Author: Charles Geddes

We are the Wave

wave breaking on beach photo

Transcendental Love is the potency within our souls that carries us through and its purpose – that we realize our might – our inner fire – our capacity to transcend adversity and rise! I believe we are all here to ignite the Artist within us through celebrating our uniqueness and developing our authenticity to touch one another.

I’m sharing quotes from Harry Belafonte – and referencing to his beautiful song “We are the wave” in this blog.

“Art in its highest form is art that serves and instructs society and human development.” “If I’ve impacted on one heart, one mind, one soul, and brought to that individual a greater truth than that individual came into a relationship with me having, then I would say that I have been successful.” 

The above quote brings to my mind and heart what my 4th Year Ministerial Teacher – Dr. Earl Barnum told me before I assumed my first church – back in September of 1971. In late Spring I flew (my first plane flight) to Tucson, AZ, thinking it was just an opportunity to speak. However, that first Sunday the board asked if I would be their minister, and they were willing to wait until I was complete with my studies. Amazingly they flew me back and I spent two weeks in the summer there and prepared to arrive in the fall. This move meant letting go of my only significant other relationship I lived with and all the family I would be leaving in California – (which they in time followed me to Tucson.)

Before I left, I had a sacred conversation with Dr. Barnum expressing my concern and overwhelming fear. He said quite simply: “Charles, if you only impact one life for the better and richer – you have succeeded, and if that life is your own – all the more so!”

I have carried that within my soul through all my ministry and in recent years my personal life has been more profound and richer than ever. Harry Belafonte impacted millions. I know I have touched more than one heart – living from the pure intention of seeking to be authentically Charles. I can say with deepest clarity – the life I have touched most profoundly has been my own.

Through all the highs and lows – the words to this song proclaim – I am the wave on the journey of life and it carries me through all the storms to that higher view where I realize the might and power that we are all One in this wave – together – “We are the force, We are the fire, We are the move, Moving higher and higher!”  Living from the premise – of touching one life for the richer – and above all our own – is the key whereby were all shall rise!

Song by Harry Belafonte – We are the Wave.

The sea will wash against the rock
The rock stands strong; the rock is strong
The sea will wash against the rock
But before too long the rock is gone.

The wind will blow against the stone
The stone stands strong; the stone is strong
The wind will blow against the stone
But before too long the stone is gone.

Patience gentlemen, we move closer every day
Patience gentlemen, the stone will soon give way.

We are the wave
We are the flow
We are the wind
And soon the rock must go
We are the wave
We are the flow
We are the wind
And soon the rock must go.

You cannot hold back the tide
The tide must rise the tide must rise
Its the law of earth and skies
The tide will rise, the tide will rise
Its as natural as day to night
As day to night, day to night
As natural as black and white
Black and white, black and white

Patience gentlemen, the flower can grow up through the stone
Patience gentlemen, it’s a truth that we have always known.

We are the wave,
We are the flow
We are the wind
And soon the rock must go
We are the force
We are the fire
We are the move
Moving higher and higher
We are the force
We are the fire
We are the move
Moving higher and higher

We are the wave
We are the flow
We are the wind
And soon the rock must go
We are the wave
We are the flow
We are the wind
We are the flow
We are the wave
We are the flow
We are the wind
And soon the rock must go
We are the wave
We are the flow

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Photo by Kammeran Gonzalez-Keola

Remember Home

Cozy Fireplace Photo

As all the Holidays and Sacred Celebration unfold – Remember Home

My reflection on Home

Not everyone has fond memories of early Home and may not have known Home at all. However – here is what I have come to know about the word Home. For me – it’s a journey my soul takes to establish Peace – which is about Transcendental Love.

Home is a feeling in my heart in which I am at Peace.

Home brings memories of laughter, of shining moments that illuminate the memories I hold dear.

Home brings about the vision of times with family, friends, peers, and great love.

There are so many memories now and I realize the blessings in my life.

Home is a place I call sanctuary. I return to it at day’s end for rest and renewal.

And yet, more than ever, I know that I take home with me wherever I go.

When I am at home within myself, others feel safe and loved.

When there is abiding inner Peace. I am at home everywhere.

And this I pray above all that I give to others a sense of home, of being safe, and valued.

Home is not about a destination.

It’s that we inspire one another through how we live.

I realize my soul is my eternal home.

To all that have enriched my soul and have given me such sacred memories,

May this reflection find you “at home.”

Love,

Charles

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Awakening!

Awakening image

I am offering a brief prose with the focus on our Awakening – individually and collectively and the importance of the energy vibration we bring daily as we awaken and enter our day. It’s our Accountability individually and collectively for what we give to the evolution of all humanity.

Every morning let your energy be an enthused awakening with your first focus on Gratitude. Prioritize time for quietude and soulful reading and exercise.

Remember – though it may be a thimble full – the vibration you bring does contribute to the world consciousness. May I carry the charge to Awaken to what I bring with every step I take into this day and wherever I go. May those I encounter feel better because I crossed their path.

Our world is crying out to Awaken – let that be my soul and sole purpose – my own Awakening! Below is a Prayer for our Times!

May I/We Awaken!

I open my mind – that I might see.
Truth that will liberate and free,
With an open heart ready to be,
A part of a new world story
Believing we all belong
There are no “others” we are One.
Silence of the past is not the path,
Nor shame or guilt for anyone,
Nor ongoing seeds of hatred,
Rather, opening to what is sacred.

Accountability for what we carry forward.

Awakening so –
Future generations behold a new dawn.
Where ongoing ignorance and prejudice is gone.
Where equity, compassion, are for all.
Building bridges not walls.
May I own my part through the seeds I plant.
That heart-to-heart I may implant.
I want for you what I want for me –
Simply, purely, the right to exist, to be free.
And discover the true meaning of liberty.
As we travel together, we all might see,
The wonder and beauty in you and me,   
In that remembrance we all have a right to be!
May I/We Awaken!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Acceptance

breathe image

Acceptance is a vital word in the soul evolution of our lives. It does not mean resignation but being aware of: Change is the constant and aligning to that change is not giving up but being open to seeing things with new perspective and purpose.

The outcome of the election 2024 was not what I wanted to see, however, it is what I must open to observe with insight. I am not viewing those with differing views as my enemies. It is unfortunate that we have become so divided into extreme views that we believe building walls are more important than bridges.

In the awakenings that are occurring within me on a deeper level than ever I realize the true enemy is within. Self-condemnation. unforgiveness, the terrorist racist, and anger/rage stored within me is a vibrational energy that I contribute to the world daily. I am choosing to clear the intensity of those unconscious beliefs stored within my body and realize Charles is worth loving and so is every other being on this planet, without exception. We are dark and light, and only by seeing ourselves in the fullness of our being do we rise to contribute authentic healing energy for all.

A brief soulful video on Acceptance:

Tara Talks: Radical Acceptance is a Prerequisite for Change

I choose to see humanity evolving – no matter what the appearance. I choose to believe that the ultimate reality is Love, and that miraculous things can emerge out of chaos. That has been true in my life journey. As I was willing to be the observer of my life and take new accountability for (not judgment of) my words, deeds, and actions, I do see things in new awareness. My sole purpose – Mind my own Becoming – do self-forgiveness and make amends wherever I can. At the root of all humanity is a quest for love, freedom to be, and the opportunity to express the gifts we can bring to one another.

Acceptance of the outcome of the election is realizing we are a house divided as a nation. I also have been in a house divided as to how I have seen myself. I can create new awareness through listening compassionately to others. It’s more important that I open to new insight than have the need to be right!

Acceptance is loving who I am with all my imperfection and celebrating building bridges that enable me to see we are all on this evolutionary journey as Spirit in human form – together!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

A Prayer for Awakening!

One World, One Heart

I share this as the Blog for this week and the prayer below is in the first person. I created this prose for a group we held in Ft. Lauderdale for a period of multi-faiths coming together.

The evolution of our Nation and our World is about the Remembrance – We are One.

We all have a right to belong to this One World Family, but the roots of ongoing warring, rewriting history to erase the horrors we have perpetuated as humanity because of race, color, faiths, our sexuality and roles we are told to play, have to be seen and acknowledged for healing to take place. It is heartbreaking to realize the human species is the only one that carries such revenge, unforgiveness, and hatred as our way of life.

I am choosing to clear the warring within me, to be accountable for misperceptions or behavior in my own life that may have wounded another. The compassionate listening bridges we must build together are essential to the healings needing to take place between all. I choose to encourage Awakening – not Warring and stand for the beauty of authenticity within all of us as the Spiritual Beings we are here to be in this human form.

A Prayer

Beloved Presence ….
Eternal Spirit, Creator of all,
I hold a sacred call …
The Call to Love.
May I Awaken!
I am a part of One World Family.
Let my Light shine through me today,
revealing the path and the way,
that I might listen to others,
building bridges, not walls.
Let my words be healing balm,
with compassion, and care for everyone.
One World Family,
The same stardust brought us into being.
May I embrace the divinity we all share,
and know the power of forgiveness for me,
and for all humanity.
Let the inner work I do create a sense of Peace,
Whereby I make heart prints upon all I touch.
Let me rise to tell a simple story …
I am here for one great cause ….
The call to Love – One World Family.
May I Awaken!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Better or Bitter?

I Rise - Charles Geddes

Be aware of your 2 choices in life – better with gratitude or bitter with complaints.

This Principle is the ultimate key to all the others. Better shines through Gratitude and bitter shows through resentments and unforgiveness. Bitter is a poison to my body. Key remembrance – Be in Gratitude – Pre-Pray your way every day. My ancestors are in Truth heralding me on for my soul evolution. The inquiry: What stories am I carrying forward for world healing?

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
– Nelson Mandela

I have changed the word “bitter shows through “complaints” as the principle originally stated, to resentments and unforgiveness. Those two factors do keep us bound to past pain that blocks our personal freedom and well-being.

No matter what we face at any age – it’s how we choose to rise from our experiences that define our character and what we carry forward!

I believe with every decade of our lives – we live lifetimes. When I view my life from decades – from birth to 10 – 10 to 20 – 20 to 30, and ongoing, my life had quantum changes – dark nights and extraordinary joy, grief and profound love, disappointments and loss and coming to value my growth as the observer and not the judge!

I have done deep work through my years of study and ministry. I honor that have touched lives. I have also carried deep grief, anger and pain that remained in my tissues – literally! (See Angel Howard’s book – Issues in the Tissues – available now.)

The decision to do deeper personal therapy in my 80’s has brought that to the forefront of my awareness.

Though every session of my current therapy is not an intense one, I have experienced profound breakthroughs in releasing resentments, judgments and unforgiveness within myself that I did not know were as deep as they were.

I see Charles in his 80’s more compassionately and I am observing the judgments I made that I see with new clarity and healing insight – about myself and others.

I send forth my prayers for forgiveness to all that I have hurt or injured not only in this lifetime, but through all my soul’s journey. Where I can make amends in this lifetime, I do. Most importantly of all I can genuinely see I made decisions based on what I believed at the time. My beliefs have evolved and changed! Love and forgiveness of myself has been the liberating factor,

I do know depression and a sense of hopelessness – (my suicide attempt in my 20’s) and being in a psyche ward. I do know grief and sadness and an overwhelming sense of loss. (My AIDS support work with the group Together to Grow in the late 80’s – mid 90’s). I do know great disappointments throughout my life, and I also honor how I have risen – no matter what it may have required. My angel guides conveying to me – “Charles, breathe through this time, we have your back and are preparing the way forward for you – we are always with you!”

My capacity to love Charles now is authentic, for I no longer have the need to prove myself. I simply want to share what is in my heart to be and give. My capacity of forgiveness – deeper than ever because I want to cross over into my eternity with a sense of no judgment against anyone or anything in my past.

Two choices – yes, it’s that simple – better or bitter. I choose to look in the mirror and be able to exclaim – Charles, you are getting better!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Non-Attachment with Passionate Pursuit!

Silhouette of man on mountaintop

Principle 4. Never give up – but be willing to step back and align to your true passion.

Life is about the willingness to step back – let go – reassess and realign to what is yours to “Be.” It is riding the waves of grief and loss as well as joy. They are all my teachers. My passion is derived from joy and sorrow and being the Victor of this adventure of life.

Essential to this Principle: I must practice non-attachment to outcomes and remain in passionate pursuit of what is in my heart to give and be!

That Principle can be a great challenge – and I am adding that additional sentence on the website!

I am not aware of what tomorrow may bring; however, I can be conscious of what I choose to bring to it.

A quote from Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning.

The last of one’s freedoms.

“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.”

Out of the horrors of his time in the German concentration camps, he created a therapy called: Logotherapy – the heart of which was about:

“His most famous memoir begins by outlining a personal experience through the gruesome Auschwitz concentration camps. The three years he spent in concentration camps became more than a story of survival. Frankl embodies the modern-day definition of resilience.

He muses about the quest for meaning, the transcendental power of love, finding humor, and discovering courage in the face of difficulty. In the worst circumstances imaginable, Frankl held to the belief that the most critical freedom is an individual’s ability to choose one’s attitude.”

My stepping back at times has been crucial to draw forth the innate strength within me, a day at a time. In that quest, I do find new passion and purpose and I can choose the attitude that lifts me up and through to ever higher ground.

In 80+ years there is a profound gift of honoring and celebrating the distance travelled. Like all, I have faced dark nights, pain on all levels, grief that still comes in waves, and rising through this world with the beliefs in duality and others that have been crippling at times to my well-being.

In letting go of controlling outcomes – let me be in passionate regard for what I am being in the moment and let that move me on to all that is before me.

I cherish what my years and friendships have given to me. My passionate pursuit – the authenticity of Charles – rising to ever deeper purpose and value of self and others, never giving up and always willing to step back!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Self-Forgiveness – FIRST!

Forgive Yourself Image

Week three of continuing to revisit the 5 Key Principles.

Two key factors regarding forgiveness – the forgiveness of ourselves and of others.

My freedom is remembering that no person, no event, no place, or thing can block the light that I am. My healing is to live from that premise.

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”  – Mark Twain

Please Note:  I am changing the above on our website to reflect the first and most important reality of forgiveness – the forgiveness of self!

Four years ago, those Principles were out of an inquiry within my soul – What were the most important practices I have learned for my own healing and well-being? They are not new – but Universal – and are a way of life for me.

In these most recent years, I have realized the deep unforgiveness I carried within myself and created judgments that I unconsciously placed upon others. Through my recent personal therapy, I have been able to see the pain I carried within my body issues. See the website and book by Angel Howard – who was a keynote at our closing Big Sky Retreat this year.  She is amazing, and I look forward to having her on Mind Your Own Becoming Zoom Programming.

I want to be the observer of this life journey – not the judge and executioner of myself or others. I want to honor the distance I have travelled and see my life in new light, care, and regard. I choose to observe and be accountable for areas I need to own regarding my past and others.

I will add to that, I have taken account of the cruel and self-condemning thoughts I have held against myself through the years that created dark nights and harmful and addictive behavior!

I believe in my 80’s I gained more insight than all my 55 years of ministry combined.

Forgiving is not condoning a generational history of abuse, and the ongoing violence within humanity we see, however, I know the self-condemning  within me and the unforgiveness within my own soul contributes to the world consciousness daily. I choose to love this man Charles as profoundly as I have sought to convey love to others. I choose to convey personal amends wherever I can where hurt has been from my false judgments or behavior.

I want to stand on the Healing Bridge – for myself and all – and live from an inner Peace within my soul that I carry forward daily, without exception for all.

If I am still breathing in this realm my forgiveness is ongoing, I am grateful that I have come to realize doing the healing and forgiving within myself is the most vital of all.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Lighten Up!

meditation

Week two of continuing to revisit the 5 Key Principles. Look back on week 1, entitled Practice, Practice, Practice.

2 – Be Aware of What Is Yours to Carry and What Is Yours to Set Free.

What baggage we carry that has never belonged to us, and we keep adding to it with more stories that keep us entrapped in emotional quicksand of lies and untruths about ourselves and others.

I honor that I took on great responsibilities in my youth and felt it was absolutely mine to do. There is no regret in all those years – yet there is great awareness that I carried that sense of obligation for decades longer than I needed to. My sense of identity and value was solely in being there for my family and others.

In my 60’s I did step away from that profound sense of obligation, however, I still carried in my ministry and work that I had to be there for everyone – and always available. I was still adding to my luggage – that only I could lighten by stepping back and awakening to – I can travel more lightly.

From events that took place in my work and wonderful new friendships and love in Ft Lauderdale, there came a time when I realized, I wanted to explore a whole new freedom and no longer “carry” being there 24/7 for everyone.

It was time to set Charles – Free. I let go of my church leadership and through the imprint of COVID and Black Lives Matter – I created Mind Your Own Becoming – a non-profit forum for open and meaningful discussion of our times that we come to authentically listen.

Check our Opening Home Page on What we are About and our Mission, Vision statements.

I also decided to move to Montana having been born in Colorado and being one of the founders of the Big Sky Retreat from its beginnings in 1976. The mountains were calling me for a sense of being home where I could claim new growth – and “Lighten Up.”

I let go of all except for sending packages to Clancy, Montana, where I was to discover a new sanctuary space, and packing my new Jeep Cherokee with all I could. A beloved friend Rev Kent Barnard traveled with me part way to Texas.  From that point on I was by myself and arrived in Montana, May 1st, 2020.

Through this decision for the first time in my life I do not feel driven in time and schedule. I am here for what Kahlil Gibran defines as “Work is Love made visible.”  I am refired, renewed, redefined, and awakening to my full value – without the need to prove it to others.

I am conscious to look at my baggage ongoing and the self-judgment I carried throughout my life, generationally and personally. I seek to live from valuing how far I have travelled and the rest before me is meant to be the best because I have “Lightened Up!”

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice photo

A review of the 5 Key Principles of Mind Your Own Becoming – The path to our Freedom to Be!

Taking in the Key Principles of MYOB is about putting them into practice as a way of life.

However, we choose to see them – as Spiritual Principles or Ethical Principles to live by – these are not new. They are at the heart of great faiths and are the core of what the Mystics have taught.

Please review what I have shared on the website regarding these Principles. I am updating my soulful reflections of them as I turn 83 and honor I am continuing to deepen and expand my awareness of Charles. I will be revisiting the 5 Key Principles over the next 5 weeks.

1 – Free Others to Be Where They Are – Not Where You Want Them to Be.

I have come to realize that we all move through what we are here to grow though. I cannot evolve for anyone but myself. My soul / sole priority – is to work on what I personally need to continue to see life in new perspectives that nurture my own authenticity and self-value.

I can and do plant seeds of my insight and let them be.

I celebrate that when I have had personal breakthroughs and share them with clarity that it can and does encourage others to go deeper in their own awareness.

When I recently shared the story of being the victim of an attack on a dark, rainy night by four men years ago and that I forgave my attackers immediately, that I carried for decades that it was my fault being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just recently through my personal therapy I was able to utter for the first time in my life – “It wasn’t my fault” and believe it.”

Sharing that story at the Big Sky Retreat – an attendee came up to me with tears in her eyes – saying – you freed me to say the same about what had occurred to her. She realized it was time she freed that pain of self-condemnation against herself.

When our stories of insight touch another life,  that is the result of Minding my own Becoming to empower others.

The simplicity of that Principle – when you do the deeper soul work on yourself, you are more mindful that you can’t control or grow for anyone else – but you!

The great liberty is when I realize – the deeper I go into my own self-liberation and authenticity, the greater compassion I have for everyone – without exception. I can pray for world-wide awakening – as I choose to awaken daily to personal task – of Minding my own Becoming!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

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