Realistic Ambitions for Positive Graduation

[Monica]

Do you think that some of the points are inaccurate? Maybe your understanding of worldly STO-ness differs from my own? Let's share practical advice!

I think it's more a matter of perspective. We may all agree on some or even most points, while having a different perspective on others. Also, we may be focusing on different aspects. For example, someone who gives too much to others, to the point of draining him/herself and never able to set any boundaries, might see some points differently from someone who tends towards selfishness.

Also, clarification of terminology is important...we might not all read the same thing and understand it exactly the same.

Thanks for sharing! I agree with most points overall, but disagree with some, while slightly modifying others...

- Avoid loyalties to secret societies or occult orders. Even if we overlooked the often distorted and sinister knowledge such societies impart, their secrecy and compartmentalisation is internally and externally divisive, and thus incompatible with a path whose advancement demands universal embrace. Furthermore, few major orders remain uncorrupted by the Family, and few minor orders lack cultic qualities.

Assuming you are referring to STS-oriented societies, I would agree. However, many STO seekers find fellowship and spiritual sustenance from occult orders/covens/churches/meditation groups that, while not mainstream and maybe even obscure to the point of being secretive, still may be doing STO work.

I do agree that loyalty should be to Truth and your own spiritual growth, rather than to an entity. I would definitely see a red flag if some spiritual group demanded some sort of allegiance or tried to control...that would indicate STS energy, to be sure! So a good question might be: Are you free to come and go as you please, and to believe as you wish? Even, or maybe even especially, some churches might fall into this category. It doesn't have to necessarily be metaphysical/occult.

- Befriend only those who are kind, trustworthy and generous. If our current friends lack these values, then remember that the world is our reflection. When we cultivate virtue in ourselves, friends of questionable character will gradually diminish – or even depart altogether – from our realities. The maxim, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies close,’ is fallacious; self-serving forces already influence the world, and therefore us, enough. If we require one as a catalyst, the universe will orchestrate its arrival. Also, we must not despair because we cannot meet like-minded people. Few non-wanderers have awoken to the global conspiracy, and fewer still frame it with a metaphysical emphasis. Cyberspace cannot amend our physical need for others, but it can remind us that we are not alone.

I think I understand your point, but I see this differently. It probably depends on what you mean by 'befriend.' I prefer to befriend everyone I meet! I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt, and seek the good in them, than to have any sort of criteria as to character, before I decide to accept them as a friend. Are we not here to shine the light? And none of us are perfect. It's that pesky 49%, ya know? Our own spouse or best friend might have 2 out of the 3 virtues, ie. kind and trustworthy but not generous, or kind and generous but still has some trust issues due to a traumatic childhood or something. Yes, they mirror something in us...but we also mirror to them. Together, we might learn, grow, and polarize together! I know my husband and I have both changed dramatically in the 26+ years we've been together. If we had had such criteria back then, we might not have stayed together, but might still be searching for that elusive 'perfect' partner who has it all together!

I would agree that if someone is abusive or in some other way clearly STS, and has rejected our offers of love/kindness, then certainly we wouldn't want to continue allowing them access to our lives...we have to protect ourselves from those energies and sometimes we have to set boundaries and love ourselves enough to not allow others to hurt us.

It is those on the fence that I wouldn't rule out because of any criteria...those 3D entities who have not yet polarized might be touched by our love and maybe that's just what they needed to jump over the fence to STO! Whereas, if we had eliminated contact with them due to some character flaw, we wouldn't have helped them.

- Remain open to the requests of others. Many people misinterpret ‘serving others’ as going out of their way to help anyone, but doing so results in violations of free will and the possible interference of important lessons. Instead, let others come to us. They can do so through grosser means (a friend seeking our advice), or through subtler and gestural means. If you are unsure whether a person crying alone on the street will welcome aid, consider approaching her and gently asking if all is well. While she may have been attacked and in need of care, she may have simply separated from a partner (or something equally insignificant) and wishes to be alone. We should assess the situation in a detached, objective manner, and never assume that the perceived level of pain corresponds with the severity of its catalyst.

In magickal practices, it is advisable to seek guidance before doing anything that affects another, because we can't be sure that what we think is best for them really is what they would choose on a soul level.

I agree overall, but this idea can be taken too far. For example, someone (who was a 'new' New Ager at the time) once told me that his spiritual teacher said that if he ever saw a woman getting raped in an alley, he should keep on walking, because if he helped her, he would be interfering with her karma.

!!!

I told him his teacher had not taken into consideration that maybe it was the woman's karma for this guy to help her! And it was his karma to learn to care about others! The very fact that he was there on the scene meant that he was already involved in that particular drama.

When in doubt, I think the best thing to do is offer help. Then, if they reject it, respect their choice. But I would rather offer help and have it be rejected, than miss an opportunity to answer a call for help.

- Prejudice evidences ignorance of oneness. Even if scientists unequivocally proved that one gender or race were superior to another, the equality of souls remains unaffected by this revelation. Thus, from a broader perspective, such a mentality is inherently vain and serves only to fuel societal dissonance.

Agreed! It blows my mind to see how much prejudice has been surfacing lately.

- Try to cultivate, or maintain, an optimistic attitude. This can be difficult, especially for those who have incarnated from more harmonious and loving densities and who are unaccustomed to prevailing hatred and confusion. From my experience, the key to cultivating or maintaining a positive attitude is to look beyond the persona of a person and to acknowledge the soul within. Become habituated to viewing others as expressions of the Source, rather than fallible, biological actors in a production they chose to forget. Once we have understood, at least intellectually, the difference between the persona and the soul, we will see that it is normal and even acceptable to dislike someone. Problems only arise when we openly emphasise our dislike, or when our dislike extends towards their spiritual nature.

Beautiful! I would add that if we dislike some trait in another person, it is because that trait needs healing in ourselves.

- Resist exploiting the Law of Attraction for personal gain. This is not the same as maintaining an optimistic attitude or cultivating generosity. Exploiting the law means actively attempting to conjure something (for example, a car, girlfriend, money, world peace, etc.) into our reality through visualisation.

How is attempting to attract something (prosperity, health, whatever) thru visualization any different from working towards it in other ways? For example, how is visualizing the ideal job any different from scanning the job ads? Both are proactive. Both utilize know laws of nature. I really see no difference.

I agree that we won't manifest something that is outside our pre-incarnative parameters. For example, I am very short, and no amount of visualization will get me a job as a fashion model or basketball player! But that is just so obvious, that it would be ridiculous for me to even try. But if I put effort into manifesting, say, a slimmer body or better health or something practical that I need, how is that exploitation? And, if I felt inclined to work towards that goal, then isn't that an indication that it's not outside the parameters of my pre-incarnational programming? Or, if it is, the exercise might still be valuable in some way?

Another example: Say a person grew up poor so has a poverty consciousness. He visualizes winning the lottery and having a nice house. Maybe he never wins the lottery, because that's outside his pre-incarnational programming, but maybe his visualization helps him to release his poverty consciousness and at least get a decent job, afford a decent house, and live comfortably. So it wasn't in vain.

- Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and other poisons that only affirm, sustain and display our unhappiness, rather than heal it. Inebriation and certain altered states also attract STS forces, which consider cognitive relinquishment an invitation for influence or even possession.

For the most part, I would agree. In particular, anything that becomes an addiction is best avoided. However, there are exceptions: The woman who has an occasional glass of wine for relaxation...no harm there...or those who use natural mind-altering substances with reverence and respect as part of their spirituality. Surely the shaman utilizing plant allies is not in the same category as the heroin addict. (See the 'Spiritual Use of Entheogens' thread if you wish to discuss mind-altering plants specifically.) My point is that, while guidelines may be helpful for most people most of the time, they don't apply to all people all the time. That's why religions don't really work in the long run...people eventually outgrow the doctrine and realize that they can seek their own unique guidance for that particular point in time.

- Avoid eating animals of any kind

I'm with you on this one! Although, again, there are always some exceptions, such as those with medical conditions which require animal foods. Those people are very rare, though; for most of us, eating meat is not necessary, and can't justify the enormous amount of cruelty perpetuated on this planet due to the meat industry. This too is a controversial stance - see the debate on the meat thread.

- Consider a reduction in sexual activity. All forms of sex are STS, including ‘soul sharing’ amongst twin flames, for they are inherently based on physical pleasure. Total celibacy is not essential but recommended, because sexual energy nourishes negative entities.

Vehemently disagree! Already addressed in a previous post. Perhaps, for some people, avoiding sex might seem appropriate, as a means to heal past sexual imbalances. But, for the most part, I think it's more advisable to clear the blockages that cause sexual perversions (as in, STS energies) rather than avoid sex itself. I recommend exploring what the Law of One and Q'uo have to say about this, for they offer much that can assist in sexual healing.

- When the global economies start to implode, when the microchip enters the headlines, when the North American Union is imposed, when the holographic extraterrestrial landing is orchestrated – this is when we must stand amongst others and expose the official stories, not flee them in search of an unattainable security.

Whoa! Those are all just possibilities, not set future events. I do agree with your main point about being in the world instead of trying to run away, in general, but again, who are we to say that some people might not be guided to head for the hills? Maybe that's where they need to be at that point. We each have to listen to our own personal guidance.

- Seek the most ethical daytime job available.

But if you find yourself in a job that's unethical, then try to shine the Light in that dark corner.

- ...the only difference between a guru and an apprentice, or the Holocaust and the Renaissance, is that of perspective.

Ultimately, yes. But right now, here in 3D, it's also a difference of polarity. And here in 3D, our task is to choose polarity. Even Q'uo claims to be unapologetically biased in favor of STO. I think to view the holocaust with the same detachment as the Renaissance would to be neglect that choice. I unapologetically reject violence and other STS horrors. As Q'uo said (paraphrased): the STS path is a bloody path...Q'uo is not of that path, but is of the radiant path. I don't think we need to be so detached that we view STS & STO actions the same; on the contrary, I think discernment is key to our polarization. We can know that all will be harmonized a few densities henceforth, while still rejecting the STS ways while here in 3D.

- ...Realise that when others speak of the weather, or sports, or fashion, or supermarket prices, or something equally vacuous, they are ultimately masking their inner pain, their overweening inauthenticity.

Not necessarily. They might just be young souls who've recently polarized, or still sitting on the fence.

- Finally, we must be a little more considerate of others in our daily life.

This one is the most important of all!!!

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The primary problem that I have with it is that all of this has to do with rules/strictures on behavior. I do not think one can be harvested by following simple codes of conduct. I believe Ra made it clear that a profound inner transformation must occur.

Agreed!

In my opinion, this must occur as an act of Grace and is a gift from the Creator. What I'm saying is that there will be a fundamental change of the heart. Buddhism calls it enlightenment. It occurs as a result of surrendering the ego.

Is not surrendering the ego still a choice? I contend that we very much do precipitate that change of heart...by our choices. Aside from everything being ultimately a gift from the Creator, this entire 3D experience is all about choice!

10.14 Questioner: For the general development of the reader of this book, could you state some of the practices or exercises to perform to produce an acceleration toward the Law of One?

Ra: I am Ra.

Exercise One. This is the most nearly centered and useable within your illusion complex. The moment contains love. That is the lesson/goal of this illusion or density. The exercise is to consciously see that love in awareness and understanding distortions. The first attempt is the cornerstone. Upon this choosing rests the remainder of the life-experience of an entity. The second seeking of love within the moment begins the addition. The third seeking empowers the second, the fourth powering or doubling the third. As with the previous type of empowerment, there will be some loss of power due to flaws within the seeking in the distortion of insincerity. However, the conscious statement of self to self of the desire to seek love is so central an act of will that, as before, the loss of power due to this friction is inconsequential.

Exercise Two. The universe is one being. When a mind/body/spirit complex views another mind/body/spirit complex, see the Creator. This is an helpful exercise.

Exercise Three. Gaze within a mirror. See the Creator.

Exercise Four. Gaze at the creation which lies about the mind/body/spirit complex of each entity. See the Creator.

The foundation or prerequisite of these exercises is a predilection towards what may be called meditation, contemplation, or prayer. With this attitude, these exercises can be processed. Without it, the data will not sink down into the roots of the tree of mind, thus enabling and ennobling the body and touching the spirit.