Tag Archives: Deborah Koff-Chapin

May We Be Beloveds

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Deborah Koff-Chapin shared this image, titled “May We Be Beloveds” as a gift for the holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States.

800px-wampanoag2 may we be belovedsMay we be beloveds! The English pilgrims, led by John Carver, and the Wampanoag, led by Massasoit, enacted a peace treaty in April of 1621. It is something of a miracle that there were already fluent English-speakers among the Wampanoag, Samoset and Squanto. There were a number of provisions as to how peace might be maintained. The treaty was more than a peace treaty, it was a mutual defense agreement. Governor William Bradford wrote ““This treaty was scrupulously observed on both sides as long as Massasoit lived [until 1661]…”

May we be beloveds! Am I even allowed to say the word “Thanksgiving” without contemplating the war that erupted after the death of noble Massasoit? Is it a miracle that any treaty lasts between two nations after the individuals enacting the treaty have died?

Signing_of_Treaty_of_Ghent_(1812) May we be belovedsMay we be beloveds! The US and Great Britain have been at peace for almost 202 years.

EntenteCordiale May we be belovedsMay we be beloveds! England and France have been at peace for 112 years.

Camp_David,_Menachem_Begin,_Anwar_Sadat,_1978 May we be belovedsMay we be beloveds! Israel and Egypt have been at peace for 38 years.

May we be beloveds! Just getting along isn’t good enough for me today. Deborah Koff-Chapin’s image inspires me to pray.

May we be beloveds!
May the very word “alone”
Weaken with each heartbeat,
Grow tiny, dim, unknown.

May we be beloveds!
Forgiveness, fully flow!
May the fearful frown be
Forgotten, let it go.

May we be beloveds!
May ancient enmities
Melt into the dancing
Of newfound harmonies!

May we be beloveds!
Oh, may it be ever so!
Blessing of beloveds,
Oh, let it grow and grow!

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

Beyond Fear Lies The Truth

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beyond fear lies the truth

Touch drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin

I am happy to accept that beyond fear lies the truth. However, I have this presumptuous notion that I know what fear is all about. I am currently on Step 51 of Steps to Knowledge: “Let me recognize my fears so that I may see the truth beyond them” for the second time.

When I did this Step the first time, I wrote in my journal:

“I feel as though I understand fear, its mechanism and how it influences people – it prevents people from being who they really are since it restricts them, it prevents people from thinking in expansive ways, it keeps them boxed in. Fear clips the wings and prevents people from taking risks and reaching their full potential. I have worked with my fears and feel the reality beyond them. Fear will not stop what is going to happen to me, it will happen anyway. The thing is to boldly face fear and step through it, believing that the outcome will be much greater than I ever imagined. It is the same as following a path I had no intention of taking and finding myself right where I need to be, stepping out of my comfort zone and being prepared to face whatever awaits me. There are imaginary fears and real fears. Fear is defeating and debilitating, it freezes your ability to respond adequately, thus reducing your chances of success. Metaphorically speaking, in order to walk a tightrope, you have to lose your fear of falling.”

After these bold words, I did have the foresight to add:

“All in all, however, this is a difficult Step to grasp. Perhaps I don’t understand fear at all because I have not been in situations that bring up fear. I am asking for clarity about fear.”

Beyond fear lies the truth

Can I say I have more clarity about fear the second time around? I still accept that beyond fear lies the truth and I receive confirmation of this.

The New Message from God revelation called “The Separation” speaks perfectly to this dilemma. There I read:

“To understand the reality of God and God’s work in the world and in the universe around you, you must understand your own situation clearly, for you are living in a state of separation, in a physical reality, in time and space.
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“You are living in separation from your Source and from Creation itself, which exists beyond the physical reality entirely. You are living in a temporary reality. It is impermanent. It is changing. It is expanding. It is chaotic. It is governed by its own laws and dynamics.

“You are a spiritual being living in a physical reality.

“To become really true to yourself and right with yourself, you must gain access to your deeper nature, which is still connected to Creation, still connected to that Greater Reality from which you have come and to which you will return.”

I think that coming to understand this separation, realizing the limits of my current situation, i.e. that I am living in a state of separation, is the key to recognizing my fears and seeing the truth beyond them. I recognize that my fears are born of this changing, chaotic state that I currently live in, so they are as impermanent and temporary as it is. But I have a deeper nature, a nature still connected to Creation, to my Source, to a Greater Reality, and in this state of consciousness fear has no place.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

Сегодня я буду наблюдать за собой

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буду наблюдать за собой

With All of Life – touch drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin

For English version click here.

Когда я занималась Шагом 29. Сегодня я буду наблюдать за собой, чтобы познавать Знание, я отдала себе отчёт о том, что я этим занимаюсь регулярно, это для меня привычка, так сказать. В общем, я радуюсь тому, что Шаги к Знанию часто предлагают заниматься тем, что является для меня обыденным, привычным делом. Я уже много лет наблюдаю за собой, замечаю какие настроения возникают в течение дня, какие мысли всплывают в голове, какие чувства и эмоции мной овладеют, чтобы пересекать негативные мысли или эмоции и менять их на позитивные. Часто говорю «Стоп» или «Нет» особо бесполезным или даже разрушительным мыслям, мысленно поднимая руку перед ними, чтобы их препятствовать, блокировать их продвижение.

Однако спешу добавить, что я не всегда довольна тем, что я замечаю про себя. Значит, я наблюдаю за собой не без осуждения. Шаги к Знанию предлагают развивать способность наблюдать без осуждения. Когда я наблюдаю за собой с осуждением, я препятствую прилив Знания. И чтобы отдавать Знание, сначала надо учиться тому, как его получить. Я стремлюсь к тому, чтобы свободно выражать Знание в мире, быть его проводником, к тому, чтобы искренно отдавать то, что мне щедро дано.

Я буду наблюдать за собой сегодня

В тот день, когда я занималась этим Шагом, я уделила особое внимание тому, чтобы наблюдать за собой каждый час и записывать текущие мысли и чувства в это время. И это приносило плоды. В какой-то момент, я писала о том, как более остро ощущаю присутствие Знания, как будто Знание руководило мной и моему самочувствию. Я ощущала покой и равновесие, несмотря на некоторые трудности, проблемы и раздражительные моменты, которые возникали в течение дня. Я сумела наблюдать за своими эмоциями и их переправлять в позитивное русло, когда необходимо. Почасовое наблюдение и записывание того, что наблюдала, оказалось очень полезным и продуктивным.

А этот шаг предлагает не только наблюдать за собой, но и делать это, чтобы познавать Знание. Мне удалось это сделать. С помощью той связи, которую я ощущаю со Знанием, я сумела следить за мыслями и эмоциями, поправив их когда надо и получив, при этом, благотворные результаты.

Когда я наблюдаю за собой и, тем самим, укрепляю свою связь со Знанием, жизнь становится более полноценной и сглаженной.

Постскриптум: о Шаге 28. Обзор я не писала на русском из-за отсутствии русского материала. Можно читать о нем на английском тут.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

I Will Observe Myself Today

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I will observe myself today

With All of Life – touch drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin 

When I was asked to observe myself in Step 29. I Will Observe Myself Today To Learn Of Knowledge, I was happy to realize that this is something I practice on a regular basis. In general, I am very happy that Steps to Knowledge asks me to engage in things that are within the realm of my normal behavior on any given day. I am already in the habit of checking in with myself regularly to see how I am feeling, noting the thoughts that arise, reflecting on my shifts in mood, recognizing any negative emotions and choosing positive ones instead. I have a practice where I say “Stop” and “No” to any unproductive or downright destructive thoughts and feelings that come up. I mentally raise my hand to them and bar their way.

I hasten to add that I am not always pleased with what I see when I observe myself. So that means my observation is not free of judgment. Cultivating the ability to observe without judgment is something Steps to Knowledge encourages. If I observe myself with judgment I am blocking the flow of Knowledge. And I need to be able to receive Knowledge in order to learn how to give it as well. Step 29 says that “giving must be genuine, born of the overflowing receptivity that you have cultivated within yourself, within your relationships with others and with life.” Often I do not feel genuine, I feel stymied and contrived.

I will observe myself today

The day I did this Step I made a special effort to observe myself every hour and write down what I was thinking and how I was behaving. During one of my hourly observations, I wrote that I felt the presence of Knowledge more acutely. I felt at peace and balanced despite some problems, difficulties, and irritation that surfaced during the day. I was able to keep on top of my emotions and found the hourly practice profitable.

This Step asks me to do more than just observe myself, I am to observe myself to learn of Knowledge. I felt I accomplished this. Knowledge prompted me throughout the day. I kept tabs on what I was thinking and doing and adjusted my thoughts and actions accordingly to yield the most satisfactory results.

When I observe myself and, during this observation, strengthen my connection with Knowledge, I find my life becomes more integrated and productive.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

Я желаю слышать истину

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Я желаю слышать истину

Touch Drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin

For English version click here.

Я желаю слышать истину, поэтому я занимаюсь Шагами к Знанию.

Шаг 17 “Сегодня я хочу слышать истину” уверяет меня, что истина – вещь полезная, она полностью на моей стороне. Однако, в тексте Шага и есть оговорка о том, что эта истина может быть шокирующей и может разрушить мои планы и замыслы. Я готова испытывать шок, хотя никакого шока я пока не испытываю. Я даже готова к тому, чтобы разрушались мои планы и замысли, хотя пока ничего не разрушалось. Это значит, что я не слышу истину, что ли?

Но я не падаю духом, ведь дальше в тексте говорится: “Развивая способность слышать и желание слышать, ты приобретешь то, чего ты ищешь”. Я ищу истину и готова принять её в любой форме. Заявление несколько самонадеянное, кто-то скажет. Может быть, но я готова пойти на риск.

Я помню, как будучи студенткой в университете, я открыла для себя Фридриха Ницше и очень увлекалась им.

Может быть он говорил следующее, а может быть и нет, не важно, эта цитата всё-таки блестяще подходит к этому Шагу: «Иногда люди не хотят слышать правду, потому что они не хотят разрушить свои иллюзии».

Я желаю слышать истину

Я желаю слышать истину, я не боюсь того, что мои иллюзии будут разрушены.

В моих записях по этому шагу я писала: я чувствую, что готова рисковать и готова слышать истину, которая отличается от моих предубежденных соображений. Я глубоко убеждена, что какова бы ни была истина, она лучше всего, не ущербной, а только полезной.

В тот день, когда я занималась этим шагом, слова песни Роллинг Стоунз сразу пришли в голову: ты не всегда можешь получить того, что хочешь, но если постараться ты можешь получить как раз того, в чем нуждаешься.

Я желаю слышать истину, для меня это является постоянной нуждой.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

I Desire To Hear The Truth

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I Desire to Hear the Truth

Touch Drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin

I desire to hear the truth, which is one of my strong motivations for practicing Steps to Knowledge.

I own a set of Soul Cards with haunting, thought-provoking touch drawings by Deborah Koff-Chapin. The one I share here speaks to my desire to hear the truth and now I know why I am drawn to these cards and this artist.

Step 17. Today I Want to Hear the Truth assures me that the truth is utterly beneficial to me. However, it does qualify this statement by suggesting that at first it might by quite shocking and disappointing to my other plans and goals. I am ready to be shocked, although nothing shocking has occurred so far. I am even ready to be disappointed, to be shown the error of my plans and goals, but I have not been disappointed so far. Does this mean I am not hearing the truth? I will not be discouraged though, for the Step goes on to say, “Developing the ability to hear and the desire to hear will yield to you that which you seek.” I seek the truth and am not afraid of what it might be. Rather a bold and presumptious statement, someone may be thinking. Perhaps, but I’m willing to take the risk.

I remember discovering Friedrich Nietzsche back in university and finding myself very intrigued by what he wrote. He may or may not have said the following, but someone did, and it fits perfectly with this Step.

“Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”

This does not apply to me though. I desire to hear the truth and am not going to fret over my destroyed illusions.

I Desire to Hear theTruth

My notes for this step say, “I feel as though I am ready to take the risk and ready for a truth that does not fit my preconceived conceptions. I am certain deep within that whatever the truth may be it cannot be detrimental, only beneficial.”

And the day I did this Step, the words of a Rolling Stones’ song came immediately to mind about how “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might just get what you need.”

I desire to hear the truth, this is an ongoing need for me.

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Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.