Welcome to the Wisdom Wheel Law of Enlightenment # 24

Welcome to the Law of Enlightenment, #24.  This is the last Law on your tour of the outer Wheel and will mark the end of your second year on this 1,000 Day Journey. Because these last twelve Laws have represented the monthly ebb and flow of time on the Wisdom Wheel, they are sometimes called moonstones, one moon per month on Nature’s calendar.

As you take up this Law, spend some time reflecting upon what you learned last month. Ask yourself about the relationship between the last Law and this one. Why does Surrender precede Enlightenment, for instance?  Here’s something to think about.  Whenever someone adopts the attitude, ‘this too shall pass…,’ how can you tell if they are making an excuse for not taking initiative, or being patient in an enlightened way? Is it Surrender or Enlightenment?

For homework this month, try putting a few people on the Wheel. Ask yourself if they are ‘enlightened beings’. How can you discern that? Test for Enlightenment in all Four Quadrants. Is their mind (East) as enlightened as their heart (South)? What does it mean to have an enlightened body (West)? How can you recognize the spirit of Enlightenment (North)? 

How does Enlightenment differ from instinct or intuition? When natural disasters approach, as in the Indian Ocean tsunami situation, the animals knew to flee to higher ground. Their Enlightenment is extremely practical. People could learn quite a lot from animals if they weren’t too proud or too distracted to pay attention.

Look at the position of the Enlightenment Law on the Wisdom Wheel. It is balanced by Forgiveness. Think about why they are a pair. On the elemental level, this combines ‘Air in Autumn’ with ‘Fire in the Spring.’  Without Air, Fires go out. On the moral level, Enlightenment without Forgiveness equals harsh judgments. The first thing we need to do with Enlightenment is to forgive others for not being enlightened and to forgive ourselves for not being enlightened sooner, or enough.

Enlightenment is the birth Law of those born between March 21^st and April 22 under the astrological sign of Aries. These spring born Easterners have Fire in the Mind (versus Leos with Fire in their Hearts and Sagittarians with Fire in their Bodies). I came into the world at this time of the year. Like a fresh sprout, I love being first, and pioneering new ideas comes naturally to me. It is one of my jobs to catalyze new beginnings.  Not surprisingly, I invented the Wisdom Wheel and all my work is basically about finding and sharing Enlightenment.

Since my primary needs are mental, ideas inspire me, and keep my Fire well-fueled. Reading , for instance, satisfies me, whereas others have a greater need to feel and touch, or possess a final product.  

Those born between Sept. 21^st and Oct. 22^nd approximately, under the sign of Libra (with her Balance scales) carry the Forgiveness Law for a lifetime. These two types have good ‘medicine’ to share with each other. This pair of Laws implies that Enlightenment is ultimately about Forgiveness and vice versa. 

The Enlightenment (East) side of the Wheel is the place of Warrior energy and Right Action. Think about the differences between enlightened and unenlightened Warriors and what they fight for and against.  An enlightened Warrior is spiritually well-developed. He or she knows how to pick their battles, and use their energy, wisely. They fight ignorance instead of other people. They would rather die for others than take their lives.

When you compare evolved Warriors, of the ancient Asian East for instance, to the run of the mill gang member or street fighter, you can see the effects of martial arts training. Masters of Tae Kwon Do for example learn to work with aggression not against it. When that energy comes towards them, they ‘use’ the attackers’ force to their advantage. The attacker’s own force will cause him/her lose their Balance if their opponent steps aside for instance. This shows intelligence. Rather than fighting from a stance of blinding anger or emotion...the enlightened Warrior sees a much bigger picture, and the consequences of wrong Actions.   

Likewise, enlightened Teachers, Healers and Visionaries (the other archetypes of the Four Directions), deeply understand the ‘Life Force’ in the Universe and how to work with it. It is a futile waste of time and energy to work against it. Learning about the flow of Life Force and energy is one more reason why we make these conscious Journeys round the Wheel of Life. To deliberately consider each Universal Law, and apply it in your daily life, is one way to actively seek Enlightenment.

One day we will leave our ‘human overcoats,’ as Evelyn Eaton calls the body, to return to the world of pure spirit, at the moment of physical death. If we have gained enough Enlightenment, we will look forward to this moment of Supreme Detachment. All other Surrenders and detachments are just practice rounds to prepare us for the ultimate Surrender.

Heighten your Awareness this month. Where are you in your Cycles? If you are age 26, 53 or 80, you are living under the Law of Enlightenment. Don’t go through life numbed with confusion or despair. Do what you can to ‘be Light and bring Light’ before it’s all over.

On the next Full Moon you will begin your third and final year on the Wisdom Wheel by taking up the Law of Creativity, the first of the inner ‘stepping stones’ as some refer to the last dozen Laws. What will you do after you’ve finished the Wheel and achieved a measure of Enlightenment?

Look at what the Zen Buddhists have to say about this quest. They look to the Buddha, Prince Gautama, as their example of Enlightenment.

Before Enlightenment,

Chop wood, carry water.

After Enlightenment,

Chop wood, carry water.

Many blessings to you and much Enlightenment too,

Malcolm and Cynthia Davidson