MSCI LECTURE - SONNY HART
SUNDAY 24TH MARCH 2024
This is not so much a lecture as thoughts and ruminations about Life, the Universe and “all that Jazz” as my musician friend used to say.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. We had everything before us, we had nothing before us. We were all going direct to Heaven. We were all going the other way!” - Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities.
In short, the period was so like the present era that some noisy authorities insisted on its being received for good or evil in the speculative degree of comparison only!
Well, does that sound familiar?
It could be taken from the front pages of our media. War, revolution, disasters, crime, Government corruption, it’s still happening. The farmers in Europe are protesting at not being paid a fair price for what they produce and the war in Gaza are just two examples of our modern condition. Dickens was a very clever writer capturing as he did universal themes of every man in his life and times.
The book takes place during the French revolution when people rose up against injustice and tyranny. What is interesting to me is that the astrological star patterns that were present during the French revolution are with us again. We are in the midst of another revolution however, this time, it’s our "consciousness" that is changing and people are coming together to protest at the injustice and hopelessness of many current situations. Our lives echo the books’ themes of loyalty and family, society and class, justice, politics, morality, and ethics, suffering and its meaning, in short, the meaning of life.
As spiritualists we are very fortunate because, while still affected by life’s vagaries, we know there is more to the game of life. We have the comfort of our spirituality that reminds us that there is a bigger picture and more at play than meets the eye.
We understand the Soul is on a journey. That there is the Fatherhood/Motherhood of God as we can best understand. We know of the continuous existence of the Soul and that we are offered eternal progress, compensation and retribution for deeds done.
At times in moments of anger I fancy I would like to see the retribution for some of the criminal acts, however I am then reminded that we are all family regardless of colour, creed, or race, and that I am not perfect so should not judge and that I need to take responsibility for my thoughts and actions.
As Spiritualists we can take back our power by applying empathy and trying to understand what it’s like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
While we may not be able to take on the big issues, I think that by being true to our spiritual beliefs we can affect change subtley but profoundly. As we follow our principles and practice them in everyday life, we are creating a wave of consciousness that aids the changes we want to see in our world.
One of the most powerful of these qualities is Compassion.
Why do I think that?
We could say empathy or sympathy however, while they are relevant, they are not the same as compassion because compassion is a doing word. It drives us to take tangible steps to support others. This support is what is needed today. It helps to create change and it comes from the heart. That’s what Ascension or our revolution in consciousness is all about. For a much kinder and better world - love of all no matter the colour, race etc of the people on this Earth.
I will leave you with these thoughts about compassion. Allow tenderness and kindness into your thoughts and actions and soften your attitude to yourself and others. Feel how good it is to be kind to yourself.
Lovingly allow the journey of others. You can be there for them with understanding and support.
Let go of sympathy and allow compassion and lastly, allow the feminine energy of gentleness to enter your daily life.
