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THE GREAT AWAKENING

"Will those of us who have always been 'awake' ever find some sense of peace when having to deal with the many who are still 'asleep'? And how do we remain present in spirit when so much of our world is so ego centered, especially in daily employment?"

Peace comes with acceptance and with patience, which are two of the most important life lessons that we are all working on embracing and embodying at this time. It is important to remember that those who are asleep are often newer souls who are like children and simply lack conscious awareness. Our world governments find it easier to control those who are unconscious, so people who are sleepwalking are not taught or encouraged to become conscious in our present society. Those who are awake serve as mentors, teachers, guides, role models and "spiritual parents" to assist others to awaken.

Awakening can be challenging, and perhaps even somewhat uncomfortable for many people, so it must be supported with love, gentleness and compassion. Unconsciousness may seem easier, certainly more prevalent, and perhaps even more desirable to the masses, which is what is fueling the epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction. Consciousness is frightening to some people, because with it comes power, and with power comes responsibility; but it is the power of choice and the responsibility for the consequences of those choices that we all live with, whether we are conscious of them or not.

This is a time when many people are waking up and finding that they are no longer satisfied with their lives, their work, or their relationships with friends and family. Imbalance is becoming intolerable. Awakening is being precipitated by a growing restlessness and a desire for more - not for more "things", but for more meaning, more depth, and more connection, in order to experience a true sense of fulfillment. People are tired of feeling empty, and they are finding that filling their time and space with more and more things is not filling them or fulfilling them any longer.

So many people are sleepwalking through life, deadened by the mind numbing effects of TV, and desensitized to repeated violent images in the news and in video games. Most people do not get enough sleep or nutrition to nourish the body, nor spiritual inspiration to nurture the soul. On top of all that, our society seeks to strip us of our individuality and creativity, instilling the desire for everyone to be the same in order to be "normal" and accepted. This indoctrination begins in early childhood, with an "education" program that does not promote thinking, but fosters a civilization of zombies that make good drones in the workforce.

So you, as one who is awake, find yourself in certain places of employment because the people you encounter need your light. Wherever you are is part of your assignment to help others to awaken. Remember that the game in our present society requires people to be driven by ego to want more, so they have to do more in order to succeed more, in order to have more. This makes them "productive members of society" who support an ever-growing (and therefore unsustainable) economy.

Consuming is also a mind numbing addiction: shopping puts one in an altered state, which is why we feel better when we get something new. So we continue to run on the hamster wheel of working more to make more money to buy more things to make us feel better because we don't enjoy our work or our empty lives. Suffering and depression keep us low where we can more easily be controlled, and are fostered by competition and the desire to have more in an all-consuming society.

Events such as 9/11 are wake up calls, and served to awaken people all over the globe to change their lives and find more meaning, but such drastic and painful awakening is not the only way. Awaken others with gentle encouragement, not by sounding an alarm which will only make them want to hit the "snooze" button and go back to being unconscious (which appears to be an easier way to cope by simply not facing things). Sometimes people get upset when awakened, especially if it occurs abruptly, so awaken others gently, lovingly, not judgmentally or aggressively, unless they really need some kind of intervention. Judgment will not invite their awakening, nor will trying to shake them awake.

Inspire others by your example, showing them the benefits of being awake and basking in the beautiful light of love and joy. Passion is the great awakener. It is passion that truly brings everything to life, so inspire others with your passion, but do not force it upon them or smother them with it. You must inspire them to awaken with your own joy, and show them what is possible once you are awake.

Remaining present in "spirit" involves maintaining your own joy in the face of all you experience and encounter. Joy is not an emotion (which can be fleeting), but it is an enduring state like peace, which can help you maintain your balance and equilibrium no matter what you are experiencing. Your example of peace and joy will inspire others to become awakened, because you will show them what is possible.

One of the greatest factors in our present society that is contributing to the unconsciousness of the masses is eating "dead" food. There is very little life force energy in frozen and pre-manufactured food. Right now, 50,000,000 people a day are served by McDonalds worldwide, which is reflective of the mass consciousness of the planet. A potato is a vegetable at McDonalds, and people are becoming vegetables as a result - couch potatoes to be exact.

The body needs to be energized by food, and the more vital energy there is in the food we eat, the more alive we are - so in fact, we are what we eat. The closer food is to the ground that it was nurtured in (and the more nutrients it received in that process), the more life force it has, and the more nutrients and enzymes it has. In Europe where there is a great enjoyment of life, food is bought fresh daily from the people who grow it. In North America, we typically buy food that has been trucked in and sat on shelves for weeks, months, or even years.

The best thing is to go to organic farmers' markets to receive the most life force from food. Organic farmers and their customers are not only healthier than the general population, but they also tend to be more awake, more aware and more conscious. You can also raise the energy and life force in food with intention or prayer. This is one of the underlying benefits of saying some form of "Grace" before a meal to put the energy of gratitude into the food, and thereby raise its vibration and life-giving energies.

As in the Wizard of Oz, a great spell has been cast on the population to put everyone to sleep. The governments that seek to disempower humanity through fear and control are really like the "Great and Powerful Oz" whose only power lies in intimidation. We must all come home to ourselves and realize that the only true power resides within each of us.

Joy and passion are the great awakeners. Once you awaken your own joy and passion within yourself, you can inspire that awakening in others. Awakening consciousness can be achieved by accessing altered states of consciousness through various forms of meditation (not medication through artificial means, such as drugs or alcohol, which only promote unconsciousness). The deeper you go in your consciousness, the more awake and aware you become, and the more you have access to greater wisdom and higher awareness.

The truth lies within us all, and the key is to ask the right questions in order to receive the truth that you seek. Whenever a question is asked, the Universe will answer, you just need to be willing to receive the answers and to know the truth, then pay attention. Encourage others to do the same. Do not question them or their beliefs in an antagonistic way, but ask questions that awaken them to think and feel for themselves in order for them to know their own truth.

Most people cite the gospel according to CNN, which has become an extremely powerful propaganda machine, influencing the entire world. Do not be brainwashed by marketing, news and propaganda. Be a free thinker. Ask questions to keep awake and exercise your mind. Don't just accept what "they" say. Who are "they" anyway? How can you trust that "they" are not manipulating you? Who are "they" to tell you what is true for you? Only you can know what is true for yourself, so remember to ask questions to keep yourself awake and aware.

We stand poised at a time where consciousness is rising, yet civilization as we know it may be preparing to fall, but this is because our present civilization is not based on consciousness, but thrives on the unconsciousness of the masses. The Great Awakening is underway, and those who are awake are charged with the task of guiding others to their own awakening, with love, support and patience. This is the time of the Calling, and all are being called to awaken now. Who will hear the call, and who has the strength and courage to be fully awake and fully conscious as we approach 2012?

In my next column, I will address critical mass and questions relating to 2012, and what this time entails for us all.

Copyright ©2005 Grace & Grace Associates Consulting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

"Responsibility is power. You have the power of choice.
You are always responsible for the choices you make and the actions you take."