Hatred

Hatred is defined as intense dislike or ill will. I'd like to add that it is a disease that has affected many on this planet. It sneaks up in moments of fear and attacks. Unlike a flu virus, there is no vaccination for it. Compared to a cancer, it spreads easily and effortlessly through a person's psyche and world. This is the disease that could destroy mankind unless a radical change occurs.

I write this blog entry as much for myself as for anyone else. This morning as I was vacuuming my thoughts turned toward all the atrocities in this world. Hate seems to have become the norm. As I mulled over this, I challenged myself to look at the hate that is within me. I feel I have honestly eliminated this word and feeling from my consciousness. Well, almost. 

My biggest "hate" goes toward winter. I hear the words "I hate winter, no, actually I despise winter" over and over in my conversations. Wow! What am I creating in my world? No matter what Mother Nature brings, I am convincing myself with these words that I won't like it. 

After more honest soul searching, I really have stopped hating as much as I used to. I used to hate certain people for actions they may or may not have committed. I used to hate certain foods. Those hatreds are pretty far removed now. However....

There still are times when hatred rears its ugly head. When I hear others hating for the sake of hating, I start fuming. When I see a derogatory photo of someone with a less than desirable comment, my teeth start grinding away. Guess I have work to do. 

How do we as people rise above the hatred we feel towards others? For me, I shall begin to disagree more with acts and beliefs that are contrary to what I believe. I shall begin to educate myself about different viewpoints. 

Years ago, in another lifetime to be exact, I worked with a young woman who was an Evangelical Christian. I had just discovered New Thought. To say we were from different spiritual worlds is an understatement. We usually had lunch together. We discussed our beliefs. I did not change hers. She did not change mine. What we did was respect each other without anger, without animosity. We remained friends.

My heart hurts when I see and hear all the hate. Hate for people we don't know. Hate for countries we have never visited. Hate for people espousing another belief. What if everyone just disagreed? We live in a world where virtually every "civilized" nation has access to information about everything. A friend who has since left this earth plane once told me I lived in a dream world. Love isn't the answer. My opinion differed and we chose to disagree on this as well as many other things. Although we drifted apart for many reasons, I never hated him nor did he hate me. 

Is love the answer? I think so. If love is not the answer for you, how about tolerance and understanding? As individuals we have free will. It just seems that this wonderful world could be so much more wonderful if we eliminated hate. 

As I wrote the words "wonderful world," Louis Armstrong's song What A Wonderful World comes to mind. 

What A Wonderful World

Let's begin to make this a truly "Wonderful World" by walking the talk that Christ, Buddha, Muhammad and other great masters walked. The Walk of Love. 

Peace and Blessings,

Mareda

It Is Up To Us

Global warming. Climate change. Gun control. Greed. I could go on and on. These are just a few of the challenges we as spiritual beings having a human experience deal with on a daily basis. So what shall we do? It seems we do a lot of blaming. Democrats blame the Republicans. Republicans blame the Democrats, Christians blame the Muslims. Whites blame the Blacks. Blacks blame the Whites. Men blame women. Women blame men. Lots of blaming going on but not many solutions in sight.

This morning I saw a brief video of Deepak Chopra being asked what he thought the state of humanity would be in 100 years. His answer was brief and to the point. It all depends upon the choices we make now. He was talking more about climate change but the choices we make affect everything in our lives.

With regard to climate change, he indicated that statistics prove that this planet is in trouble if our lifestyles do not change. Instead of creating heaven on earth we are well on the way to creating a living hell on earth. He described it as an experiment by Mother Nature that did not work. Many naysayers do not believe in global warming. Many rather believe that the apocalypse is near. It may be near but we have chosen it. With positive change this apocalypse can be avoided. So what is the next step? Here are my thoughts.

1. Stop blaming others. Even if you don't agree with another person's opinions or actions, you aren't going to change them by criticism. Live your truth. Lead by example.

2. Live the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This includes all sentient beings not just those walking on two feet.

3. Be the peace you want to experience. Be the kindness you want to experience.

4. Bless and love those who push your every button. They have something to teach you.

5. Listen to all opinions even if you don't agree. Maybe something will resonate within you to understand (if not agree) a different point of view.

6. Respect our earth, your body and everything on this earth plane. If something kills weeds upon contact, question it's safety. If something you eat makes you feel bad, question whether it is healthy. Then do something about it if it is only to do something differently.

7. Be thankful for what you have and pass that Good on in whatever way you can. Even if all you can manage is a smile, it might change a person's day for the better.

8. Be awake and aware of who you are, how you act and what you are creating with your thoughts and actions,

9. Trust that you are loved and guided by a Presence and Power greater than you and

10. Be the change. Be the Light. Be the Love.

These are my thoughts. I must admit as I wrote them I discovered I really need to heed my own advice a little more. This planet needs people to share their Light and Love. Light overcomes the darkness. I challenge each and every person who reads this to begin creating heaven on earth so that in 100 years our ancestors shall live in a "Garden of Love."

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

www.maredaeckert.com

F.E.A.R. - False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear is an emotion that is very real for many people. It varies in degrees but if we are honest, we all have at least one thing we fear. I will readily admit I am very afraid of snakes. The real thing, a snake on TV, a photo, they all strike fear into my very soul. This post isn't about that type of fear. Nor is it about the fear that is so prevalent across our country; i.e. the fear of people or cultures different than ours or the fear of someone breaking into our home and/or killing us. This is my story about a fear that colored my childhood. 

My mother, who departed this plane of existence in 2008, was afraid. Her fears were not outwardly apparent but they perpetuated her daily existence. As a child growing up, I was not encouraged to try new things. If I took swimming lessons, I might drown. If I wanted to do anything that was out of my mother's comfort zone, I was discouraged from trying. When a friend asked me to sing at her wedding, my sweet mother did not sleep for weeks until the wedding was over. She just couldn't believe that I sang and no one threw any tomatoes at me. Later when I interviewed for my first job, she was sure this was a mistake. It wasn't. Thank goodness I was just as stubborn as she was. 

Later in my marriage, my former husband kept the ball rolling by criticizing everything I did and questioned my motives for any type of advancement I sought. The fear continued. 

I understand why both my mother and former husband did what they did. It was fear that was driving them. My mother was raised in an environment that was less than encouraging. My former husband was raised in a very volatile environment. So what does one expect? Fear.

As a mom, I understand the feelings a parent has. Mothers and fathers want their child to succeed. Most parents will do anything to keep their child safe. There is a limit, however, to safety. As the saying goes "a ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." There is a time to let go.

For many  years, I have felt my life would have been "better" if my mom had been different. Maybe, maybe, maybe. The fact is my life is good. In fact, it is fantastic! I have grown through my trials and frustrations to the woman I am today. I hope with all my heart I am imparting what I learned from my mother to my daughter. My mother taught me many things: how to paint a room, how to cook, how to take care of baby chickens and lambs (in the kitchen no less), how to be kind to all people no matter of race or nationality, etc. 

Very recently I made peace with the woman who was my earthly mother, Alyda Wolfmeier Eckert. You see, now that she has moved on to her next realm of existence, everything is clear. She told me in a dream. All is well. All is love.

So the moral of this story is to be cautious, not fearful. Fear can protect but it can also hinder one's evolution into something miraculous. Take chances. If you have a dream, go for it. 

To Alyda I say: "Thank you for being you. Thank you for coming to me and helping me to understand. I love you. I appreciate you. May this new journey you are on be one of much joy, love and courage."

As for my former husband, well that is a story for another time. 

Peace and Blessings,

Mareda

www.maredaeckert.com

Stories

Yesterday evening I came across Gabrielle Bernstein's website. She is one of many motivational speakers and coaches appearing in our world today. As I watched some of her videos and listened to her, I felt a connection.

One remark she made especially resonated with me. She said we all have "our story/stories." Her message stressed the importance of sharing stories especially for those who are called to be "lightworkers." This morning as I scrolled through Facebook, I came across another message from another lightworker also indicating the importance of sharing stories. Having been around the metaphysical block a couple of times, I took this as a message from the Universe or God or Mind that it was time for me to share my stories. So here goes my first story.

A long, long time ago, I had pitched a tent in the land of despair. Newly divorced, lonely, unhappy. There was not a negative emotion that I did not feel. Misery was my constant companion. However, even in the midst of all this despair, something within me knew there was a better way. I had pretty much given up on God. Lost, alone, miserable. I gave the God I knew then an ultimatum that I really needed help and if He existed,I expected a miracle. The miracle I wanted didn't come right away so I went to the grocery store.

At that time I shopped at a Kroger store at Big Bend and 141. Kroger no longer exists in St. Louis and the building is now and has been vacant for years. But that shopping trip changed my life. 

For some unknown reason to me then, I went to the section with paperback books. I really wasn't interested in getting another one. Heaven knows I had enough to start my own book store. My eyes and attention went to the self-help books. This was not my usual choice of a book. I was into romantic novels where the handsome man would rescue the helpless maiden and they would live happily ever after. I remember thinking why am I looking at these books and turned my attention to my usual literary genre. The next thing I knew this book fell, yes fell, into my cart. It was written by a woman I had never heard of but the title hooked me. "The Inner Path From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be" by Terry Cole-Whittaker. Not really realizing what had just happened, I bought the book. My miracle manifested at the book section of a Kroger store!

That was 30 years ago. In that book, I discovered so many thing about life, about God, about me. I also discovered Religious Science. Another book led me to The First Church of Religious Science in St. Louis. That book was the Yellow Pages. The first time I stepped into that church I was at home. It was the first step of a path I continue to follow. 

Do I believe that book was about ready to fall anyway? No. Do I believe that a Power greater than me picked that book up and put it in my cart? You bet your sweet life I do. There are no accidents. Did my life immediately become easy and sweet? No.Was my path easy and clear? No.  But from that moment on, I realized that I was not alone. I no longer believed in the God of my chldhood. I now knew God was so much more than a bearded man in the sky. 

This is my first story. There are many others. What are your stories? 

Namaste,

Mareda

Change

It has been said that the only constant in life is change. The first time I heard someone make that statement, I shook my head and thought this was so wrong. However as time has passed, I find this statement to be true. I also find this to be comforting.

What if every day of our lives stayed the same. I'm sure many who are reading this think their days are the same. Wake up, go to work, come home, get dinner, do chores, go to bed, and repeat this same scenario the next day and the next. But are they really the same or do we keep them the same?

My life is changing again as it has many times over the years. I've prayed about this current change, meditated upon it, taken steps to move it forward. And now that the momentum is increasing, I find that an old feeling is trying to make headway into my psyche. Fear. It creeps in when I am falling asleep. My old friend, the ego, making sure my sleep doesn't come easily. It creeps in when unexpected events occur in my life that might affect my finances. It creeps in when I question my heartfelt desires. It creeps in when I question my self worth.

Yesterday, I allowed fear to be my buddy. I embraced it for what it was. I cried. I took a nap. I invited it into my meditation. I examined it and then bid it farewell. Fear is a product of not recognizing our truth. It comes to us in moments when we are weary, when we feel off center, when we forget our source.

I remembered during the process of embracing my fear that I am bigger than it is. I remembered that I had asked for change to occur. I remembered that change can be scary when trust is missing.

So today, I shall continue to move forward. I shall continue to do my mental work. I shall continue to know that I am a child of God. I shall continue to live life on this plane of existence loving every experience. I shall continue to know that I am more than enough. And when I doubt, I shall love myself even more.

Most importantly, I shall remember why I came to this planet at this particular time. Why?

To Love and to be a Healing Presence!

Why are you here? 

Namaste,

Mareda

Imagine

A short message today. 

A very important message today. 

A dream today. 

Maybe someday......

Imagine!

John Lennon's Imagine!

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one.

                                ~ John Lennon

Peace and Blessings,

Mareda

Kindness and Respect.

Over the past few months, I have become more and more frustrated with the lack of kindness and respect exhibited by many people. I really do not understand why differences of opinion must elicit such hateful and rude comments.

As it is getting close to a major election, many of these comments are politically based; however, they have been present for a long time. Why is it necessary to be hateful when one does not agree with a political party or the person(s) who work within that party? I must admit I think back to comments I may have made about various people and wonder if I was that rude and intolerant. Maybe, but I know that now I will opt to criticize the ideology not the person. Hopefully this can be done in a constructive manner.

I recognize the fact that it is imperative that I not look at comments on Facebook and other social media. It seems that this is fertile ground for angry insults and degradation of various people and beliefs. That being said, I do sometimes succumb to viewing comments. Recently one really challenged me to keep my opinion to myself or lower myself to the same type of insults I was reading.

The post was about Planned Parenthood. I do not choose to go into the pros and cons about this organization. What disturbed me was the comment made by one particular person. This person indicated he/she was a Catholic who was Pro Life. They went on to say that the idiot liberal Pro Choice Democrats were the ones murdering babies, etc.etc. There was more to the post but it really isn't necessary to elaborate on the comments.

I am one of those liberal Democrats who is Pro Choice. I am not an idiot. I am not pro abortion. I have different opinions based on life experience and personal beliefs.

If I remember correctly, Jesus taught to cease judgment, to forgive, to love and to care for others. Obviously this person missed the message.

Why can't we discuss things rationally? Years ago I worked with a young woman who was as spiritually opposite me in her beliefs as anyone could be. At lunch we would discuss our beliefs. We did this with respect. She honored my opinions and I honored hers. Neither one of us changed the other one's mind but we understood each other just a little bit better. Such a shame more of these discussions are not taking place now.

All the great spiritual leaders of the past have taught love and acceptance. Is this so easy to forget or do we get so caught up in something we believe that we just don't give a damn about other peoples feelings?

What can we do to heal this anger and rudeness?

Treat others as we wish to be treated.

Be kind.

Bless those who are mean and hateful because they need it most. 

and

Remember the Golden Rule. It can be found in every faith tradition as shown below. 

Love and Blessings,

Mareda