The basic idea is that all things are energy. The energy in each thing vibrates at different rates, with different amplitudes. Amplitude is like the size of waves at the beach: some things/people have 6 foot waves crashing on the beach and some are gentle ripples lapping at the shore. For our purposes I’m going to call this combination of rate and amplitude “frequency”. (The scientists amongst my readers please forgive me for taking liberty with scientific terms!)
Difference in frequency is what differentiates one thing from another: cat from dog, mountain from lake, human from frog. And, within a given species, it is what distinguishes one dog from another, one person from another. We can extend this analogy to the unseen world as well as the seen world (seen through the use of ordinary senses.) We can think in terms of grosser frequencies applying to rocks, and more refined frequencies applying to humans, and even more refined frequencies applying to spirit.
When we are on a spiritual journey, our efforts center on activities that help us to further refine our frequencies. We pray, chant, meditate, practice Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, spend time in nature, study scripture (Tao Te Ching, Bible, Koran, Baghavad Gita, etc.) and make efforts to behave in accord with principles of good behavior as identified in the tradition that we follow. All of these help us to refine our frequency. In Taoist practice we follow a two-pronged approach: cultivating both the physical and the mental/emotional.
Each of the major spiritual traditions also has at its core a belief in Saints, Angels, Spirits, God(s) or Immortals. In the context of vibrational frequency, what are these? We can think of these heavenly beings as having even more refined frequencies than humans. They are so refined that they no longer need to return to the physical body to do the work that this earth’s refiner’s fire offers and requires of us. They have achieved a state of omnipresence that is ever present and not present. In Taoism we talk about refining the spirit until it is pure yang and can then pass through the gates into heaven. If it is not so refined, then it goes back to the world of yin for processing and another cycle of rebirth in the world of yin-yang (earth).
How do we invite these Angels, Saints and Immortals to us? All we have to do is ask for their grace with sincerity. A simple ritual of lighting a candle, placing a flower in observance, in thanks, will bring them to the table. When we open ourselves to them, they are there. When we turn our back on grace, we feel isolated and separate. In truth, union with the divine is always available to us. We just have to open to its grace.
Invite Grace to your holiday; open the door and invite spirit to join you at the table.