Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

I have had many years experience organising and running many workshops based on spiritual beliefs, philosophies, and practises, ranging from The Celestine Prophecy, Louise Hay, and my own Lighten Up interactive and meditation group.

After having spent eight years running one meditation group, which I had hoped would become a light workers circle, I was becoming disillusioned. Not just with the lack of progress in the group, but in my own life. Often, during meditation, I would "see" myself at a crossroads, not knowing which way to take; for several years, I was, figuratively speaking, sitting there, staring at a signpost that pointed four ways, none of which were informative. I felt like my life had become stagnated and I desperately wanted to move forward.

Finally, during meditation, I "asked" the right question: "Which way am I meant to go?" The answer was received at lightning speed: “Choose a way. You will not choose the wrong way because whichever way you choose will be the right way."

Y'see, we already KNOW the answers before we ask the questions. The problem is that we run around like headless chickens, seeking something we already have in our possession.

It's like "Dorothy" and her friends, embarking on a journey to find a home, a heart, the courage, and a brain. Dorothy's home was wherever her heart was; the Tin Man was a kindly soul—his heart might not have been made of gold, but it was worth its weight. And the Cowardly Lion possessed amazing courage when it came to protecting his comrades. As for the Scarecrow, he was a born leader with an incredible sense of intellect. Yet, they set off on a journey to find the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in the hope that he could give them the gifts they prized the most. But in finding the "wizard" they discover that he's not great or wonderful; he's just some guy from Kansas, who is over the rainbow of his own ego! But, he VALIDATES Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion by giving:

• The Scarecrow a Degree (earned by a student who has shown great skill in his ability to learn)
• A time piece to the Tin Man (for measuring the beat of time)
• A medal for the Cowardly Lion for his outstanding bravery in the face of danger

But Dorothy? He couldn't give her a home because she already possessed that, within her heart. All she had to do was click the heels of the SILVER slippers, (not ruby) which are symbolic of the Sacred Feminine and the hearth and home.

These were all validations of things the travellers already possessed. They just didn't know it because they were too busy searching for them. Had they simply taken the time to sit quietly and go within themselves, they would have discovered that they already had the answers.

So, what do we do when we are looking for answers to do with spirituality? We turn to "gurus," priests, rabbis, imams, tarot readers, or other fortune tellers. The latter of these ask you to "cross my palm with silver" or a suggested fee. And what do we do? We readily give over, not just our money, but our power too. We turn to the ordinary guy behind the curtain, who is pulling switches and trying to convince us that he possesses some great mystical power that us ordinary folk in the street do not possess.

Yet, if we were to put away our purses and wallets and stop travelling the Yellow Brick Road and sit quietly at the crossroads of life, we will find that we already know the answers, already possess whatever our greatest desires are.