Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Because, dear reader, I think it helps to explain that the entire body of science as it currently sits is really a compilation of individuals’ perceptions, and later individuals who have come along and verified those previous perceptions, or added to the story of those perceptions, or found some contradicting information which nullified those previous perceptions and created a new theory or version of the TRUTH. And similarly, the truths that we gain through the many spiritual teachers (Jesus, Paul, the other Disciples, Buddha, Lao Tse, the Dalai Lama, Thicht Naht Hanh, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Joseph Campbell, Starhawk, Yoda, Albus Dumbledore, Insert favorite teacher of your own choosing ____ ), are also compilations of experiences as the teacher was able to express them. And I am sharing this because, if at any point, the experiences that I (or anyone else for that matter) do not fit with your own experiences, it could be that we each have different pieces of the same puzzle.
It could be that we are looking at different puzzles entirely. Or it could be that one of us is incorrect in our perceptions. I’m okay with allowing that space for us to have different perspectives and for us to both learn and grow from the process of the dialogue. And I share this because, as I think of the things I know which might be worth sharing in future articles, I am profoundly honored and humbled to ponder the lessons I’ve learned and the giants I’ve learned from. Rather than having to begin my own journey at the “beginning,” I am blessed that I was carried thus far by those who journeyed before me. I begin my own launching from the perspective of the shoulders of giants.
Some of the giants to whom I am eternally grateful include:
• My Grandmother, who taught me about kindness and feeding whomever came to your door.
• My dad who told me to “Look it up” rather than answering my questions, and then got me an encyclopedia set (back in the days before Google) so that I could look up pretty much anything.
• My mom, who taught me how to sit with a crying baby.
• Dr. David Saarnio, who taught me research skills and so very much about science.
• Dr. Haggbloom who taught me about scientific atheism
• Dr. Norm Stafford and Chuck Turner, who taught me about Humanism
• Betty Stafford and many others who taught me about putting my faith into action.
• and so very many authors and artists who helped shaped the culture in which I grew.
• James Redfield’s Celestine Prophecy continues to be one of my favorite books of all times.
• Starhawk’s writings and workshops have also rippled out to provide much fodder for my own growth.
• And, of course, it is important to recognize the great masters:
◦ Jesus
◦ Buddha
◦ Lao Tse
◦ The many oral traditions from the First Nations
◦ The oral histories from our own family heritages.
Another huge source of inspiration for me over the past few years have been my friends and members of the Celestine Insight Prophecy Chatting Facebook group. I have learned so very much from the conversations that we’ve been having over the past two years, and I am so very grateful to have made the friendships of such beautiful and enlightened beings.
And I am ever curious to learn more about the experiences of others. Feel free to leave a comment about the Giants upon whose Shoulders you have stood.
Candella
