The Open Door

If we are to ascend, we must put on our Christhood daily. It is not a once-and-done proposition. Instead, our emerging Christhood is a gradual process that advances by increments as we make good use of our free will and the opportunities we are given to balance our karma. Then, as our Christhood grows, we achieve greater and greater authority and dominion over every outer condition. Therefore, it is imperative that all sincere seekers and students of the ascended masters be continuously alert for opportunities to serve and to demonstrate mastery in daily affairs. Also, Christhood does not occur in a vacuum. It develops amidst the hustle and bustle of life. So, there will be ‘noise.' There will be distractions, opposition, tests and trials. This is all part of the path to becoming the Christ. Thankfully we have the example of the ascended masters to guide us. They have demonstrated their mastery of Cosmic Law, and they are uniquely qualified to show us the Way to Christhood.

Behind the physical sun of our human existence is the spiritual Son of our true being: the Christ. And just as the physical sun warms us and provides light and life, so does the Son provide spiritual Light and Life. It is through mastering this Light that we become our true Self in Christ and One with God. But not all at once! Like the shining of the sun, the perfection of God is pure, unadulterated Love. And we simply cannot receive the full Light of God unfiltered. So, Christ is our mediator who gives us as much of that sun as we can absorb without burning up in the intensity of the totality of God. It is the Christ who delivers to us the fullness of God's grace to the degree we can receive it. By this incremental release, we renew, gain strength, clear our minds, resolve old burdens and balance karma. This is also why we have communion with the saints. These great ascended masters have fully embodied the Christ. And they would teach us to do the same…one step at a time!

Observing ourselves is always a good practice. In fact, self-examination and inner probing are essential activities of the spiritual seeker who is intent on gaining self-mastery. However, mastery is more than merely an academic pursuit. We're all imperfect. That's a given. And the ascended masters tell us that healing our psychology is vital to successfully navigating our spiritual path. Yet, sometimes, in our zeal to overcome our human foibles and limitations, our personal examination can become excessive, causing us to lose ourselves in self-concern. Instead, our mastery must be demonstrated. And this demonstration can best be achieved through service. Through our service to others, we may give them the momentum they need to overcome their own human limitations. So, love people free. Bless them with your Light. Celebrate the Christhood you share. The power of this vision will bring us all higher. And, in the doing, we come full circle to manifesting our own self-mastery.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the modern world, few can hear the cries of their souls. Often, in pursuit of comfort, pleasure, fame and fortune, people will actively stifle and suppress the soul's plaintive yearning. And what does the soul yearn for? To find peace, harmony and oneness. To forsake all else in the pursuit of God. And ultimately to overcome the world, complete its very long journey and ascend. The soul's journey of overcoming is the path of the Light within rising from the base-of-the-spine chakra eventually reaching the crown chakra. This is the path of self-mastery and personal Christhood which, very likely, has spanned many, many lifetimes. This journey of your soul that has led you surely to this moment. Now, the soul is crying out to the conscious mind to be ready when the final call comes to complete this journey. Recall the story of the wise virgins who kept their lamps trimmed in anticipation of the coming of the Lord to the temple. Readiness is all!

“Ask and ye shall receive. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all (good) things shall be added unto you.” This statement is addressed to the quick who will respond without hesitation when they are called. At some level, all those who seek closer communion with God know that they have been called to this purpose. The exact time and date may not be known, but the call to come up higher is clear. Some who hear the call are ready and they answer without hesitation (remember Jesus calling to the apostles to leave their nets and become fishers of men). Others take a more roundabout path. It's all a matter of momentum and the depth of each one's tie to the service of God. And there's no judgment here. Some are ready to answer the call now. Others are still being made ready. ALL who sense the divine path will one day follow it. And when they answer the call, they will be purified in the cauldron of God's heart, making their lives a perpetual labor of love.

It was not so long ago that the primary requirement to make our ascension was by balancing 100% of our karma. A tall order, indeed. Sadly, and often at the very threshold of immortality, many great souls of light fell short of 100% and tumbled back down into human density. Seeing this scenario unfold over and over again led the Karmic Board and the Four and Twenty Elders to issue a truly magnificent dispensation: souls seeking their ascension could satisfy the karmic component by successfully balancing 51%! What our sponsoring masters know only too well is that as we climb the ladder of karma transmutation, our expanding light attracts the attention from the wrong side of the spiritual tracks. The fallen ones notice our growing attainment and will stop at nothing to steal our light and our opportunity to ascend. This is why it is so important to establish a momentum of faith, do good works and acquire God qualities…as well as to remember that angels and masters are always with us!

We are on a quest. We may not fully know it yet, but we desire to regain the lost energy, the lost power we once had with God. In the beginning, we were created and endowed with a full measure of God's energy and power. Since then, this endowment has been slowly eroded, until we have almost completely lost sight of it. But our original estate is not lost, and our souls yearn to return to the perfection we knew in the beginning. Standing in the way: inordinate and imperfect desire. Our desires are like magnets that unerringly attract, by Cosmic Law, whatever we focus on. And we are responsible for whatever results our desires produce. This is the basic explanation for the existence of our karma, both good and bad. So, when we seek to return to God and to the fullness of our original creation, we must be willing to examine our desires and see them for what they are, without judgment or condemnation! Then we may regain our original heritage as true sons and daughters of God.

One of our goals in sharing the teachings of the ascended masters with you is to build a foundation of spiritual Truth upon which everything else is built. One central and essential cornerstone that we would present to you as an expression of this goal is the understanding that God is Life/Life is God. It doesn't get any more simple and basic than that. Everything that lives is animated by God's energy. Everything in God's creation is powered by His very Life force. This makes us, in the most literal sense, co-creators with God, because our every thought, word and deed is enlivened through the presence of God's energy. This makes life a marvelous divine opportunity. It is full of perfect hope, glorious love and an ultimate destiny which transcends all mortal dreams. This makes it imperative that every disciple of Light transmutes whatever outer condition seeks to corrupt the Life principle. And it must become a permanent idea that life for each of us is a manifestation of God!

As we continue our focus on the Corona Class Lessons by Jesus and Kuthumi for ‘teaching men the Way,' a word of caution: the Truth spoken in these lessons is threatening to some. It has even been known to engender violent opposition. Yet, great teachers have persevered undaunted in their commitment to speaking the Truth. While we do not intend to generate undue fear, we do believe that caution is always prudent. History is filled with examples of great teachers of truth paying the ultimate price for boldly challenging orthodox belief. They knew their words would seriously agitate the black hearts of false teachers and gurus. These evil ones have a vested interest in keeping men ignorant and compliant, and they will not give up their power easily. So, as you hear the Truth and one day choose yourself to become a herald for the Truth, do your decrees. Put on the invincible armor of God's Truth and His angels' protection, and go forth boldly and confidently, certain of victory!

The ascended masters want you to be able to declare your independence from the imposters masquerading as legitimate spiritual teachers. To this end, the masters have formulated a pathway that will lead you unerringly to your own God Consciousness. But you must be willing to embrace this path, and one of the obstacles we all encounter on the way is the darkness sown by fallen angels and all agents of evil, no matter what face they wear. What we must overcome is our attachment to human consciousness, to the limitations of the human mind and to the seeming attraction of the world and all of its diversions. But this path must be chosen, not coerced. The ascended masters will never force their students to do anything. Students must be willing to exert themselves to show they have staying power, to lift the weight of darkness that it might become light. This is the path of discerning the difference between the real Self and the not self. The masters stand ready to show you how to do it.

Imagine sitting at the feet of the ascended masters in rapt attention as they share their wisdom and understanding of Truth, cosmic law and the real reason for Being. For many, this would be the answer to their heart's deepest longing and, perhaps, the culmination of a journey through untold lifetimes and countless opportunities to re-enter the consciousness of God. Good news! There is no reason to imagine this, for the opportunity to study with the masters is real and available to you right now. In a remarkable series of teachings called the Corona Class Lessons, Jesus and his brother in arms, Kuthumi (who was Saint Francis in a previous embodiment), share priceless wisdom on the path of reunion with God. These lessons are beautiful, joyous, transformative and transcendental. This is the boundless wisdom vouchsafed to the masters by God and freely given to us! So please join us as we sit together at the masters' feet and absorb quite literally the greatest teachings on the planet.

Within you is the seed and essence of all God's creation. It is your threefold flame, a divine spark of fire from God's own heart with which he endowed you in the beginning. This is the permanent reality of each of us! As we endeavor to embrace and walk the path of personal Christhood, it is our divine spark that sustains us through every step, through every test and trial, through every chapter in the unfolding saga of our soul. This divine spark - our threefold flame – is comprised of plumes of power (blue, the Father), wisdom (yellow, the Son) and love (pink, the Holy Spirit). One of the keys to attaining Christhood is balancing and expanding this threefold flame. This Holy Christ Flame is your birthright. This is the point of Light in the secret chamber of your heart that means you are a son and a daughter of God. And because you have the spark, you can one day contain and be the whole flame. So, when the divine spark, the threefold flame, is balanced…the Christ is born.

Walking the path of personal Christhood requires determination, discrimination and discernment. It is a glorious path, but challenging, too. And all of us who choose to embrace it must stay on our spiritual toes at all times if we are to make progress. For staying focused, good tools are always helpful, especially the practice of daily dynamic decrees. There are no better tools than decrees for tuning in with laser-sharp focus on anything that stands in the way of spiritual progress. Decrees help to harness spiritual energies with precision on any area of resistance or opposition. And one of the greatest sources of opposition is the Dweller on the Threshhold. The Dweller is the collective consciousness of all of our misdeeds, for all of our negative karma. The Dweller is tenacious. And confronting and overcoming the Dweller is something we all must do before our convergence with our Christhood is complete. Fortunately, the ascended masters know just how to win this battle!

For every sincere traveler on the spiritual path, choice is a constant companion. At every turn, there is a moment when we must decide which direction to take, which road to follow. For those of us who follow the path laid out so clearly by the ascended masters, we know that every choice we make ultimately merges with one overriding decision: to become the Christ! The Christ is our Real Self. And, as El Morya has told us, ‘The hour of Christhood in you is more important than any other event taking place on this planet.' This is what Jesus' mission was all about. He called us to become the Christ. This is a truly high and holy calling. It is the complete fulfillment of the Law. Whatever other goals and aspirations you may have for your life, choose to have this one goal supersede all others. When you find yourself at this most critical crossroads, let go of all else and strive to become the Christ. This is our purpose, our reason for being. It is God's greatest gift to us.

Our sacred journey began in the heart of God, and that is where it will ultimately end. And as we come full circle, heart is not only the beginning and the ending of our path, it IS the path! The ascended masters tell us that we will gain our victory, our ascension, through the heart. This is a pathway of alchemy, self-mastery and initiation. This is where we confront and transmute our personal karma. Through the heart, we embrace our hurdles, meet our challenges and pass our tests. But it is not automatic. Self-mastery is a process…one that began long before this current embodiment. To be sure, throughout this long and winding road home, we have had our victories. But we have more to accomplish before we're done, more victories to achieve. Through the uniqueness of our individual life pattern, our heart's path will unfold and all that's hidden will be revealed. By the light of the heart, our path is illuminated, and it is through the heart that our final victory will be won.

Do you hear a still voice within nudging you upward? Are you moved by the echoes of a familiar message telling you that there is a higher purpose for your life, something greater than your human experience? Have you caught yourself straining to recall what seems like a dream of Home? Do you have a sense that there is a service you're here to render, a mission only you are meant to fulfill? If any of that rings true, it is because you have been called. But called by whom and for what? You are called to return home to the heart of God by the straightest and truest path possible. That is the path of the ascended masters, the path of initiation and self-mastery, the path of the ascension. But not all who hear this call heed it. That is reserved for the few with the selfless desire to overcome the world. It is reserved for you, because you are not here by chance, but by choice. You are here by God's Grace. Seize the opportunity. Answer the call. Finish the journey once and for all

One of our goals in sharing the teachings of the ascended masters with you is to build a foundation of spiritual Truth upon which everything else depends. One central and essential cornerstone of this goal is the understanding that God is Life/Life is God. It doesn't get any more simple or basic than that. Everything that lives is animated by God's energy. Everything in God's creation is powered by His very Life force. This makes us, in the most literal sense, co-creators with God, because our every thought, word and deed is enlivened by and through the presence of God's energy. This makes life a marvelous divine opportunity full of hope, love and an ultimate destiny which transcends all mortal dreams: reunion with the heart of God. This makes it imperative that every disciple of Light transmutes whatever outer condition seeks to corrupt the Life principle. It must become a permanent idea that life for each of us is a manifestation of God. Because that is who we really are!

Two thousand years ago, a small group of men and women gathered in the city of Jerusalem, waiting to receive “power from on high.” And their wait was rewarded, for the fire of the Holy Spirit descended, and their lives were transformed! The power of the Spirit in them healed the sick, raised the dead…and changed the course of history. Today, we are at the dawning of a new age of the Holy Spirit, the time prophesied when that same Spirit will be poured out “upon all flesh.” And it cannot come too soon! The world is reeling from wars, terrorism, famine, disease and cataclysm, and the need of the hour is urgent. So where can we turn for hope? To the Holy Spirit! The descent of the Holy Spirit has been prophesied. But how will it come…and when? We know that receiving the fire of the Holy Spirit is an experience like no other, with the power to change our lives forever. But we cannot do it alone. We must turn to the Christ within to prepare us for this ultimate conversion.

What if we knew we possessed the same potential as Jesus to become the Christ? Would that change our lives? Of course it would! But why are we kept in the dark regarding this incredible reality? Why are we not taught this as children? The Truth that is spoken and taught by the ascended masters is threatening to some, because the Truth espoused by the masters is liberating and empowering. Inherent in the masters' words is freedom. Freedom from the shackles of ignorance and limiting belief. Freedom to become one with God. And who would have us remain enslaved in darkness and limitation? The very ones who want our light because they have none of their own: the fallen ones! Since the fall of the rebel angels, their singular goal has been to thwart our efforts to reach full union with God and ascend. So they must keep us in the dark and unaware of our true birthright and divine potential. And they will stop at nothing to achieve this end. So be aware. Know the truth. Be free!

In the Holy Spirit we have a constant companion, one who is with us at every step and turning point on life's journey. The Holy Spirit was there at our birth, breathing the essence of God's Life into us, animating our being. And as we grow physically and spiritually, the Holy Spirit remains our guide, mentor and friend. This makes learning discernment and recognizing the voice of the Holy Spirit one of our most crucial skills. When we aspire to come up higher, we influence others by our example. This is why we must learn to recognize and attune ourselves to the vibration of the Holy Spirit. It is like mastering a new form of communication. We must learn not to be misled by false love or psychic vibration. They may appear right on the surface, yet are designed for one purpose: to pull us off the true path! By their fruits shall ye know them! It is imperative that we learn to hear and trust the voice of love in our hearts, the Holy Spirit, our true source of unerring guidance.

Good leaders don't just tell you what to do, they show you. They lead by example. A live demonstration of virtue is far more compelling and memorable than an explanation or definition. Those of us who desire to live a life of virtue, honor, integrity, principle and higher spiritual consciousness become leaders whether we know it or not. Most people aspire to be better and come up higher, and when they see someone else with the same purpose, they may well seek to emulate what they are shown. This happens almost automatically when we embrace the ascended masters' teachings. This is the boundless wisdom vouchsafed to the masters by God and freely given to us! These teachings describe a path that all may follow to come up higher, and the light released along the way is powerful and compelling. We become what we focus on, and this is what we show others. So it is a good idea to be conscious of the fact that we are leaders, and to learn to lead well by following the masters' example.

Throughout the Christian world, the Second Coming of the Christ is a widely held belief and fervently anticipated event. But Christians are not alone in this belief. Islam, for example, awaits the coming of Hadhrat Isa. Other religions and cultures have similar beliefs focused on the return of a savior or Christed One. So how close are we to this blessed event? Could the second coming actually be near? Consider the possibility that the real Second Coming is a uniquely personal event; that it is, in fact, the awakening of the Christ Self within each heart. So there's no more waiting. It is happening right now! The ascended masters teach us that it was Jesus' mission to demonstrate this principle of Christhood as a path that all may follow. It is the awareness of the Universal Christ that resides within each heart, the Sonship we all share, our true Reality and birthright. And it is our re-awakening to this Reality – to the Son of God in all – that is the true second coming.

When life has you feeling trapped, hopeless and alone, there is a sure way out. It requires the use of a brief little mantra, but do not be fooled by its simple message. When you use it, it has the power to cancel out darkness, illusion, sadness, doubt and fear. It goes like this: ?What is that to thee? Follow thou me!? It puts things in perspective immediately. No matter what you may feel beset by, this powerful little fiat, when repeated, will lift the veil, restore balance and harmony and bring light and renewed hope to any situation. After you?ve recited it a dozen or more times, you may even find that it makes you laugh, a testament to just how deep and restorative this simple mantra truly is. Of course, using this tool is not the whole of the path by any means. It?s merely a port in the storm, a rescue remedy that you can always have on hand for emergencies. Just remember that it works and will always leave you feeling Lighter. It?s your way out. It?s your way Home.

The light of God never fails, and the mighty I AM Presence is that Light! Did you know that this is the most dependable and effective SOS call you could every make whenever you need help? This ultimate reminder of God's limitless power is the sure antidote to whatever may assail you on the path. With this call, you tap into the infinite reservoir of God's love for you and His promise that when you call on Him, He will answer. One of the hallmarks of the sincere spiritual student is the understanding that he or she cannot do it alone. We all need the help, guidance and comfort of our teachers to set us straight and get us Home. And it is God's Light that we can always trust to show us the way. Next time you feel stuck and don't know what to do or where to turn, remember these simple yet potent words: The Light of God never fails, and the mighty I AM Presence is that Light. Say it three times, then expect immediate action (aligned with God's Will, of course).

Throughout the world, there are many who feel empowered to play God with the soul and the life aborning in the womb. They arbitrarily alter the trajectory of a soul for the sake of convenience, or so-called ‘reproductive rights' or based on the erroneous belief that the bodies they wear are their own. But all life originates with God, making it sacred. Convenience is no excuse for terminating a life. Reproduction is a privilege…and a sacred portal for the birth and maturation of the soul. And our bodies are on loan to us from God for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of our ascension. Each life represents a precious opportunity to balance karma and fulfill a divine plan. When life is denied, the opportunity for self-mastery is lost. When life is aborted (and life begins at conception), the soul's life plan and opportunity to ascend are also aborted. It is perhaps the saddest moment in heaven, when a soul's chance at immortality is cut short or denied altogether.

What is the power that animates and sustains all life? It is God, pure and simple. This is neither complicated nor mysterious. And it cannot be explained away by erudite debate, discussion or rhetoric. Life is God. God is Life. Granted, life is not always convenient. It is seldom easy. But life is opportunity...opportunity to awaken to the Divine Light within. This is what gives life purpose and meaning. We are here to complete unfinished business and ascend back to the source from which we came. And the opportunity to do that should trump inconvenience every time! Why? Because we have karma to balance. We have a divine blueprint to fulfill. And there's no time to lose. If life is denied, then the opportunity to scale the mountain of consciousness is lost. When life is aborted (and life begins at the instant of conception), that soul's life plan and opportunity are also aborted. It is perhaps the saddest moment in heaven, when a soul's chance at immortality is cut short.

Though the price of progress on the spiritual path is measured in effort, the reward for all of our efforts is attaining our ascension…the worthiest of goals. In between, we must face the trials that come to all of us to test our mettle and resolve. Whether you know it or not, you have come far. By being here now, you have shown a willingness and attunement to follow the path laid out by the ascended masters. Your journey has no doubt been challenging to this point...but that's life in the human schoolroom. Sometimes we leap and sometimes we only creep. But whatever the pace of our progress, the key to passing our tests is to keep on keeping on, to stay focused on the Christ Love within our hearts and not just follow the Light, but become it! Though it certainly could be, truth is this path is not for everyone. But it is for you! You've proven that by being here right now. And, as you find your way up this mountain, keep your eyes on the prize…and may you pass all your tests.

Finding a spiritual path that fits can bring us great joy. Staying on the path, however, is another matter altogether. Joy is still a factor, of course, but as our Karma descends, we find that the spiritual path also involves the necessary testing each soul must face; the unique challenges each soul must conquer. The ascended masters often express their desire for our spiritual victory this way: may we pass all our tests! This must be our personal wish, as well. And to pass all of our tests, we will need all the diligence, humility, kindness, patience and endurance we can muster! The last two perhaps most of all, because the closer we get to our goal, the less patient we may be tempted to feel, and the less willing to endure any delay. But slow and steady wins the race, so we must persevere despite missteps and delays. Remember that though the upward path may be difficult, the rewards are out of this world! So keep on keeping on! That's what it will take to stay on the path.

The path of the ascension, as laid out so clearly by the ascended masters, is a path of action, of doing. This doing is often referred to as works or fruits. The scriptures don't say ‘by our thoughts' or ‘by our words' shall we be known, but by our works. And no distinction is made as to the magnitude of the works by which we are judged. All of our works, big and small, are measured by our conscious intention, by our awareness, by our motives. A small act of kindness, with no thought to personal gain, can be just as powerful as a great act of self-sacrifice. This is why our path of action is known as Karma Yoga. It is a practice, a way of life. It is the dharma of works, and understanding the importance of every work we accomplish is vital to our ultimate success on the path. And in the karmic arena of earth's schoolroom, there is no recess, no time off for good behavior. The path of action is constant, uncompromising and, in the end, the most rewarding path we will ever take!

The Summit Lighthouse has been the authentic, trusted source of the teachings of the ascended masters since 1958. How did it all begin, and by whom? Who are the ascended masters, and how do we interact with them? Man has sought God for eons, and those who have truly found Him have risen to the level of the immortals; the ascended masters. Many of these great saints and sages of East and West and all of the world's major religions have chosen to illuminate our path home to God. They show us by example the way to go. Their teachings are accessible to all. Their instructions are clear. And their methods and techniques are always practical. They remind us that God will meet us where we are. And they tell us that, if we choose, we may all become candidates for the ascension and, ultimately, the mantle of ascended master! Want to know more? Tune to The OPEN DOOR this Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific and 2 p.m. Eastern, as well as Saturday at noon MT on the Empowerment channel.

On the spiritual path, we often refer to each other as ‘seekers.' And while that may have been accurate at one time, it's really not accurate anymore. Why? Ask yourself: what is it that seekers seek? In a nutshell, seekers want answers, knowledge, and illumination. We seekers are looking to unveil sacred mysteries and climb the mountain of consciousness. And now, since we have found the teachings of the ascended masters, our seeking is done. We have graduated. We are now officially FINDERS! And, having found what we've been looking for, the next step is to keep what we have found. How? By becoming a Keeper of the Flame. Keepers of the Flame belong to a fraternity in the tradition of ancient spiritual orders. They are spiritual warriors, sponsored by Saint Germain, who hold the balance for Life, who study the teachings of the ascended masters and practice them daily. Keepers are those who have pledged to usher in a golden age of freedom, peace and enlightenment for the Earth

Anger. We know how potentially damaging it can be to our souls, our health and our aspirations to ascend. But what about some of the seemingly lesser shades of anger? Impatience. Frustration. Aggravation. Irritation. The ascended master, El Morya, gave irritability the name Imperil. And he did so, because when we allow irritability to flow through our consciousness, we seriously imperil our spiritual balance and future. When we express irritability, we affect every level of our being, beginning with our nervous system and culminating with a dampening effect on our spiritual fire. It may not seem that a little irritability could be so potentially deadly, but the masters tell us it is so, and it would be wise to follow their advice. So, whenever we are tempted to feel and express irritability, repeat this mantra: “How beautiful is everything!” or “What is that to thee, follow though me.” Try it. Each will cancel out the negative effects of irritation in a cosmic heartbeat.

It is the nature of spiritual seekers to strive to comprehend more fully the Nature of divinity, to climb ever higher in search of the rarified air of authentic holiness, to dig deeper for satisfying answers, to steadfastly pursue and uncover truth wherever it may be found. Along the way, there is karma to confront, tests to pass and the ever-present pursuit of the soul's immortality and eventual reunion with the heart of God. How do we manage it all? How can we learn what we need to know? Ever wondered what hardness of heart means? Or why we must be gentle as doves and wise as serpents? Darkness and pride have many faces. How can we learn to discern them accurately… and why? How can we master the human aura? How do we learn to think with our hearts? And why do so many people simply refuse to wake up, preferring a numb surrender to the mass mind? Fact is, all who quest have questions. It comes with the territory. Thank God the ascended masters have real, practical answers!

This Tuesday, we tackle habit number three of the seven habits of effective people as formulated by Steven Covey and viewed through the lens of the teachings of the ascended masters: Put first things first. How good are we at personal management? How well do we stick to those projects that offer the greatest benefit to us and our pursuits? We know all too well how easy it is to get distracted and lose focus. Things come up. That's life. But when we choose to keep our focus on what's most important, despite distractions, we greatly enhance our ability to succeed and prosper. Lasting success involves both independent will and discipline. This is true in the business world, and it is true in the realm of spirituality. Sometimes we must do what we don't like to do to advance on the path. When we reach that point, simply ask ourselves if we're victims of circumstance or victors -those who, by free will and effort, overcome circumstances-. Then we act by putting first things first.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND is habit number two from Steven Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This Tuesday, we continue our exploration of Steven Covey's famous ‘7 habits' as seen through the lens of the ascended masters' teachings. In the course of this series, focused on key principles that form the foundation of self-mastery, we discover that Covey's principle-centered leadership is very closely akin to the core principles of the teachings of the ascended masters on mastery. In fact, Elizabeth Clare Prophet elucidates these similarities in typically insightful commentary, which we will share at length throughout this 5-part series. In respect to the habit formulated as beginning with the end in mind, we will, of course, be emphasizing our ascension as the ‘end' that we should all keep in mind. This is the goal of life, after all, and a good place to focus our energies and attention. Tune in to THE OPEN DOOR every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific and 2 p.m. Eastern.

What are we here to do? In a nutshell, our highest life goal is to master our self and become God! But how do we do that? By practicing core principles espoused by the ascended masters: responsibility, accountability, proactivity, visualization, discipline, balanced self-renewal, Christ consciousness. These are qualities of mastery we all hope to develop. As we do, we realize that the first person we must master is our self…by learning and applying the ascended masters' specific equations for self-mastery. Most of us have heard of the legendary ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People' as formulated by Steven Covey in 1989. His seven habits actually follow closely the teachings of the ascended masters! And now, in a series of programs, we will explore each of these habits, including insightful commentary from Elizabeth Clare Prophet. In the end, it's all about becoming an ascended master. The ascension IS the goal of life! For more, tune in to THE OPEN DOOR this Tuesday.

We have unfinished business: to embrace our divine blueprint and fulfill our sacred mission. This embodiment is our most recent opportunity to get on with completing our divine plan, but we've been at it for a long time. And we can only put it off so long before we run out of opportunities. This may be a sobering wake-up call, but it should also be a joyful recognition of the fact that we know what we have to do, and that now is the time to do it. God does not reveal to us all at once our past, or why we have come together in this moment and in this way. We can only measure the importance of this moment through determination and an intense sense that this is the hour and the moment when all else must be subordinated to the fulfillment of the divine plan for our soul. This is the moment when by love, by true wisdom and by true power we must enter in. By consciously expanding the love, wisdom and power plumes of our threefold flame, we will not only seize this moment, but master it!

Our sacred journey began in the heart of God, and that is where it will ultimately end. And as we come full circle, heart is not only the beginning and the ending of our path, it IS the path! The ascended masters tell us that we will gain our victory, our ascension, through the heart. This is a pathway of alchemy, self-mastery and initiation. This is where we confront and transmute our personal karma. Through the heart, we embrace our hurdles, meet our challenges and pass our tests. But it is not automatic. Self-mastery is a process…one that began long before this current embodiment. To be sure, throughout this long and winding road home, we have had our victories. But we have more to accomplish before we're done, more victories to achieve. Through the uniqueness of our individual life pattern, our heart's path will unfold and all that's hidden will be revealed. By the light of the heart, our path is illuminated, and it is through the heart that our final victory will be won.

Everybody loves angels. They are our unseen guides, guardians, comforters and friends. God made them to help us, and they will always come when we call. But how do we actually talk with them? Walk with them? Work with them? Join us this Tuesday, and we'll share exactly how you can bring angels into every aspect of your life. When you ask for it, angels can bring you joy, clarity, light and love. They can provide strength and protection. They can give you that added bit of oomph to get you through tests, trials, life challenges...even emergencies! And though there are many different kinds of angels for different situations, they all share one common attribute: they will never violate our free will. If we want their help, we must ask for it. But once we ask, angels will instantly spring into action to help us with any lawful request. So please join us for more on this fascinating topic of working with angels…and you'll discover that it's actually not really ‘work' at all!

Know ye not ye are Gods!? In the Gospel of John, in the book of Psalms and in cosmic law, itself, we are presented with the reality of our innate divinity. It is not an ‘if', nor a ‘maybe.' This is not some fanciful notion. This is the Reality we all share. So what stands in the way of our embracing this awesome truth? Most often, it comes down to our own sense of worthiness. In Western orthodoxy, for instance, many of us were raised to believe that we are born sinners. And how can anyone who comes into this world as a worthless sinner ever rise to the belief that he or she is godlike in any way? It's not easy. And one of the most commonly used tools of the fallen ones to keep us in the dark is condemnation. We tend to listen to and internalize criticism, condemnation and judgment. We question our innate goodness and oneness with God by agreeing with limiting beliefs. And we tend to get what we focus on. It's time to break this cycle and embrace the Truth. Starting now!

Your heart is an engine that runs on love. And this love is a dynamic mixture of qualities that, when fully engaged, have the power to help you overcome every test and trial, every challenge, every obstacle, everything that stands in the way of your soul's homeward journey. Your goal is to activate these heart qualities: joy, gratitude, compassion, courage, forgiveness. You know them all. These are the divine additives that combine to create the true elixir of Life. And when you have elected to drink in this elixir and embrace Life in all its glory, you will have found the key to not only healing your own heart, but you will set an example and standard for others to witness and emulate! When you choose to take on the highest qualities of a loving heart you become, indeed, a transformer of love. And this power is felt not only by those closest to you, but by countless others you will probably never know. The need for loving hearts, like yours, is urgent. Let the healing begin!

Love may not be easily defined, but it is easily felt. It is alive, dynamic and always available. And those who embody the living flame of love are transformers. Love has the power to transform people, relationships, families, communities…entire civilizations! So, what is it that blocks the expression of love, dams the flow and throttles the impulse to share this most precious of energies? Ancient pain? Unresolved issues? Fear of rejection? Low self-esteem? Are we angry with God for something we thought He could have prevented, like the untimely death of a loved one, or personal misfortune? There are a thousand and one reasons why our hearts may be hardened and unhealed. And if we truly desire to make progress on the Path, we must heal our hearts. Where can we turn for help, guidance and the power to heal the heart? To release anger, let go of the past, forgive and forget, turn to the Holy Spirit and the violet flame. This powerful duo is the straightest path to wholeness.

Imagine sitting at the feet of the ascended masters in rapt attention as they share their wisdom and understanding of Truth, cosmic law and the real reason for Being. For many, this would be the answer to their heart's deepest longing and, perhaps, the culmination of a journey through untold lifetimes and countless opportunities to re-enter the consciousness of God. Good news! There is no reason to imagine this, for the opportunity to study with the masters is real and available to you right now. In a remarkable series of teachings called the Corona Class Lessons, Jesus and his brother in arms, Kuthumi (who was Saint Francis in a previous embodiment), share priceless wisdom on the path of reunion with God. These lessons are beautiful, joyous, transformative and transcendental. This is the boundless wisdom vouchsafed to the masters by God and freely given to us! So please join us as we sit together at the masters' feet and absorb quite literally the greatest teachings on the planet.

Every choice comes with a price. This is karma. We may think that we can dabble here and tarry there without consequence, but all action creates karma no matter what. And when payment comes due, there's no magic get-out-of-jail-free card. Taking a turn toward the psychic, even casually, can create a karmic debt that could take many incarnations to balance. So wisdom dictates caution and demands discernment. This has been a central thesis of our series examining false teachers, false teachings and the result of choosing the spiritual path we will follow. In other words, think twice before setting your foot on any path. Ask yourself, does this road lead up or down? Does this path expand God's consciousness within me and raise up the awareness of my Christhood? Even more importantly, does it lead me to become the Christ? Because nothing less is worthy of your soul, and the surest way Home is the path of the ascension, laid out with clarity and certainty by the ascended masters

As our series on false teachers and false teachings nears its end (just two more episodes to go!), we come again to the reality of choice…and the consequences of our choices. We all have free will, and the choices we make are always meaningful. Because our souls yearn to be free and immortally connected to our Source, we are, consciously or unconsciously, always on the lookout for the means to fulfill our divine plan. And to choose rightly, we must practice discernment…especially now, as we come closer and closer to our final destination. We must be utterly careful as each new shiny spiritual object captures our attention. Is it right? Is it real? Is it the answer we seek, or a clever diversion? The journey can be perilous if we are not prepared to act correctly when we reach the crossroads of choice. This is why we are so adamant and passionate about sharing the guidance of the ascended masters with you. They know the way Home! And it is their mission to make the Way plain.

Throughout our series on spotting false teachers, we have focused on the many different strategies these dark ones employ to get attention. They will flatter you, inflate your ego, tell you you're perfect the way you are. But what is it at the core that trips people up? How and why do false teachings fool people? Many sincere seekers have been led down the wrong path, because false teachers and their teachings seem right. To the human intellect, false teachers pedal beliefs that are plausible and reasonable. They appeal to those places in the mind and heart where something seems to be missing. They fill a void. Simply put, the false teachings that have plagued mankind since the angels fell eons ago take the place of a true sense of God. Many people have lost their way, getting mired in the density of human experience, because they forgot their innate Divinity. Bottom line: false teachers offer only paltry substitutes. The ascended masters offer a proven path to the Reality of God.

One of our goals in sharing the teachings of the ascended masters with you is to build a foundation of spiritual Truth upon which everything else is built. One central and essential cornerstone that we would present to you as an expression of this goal is the understanding that God is Life/Life is God. It doesn't get any more simple and basic than that. Everything that lives is animated by God's energy. Everything in God's creation is powered by His very Life force. This makes us, in the most literal sense, co-creators with God, because our every thought, word and deed is enlivened through the presence of God's energy. This makes life a marvelous divine opportunity. It is full of perfect hope, glorious love and an ultimate destiny which transcends all mortal dreams. This makes it imperative that every disciple of Light transmutes whatever outer condition seeks to corrupt the Life principle. And it must become a permanent idea that life for each of us is a manifestation of God!

This episode is a continuation of our previous program in which we looked at the false hierarchy, those teachers and dark ones who mimic the saints and sages in order to fool the unwary seeker. In particular, we examined how certain teachings pervert the understanding of the soul, its continuous presence throughout our many lifetimes and its role in the unfolding and transmutation of our karma. Today, we continue this examination of the soul by looking at a false teaching that, among other things, denies the existence of the soul mate. This teaching says that because God is androgynous, the soul must be, too. However, throughout our countless lifetimes, as we have striven to rise ever higher in consciousness, we have worn forms that were either masculine or feminine, some better balanced than others. Yet, this polarity was vital to our spiritual development, as well as to our understanding that God's masculine and feminine aspects are reflected throughout the whole of creation.

There is within you a Divine Reality. It consists of two interwoven parts: your Christ Self and your I AM Presence. Your I AM Presence is an individualized manifestation of God, and your Christ Self is the intermediary between you and your God Presence. Awareness of our Christ Selves and oneness with our I AM Presence is what we desire, and each of us occupies a unique place in the Consciousness of God known as hierarchy where we endeavor to expand our consciousness and ascend. God is at the pinnacle of this hierarchy, and we are below striving upward. Between us and God are the ascended masters, angels, Elohim and other great cosmic beings, each desiring to pull those below up! As we gain self-mastery and advance ever higher upon the ladder of consciousness, our Light grows brighter, becoming a magnet for those who would steal it. These fallen angels and creatures of darkness seek to co-opt our attainment through a false hierarchy that seeks to divert our soul's homeward path.

There is a Real you and a synthetic you. The latter, while not really Real, can certainly feel real. That's because this is where we find ourselves now…in the state of human consciousness. The ascended masters tell us this is a synthetic state, because we have literally created it through our thoughts, words and deeds. And we continually reinforce this consciousness as we go about our daily lives believing in the limits of human thought and feeling. You might say that this is the consciousness that comprises our human ego. Conversely, the Reality we seek is the merging with our sublime and limitless Divine Ego. This is the God estate to which the ascended masters point and to which we who embrace these teachings aspire. Unfortunately, there are many false teachings that twist the true path and, instead, glorify the human ego, emphasizing that human creation is somehow supreme. However, the only Real way to transmute human creation is through the Holy Spirit and the violet flame.

Ever wondered why, given the so-called Law of Gravity, that all life forms grow up and not down? Could it be that there is a greater law at work overriding the laws of the matter universe and cancelling out their effects? Is there a magnetic, cosmic gravity that constantly seeks to pull us upward, ever higher? Of course, there most certainly is. It is Light! As we work daily to focus our spiritual energies, transmute our karma, balance our three-fold flames and make our service to life a perpetual labor of love, we draw to ourselves ever more of God's light and grace. This attraction is powerful, magnetic, creating a force field within and around us that becomes irresistible. By forging a path of grace, we are capable of building and sustaining a momentum of light so great that no force in the universe can stop it. This light is our strength, our refuge and our soul's passport to immortality. This is what we are here to become, and it transcends all human laws and limitations.