EMOTIONS

Have you ever had a feeling of loss or sorrow which manifests as a deep sadness? Sometimes it's momentary and other times it can linger. I had a personal experience with this recently, and the sadness is still present. Because of its nature, I decided to share it with you.

A little over a month ago, I began having pain in my left lower abdomen. Since I've had Fibromyalgia for twenty years, I wasn't worried. I consulted a doctor after it persisted and learned that it was serious. I needed a total hysterectomy immediately. Although there was a good chance that it could be cancerous, I felt that it was not. Fortunately I was right. Everything was benign including a large ovarian tumor that surprised everyone.

My physical recovery is progressing nicely. However, I have a lingering deep sadness that I had not expected. Eventually I realized that I was really grieving a loss...a loss of the womb.

Women are looked upon throughout life as daughters, mothers and grandmothers. Whether a woman bears children or not, she always has the place within her where new life develops. What happens when she is stripped of the womb? If she feels a loss of identity as a woman, she might grieve. This grief may manifest as a deep sadness.

Although this may sound strange to some, I truly believe it. At first I was scolding myself for being so sad because I had the best outcome...no cancer. Fortunately, a friend and even one of my doctors, mentioned grief. Once I accepted that I was grieving this loss, it began to lessen.

The sadness is still there among all of the other emotions. I'm riding the wave even now, but I wanted to share this. Life gives us many opportunities to experience emotions that we often categorize as happy times or sad times. This one has offered me both. For that, my friends, I am truly grateful.

Written for you with Love and Blessings,
Barbara Rasp

http://www.wisdomsvoice.com/


I walked a mile with Pleasure.
She chattered all the way.
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow.
And ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.

Robert Browning Hamilton, "Along the Road"

EMERGENCE

Sometimes I feel as though I’m sailing through life, and other times I feel like I am slowly drowning in the “stuff” that appears in my day to day world. As I’ve watched this back and forth dance, I realize that sadness often comes on the heels of my expectations and illusions. It’s really has been a learning process for me, and I am aware that it is all a part of my spiritual growth. I just have to remember and to be with the moment.

It matters not that it appears good or bad – happy or sad. It’s all emotion rolled into one heart and it is meant for me to see, to learn and to grow in ways that I sometimes don’t recognize.

Today though, clarity comes and I am willing to see my life for what it is. This is the journey, the back and forth of an awakening mystic. It is a call to live in the moment and to allow the correct interpretation of what is presented to come forth as well.

Never before have I lived in and as this body and never will I take this journey again as Barbara. Yet, there is a part of me that wants to take control. My ego wants to shine and it can be persistent in its quest. But in my heart I do know that this is a wonderful opportunity for me to continue the emergence into That which I am.

Yes, I am That. It’s lovely to think it, but how much better to feel it. The calling of my heart echoes the song of life, and I accept the calling as that of the One. I accept the offer and surrender right now to being the best that I can be.

This is a journey that everyone can choose. The path of emergence is not straight, direct or filled with signs posted everywhere. It requires a deepening level of commitment from our hearts. It also means leaving behind all personal expectations and allowing the Master Plan for our lives to unfold. My heart has called for my commitment to walk this journey. I believe that I can weather the numerous curves and even the dead ends, because I know that I’m not walking alone.

Written for you with Love,
Barbara


“Be like the ripple on the ocean of eternity, lifting gently in harmony with me. My Gifts of hope, love and peace and many blessings are waiting for you now. Accept them, my child. True freedom is the reward of living in the heart of Creation, for serving in the wealth of Creation and flowing on the wings of Creation. When your soul awakens to trust and faith in the Master Plan I will know. Only then will you say to me, “Your will is mine O Lord. I follow. I believe. I stand tall. I listen.”

From: “A Gift of Roses”

WHITE MOON UPWARD

When I read the words in this title I immediately saw a wolf with his head pointed upward while howling at a glorious white moon. He stands alone on a mountaintop, being with his inner knowing. He howls from a heart filled with pain while giving it up to something beyond him. The past is not his interest nor is his future. He is fully in the now while allowing his pain and suffering to emerge and disappear into the night sky.

We wolves howl for so many reasons. Perhaps he is howling at the world to recognize him for who he is. Maybe he is crying his loneliness into the dark night as he suffers the loss of his mate who lies still beside him

Who but wolves understand the language or the subtleties in his voice that expose his grief, his joy or his sorrow? It’s a beautiful night for him; a glorious night as he releases his pain into the night sky and to the white moon that he knows will be present for him tomorrow if he looks upward. Yes, some things are priceless and free. In the life of us creatures, for the ones who look up it is bliss.

And so it is...

Written for you with Love,
Barbara Rasp


"If I were to make a religion, this would be the basic thing in it:
That anybody who becomes enlightened first would have to go through a nervous breakdown. Only then will we have a breakthrough."
OSHO

A SACRED PLACE

There is a place, not far away
A place where Love abides,
Some call it Heaven or Paradise,
And some say the other side.

It’s a place of beauty, a place of joy,
A place where freedom flows,
To find this place, just close your eyes,
And meet the One that knows.

This little poem came to me in meditation. It happens occasionally “out of the blue.” Since I don’t consider myself a poet, I’m always in awe when a poem comes through. What I do know is that my inner voice…that Voice of Wisdom… is always ready to speak when I allow.

Sometimes the Voice speaks of the mundane and sometimes about the Spirit. Over the years I’ve learned that Wisdom’s Voice does not categorize, label or rank one over the other. It sees all as whole, something I need remind myself to embody and remember each time I meditate.

I consider Wisdom’s Voice quite a gift, but it isn’t exclusive. Everyone has the potential to receive Wisdom. Since we live in a world where everything appears separate, many are not aware that this connection is even possible. Like many brothers and sisters, I was once living a life of constant turmoil. I was trapped in my mind and didn’t know that Wisdom was patiently waiting.

Today I find that there is nothing more loving than to sit quietly in that Sacred Place and allow Wisdom to speak. Anyone who holds the longing to hear this Voice can hear it. Yes, it usually takes patience, desire and persistence. It also requires an open heart and a willingness to place ego talk in the background. With all my heart I believe that this is the only way to true inner peace and freedom.

Written for you with Love,
Barbara Rasp


Each moment is a gift, a blessing. My gifts of life are yours, for you are the wonder of the world, the light that shines for me, the love that showers on others, and the joy that permeates the wholeness of all creation.

Remember, an open heart is a grateful heart that is aware of the many blessings. When you let your heart be open, your troubles will melt away like the winter snows. When you are on your knees in loving gratitude your heart opens and the bud within bursts forth into a fragrant flower. It is here you are with me.

Be grateful for one another. Be thankful for each revelation that takes you forward. When, in your heart, you are truly aware of my gifts to you and understand the wealth of life, then you are truly free.

From “A Gift of Roses,” by Barbara Rasp

To read more of Wisdom’s Messages or to order books, go to http://www.wisdomsvoice.com/.

A PRICELESS GIFT

I feel very fortunate to be a part of a family that appreciates a good laugh. When I was a child, joy and laughter flowed out of the unending teasing that often left everyone doubled over and breathless. This was especially true of my mother’s side of the family. No one was spared.

While looking through a box of old photographs I found a picture of my Uncle Earl. He was my mother’s younger brother and the biggest tease I’ve ever known. I loved him dearly, but when I was very young his teasing would often make me cry. I didn’t realize at the time what a gift it was.

My mother enlightened me to my evolution from crying to laughing. My uncle teased me at her request. Once, when I burst into tears, he asked her if he was going too far. She simply told him that I had to learn, and he was the one to teach me. She was right. One day he teased me and I finally teased him back. My sense of humor came into the light that day and it has never left.

Laughter is and has been such a blessing for me. It’s like a healing balm. I can't imagine not seeing the humor in life. Living on this plane of existence isn’t always easy. Hard times come and go. Things happen to all of us that are not always pleasant.

If I allow my mind to rule I could become angry and critical of the circumstances in my life and in the world today. I might wallow in the throes of despair and remain in that state of mind for hours or days. I do, however, have a choice, and that is to see from my heart and remember who I really am.

My heart knows and remembers that we are eternal Divine energy. I must be willing to experience all emotion. Yes, I love teasing and laughing, but I could not experience that joy completely without allowing and embracing the pain and tears when they come.

My unrelenting sense of humor has carried me through so many hard times. Today I understand the Divine Dance of life a little better, and I do see life in the world much differently. I once thought and focused on life’s complexity, and today I often stand in awe of its simplicity.

I am truly grateful to Uncle Earl. He didn’t have an easy life, especially after the Second World War. It took its toll on him, as war does on many soldiers today. Still, he was my hero not only as a soldier but as a great teacher who gave me a priceless gift.

Written for you with Love,
Barbara Rasp


A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your step as you walk the tightrope of life.
William Arthur Ward

www.wisdomsvoice.com

A LIFE LESSON

When I was eight years old, this one room trailer was my home. I remember it well. It was sixteen feet long and six feet wide. If you can’t imagine the size, just look at the photo and use the bicycle for comparison

The year was 1947. My parents decided to leave a rented house plus a large extended family in Pennsylvania and move to South Florida. The post WW II building boom was in full swing. My father was a carpenter, and work was plentiful. One year later, we moved into a 26ft trailer with a larger icebox, stove and sink, plus a folding table for eating. My parents slept on the sofa and I had the tiny bedroom. An awning covered the patio. Bathroom facilities were housed in a building up the road. There was no air conditioning. It was our home for four more years.

The park was small, perhaps thirty trailers. People with large families had inexpensive cabanas attached to the trailers to accommodate their children. Most of our free time was spent playing outdoors. Sleepovers were common, as were shared meals.

There was a bond among the families in that park. Stay-at-home moms watched the children of working mothers. Older children often took care of younger ones. Seniors were looked after as well. I remember running errands for them quite often.

I had very few toys, but I had lots of playmates. With so many children to play with, I was never lonely and rarely bored. We were very creative in our playtimes and we learned to make something out of nothing. We had our squabbles as well, but those were eventually resolved and forgotten. The park had a free movie night outdoors on Fridays. We often stayed long after the movie ended, adults talking and children playing. It was as if the park was our home and our trailers were just places to eat and sleep.

When I was 13, my parents bought a small two bedroom home that felt like a mansion. Although I clearly remember my teen years in the house, I know that those five years in the trailer park has colored the way I see life today.

Since I saw the trailer park experience from a child’s viewpoint, I once asked my mother how it was for her. She said that because there was such concern for one another among the residents and because there was so much cooperation and kindness there, it made the hard times easier.

I now live in a small villa in a family community. Unlike many seniors, I chose not to live in an adult community because I love the family atmosphere. Its mix of race, religion and nationality make it all the richer for me. I don’t place a high value on “things” or want all of the latest gadgets. I am happy with my 7 year old car. Would I like a new one? Of course I would, but I don’t see it in the cards right now, and that’s ok. What I do value and appreciate in my life are my friends, many of whom feel like family.

Life in that park helped me to develop an expanded awareness of our need for one another. I see that evidenced in today’s technological world. Cell phones, computers, and the internet reflect our desire for connection. A kind word, a good deed or a hug are priceless. The Love that develops among family members and friends overshadows everything. We can live without the newest toy, but we can’t live a full and happy life without expressing the Love that we truly are.

As I grow a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I realize more and more how fortunate I am to have those memories. I cherish them all, even the painful ones. I encourage every one to take that journey back in time. Explore the memories with Love, and then let them be. It can be a rich experience, and an enlightening life lesson.

Written for you with Love,

Barbara Rasp


It is a new day, a day to create and a day to celebrate. It is a day to honor your life. I birthed you as a clean canvas of my heart. I ask you now to look at the canvas you have created today. Did you paint it as a beautiful new flower, or is it darkened by time and tragedy. You have a moment-by-moment opportunity to re-create your canvas. You must honor the life you have lived, and know that in my eyes you are innocent. Your trials and struggles need not reflect darkness, for they are truly meant to remind you of your lessons of life and to support your awakening to the Light that you are.

Wisdom’s Voice

WWW.WISDOMSVOICE.COM

SEEING DIFFERENTLY

“I don’t believe in miracles. I depend on them.” Those words filled my heart. I had to have that bumper sticker. Maybe you don’t believe in miracles or perhaps you do. In any case, I want to share with you two recent aha moments that gave me pause and expanded my old perception of miracles. First, I have to take you back to the very beginning.

Seven years ago I bought a new car. I had been leasing cars, for several years, but, this time, I couldn’t find one that suited me. As the salesperson drove me around the lot, I noticed a group of new cars, but they were not available to lease. I was immediately attracted to a gold sedan among a group of twenty or more. I opened the door, sat down and a sudden burst of energy hit the top of my head and shot through me. I knew that this was my car.

I signed the papers, left the old car and drove home in the new one. When I called my insurance company to transfer the title, the numbers on the car did not match the ones on the contract. The salespeople had made an error, which translated into several hundred dollars in my favor. Two days later, I received another call from the dealership. They offered me a lower interest rate as well. Needless to say I was happy with my good fortune.

In 2008 I was still in love with my gold car. It had served me very well for six years, but was starting to show its age. One day I noticed that the retractable antenna was not working properly. During a routine oil change I learned that the motor that controlled the antenna would need to be changed for it to function correctly. The cost seemed outrageous. I declined the offer.

That evening, when no one was around, I walked to the car, touched the antenna and lovingly spoke to it. I told it how much I appreciated it. I said that it would be so helpful if it would resume working as it had. Yes, it seemed a little strange, but somehow it felt right. The next day, the antenna began functioning gracefully. It had one other moment of pause a few months later, but I spoke to it again, and it is still working well.

While driving home the other day (July 2009) I saw the battery warning light shining on the dashboard. I could have continued to drive home, as my inner voice prompted. Instead, I was determined to stop at the supermarket. I pulled into the parking lot and turned off the ignition. Although it was not the best choice, it was my choice and I own it. The car would not start, so I had to wait for a young man to come and “jump” the battery. Then, of course, I had to pay for the service.

When I arrived home and turned off the ignition, the car would still not restart. I sat in the car and talked to it as I had the antenna. I asked for its help to start the next morning to avoid another fee. I praised it, thanked it for any help it would give me and let it be.

The next morning my mind went into full tilt. Yikes! What to do??? Somewhere amongst the mind insanity, the voice of Wisdom said loudly and clearly…“Get in the car and take it for service now!!!” Believe me…I listened. I grabbed a spare key, went outside and sat in the car. Holding my breath, I turned the key and heard the familiar grinding sound of a dead battery. It was followed quickly by a sudden burst of energy and a motor purring. I jumped out of the car, sprinted into the house, grabbed my purse, and away I drove. Halfway to the auto repair shop, I noticed that none of the electrical components were working, including the speedometer. I arrived at the service entrance, left the car running and walked calmly into the building.

As some of you may have guessed, it was a failing alternator which drained the battery’s energy for all it was worth. It would be easy to attribute the startup in the morning to pure luck, rather than my talking to the car. I, however, see it differently.

Everything is a form of energy. No matter how dense it may appear (like a car or our bodies) it is all energy. I believe that the energy generated through God consciousness has no boundaries. At that level, everything is a vibration of Source. We are Source energy, but through worldly eyes, we see only bodies or form. Through our hearts, we feel energy that is not visible. That means surrendering to and trusting what we can’t see, while knowing it is there. That is the level of energy with which we can transform ourselves and the world.

Could it be that the energy flowing from my heart to the car contributed to the antenna’s functioning properly or to the car’s ability to start? Or…was it just coincidence, or perhaps a miracle? I’ll leave that up to you. As for me, I know I don’t have to understand everything that happens. I only need to remember not to be stuck in my own ways and always be open to seeing things differently. I must also remember to listen with an open heart, trust my guidance and accept what comes. And, if I choose…I can call it a miracle.

Written for you with Love,

Barbara Rasp

“Do not judge by what you see on the surface, but develop an inner vision and insight into spiritual cause and effect. Then you will know that you can judge no man.”

White Eagle

Visit: www.wisdomsvoice.com

Dear Friends,

As you may have already noticed, the email you received for Mystical Inspirations has no text. It was sent prematurely (by my hands). Rather than trying to re-do the entire text, I invite you to go to www.wisdomsvoice.com and click on blog. You will see this message. Scroll down and you will see the link to My Mother's Hands.

Have a great Independence Day.

Much Love,
Barbara Rasp

My Mother's Hands

Sometimes I have such profound moments of remembrance that there are no words to describe them. One of these moments happened to me the other day while reading. My gaze slowly moved from the page to my hands, and I was overcome by a deep melancholy. I sat quietly, allowing the sadness to flow slowly and easily while being present to the moment.

As I looked closer, I saw my mother’s hand in mine. I recalled the safety I felt in those loving hands. When she was about my age, I remembered how often she looked at her hands and remarked about how old they had become. Veins were quite visible in the wrinkled skin, and she lamented the quick passage of time. I didn’t think much about it then, but today it was as if I was seeing the aging process in my body for the first time. Oh, I had complained about the aches and pains, but until that moment, I had not realized how often I made reference to my body’s aging.

Although my little self often reminds me of my age, my Self knows that the True me has not aged at all. It tells me that I am eternal. It reminds me that I am here to reflect Love. It shows me the lessons that I am here to learn, and It reveals them in ways that often surprise me. I can only recognize Its gentle prompts if I am open to them.

Today, I choose to celebrate life and Life. My life here may seem to be passing me by, but because Life is eternal, I am ageless. To breathe in that Truth is life changing. In my daily life this Truth is often forgotten. I know I have some work to do.

I am grateful for this profound awareness of my Source through my mother’s loving hands. With Awe and Gratitude I feel Its presence in my heart. It whispers that it’s time for me to shine my Light wherever I go, and to hold Peace, Love and Compassion for my brothers and sisters as well as my self. Perhaps you would like to join me.

Written for you with Love,

Barbara Rasp

Dedicated to Mom: February 6, 1910 – July 1, 2000

www.wisdomsvoice.com

THE PERFECT PLANNER

When I began working from home, I decided to buy a planner to keep track of comings and goings. Sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? Well, I have had quite a romance with planners over the years, and what sounded like a good idea turned out to be something I did not imagine.

Ten years ago, I stood in Office Depot for what seemed like hours browsing the huge planner inventory. After all, it was my first planner and I had to find the one that would meet every need. I examined of a variety of styles, sizes and accessories. Some I ruled out quickly. Others I compared and contrasted until my eyes rebelled. My brain was not faring well either, so I took a 10 minute break to recover my vision and my mind. I finally left the store with a huge headache, but I had my first planner.

I really had very good intentions about using my planner daily, setting up a weekly schedule, and filling in the monthly page with “important stuff.” This planner had room for all of that and more. I didn’t count on having to buy fillers for the many sections that were absolutely necessary for an organized person to have. It was quite costly, and for one moment I pondered the idea of returning everything. Instead, I pushed on.

My first planner and I did not get on well. The monthly schedule wasn’t too difficult, but entries in my weekly and daily schedule were sporadic. Transferring the information from my old notes and the old address book took hours. Other sections were untouched. I found that I didn’t like the new planner’s shape or opening and closing the clasp. I often forgot it when I went out. By the end of that year, I knew I had to find something else that would better suit my needs. This dance with planners went on for three more years.

Finally…I saw it! It came in the mail in an advertisement…different concept…all in one…the right size and shape. It was heaven sent. I went online to order right away. Of course it was only June…but the angels were working with me. I was able to order one that covered me from July to July. After struggling with this timing for 3 years, I decided to go without a planner for six months and re-order in January. And so I did. I thought I had the perfect planner for me. Am I using it??? Yes and no.

You see, along the way I uncovered something that has been very powerful for me. Over many years I had been trying to walk a conscious spiritual path. My commitment became stronger as the years passed. I understood that walking this path requires great flexibility in order to remain peaceful. Planning is something that I do to live in this world, and sometimes I struggle with it. As a conscious spiritual being however, I must be available to a higher calling. Sometimes it interferes with my plans, but over the years I’ve learned to trust its Wisdom. Often I see Its purpose, and sometimes I don’t. I just know that I need not struggle to find the right planner, or anything else. The Perfect Planner lives within me. If I just listen and remain true to Its calling I will live in the arms of Love. I’m not 100% there, but I’m improving.

Written with Love,
Barbara Rasp



Yes, my child, I am the voice you hear and the voice you trust. I am the one who guides you, and I am the one who knows your heart. I am the one who feels your joy, and I am the one who knows your sorrow. I am the one who waits for you, and I am the one who prays with you. I am the one who feels your heart beat, and I am the one who knows your thoughts.

Choose how you live your life through the melodies of the spirit, the love of the one, and the harmony of the angels. Live your life in only Love, for that is all you are. The facade will drop away when you have climbed the mountain of the Holy, the mountain of Love.

This is the love I hold for you. I am your strength and I am your Wisdom. Believe in me and we shall live in harmony and in completion of a journey well done. Change your focus and change your choices and you will find peace. In love I leave you, for I am your spirit, your mother and father, son and daughter, master and teacher, joy and peace.

Wisdom’s Voice

FREEDOM

Many years ago while meditating I received thirteen words that I have never forgotten.
They are: “You must release yourself from the bondage you have created in your mind.”
Knowing that the word bondage was not in my current vocabulary and the idea that I created my mess was both startling and strangely comforting. If I created it, perhaps I could change it. Of course, there was a part of me that didn’t like this one bit. I had been ill for years, and suddenly…in my mind…it became my fault and my responsibility.

I came to understand that first quote at a deeper level from another thirteen words I received two years later. “You have the power to choose. This is your only power. Choose wisely!” I realized that blaming me for everything that happened to me was my choice. If I continued to blame myself, I would never be able to move forward. I would stay stuck in my old ways.

Those twenty six words have been powerful for me. When something arises in my life that requires a choice, I realize that before taking action I must remember to ask “who is doing the choosing?” Do I allow my heart to guide me in making choices? I would love to say “Yes always,” but I can’t. My sneaky little ego loves to control my thoughts, words and actions. It wants this and that. It tells me that I can’t possibly live without the next best trinket on the market. Oh yes…forget about the cost. That new one will surely make you happy.

Over the years I have seen how my ego can concoct the grandest dreams and hold me in bondage by pulling me down a road that my heart would never choose. That is certainly not choosing wisely. The saving grace is the awareness of what is happening and being willing to set the intention to change course. Even with the awareness, I sometimes fall into the ego trap. You probably do too.

Life however is a journey, and when I am aware that ego is pulling at me I don’t see it as “bad.” I see it as a challenge, a way to the remembrance of Who I am. As I find my Self in that remembrance, I take a deep breath and smile. Yes…I have the Power to choose freedom or bondage. In this exquisite moment, I choose Freedom.


Written with Love,
Barbara Rasp


Freedom comes from knowing, not doing. Freedom comes from being at the moment of awareness. As you seek answers, your mind begins working to control your thoughts of right or wrong, good or bad. When you are in harmony, there is no agenda, no plan, or no thought of yes or no.

Freedom is not an elusive thing. Freedom is a state of mind…The path to freedom is a path that leads only to this moment, this instant. Remember who you are. Remember that the path is but a thought, an instant of awakening and the moment of awareness that you need do nothing but be. Be with the Spirit that guides you. Be, my child, and you are free.

Wisdom’s Voice

For more Wisdom go to www.wisdomsvoice.com

THE SACRED JOURNEY

Walking a conscious spiritual path is truly a choice. We can sit and read about insights and experiences of others, but that doesn’t move us forward on our sacred journey unless we are committed to meditate, contemplate and internalize the truths that arise in the silence or in spiritual literature and other spiritual experiences. I made this commitment twenty years ago. It was the best decision I have ever made.

Choosing to follow spiritual guidance may produce a true awakening to the Love that we really are. Each person’s awakening will be different. No one can make it happen as one thinks it ought to be. It comes through the higher consciousness and often begins as a growing reverence for life. The journey becomes a richer experience each time an inner realization of the Presence occurs. Life itself becomes a spiritual adventure.

Great Mystics tell us that this is not an easy path because we are called to “die” to attain what we desire. This is not a physical death. It is dying to the personal sense of self. Full Enlightenment occurs when the revelation of God incarnated as the Self is fully realized. There is no longer I, me or mine nor past, present or future. There is only God, Light, and now.

Over the years, there have been many ups and downs in my spiritual journey. There still are, but I can feel the change in myself. There was a time that I never thought of God or Spirit or even the Universe. For many years after I had an awakening during a long illness, I was only aware when I was in the peaceful flow. Today I am more aware of the times when I am out of the flow. That affords me a great opportunity to understand how my ego tries to pull me out of peace. This awareness is a reminder for me to detach from the mind talk and to look at the situation without judgment. Only then can I identify those old behaviors and beliefs, understand them and, begin to transform them.

Awakening to the Truth of who we are is the greatest commitment we will ever make. We must become aware of the Spirit that guides us and release our attachment to the sense of separation from others and the world. As feelings arise there may be distractions, fear, suffering and a number of other emotions. It may feel as if we are at war with ourselves. The mind is powerful, but so is the heart. Compassion for the self and others will always bring us back to Love.

The Divine works through us as often as we allow. While writing my thesis on Mysticism, my inner wisdom guided me to different books or websites that made my work easier. However, when it came to the conclusion, I was stuck. I struggled to find just the right words to pull this topic together. It wasn’t working. I had extreme neck and shoulder pain. I finally visited my doctor who banned me from the computer or anything to do with the thesis for the weekend. “Just rest,” he ordered, and I listened. The next morning, I plopped in front of the television. The first program just happened to give me an idea for the conclusion. For the entire weekend, more ideas came out of a book, a DVD and from my higher Self. No struggle, no pressure. I just surrendered and sat in awe of the entire experience. I didn’t write one word at this time. I just watched and listened. On Monday when I began writing again, the words just flowed.

This is the Sacred Journey…to surrender, be present, observe, listen, trust and act. It’s very simple, but not always easy. Many hesitate because they believe that this journey means giving up too much. I certainly don’t agree. It has enriched my more life than I ever imagined. Everyone can choose to walk this Sacred Journey. How about You???


Written with Love

Barbara Rasp

Holy is this path and holy are you who walk it. It has been found by many brothers who see the lessons in the Journey to Enlightenment as that path to Heaven. You walk alone, but you do not die alone; for when you move out of the valley and up the mountain, life takes on new meaning.
From: A Gift of Roses, by Barbara Rasp

http://www.wisdomsvoice.com/books.htm

A TRIBUTE TO DAD

Dear Friends,

If you have looked at your email today, you probably saw what one may call a computer glitch on Mystical Reflections. Well, I have to admit that it really was a Barbara glitch. Everything was going well at 3PM and…in my haste to add text, I hit the wrong computer key and OMG, the computer took over and away it went sans text. I quickly found that no matter how I tried to fix it or stop it, I couldn’t find an answer. So I’m sending it again today. Yesterday, March 4th was a very special day for me. The text below is a tribute to my Dad. I hope you enjoy it.

It’s March fourth, a very special day… one that will always be in my memory. Today would be my father’s 98th birthday. Unfortunately I only had him for my first twenty seven years, not nearly enough to truly understand and appreciate his impact on my life. Dad was the quiet and thoughtful one in the family and, in some ways, a mystery to me. My mother was outgoing and loved by everyone. Today I can see pieces of both of them in me, but I didn’t recognize the part of me that is Dad until long after he was gone. At twenty-seven I didn’t have the capacity to understand how much he loved me and how much of him is in me.

Today as I reflect on his impact on my life, I can appreciate his adventuresome spirit which I inherited. For my first eight years, we lived in a small Pennsylvania steel town. Dad worked the swing shift in the mill, but he had a vision of a better life. In 1947 he purchased a homemade one room 16 ft. house trailer. Before the snows arrived, he hitched the trailer to our 1941 Pontiac and moved us to Florida. I had one doll, a teddy bear, a bicycle and a set of loving parents that were willing to take a chance by leaving a large extended family behind to create a happier and more prosperous life.

For a year we lived in that one room trailer with a hot-plate, a tiny icebox, a drop down sofa and a rollaway bed. The next year we moved into a 26 ft. trailer that had two rooms. Four years later, we moved into a small home. I loved and admired my dad in my early years, but when I hit my teens, Dad could do nothing right. He was the one that received the brunt of my teenage hormonal swings. Fortunately, Dad had patience.

That issue was resolved one weekend when I had just completed my nursing education and had taken a weekend off of work to go home and be with my mother who was in the hospital recovering from surgery. One night, Dad took me out for dinner to a very good restaurant. My inner wisdom prompted me to apologize to him for what I had put him through during my teens. I also told him how much I loved and admired him and how happy I was that he was my father. Dad accepted that apology and told me he knew that he could be stubborn too. My mother told me many years later that Dad was beaming with pride when he told her about the incident. He said, at that moment, he knew that I had finally grown up.

That conversation truly changed our relationship. I realized that my behavior was hurtful to Dad and to me. I asked for and received his forgiveness, and I forgave myself. Our arguments stopped and I came to know Dad in an entirely different light. I also learned that it is OK to disagree, but it’s more important to learn from one another than to always be right. I am also grateful for that evening because I didn’t know that in eight years, Dad would be gone.

For many years I wondered why I chose Dad to take out my hormonal frustrations. Perhaps it’s because I have so much of him in me. My adventuresome spirit went beyond our move to Florida. It eventually took me all over this country. Although I have my mother’s great sense of humor, caring, and intuitive nature, I have dad’s quiet spirit as well. I don’t have to be the life of a party. I just enjoy being there. Today I am also happy being alone because it gives me the opportunity to connect with my Source and bask in the wonder of quiet time.

I found myself misty-eyed while writing this piece. Aside from family dynamics and how much we can learn through our interactions, I feel that a deeper message here is the importance of forgiveness, not only for another but for us as well. Forgiveness is not complete until we are willing to forgive ourselves. This behavior will pose great challenges for the ego. For our spirit, it will always create Love and Peace.

Written with Love,

Barbara Rasp


My Dear Ones,

Always look to the light for within the light are the answers to the peacefulness you seek.
Within the heart lies the opportunity to change the world, but one cannot change the world unless one changes the self.
Without love there is no glory.
Without love there is no success.
Without love there is no peace.
Without love there is no forgiveness.

Judgment comes from the intellect.
Forgiveness comes from the heart.
Judgment comes from fear created by the frightened mind.
Forgiveness comes from Love, created of the eternal God.

Wisdom’s Voice

http://www.wisdomsvoice.com/

A LIFE WITH DAD

It’s March fourth, a very special day… one that will always be in my memory. Today would be my father’s 98th birthday. Unfortunately I only had him for my first twenty seven years, not nearly enough to truly understand and appreciate his impact on my life. Dad was the quiet and thoughtful one in the family and, in some ways, a mystery to me. My mother was outgoing and loved by everyone. Today I can see pieces of both of them in me, but I didn’t recognize the part of me that is Dad until long after he was gone. At twenty-seven I didn’t have the capacity to understand how much he loved me and how much of him is in me.

Today as I reflect on his impact on my life, I can appreciate his adventuresome spirit which I inherited. For my first eight years, we lived in a small Pennsylvania steel town. Dad worked the swing shift in the mill, but he had a vision of a better life. In 1947 he purchased a homemade one room 16 ft. house trailer. Before the snows arrived, he hitched the trailer to our 1941 Pontiac and moved us to Florida. I had one doll, a teddy bear, a bicycle and a set of loving parents that were willing to take a chance by leaving a large extended family behind to create a happier and more prosperous life.

For a year we lived in that one room trailer with a hot-plate, a tiny icebox, a drop down sofa and a rollaway bed. The next year we moved into a 26 ft. trailer that had two rooms. Four years later, we moved into a small home. I loved and admired my dad in my early years, but when I hit my teens, Dad could do nothing right. He was the one that received the brunt of my teenage hormonal swings. Fortunately, Dad had patience.

That issue was resolved one weekend when I had just completed my nursing education and had taken a weekend off of work to go home and be with my mother who was in the hospital recovering from surgery. One night, Dad took me out for dinner to a very good restaurant. My inner wisdom prompted me to apologize to him for what I had put him through during my teens. I also told him how much I loved and admired him and how happy I was that he was my father. Dad accepted that apology and told me he knew that he could be stubborn too. My mother told me many years later that Dad was beaming with pride when he told her about the incident. He said, at that moment, he knew that I had finally grown up.

That conversation truly changed our relationship. I realized that my behavior was hurtful to Dad and to me. I asked for and received his forgiveness, and I forgave myself. Our arguments stopped and I came to know Dad in an entirely different light. I also learned that it is OK to disagree, but it’s more important to learn from one another than to always be right. I am also grateful for that evening because I didn’t know that in eight years, Dad would be gone.

For many years I wondered why I chose Dad to take out my hormonal frustrations. Perhaps it’s because I have so much of him in me. My adventuresome spirit went beyond our move to Florida. It eventually took me all over this country. Although I have my mother’s great sense of humor, caring, and intuitive nature, I have dad’s quiet spirit as well. I don’t have to be the life of a party. I just enjoy being there. Today I am also happy being alone because it gives me the opportunity to connect with my Source and bask in the wonder of quiet time.

I found myself misty-eyed while writing this piece. Aside from family dynamics and how much we can learn through our interactions, I feel that a deeper message here is the importance of forgiveness, not only for another but for us as well. Forgiveness is not complete until we are willing to forgive ourselves. This behavior will pose great challenges for the ego. For our spirit, it will always create Love and Peace.

Written with Love,

Barbara Rasp


My Dear Ones,

Always look to the light for within the light are the answers to the peacefulness you seek.
Within the heart lies the opportunity to change the world, but one cannot change the world unless one changes the self.
Without love there is no glory.
Without love there is no success.
Without love there is no peace.
Without love there is no forgiveness.

Judgment and Forgiveness are only thoughts.
To judge your brother is to allow the intellect to speak and bring forth thoughts of pain.
Judgment comes from the intellect.
Forgiveness comes from the heart.

Judgment comes from fear created by the frightened mind.
Forgiveness comes from Love, created of the eternal God.

Wisdom’s Voice

http://www.wisdomsvoice.com/

I Know You

When I first saw you, I knew you. No question about it. It was a felt connection, and it is with me now. How do I know you? Your face is not familiar, your body is a foreign object…and yet I know you. My eyes cannot see the knowing. It’s my heart that captures your sweet familiar essence and revels in its recognition of your being.

Is it a sweet remembrance of a time, or perhaps no time? Could it be another place, or no place? Still, your presence is a comfort, and it awakens a remembrance that I cannot yet see or understand. Nevertheless, I know it is you.

Perhaps we found one another in a different life, or even on the mountaintop. I sense that we once played, loved and lived together present to each moment. Could it be that your essence once merged with mine and we floated on a cloud of unending Love. Can this be true? Can it? Perhaps you remember too.

Written with Love,
Barbara Rasp

********************************************************

“The silent path to God is yours today. In the moment of awakening you travel the path of light with your brother side by side, and as the paths cross or diverge, you must honor them. Your need to use your brother as a crutch is ended when you choose to see him as the holy one he is. You will join your brother once again at the mountaintop where you flow together on the Holy Path as one mind, one universe. Remember, I am with you, now and forever.”

From “A Gift of Roses” by Barbara Rasp

Book available on this website www.wisdomsvoice.com or at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

FAMILY TIES

One day in December 2006, I awoke with physical pain from pool exercises and too much lifting and bending. Later that evening I watched the end of a movie about a loving family’s experiences. This combination apparently triggered something in me, and the words that follow are those that I wrote in my journal the next morning.

I am so stiff and so out of sorts this morning. I’m filled with a deep sadness. As I sit quietly, tears come through the pain, not only physical but emotional as well. I feel lost and alone…disconnected from a sense of family. There’s no one left that I am close to. I have scattered cousins, some of whom I haven’t connected with in years. We moved to Florida when I was eight and my intimate connection with my extended family was severed, except for the occasional summer vacation.

I’m grieving. I miss my family. It’s like a part of me was slowly ripped away over the years, and now I am left to go it alone. It’s lonely sometimes, very lonely. Nearly everyone I know has a family somewhere…people who are what we call “blood relations.” Although I have two cousins more than a thousand miles away that I occasionally talk with on the phone, I haven’t seen them in more than twenty-five years. I have never felt that I needed to see them, but the longing for something this moment is real and is permeating my being. It’s an emptiness that I can’t shake. It takes my breath away. Why, I ask, do I feel this intense yearning for the home that no longer exists?

Suddenly, I realize that I am home. The emptiness and the longing are only reminders that I forgot. In my grief, I am embraced by the energy of a deep and abiding Love. I know that I never really lose my connection to the One Loving Presence. I just forget sometimes, and in that forgetfulness I suffer. I weep for It. I yearn for It. In this remembrance, the Divine Energy of Love and Compassion fills me...and I can breathe again.

It’s so simple. I just drifted into an old story. Yes, my family members were wonderful, and so are the memories. But that is the past. They say that we can’t choose our family, but we can choose our friends. I realize that I’ve made some great choices. I am so blessed by the wonderful friends who have become my family. I take another deep breath as I embrace this exquisite moment of Grace. Now I just sit quietly with wet cheeks and a smile.

Barbara Rasp

Choose to live your life through the melodies of the Spirit, the harmony of the Angels and the love of the One. Live your life in only Love, for that is what you are. I am your strength and I am your Wisdom. Believe in me and we shall live in harmony and in completion of a journey well done. I am your spirit, your mother and father, your son and daughter, your master and teacher, your joy and peace.

Wisdom’s Voice

FYI: The photo above was taken in 1913. The young boy was my father surrounded by his older brother and four sisters.

EVOLUTION

Motorists are driving down the highway, trains are rolling down the tracks, planes are flying overhead and here I sit – peaceful and content to be alone in this room. My thoughts and my mind are slowly acclimating to this state of being and to the call of Spirit.

Sometimes my life becomes so busy and complicated. Perhaps it is my way of ignoring the simplicity of my Truth. If I am an integral part of the One, then I must remember to listen to that guiding Voice which supplies all that is needed for me to live what is true.

My greatest joy is coming into my Self and being that which I am. Sadly, I do not always take the time to live that recognition. Instead, I lapse into old programming and internalize the belief that I am less than.

Change beckons, yet I often resist. I accept the conclusion that this illusion that I see around me is real. I am confined to littleness and stay seeded in its hold. And yet, there are times that I succeed. A breakthrough happens and I catch a glimpse of the Truth – an awesome moment confirming that, as an innocent child of the Divine, I do have a purpose. In that loving world of Spirit I am in my dharma and all is well.

Isn’t this the lesson? The enemy doesn’t exist except in my imagination. When the fullness of life beckons, I must answer the call. Can I refuse the opportunity offered over and over again? Who am I to say no? Who am I to refuse to see what clearly appears on the landscape of my heart.

The Treasure is not hidden. It appears lovingly in my heart over and over again. It is relentless in Its passion, and It is never completely stilled. It is ever growing, ever expanding, and thoroughly committed to Its way. It has no fear and no doubt, for It is ever present in the Light of the thousand suns.

How can I become that? Ahh…but something in me already is. It is the Blessing, the Wisdom, and the Life that evolves as I permit. It’s time for me to allow that evolution to continue and to manifest Itself as the teacher who remains ever the student of the One

Written with Love,

Barbara Rasp

One must always be faithful to the internal call, the voice that guides and directs. It is a soft voice, one that can soothe and transform. It is a loving voice, one that will touch the heart. It is a life voice, one that will awaken you to the Universal Force. It is a kind voice, a gentle voice. In this voice lies the truth of your being. It is your salvation and it is your strength. It lifts you and it loves you. It will never betray you. And this is Truth.

Wisdom's Voice.

A NEW PATH

Awakened by the sound of life outside my window, I arise in anticipation of a new day, a new start. Yet somewhere between that awakened moment and breakfast, I find myself choosing to walk that old weather-beaten path.

My heart speaks loudly; the choice is yours. Do you want to walk a path of the living dead, or do you want to die into newness?Perhaps you could abandon the fear that holds you captive in the misery of old programming. Maybe you will listen closely to the song playing softly in your heart…the one that calls you to abandon the fear and walk that new road; the road of freedom from the false beliefs you lay carefully on the table so as not to forget that that you were taught to play it safe.

Will you open yourself to a path blossoming with new growth, decorated with garlands of flowers, and cool bubbling springs to appease your thirst for life giving elements of the earth? Can you? Will you choose a life path beyond your imagination and fall gently into the creative flow of the One?

What will it take for me to make that choice to walk a new path that I cannot yet see? Do I have the courage to release the old ways that feel safe, yet unfulfilling? It does take courage, but it also takes trust. I know that trust is the cornerstone of stepping into something new, something that I can’t yet see.

My mind tries to take the spotlight and lead me away from the calling of my heart. I wrestle with the uneasiness. The tension builds. The New Year is here. Then, I remember. What the Universe is calling me to is much more important than what I want. I take a deep breath and surrender once again to Its calling.

Every year is a new year, every day is a new day, and every moment is an opportunity to step into the flow, embrace my mission and walk a new path. I wonder what the world would become if everyone was willing to accept the calling. I can only imagine.

With Love,
Barbara


“The natural flow of life is not meant to be feared, but to be lived with joy and wonder. Believing in yourself as a holy child of God and living within the natural flow of creation lifts you to a higher state of mind. Your trust gives birth to peaceful moments and as you learn your place in the flow you become a testament to the Greater Mind of God. This is what man must learn. It is the way of Nature. Yes, my child, it is the way to peace.”
Wisdom’s Voice