Theosophy Archives - Gillian Monks

I chose to experience the time of the solar eclipse yesterday sitting out in my little stone circle. For us, here in North West Wales, it was early evening. Not much chance of actually seeing anything, as we have had rain and high winds for several days now. The skies were dark and lowering with heavy grey cloud, yet thankfully, the gales had calmed to a warm if boisterous breeze and only a soft drizzle fell fitfully.

The new moon and solar eclipse of the 8th April 2024 is a pivotal event in the progress of the human race and the Earth as a whole. As a Theosophist, we refer to the energetic changes we are all experiencing as Shamballa, which culminate in 2025. The effects of the current solar flares and magnetic storms upon our planet are just one contribution to the many challenges and difficulties we are all feeling and reeling from at present.

And it is not just we humans who are being subjected to such inter-stellar effects. Everything upon the earth and the Earth herself are being shaken up, stripped and renewed, hence all the earthquakes, floods and extreme weather this past few weeks – the earth is having quite a time of it too.

For years now, we have been impressed by the dire results of our careless, thoughtless way of life and have been made to view the bigger picture, globally, universally, and take responsibility collectively for our actions as members of the human race. While it is extremely important that we don’t lose sight of this bigger picture, it has been made clear to me that right now, we all need to focus on the little things in our lives… the myriad tiny occasions when ordinary life lifts our spirits with some of the millions of miracles which constitute our day-to-day lives, and which we are frequently oblivious to. The comforting sensation of hot water on your skin; the soft caress of clean clothes or a favourite jumper; that first mouthful of tea or coffee in the morning which is so good; the sight of a fuzzy bumble bee buzzing about it’s all-important business; the deep blue of a forget-me-not flower growing in the cracks of a path.

We need to take particular joy in all that we have to be thankful for and focus on our blessings, not our problems and woes. As humans, it is all too easy to only acknowledge what is wrong or missing in our lives, and not actually see all that we actually have. Now is the time to change all that, and to revel in every tiny moment of beauty, of comfort, of good fortune, no matter how transient, and to laugh… we really do need to laugh more and truly begin to feel the exuberant joy of being alive. After all, we are tremendously privileged to be alive today, at this crucial time in the history of our World.

What I am suggesting goes a little beyond the Mindfulness so many of us aspire to. I am trying to convey the feeling of living one’s life in actively positive joy and gratitude for everything, no matter how microscopic or insignificant. From these infinitesimal moments, we can birth a new and much more loving, peaceful and beautiful world. This is what is being asked of us. Our success is in the detail… the minutiae of our own everyday life.

Please share this message – by reposting links or sharing on Facebook, or whatever, but mainly by your own actions – amazingly, our collective future is in your hands, and the level to which you are prepared to allow yourself to be happy – set aside the habitual emotions of guilt and unworthiness which we all tend to suffer. This is your birthright! Try it. What is not to like? After all, you are hardly being asked to participate in something unpleasant.

And if, every time you celebrate a moments joy, you can send out a flash of loving gratitude, think how, when multiplied millions of times, this could change everything.

Have an absolutely brilliant day, and many days to come – smile, love, laugh, and enjoy life… your life.

‘Can you just throw the dog’s ball for me?’ I ask as an excited Labrador rushes up and down the kitchen while I am busily mixing a large tray-bake of sticky dark parkin ready to go in the oven for tea.

My darling husband had been walking past the backdoor, beaker in hand, to put milk in it so that he could make himself a cup of instant coffee. The next thing I know, he has turned back into the living room where our aga cooker is situated (don’t ask!) and a full minute later, has reappeared without his beaker, then proceeding to go outside to throw the dog’s ball.

‘Where did you go?’ I ask as I tip the parkin mixture into a large tray.
‘You asked me to throw the dog’s ball, so I went to take the kettle off the Aga.’ he replies.
Oh, for the luxury of doing just one thing at a time!

How often do you do little tasks whilst on the way to somewhere else? I do it all the time. Sometimes I walk around the house like a human trolly, picking up and putting down items which the rest of the family have left lying about. Or I run the washing-up water into the bowl while feeding the birds. I have, on occasion, found myself cleaning out whole cupboards or weeding and sweeping out thirty foot drive while actually on the way to another part of the house or garden. Sometimes my ‘life on the way to somewhere else’ has developed into a whole afternoon’s activity as I end up doing a huge job of work which I never originally intended setting out to do at all.

They say that women are better at multitasking than men. I think that anyone who has brought up a young child will have had to learn how to multitask just to stay on top of everything and survive a busy life. Feeding a child whilst making a meal, answering the door or telephone and attempting to help another child with its homework is not an uncommon sort of combination for the full-on parent or home-person. The same goes for bustling activity in any walk of life – we all try to cram in as much as we possibly can in the little time we have got. Over the years I must have spent months engaged in activities which I performed on the way to somewhere to else.

Which is why I would like to share with you something which I have just read in the North-Western Federation Journal for Theosophy. I do not know who the author of this piece is, but it is a timely reminder that we do not always have to justify each second of our time with multiple activities. In these strange times of isolation and lockdowns due to the pandemic, many of us have suddenly experienced more time than we normally have to spare. How do you fill your life on the way to somewhere else, and what do you choose to do with those little ’empty minutes’?

Take time to think – it is the source of power.
Take time to read – it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play – it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be quiet – it is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to be aware – it is the opportunity to help others.
Take time to love and be loved – it is God’s greatest gift.
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness.
Take time to pray – it is the greatest power on earth.
THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING.