Life demands painful choices. Then brings about tantalising glimpses of a greater more fulfilling lot. But first we must shed our old skin…

Toward a Distant Star

a baptism of fire;
defeating the monster of fear
in its own lair!

carry that weight, boy;
a spiritual kingdom or the
pit of a slave?

the brewing storm;
levelling the ruts of habit as
only the heavenly wind can!

a small caged animal;
its heart broken with loneliness
waiting for blessed relief

the battle of wills
inevitably ends with the deep
sorrow of parting

toward a distant star;
a vast dark sky gives way
to a blazing sea of light!

30 11 2025

Thank you for posting the above, cronetoo. The author’s main point appears to be that the idea of God today may seem outdated or outmoded to many, (at least in “the West”), and if so, with what has man “replaced God”? First of all, those who are believers generally define God as something along the lines of “the good that dwells in the heart of all mortal creatures”, while nihilists believe only in serving themselves, consequences be damned.  The ideas of God and nihilism, are both as old as the hills with God generally called upon by man to provide him with shelter, good harvest, love, health/wealth and so on, while nihilism is often the outcome of those who have found themselves in a position of power. The pattern seems to be that those who attain power seem to continually be wanting more till the power generally consumes them.

Now has anyone noticed how all of the stories we are told from the time we are an infant on our mother’s knee usually involve the lessons of karma and those of love? That is, the results of our actions whether good or bad, will, in the end, return to us. Since Divine Love is the overlaw, out of which all other laws of life proceed, The Law of Returns (karma) must be considered the child of the Law of Love and exists ultimately to teach Soul self-responsibility, (and bring It eventually to love which leads inevitably to God). If we as human beings then, are aware of both love and karma, why does man (generally speaking) call upon God only in times of need and so easily forget God in times of wealth, health etc? The question answers itself; most of us understand God as a mechanism or recourse to help us (in the human sense) when our backs are against the wall, ie; but in times of abundance, we easily forget God. In other words, “what can God do for me”, not “what can I do for God?” The key to knowing God is in fact the other way around, “What can I do for God?”

There is a wonderful saying, “God created Soul then threw away the mould”. This describes the uniqueness of each Soul, and also explains why the Creator has given Soul free will. Soul must have Its experiences, come to Its own conclusions, make Its own decisions and act upon them. Soul alone is responsible for Its destiny. It must also be noted that Soul is on a journey that spans eons. It follows that reincarnation is closely tied in with karma. Soul’s seemingly endless sojourn in the lower worlds (the worlds of duality) are necessary to grow in Soul the maturity required that God may entrust It with the responsibility necessary to be ITs emissary. Sound strange? It shouldn’t, because what other reason could Soul possibly exist for other than to be an agent or steward of God’ love? Let’s look for a moment at the growth of a human being. It begins with others caring for it. It goes from infancy /childood through young adulthood and finally maturity. The school of life provides it with the necessary education that it end up being a self-sustaining, responsible / reliable agent for good in the world and beyond. So too is it with God’s education plan for Soul. Except that God is in no hurry. What use can an immature Soul possibly be to God? Soul finally “earns Its wings”. Throughout, God slowly reveals Itself to Soul in a way that each Soul can undersatnd. In the end, God gives Soul the freedom It has so longed for, IT entrusts Soul with more and more love / responsibility. It gains in wisdom and power. But It understands this power is not to be used for Itself personally. Primarily, Soul uses Its gifts to advance God’s love in the world(s). Simply put, It becomes an agent for good, as opposed to an agent for destruction. This touches all of life in secret ways. Ways hidden from the eyes of the profane. Rumi; “For the blind, blindness feels natural”.

The chaos we are seeing today is explained by the fact that we are living in a warring universe. Souls, in the guise of individuals, regions, nations, even planets, are constantly at war with each other for resources and / or anything else they can think of. This state of affairs will continue until it no longer does, ie; when the lower worlds cease to be. In the meantime, Soul comes and goes, reaping the just rewards of It actions. It eventually turns over a new leaf. It slowly comes to understand what God is and what IT isn’t. There is very little It can say about what It knows God to be, but It can demonstrate Its understanding through Its actions. (See my poem above ,”After the Fire Came”, an attempt to put this state of being into words).

When Soul takes command of Its various bodies and is able to rise above Its emotions and mental activity, It begins to understand the meaning of the saying, “Everything is in Its rightful place”. Soul’s journey continues. Tomorrow’s reality begins with the seeds we sow today.

Every drop of dew
Along love’s way
Equals 100 oceans
Each ablaze

Hafiz

“Hafiz’s Little Book of Life”

Erfan Mojib, Gary Gach

“Didn’t I Tell You Not to Go There?”

Didn’t I tell you not to go there? Don’t you know i’m your
companion?
Through this worldly mirage, and I’m the source of your life?

Didn’t I tell you that if you leave me out of anger, even for a
hundred thousand years,
You’ll still come back because I’m your Omega?

Didn’t I tell you not to search for happiness in the forms and
illusions of this world,
Since I am the one who fashions the form of your fulfillment?

Didn’t I tell you that I’m the ocean and you’re a fish,
And not to go ashore to live because I’m a welcoming sea?

Didn’t I tell you not to be fooled by traps like they set for
birds
And to come with me as I’m the strength beneath your wings?

Didn’t I tell you that they will rob you and turn you cold,
And I’m the fire, warmth, and passion of life?

Didn’t I tell you that they’ll call you ugly names
Until you forget that I’m the source of Soul’s potential?

Didn’t I tell you not to ask where my work with you is going,
Because I’m spontaneous and follow inspiration?

If you’re enlightened, you should know the way home.
And if you have even a hint of God’s blessings, you’ll know
that Im your Master.

“The Hidden Teachings of Rumi”

Translated by Doug Marman, Farzad Khalvati, Mitra Shafaei

Of interest; Uncovering the Hidden Faces of Iranian Poets; Based on extant accounts of their appearances. Of interest especially to me personally  is Firdusi and Rumi. The Rumi is the best of many I have seen.

https://medium.com/@hamed.kohan/uncovering-the-hidden-faces-of-iranian-poets-how-ai-is-bringing-their-images-to-life-62af1e68c7bb
 

A “stitch in time”, may well “save nine”,
but what the heck… I wouldn’t take back
those forty years for anything…

“My Soul, strangered with thy oath, has been led astray…”

Hymn

I will praise any man,
That praises me.
I will raise any man,
That raises me.
I will shake his hand,
And I’ll sing “praise be”,
I will declare the blessings
That the blessings may be!

This world’s illusions
Are a strange kind of sleep,
Its problems and dilemmas
Rooted so deep.
But thy terrestrial tasks
Must one day be done,
And thy race against time
Must one day be won.

From the tender bleat
Of the blithesome doe,
To the throaty caw
Of the wily crow.
A speaker of tongues
Yet speaker of none;
Behind the many,
The voice of but one!

Take my immortal longings,
Shape them into a crown
Put the crown on my head
And lay me down.
Take my fears and my sorrows
Down to the sea,
My yesterdays and tomorrows,
And set them all free!

I will praise any man
That praises me.
I will raise any man
That raises me.
I will shake his hand,
And I’ll sing “praise be”,
I will declare the blessings,
That the blessings may be!

Haiku Sequence;

The Tinkerer’s Cart

a world of scorched earth,
a single dandelion
catching my eye!

there’s a mystery deep inside;
he died a thousand deaths
yet lives!

as sweet as summer rain;
the rhythmic plucking of a bowed lute
in a dark recess

early morning,
her face like sunlight;
gazing into his eyes!

the muffled clatter
of pots, kettles and pans;
the tinkerer’s cart approaching…

The Lord of Thieves

Down by the river the young bride pines,
Wiping away tears quietly shed.
Alone at the altar, dressed to the nines,
She knows deep inside she never will wed!

She foolishly fell for a handsome thief;
Left all she once had and knew to be true.
And in his arms sought relief,
From all of the fears she’d failed to subdue.

“Fine knaves one and all, with their swords and their greaves,
Surrender their wills, according to my pledge,”
With a wink and a smile, said the Lord of Thieves;
“And so live their lives on a razor’s edge!”

“Not each and every day will rhyme,
Whether we shape or accept our outcomes preset;
As we traverse the awful gulf of time,
Between what we want and eventually get!”

“Did he run far away, did he get cold feet?
Is he dangling from the gallows at the end of some rope?
Is this the final crushing defeat
To bring me to heel and give up all hope?”

“As the Lord of Thieves ‘tis not my concern,
A handful of silver is all I must cede.
Why should I care should fools crash and burn?
Why should I care for hearts that bleed?

I do everything to keep you amused,
And prevent you from meeting yourself as you are.
I do everything to keep you confused,
And your eye from wandering both near and afar.

Thus emburdened you enter, bloodied and wan,
Unaware of the ways you’ve been secretly blessed;
Only when all hope is finally gone…
Do I step aside and make way for the Guest!”

13 08 2025

I thought it may be useful to anyone interested to add some clues as to the meanings I am alluding to in this poem.

The “Lord of Thieves” is a reference to the Being that is the Lord of this world, (and all other worlds premised on the ever-shifting movement between negative and positive, or dual polarities).

The “pledge” referred to is this Being’s undertaking to the spiritual hierarchy to keep Soul blinded to Its true nature. It does this mainly through encouraging attachment to various enticements it offers up, all of an illusory and temporary nature.

“The Guest” is another term used by Rumi, for “the Friend”, who guides Soul out of the labyrinth of the world and its entrapments. The Lord of Thieves steps aside when Soul finds the Friend and entrusts his spiritual welfare to him. This Being, aka the Inner Master, is not an intermediary between Soul and God, but a wayshower. He may take different forms acceptable to the individual.