U.S. Independence Day

4th of July

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America developed the principles of our great country as a part of an experiment in consciousness; they supported and encouraged an energetic movement in consciousness referred to by esoteric and wisdom practitioners as the “overall plan of evolution.”

Prior to Thomas Jefferson penning the immortal words “We hold these truths to be self-evident”, the truths espoused in the Declaration of Independence were anything but self-evident in the history of mankind in governance.  Most of our Founding Fathers were influenced by the thoughts and writing of what is known in the development of thought and consciousness as “The Age of Enlightenment.”

Often I have pondered on the convergence that occurred in the development of mankind that brought into incarnation such an amazing group of thinkers who emerged at the time of the American Revolution.  This movement, forward in consciousness, was spearheaded by not only one great thinker or philosopher but rather a group of like-minded men who were not only brilliant but who understood the lessons of the history of human development and the foibles of individuals.  Their willingness to incorporate the fragility of the individual and to understand the dangers of too much power in the hands of too few is seen throughout their dialog and debates.

From the wit and the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin to the poetic idealism of Thomas Jefferson and the profound pondering and thinking of John Adams these were men who were aware of the way the world worked and they worked to build in safeguards to protect this amazing republic they were crafting.  They knew well the dangers of greed and human nature.  As students of history they worked tirelessly to create a structure of government that was wise and compassionate.  Wherever possible they tried to build in safeguards, checks, and balances.

They knew that this Republic they were forming was unprecedented in the long history of humanity.  They knew the importance of these principles, these truths that they were willing to risk their lives to bring into being.  They understood that a government contained would grant unprecedented potential to future generations.

History tells us these men were willing to debate and negotiate tirelessly often far from the comfort and support of their families and loved ones until they had, through dialog and debate, chosen just the right word.

They understood the power in a word and the power of intention and the ways that thoughts have power.  They worked on and on, finding points of compromise that did not compromise their principles.  They constantly held themselves to a higher standard realizing this work in which they were engaged, this sacred task of providing governance, took sacrifice and honor, and they held themselves to that standard.

They certainly did not always agree, but they worked together until they found a point of agreement that did not violate their beliefs for the sake of expediency.  They examined the decisions that they made in the light of an understanding that the best of intentions could have unintended consequences that could be disastrous to the life and integrity of what they were creating.

If we read the letters of the times we see the struggles of these men to work together in spite of vast differences in backgrounds, economy, and values.  One theme that emerges in their writings as a constant value was their belief in the importance of honor and a sacred duty to those they gathered to represent in the present and as best they could project the implications for the future.

They knew this experiment needed organic growth and the ability to evolve and change along with the evolution and change of the citizens.  They did not always agree.  In fact, they often disagreed on not only what to do or how to do it, but even why it should even be done.  But they knew it was important to find that place of agreement, that place of unity and unification for the common good.  In reading their stories and struggles we are given a guide for our modern times.

They knew the people were capricious and selfish.  By entrusting the decisions of the future into the hands of various layers of representation and decision making they tried to develop a structure and a system that would balance out the diverse cries of the crowd.  They built in not only a series of checks and balances in the dual representation process but in the balance of powers between the branches of the government.  They built in a process that would slow the changes that could be made to the Constitution in a way that allowed the time to cool men’s passions and required thoughtful consideration of the issues at hand.

As evidenced by the famous “remember the ladies” exchange of letters between Abigail and John Adams (click here for the “remember the ladies” letters), they knew they could only move forward at a pace that was congruent with the consciousness of the times.

They warned and foresaw many dangers on that day hundreds of years ago when they risked their lives to pen their names on the Declaration of Independence.  They knew the risk.  Benjamin Franklin’s statement on that day right before they signed summed it all up, “Come now gentlemen, we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Come now gentlemen, we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
   – Benjamin Franklin

They knew that the Republic they were forming would take vigilance to maintain as evidenced by the words of Benjamin Franklin after the signing of the Declaration of Independence; he was reportedly asked by a lady, “well doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”  He famously replied, “a republic madam, if you can keep it.”

The responsibility of keeping a Republic vital and moral was also reflected in the words of Thomas Jefferson when he wrote “Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the surest way to destruction.”

Our Fore Fathers knew that what they were building was only a framework for Freedom.  The Bill of Rights was still to come after the hard work of negotiating the Declaration of Independence, the work we celebrate today was the hard negotiation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Throughout this process of compromise reaching common ground with representatives of diverse belief and different cultures they worked for compromise without compromising their deepest beliefs, and their “sacred honor”.

Today, and in the days to come, as we ponder this gift they gave us, let us take time out to be grateful for the sacrifices they made to create this great experiment in governance that has forever changed what humanity requires of its leaders.  They provide an example that I hope is a renewed commitment to every representative in Congress, to every representative in Senate and to every Judge in every office of the nation, and every layer of the executives of our government from the White House to Main Street in the smallest town.  You have been given a sacred honor, a sacred responsibility that is not to be dismissed for ease or expediency.

Namaste,

Genevieve

The Blessing of Love on All That You Do!

 

P.S. Are you a veteran (military personnel) or know a veteran, send them this link for our Independence Day bonus week giveaway “I’m Free MP3 Veterans Bundle.”

 

Last updated 7-3-2018

 

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