Forgiveness is not something we can just decide to do, with our human minds and will. It is a a very, very deep thing to let go of something that has become entwined within our perspective and understanding, so much so that it obscures our vision of the spiritual dimension. (The spiritual dimension is not separate, it is us!) Maybe this is not a good analogy, but the burden we carry with the lack of forgiveness is something like a tree being bent as it grows – the tree loses its ability to embody its archetypal pattern. (The analogy fails, because we are human, and even though we may be warped away from our archetypal pattern, the possibility of redemption is always offered to us.)
By now I think we know that forgiveness of others releases not just them, but also us. Weare released. But more importantly for our own freedom of consciousness is to forgive ourselves. But that is truly of the same difficulty as described above. We cannot do it just with will and a mental decision.
To the heart of the matter tomorrow.
…. one of my baseline decisions was to write a short blog, not on and on.
What do these ramblings have to do with my books for children?
The book I have been working on is not for the younger set. Previous books were aimed at 3 to 7 year-olds mainly, although my 20 month-old-granddaughter loves The Star Children.
The new book is aimed to be a story that enfolds within it a navigation map for, say, 10 to 15 year-olds. This is an age when the spiritual consciousness arises in many children, and integrating and understanding that part of ourselves in this very materialistic, chaotic, and threatened world while their body and personal self are changing drastically would be a very new and challenging experience. Our normal consciousness as reflected in the mass media, entertainment and school curricula are devoid of any guidance from the spiritual perspective, although some effort is definitely made to address emotional turmoil and trauma. To children awakening to their spiritual dimension, emotional work is not enough since it does not address the deeper essence of ourselves, the very part that needs addressing. This state can leave any of us – young or old – confused, lonely, depressed, adrift and especially lacking clear language to grapple with those feelings.
So for me as well, I have no model for this kind of a book. I also am grappling, growing and changing.
More tomorrow – expansion of thoughts on the relevance of forgiveness.
A couple of days ago I read this quote: “If I wait to write until I feel like it I will never write anything.” I resolved to jump over that hurdle, but since I didn’t jump over it right away, I don’t even remember who said it! We’ll see what I can say tomorrow!
Meditating this morning, it seems clear to me that there is much love being focussed on the planet and also within humanity. Can you sense that? We are also part of this higher sphere, a sphere that exists very far in vibration from our physical plane life. Seems like actually we are such a very big planet with so many billions of people (this from our own point of view), but if also love is coming to us from the Universe, from that point of view we are such a small and suffering entity in the galaxy.
And so what(?) you might say. So there is a little piece of love amid so much wrongdoing, greed and despair, what can it do? Well, perhaps sustain us as we walk together step-by-step toward a new world (and I don’t mean the New World Order of Klaus Schwab and the billionaire technocrats and AI.) I mean a new world wherein the heart of humanity slowly wakes up to the truth of our being, and the truth of the being of the Universe, and together create a social order that reflects our values and inner light.
This is where some virtues come in: developing the understanding of the necessity of perseverance, positivity, and dedication – to keep on relentlessly against all odds. To keep on with LOVE and goodness.
On a personal note, since I posted “Sometimes the path that will bring you the most joy will need some clearing” I have found that in fact the clearing never seems to be over. I have thought, well, maybe it is because new knowledge and understandings are developing, and as the world changes, and I and we change with it, it obviously can never stop.
I am working on a book for young people – maybe 11 to 14 – (that changes too!) and I do find it a challenge. Actually the first draft is already written but with little blue markers here and there, like ‘find out more about this aspect’. I often read other books for this age group, often very popular ones, and though people say to me, “Why don’t you write a book like this?” my feeling is that the world is already swimming in books like that. That is why my guidepost is Inspired Books for Children. I want to give something to the young ones who are in a treacherous transition. Not that the transition is of itself so very treacherous, but the world they are living in is treacherous for the transition of leaving childhood and trying to find your solid self in a world bereft of obvious goodness and deeper values. What they are constantly exposed to at school, from peers, from social media and the entertainment industry does not speak to what needs to develop and be connected to internally.
My thoughts for this Day of Love (though Valentine’s Day is commercially hijacked), there is deep value and purpose in reflecting on LOVE.
Anyone who wishes to add their thoughts are very welcome.
I’m sending a big thank you to all of you who availed yourself of the Christmas Sale! It was very rewarding, and I hope you enjoyed the books.
And now, wishing us all of us on this planet an inspired and light-filled year, where we can all be increasingly guided by the light and love of our hearts.
The website is offering a sale of 25% off marked prices from today through to Dec. 24.
As my technician has not caught up with me, I suggest you bypass the PayPal buttons and follow the pricing below on this blog. For the time of this sale payment will be by e-transfer to lila.strand@icloud.com
Please specify book(s) ordered, your address (or child’s address) or pickup to be arranged.
Please ask for a signed copy, gift wrapping (only tissue possible) – with gift card if desired. Any questions, please ask.
PRICING in CAD Keynote words added to give you a gist of the meaning of the book
THE STAR CHILDREN (hard cover): Sale Price: $18
nature play and connectedness, friendship, the Mother-of-Us-All, inner life…ages 3 to 5
LITTLE STAR – A HIDDEN SEED (soft cover) Sale Price $10.50
LITTLE STAR and ELIORE (soft cover): Sale Price $10.50
nature play, loving connectedness, heart, gratitude, stillness, inner plan, perseverance, and trying again…5 to 7
I have wanted to do this every year, but could never get past the PayPal buttons, so you could say, this announcement is the ‘flying by the seat of my pants’ variety.
After a long hiatus, the flow in this department (this website) is moving again!
I once bought a card that said, “Sometimes, the path that will bring you the most joy will need some clearing.” I still have that card, sitting on my desk in full view. But now I might add, “Sometimes the path you are already on will need some clearing!”
Since I wrote the last blog, there have been quite a few obstacles that needed clearing! But the one most pertinent to this website is the ending page of Little Star and Eliore. I really only intended to write three books, period. But I have to say, the ending that landed in the book is not a suitable ending. I feel that the reader is just left hanging. “Then what?”
If you have every tried writing, you will know, that sometimes things present themselves from within you with such absolute and fervent presence, that there is NO going against it.
And why did the book have to end like that? Because underlying these stories is a current of Spiritual Truth. This truth is not representing any particular religion, but is in line with the truths and insights of Ancient Wisdom. And the truth is, despite Eliore’s persistent and headstrong desire to find the Mother-of-Us-All (to get what she wants), she did not connect with her. She could not be allowed to connect with her in that way. If she did it will just be a Santa Claus story. Fiction entirely. All the beings, energies and intelligences that exist in ‘otherworldliness’, are simply not given to us at our command.
You may have noticed that the books address in sequence, the growing consciousness and earthly experience of the child. So now that I have come to the point when one more book will need to be added, I feel I want to address that content to an older child…maybe 8 to 12. I think this book might have to deal with some very difficult things – but in the line of Spiritual Truth.
So the clearing that has had to happen was not in a physical sense, but for me to come to terms with these realities emotionally, artistically, and spiritually. Further, to consider the needs, the orientation, the interest of an older age group that can understand more. Even for me to consider the format of a book for an older child. I think even for me to have the courage to try this!
So this hiatus has been the long gestational period of coming to terms with an approach to his last book. (Not at all finished).
It is hard to believe that it’s been so busy that this announcement is coming LATE! But the book is here. It can be bought from this site, or check out the store option on the Buy the Book Page.
Here is one of my favourite illustrations – I enjoyed the challenge of painting it! “OH NO! SHE FELL OFF THE CLOUDS!”
That brown thing (below) is the most wonderful mailer! They are padded, but NOT with plastic. I finally found such a thing and they just arrived the other day. It gave me a special satisfaction and joy today to get a book ready to be mailed out (it was an already published book)!
Little Star and Eliore will arrive Thursday (Mar. 4) in Castlegar, and will be picked up and distributed to stores on Friday. Early bird orders will go out that day, or Monday (Mar. 5th or 8th)…that is barring snowstorms!
THE STAR CHILDREN BOOKS / INSPIRED BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 