Compassion in the Age of Aquarius
One of my friends, Jennifer Bonetto, is fond of saying, “Be kind because everyone is fighting a battle.” It’s true. Everyone is learning how to choose between our lower and higher thoughts/feelings. It’s how people learn to become masters—and radiate fields of compassion and understanding. (It’s not always easy.)
Sometimes, it’s a struggle to see ourselves—and observe or make a small change. One of the most interesting parts of seeing the self is how it leads us into compassion. We realize everyone is moving through the same struggle—particularly if they are awakening.
We know everyone and everything mirrors us to some degree. It may not come as a direct reflection; it can involve choices or an aspect of our lives we don’t want to comprehend. But the universe teaches us hourly about our psyche, beliefs, and involvements with others. It all repeats until we catch on to the process and learn to change our internal process.
When we understand what is happening and why, we receive those blinding flashes of light that change everything. We perceive life with our heart. Over time, we learn to perceive life through the light, and we typically feel compassion for everyone who is walking on the same path.
Paradigm Shift
In the turning of the ages from Pisces to Aquarius, many paradigms shifted. The word, compassion, which originated in the 14th century, originally encompassed empathy, sympathy, sorrow at another’s pain, and a strong desire to help another. The Dalai Lama’s definition of compassion may come closer to our current (Aquarian) understanding.
He defines compassion as understanding the plight (unhappiness) of a sentient being and wishing happiness for them in place of their current state of mind. The Dalai Lama also spoke of the importance of wishing “good” change on those close to us as we can easily confuse their good with our personal good—and slip into judgment. When we wish happiness, it should come in a non-judgmental manner by recognizing the light and potential of another human being. (Everyone has expectations in personal relationships, which are sometimes difficult to surrender.)
Let’s look at some of the words, which were associated earlier with compassion. Empathy is a quality experienced by most people who are awakening. The more light we experience, the more connected we become. As a result, we feel more around us. It becomes impossible not to feel other people’s emotions. We feel mass consciousness, the energy of a store, and the unspoken words of the people around us. (The challenge is separating our own energy away from the group of the other person. Often, empaths have difficulty with boundaries because they feel the other person’s emotions as strongly as they feel their own.)
Sympathy is probably not of much use. It helps in the short-term but not the long run. When people feel sorry for us or listen to our tale of life moving in the wrong direction, it actually deepens the groove of negativity. (This isn’t true if we talk to someone who can read energy or knows how to help.) It’s better to tell a person about their strengths and ability to move forward. There is a fine edge here because it does help when someone experiences grieve or a loss—and people express their sympathy with love.
Compassion definitely does involve a need to help, but it doesn’t always mean helping is productive. For example, giving money to non-profit corporations, who keep most of the money for salaries and advertising, doesn’t bring about cures or stop hunger. Everyone cannot accept help even when we give it in the proper form. (When we feel prompted to give, we definitely should. But that’s a heartfelt feeling.)
Boundaries
Boundaries are different for everyone. The way in which we give to others may have a great deal to do with our personal spiritual gifts—and the expression of the universe through us. Regardless, our giving should come in an appropriate form for us. And it should come in a balanced way so we have enough energy for our personal pursuits and spiritual practices.
1) It’s helpful to see how our giving affects others. Does it make a change?
2) See the results of the effort over time. Does the situation improve?
3) What is the result of the outcome on our energy level? Do we feel happier, better, and more aligned with the self? If so, continue. If not, try a different venture.
Alternate Methods of Sending Compassion (from the Heart)
Nevertheless, when we live from the heart, we want others (all sentient beings including animals, plants, and insects) to live in the same state of harmony. Sometimes, it may be more helpful to use other methodology.
Here are a few tips:
1) See the light within the other person. Send light from the center of your being to the spiritual light in the other person. (Everyone carries spiritual light. It’s totally objective to do this, and it may help the other person in perceiving the power of the inner self.)
2) Heart to heart – send pink light (love) from your heart space to the other person’s heart space. There is a softness or “click” when the other person feels it. This works best with people who are more awakened—and adept at feeling the inner self.
3) See it all differently. (This is my personal favorite.) Visualize exactly what the other person needs. If sick, see them as healthy and vital. If poor, see them with money, clothes, and a better life. If unhappy or neurotic, see them as balanced, happy, and whole. This works. I do it for people I see weekly out in the world. Of course, it’s up to them as to whether they receive the vibration, but many people do. (You can also do this with the world. See abundance for everyone, peace in place of war, and a balanced, harmonious world.)
4) Ho’oponpono – the Hawaiian method of realizing what we see in the world is somehow related to us. The phrases are: “Please forgive me. I’m sorry (to the inner self.) I love you. You’re welcome (response from the inner self.) When you see how the outer world is somehow part of your personal vision—and you clear it—everything feels better.
5) After any of these practices, affirm the existence of beauty and harmony in the world, and thank yourself for focusing on it. (The inner dialog tends toward negativity so it’s good to comment on your work when it’s positive.)
6) On an intuitive level, compassion is freeing. Everyone is working with karma; everyone makes mistakes, which brings separation from the true self. Separation causes pain and suffering. When you truly understand the plight of another person and wish happiness and resolution for them, it brings a universal wave of peace and love.
Julia Griffin
is a much loved authority on intuitive and spiritual practices to increase one’s happiness and well-being, distinctive in that much of what she practices she learned from her interaction with wolves. For more information, visit her website onetrueself.com