I celebrated one of those “milestone” birthdays over the weekend; I turned 65. As I approached this marker, my ego had much to say about it. I realized that what I am dealing with are many cultural concepts and stereotypes about reaching “Retirement Age.”
Now — I don’t look 65, or feel 65 (except perhaps when I try to stand up after weeding the garden on my knees.) I don’t think like I think a person of 65 should think. And what does all that mean and why is it even important? The force of the flow of the ideas in my mind regarding how our culture deals with “getting older,” arriving at “The Golden Years” (what one should and shouldn’t do at this point in life) makes me feel as though I am a salmon swimming upstream against a mighty current.
It is no accident that I am celebrating my 65th birthday in the year 2013. This year represents Year One of our new Galactic Cycle and therefore, I am beginning a new cycle of my life in step with this Shift.
Actually, I retired from the 3D workforce just about a year ago, so that completion already happened and since then, I have been focusing on attending to my own inner clearing and acting from a place of JOY. In many ways I feel as though my life is just beginning. I think there are many retirees who would agree with me on that point. I meet many retired people here who say they LOVE their life now, they have never been happier or busier.
I decided to investigate a couple of alternative cultural viewpoints to see what their traditions had to say about this time of life, what it means, what promises it holds.
In the Tzolkin (Mayan) calendar of 260 days, there are five “Castles” of 52 days each. The Mayan system is based on combinations of 4, 13, and 20 but in this case five times thirteen equals 65, or The Green Castle.” The Green Castle is about “rounding up the journey.” It is about the process of transformation. This sounds about right.
In the Hindu system there are traditionally Four Stages of Human Life that allow a person to wean themselves gradually from worldly duties to a more spiritually focused one. Although by our western standards, the last two phases of life may seem extreme or harsh, they are based in more idealized circumstances in which the culture holds this shift from world to God as a lofty goal and supports those who are ready to step back from material life. In today’s world (and especially in the West) we are not set up to give this honor and respect on any broad scale. Still, it serves as a noble ideal for those who have a strong intention and commitment.
For me, the greatest gift and cause for celebration this year has been my understanding and integration of my Universal Value (UV) my true, innate, God-given worth. With this understanding I have been able to put aside my hesitancy of committing myself to something that might eventually become a burden and joyfully enter into connection and interaction with my greater community, knowing that however I choose to share my UV is completely my freewill choice in each moment. Therefore I can make no wrong choices or unwise decisions (a really big deterrent to making ANY choice for me previously.)
Summing up what this all means for me:
1) I have lived to the age of 65 and I’m in really good shape physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
2) This is Year One (2013) of our new Galactic Cycle and I am starting my Green Castle phase, rounding out my journey, taking all accumulated experience with me into this momentous time. It is a phase of transformation (but what phase of my life has not been?)
3) Tomas and I have constructed a “quiet and orderly” life –our version of the Hindu Third Stage – simple, with minimal focus on maintaining the material aspects and an intentional focus on our inner work and spiritual matters.)
Life is good and getting glorious. My personal Golden Age is aligned with the entrance of our planet into the much prophesied Golden Age of Gaia. With all confidence I say that my best years are ahead of me. I’m inviting all of you to come along, stepping into Heaven on Earth, a paradise of our own making.
Namaste In Lakesh
Here is a link to Brenda Hoffman’s blog that so resonated with me that I’m sharing it with all of you. Very inspiring!