Firstly, my apologies to members in the Southern Hemisphere who are just entering Winter. The content of this sermon is aimed at the celebration of Summer so perhaps you can engage with its message in reflection rather than a direct connection to the current season! :)
This week marks the festival of Beltane, a Gaelic celebration that has been adopted by many neo-pagan paths. It marks the start of Summer and is held when the Sun enters 15degrees Taurus (May 6th this year) but is usually celebrated around the more convenient date of May 1st or May Day.
The date of celebration is less important than the reason, for the turning of the wheel of the year reflects in our own nature and being. In more traditional times, the Summer marked a period of fruitfulness and growth when crops would spring up and the land would offer its abundance. It is a time of fertility, both carnal and spiritual, and the warmth of the Summer sun brings fire to the belly and stokes the furnace of passion to enable us to forge ahead with our missions and projects.
Beltane is a time of potential. As Jedi we try to live each day in the moment but it is also useful to sometimes look ahead to the possibilities that we could achieve, so that we can fix our energies on a goal as well as beseech the Force to guide us to our destinations. Energy flows where attention goes.
The Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu text, has this to say:
“Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfilment. . . intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organising power to work for us.”
Deepak Chopra refers to this notion in his book “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” and expounds further, advising us to create an intention (a dream, wish, or vision for the future), and then “Let the universe handle the details. Your intentions and desires, when released in the gap, have infinite organizing power. Trust that infinite organizing power of intention to orchestrate all the details for you.”
In other words, allow the Force to lead you to where you need to be in order to fulfil that intention.
So take a moment to reflect on your own dreams and wishes for the future. At this time of pure potential, allow the Force to understand what you would like to achieve. If you would like some musical accompaniment during this time, you may like to play this track:
Once you have envisioned your desire, let it go. Relinquish all worries or concerns, stop trying to plan how you are going to get there, don't even consider how you are going to start! The Force will guide you to the right places and the right times if you trust in its guidance. Your path to fulfilment may be unusual and may even sometimes seem totally irrelevant to the goal but have faith and you will always be led to where you need to be, when you need to be there.
And now, bring energy to yourself and your intention. Spend some time in having fun, doing gleeful things, spreading happiness and joy, dancing in the sun or splashing about in the rain. By embodying the positivity and creative momentum of Summer, you directly empower your intentions. The next track might seem like a piece of frothy pop but so what? The next few minutes are for you to sing, dance, smile, wave your hands about like a lunatic, or even to drift off into a moment of bliss. Although I accept no liability for strange looks you may receive if you are in a public place!
So your mission (should you choose to accept it!) is to go out and spread that cheer to the world! Bring Summer into the hearts of the people you meet so that a wave of joy can spread around the world and truly welcome Summer into being!
I wish you the brightest of Beltane blessings – May the Force be With You always!
