in the living room, the light at our backdoor not only lights up a room, but also creates a sense of safety within us.  We take for granted the unending list of opportunities we have because of artificial light.  Yet, when we take the first steps onto the spiritual path - searching for self-understanding and a deeper connection with the Divine is the moment, we begin to experience the light as our own.   

There can be little discussion of light without a comment on darkness.  We live in a world of duality and for every force on the earth plane exists and equal and opposite energy.  If we believe the light is the essence of Divine, then darkness is the absence of that light.  Where we have light, there is knowledge and understanding.  Love, peace and harmony abide.  In the absence of these energies that we think of as being the manifestation of the Divine on earth, we experience discord.  In one way, we know the light from our emotional responses in any given moment.  If we feel we are doing the right thing and there is no prompting otherwise from our voice of conscience, we are in and of the light.  In turn, if we feel a gut reaction to something, that it feels to be the wrong thing to do, then we are in the dark.

As we become aware of light and the power and importance in our lives, we begin to become even more aware of the equal role darkness plays in our lives and over our planet.  Since there is a balance between these two forces, life seems to include cycles of more or less light in the world around us.  In time, and with the unfolding of our spiritual consciousness, it can feel as though darkness is ganging up on us and then in balance with the light.   

Here is a story about sharing our gift of light with others.  When I lived in New York, I would spend Sundays going from one spiritual group activity to another.  Since the locations were scattered around the City, I would walk from one event to the next.   One Sunday I was walking and deep in thought and came to a crosswalk.  There was an elderly woman standing there.  I was wearing a headset and listening to music, and I could not hear what she was saying to me.  I assumed that she needed some money and without missing a step, I reached into my pocket and pulled out some cash.   As I handed it to her, she recoiled and started shouting at me.  I turned off my headset so I could hear what she was saying to me.  She said, "What do you think I am?  I need help getting across the street!"  She had great difficulty with mobility and shuffled more than walked.

The next Sunday I was on the same street between activities and going to meet a friend for lunch.  I stuck my head into a Diner to see if my friend had arrived.  Sitting on a stool inside the door was the same woman from the previous week.  She looked up and as if expecting me, said she would be done with her meal in a minute.  She asked me to shop with her and carry packages to her home.  Such a simple gift she needed from me.     I will always think of this experience as being a sharing of my physical self, but also the sharing the light with which I am entrusted.

For many of us, our daily spiritual practices include some form of light.  There is a feeling of peace and serenity that comes with some form of lighting.  Many of us use candles during our meditation period and other spiritual practices.  Lighting candle as we begin our work sends a signal to our subconscious that we are about to enter into a sacred period.  As this habit is developed, the simple act of lighting the candle can result in the physical body becoming quiet and centered.    Our minds start to quiet and demands of everyday living become less absorbing.  We become focused on the work at hand.

There is also a widely held belief that the light contains healing properties and power.  We learn to visualize the light, and begin to move it throughout our body with the power of our belief.  As we focus our thoughts and magnetize the energy and power associated with our belief, we draw to us the power that is contained in the light.  As we continue to develop and expand the light within us, the simple act of focusing our concentration on a part of our body can bring relief from pain and affect a healing process. 

We can also focus our thoughts and create thoughts of the light being of metaphysical aid to people across the face of the earth, as well as the planet on which we live.

As this Holiday period approaches, meditate on your light and make a commitment to share your gift in the coming year.

Here are some thoughts to pray, journal or meditate on during the coming weeks.

What do you believe is the light?

What can you do to strengthen the light within you?

In what ways can you begin to share your light?

Your questions and comments are welcome.  Please email me at Steve@stephenthomson.net