Archive for November 19th, 2008

Chaos in the world

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

QUESTION: Masters, all over the world people are losing their jobs and many families are falling into poverty. Pundits call the global recession a “cyclical problem” and speak as if an economic downturn is a “necessary cleansing” for business and social institutions. But surely the poor don’t need to be taught a lesson for the failure of capitalist consumerism?

ANSWER: Your exasperation with the current world condition is so pervasive that you are combining everything that is going on at this time into one huge pot. The economy is “in the toilet” as they say. This refers to the fact that the good times that have just passed are gone and people are looking at a new cycle of standards. They are being confronted with the reality they have created and not the dream world they and major manufacturers envisioned for them.

In a large number of situations business had been so good that the average wage rose above parity with the work being performed. Workers, finding themselves with potentially extra and sometimes even unlimited cash, decided that it would only continue to get better so they became flagrant consumers. Into the house came the flat screen TV, video games for the kids, new and better clothes, and don’t forget the new car for the garage—and all on credit anticipating the bright future. Financial institutions fueled this teetering tower by readily offering more and more credit even if it was apparent that borrowers would be unable to repay.

Businesses hired more staff than was needed to do the work, extended themselves in the credit market for improvements, expansion, even redecorating that was not necessary, blasted the new consumers with advertising, and consented to sizeable raises for employees … and then the money ran out and the true situation of the economy took over.

Yes, you may call this cyclical. It is a necessary cleansing of erroneous concepts. But every soul is exactly where it contracted in advance to be. Many soul journeys are occurring at this time so that they may experience this turmoil and chaos. To say that a particular business, financial institution, or employer is responsible for what you observe is seeing only the impact on an affected individual.

While the process that you see is a seemingly Earth-destructive phase, it has no more impact than the industrial revolution, the first world war, the extinction of the dinosaur, or the proliferation of the Internet. Part of each soul journey may be rich or poor, master or slave, easy or difficult—all decided by freedom of choice.

A new romantic interest

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

QUESTION: Masters, I have been in a monogamist same-sex relationship for ten years. My partner and I own a condominium together. I am a party animal and my partner, while social, is more the stay-at-home type. He has always worked very long hours, getting up and going to bed early. He has never insisted that I stay at home when he must sleep. My problem is that I am very excited by a new man who has come into our life. He broke up with someone and had no place to stay so we invited him to use our spare room. I now find myself attracted to him even though I still love my partner. This friend parties with me while my partner sleeps. What am I to do?

ANSWER: If you are asking for permission to have an affair on your partner, we will not make the decision for you. You have freedom of choice as to how you live your life. You would not be asking this question if the situation did not trouble you. It is time to be honest with yourself.

For a long time it has bothered you that your partner does not share the same interests, e.g., partying, that occupy a large percentage of your free time. He has never denied your right to do it, and has not tried to control you in any way. Your feelings for this new friend have a lot to do with the camaraderie of sharing drinks and gaming. When it comes to the daily activities, housework, cooking, laundry, your partner is always the one to be there and to do more than his share.

Is it a playmate that you are looking for, or are you considering changing mates? If it is just a playmate, and you do still love your partner, talk out the situation with him. Your partner is very intuitive and is aware of your turmoil, although not the whole cause for it. He knows that you have needs he does not wish to fulfill; he wants only the best for you.

If, in your soul searching, you find that you have outgrown the companionship of your partner and need to move on, in fairness to him talk that out with him as well. If you leave things as they are you are taking advantage of your partner. Let him know your problems and help you make your choice—he deserves that from you.

Education, dominance & control

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

QUESTION: Masters, during the American election, interest was shown in the need for a more successful education system. This would ensure that the USA retains its global commercial and military dominance for the long term. Would it not be better for leadership in world affairs to be shared more equally between the nations than it is at present?

ANSWER: The principles of which you speak, a successful education system, commercial and military dominance, and leadership determining world affairs, can all be subjective evaluations although you speak of them as being objective.

Take for instance the educational issue: what determines if it is successful? Objectively society has come to see a system as successful if it allows the students to know more on a judgmental level than their counterparts. To individuals, education is deemed successful if it provides a basis for them to provide for their own needs during a particular lifetime. It is only when a government wants raw material to support its aims that it becomes obsessed with educating its masses in hopes of producing that needed genius.

When it comes to global issues generally, it is the nation that makes the most noise and provides the biggest show that is objectively considered to be controlling the situation. Nations posture and fool themselves into thinking that they have the power. Average people want to assign accountability so they take up the banner, for or against, of the nation claiming control. If you dig into the facts you will find a very small group, which chooses to remain anonymous, that possesses the finances sufficient to dictate world trends.

Outwardly it appears as if nations, because of their size, are the controllers. It is really the people holding the purse strings who rule. These groups that are banded together with mutual interests flow across national borders. They are not controlled or driven by any one government but by their own goals. They do not tout their prowess but sit quietly, being puppet masters counting their money. They are happy to sit back and let society in general think it is the nations that control so that no one shines a spotlight on them and interferes with their plans. This also shields them from blame when something goes wrong.

All of this should concern you only if you wish to remain mired in the ego-based Earth dimension. As you become aware of your essence it becomes merely a matter of interest going on outside of the spiritual journey you are on.