1.The Universal Fatherhood of God
2.The Universal Brotherhood of Man
3.The Communion of Spirits and Ministry of Angels
4.The Survival of Bodily Death
5.Personal Responsibility
6.Compensation and Retribution, here or hereafter, for all the Good and Evil deeds done on earth
7.Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul
1.The Universal Fatherhood of God
This, our first principle, acknowledges that God is the Universal Origin of All, the "Father" of all the people living here on earth - regardless of their religious beliefs and understandings. It acknowledges that there is only one God, known by many different names, depending on the religions and the habits and norms of the times, many names for the one God. Other words to describe this Deity would include The Almighty, The Creator, Great Spirit, Loving Spirit, Infinite Spirit, Universal Love, The Source of All and Unconditional Love.
This gives us the understanding that the One who is called God is the Absolute Father who we may pray to, trust in and believe in, and that it is the one energy that has created all on Mother Earth, the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms. For all are forms of differing intensity of the same energy of creation.
The principle refers to the belief of the existence of a being/ energy that is greater than ourselves, and that creation comes from the energy of Unconditional Love. It is this energy that links us together as one with God our creator.
We are all created from this same energy. It is the source of our life as we know it on the earth plane and the source of the energy that remains when we leave the earth plane. It is our connection to existence. We are all part of God, we all have that divine spark of God within us. And although we might not feel this in our earlier reincarnations, eventually as time and lives go by, we become aware of that spiritual part of God within us, and desire to become a more spiritual being, and want to at least aim to become a more God like being.
The Universal Fatherhood of God depicts a being of supreme love, wisdom, intelligence and power available to all who call upon the Source, and who is perfection itself unfolding infinitely in perfect balance of light and dark, joy and sorrow "good and bad" and so on. There is no part of the infinity that is life that is untouched or unconnected to that which is The Universal Fatherhood of God.
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2.The Universal Brotherhood of Man
Universal encompasses everything that is, both seen and unseen. There are no exceptions. Being of the same universal family, we are all created from the same universal energy (known as God) and therefore are all created equal. There is no good or bad, right or wrong, it all just is. Everyone and everything is interconnected to the creator source, all have the same spirit, that spirit of the soul which, when the earth body ceases to function, leaves the human body and returns to the spirit realm. Therefore, each and every human being has a connection because we all have the same origin from the same Father which makes us "Brothers".
The creation of man is the exploration of all that we, as energy beings, can be. By definition this means there will be opposites and similarities. Just as no snowflake is the same, so no human being is the same. Yet we are all still equal, regardless of colour, race, religious beliefs or personal inclinations, and we are all connected by the universal energy that created us and that we are made of. The Brotherhood of Man means that each is a "brother" to each other and that all are a part of the whole, a part of one "family." We are here to help and support one another.
Our small earthly group of friends and family are probably fairly easy to get on with, like most brothers, as we have knowingly or unknowingly chosen them to be in our lives. But how do we love and treat others who are from different cultures, lifestyles etc and have different beliefs to us? Spirit tell us that we are all brothers and sisters in spirit, regardless of colour, creed or race. That in many ways we are very different but that we can also learn a lot from each other as well.
But first we need to stop being afraid of one another. Fear often seems to be the factor that keeps people apart. Once we get to know each other, we often find that we are the same inside. That we have the same hopes and dreams for ourselves and our families, that we all want to live in peace and harmony and that everyone has the same basic human needs. Once we get to know all peoples, we will start to love them as the brothers and sisters that we really are.
There are many people causing a great deal of pain and suffering on the planet who are still our "Universal Brothers". Learning to care and be non judgemental in our daily living can help our "Brothers" close by or far afield. When we truly learn to love ourselves we cannot help but love all others for we are all made of the same energy no matter what form it may take.
Because of this fact, all in the human existence, whether they choose to accept or deny, are a part of one another, and are therefore beholden to one another in all that is thought, all that is spoken, and all that is acted upon. And as with all families, each has a collective responsibility to the whole to advance, so that humanity as a whole can ever progress towards further enlightenment and understanding. To dislike the human form any energy takes on the earth plane is to dislike part of ourselves and our own creation for just as we are part of the same universal energy we are also part of that creation. Learning to love our fellow man is part of the lesson of self-love - however uncomfortable or painful may be. Service to self along with service to others is a basic tenant of living.
The Brotherhood of Man is the way we interact with each other and use this to grow within our own truths. While we are here for our individual experiences needed for our own advancement, we are also here to be at one with all mankind. Time and distance is no barrier, the only barrier is the expansion and acceptance of the mind of each soul.
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3.The Communion of Spirits and Ministry of Angels
Communication with the spirit world has been with us since man first walked the earth. Wherever people have lived since time immemorial, they have believed and known about the spirit world. The Communion of Spirits and Ministry of Angels refers to our ability to communicate with those within the spirit realm. There is an infinite host of spirit helpers, who are all allotted specific tasks and responsibilities, not just to individual souls, but to all aspects of creation itself. Their sole aim at this stage of their journeys, is to assist everything upon the earth plane. They are there to minister to our needs, guide us through the pitfalls of life and pick us up and dust us down and push us forward on our life's pathway again. They are also there to nurture all other aspects of life on our earth, including the animal and plant life.
The principle emphasises the fact that we are never alone. That no matter what is happening, we retain our connection with the spirit realm, and through them with the Creator of all. Often we are unable to knowingly access this strength, but the connection is never, can never be broken. It continues beyond "the grave' as evidenced by the proof given with messages from loved ones, as well as the instinctive knowings or thoughts that come into our awareness at times from seemingly nowhere. The guidance and love from Spirit to our soul's pathway is assured and never ceasing.
Some people have the abilities to communicate with those from the spirit world using such abilities as clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience. These people we refer to as mediums. Knowing that we are spirit beings temporarily housed in the physical body, we discover through mediumship that our "dead family and friends" are very much alive, functioning in their spirit body in what we call the spirit world. Having discarded their physical body, the mind (not the brain) is retained. This is the storehouse for all the memories of their past life and so they communicate from the spirit world by thought. When those loved ones wish to communicate with us, they have to find a medium who, in simple terms, operates like a telephone service, collection thoughts from spirit beings, connecting with you and relaying the message, thus providing proof of life after death.
We do not and cannot "call up our spirit friends". When we need them, they get to know by the power of our thoughts, and when conditions are right in both worlds, then they can come to help and advise us or even give us the comfort of their presence and continuing love for us.
Mediumship should be looked on as sacred and not a pastime for entertainment or to expect spirit to give us all the answers to our daily problems. Our decisions in life are our own responsibility. Therefore communication is contact between discarnate spirits ie those who have gone "home" to spirit life, and those remaining on earth.
There is comfort for those who are struggling with earth issues to know that there is assistance and guidance when we need it. We have guides, guardian angels and loved ones who have stayed near us to be there for us. They have to let us learn our lessons but they will often step in if we are liable to make a serious mistake, although they might have to let that happen so that we learn to be more careful next time such a challenge comes up.
Another example of the Communion of Spirits in our lives is found in the gift of Healing or as phrased in the principle: through the "Ministry of Angels'. The power of Healing is there for all to access, whether bringing it through or receiving it. When we pray for people who are ill, we invoke the power of God, and Spirit beings dedicated to bringing their rays of healing to us. This also applies when we are praying for people (or ourselves!) faced with very difficult problems.
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4.The Survival of Bodily Death
In Spiritualism, we prove that life does not end with the death of the physical body, that life continues in a different dimension, the spirit realm. It is an ethereal world that permeates our material world. As shown in the third principle, it is a proven fact that there is communication between our family and friends who have departed from this life, and ourselves, proving beyond doubt that the soul is immortal.
This principle asserts that we have a spiritual existence that continues uninterrupted through death into eternity. The spirit cannot be destroyed, but what does happen is that at a pre-ordained time, the physical earth body is no longer required and so is cast off like an unwanted coat, allowing our spirit body, our soul, the freedom to return to the spirit realm and continue its journey towards evolvement, armed with all experiences gained during that life time to enhance the being that they are, and the eternal pattern of their true existence.
The loss of loved ones brings pain and grief. There is a gap in our lives with the passing of a family member, good friends, and mentors we have looked up to. These people have vanished from our lives. There is a feeling of emptiness, a trying to come to terms and reorganising our lives again. It is at times such as these, that proof that the soul survives can bring some degree of comfort, knowing that the loved one is only a thought away, in a different dimension. It takes a lot of planning for communication between the living and those who have passed over, but once that has come about, there can be a closure for the survivors and they will be able to continue with their lives knowing that life does not end with death.
Proof of this survival can come in many different ways as shown by this example:-
I classed Geordie as my No.2 son and regular students forgot he was a standard poodle. A beautiful white champion of champions but very naïve of his doggy abilities; such as swimming: large poodles are supposed to be duck retrievers. He chased them as far as the water edge and skidded to a halt.
He became very weak and sick with a mass on his lung. Although I suggest to others that it is the kindest thing to euthanize, I'm a bit of a sook myself. The day was planned for visit to the vet and I kept saying to Geordie "Make it easy for me". I dreaded walking him through the door because I knew that he would know.
Two nights before THE appointment, he had a seizure and we had to carry him into the A & E clinic (5 minutes before closing). Afterwards, John and I downed a bottle of red wine and mopped our eyes. That was 1st July2000.
The following year, I was getting ready for a normal day's activities. As I walked past the bathroom, there was a smell akin to dead animals & leaf matter and putrid kitchen leftovers. I checked in the bathroom, toilet and all the rooms for whatever it was that had crept in and died - nothing. I went back to the bathroom - not a skerrick of an odour - no lingering smell - nothing. I then realized the date - 1st July.
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5.Personal Responsibility
This principle states that we alone are responsible for our every thought, word, action and reaction. It is a cornerstone of our understanding as it neatly places the responsibility on each of us individually, a concept that is being increasingly `lost' in our society - where it seems almost automatic for so many to try to find somebody or something to blame for nearly everything, especially when we wish to avoid admitting that we were/are wrong,
It challenges us to produce the best effort we can and is, at the same time, both a powerful freedom and a heavy burden. For no matter what the circumstances that are presented to us, there are always choices for us to make. And if the choices we make end up not sitting well with us, then we must take total responsibility for them. And it is from the choices that we make, that gradually learning and understandings can come, and as a consequence we can move on and continue to grow and mature spiritually. Personal Responsibility is therefore both a tool and a ladder.
Spiritualism teaches us that no-one can save us from wrongdoing but ourselves. Man, through his conscience, knows the difference between right and wrong. God gave all soul's free expression, the free will to make our own choices.
Therefore the choices we make at all times are up to us.
Personal Responsibility - another way of looking at it
How easy it would be to just drift through life like a leaf on the water and be carried along by the currents, contented to just go with the flow. For some, this path may present itself as the path of least resistance, one which may seem preferable to a path full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and ins and outs.
But whatever path we may choose to walk in life, or by whatever manner we may choose to travel, the choice is ours to make. We may choose to go with or against the flow, be dependant upon others to carry us through and/or see to our needs physically, emotionally and spiritually. Or, we can take responsibility for our part in life, in other words personal responsibility for every aspect of our lives, in all that we think, feel, say and do.
Life is a mixture of many things, constantly testing the mind, body and spirit. But these journeys through life are unique to each one. We each have, long before we returned to this world, planned and mapped out our life's path, chose our families and friends, and will throughout life, encounter the many experiences which will either enrich our lives or have a reverse effect. Every smudge, mark, line and dot, right to the smallest print, which is so often overlooked, are all necessary for our spiritual growth and understanding.
Life is unrehearsed, there is no such thing as rehearsing our life before we live it. We don't get to practice making a mistake before we make it, nor practice being a child, a teenager, parent, grandparent, husband, and wife and so on. We are who we are, we each have chosen the lives that we are living. We may become repetitive in some areas, perhaps the little signposts placed along our life's path to guide and direct us were momentarily obscured. Whatever the reasons may be or however we may view such things, one thing is for certain, we did not start out on our life's path to set ourselves back spiritually nor learn to walk, just to go backwards, we have amongst many other attributes, a free will.
Our life is what we make it. It cannot be put on hold, nor can it be rewound, fast forwarded, exchanged or swapped with someone else's. Our learning may suffer delays, we may stunt our own growth spiritually or emotionally, but then the choice to be as such is ours to make, responsibility lies with ourselves. Everything that comes from us, that being our thoughts, actions and deeds, we must take personal responsibility for.
We may share similar experiences with others, suffer similar losses, enjoy the same pleasures of life, and yet, each of us will express, react or respond differently to each given situation or circumstance. Our path through life is paved with all the things that are necessary for our spiritual growth and expression within this world. The experiences help to shape our characters, build our personalities and increase our sense of worth, whichever way one chooses to build, grow and expand, be that in a positive or negative sense, the choice is ours to make.
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6.Compensation and Retribution, here or hereafter, for all the Good and Evil Deeds done on Earth
This principle echoes the natural law of Cause and Effect. In other words, all actions that we perform in our lifetime are reflected in our spiritual growth. Lives spent in service to others, acting, thinking and speaking in a positive manner will not only allow us to live happy and fulfilled lives, but will also enhance our spiritual growth. However, when we focus on the negative aspects of life then, not only do we stunt our spiritual growth, but we also draw back towards ourselves these same negative aspects (as you sow, so shall you reap).
This principle also speaks strongly of balance. Of getting it gloriously right sometimes and not gloriously right other times. 'Right' does not in this case mean correct: 'Right' is only defined by the social norm of the times in which we live - as history continues to prove. 'Right' refers to our 'Intent' and therefore we would judge / review our choices and actions by the quality of our intent at the time. It could be that in retrospect that we made a poor choice, but if our purpose at the time was for the highest intent, then that is what matters for our spiritual progress. An action or choice that could have been better or different will serve
to help us learn and understand so still is not wasted.
We also think of souls having to come back to earth to make good any errors that they have committed. This is often referred to as karma. They may face challenges and trials to show them where they have gone wrong and give them the chance to right any wrongs they committed against fellow souls. The souls coming back into incarnation or going to another dimension will face different situations, not necessarily suffering the same fates that they may have inflicted on other people. It may be in an indirect way such as a person who is born blind, may not have been the cause of another person's blindness but been unable to see for themselves someone else's suffering or injustice.
While some think of this principle in terms of karma, it must be understood that the compensatory or retributive effects also operate now on earth. They do not need to wait until we return to the spirit realm. It is important that we learn that when we don't get if "gloriously right', we need to make compensation and retribution as soon as possible. This may be as simple as saying "sorry' or may need more by way of actions. By doing this, we not only help our spiritual growth, but also take personal responsibility for our actions as spoken in the 5th principle.
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7.Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul
Each of us has a desire to move forward, to learn, grow and develop. Every part of our lives is an opportunity to do this, and this principle confirms that these opportunities are available. Where indeed would we be without spiritual hope? It represents a lifeline in times of despair, darkness, and perplexity. It is an affirmation that we are all progressing spiritually while acknowledging that we all are doing this in different ways. This is a principle of acceptance and kinship.
Each soul can learn and grow at it's own pace and in it's own way. It is not a race and there is no need to compare one with another. Each can choose to follow our inward promptings or intuition, making it easier to develop and grow or choose to learn lessons the difficult way, making life a struggle. Whichever way we choose, this Principle tells us that everything we learn helps us to move forward on our eternal progress.
This final principle offers hope and eternal life to all people. The spirit lives forever and we are able to spiritually progress by or own efforts whether on the earth plane or in the spirit world. No one person is denied this opportunity and we grow according to the efforts we make in this life as well as the next.
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