The Now-ist Symbol

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"Be still, and know that I am God."

— Psalm 46:10

One of my favorite books of all time is Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, which has been translated into sixty-nine languages. It is a brilliant tale of a shepherd boy, Santiago, in search of buried treasure. He does not know what the treasure is or if he will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. A journey that starts out seeking worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within.

This truly is every person's story. We are all out seeking to make it in the world. We are all trying to create a life that will fulfill our needs, wants, and desires, focused mainly on a world of form and recognition. I was this boy most of my life, until an event occurred that changed my "Personal Legend" as it is called in The Alchemist. A Personal Legend is your life's spiritual purpose. It is a spiritual calling that awakens a deep desire and passion to live with a sense of purpose for something greater than yourself.

Not that many years ago, I was blessed with a satori (a flash of enlightenment). This awakening started a most-unexpected path for my life. The spiritual hunger I experienced was voracious. Since this light- filling event, my days have been made up of 90 percent spirit and 10 percent worldly duties. As I ascend on this journey, the increase in synchronistic events is mind-blowing! When you align with your highest calling, God sends you all that you will need to fulfill it. You will not have to try to be, this or that, or create more abundance through effort and striving. Your life becomes a great series of magical and incredible events that you can share with the world, through inspiration and actualization.

One day I was walking down the hallway of the condominium building my family and I lived in and thought, I looked down to look up. I know that sounds confusing. It was to me at first as well, as I stared with shock and awe at the carpet I had walked on for years each and every day. The carpet throughout the entire building's hallways was covered with a life-fulfilling image. Days after my flash of enlightenment on the golf course in Santa Barbara (you will discover this in the GOLF chapter), I noticed a design image in the carpet that stopped me in my tracks. The symbol is now the cover of this book. It is the most evolving and inspiring symbol I have ever seen or experienced in my entire life. As I studied it for months, deeper and deeper meaning continued to flow into my very being. I know this must sound crazy or outlandish. Please suspend your disbelief and read this account with the eyes of a child in imagination or as if you were watching a movie.

As I stared at the image, the first thing I noticed was a figure floating above the earth. (Look at this symbol now and many times throughout the expressing and impressing of the following words.) Not only was there one being above the planet, but there were four of them. They all had their arms outstretched and hovering above the bright, shining sphere of light. This was amazing to me because my satori was the exact same experience. I was shot from earth! I was rocketed above the planet and floating in space, marveling at the light around the earth. This phenomenal image that I was staring at was the perfect symbolic representation of the life-changing event I'd just encountered! I have experienced countless forms of synchronicity in my life. Never before had one this profound hit me right between the eyes. The feeling of floating I experienced in my initial flash of peace and knowing was represented in this sign/symbol of confirmation. I later learned the power of this experience and what that floating meant for the highest part of me. Neville Goddard's (DeVorss Publications 1941) powerful and inspiring book Your Faith is your Fortune explains this phenomenon precisely.

Floating

To rise to the level of any state, is to automatically become that state in expression. But in order to rise to the level that you are not now expressing, you must completely drop the consciousness with which you are now identified. Until your present consciousness is dropped, you will not be able to rise to another level. Do not be dismayed. This letting go of your present identity, is not as difficult as it might appear to be. The invitation of the scriptures, 'to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord' is not given to a select few. It is a sweeping call to all mankind. The body from which you are invited to escape, is your present conception of yourself, with all of its limitations. While the Lord with whom you are to be present, is your awareness of being. To accomplish this seemingly impossible feat, you take your attention away from your problem and place it upon just being. You say silently but feelingly, 'I Am'. Do not condition this awareness but continue declaring quietly, 'I am, I am.' Simply feel that you are faceless and formless and continue doing so until you feel yourself floating. Floating is a psychological state, which completely denies the physical, through practice in relaxation and willfully refusing to react to sensory impressions. It is possible to develop a state of consciousness of pure receptivity. It is a surprisingly easy accomplishment. In this state of complete detachment, a definite singleness of purposeful thought can be indelibly engraved upon your unmodified consciousness. This state of consciousness is necessary for true meditation. This wonderful experience of rising and floating is the signal that you are absent from the body, or problem, and are now present with the Lord.

The next thing that came to my awareness was the oneness. As you look at all of the Now-ist symbols, they are connected to one another continuously with no lack of continuity. Each symbol simply connects naturally and effortlessly to the next. It is like we are all in the universe depicted as this vast stretch of carpet. While we are all connected in oneness, we also have an individual "I am" presence. When I first realized this, it was years after walking the hallways each and everyday. This symbol just keeps unfolding deeper and deeper meanings to me. It conditions and reminds me, through a type of meditation with a shape and form, to stay in the present moment always.

The Sacred Labyrinth Walk is the ancient practice of "circling to the center" by walking the labyrinth. It redirects your focus on self-alignment. Labyrinths have been in use for more than four thousand years. Their basic design is fundamental to nature and many cultures and religious traditions. Whatever one's religion, walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight.

I am instantly transformed into the image I am watching as I walk. My attention places me above the planet and connects me to my Higher-Self. This is usually the first "step" I take when I begin the walk. I often recite Psalm 46:10 as I enter this awareness. "Be still, and know that I am God." Making this pronouncement connects me to the light of that oneness. In addition, I imagine the letter k is removed from the word know. This creates the word Now. "Be still, and now I am God." Herman Melville's famous quotation "God's one and only voice is silence," rings true to this point. To be still, or silent, means God is talking to you. The walking meditation stills my mind and directly connects me to the present moment. This silence is the key to release and relaxation. Resistance cannot exist in this state of being. The day's problems and stress melt away when I am connected to this truth.

The symbol continues to unfold its hidden meanings as I meditate on it while walking. I see the center of the symbol depicting the earth and the light of the world. You can see this light radiating outward to the person floating or hovering above it. This to me is the most powerful aspect of the Now-ist symbol; it states in form and image, "I am the light of the world. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,'" (John 8:12).

Later, Jesus states in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world." The divine power and presence of this realization lifts us all to the rightful awareness Jesus is calling each one of us to. You can say "I am the light of the world," and not feel blasphemous. Jesus tells us, "I am the light of the world," and "You are the light of the world." I AM is the name of God that was told to Moses thousands of years ago. This is a towering truth that most people walk through their everyday lives completely oblivious to. The absolute power in those words should change your life forever! "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself." (Ephesians 5:13). The apostle Paul writes these words to remind us of the universal abundant power of the light. The Now-ist symbol comes from a Catholic origin. The word catholic means "universal." My intention is to inspire all humankind to remember the existential truth this symbol conveys.

The cross is the central image of the Now-ist symbol. Traditionally, it is used as a reminder that Jesus died on the cross for all of us. I am inspired to express the power of this symbol, as it displays the omniscient now. Notice how a cross is made of one line that is vertical and another that is horizontal. Consider that the vertical line represents a line going straight up to Heaven, a representation of divine time. The horizontal line is a "time line" of ordinary or chronological time. The moment these two lines intersect is where I would like your awareness and attention to go Now. When you take divine time and cross it with chronological time that is the Now! For example, you could be going throughout your day, a full schedule of appointments in time and have no awareness of the present moment. When you stop and breathe, in a meditative or prayerful manner, surrendering to the moment, you have entered the divine time. You have in effect, crossed your linear time with divine time and entered the Now.

As you become aware of this inspiring truth about the cross, look at the Now-ist symbol again. You can clearly see that the center of the symbol has a bright light in it. This is where I imagine the crossing of divine and chronological time, creating an explosion of light sign, which renders symbolic awareness to this revealed truth. This point of intersection is the catalyst for the symbol's transforming awareness. It is there to remind us all, through its design, shape, and form- "I am the light of the world." Pay very close attention to the symbol as a whole. You can now look at the Now-ist symbol and see this image, as it omnipotently expresses its secret. Billions of people look at the cross and imagine a dead Jesus, who has suffered physically and bled for our sins. Most have a feeling of sadness and guilt. It reminds us of this event in time and place which focuses on the past. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus ever say, I am the crucifixion. He does, however, state in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live." This is the hope and inspiration for the entire world.

The soulful revelation you experience when you deeply understand this truth- "I am the light of the world," will change you forever. Look at the symbol and meditate on this image of light. You now see the light emanating from the world and you as the light of the world. You see you, replicated as light rays, shooting out all around the light. The center represents the light and the world all in one. Every time I see the Now-ist symbol, I silently say to myself, "I am the light of the world." It is the ultimate call to us all. "I am" is the name of God. It fills me instantly with the powerful truth of who I am. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). I feel this truth and never allow doubt or any other contrary event or opinion to hold sway on my highest self.

I will stand over the Now-ist symbol in the hallway and realize ... I am standing over me, looking at me, as the light of the world. It is this duality of being that we all must bridge and connect to our true-self. As we go out into the world, we pass signs, symbols, and synchronistic reminders daily. Our awareness of being and true strength is zapped by the inertia of living. If you can say and most importantly feel, "I am the light of the world," nothing will be impossible to you, ever! When this all-satiating reality settles into you, you feel the divine power that was given to you at birth, as the operant power in your life. This becomes the nucleus of your existence. Lahiri Mahasaya, (1828-1895) immortal for his order of self-realization and philosophy of Kriya Yoga, encourages us with these wise words, "Seek Divine wealth, not the paltry tinsel of earth. After acquiring inward treasure, you will find that outward supply is always forthcoming." This seems like a divine technology to me. When you place your attention only on the divine wealth, which is your true self, that focus and resonance elevates your life. It transforms you into all forms of abundance and treasures. The alchemy that takes place is the formula for turning base metal into gold!

The world famous, quest-adventure-fantasy genre told by Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist is the story of all mankind. We all venture out into the world to find treasure and great riches. The guiding power most frequently used is the thinking mind. It reacts to the circumstances the journey presents to us. We become discouraged and lost due to this erroneous focus of mind. The grand climax to the tale brings our main character back home to where he began his adventure- only to find that his greatest treasure was located right where he began! When you live each day with your awareness, intention, and declaration of being "the light of the world," you enter a place that is closer than near and sooner than now.

The Now-ist symbol is that reminder daily, to be that light of the world in every moment. As I walk the halls of the building that I live in, I "look down to look up," every single day. Walking and looking at the symbol reminds me to stay present and imagine my divine self above the planet. While I am up there, above my problems and conflicts, all is peace and oneness with the source of all, God. I am free of the mind and the mind-made delusions. I feel like the main character in Coelho's The Alchemist. I align with the young shepherd who strikes out into the world to find his "Personal Legend" which is, our life's spiritual purpose! It is a spiritual calling that awakens a deep desire and passion to live with a sense of purpose for something greater than yourself. I have walked these hallways for years and never noticed the Now-ist symbol right below my feet. My ambitious proclivity and sense of having to do and to be was the counter intuitive practice that kept my focus away from the Now. Heavenly-granted, just like the beloved character in the story acquires, my true treasure was home with me all along.

And so is it, with you, my dear reader. The power you seek is right there within you. The journey you take is not an outward-bound adventure. Most of us tend to constantly stay in the seeking mode of life. We think the circumstances of life are the grade by which we measure our success or failure. The great teacher of the Now, Eckhardt Tolle, expresses this point beautifully, "Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment." What if we stopped judging what presents itself in our lives, and paid greater attention to the reason it was there? What if we took full responsibly for it and no longer felt like a victim of circumstance? How would your life journey change course and lead you in the direction of your awakened self? These are the questions you should ask yourself, especially when your journey has you lost in a forest of debris. The guidance you seek is just a small step in the direction of you. It almost sounds too simple to be true. Yet, you are the "gold" you have been seeking after. We are encouraged by the Psalmist in chapter 118 verse 22, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." You are that stone. No longer do you need to reject your common self and think you have to seek to find the cornerstone of your faith. You are the "I Am that I Am." You are the very thing that you have been searching for all this time. Look no further; the search is over. You are the light of the world, and nothing you ever do or say can change this truth of your very being. Love that light, never question it, or doubt it. The didactic Taoist aphorism, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," is your reminder to stay present, here, now. I encourage you to take that first step inward, toward the you that you are seeking.