Prejudice

by

The Night Sky

Can you see human beings in this picture?

Look into the night sky and what do you see? Depth, light, energy, vastness?

This is the truth of what an individual Human Being is…. with depth of a Cosmos unto ourselves, with Light that we haven’t begun to conceive of, with energy beyond what we understand, and with a vastness of consciousness which we have never yet imagined.

Now, look at a cardboard cutout of a human being – one of those things that stand up by themselves.

This then is what prejudice and bigotry sees of a particular human being…. and believes this is the truth.

Look up to see the truth.

*******

 

by

We Have a Choice

I posted this on social media and I’ll post it here, also.

“Let’s not become that which we hate. We can choose. If we hate violence, let’s not become violence. If we hate profiling, let’s not profile. We have many good leaders who have demonstrated for us how to walk among mankind with respect and honor towards others.

Martin Luther King did not preach violence. Ghandi did not preach violence. Jesus Christ did not preach violence. They demonstrated the best of humanity in the face of violence, and showed us that which they sought – respect and honor.

They died because people instead chose violence rather than respect and honor. But they remain our true and real heroes of the world. Let’s become that which we respect and honor. Let’s become like our real heroes. We can choose. Let’s choose to follow real and true heroes, because…

…because, there are some people who are leaders of prejudice, who love prejudice, who demonstrate prejudice and teach prejudice. These are the ones who lead into violence, who love violence, who demonstrate violence, and who teach and spread violence.

They seek to create more prejudice and more violence in their own arenas. These are true and real cowards. They choose their prejudice and their own leading of people into violence. They’ll look upon their own prejudice and their own spreading of violence which they help create in their world & they will forever know inside themselves that they are the true cowards.”

*******

 

by

The Prejudice We Don’t Know

Everyone knows prejudice – what it is – that it exists – that it contributes to the pain and suffering of human beings.   During our own lives and in our past, we’ve seen prejudice be at the core of oppression, suffering, and the killing of people.  We see it without trying to find it.

Like a ball, it has many sides.  Contrary to some beliefs, understanding prejudice is not a black and white understanding – either knowing it or not knowing it.  Recognizing prejudice is not a black and white experience – either seeing it or not seeing it.  Human prejudice is as visible and invisible as the human psyche and spirit permits.

This is partly because very few know how to cleanse themselves of prejudice.

This is because the real issue is never whether we are prejudiced or not.  As difficult as it is to read this statement, it is true.  The real issue is different.  The real issue is how do we cleanse ourselves of prejudice.

Imagine if God, in His/Her ability for Infinite Possibilities, one day when we woke up, had turned us from what we are in this world into another race or the opposite gender, or a different religion or sexual orientation or different nationality, an opposite or different… anything – than who and what we are right now – all while we stayed aware of all of this transformation.  In one moment, we went from one identity and paradigm of who we are to an opposite in the next moment.  Impossible, but not for God – since “it just happened.”

How would we feel being aware of who we were one moment and then being aware that we’re no longer who we were but we’re now the opposite?  Would we welcome it?  Would we dread it?  Would we be glad?  Would we be sad or devastated?

The real issue mentioned above is whether we could then be honest with ourselves, because we would come face to face with our true feelings, thoughts and attitudes of the “other” that is now our self.  Our feelings and attitudes would give our self away.

Within the awareness, within the body, within the mind or within everything of this opposite that we now are – would we feel it is a punishment? or would we feel it is a release from a prison?  or a prison sentence?  The next question becomes “Why?”  Why would we be glad? or sad?  Why would we feel it is a punishment? Why would we feel it is a release from a prison? or a prison sentence?

And there are other questions.  Are we now that which we had blamed, looked down on, hated or targeted?  Have we become someone who we would want to be?  Or are we someone who we would dread to be?

Targets

Ultimately, the question is ‘Have we ever thought, felt or acted against another person or group?  It is this person or group, who we thought, felt, or acted against that is our target.  Targeting anyone or any group is what prejudice is about.

Only when we take the journey of working on ourselves within, striving to have no one anywhere as our target – only then, do we strive to work to cleanse ourselves from prejudice of any kind- and cleanse ourselves from our judging another person or group who is not that which we individually are.

Who among us can claim we have cleansed ourselves completely of prejudice?  and then become the opposite of what we are – with no qualms or shame, or worry, with no gladness, no sadness and then go on to recognize that we are both the previous self and the opposite of our self – and both of these are our self.  Ultimately, in being prejudiced, we are only prejudiced, and have targeted, (and seek to limit, blame or hate) our own self.

Not being prejudiced is a journey of letting go of judgment of ourselves as much as it is letting go of judgment of others.  It is a journey of discovering that every one is our self, and our own self is everyone – including the ones we currently target, judge or hate.

If we choose to strive to cleanse ourselves from targeting anyone, we also strive to accept and welcome everyone as our own self and our own self as everyone – more importantly, we will have traveled a journey that leads us to accept our whole Self -that Self who contains all the opposites within one person even though the surface doesn’t show it, yet.

Is this possible to do for human beings?  As Christ said, “With God, ALL THINGS are possible.” even traveling a journey of discovering as individuals, who we really are.  With that discovery, hopefully being that we are all one another and therefore, we are all One.

Is this hard to understand? Sure, but cleansing prejudice is only done with effort to understand more things and greater things about people, than that amount we understand so far.  This takes effort and striving.

********

Changing away from prejudice is a journey of “a thousand days.”  However, on a day to day basis – taking one day at a time – it is a light switch.  It is a light switch when we realize that we targeted someone yesterday, and we can choose to not target them on this day – today – not target another person or group of people through our words, our actions or our thoughts – today.

We can turn our journey into “1000 light switches” when we take our journey one day at a time, and choose only on this day, today – with each “today” which we are given – to target no person or group of people whatsoever based on that which identifies them beyond their own character.

*******

There was a movie made in 1970 called “Watermelon Man” which covered the experience of waking up as “a different man.”

*******

“The things we can do, are the things we’re willing to do.  The things we can’t do, are the things we’re not willing to do.”  (The Rainbow Cards, ©, 2016-2018, Jodie Senkyrik)

by

For Religious Reasons

In our nation’s past and present, the phrase “for religious reasons” has been used by people for many reasons.  Some of these reasons are obvious, some dubious and some confusing.  In essence, what is being stated is:  “I use my beliefs in God to do this/that, or not do this/that.”

The issues I offer here in acting or not acting “for religious reasons” are (1.) Do we want to use our religious beliefs to decide our actions?  and (2.)  Do our actions really reflect our religious beliefs?  These are legitimate questions to examine within ourselves.  And they absolutely must be examined deeply, earnestly, honestly and in full light for ourselves.

Why must they be examined this way?

Because the statement “for religious reasons” has been used for many harmful and destructive acts.  “For religious reasons” has been used to justify slavery.  “For religious reasons” has been used by people to justify segregation.  “For religious reasons” has been used by people to justify judging, condemning, lynching, the Spanish Inquisition, burning people at the stake, stoning people, drowning people, and been used by people to demonstrate prejudice and hatred against so many minorities.

Throughout the world’s history, “for religious reasons” has been used to bring about horrendous atrocities, killing and wars.  And today in our world, “for religious reasons” is used to justify murder and killing still.

“For religious reasons” does get used by people to justify whatever prejudice or hatred anyone has within their hearts towards any group.  Of course, we can take this further and say that if “for religious reasons” weren’t available, “some other reasons” would be used to justify an agenda of prejudice and hatred.

There are many that are willing to hide behind and abuse religion to justify their inner desire to continue the pain and suffering of others.  As time passes, more and more, we will see those that espouse “for religious reasons”, and that they are not espousing the love that religions were, and still are, meant to foster.  They espouse instead the separation and prejudice that has been in their hearts all along.

So, examine deeply, honestly and earnestly how best to use the statement, “for religious reasons”.  It is very easy for us to use our religions beliefs in God to justify not helping those that need help, but whom we’ve judged, and therefore, decide not to help.  It’s very easy to act in some way, siting “for religious reasons”, when there is a deeper agenda hiding within us.  It takes self-honesty to act from our beliefs in a way that can truly serve and help our world.

Yet, how do we then tell if we, ourselves, are acting righteously with regards to our own beliefs?

Follow what Christ said, when asked how will you know the ones that are followers of Christ, “by demonstration of the fruits of the spirit”.  Forgiveness, loving kindness, mercy, patience, understanding, humility, cooperation, faith, charity, unselfishness, joy, etc. – these are the fruits of the spirit.  These are the actions of followers of religious beliefs based on God’s love.

Christ’s two commandments were Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself.  When asked who is our neighbor, He told of the Good Samaritan.

When we use “For religious reasons”, we cannot avoid demonstrating the truth of where we are at.  While we may tell ourselves one thing about our statement, others may see what we choose not to see about ourselves.

*******

“Everyone has their own different ideas about how to proceed with spiritual growth… even God.” (The Rainbow Cards, ©, 2013, Jodie Senkyrik)

by

Prejudice of Ages

How silly humanity in general has been with so many years of prejudice against people involved in interracial marriages, same sex marriages, cross-cultural marriages, mixed political marriages, this or that marriage, and on and on and on.

Unlearning prejudice found in any human experience or human arena is a slow process.  The prejudices come from learned fears, from desire to fit in, from the desire to be loved and approved from those who are supposed to love us, and from our own past life experiences with different races and subcultures – whether those past experiences are cooperative or combative.

Many, many, many, many times, the prejudice and hatred comes from past life connections where there are still grudges and resentments towards a particular group or people.  Acts like “raids on groups”, raiding, pillaging and killing in wars, make for many prejudices.  All races and groups have been targeted at some time in some way, and many different groups have been slaves or bought and sold. Sometimes, in human history all that was required to be enslaved was to be defeated in battle.

Many groups have been perceived as second class, lower class, or lower caste, and these experiences sometimes are hard to go through.  Still others use these experiences to justify their vendetas, grudges or resentments or even to build new ones.

So, it will take time for prejudice to heal.  Since it can come from very real damage and harm done to each other in the past.  And each person will have to resolve it in their own time within their own heart, mind and soul.  Do you think?  This is also a contributing factor in the Middle Eastern conflicts and in the attack of 9-11.

What is interesting is that there is no one on this planet that has NOT experienced being on the receiving end of prejudice.  Everyone has, whether based on race, religion, gender, financial situation, spiritual belief, disability, weight, physical features, ethnicity, sexual preference, sometimes their job, etc.  And I say this regardless of whether we may see how that possibly could be true “for that other person over there who looks way better off than I am.” (Having this thought is a symptom of prejudice.)

I can go into a room of any number of people and show you how each person has been singled out in at least 3 different ways, just by being who they are.  Women, men, black, white, brown, red, Hispanic, Asian, European, Native American, Christians, Jews, Muslims, tall, short, small, large – no group has been free from being on the receiving end of hatred, disrespect, fear, attack, ridicule, different types of abuse and the like because of their group – even psychics.  Yes, there are groups that have predominately received recent prejudice, but all groups of peoples and different subcultures have received it at some time in the past, and even now in the present.

Prejudice has been the source of much human pain and suffering.  Pain and suffering is something that no human ever escapes.  Jesus Christ didn’t escape pain and suffering then or now, and Robin Williams didn’t escape pain and suffering, either.  Pray for all who suffer – whether on this side of the veil or the other.  When we are in pain and suffering, we tend to strike out at whomever we think is the cause.  This is the birth of prejudice.  Pray for all who are in pain.

*******

“God does not create barriers to love.  Not even death is a barrier to love.  Love can move back and forth through the veil of death.”  (The Rainbow Cards, ©, 1999-2020, Jodie Senkyrik)

“Whenever Love is present, God is present.” (The Rainbow Cards, ©, 1999-2020, Jodie Senkyrik)

“Even as we are reading this, God is completely aware of us (and aware that we are reading this) – observing with infinite love, kindness and patience.” (The Rainbow Cards, ©, 1999-2020, Jodie Senkyrik)

by

Threat to Psychics?

My pastor has had a very strong vision, that one day, those of us known as psychics, although we are all in some form or potentially, might become in danger or threatened. That we might have to communicate telepathically. She said this is a strong possibility. Have you foreseen anything in this way? Also our church has a prayer energy group for world peace and love. Do you know of a group(s) that is doing this that I may connect with to do with? As in a regular schedule? Thank you.

Response:

The vision is not going to be a worldwide experience in our time or even in this century.  It is going to manifest as internal feelings of prejudice by some, but not by all.  But, remember, if you change the word “psychic” to any of today’s oppressed groups, you would easily have a true statement.  In this same way, prejudice and hatred has manifested towards women, blacks, immigrants, the poor, homosexuals, those with AIDS, Jews, this religion or that, this race or that, this lifestyle or that, and any number of other cultural groups.  In our world, we still have slavery, abuse, bigotry, hatred, genocide, wars and the like and all because one sub-culture or nationality doesn’t like another.  It is also now and has been in the past, towards those dealing with psychic ability, “occult”, the “New Age” and the like.  Remember Salem, Mass. in the early colonial times?

Currently, in the world, many forms of prejudice come forth, are known and are practiced.  As time continues, our current society slowwwwwwwly grows out of these prejudices.  But, it’s slow and sometimes change doesn’t happen until those that encourage the ways of past hatred pass on.

“We can be among the first to lead the new ways into the future, or we can be among the last to follow old ways of the past.”  The Rainbow Cards, ©, 2007

“What changes do we want within ourselves, that we want to take hold for all eternity?” The Rainbow Cards, ©, 2013.

PS.  As for prayer groups, if you’re church doesn’t have one yet, it’s time to start one.  You may be surprised who else is waiting for it to be started, so they can join.