PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

The following text is what was read for the Development Group. The author is Richard Milne and portr his views on the subject. Some content may be paraphrased or re-used with permission.This does not mean it is the only way that this subject may be interpreted, as each Spiritualist is an Individual and will read,       comprehend and understand any written information differently. This is the beauty of Spiritualism; no one person can claim to have all the answers!

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

We are all responsible for our own journey. On whatever plane you wish to look at it; we must take responsibility for our journey.

Spiritually, we cannot rely upon others to make our decisions for us. Nor can we depend upon others to walk our path for us, lead us along our path, or decide which direction to take at a juncture in our path.

We cannot expect another to be responsible for what we do Spiritually, how we do it or when we do it. We must all be responsible for our own decisions, how we make them, how we carry out that decision, when we make it and how we react to its ramifications.

If we are indeed to grow in our Spiritual journey, we need to be aware of the fact that we alone are the ones who must bear the responsibility for what we do and who we are; and most importantly, what and whom we become for making those decisions.

It is of no use sitting back and expecting others to make our decisions for us; and then blaming them, for our lack of responsibility in carrying out that which needs to be done by us, to grow.

Growth comes with commitment. We must commit to doing our own work, developing our own methodology; based on the advice and teachings and experiences of those who have made the journey before us. Those whom we decide to follow and seek advice from, are there only to share what they have learned. It is then your decision and your responsibility to do what is best suited to your journey; with that knowledge which has shared.

I cannot sit and do your meditation that you may require to lift your vibration. Nor is it my responsibility to ensure you are doing your daily routine. You and you alone are responsible for how you achieve that goal. You are not responsible for ensuring your partner; loved one etc is doing his or her own growth either. If the individual decides not to do what is required for their own Spiritual growth, that person alone has made this decision.

Nor should we attempt to seek out guidance from another with the idea that if it does not work it is their fault for giving false teaching. We are indeed individuals and what works for one or some does not necessarily work for all. We must find out that which is for us to pursue at this particular juncture of our journey; pursue it, and accomplish the goals set by this particular task for enrichment.

Take responsibility for your life’s journey both Spiritually and physically. If your need is to meditate on a daily basis to lift your vibration, then do it daily. Find the place you need to go to, to enable the meditation to take place. Find the music that best suits you for this time of meditation. Decide for yourself the best time of the day for it to be best utilized. If your need is to gain more information about a particular subject, take the responsibility of gaining that information. Ask another who has been there or knows the way to achieve the goal. Find a place to discover your own source of knowledge. Ask your guides.

Every opportunity for learning something new has its attendant Spirit Guides. They may be Archangels, Angels, Masters or Lady Masters, Guides or Spiritual Teachers. You need to find out for yourself who is with you. If it is for you to know, you will be made aware of who is with you. For every lesson we learn there is someone on the Spirit Plane wanting to give help, guidance, teaching and confirmation. We have to be responsible for finding out who is with us. This can be attained through meditation or many other means from another Spiritually aware, like-minded individual; prepared to give a reading, channel or give a tarot reading to help you discover that which you need to know. But you and you alone are responsible for making this happen.

So as you travel your Spiritual path, remember you alone are responsible for the manner in which your Journey is taken. You alone are the one who will decide the speed, direction and difficulty of your path. The easy way may well be the long and most arduous. The difficult seeming may well be the fastest if more challenging means to attain your goal.

Decide what you want, seek it out, search your awareness and then take responsibility for finding the answers. Own your own growth. Own your own awareness. Own you own responsibility.

WALK YOUR OWN PATH

Remember that no matter how hard life seems to be for you, you and you alone are walking the path you are on. What you feel, only you feel. What you experience, only you experience. Others may well be walking alongside you and sharing the journey and some of the experiences and feelings, but only you have what is yours.

If you are learning to knit in a group of 10 people, are you all going to be at the same level of ability? If you are learning to turn wood on a lathe with 10 other people, are you all going to be able to make a set of Russian Dolls after the first week? No? Ok

We, on this plane as humans in solid form, tend to expect others to feel the same way we do on an given “normal” day; and to understand absolutely everything we are experiencing and therefore understand “where we are coming from”. We also seem to think we can give ease to others by telling them we “know” what they are going through.

Unless you have experienced the lost of a close loved one to a disease, you cannot possibly feel empathy with someone who has. Empathy is a heartfelt understanding of emotion. Unlike sympathy which is heartfelt WISH to understand and give ease to the person we care about. Unless you have experienced the loss of a child at birth, you cannot have empathy with someone who has. Nor can you, as a man, have empathy with a woman who has lost a child early in her pregnancy. Only another woman, who has shared this experience, can fully empathize. You, as a man, can have empathy with a father whose partner has lost a child this way. As a man, it is also alright to cry over such losses of loved ones at whatever stage of the journey; old, young or unborn.

I have lived a life of many ups and downs, depressive times, exuberant highs, and normal everyday living. My partner and soul mate has shared much of this with me. She has been the only person who can fully understand what it is to be with a partner like me. Just as I am the only one who can understand what she has had to contend with by being my partner.

Whatever we do during our journey on this plane this time around; remember that no matter what we go through, it is ours. We can share with those who have had similar life journeys. Some will walk the path behind us and may seek advice. Others will walk the pathway ahead of us and be prepared to offer advice if asked. Others will walk beside us for a time and empathize with us as they do so. But no matter who is where, when, how or with us at any given time; we walk our own pathway just as they walk theirs.

So the next time you are speaking and sharing with someone and have the desire to say “I know what you mean”; think about if you really do? Perhaps you do and can empathize and give much needed comfort and advice if asked for. If not you would do more good saying “I wish I could say I understand, but unfortunately I cannot for I have not had that experience as you have”. Or words to that affect.

Walk your own Path and enjoy it. Walk beside another sometimes and enjoy with them. Always remember though; your each upon your own path and journey and are experiencing a unique pathway.