Thoughts on keeping one’s balance in a cosmos with no floor.

By Noel Levan
November 17, 2013.

Many years ago I wrote with some regularity, in journals, poetically, and with a questioning that I now sometimes miss.

I wrote, “Standing upon the threshold of knowing, the cosmos, has no floor.” I thought at that time that I had a glimmer of understanding regarding how the world worked and what part I played in ‘the grand scheme of things’. I thought too that fathoming the cosmos was very like standing upon a threshold to a room that had no floor. That I could imagine myself knowing even an infinitesimal portion of all there may be to fathom about ‘life, the universe and everything’ was to me, laughable. And I did laugh. I do laugh, often, deeply and with 

genuine delight.

I have come to live in awe.

My experiences thus far have informed my life and I now offer you my perspective. I spoke here some time ago of my spiritual journey; of how I have come to address and respond to the world and the events of my life as I do.

Though I can say that it has not changed substantially, I am here today to speak more of what works, for me.

I’m going to speak of perspective as it applies to my way of engaging the days and moments of my life and the world as I experience it.

So, here’s the perspective part… here, in this space we will envision the extent of what we now have knowledge of to be the whole of cosmic space. And somewhere, over in this area of all that space is our little, infinitesimal part of the observable universe. I don’t mean our planet or our solar system. I mean our Milky Way galaxy; which is part of a local super cluster, which is a tiny part of the Observable cosmos (in the neighborhood of 80 billion galaxies). And just for the sake of clarity, the whole Cosmos may contain more than 100,000 trillion galaxies.

So, let’s just say that the earth is small.

Recently on the internet I saw a photo taken by an outbound satellite. Launched some years ago it has now traversed space to its current location on the far side of Saturn’s rings. The photo shows Saturn’s rings as misty, colored bands, and through them one may note a tiny bright dot, the size of a pin head. That’s Earth.

Now, let’s consider cosmic time. How long has this ol’ cosmos been around? And how much longer can we imagine it being?

I’ve no idea. And for our discussion it really doesn’t matter all that much. Suffice it to say that the life span of any one of us (on this planet) is again, comparatively speaking, small.

Now, given these two observations I could readily say that the absolute greatest thing anyone person (or the whole of our species to date) could accomplish in their lifetime would likely not even register on the cosmic scale. In fact from the cosmic perspective the life of our planet is quite likely, absolutely inconsequential. Here in lies the potential for a pit of despair and species specific, overwhelming depression. Or not. Why?

Because I also recognize that finite as my lifetime and experience is or/and will be, it is ALL that I have! Therein, every moment of this life is of absolute, quintessential importance to me.

So here we are. Infinitesimally small and of no consequence whatever contrasted with absolutely important in every moment and deed we have time for.

What I’ve come to is that keeping a balance is important. I know better than to imagine my life to be monumental (in the cosmic scheme) and therein I don’t take myself too seriously. And on the other hand I savor all that my life offers me, to the best of my abilities.

I also know how blessed my life has been to date. I used to say that even at my saddest moments, “At least I’m not a starving, Biafran refugee.” I’ve not experienced starvation. My life has not been ravaged by the wars I’ve survived. I’ve not known crippling pain or terminal disease (though I’ve spent a considerable portion of my energies in aiding those whose lives have been about one form of suffering or another). I’ve not had to survive abuse, rape, malicious wounding (other than the bullying of my childhood) or other life threatening circumstances. Other than minor emotional scars and just plain aging, so far, I don’t know that I could have envisioned a better life.

As of today the human beings on this planet are engaged in active, hostile interactions.

There are between196 and 250 countries in the world today (depending on your definition). 60 are at war in approximately 461 armed conflicts. When will we learn better?

Although I’ve got some ideas, I don’t know how so much of the world has become so fearful, so belief-bound and stricken with such extreme sadness and reflexive aggression. And what I witness appears SO out of balance!

So, to respond to the seeming insanity I see (and the world seems to be experiencing) I have come up with the solution that works for me (and may for everyone else in the world as well).

I offer that the cosmos is neutral, benign, and would just as soon support us as annihilate us; individually and/or collectively.

I’ve heard it said, “Matter, every thing (object and planet alike) is just ‘sticky energy’”. Everyone of us are indeed made up of stardust.

So, I’m going with Play. The play of childhood innocence.

I’m going with Magic. The magic of wonder and awe.

I’m going with synchronicity and synergistic engagement.

I’m going with Manifestation.

Here’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

I believe that manifestation works. I believe it works because manifestation is just (at its simplest) engaging the energies of the cosmos to meet a need or a want. Now, it’s important to be as clear here as I am able. I’ve not been able to use these energies for the benefit of others (that I know of, to date) however I can clearly imagine that all prayers, whether by individuals or groups, set energies into motion, hopefully to positive purpose.

That’s what I’ve done so far. I enter into a conversation with the cosmos. I put forth a request in the form of words, vibrating air and energies with an intention. Those energies ripple out into the ether and set in motion other energies; a caroming effect ensues and wheels once set in motion will stay in motion until the net effect brings a response to my request.

Some might call this my imagination and, no doubt, those of you who know me also know that I have a fertile imagination. Some might say that I’m simply recognizing an opportunity at the opportune moment. I won’t argue that and would (if anything) argue that therein lies synchronicity; and what is that, if not magic?

I’ll offer a couple of examples.

#1. Some time ago I decided to change the contour of my front yard in order to take advantage of the southern exposure. I purchased about eight tons of stone called Sienna brown stone, sandstone in thicknesses between four and six inches thick. It came on pallets from the local quarry. Its placement, when dry-laid and stacked to just above knee-high, as a retaining wall along the sidewalk would effectively raise and level the future planting space. Before I could build the wall it was necessary to dig away from the sidewalk approximately 18-24 inches and remove all the dirt and, create a base that was both canted toward the hill and slanted slightly away from the sidewalk for drainage to work correctly. I had about sixty feet of trenching to accomplish and it would all be by the sweat of my brow, the use of a hand shovel and a hell-of-a-lot of bending and lifting of dirt and rock. After I’d dug and removed seven feet of the overall length I was feeling the strain, clearly. At that point I stepped away from the wall and calmly addressed the cosmos.

“Y’know, a mini-excavator could knock this whole dirt removal and trenching operation out in about twenty minutes, and I (and my back) sure would appreciate that; that or something better, thanks.”

About forty minutes went by and I’d continued working and stepping back to observe my progress (or lack) when a white pickup truck pulled up to the curb just behind me. A fellow I didn’t know leaned out of the driver’s window and said, “Hi, I’m Vern Michaels. My son just moved in across the street. I’ve got a mini-excavator that’s about ten minutes from here and I could get it in a little while and I could knock that job out in about twenty or thiry minutes for you.” Suffice it to say I expressed my appreciation and in two hours the job had been finished (to the extent that the mini-excavator could) and I had only to clean up in some spots and begin laying the foundation stones.

#2 Laura (my wife) and I had just prepared and eaten an exquisite, candle lit dinner. In our preparations we’d not thought about dessert. Sitting at the dining table I observed that the only thing missing from this meal would be some kind of decadent dessert. So, I looked toward the ceiling and described this dessert as something smooth, creamy, perhaps with some chocolate or other flavors, something along the lines of a comfort food (and ended with) “that or something better.” Not ten minutes later there was a knock at the kitchen door. My son’s (then) girlfriend asked to enter. “Sure, c’mon in” we said. She had just finished her shift at a local Italian restaurant and said, “For some reason there were hardly any customers tonight and they made way too much of everything. So, I brought you a quart of Tiramisu.” Laura and I nearly fell out of our chairs with laughter and quickly related the preceding conversation to our benefactor. We then enjoyed our desserts.

Now, I also recognize that on occasion I’ve made my request and missed the response, or been inattentive and disregarded the response to my detriment. I’m reminded of the rather dim person who wanted so to win the lottery, and prayed until god, with some exasperation yelled into his mind, “Would you Please buy a ticket?”!

So where’s all this going?

If the substance of who we are is ‘sticky energy’ and the reason we’re on the planet is to play a game of Ultimate Life, then keeping our balance is about negotiating our path, using the resources that are available without robbing future generations of their opportunities. The Aquarian age would have us focus on our collective well-being. In the cosmic scheme of things our greatest wars are absurdly immature. I’ve no idea why I was born to this seemingly amazing life (rather than the life of a seven year old girl, starving, raped and butchered by an Angolan militant).

I experience Magic, nearly every day; and Every day, when I’m paying attention.

I can imagine that each of us has the capacity to express our desires aloud. If you choose to make a request to the cosmos there are a couple of things that are important to know. When you make your request, One: don’t presume that your request is any more or less important than the requests of others. Essentially you’re just another customer in line. Two: I advise describing more the essence of your need/want and being open to its form (describing the dessert without knowing it as tiramisu) and be Sure to say at the conclusion of your request, “This or something better.” That way you’re more likely to recognize the response and appreciate the sometimes humorous ways that the cosmos has of responding. For me, laughter frequently accompanies the response.  Finally, express your thanks, your gratitude, your appreciation. It is in that expression that you re-set and repay the cosmos with like-energies.

It’s that easy. Manifestation may not stop the wars or the unbridled greed present in our current societies. It may not address the over-arching needs of communities, yet.

I live as best I am able. I engage the cosmos at will and admittedly for my benefit. I’m of the impression that the energies are available to all (like sunlight, for the time being) and there is no loss of it, when gratitude accompanies a request and its fulfillment.

The cosmos has no floor. We are afloat in a sea of dreams, for a finite moment, energy embodied, and no-less part of the whole.