The ARROGANCE of EGO: Don't Let Your EGO Make a "FOOL" Out of YOU!

EGO, our false self, makes a fool out of the best of us. Often, we don't see how EGO causes us to be separated from our very selves, our Soul, and other people. It puts barriers where none should exist, and it also erects facades that we think are not transparent to the world.

But believe me, all the EGO facades put in place cannot block our true reflection in the world. If we're discerning, we should learn over time that those facades really are MIRRORS reflecting our insecurity to the world.

So it's time to tell your EGO: STOP MAKING A FOOL OUT OF ME!

When people are being led by EGO, they often are fooled into believing they are being wise in their truth. What they don't see is that they are so blinded by this "false self" that it only fills them up and puffs them up with PRIDE. Most people cannot get past this exterior to get to know the real person hidden behind this mask of falsehood, until it comes crumbling down through the action of Soul, calling out to be recognized and for authenicity.

I'll never forget the misguided EGO of someone who felt he/she
had lessons to "teach me."


I was so taken back, my first impulse was to laugh.

I quickly excused this...total, complete arrogance...as absolute spiritual unconsciousness!


We all should realize that no personality is here to teach us life's lessons in and of themselves. Yes, the situations and challenges those personalities may bring us will help lead to the Divine connection within our being. But it is our own Soul, through its God center and through the unfolding of Life itself, that teaches us life's lessons.

It is often that very Soul at the center of our being that invites challenging situations into our lives so that we can grow forward into life. We should always remember...that TRY AS IT MIGHT...NO EGO or EGO personality gets to decide who suffers and who prospers, who succeeds and who fails. So, if you encounter one, whom I call "petty tyrants," wanting to withhold its "good will"...in any form...towards you, REMEMBER WELL AND SAY: YOU don't get to decide!

I'm often amazed when people are so caught up in the perfection of themselves. No one adult person should believe that he or she has to "punish" another adult to teach him or her a lesson. But there are some who walk among us, so full of their EGO selves, that they would believe that their purpose on earth is to teach others their truth! These personalities also are the ones that seem to get offended easily at even "gentle truths" revealed to them. Their thinking is that no one has anything to "teach," as in impart, to them, but they are here to "teach," as in punish, others.

People believing in their own perfection are never BIG enough to handle any level of criticism, much less TRUTH! Most conversations with them then have to be relegated to the superficial.
It is pointless to try to penetrate such strong EGO "fortified personas."

So many EGO personalities achieving any level of success in the exterior try to strut like gods in the world. EGO takes over so completely that on a day-to-day basis, we all you bear witness to personalities, filled with such pridefulness, that they attempt to rule the world as lord and savior!

As much as we may try, we cannot always fully escape these personalities. Often, we hope that with the presence of many other decent traits inherent in their Spirit, the EGO would be dimmed through the passage of time. Often, we are not so lucky, and sometimes, it becomes a daily struggle dealing with these personalities...in workplaces, in homes, in our lives.

People who are so sure that they are perfect, never look to change.

Here's what my favorite philosopher, Tolstoy, says on the subject:

"We often try to hide our vices so that others will not blame us.
This is a mistake, because criticism can be useful.

"All temptation comes from pride. To save yourself
from temptation, be humble."

When God finally gets a chance to step in, I can imagine that the toughest challenge for him is to deconstruct the huge mass that is EGO. This mass is constructed solely to keep God out, as well as other men.

Yes, EGO is fearful...of man...and of God! So even when we see these EGO personalities doing good deeds, we need to be cognizant of the reasons.


These personalities sometimes may do kind deeds, but more because of a need to be seen as "good" in God's eyes. Mostly, it is because they fear his wrath! If they were to put EGO aside and view things from the Quantum Mechanics perspective of Connectivity, i.e. that in God's eyes we all are ONE, then they would learn about true "service" and the "common good." They would quickly give up the fear of God and love of pride and would understand very simply that another person is an aspect of him or herself. So doing "good" for another, wishing "good" for another is essentially wishing "good" for himself.

"If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine," says Wiseman Thomas A. Kempis.

I quote Tolstoy yet again:

"The major task in every person's life is to become a kinder and
better person. How can you become better if you think you
are good enough already?

"Humility offers a kind of joy that cannot be achieved by a selfish
or proud person."


I have been humbled, chastened and justified! When you go through those times, pride is the first thing to go.

I don't focus on the past, as I am so focused on being "HERE NOW!" So memories of the past are faded somewhere in the background of my Soul.


People who dwell too long on the past only see the view shining through their own lens! They are myopic, so their perspective on life is very, very narrow. With EGO at the center of all their accomplishments and their personality still imbedded in the traits of yesterday, whatever they see, they perceive it from their reality and their truth!

The true failure in life, I believe, is to make giant steps on the exterior, but not to take even a tiny step towards real growth within!
Harry Palmer of Star's Edge, Inc., says "If someone tells you that they have not committed any transgressions, realize you are talking to either a saint or a liar. Human beings make mistakes. They are supposed to. That’s how they learn. Human knowledge is the product of mistakes. It is only when the mistakes are hidden or become intentional (as in a hidden agenda) that they lead to inflexible viewpoints."

And once we believe so strongly in our own perfection, steeped in EGO, all hope then becomes lost for the long inner journey to begin.






EGO, however, can only make fools of us for so long. God...the Soul within us... eventually, does get the last word!

Tell Your Ego to Go AWAY... and ...Sing as Deniece Williams does:

"You're just a lover out to score
I know that I should be looking for more
What could it be in you I see
What could it be...
Oh, Love, oh, love, stop making a fool of me
Oh, Love, oh, love, stop making a fool of me..."

Namaste',

Che'

Beautiful People: A Friend of a Lifetime! Parthenia Clardy Dixon

(All photos were taken on a recent Florida vacation!)

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."

Albert Camus

Her husband, Ronnie, is still crazy about her after nearly three decades of marriage.


Her kids, Candace and Ronnie, are crazy about her.
(Candace is a 3rd grade schoolteacher; Ronnie is in pilot school.)

Her two older sisters, Margrette and Joanne, are crazy about her.

So are all her friends!

I am one of those friends.

Quite simply, this woman, Parthenia Clardy Dixon, is a beautiful person and one of the beautiful people I know!

She is rare.

She simply is one of the most caring, loving and unpretentious individuals I know.



Our friendship was so unlikely.

There I was... a foreign girl with an accent.

There she was ...as American as they come, having been born in Arkansas and growing up in Chicago.


We met during our junior year at the University of Illinois, Chicago, when I transferred there.

All that year it seemed, we were taking the same classes, as we both were studying Speech Communications. We developed a friendship then from those early days. It has lasted to today.

The reason we have remained friends is certainly not because I am a model of patience, love and caring. On the contrary!

For many years during our unlikely friendship, I am sure I was certainly not a good model for any of those things.


The friendship lasted because my friend, Parthenia aka Thenia, is not the type to take offense easily. She is secure in herself, and she fully understands the people in her life to know that if they seem "off," there is a reason. She shows her caring by displaying compassion and love, instead of reacting to any displays she knows are coming from a place of frustation.

She is the first person to say, "I'm sorry," even when she KNOWS she is not in the wrong. But her thinking is: I'm sorry you thought that way... or that was my intention...or about the situation. She certainly does not CREATE conflict, much less engage in it! She's honest...She's straightforward... and ...She's REAL! People KNOW this about her!

Certainly, Thenia is no pushover. She does respond to situations, but she does not allow herself to react with negative emotion. She maintains an even disposition, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances.

To put it mildly, the woman is ABSOLUTELY SANE and in control at all times!

From those early days, she has remained a steady presence in my life.



She has provided consciousness, when I have been operating with unconsciousness.

She has been a sounding board, when I've had doubts.

She has been a source of strength, when I seemed to have none left.

You see very simply, Parthenia Clardy Dixon, has been my best friend.

Throughout the years, no matter where we are, and what we're into, we check in with each other at least once every two weeks, but mostly, once a week. When I'm in the mood to be "silent," she is one of the few people I'd make an exception. She is the friend of my SOUL...the friend of my lifetime ... and truly one in a million!

I was a bridesmaid in her wedding in 1979. But over the years, I moved away from Illinois.

I lived in Connecticut, then California, then Arizona, and now
back in California.

Thenia has been the Midwest friend, and the best friend, who has held me steady through all my ups and downs.

She has celebrated my moments of greatest triumphs and those of my most abject sorrows!

She has been there.

What is amazing is that this friend,Thenia, keeps on keeping on without missing a beat in her belief and faith and positive attitude about all things about me.

She almost never mentions anything from the past: the good, bad or in between. It's like she recalls nothing that happened before today! If she ever mentions the past, it is only to bring up something "good" she remembers and then to say, "this is what you taught me."

She is one of the most conservative persons I know.
Yet, she passes NO judgment...absolutely NONE...on my liberal positions.

She is one of most straigthforward persons I know.
Yet, she does not act surprised at all the complexities of my life!


She is one of the most unpretentious people I know.
Yet, she is one of the most dignified that I know.

She simply is... a beautiful person!

Every time I tell her that she tries to shine the light on ME!

I tell her: "NO, friend, you have been an unwavering center of support. I don't know if I could have been so steadfast for you or anyone else."

But she has no doubts about me...she says, "You, too! Just remember that!"

I simply don't remember anything...any situation...where she's really needed my help or support.


She attends New Faith Baptist Church International of Matteson, Illinois, and sings in the church choir there. She's always had a beautiful singing voice!



She simply lives her life without complications and with dignity and a simplicity that only could have been acquired from a previous lifetime.


She certainly came into this world knowing what she needed to do and how she needed to be!


As a young mother, she knew how to balance her marriage, her career with the state of Illinois, her friendships and her life without ever being overwhelmed.


Even in those times, when both her kids were infants, this is a friend who still was there for you.


I don't know how she managed it. She never missed a beat in being there to offer you support.


She's like that for everyone who knows her.

Her husband, Ronnie, and I are good friends, too.

Naturally, he is one of the nicest guys I know.

But the reason is not that he, like me, does not have the tendencies of imperfection. It simply is that with "Thenia" you want to be a better person, despite life's trials and all the *"personalities" who get on your nerves.

I know we both feel very lucky.

Ronnie and I say this all the time.
Now that her kids are grown, whenever I have the occasion to speak with them, they say that too.

Of course, Margrette and Joanne and I are friends, too. So, we say this, too, whenever we get together.

We're all very lucky.

You see we have a friend...a person...in our midst...who is a rare jewel.

She is Parthenia Clardy Dixon.

Her birthday is March 30, tomorrow: Happy Birthday, friend!

"Over all the years, through all my fears and tears, you have proven to be my friend of a Lifetime and one of the most beautiful people I've had the privilege to know!

May God grant the world DECADES more of your Presence! Thank you for your friendship!"

Namaste',

Che'

*NOTE: See more on "personalities" upcoming blog, April 5, 2009!

Book Review: "Seat of the Soul" by Gary Zukav

I thought I'd read "Seat of the Soul" many years ago.

I knew I'd read "Seat of the Soul" many years ago in the early 1990s when it was first published.

The question I should have asked myself as I tried to recall whether I'd read the book was "Where was your consciousness then?"

Indeed, should you have read as powerful and insightful book as this one by Gary Zukav and not remembered, then you would have had to be truly UNCONSCIOUS at the time.


Obviously, that was the case for me.

Reading a book for its intellectual value and for spiritual interest is one thing. Reading a book for its connection to your Soul is another.

Well, I read the book in late January to satisfy my Soul!
My entire consciousness in reading the book this time was different, and I tell you... I could NOT get enough of Zukav's insights!

Word after word...was a gem.
Insight after insight...was pure gold...for my Soul.


I came home.

I stayed up through the night to read every last word of its 248 pages, the day I bought it.

I went to bed at 2: 15 a.m. on a Friday night.
I fell into a contented sleep after I'd completed the book: I'd finally, truly come home to my soul.


Zukav delivers a message to the soul, about the soul and for the soul that only a master who has walked before you can deliver!

He charted the course very clearly of the spiritual walk, the dance we do between our five-sensory human, which knows only its Personality, and the multisensory human, who answers only to the call of Soul, once we begin a sincere and committed walk with Spirit.


First he starts out by talking of Evolution, where he talks about our Personalities and our five-sensory perceptions of the world. Then he leads you through Spirit's call to the Soul. "When the energy of the soul is recognized, acknowledged and valued, it begins to infuse the life of the personality. When the personality comes fully to serve the energy of its soul, that is authentic empowerment."


He said this book is about "authentic empowerment---the alignment of the personality with the soul---what that involves, how it happens and what I creates."

He said this on page 31.

I knew then that he had me hooked for the night! There was NO WAY I was putting this book down until I'd read EVERY LAST WORD about how the personality aligns with the Soul!

You see I knew something about how this personality challenges the Soul in its work with Spirit. Time and time in my walk on this spiritual path, I'd thought I'd reached a plateau only to be hurdled back down to earth with a challenge from my Personality that responds only its five senses and the ways of the world.

Even as I grew to understand the Personality's needs and its ties to EGO, I still felt like a shrinking violet in its grip when someone who is SOLELY a five-sensory human, with NO inkling to the Spirit, crossed my path.

There was NO way I'd like them get away without a dose of my human medicine.

Reactive mind...Reactive mind...Reactive mind.

Yes. I chose to respond in kind because they were ONLY HUMAN, ONLY PERSONALITY AND EGO, but in order to assuage my anger I had to go "there" with them.

Then, came Karma.

The Law of Karma governs the balancing of energy within our system of morality and within those of its neighbors, according to Zukav. The law also reflects to the third law of motion,"for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

Well, I knew that...

Because every time I chose to use my reactive mind vs. responding to a situation, the energy, the very negative energy, I'd sent out boomeranged back at me.

I knew the law of karma very well.

I was still paying karmic debt for recent situations when I picked Zukav's book.
Actually, the book came to me. That was the work of my Soul that knew I needed to get past the recent challenges.

I'd gone to my now favorite place for books, "the thrift" shop and was browsing, not finding anything I wanted except for one book I thought I would give to someone.

Despite not finding anything for ME, I wouldn't leave the bookcase. I KNEW there was something there for me.

I saw it, picked it up and since I'd already read it, I and thought "I'll keep this for a person who needs it." It was only 99 cents.

When I got home, it was another story, as I skimmed the contents of the book and realized it was EXACTLY what I needed to address my current situation, especially when I saw the chapter on KARMA.

Yes. I was hooked for the night.


Chapter after chapter, about Reverence to and for Life, Heart, Intuition, Light and Intention, spoke directly to my Soul and where I was on my journey.

This book was the answer to my prayer for putting together all the dynamics I'd experienced and was still experiencing in trying to reach WHOLENESS.

It was a book of the Soul for my Soul. And...like I said...I was guided to it by MY SOUL!


Then the last section of the book was on Responsibility, once you knew that you were following the Soul's call and not Personality's (EGO'S).

Here Zukav talks about Choices i.e. those that we make in each moment, through unconscious awareness or a raised consciousness. He explains about the role these choices make in terms of our karmic debt and our life experiences.

Next in this section, Zukav leads you through Addiction and addictive behavior and the choices we make either for Personality or the Soul.


In "Relationships," he talks about those based on needs of personality and those that are spiritual partnerships and why we choose to form these latter ones more so for the good of mankind.

Zukav talks about the different types of Souls: group souls of animals and those of the lower kingdoms and individual souls of mankind. He even got in a section on Angelic Souls and other highly evolved beings.

The last four chapters Zukav takes you through the Psychology of being, Illusion, Power and Trust, all necessary to completing this "course" on Soul.

That's what it feels like when you close the book. You've gotten a THOROUGH understanding of the Soul: its calls, its search with you to find itself, its walk with you through the wilderness, then the raised Consciousness of its Presence to walk a higher ground in the time you have left on Earth.

If you had to read ONE book with all the ingredients you'll need for the Spiritual walk, this is IT!

Be sure, though, that you're first in the place where your CONSCIOUSNESS can grasp all its details and the ssweetness, purity and power of the Soul that wrote it and that which lead you to it!



Without this level of consciousness, like me, you'll just be reading from the intellect and that troubling aspect of ourselves called, PERSONALITY, a self you'll know you've left behind once you can fully grasp and can get into the SEAT OF YOUR SOUL!

Gary Zukav: You TRULY are a BLESSED SOUL for mankind!

Namaste',

Che'