The book that changed my life at age 19. I just re-read it, 24 years later, and pulled down a summary of the insights for quick reference.
The 9 insights of the Celestine Prophecy:
1. meaningful coincidences
we are at a point in the developmental history of human consciousness where development will accelerate. the major evidence for this is the increased number of meaningful coincidences people are noticing in their lives. synchronicity is the entry point, the measure of whether we’re connected spiritually. these “meaningful coincidences” are tiny miracles steering us to where we need to be. staying aware of the major questions in our lives, or the help we may need, increases the frequency of synchronistic answers.
2. the world has a “spiritual design”
this point in human history can best be understood by a revisioning of the past millennium. in the early part of the millennium, human consciousness was dominated by beliefs promoted by the catholic church: one's proper place in society, humanity at the center of the universe, and the battle between good and evil. these beliefs gave meaning to life. this domination was challenged during the renaissance and reformation. at that time, humanity established a grand project of exploring the world, using the tools of science, with the hope of getting a new answer to the meaning of life. we see that we are in a new phase of human progress. humanity is now awakening from a materialistic worldview and moving into a new outlook that recognizes “spiritual design.” this design rewards an attitude of “helping others” and “making the world better.”
3. subtle energy
there is an energy, previously undetected by science, that forms the basis of all things. human perception of that energy starts with an increased awareness of beauty: people, animals, plants, ecosystems that have a high level of that energy appear particularly beautiful. by becoming aware of that energy, we become able to notice when and how we give and receive energy.
4. competition for energy
a fundamental assumption underlies most human interactions: we must compete for this energy, drawing it from others and protecting ourselves from others' attempts to draw it from us. this leads to many unpleasant interactions. when we seek the ethic of giving and not taking from, or manipulating others, we step into consciousness. we begin to detect our ego’s past manipulation devices,–control dramas– we have used to build ourselves up at another’s expense. if we are mindful and catch ourselves every time we begin our “control drama,” eventually, our “control drama” falls away completely.
5. energy abundance
in fact, competition is unnecessary because subtle energy exists in abundance. in particular, we can acquire more by eating plants which have high energy levels. (and we can ensure that the plants have high energy levels by paying attention to them, by giving them energy.) being in a loving state not only connects our energy to the object of our love, but to a greater source of energy as well. this is the essence of mystical experience. the goal of mystical practice - and practice of the lessons of the celestine prophecy - is to get and remain connected with the energy. moreover, a person's energy is the source of the meaningful coincidences noticed in the first insight. each mystical experience stretches a person's potential, causing them to exist "at a higher state of vibration".
"love is not an intellectual concept or a moral imperative or anything else. it is a background emotion that exists when one is connected to the energy available in the universe, which , of course, is the energy of god." [page 153]
we breakthrough, at least momentarily, to experience a moment that seems to move us past our normal level of consciousness and we sense an ultimate connection. sometimes, this event comes through a “spiritual practice” we’ve found that brings us to this moment. it could be a peak experience at a house of worship, or through prayer, meditation, music, communing with nature or a host of other points of entry.
6. getting clear
in order to be in a state of love with the world on a regular basis, we have to let go of patterns of behaviour we developed to take energy from others.
first, we have to become aware of our "control dramas" and break our controlling habits. there are four control patterns or ways of causing others to give us energy, two actively demanding energy, two passively creating conditions in which energy is sent. "active" control dramas include intimidation and interrogation - asking questions and then picking apart the answers. "passive" control dramas include aloofness - creating an air of mystery that entices others to send energy--and "poor me"--creating a sense that if others don't provide energy, something awful will happen to the controller.
second, we have to "get clear" of our control dramas. we must understand our parents' control dramas and how these shaped ours. then we must learn what meaning our parents' lives had for us, and how this determines our own developmental work. the things we would change about our parents - individually and together - are what we need to work on in our own lives.
7. using intuition
when we are in touch with the energy, clear of our control dramas, and aware of the questions relevant to this moment, our intuition supplies the answers we need. once we are aware of these answers, we need only watch for meaningful coincidences to show us how to act on them.
8. relating to others
this insight comes in several pieces.
- children can be raised without control dramas if they have constant, undivided access to an adult who can give them the energy they need.
- development can be blocked by an "addiction to another person". the subtle energy has a male and female side. if you can access one and someone else the other, then for a short time the couple can be filled with energy. but the focus on the other person eventually cuts each off from the universal energy. the two begin competing for energy, restarting control dramas. this is the falling-in-love/falling-out-of-love phenomenon.
- everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. we should give them energy and help them get clear so that they can accurately deliver the message.
- other people's control dramas will break down if we name them and refuse to play a role in them.
9. conscious evolution
this insight is a vision of culture in the next millennium.
humans consciously participate in their evolution by living according to their intuition, which guides them in such a way as to increase their energy. population decreases so much that most of the world can be allowed to return to wilderness, creating old-growth forests full of energy. cities will co-exist near these forests in advanced technological states. the means of survival are automated and available to everyone. their sense of purpose is satisfied by "the thrill of our own evolution". people will consume less and work less so that they can work on their evolution.
the goal of this evolution is to achieve a level of vibration that makes us invisible to others, perhaps even immaterial. jesus was the first to do this, and sporadic individuals continue to do so. the ultimate goal is for large groups to "cross over" together in a "general rapture". the mayans are alleged to have done this.
sources: gurus.org
resources
amazon: the celestine prophecy: an adventure (paperback)