The Promises Enlightened . . . Flowing Joy. Deepening Peace. Unbounded Enthusiasm. Faith and Trust. Love of Service. Fading of Ego. Enjoyment of the Play. Intuitive Soul Guidance. Surrender to the Unknown.
Twenty years ago upon entering the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous a poster or plaque of The Promises could be found, without fail. These promises inspired a hope that one day those of us suffering would know a new happiness and freedom, that we would comprehend Serenity and gain interest in our fellows, losing interest in our selfish needs. We also heard that we would intuitively know how to handle situations that had once baffled us. And most importantly, that we would realize that God was doing for us, what we could not do for ourselves.
The first five years of sobriety, I struggled with the concept of God, any belief, let alone the ability to say the word without some degree of resistance. Through the next few years, a new awakening was upon me, one I couldn't deny. I worked the steps. I prayed. I did service work. I was not always game to look at my glaring defects of character, but Life does have a way of bringing them to our attention, regardless of how much we protest! I made my amends and over time I did less that I needed to make amends for. My load was lightening and I caught glimpses here and there of this new freedom and recognized a very slowly growing relationship with God, whose name I learned to use. It was at around my ten year birthday, however that the spiritual path I had been stepping onto became golden.
The teachings of the yogic tradition deepened and broadened all that I had been practicing in AA. When we practice the suggestions of those who have walked before us, we find great transformations that occur. The shared teachings of self-examination; reflection; meditation; being of service; the courage to peel the layers of our onion, the Ego; and the discipline of habits, become a recipe for a rise in vibration!
"The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself."
Anais Nin
Truth passes down through many expressions, where we may or may not expect to find it. The Promises have manifested in my life in abundance and beyond. I give credit to the ways in which all my experiences, teachers and vehicles for awakening have guided me into the magical existence, I call my life. Gratitude abounds as I have tapped into the living Presence of that Force of many names.
More and more of us are tapping into this Force and deepening into the paths that bring us into the Present Moment. Whether it be through Yoga, prayer, meditation, Sacred Dance, Conscious Movement, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, selfless service, or Reiki. The list goes on. These actions bring us again and again into the Truth of who we really are, beyond the personality and ego identifications.
Many have experienced mere happiness blossom into Bliss; limitless flow of Inspiration; personal love transform into a Higher Love which is not based on a return. We feel energy increase and there is a palpable dance with the Divine that takes place. These are some of what I call the Enlightened Promises! These Promises are a result of our actions intended to align with a Truth beyond. These actions or practices return us over and over, again and again to a clear state of recognizing and remembering that each of us can touch the part within, that is Complete Wholeness and Nameless, pure essence and Love.
It is through honoring my 'progress not perfection' and allowing for my perfect imperfections of this human experience. These imperfections are not my enemies, but my teachers. Once we enter this journey, we realize through our experience the impermanence of even our darkest aspects and moments, which are opportunities for deeper knowledge and purification. With this knowledge, we can meet these moments with a clear present under current of Joy, Peace and Compassion.
This under current is a thread of gold, which I have experienced as it has grown and expanded within, regardless of what I have met on my path thus far. For me, this thread of ever present gold, is of divine nature. The qualities are an embodiment of the Promises in their fullest splendor. Some of you understand exactly what I am saying, some of you may not. The invitation then, if you are not connected to these Promises, is to step onto the path and keep practicing. Join the rising vibration by stepping up, awakening up, open up and surrender up! These Promises Enlightened are lived by a growing number and giving birth to a greater Love.
When I got sober, I just wanted to be comfortable. I thought that was happiness. God certainly has guided me into a life I could not have even imagined at the time. There is nothing about what I have learned that was on my radar. I am grateful I persevered, that I had the courage to keep letting go, and that I found the necessary teachers at each stage in this 'play' to show me the way.
My prayer for us all is to experience the Promises Enlightened manifesting within our hearts & lives!
In Deep Peace ~ Lotus
