November 8, 2016 was a historic day in the United States of America, not because we chose the first-ever female President Elect, but because a minority of citizens chose the most immature, narcissistic, egocentric, abrasive, fear-based, sexist, racist, violence-oriented, angry, vulgar, divisive, bully of a President Elect in our history.

These adjectives are my biased assessment based on my experience of Donalt Trump in the public arena. They may or may not be true of him as an individual overall; they are simply what I have witnessed of him in my limited exposure to his public behavior. I pray that he reveals a more respectable and spiritually mature side of himself once in office.

Note that Donald Trump's nomination as President Elect is not the product of the majority popular vote, but of our voting system by way of the Electoral College count. The majority of American voters actually chose Hillary Clinton: 59,938,290 to Trump's 59,704,886, a staggering difference of 233,404 people, yet still, he became the President Elect.

As a dear friend of mine from England noted, "there is something undemocratic about that." I agree. There is something very undemocratic about discounting the votes of 233,404 people in this election. I wonder if I was one of them?

Emotions are high not only in the US, but across the globe as this reality settles into being within our hearts and minds. Some people are elated; some are terrified. Others are emboldened by the wave of "power over" energy this President Elect advocates. Still others are emanating more light and love energy now than ever before.

Here is something for consideration:

In my humble opinion, this President Elect epitomizes the shadowy ego energy of the Human Being - never satisfied, inherently fearful, and therefore a bully, and unconscious (meaning spiritually asleep, lacking in self-awareness, uninterested in personal evolution). He has a punishing attitude and when challenged, readily exposes the anger in his heart. He is a living model of what Eckert Tolle calls "the Pain Body." (Look it up.)

One of the most significant aspects of his character is that he uses his might to exert his will upon those he disagrees with and judges as somehow less than deserving or less than human, taking a "power over" stance to get his way. Many people mistakenly believe this behavior makes him a safe and powerful man.

But "power over" is not rooted in true safety or power; it is rooted in fear. "Power over" energy pits one against another, creating a false sense of separation, isolation, and insulation. It feeds the energy of resistance and division. It imposes punishment for difference. It inspires anger and hatred. Its overall impact is weakening, not strengthening, to the people. It is the typical stance of the closed-minded, closed-hearted coward.

In contrast, true power - a power rooted in love rather than fear - is respectful, collaborative, and compassionate. It feeds the energy of acceptance and unity. It inspires cooperation and love. Its overall impact is strengthening, not weakening, to the collective. It is the typical stance of the open-minded, open-hearted hero.

What kind of leader do you want for this world you share with 7.5 billion other people and 8.7 million species?

Consider that question in light of today's weaponry, with the capacity to annihilate entire countries with millions of inhabitants at the push of a button. The US does not have solitary access to such weapons. Should our President Elect piss off the wrong group, this great country of ours - to date, arguably one of the safest and most free in all the world - is history.

Believing that our President Elect is somehow immune to this threat is simply naive. His arrogant denial of his vulnerability makes him more vulnerable, not less...which makes all of us more vulnerable, not less.

None of us can know what this event means for our lives, for our country, or for the world at large. We can imagine; we can guess and postulate, but we cannot really know until we know, until it happens and we are experiencing it. In the meantime, if you have to imagine something, imagine the best possible scenario rather than the worst. Lamenting over what you fear does not make it go away. In fact, it magnifies the energy behind the fear, which is the last thing we want to do at this time in our evolution.

For centuries, great spiritual leaders across the planet have provided us with hope and spiritual guidance during such unsettled times. Ask yourself if the character of our President Elect is aligned with their vast wisdom:

Pope Francis "Every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask themselves two questions: 'Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble, and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?' If you don't ask those questions, your governance will not be good."

Pope Francis "Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities."

Romans 13:10 "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law."

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."

1 Peter: 4-8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 John: 4-18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs."

Dali Lama "The goal is not to be better than the other man but your previous self."

Dali Lama "The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred."

Dali Lama “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

Dali Lama “The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.”

Dali Lama “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Mother Teresa "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Mother Teresa "Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have recieved and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."

Mother Teresa "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."

Nelson Mandela “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

Nelson Mandela “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

Mahatma Ghandi "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mahatma Ghandi "The good man is the friend of all living things."

Mahatma Ghandi "No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive."

Mahatma Ghandi "Civilization is the encouragement of differences."

Mahatma Ghandi "Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit."

Mahatma Ghandi "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not even one man's greed."

Mahatma Ghandi "When you want to find Truth as God, the only inevitable means is love, that is nonviolence."

Mahatma Ghandi "Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment."

Let these words of wisdom touch your deepest heart. Then, as always, hold LOVE ABOVE (all else, of course!).

May we each and every one of us find the peace, compassion and love that is our true selves, and express that truth into the world. Namaste'

Every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask themselves two questions: 'Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?' If you don't ask those questions, your governance will not be good.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pope_francis.htmlet these insights touch your deepest heart

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.htmlNelson Mandela “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand737776.html

Thursday, November 10, 2016

President Elect: 2016