Thursday, September 27, 2007

Daily Om: Sacred Vows

Here is today's Daily Om:

Echoes Of Power
Sacred Vows

Speech is a vehicle for vows, but the sacred vows we speak are more than just words. When we make a promise, a subtle yet powerful shift takes place in our souls where intentions are housed. A vow is both a tool we employ in order to facilitate transformation within ourselves and an expression of will. Thus, to make an oath is to communicate to the universe and our deeper selves our commitment to the principles most important to us. Fulfilling a sacred vow—whether it is as complex as "'till death do us part" or as simple as "I promise"—challenges us, exercising our willpower and aiding personal growth.

When we speak a sacred vow out loud rather than reciting it in our minds or recording it on paper, our voices project our promises into the deepest reaches of the universe. It is important that we remember that a vow made with the sincerest of intentions has the power to carry on past our earthly lifetimes. A well-chosen vow encourages commitment and dedication. The presence or approval of a spiritual teacher is not necessary to success, as true oaths are a product of the heart.

A sacred vow, once spoken, becomes a part of your existence forevermore. Your view of the world around you may change, and your predominant thoughts and feelings will no doubt evolve with time, but the spirit in which your oaths were spoken will remain unaffected. It is up to you to determine how you will stay true to your vows while your inner- and outer-world existence is transformed. Your strength and character will inevitably be tested as circumstances make keeping promises increasingly challenging, but after you have shown yourself steadfast many times, your appreciation of the sanctity of vows will be cemented in your mind and soul.

There's a little more woo-woo in this than I prefer, but it makes a valid point.

We must be sure that our intention, our deepest sense of who we are, is aligned with the vows we makes -- if not, they are worthless to us. And we should never make a vow that isn't aligned with our deepest purpose and intention -- it is a betrayal of who we are.

Too many people enter into vows without deeply examining their relationship to the vow, what it means to them and how it relates to their deeper self. But if do make these examinations, and if we find the vows we are to undertake do resonate with our purpose, then taking vows can be a powerful affirmation of our lives.


No comments: