WRITING PROJECTS

AN INVITATION TO CO-CREATION: OUR CALL TO CO-CREATE LOVE, PEACE, AND ONENESS

This is my current writing project about my spiritual journey and the invitation extended to all of us to peace, oneness, and soul-purposed living. The Introduction to my book is below.

      INTRODUCTION

           An Invitation to Co-Creation is our invitation to come together in love, peace, and oneness. It is a call to humanity to heal ourselves, our communities, and our world.  Healing happens when our lives are informed by compassion and inner peace, which we then extend to the world.  Healing occurs when love guides us to create bridges to one another and appreciate our diversity. In this book, we are shown how to become the most loving, compassionate version of ourselves and live our best lives.  Sometimes, the way to reach this goal is straightforward.  Yet, more often than not, the route has twists and turns, as it has been in my case.  In 1987 I developed a debilitating disorder for which traditional medicine had no answers or treatment.  At the time I was agnostic, however my faith was reawakened as I prayed for healing and guidance.  I began to get divine communication as signs, intuitions, and synchronicities that guided me to complementary healing practitioners and treatments, and eventually I was healed.  My relationship to God became central from then on.  I continued to receive divine communication as claircognizance, clairsentience, and sometimes clairaudience and clairvoyance that guided my life.  In 1992 I received a message, that I would be writing a book.  I assumed the book would be about my spiritual journey and eventual healing.  It wasn't until 1998, that I received a divine outpouring of information to start writing the book.  The book's title was The New Divine Partnership, A Guide to Spiritual and Planetary Evolution for the Millennium.  I knew then that the book was going far beyond my own healing journey, although that's how the first couple of chapters started.  The initial chapters were written quickly and easily.  Then, the writing halted in a full stop.  Ironically, the chapters I couldn't write were Timing Is Everything and The Purpose of Roadblocks.  Years passed without further progress on the book.  I was told the timing wasn't right.  I also realized that my fear was a major roadblock for writing and putting the book out into the world.

     I come from a very traditional Christian, Roman Catholic background, and most of my family and friends were steeped in these traditional beliefs. Since my illness I had experienced the divine in dramatically different ways from how I was taught.  I had many peak spiritual experiences.  I began to sense and trust my soul's inner knowing, which I understood to be my own divine essence within, that was inextricably connected to the totality of God. However, more importantly, my lived experience was that I was indeed in a Divine partnership with God, albeit an unequal one, as my life was guided towards my healing and purpose.  How else could I describe my relationship with God who walked with me, talked with me, listened to my hopes and dreams, guided me, healed me, comforted me, and loved me for who I am, and continues to do so?

     Yet, I couldn't imagine sharing my experiences with my traditional family and friends, as I was certain they would consider any concept of a Divine partnership to be at best foreign, or at worst blasphemous.  I had other beliefs that had transformed along the way too.  Even though I identified as a Christian, and still do, I also believed that all paths based on love lead to the Divine.  This came as a deeply felt understanding, an expanded spiritual awareness, even though I couldn't easily explain or articulate it.  I realized there was a major disconnect between what I felt safe sharing with most family and friends and what I believed inside.  I had only a handful of confidants with whom I could share my deepest secrets.  Still, I longed to let my traditional family and friends know the real me.  I just didn't know where to begin.

      In April 2012 I had another peak spiritual experience.   I was drawn to visit the National Shrine Grotto at Lourdes in Emmitsburg, MD, a replica of the Shrine in Lourdes, France.  I was riding nearby with my husband and felt an enormous sense of peace come over me which lasted several hours.  After visiting the Grotto, I began getting additional messages from the Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes to guide my life.

     In late 2014 I had a second major health crisis after a car accident.  Of course, I prayed in earnest for help.  I was grateful that I experienced some improvement, but healing was mostly a series of unpredictable ups and downs. Ten months later and discouraged, I prayed to Blessed Mother Mary for healing and direction for my life.  Mary told me to write the script for my desired life, as if I were already healed.  She also asked me to write this book, An Invitation to Co-Creation: Our Call to Co-Create Love, Peace, and Oneness, a derivative of the original book I had begun.  Our Lady of Lourdes noted that this invitation is for all on a spiritual path, that desire heavenly help to create joyful soul-purposed lives.  My own Invitation to Co-Creation, I discovered later, was not just about physical healing.  Rather it was, and still is, an opportunity to look at all aspects of my life and what needs to change to bring my life into greater congruence with my soul’s purpose.  This has included being nudged to come out of the spiritual closet, speak my truth, and live my life more authentically.  I am tremendously humbled that Our Blessed Mother, Mary Our Lady of Lourdes has entrusted me with this writing project.  I am also immensely grateful for the continued guidance she provides me in writing and sharing her message, as well as assisting me on my healing journey.

     But what exactly is Co-Creation?  Co-Creation is the dynamic process that occurs when we ask for God’s help to achieve a goal that is in alignment with our souls’ purpose.  However, it is more than just a prayer.  Co-Creation is a fully engaged process where we watch for signs and synchronicities that our prayer is being answered, and then we take inspired action toward our goal.  Some may feel uneasy with the term Co-Creation, as if it could mean we are on par with God.  Of course, we are never equal partners with God.  However, the Co- in Co-Creation acknowledges that we are a part of God, created in God’s image and likeness, and therefore we are always connected to God. The Co- also refers to the connection we have to God through our souls, the Highest part of ourselves, our Divine essence within, that knows our reason for being here.  It is through this connection to our Creator, that we are empowered to consciously ask for guidance to create that which is congruent with our souls’ purpose.  However, even as we are seeking to partner with God to manifest a desired goal, Co-Creation necessitates a willingness to surrender to God’s plan over ours, with a faith and inner knowing that the outcome is better when we do so.

     Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes has extended this Invitation to Co-Creation to all of humanity.  Though Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Blessed Mother of Jesus is mostly known as a Christian icon, She clarified that her Invitation to Co-Creation is inclusive of all faith traditions and spiritual paths, that are founded on love.  She guided me to read many books, inspirational texts, and the Bible. She pointed out books by noted theologians and biblical scholars, who shared God's message of love and inclusivity for all. These books not only mirrored many of the beliefs, that I already felt in my heart, but also bridged some of the divide between the traditional and non-traditional understandings of the Bible.  Other books, that I was recommended to read included accounts from individuals who had Near Death Experiences (NDE’s) and had temporarily crossed over to the heavenly realm.  When they came back, they shared their experiences of God’s unconditional Love for everyone, whether they were believers or non-believers.  Mary shared a vision of Oneness in God and one another, where all humanity comes together as One, living and loving in peace. Her vision showed the importance of loving all our neighbors, not just the ones that look like us and worship like us.  I was also told it is essential to respect all faith traditions.  God loves all His children, and each of us is shown the path that best supports the ability to fulfill one’s soul’s purpose. While I may personally reference God, Jesus, Blessed Mother Mary, and the angels as my inspiration for guidance and writing this book, and I identify as a Non-Traditional, Progressive Christian, I also believe that all faiths and spiritual paths based on love point to a universal truth. This understanding of Divine wisdom coming from a singular Source to all faith traditions and spiritual paths is known as the Perennial Philosophy or Perennial Tradition. I believe that the Divine speaks in a unique signature that resonates with each of us, so that we will listen to the whispers emanating from our souls. This Love language from the Divine acts as an invitation that guides our lives, whether we subscribe to a particular belief system or not. In his most recent book “The Universal Christ” Richard Rohr, Catholic Franciscan friar and global ecumenical leader, speaks about the Perennial Tradition and grounds the idea of inclusion and Oneness in “a God who is in total solidarity with all of us at every stage of the journey, and who will get us all to our destination together in love.”

     When I asked for Mary’s help and healing from a car accident that I had in 2014, my life had already been turned upside down.  I know I’m not alone in this kind of experience.  At some point in our lifetimes most of us will suffer loss, pain, or tragedy that shakes us to the core, and the landscape of our lives is forever changed.  We have the choice to face this new territory with grace and equanimity, or we can see ourselves as victims of our misfortunes, which keeps us stuck where we are.  When we choose to live our lives gracefully, we each become the hero of our own life’s journey, doing our best to venture forward in our new terrain, transcending our circumstances, and bringing new meaning to our lives. 

     However, even as we determine a goal and a plan, we may be beset with obstacles.  Movement straight ahead can be the exception, rather than the rule.  When we are deeply embedded in our situation, we may feel confused and alone, desperate for a solution.  We sometimes forget that help is available of a heavenly nature.  Sometimes the very situation we are desperate to escape from has lessons in it for us to learn, before we can move forward.  In every tragic event, there is a hidden gift somewhere, and it is up to us to find it.  Sometimes all we must do is admit we need help, ask to be shown the way, and know that our prayers are being answered.  This gets to the heart of Co-Creation, when we ask for and accept heaven’s help, and we begin to see the opportunities and blessings while in the hardship.  Even during our difficulties, we can begin to reframe our situation so we can experience more love, joy, even triumph.

     After the accident, I experienced so much pain and suffering, especially in those early days.  When the suffering was protracted and unabated, I began to question whether I did something to deserve such misery.  I asked God to help me to understand and show me the way to move through it gracefully.  Issues came to the surface that called for my attention.  Subconscious beliefs with roots in early childhood bubbled to the surface for me to inspect.  My grammar school education in strict Catholicism taught me about a God that was punitive, judgmental, and whose love was conditional upon following certain rules.  Jesus’ expansive, unconditional love, that I have now come to know, was downplayed and taught more as an afterthought.  The general focus was on our unworthiness and God as someone to be feared, rather than God as love and compassion.  My upbringing also included ongoing childhood physical and emotional abuse, echoing the message of fear, punishment, and unworthiness, which I carried into adulthood.  I had to change the filter from my childhood understanding of God and myself and upgrade my beliefs.  I was given the grace to see my inherent goodness, despite my human errors.  I was shown that as children of God, we are all worthy of God's enduring love and mercy.  Additionally, it was important for me to recognize that suffering is part of the human condition and not a punishment.

     I also had to come to terms with my life and learn to experience other things differently, as part of my own healing process.  Sometimes when we are enduring loss, suffering, or tragedy, we feel separate from our family and friends, as I have at times.  We may feel diminished by our experience if our roles are upended, and we’re not able to perform as before.  We begin to question our self-worth.  We forget how important we are to the fabric of our families and communities.  I had to see my own self-worth through a new lens of self-compassion. I had to refocus on what was going right in my life, rather than what was going wrong.  This helped me to concentrate on the ways I could still contribute to those around me.  It seems there are times when we could all benefit from seeing our lives through a different viewfinder.

     Wouldn’t it be great if we could see ourselves from a fresh perspective like George Bailey did in the film “It’s A Wonderful Life”?  George felt beaten down by what he perceived to be his mundane and ordinary life.  Then he had a sudden, major financial setback, where he thought he could face jail time and bring shame to his family.  An angel named Clarence was sent to show him just how significant he was to his family and friends.  When George was shown how many lives he touched for the better, he regained his sense of purpose and meaning.  Through this film, we see clearly the difference one person’s presence or absence can make. 

     And so, this is true for each one of us.  We are each special in our own way, each bringing our own unique gifts to the world.  We are all interconnected and interwoven in an exquisite tapestry.  Everyone is important.  No one person is more important than another in the grand scheme of things.  Each of us is here for a reason.

     In the book An Invitation to Co-Creation we are shown the way to heal ourselves first.  We must learn to love and appreciate ourselves for who we are.  In addition, we must face our shadows and imperfections and do the necessary work to experience integration. We ask for help to let go of old limiting patterns of behavior and subconscious beliefs that may be blocking us from living our best lives. We are encouraged to acknowledge and remember our spiritual nature and our connection to God.  We learn how to find and understand our souls’ purpose.  We create a vision for our lives that is in harmony with our souls’ purpose and ask for heavenly help to accomplish it.  We learn how to discern Divine communication to guide us.  Then we are asked to go beyond our own border of self to family, community, and the world.  Our personal healing journeys serve to lead us to forgiveness, compassion, and inner peace. A similar process is needed for collective healing too. We are encouraged to see beyond a tribal mentality and experience our shared humanity. In this way, our hurts and differences have the potential to dissolve and move us from perceived separation to a oneness consciousness. We are urged to love all our neighbors, to see the world as an us, rather than an us versus them.

     We live in auspicious times, where there is deep polarization and division in our communities, our nation, and our world.  We are encouraged to see and do things differently.  We are being given the opportunity to become the best, most loving, compassionate version of ourselves, and live our most joyful lives.  We are shown how to experience inner peace, no matter what our external circumstances are. Then we are asked to share this love, joy, and peace with the world.  In this book, I share my own invitation and ongoing journey to peace and transformation, an opportunity that is available to all of us. As I share my journey, I hope each of us also chooses to engage in our own co-creative journeys. Along the way, I expect there will be times when our paths merge, and other times when they diverge. It's important to realize that oneness is not homogeneity, rather it is a unity based on an appreciation of our unique paths and our diversity. A large part of my journey has been to create bridges across seeming great divides from traditional to non-traditional spiritual paths, from traditional medicine to complementary medicine, and from religion to science. It has not been easy, and I'm still learning how to cross these bridges. However, I know it's easier when we walk together. My wish is that we spend more time recognizing our commonalities, rather than focusing on our differences. Ultimately, it is my hope that we all listen to the sounds from our souls and hear An Invitation to Co-Creation: Our Call to Co-Create Love, Peace, and Oneness.  

Notes and Bibliography:

1.      Aldous Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy. New York. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2009, Harper and Brothers, Publishers, 1945.

2.     Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ. New York. Convergent Books, 2019.

3.     Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Novato, CA. New World Library and the Joseph Campbell Foundation, 2008. Joseph Campbell is known for writing extensively about”the hero's journey”, which is found across all religions and cultures.

4.     It's A Wonderful Life. Dir. Frank Capra. Perf. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers. Liberty Films, 1946. Film.