Valentino Speaks: The Wisdom of Rudolph Valentino;
Cues and Views from the Other Side
By Wayne Vincent Hatford
Copyright © 2011 by Wayne Vincent Hatford
Con la
collaborazione dello spirito di
Rodolfo Valentino Guglielmi.
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The Flicker between the Frames
When Rudolph Valentino was projected onto the silver screen, audiences rarely wondered what took place in between frames. They were too enamored with the action in front of their eyes. Now comes Valentino Speaks and a new image of the “Great Lover” that takes us into the spaces between life-times where what you will find is a brilliant display of thought.
This is a book that challenges its readers to examine their views on any number of issues. And, with the spirit of Rudolph Valentino as your guide, you do so with elegance and grace, with neither confrontation nor conceit. Indeed, Valentino’s observations on life propel you on a uniquely beautiful mind, heart, and soul expanding experience!
Valentino Speaks addresses 180 topics in a series of gem-like vignettes organized alphabetically by subject matter. They are all brief and very much to the point, ranging from the mundane to the esoteric to the spiritual and are presented with sparkling clarity. Each essay or rumination, however, is not intended to be the last word on the subject. Instead, see it as a jumping-off point for further consideration or discussion.
A veritable treasure trove of useful information, this project was penned by Wayne Hatford, acting as scribe. Also the author of Letters from Janice: Correspondence with the Astral Plane, Hatford is no stranger to the art of channeling, and the cadence, language, and style of speaking in this tome, so clearly reminiscent of Valentino’s voice in other writings, attest to his ability in that arena.
As to the purpose of this work, Valentino, himself, says…”we are always in need of a little fine-tuning. That is what this book promotes, if one wishes to avail oneself of it. A sharpening of the senses, an uptick in awareness, an even better understanding of the beauty of soul, those are the attributes of Valentino Speaks.”
This book provides both a fascinating read and an enjoyable journey in consciousness. Start at A and proceed through to Z, or use it as a meditation, picking a page or topic at random each day. Whatever your method, you are about to embark on a remarkable voyage, exploring this world… and the next…in stellar company.
Welcome aboard and buon viaggio!
Valentino on ….
Love: “Love works however it’s offered – as a sumptuous feast in the mansion of a rich man or as crumbs on a pauper’s table. Love is, in and of itself, all that we truly ever need.”
Romance: “Becoming right with romance involves really learning how to give and receive. Both must be well-practiced in order for us to become fully engaged. Think of these two verbs as a matched set, each one providing the other with an incentive. It does take two to tango. Natacha and I took that lesson to heart. Hopefully, too, so shall you.”
Relationships: “It is said that two ought to be greater than one. Indeed, so it seems. But the paradox is that it often takes two to be able to see the ONE. When we choose to partner with another person, we’re much more likely to feel our inter-connectedness with the Universe. Intimacy always reminds us that we’re part of the WHOLE.”
Beauty: “Beauty, like honey, tastes better unfiltered – no wardrobe or special make-up required!”
Forgiveness: “A sigh of relief is heard each time someone in the world forgives. Forgiving opens up space for new developments to occur. Indeed, it’s in the act of forgiving that whatever’s been clogging our emotional entrails suddenly gets released.”
Poetry: “What is every poet’s dream? To shed light on thoughts so that they may truly be seen.”
Soul: “What is soul? God individuated that which is immortal. As opposed to personality, the real deal. The personality is but a costume to be changed upon occasion, capable of morphing to suit our needs, whereas the soul represents our core self, the essence of who we are, a multi-faceted subset of the ONE. It is a conglomeration in a single package, expressing the distillation of innumerable life-times.”
Sex: “Sex enhances vibration. Each time we’re sexual, we increase our vibratory rate, defying time by temporarily losing all sense of it. Two people having sex with each other are like a pair of locomotives simultaneously speeding down adjacent tracks, sexual climax being the final station on the main line.”
Money: “When beholding prosperity, be it yours or someone else’s, acknowledge it. In so doing, we are confirming the lack of scarcity in the Universe. In other words, abundance reigns, in all planes. Rejoice, therefore, in each other’s good fortune! In being resentful of another person’s prosperity the only thing we’re likely to accomplish is to short circuit our own. My friends, the laws of abundance are extraordinarily simple. To the extent that we’re able to see ourselves as having the resources we need, so shall it be.”
Happiness: “Laughter is connected to happiness at the point at which it meets itself, coming and going. Health is also entwined therein, at the very same juncture. That we often pair health and happiness in the same breath is not accidental. They are birds of a feather. That said, laughter’s role in this pairing is one of facilitator. Quantifiably potent, its healing properties are perhaps even more effective than other therapeutic agents. It IS to laugh. The more we laugh, the happier and healthier we are all the more likely to become.”
Hope: “Hope fuels our progress. Like Love, it’s always working on our behalf. By hoping, we define our preferences, the first step in bringing about a desired result.”
Beliefs: “How you see things depends on how you choose to see them. The bottom line is that nothing really means anything unless you believe that it does.”
Grazie Mille to all those who helped make this book possible!
In
Spirit
Rudolph Valentino Guglielmi
Black
Feather
Meselope
Helen Hatford Good
Alice Vincent
Hatford
Gus and Tillie Henke
Janice Horn
William Mumford
Jr.
Charles and Margaret Vincent
Eva Walker
My
Parents:
Bernice Henke Hatford
Robert W.
Hatford
In
The Flesh
Daniel Alvear
Lynn Bell
Steven
Benjamin
Frank and Liza Bizzarro
G. Robert Cash
Darcy Sean
Clarke
Tamara Diaghilev
Erik Engel
Alice Garabedian
Tom
Hayes
Walter Krueckl
Kenneth M. Leavitt
Donna Good
Mereno
June Hatford Nugent
C. Jack Schwarz
Julie Soquet
Kurt
Wagner
For
their work and dedication to the memory of Rudolph Valentino
Edoardo
Ballerini
Kevin Brownlow
Allan Ellenberger
Donna Hill
Sylvia
Valentino Huber
Emily Leider
Tracy Terhune
Jeanette
Valentino Villalobos
Jeanine Villalobos
And so many
more!
Also
Silvio Alovisio
Giulia Carluccio
Antonio
Miredi
Paolo Orlandelli
Fabio Salvatore
Fondazione Rodolfo
Valentino
Museo Valentino
&
The Town of Castellaneta,
Italy
A
Special Thanks to
Robert G. Prescod for having
been instrumental in bringing this book to fruition.
Offered in the Spirit of Love and Service
“You ask about poetry and why I am partial to it. The answer is simple. Poems may be thought of as paintings on a page. The words are shadings and colorings whose purpose is to give shape to thought.”
R. Valentino Guglielmi
In 1923, Valentino wrote and published a metaphysically-oriented book of poetry entitled Day Dreams. The poems contained herein, written more than eighty years later, follow in that tradition. They have been included to underscore certain key points and principles and are inscribed with a personal wish of love to all those who read them.
As you begin Valentino Speaks, I invite you to suspend your disbelief. Yes, it is so, those on the other side can and do communicate with us all the time. Rudolph Valentino is just another in a long line of helpful souls who, from their particular vantage point, have chosen to share their wisdom. You may, of course, react to what he has to say any way you want. The only thing I ask is that you keep an open mind.
Wayne
Vincent Hatford
Palm Springs, 2011
Table of Contents
Bullfighting (Man versus Nature)
Castellaneta (Valentino Birthplace)
“Da Ricordare” (Things to Keep in Mind)
Inspirational Thoughts (Aphorisms)
Spirit Guides (Personal Angels)
Coda: The Life and Times of Rudolph Valentino
Partial Bibliography & Internet Resources
Other books by Wayne Hatford
Valentino-related books in progress
Internet Resources
“Love binds us to each other as well as to the dimensions we
inhabit.
In essence, it’s our reason for being, THE reason why
every-thing IS.”
R. Valentino Guglielmi
Men should be judged not by the tint of their skin
The gods they serve, the vintage that they drink
Nor by the way they fight or love or sin
But rather by the quality of thought they think.
(Intertitle card from The
Young Rajah
starring Rudolph Valentino,
Paramount, 1922.)
How to describe Rudolph Valentino in the language of his time? “He was respectful of himself and others. He was reverent in how he dealt with spiritual matters yet jaunty in the manner in which he moved throughout the world. He was himself, at heart the southern Italian gentleman, the young man whose tendency it was to be simpatico towards everyone.” He was also very much a lightning rod. If ever there was a person of interest, it was he. The tabloids loved him! And so did his many legions of fans.
Primarily known as an actor, Rudolph Valentino was really a man for all seasons. In addition to being a movie star, he wore a number of other hats during that life-time, for example, auto mechanic, physical fitness buff, exhibition dancer, writer, equestrian and photographer, just to name a few. In short, he was like all of us, a complex and multi-faceted individual full of hope and contradictions. But what of his inner being, the eternal self? That is the Valentino you will come to know here, the part of him that most of you have not had the pleasure of meeting before – on screen or off.
How was this book born? Of course, I already knew a little about Valentino’s career before beginning this project. And, I had also seen what was arguably one of his best films, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, at a San Francisco silent film festival. Even so, as of early 2004 my knowledge of him was rather limited.
In June of that year, however, things changed. Within the space of three weeks, I experienced a number of coincidences that were all Valentino-related. Photos, books, videos and unexpected connections all suddenly came my way, showing up in my life with way too much synchronicity for me not to pay attention. The biggest surprise though was yet to come. By the end of the month I instinctively felt that I wanted to try connecting with him through automatic writing, a technique that I had not practiced since I channeled my previous book, (Letters from Janice, Uni-Sun, 1987) about a friend’s experiences with the transition known as death.
Desirous of establishing contact, I was delighted to discover that I had! A message came through and based on its content as well as how it was signed, it immediately became clear that I was in touch with Valentino’s essence. Our first writing session was brief but informative. However, starting with session two and going forward we have been able to effectively align our energies for the purpose of writing this book. The whole process has been facilitated by our respective spirit guides and the soul essences of my grandmother, Alice Vincent Hatford, and other members of the Vincent clan. Working together as a group they provided the technical assistance required to make it happen. Others, too, sometimes joined the ranks, offering their help on an ad-hoc basis.
As a result, communication between us has flourished. Of course, I initially had to work on suspending my disbelief just as I had to do when I first channeled my friend Janice. But the evidence that I was in contact with Valentino’s essence was undeniable. So I settled in, during the next few years producing the sixty automatic writing sessions that form the basis of this book. Doing this work has been a wonderful experience, something I’ve been thankful for since day one. Not only has it helped me transform my own thinking, it also provided both of us with an opportunity to re-boot, to start over again with each other karmically. Have Valentino and I had any previous entanglements? Yes, rather intense ones too, which is the answer to the rhetorical question why me? Once I began to recall some of the visuals, he was able to share details about three in particular. We knew each other in medieval Italy, during the 9th century on the Arabian Peninsula and several thousand years ago in the land of the Pharaohs. “Three on a match, one that has illuminated all of our interactions thus far.” A play on words, courtesy of Valentino. What he means is that all of our interactions have been due to our original vibrational match, the same one that continues to light our path today. In other words, we go way back.
That said, I am not the first person to have channeled Rudolph Valentino nor am I likely to be the last. Indeed, it has been well-documented that since his death in 1926 Valentino has had a history of speaking through others, most notably in the role of metaphysical teacher. Why is he so keen on communicating in this manner? Because to share is to love. That is the reason Valentino speaks to us from beyond, to share what he has learned, an expression of love. And now he sends his love one more time, presenting us with all new material!
Never having read any of his writings prior to starting this project, I did not have a sense of how Valentino might have expressed himself during that life-time. However, after our third session together I decided to locate and read copies of Day Dreams, the book of poetry he wrote in 1923, and My Private Diary, a journal of his European travels originally published in a magazine. In so doing, I discovered that the material in the three channeled sessions we had already completed closely resembled his other writings in terms of style and tone – even though the content was quite different. To me that was the ultimate confirmation that we were indeed in contact.
In educating myself about Valentino’s personal and professional life I found it rather fascinating that he had also been open to channeling. June Mathis, the screenwriter friend who helped shape his career, was perhaps the first person in Hollywood to broach the subject with him. Embracing what he soon found to be a natural inclination, over time he participated in a number of automatic writing sessions and séances, especially with Natacha Rambova, his second wife. He was also known to have channeled on his own, using the information he received to write poetry and in general provide guidance.
According to biographers Valentino was interested in spiritualism, gave credence to the concept of past lives and subscribed to the idea that the soul survives the death of the physical body. He also firmly believed in God. Although he was never particularly religious in the traditional sense, he was born and raised a Catholic. Natacha, on the other hand, was strongly attracted to ancient religions, an interest she pursued for the rest of her life, at one point even becoming a respected Egyptologist. During their marriage she actively supported her husband’s interests in all things metaphysical.
To quote Natacha, writing shortly after his death: “Rudy was really psychic. We used to do mechanical writing quite a bit. A spirit would take command of the hand and pen and move the entranced medium to write on paper what was being dictated.” Although Valentino may have been in contact with a number of spirit entities in this manner, he apparently communicated more with two in particular, Meselope, an Egyptian of the Hermetic brotherhood primarily associated with his wife, and Black Feather, a Native American and his own personal spirit guide.
Since the inception of this project I’ve been communicating with the entirety of Rudolph Valentino rather than with just some portion of him. Indeed, I conceive of Valentino’s essence as being inclusive of all his experience and knowledge to date – in all times and places. I’d like to propose, therefore, that he be conceptualized as something far greater than his former self, keeping in mind that names are nothing more than a frame of reference.
What I say here about Rudolph Valentino can easily be applied to everyone. Without exception, our respective life experiences are vast in comparison to what can be understood and utilized in the context of any one incarnation. In making this point, I am reminded of another that is perhaps even more salient: That all the information in this book was sourced from Universal Mind. However, in order for it to be expressed it first needed to be focused. Valentino’s essence was able to do just that, distilling larger themes into more manageable ideas and then funneling them across the dimensional divide in such as way so as they might be shared. In order for any of this to occur, however, I first had to be a willing participant – something I was from beginning to end.
Although all information that ever was or shall be is theoretically available to us, it is not always so easy to access it on our own. Rudolph Valentino’s gift here is to offer us pearls of wisdom, or as some might put it, an invitation to tango with a master dancer. Each essay or rumination, however, is not intended to be the last word on the subject. Instead, see it as a jumping-off point for further consideration or discussion. Valentino, like each of us, is still evolving. Though he speaks to us from the totality of what he knows, he does not yet know it all. Neither does anyone else for that matter, in the body or out. As he states unequivocally “that honor is reserved for the Creator.” Therefore, take the information offered here as one soul entity’s point of view, keeping in mind that you are the final arbiter of what is true for you.
I contend that spiritual awareness rather than his work as an actor is the true legacy of Rudolph Valentino. That said, this book is not intended to enshrine him or put any laurels on his head. Such would be the opposite of what he seeks to accomplish and at odds with the intent. Valentino is on a journey, just as we all are. He is not looking for any special recognition. His only hope is that you will find the ideas expressed in these pages to be helpful in deciding how you want to live your lives.
Valentino Speaks contains 180 thought-provoking vignettes on a wide variety of subjects, many of which have never been explored before through this type of lens. They are all brief and very much to the point, prescriptive suggestions for dealing with the challenges we all have to face. To quote Valentino: “our book is about helping people thrive in the midst of momentous change by focusing on the most creative aspects of ordinary dilemmas.” As stated in the foreword, there are also a number of poems that have been included in order to underscore certain key points and principles. They tend to be playful, thought-provoking and hopefully, as Valentino himself put it “sometimes even a little like paintings on a page.” That, at least, was the intent.
Because it’s relevant, I’d like to point out that Rudolph Valentino was multi-lingual, speaking Italian, French, English and Spanish, all with great aplomb. He also knew a bit of German. Indeed, he was quite the communicator, even attempting to sing at one point. In 1923, he made a vanity record as a present for his wife, today the only remaining evidence of his voice.
Now, more than eighty years later, he has once again been given an opportunity to speak!
Valentino often inserted Italian, Spanish or French words into our channeled communication which, as it turned out, were always perfect for the occasion. To be true to his intent, I have left all non-English words intact, followed by their translations. That I am a former French and Spanish teacher who also speaks Italian has been most helpful and is perhaps yet another reason why, on the deepest of levels, Valentino and I have chosen to collaborate: we both know the same languages.
Now a bit more about the process. So that an automatic writing session may be accomplished, it is first necessary to establish an etheric link. The actual mechanics are fairly straightforward, mostly involving creating the time and space for it to occur. To that end, I have designed a ritual whose purpose is to clear the air vibrationally, anchor myself in the moment and call forth the necessary guides and technicians, those on the other side who help us to effect our communication. As soon as everything is in place Valentino’s essence signs in and we begin.
During each session the power resides at the point of my pen as there is a force present, separate from my own, that is moving it. Of course, I am also involved but have set aside some of my own energy in order to allow Valentino to come through. At certain times the writing is very fast-paced. At others it’s slow and deliberate. I may hear the words in my head as I write or I may not. However, all that does not matter.
What is important is that I’m able to get out of the way to a certain extent so that communication can take place. In fact, I am in a partial trance, my “NOW” focused solely on what is before me. Time seems to disappear, folding into itself. I do not consciously know what I have written until later when I transcribe it. Very little editing was required. What you read in these pages, therefore, is exactly what Valentino’s essence wanted to say about each topic.
Explaining abstract ideas is always challenging. Nevertheless, with Valentino as the source and myself as the scribe, we have done our best to accurately convey all intended meanings. In these pages, Valentino shares his thoughts in a crisp, charming and again slightly playful manner, using alliteration as a teaching device. Truth is universal yet it must constantly be told and re-told in order to be fully grasped. Valentino Speaks aims to do just that. We hope to jog your memories so that you remember even more of what you already know.
Valentino’s goal in writing this book is to help each of us achieve greater degrees of awareness, inner alignment and personal growth. To that end, he offers many examples of ‘ways to be.’ Keep in mind, however, that there is no one right path. How you ‘are’ at any given moment simply reflects the sum of your choices to date. Valentino’s way of being, though not necessarily yours or mine, serves to remind us all of our own gifts, abilities and unlimited potentials.
Valentino Speaks is arranged alphabetically so that any topic of interest will be easy to find. Each is self-contained and does not have to be read in sequence. This book then is a compendium of the wisdom of Rudolph Valentino, a practical guide to the movie called “Life.” You are invited to accept or reject any part of it as you see fit, according to its resonance with your inner self.
The final sentence of an article Valentino once wrote for Movie Weekly magazine now seems rather prophetic. May the memory of my shortcomings fade when the thread of my days has run through the loom of life and only the best art that I had it in me to give remains. The tapestry of the life that was Rudolph Valentino’s has long since been completed. However, the best in him continues to inform. Le stelle non smettono mai di brillare – stars never stop shining. Valentino shines in this book like he never has before. Again, I feel very fortunate for having been able to work on this project. It’s been a constant joy!
Note: on the following pages, all italic questions and comments are mine; everything else is Rudy.
An actor without a part is no one, or so it has been said. It’s a good thing we always have some part to play. Actually, there’s never a time when we don’t!
What is the secret of a good actor then, especially if the medium is moving pictures? An actor’s true brilliance lies in his or her ability to be still while in motion. Those who can most successfully project the stillness of their characters within the context of movement are those who are the most gifted.
The converse is equally true. In Hollywood parlance, the isolated frames of a film are known as stills. When each still, in and of itself, conveys some inner facet of the character being depicted, it is proof of an inspired performance. Taken collectively and placed within a framework of motion, they come together to form each actor’s body of work.
You have indeed gotten to the bottom of what I was all about on the screen and in my daily life. I was blessed, especially in front of the camera. I had the ability to inhabit my characters, that is to say, to imbue them with the essence of soul. That is why they seemed so real. Nevertheless, this was not an exclusive gift granted to Rudolph Valentino, not at all! Everyone can do what I used to do. We all inhabit our roles, whatever they may be. It is always preferable, however, to do so without taking ourselves too seriously. A light touch will bring you much you see.
My formula for playing any part in life is simply to feel it. Ask yourself what is really there? What essentials must your character express? Furthermore, be aware of the ‘realities’ that are to be projected on the rhetorical screen of life and how they might affect or be affected by your character.
We all are actors, yes we be, for Actors Guild members are we, always playing our respective parts. How is this so? We all have stories to tell and tell them we must – through the use of any and all available modalities, on screen or off. Truth be told though, we are never off-screen, even when we are supposedly alone.
‘Dancing through life’ was my strategy. However, if the idea of dancing is not to your liking, choose a different metaphor, your own carefully crafted ‘how to be.’ Then, let things flow. You’ll definitely put on a good show. There’s nothing very complicated here, dear readers.
In essence, adopt a frame of mind or an attitude towards life that works best for you. Mine was the dance, as epitomized by the tango. But there are also any number of other readily available metaphorical constructs that can be equally as effective. Use my model, if you will, peruse those of your peers or choose one that you yourself devise. Remember, there is no one size fits all.
Which then shall be your preferred method? Which pitch to best effect your affect? Once these questions have been answered to your satisfaction, stick with it. Hang your hat on the stance you have chosen, subject, of course, to change.
As far as acting is concerned, some get paid, most do not! Structure your scenes. Light yourself well. Block your moves too, even if it’s hard to tell if you’re doing it right. Usually you are!
An actor is he or she who acts, i.e. WE. Actors literally take action and run with it. As actors, we function as catalysts and catalysts are, by their very nature, enthusiastically disposed to the task of bouncing thoughts around a set, literally our ‘field of play.’
Acting is an essential part of the art of being. In fact, they are inexorably entwined. The preferable way ‘to be’ in life is natural. Be who you truly are and you will indeed go far.
As actors we are eternally on set, cameras rolling, ever on our marks. It’s funny but we do always seem know our lines even if we never rehearsed them before. We also seem to be perpetual students, always striving to improve our skills.
Consider this: we are first and foremost actors, no matter what else we may choose to do. To act, in fact, is to support the vital substratum of Universal Energy that nurtures us all, the ‘that which lies beneath’ of our existence. It is interesting to note also that life requires that we all become well-schooled in the fine art of expressing ourselves.
Personalities come and go bump in the night, or during the day, as the case may be. The point is that they often conflict. What is the constant in this observation? That we lob our thoughts back and forth, again as though we were tossing a ball around on a playing field. That’s what we’re here to do. It’s just part of the game of life, always in progress. There is never a time-out either. Seems like it’s always our turn.
I play, you play, we play, they play – all parts and roles. Although these are literally just forms of the same verb, practically speaking they describe what we all do: act. And as we act, characters come to be, fleshed out, as they say. But in fact all characters already are. This you shall come to see more clearly as you evolve and grow into whoever it is that you are seeking to become.
Acting – I love it! Always have. As your consciousness joins forces with the spirit of acting, allow yourself to become part of that spirit. To do so is like eating a piece of the world’s most delicious pie. You, too, will love the experience. It’s called ‘being in the flow.’
You must first define your character. Only then can you decide how best to play your part. Next, just do it. But in order to do, as always, you must first BE.
This is the actor’s creed, simplified: BE, then do what comes naturally!
Adventures are opportunities for us to become more conscious. I submit, for example, that you are on an adventure right now. It started the moment you opened this book.
The spirit of adventure requires us to go where we have never been before, to wherever the four winds take us.
Indeed, the concept of adventure implies that in order to be able to experience one we must first put ourselves out there. In other words, we must be willing to try something new. However, in so doing we most likely will not be able to foresee the results of our endeavors.
Being in integrity with adventure demands that our physical bodies get involved. They must in order for personal epiphanies and breakthroughs in consciousness to take place. Although adventure is frequently linked with travel, that is a conceptual limitation. Adventures can be initiated in myriad ways and within endless numbers of frameworks. And, as long as the physical body is in some way part of the experience, they can happen at any time and place, including in our home environments.
Sometimes just one word can trigger an idea that will lead to some sort of an adventure. Then subsequent choices will turn that idea into a series of unexpected events and consequences. Indeed, that is always the delicious part.
What constitutes adventure? There are no constraints. Anything can be an adventure if you deem it so. The question to ask is have I done this before? If the answer is no and you want to do it now, you’re at the beginning of an adventure.
Whatever falls into the category of ‘seeming to be new’ inspires adventure. It’s not so much the adventure itself, however, that’s important. It’s what we learn from it. Changed perspectives are usually the result, an integral part of the evolutionary process. If we can’t change our points of view, we can’t evolve. It’s as simple as that. Therefore, be open to adventures of any size, shape or flavor. At the very least, they will always reward us with greater understanding. Indeed, our task in life is to continually move from the realm of the known into the unknown, be it in direct or crab-like fashion.
Physical risk, though often associated with adventure, need not be one of its essential components. Actually, risking our bodies in thoughtless ways is counterproductive to personal growth. Calculated risk, on the other hand, is another thing. When doing anything that involves the safety of the physical body, be sure to check in with both gut and logic. Although our spirit guides may, upon occasion, intervene to save the day, the responsibility for our safety and well-being ultimately rests in our own hands.
In order to have an adventure all we need is the intention. Indeed, we have only to focus our consciousness in that direction and then choose our prescription. It may be one that’s easy to take, like a sugar-coated pill, or it could be a little more difficult to swallow. In all cases, however, the soul inherently knows the parameters of what is being required, gently reminding us at the outset to make appropriate choices.
In truth, most people need very little encouragement to be adventuresome. And, when we allow our life circumstances to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary, whatever we are doing automatically becomes an adventure.
Pharaonic Egypt was truly the land of the Golden Mean. Symmetry, proportion and balance ruled the day. There, all was math and spatial relationships. The ancient Egyptians used geometrical shapes and placements in order to create energy grids that worked in conjunction with the magnetic forces of the Earth. Each of these shapes had their own particular power and use. When juxtaposed according to pre-determined mathematical calculations, they acted in concert, as energy generators and modulators.
People in ancient Egypt had only to place themselves within these prescribed grids in order to be able to harness certain energies. The overall purpose of this was to dedicate power to specific tasks, especially those that had to do with governing the entity that was then the nation of Egypt. These grid lines were extremely important. They were usually constructed in temple complexes or at burial sites and were the exclusive province of the Pharaoh, the High Priests and a few other learned people.
Those who harnessed the energies I speak of here were able to accomplish great things on behalf of the Egyptian state, working with the Earth’s magnetic field in order to realize common goals.
The rulers of Egypt used these same concepts to protect their land and thwart potential enemies. They were also employed to accomplish any number of other things, for example, constructing buildings and monuments in what we might think of as record time, ensuring the yearly ebbs and flows of the river Nile and anchoring the identity of the Egyptian people. All this was quite the balancing act! Nevertheless, Egypt had thousands of years of peace and prosperity as a result.
What was known in ancient Egypt is retrievable and so shall it be. The story of this great land is encoded in all of our hearts.
Egypt was a paradise then as well as being a feast for the eyes and all of the other senses. Metaphysics were the rule rather than the exception. And, we strove to find balance in whatever we could or would do.
Again, everything in ancient Egyptian life was based on the science of shapes, spatial relationships and mathematical computations. This was the main precept and that society’s guiding principle. At the same time, however, the ancient Egyptians knew how to honor and work with their environment. Egypt was an arid land. How else could they have made it bloom?
A parallel notion is to be found in the game of chess. First of all, mathematical principles have a role in how the game is played. Secondly, all of the pieces create different dynamics depending on their placements. And finally, the field of play, the board, if you will, is suspiciously analogous to your dimension. Remember it was the Egyptians who were among the first to capture the idea that living in the Earth Plane is a flat screen experience, not at all the three dimensional thing we perceive it to be.
The common denominator in all of Egypt’s accomplishments and renown was again its reliance on mathematics. In particular, the numbers three, five and seven were of great importance. Why? Because they were quite efficacious in the computation of certain formulas.
Though often seen today as having been a rather mystical and amorphous land, the reality is that pharaonic Egypt was a highly organized and precise society. Everything had its purpose and place. For centuries, the Egyptian nation was supported and maintained by intense concentrations of thought, primarily generated by its priestly contingents, their minions and various and sundry supporters. It was a prime example of what mankind can accomplish.
In ancient Egypt, Light was everywhere. Its inhabitants had only to avail themselves of it.
When seized by anger, we may sometimes choose to act impetuously or even irrationally.
On an emotional level, anger often provokes blinding or bewildering sorts of feelings. If unrestrained, it can overwhelm our faculties, preventing us from making sound and reasonable judgments. Nevertheless, anger must be experienced and dealt with by every human being.
When anger is overly indulged, it tends to intensify, begetting itself and possibly spinning out of control. Therefore, allowing anger to rule your life is at best counter-productive and at worst may lead to self-undoing.
When angry, the best thing we can do is just to acknowledge it and then let it go.
Our consciousness is not above the consciousness of animals. It is simply of different stuff, serving other purposes and goals. Animals, too, have souls. Therefore, things work much the same for them as they do for us. A major difference, however, is that when animals are disincarnate they continue life on their own levels in the Astral.
In death, you and your pets may choose to be in close proximity with each other but that is not a given. There needs to be some mutually beneficial reason for that to occur. In the meantime, you may visit former pets if you wish but they are limited in coming to you unless you and they have exceptionally strong bonds.
If you recall, I was once very close to a number of dogs. However, I can’t manifest them as a group. Neither can I see them all at one time. Any attempt on my part to do so would cause consternation – primarily because they would not be able to handle it energetically. Therefore, I have to focus my thoughts on one pet at a time in order for us to be able to relate to each other in the Astral.
Pets are often among our closest companions, never tiring of our presence. However, there is one caveat: if we choose to have a pet, we have a responsibility to it. Adopting a pet is like adopting a child. It means making a life-time commitment.
Pets are our natural friends, loving and faithful. Once they are in our lives, we become their world. That said, not everyone should have a pet. There’s a certain disposition that’s required, a kind heart being the main prerequisite. Again, you must be willing to see pets as children and care for them as such. It is a responsibility that you must clearly accept should you decide to adopt one.
If you want to know what pure love looks like, picture your dog looking into your eyes or think of your cat purring in your lap – being there for you as you are for them. There’s partnership practice at play in the way that you and your pet relate to each other.
Yes, we get to practice relating with our pets – hopefully transferable to our own species, in partnership and marriage.
I would like to say a few words about the idea of loving what you are not doing. Sounds strange, I know, but being envious of work or a project that is being done by someone else is akin to beating yourself up.
So love what you are not doing and what others therefore are doing. Why? Because they do it for you as you do whatever you are doing for them. There is no individuality on the action axis of the Earth Plane. We all work for and with each other all of the time.
Loving each other’s work, therefore, whether or not we are personally involved with it, is key to having a more conscious, peaceful and tranquil existence. Jealousy and envy are feelings that should be monitored and neutralized whenever they are detected.
Love your neighbor’s work and value his or her skills. Our gifts find their source in the Creator and we all need to express them. As soon as we realize that each of us has something unique to offer petty differences start to fade, becoming irrelevant.
Fashion is naught for what‘s being sought. It’s not worth the trouble to obsess about. Glamour, seductive as it may be, also counts for naught. It’s like a shadow flickering on a wall, perceptible though never very substantial.
Presenting yourself well has far less to do with fashion than one might suspect. In the final analysis, it’s always the inner self that leaves the strongest impression anyway. How you ultimately appear to others, therefore, is based far more on who you really are than on any external factor. Character is indeed higher than intellect. Though gold and glitter may sometimes attempt to influence our hearts and minds, their effects are temporal at best.
If you want to make a good impression, the tried and true advice still applies. Be neat and clean. And, dress as well as you can given your economic status. But beyond that it’s in the soul where our true power of presentation lies.
What counts most as far as appearance is concerned is smiling, exuding good will and having a sparkle in your eyes. All other considerations pale in comparison. A smile is the best accessory one could ever hope to have, and it’s free! So, smile. By smiling you are inviting others to share in your joy.
Good will, my friends, opens many a door. Whenever you express it, others usually respond in kind. Working in tandem, smiles and good will are quite an effective pair. Indeed, they are the secret of a glowing appearance.
Our eyes, even more than our smiles, tell the whole story. They reveal our true i-dentity, letting others know exactly who we really are. Keep this in mind then as you are afoot in the world: the eyes are the mirrors of eternity in whose reflection we come to be known.
The best in art always remains unresolved, open for discussion. In general, being able to access the child within is an important part of the creative process. It is especially imperative, however, for artists to be able to view life through the eyes of youth, no matter what their chronological age. It is then and only then that they can truly be fruitful in their endeavors.
For artists to be at the top of their game, they must be ‘in the flow.’ Obviously they can’t produce very much if they are feeling out of sorts. Inspiration counts too, whether it results from seeing a fly land on a piece of fruit, enjoying a walk on the beach or observing a camel being silhouetted by the afternoon light. Inspirations may come from any quarter, especially given that they are not all that likely to be used in a literal way. Anyone or anything, therefore, can inspire an artist.
Artists are typically quite sensitive to light. They are also usually very comfortable with chiaroscuro, the shadow world. Indeed, more often than not artists walk the line between the dimensions. It is their task to make us all that much more aware of the divine.
Painters paint what their souls know. Sculptors sculpt in the same way. Though to our eyes works of art may seem to have great form and substance, it’s what’s in between their molecules that counts: Love. Love is both the foundation of art and its guiding light.
As human beings, we must first understand what it means to be and how that is life.
The most important lesson we can ever learn is one of the simplest. Be true to your essence. Always know who you are. Then, drink it all in. È molto speciale.
Be LOVE – incarnate and disincarnate. Make agape your creed. See how you can BE in the world. Then, BE in all senses of that word. Indeed, we must BE before we can possibly DO anything. Doing follows from and is commensurate with being. The freedom to BE and DO is key to growth and evolution. What you do defines who you are and vice-versa.
Approach life in the spirit of play. Experiment with all the pieces of the puzzle, especially those that seem not to fit. Have fun arranging them. In so doing you will learn something, just as you did in kindergarten. Indeed, life in the Earth Plane is much like kindergarten with we being der kinder – the children.
Recall the memories of childhood which by definition always seem quite beautiful, the forest scenes, playing near streams, running barefoot in the grass. Then use these remembrances to examine the complexities of life from the perspective of youth. When the age of innocence is your lens, there is no lack of wonder!
Each soul entity is a perpetual student, wherever they call home. I, too, am a student, as are you. Whether in the Astral or Earth Plane, we are continuously enrolled in the school of life. The law of cause and effect, also known as karma, governs every aspect of our lives. Our goal, therefore, should be to soften its impact – to the extent that we possibly can.
Here is a recipe for having a good life. Embrace love and hope. Allow your soul to always be present. Work in harmony with others while maintaining a sense of individuality. Honor yourself and your needs yet be humble with other people.
El Marcador – The Framer
Just how to frame, how to play the game
Of life with little or no blame?
Well, maintain your mind’s eye glimmer
In the light of a positive shimmer
Be resolute! You must sustain a constructive frame
Of mind as negative thought just not ought to reign
On this sphere or in any other plane.
RVG
Think of the astral body as a conglomeration of atomic particles that have coalesced to create an etheric form, one that has substance yet remains intangible.
The soul and astral body are inexorably entwined. If you will, picture them as joined at the hip. Upon occasion, they enter the flesh, primarily to experience life from a different perspective. In such instances, the physical and astral bodies work together, hosting each other for specific amounts of time. The astral body’s role is to house the soul while the physical body serves to protect it from the harsher realities of Earth Plane existence. The ancient Egyptians saw this interrelationship very clearly. In their tombs, the outermost coffin or mummy case represented the physical body. The inner sarcophagi, each of greater beauty and more exquisite material than the one preceding it, symbolized the astral body. Finally, the mummy’s placement at the core of this arrangement was that of the soul.
Our individual and collective task is to evolve. In order to achieve this most worthy of goals, we must always be willing to learn. Are there ever times when we are not learning? No. Never! We’re always apt pupils, whether during waking or sleeping hours.
When we sleep, our consciousness in the form of the astral body separates from the physical body in order to visit the Astral. And, by the way, we learn just as much when we are sleeping as we do when we are awake. The only difference is our so-called condition. What we see and do in the sleep state is called a dream. What we see and do when we are awake is conceived of as reality. In truth, however, they are one in the same.
In the Astral, the astral body ‘does’ and ‘is’ what it ‘can do’ and ‘can be.’ This is not double-speak. Please read this phrase again and consider the words in their full import. Dreams are what you make them. The physical body needs food and water to ensure its survival whereas the astral body needs only to have direct contact with Universal energy in order to be nourished.
During each sleep cycle, we get to play with thought-force, the stuff that dreams are made of. However, it’s mostly a self-contained experience. Though there are exceptions, in the dream state incarnates are generally not able to directly interact with those in spirit. Why? Because as a condition of being associated with a physical body they have limited access.
Nevertheless, each sleep episode offers us plenty of opportunities for learning. In the dream state, our choices are infinite. That’s why dreams often morph from one scenario to another in what seems to us like breakneck speed. Dreams represent permutations of what is either possible or probable. Interestingly enough, however, they always seem to relate to the current issues or dilemmas in our lives.
Some dreams are rather weighty, presented to us as parables or ‘what if’ scenarios. Others are more whimsical, like silhouettes being projected on a wall. Be that as it may, the important thing to understand here is that all dreams, regardless of content, are learning tools. It’s often in the sleep state where we have the greatest opportunity to sort through our issues. And, since there are no constraints in the Astral, we’re able to experience whatever it is that we most need or want.
Dreams are recipes for self-healing and self-understanding. Why then are the images we see in our dreams often so disparate and at times even alarming? Because each recipe contains diverse ingredients. However, when blended together they always create something delicious.
Dreams would not be were it not for love. Keep a notebook at your bedside and use it upon awakening. In the contemplation of our dreams, there is always much to be gleaned.
The other side. Another world, the details of which, at least temporarily, we have chosen to forget. Watching a bird float through the air, we are reminded of what it feels like to be free, that is to say, of the way we once were and how again we shall be. The Astral Plane is our one true home. ‘Tis only there that we have complete freedom.
The Astral Plane, by the way, is always nigh. Indeed, the entrance to the Astral is just down the hall from wherever it is that we happen to be, eternally handy and ever-accessible. At the moment of death, we have but to open the door.
As incarnates, we are always only one breath away from our demise. Up to that moment, however, we continue ‘being’ in the Earth Plane, ensconced in this dimension. Death is concurrent with the first inhalation that does not take place. It’s at that point and that point alone that we find ourselves crossing over, ready to continue living our lives, albeit in another dimension.
We might well look to two Italian words, uscita and entrata, literally egress and ingress, as we think about transition. When we change our dimensional status, what we are doing is exiting one door just as we are entering another. However, in this case both doors are one – in the same.
(Speaking to the author) As a child you once had a toy that was known at the time as a pinwheel. When activated, it looked like a spinning dynamo, emitting sparks. As simple as it may have been, this toy illustrated the true nature of who we are: points of light rooted in the matrices of our respective souls. When in use it captured the look and feel of At-One-Ment, that state of being characterized by a sense of perfect alignment.
Children are great teachers. If we but pay attention it is often through their eyes that we can learn something. Recall, if you will, you and your friends running around outdoors on a hot summer’s eve holding these devices in your hands as though they were scepters. By activating your pinwheels you were able to see each other in the dark.
Remember that we are not who and what we seem. Though temporarily housed in a physical body, in reality we are energy in motion, a helix spinning in clock-wise fashion. While incarnated, we cannot see who we really are even though we are often able to sense it, especially when looking at ourselves from a place of introspection.
At-One-Ment is a relative thing. Of course, we are always ‘At-One,’ no matter what. But it’s only when our hearts are open that we become more conscious of it. A greater awareness of the interconnectedness of all things is what will lead us to having more joy in our lives. And, all it takes to get us there is a simple thumbs-up – that plus giving ourselves permission to go with the flow.
(Again, speaking to the author) In the writing of this book, you and I have often been ‘at-one’ and are so now – at this very moment. This is what it feels like. At-One-Ment is true intimacy, a sense of having docked, interlocked and then merged with the whole while still maintaining a sense of self. It’s knowing that the individual pieces of ‘what is’ all fit together, forming a schematic far more complex than any one of us could ever possibly imagine.
God is One – no other number, and all numbers fit into ONE. At-One-Ment, therefore, is all-inclusiveness run amok – in the best of all possible ways.
A – Adoration/Affinity/Allure
B – Beauty/Blessing/Bliss
C – Caresses/Commitment/Community/Confidence
D – Dedication/Desire/Dreams
E – Ecstasy/Empathy/Energy
F – Faith/Fascination/Friend
G – Gifts/God/Gratitude
H – Happiness/Honor/Hugs
I – Illumination/Integrity/Intuition
J – Joy/Jubilation/Justice
K – Karma/Kisses/Knowledge
L – Lingering/Lips/Longing
M – Marriage/Morals/Mystery
N – Namaste/Natural/Nourishment
O – Offer/Openness/Opportunity
P – Partnership/Passion/Promise/Proposal
Q – Quality/Quest/Quickening
R – Realizations/Reveries/Romance
S – Sacrifice/Sexuality/Sympathy
T – Thought/Trust/Truth
U – Ubiquity/Understanding/Unknown
V – Venus/Virtue/Vows
W – Welcome/Wisdom/Wishes
X – Xenia (Hospitality)
Y – Yang/Yearn/Yin
Z – Zap/Zeal/Zenith/Zest
Augury has several meanings, omens, indications and portents being among them. During the Roman Empire, ‘augurs’ were appointed to their positions by the priestly class on behalf of the senate and the people of Rome. Their task was to interpret the will of that society’s gods by observing the behavioral patterns of birds. In essence they were oracles, empowered by their benefactors and questioners alike to render a yea or nay on the decisions that Rome’s politicians, generals and emperors had either already made or were about to make. At the time, the service they provided was seen as essential to the smooth functioning of that city and its far-flung empire. In other words, thinking of sending more legions to Gaul? Let’s see what the augurs have to say.
Tanti auguri, a familiar phrase in modern-day Italian, is often used as a sign-off on cards and letters. On one hand, it means may you have many blessings, implying that they all be fortuitous. More literally, however, it expresses the hope that you will encounter many augurs during the course of your life – i.e., that you will always have lots of support. For our purposes, let’s confine our examination of auguries to omens.
Those of you who meditate on a regular basis are likely to be familiar with the sound that’s generated by verbalizing the first two letters of that word: O-M. Used like a cosmic tuning fork, it’s purpose is to re-align our vibration. In the bigger picture, however, it is a prayer for inclusion – within the sphere of the All That IS – the big O.