In the esoteric teachings, you may have run across the term “ring-pass-not”. This is actually one of the core Universal Principles in which all life forms, including us, must comply. It is an ancient term, and as strange as it may sound, it is one of the most easily understood. Yes, my friends, our universe, our world, our lives, are based on a system of laws. The ring-pass-not indicates our current level of consciousness, who we know ourselves to be. It is our area of livingness. Our livingness is our current ability, awareness, and understanding. This particular universal law also indicates an area of “being” or “living” we are temporarily limited to. Although it is always our goal to view ourselves as essentially free and unlimited, we must also understand that in order to move on to a new area of conscious living, we must first complete the one we’re in. Our conscious living is within the human kingdom, then, and it is the human experience we must fully engage first. This is indeed our current ring-pass-not, and it is our greatest goal to understand ourselves as part of the whole of humanity and what our role as humanity is. We are the group who creates in a physical world. Having said that, the next kingdom up, the spiritual world, better known as the kingdom of souls, is our next goal, our next area of conscious living. It is a new awareness, you see, an inclusion of a higher part of ourselves. Our ring-pass-not grows and includes yet another group. In this way, our ability to create increases a thousandfold.
As you recall, we can view the ring-pass-not as a circle that surrounds us. It is what we are able to include in our hearts and minds at any given time. Each circle indicates or implies certain boundaries or limitations that we cannot move beyond until everything within the circle is known. In other words, my friends, we must accept where we are now in order to ever move forward. The curriculum of the human kingdom is already well-planned for us by the kingdom of souls that exists above us. It is the same curriculum for all. Every human being completes the same journey. Do you understand the necessity for us to see ourselves as more alike than different, then? We grow together, so to adequately grow, we must include. Remember, our area of living, our conscious awareness, is always about growing into the next greater whole. So, we first understand all that we can about ourselves as an individual, then we begin to understand the group to which we belong. The first limitation we overcome is that we are not alone. We are not isolated entities, we do not exist as an island of our own making. To understand what the soul really is, what it does, what that really means, we understand what it means to be part of the group called humanity. We are part of three circles all at once. We have our individual self, we have that self as part of humanity, and we have humanity as part of the next higher group, that is, the kingdom of souls. Friends, are you aware of the three? If you are not, do not worry, we’ll get there together! Complete what is in front of you right now, and the next greater circle will be revealed.
Before we continue, we must know that our current ring-pass-not, no matter what that might be, serves a very important function. In other words, my friends, these imposed limitations we experience are meant to protect us. If we were 100% aware of the actual reality we exist in, if we were fully conscious of everything that exists within the mind of God in this moment, we would be overwhelmed and not be able to function at all. Again, it is a practical matter. Be where you are now, for there is plenty to know and plenty to do. We must accept the simple fact that although we wish to get to that better place, we must be prepared for that which we seek. Let me give you an example. First of all, remember, everything that exists in our universe is but energy in expression, including God, including ourselves. If you asked for the total Will and Love of God, yes even love, to come through you right now, your physical self would be obliterated in an instant. Are you ready for that kind of experience? Most of us are not! Again, my friends, ask for what is possible, what is realistic, what you can handle. Areas of limitation, and protection, are therefore provided out of necessity. The ring-pass-not is for our own good. Love expressed in every way.
Ok, before I get too “windy”, let’s consider three areas of the ring-pass-not that are upon humanity today. To our friends in other parts of the world, are you familiar with some of the American slang? “Windy”, means a person who goes on and on with no end in sight, many words, excessive speech! Having said that, I do try to keep it short and simple. I also try to have a sense of humor, and apparently a sense of humor is required today! Practice a sense of humor, everybody. We need this skill more today than ever before. Let it be said, we do take ourselves too seriously, and indeed, we do talk too much!
The first ring-pass-not that must be transformed before anything else is possible, is from the stage of self-consciousness to that of group-consciousness. Come on now, my friends, it is time to consider more than just ourselves. There is no individual who is the center of all that is. Humanity is now composed of over eight billion individuals trying to have their way. Me, me, me. I understand, each of us wants to have our own world. We believe everything would be easier if that were the case. Interestingly, most of us live in our own world already. We keep trying to find our way, and this is absolutely critical, but our way is just our way, you see. Remember, the ring-pass-not is always there, whether we want it to be or not. We have no say about that. Our circle, then, is one world, and one world is enough. If we want to get to the next world, to the world of souls, which is the very freedom we all seek, then we must share what we already have. Love must be learned and then practiced at every turn. Each of us desperately wants to know who we are, we want to have a sense of purpose. If we really want to find out who we are, all we have to do is find out who our fellow human beings are. If you want to be successful, if you want to be fulfilled, then every time you look at another person, sense the freedom they wish to obtain. Know, beyond any doubt, they simply wish to be your friend. It isn’t hard. In this way, with a simple willingness, it is peace that will be found. Seek this greater self you wish to become by becoming part of the group to which you already belong. Extend the ring, make it bigger, include.
The second ring-pass-not that must be transcended by every human being today is that of the emotional self. We are not just our feelings. Our circle is not a constant emotional reaction to everyone and everything in every moment. My friends, our emotional self is the isolated one, the self-centered one. It is the self that bleeds and suffers, at the cost of everything else. As significant as every feeling experience seems to be, it is not. It will pass. Every emotional response and reaction is temporary. Can we let go? Can we take a deep breath and move along? We must. The Masters tell us that our consciousness, at least the majority of humanity, is polarized in the emotional body, and this is by far our greatest problem. We falsely believe, therefore, that we need to constantly feel something in order to be alive. This is what creates the blinding fog which does not allow us to see truth, or anything at all. No freedom can be had. If we are indeed co-creators, we must understand that no creation can happen in any given emotional state. Ironically, the emotional self cannot help us feel better. The emotions cannot help us understand, nor can they be the area of solution. Change can never happen there. What humanity faces today is a reorientation from a consciousness centered in the emotional self, to a consciousness centered in the mental self. The mind is the one who creates, the mind is the one who resolves, the mind is the one who controls and directs feeling. Heal, and access to the mind becomes available. Just to let you know, denial is not the way to get there. Acceptance is. It is time for us to stop reacting to every little thing. We must have the ability to think clearly in order to find our way. A way to the better way. And, my friends, that will feel pretty damn good! A reorientation to the creative mind, a new way of conscious living, is what we require today. Emotional reaction is our obstruction. To help us in this process, we’ll remember that what we feel we need is usually not what we need. What we really need can only be found in the heart and the mind. The heart and mind together. This is the soul.
The third ring-pass-not is between the human hierarchy and the spiritual hierarchy. As we have discussed, the veil is lifting. Clearly, we have asked for help, and help is upon us. All we have to do is be open. Our egos will not lead us forward correctly. We must be humble and allow. We can cooperate by understanding that the spiritual hierarchy is simply an extension of the circle, a higher part of ourselves that we already know. Again, the over-inflated ego of the personal self is readily apparent, all across the world. These individuals do not allow, do not see, do not know. Step aside. A movement forward into a spiritual reality is more likely today than a regression into fear and darkness all over again. Those who have human awareness and soul awareness are many. They walk among us as I write these words. Remember, the ego can only know what has been. The soul knows what can be. We will listen. The spiritual self and the physical self can work together, they can be one thing. This process, we welcome with open arms. Humanity has done well, but humanity can proceed no further. The heart knows what must be done, it knows of love. The mind becomes inclusive, it therefore knows of possibility. The two together bring the soul. To achieve anything further, to be anything more, to grow beyond our current limitations, to expand the ring-pass-not, the spiritual family must become part of the human family. We are so close. My friends, will we continue, then? Who we believe ourselves to be is merely arbitrary, and indeed temporary. Who we are today, then, is not mandatory or forever, it is what we must change. We have every opportunity and every ability. The Masters, the Christ, the Buddha, all of those magnificent spiritual beings we think about are part of who we are also. How could we possibly be unwilling? You see, we can accept our true reality by choosing it. The ring-pass-not is what we decide it is. Are we ready? Who do we want to be today? The answer lies within, for the soul is real and very much alive. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, it is true. Step inside the circle, and bring someone along with you. A new area of living, a beautiful place to be, awaits.
Be well, friends, and thank you for being here