Far Above Rubies
Jean Hammond: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1: vs. 26, 27)
How accurately these ancient words still focus the purpose for men and women on Earth! As we know, since the Fall, original Male and Female Being have devolved into very coarse function relative to what was ordained. Many distorted and jumbled patterns in the experience of men and women individually and in relationship to each other have entered the experience of humanity, creating untold havoc in our history. Men haven't been right, women haven't been right, the "battle of the sexes" has raged on, and we see the result of accumulated function that is a far cry from knowing true dominion together! Here are some thoughts primarily concerning women, written for radiation purposes.
The September 26, 2011 issue of Newsweek magazine contains an article titled, "The 2011 Global Women's Progress Report." Two sections juxtapose "the best places to be a woman" and "the worst places to be a woman" based on justice, health, education, economics, and politics. Statistics and reports never reveal the whole story, but it is fair to say that the devolution of humanity has produced great disparity in the status of women throughout the world.
The article cites: "a woman holds the top spot at the International Monetary Fund…in Saudi Arabia, women aren't allowed to drive…a woman won the Nobel Prize in economics…a report on Haiti's recovery after the earthquake found the women and girls had been badly neglected in the aid efforts…after defeating a potential gender-discrimination lawsuit, Walmart launched a new program to buy $20 billion worth of products from female-owned businesses and to donate $100 million to women's nonprofit groups…in Chad women need their husband's permission to open bank accounts and just 20% of women can read…in 2003, after decades of civil war, Rwanda's transitional government passed legislation requiring that a third of the seats in Parliament be held by women…forced child marriages are common in conservative Sikh families…two top models are young Muslim women."
During the heyday of activities in Rome at the Colosseum, citizens sat according to their place in the social hierarchy; so slaves and women were relegated to the upper bleachers, with only priestesses around the arena floor.
In some cultures women have had little or no opportunity to hold public office or own property, are expected to adhere to strict laws of dress and behavior (debate over the propriety of the burqa, niqab, chador and hijab continues), and endure public flogging or even stoning for actions deemed crimes.
Global population has now reached 7 billion-an increase of 1 billion people since 1999. Estimates are that another 2.3 billion will be here by 2050. At one level this is attached to the matter of birth control, and the variety of attitudes in different cultures.
Given human nature history and what is happening in the world now, no wonder issues surrounding the status of women generate deep feeling!
A few iconic images of "woman" have been created in the psyche of fallen humanity, each embodying part of an original essence of Truth. One is the image of "the mother" known throughout the world in many forms; a classic icon is the Virgin Mary, particularly in the west. Another appearing in various guises in eastern cultures is the religious image of a goddess with several faces and many arms holding different implements related to assorted functions.
History and today's world give us other images of women in various roles and circumstances, such as:
The caregiver, the nurse, the woman in Africa dying of AIDS.
The Amelia Earharts-explorers and adventurers in the earth.
The Las Vegas showgirl, athlete, minister, nun, actor, rancher, writer.
The prostitute, cook, scientist, activist, gardener, teacher, those in harems.
The philanthropist, geisha, artist, entrepreneur, those in refugee camps.
Those active in politics, the arts, business, humanitarian aid projects.
Women are everywhere, doing everything imaginable! In the midst of varied roles and circumstances, some are caught in the trappings of human nature and imbalanced lifestyles. And there are those who do embody aspects of original essences of Truth, for whom we can be very thankful. There are visible heroes such as the following, who, in the context of this writing can represent others present more invisibly, whose actions and attitudes also provide the vibrational and temporal glue that is holding much in place while a great deal continues to sort out:
Those who serve in the armed forces.
Azam Farahi, wife of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who made a rare public appearance and even a speech at a U.N. summit concerning fighting hunger.
Anne Frank. And Miep Gies, one of the women who helped to hide Anne Frank and her family. Years after WW II, she said she would do it again in a heartbeat because it was the right thing to do.
Rebecca Samaria Lolosoli of Kenya, matriarch of the Umoja Uaso Woman's Village in Samburu, Kenya, who provides a refuge for women and children who are fleeing the violence of some cultural norms.
Mary Porter, grandmother of Shannon Sharpe, Pro Football Hall of Famer. At his recent induction he spoke of how she had raised nine of her own children, yet despite having little means, took a train to Chicago to pick up a three-month-old Shannon and his older brother and sister to raise and inspire them.
In India I saw a mother with two small children crouched together in the dust, cooking over a little fire made from the sticks of fallen tree branches. Despite the abject poverty of the little family, they smiled. Their tattered colorful clothing of emerald green, bright blue, and saffron embodied their inherent dignity.
Mother Teresa, beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, who was known as her husband's "X factor," the "source of that sense of otherness that, when blended with her husband's essential humanity and North Carolina sense of grace, added a note of mystery to his career."
Three women just shared the Nobel Peace Prize: Tawakkul Karman of Yemen, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
And I would mention Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the man who developed the successful financial innovation of microcredit-the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty, in order to stimulate entrepreneurship through self-employment projects that can lead particularly women out of that state.
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In India we visited the Amber Palace contained within the Amber Fort in Jaipur, once the capital of the Kachawa kings in the State of Rajasthan. After an elephant ride up the steep ramparts, we entered the remains of the once magnificent palace now occupied by monkeys. The shell outlined the proportions of its former grandeur, giving the sensation of walking through a skeleton minus its flesh. Where beautiful silk carpets once adorned large archways, there were just gaping spaces with chipped stonework. Hundreds of holes were where jewels had studded walls, and rubble was everywhere. In the "ladies garden" once full of exotic blooms and gentle places to sit, were weeds hiding paths and assorted creatures living in the crumbled fountains.
One area held the former king's chamber and the queen's chamber-separate but adjoining, equal in size. A remnant of their original decoration miraculously remained-thousands of tiny mirrors still covered the ceilings, and our guide lit a match to show how stunning the rooms must have been when filled with dazzling reflected candlelight.
Outside the chambers was a large flat platform-all that was left of the place where the king sat to handle the affairs of the kingdom-a place reserved just for him, and not used by the queen whose responsibilities were handled elsewhere and in other ways. Despite the absence of the rest of the "flesh" in this area, there was a residual atmosphere through which the workings of the human nature kingdom that once was could be sensed. And that level of kingdom contained some of the essences of Truth that inform the true Kingdom, having to do with the appropriate placement and manifestation of Focus-male and female-based on design.
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Beyond our outer responsibilities, we have a King to serve. As purification continues in our earthly facilities of body, mind and heart, the veil can then thin, opening the way for deeper awareness of His nature and Presence. What a pleasure it is to continually feel Him anew!
He has a Queen. She belongs primarily to Him. And…She has her own realms of responsibility and service.
We women on Earth belong primarily to Him. And…we have individual realms of responsibility and service.
Though there is, perhaps, not a lot known about the nature of the King beyond residual memory deep in the subconscious of what it was like to walk in the cool of the Garden, dressing it and keeping it, or through feeling response to something "somewhere" that is higher, there is almost nothing known about His Queen. There are very good reasons why She is not spoken of or known very directly to date. She is the power behind the throne. If human nature got hold of that substance, the King would not have what is needed for His Focus. Unseen true powers need to stay invisible, which is not to say that they are not very active just because they are unseen.
In the poem "The Nectar of Self-awareness" by Jnaneshwar Maharaj, Male and Female Deity are described this way: "….without Her, the one who can do everything, cannot even appear….He appears because of Her, and She exists because of Him."
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Our purpose as women could be described as: To serve Our Lord and King, and manifest in the world again, as is possible and appropriate, the living presence of the part of the creative force that is the feminine.
Those who aspire to do this consciously or unconsciously, take time in various ways to commune with Focus. The qualities of such women include strength, generosity, and contentment. They are unafraid to deal in absolutes, able to wield a sword if needed. They are leaders who have positive influence. They mature gracefully, accept and offer discipline, and have accurate intuition. They consciously keep space open for all that is newly emerging in the creative process, and know how to function in the heaven ahead of manifest form. Such women constantly have new insights, and are able to be a muse for others. (Muse: a woman [or force personified as a woman] who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.) Some might feel that exemplification of all those ideal attributes is impossible! But these and many other qualities are inherent in women, and we are here to reveal what is possible and appropriate now of the true feminine. This, we can do!
Female Being was designed so beautifully by the Creator to be a remarkable Presence in Creation. In Revelation She is imaged this way: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." What beauty!
The next verse leads into the victorious story that follows it: "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." This verse could reflect the experience now of women sometimes (including those with substantial spiritual education) as we seek to utilize circumstances in the best way possible. We live in an increasingly coarse world, and might travail at times to bring forth because the right vibrational atmosphere or outer context isn't present. There might even be dragons ready to devour forming true creation! Also, trauma in aspects of our Earth's overloaded systems is felt uniquely by women. As much intensifies, it is important to know how to field vibrational distortion correctly.
Attunement with Our Lord and King is the central harbor of protection, symbolized in the plant kingdom in an action known as heliotropism demonstrated by sunflowers that track the sun. Once mature, the flower will face east and not move. Heliotropism can be known at the spiritual level, freeing us to be strong women able to take care of what is needed in various earthly directions.
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies…Strength and honour are her clothing…She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Again, what beauty!
Juxtaposed to this woman is another creature imaged in Revelation: "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations…" Good grief, who wants to be this scarlet woman! Having a price far above the red of rubies is our aspiration!
There is so very much evolving in our world, including issues concerning the status of women. We simply do not know if or how many things can resolve into new patterns of balance in that arena, but one thing is sure: creative change can only be inspired by the working of Spirit. From our standpoint, as conscious attunement with Our Lord and King is maintained, lines of force open through which the power necessary for creative change can flow.
In the TIME magazine issue of August 15, 2011 is a picture of masses of women observing the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta. The sight of them standing reverently row, upon row, upon row, on their side of the massive floor, garbed from head to toe with only a hint of their faces showing, makes for a stunning photograph. Though dress and posture is alike, each woman participating is an individual with her own thoughts, feelings, and aspirations, and is as unique as every other woman on Earth. Beyond the religion and culture represented, the image can symbolize the collective presence of Female Being all over the world.
Holding my hand over the picture, the spirit of intercession came to focus as I enfolded the disparities that human nature has created worldwide, and offered a prayer for all women, that each may be carried on the wings of Spirit to fulfill her Deity-given purpose as is possible wherever she is.
As we women continue to live in what has become a very unsettled world and seek to function as accurately as possible-maybe out on platforms at various levels that are not entirely natural at times-there is enormous service to be rendered by those who acknowledge and deeply know the Truth of Design.
Queen Elizabeth II was introduced at the United Nations General Assembly last year as someone who is "an anchor for our age." We have this responsibility spiritually speaking. The consistent presence of the Light through even one woman who understands the Truth of Design, contributes to the essential spiritual anchor so needed in our swirling outer world. This provides radiation that can be a beacon in the gloom-and maybe even produce dazzling effects like that palace ceiling!
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies…"
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