Eye to Eye

The tyrant always talks as if he's preserving the best interests of his people

when he actually acts to undermine them.

Ramman Kenoun

We learn to navigate through human existence via relationships.  Relationships teach us about others as well as about our selves.  Sometimes we are the teacher while other times we are the student.  Either way, we come in contact with those we can trust and those we would have been better off not trusting.  There are lessons in both.

To have a mentor or teacher in our lives is a wonderful experience.  A true leader will encourage us to listen to all wisdom, and to develop a sense of what is true or not true for our selves.  An honest teacher will encourage us to discover our own personal gifts. 

Unfortunately, there are those who sit on their self-imposed pedestal, expecting followers to do just that ... to follow ... not to discover spiritual independence.  My most honorable Reiki Master asked me one time if I knew the definition of the word guru.  I stumbled along trying to use words of wisdom when he laughed.  He said the word guru stood for "gee, you are you!"  He was reminding me we were all equals and we each had something special to teach.    He was the most humble man I have ever personally known. 

So I am suggesting we  honor our own wisdom and never hesitate to question our selves or others.  A true mentor embraces our seeking to help us find our way, and not the mentor's way.  Resources are invaluable, but it is necessary to sit with the information deciding what is true for our selves.  We absorb what resonates for our selves and respectfully leave the rest.

If we find our selves in a situation where some one is restricting our search or limiting our beliefs, we must ask our selves why this could be so.  An excellent question is:  "Is this in my highest 

interest?"  It is discouraging to discover we are being manipulated when we have been open and trusting.  Unfortunately, this sometimes happens.  It is an opportunity to remind our selves to respect our own  insights and to maintain our boundaries. 

I have had the pleasure of experiencing diversified teachers and  I have enjoyed being in the presence of them all.  I must say, however, my favorite ones are not those I had to 'look up to' but rather those who sat with me eye to eye.