Looking back over the decades, especially the later ones, we can see how our lives followed a blueprint that defined our purpose.
By Jo Mooy
A person’s life can be broken down into 10-year periods of time much like chapters in a book. Major themes occur during each of the 10-year cycles that highlight an individual’s personal and professional growth and ultimate decline. These decades are not idle notations on a gerontologist’s map. Instead, they’re impressive milestones that mark the progress of the human collective as it navigates cultural, psychological, biological and spiritual changes over 80-100 years of life.
I subscribe to the scientific findings described above, but the spiritual awakening did not prepare me for the changes I would experience. Looking back in time, I found that my personal spiritual awakening followed the same 10-year pattern. It began subtly in my teens, but in the following decades my personal and professional priorities had to shift around to accommodate that growing awareness.
During some decades, long-term relationships ended because the new-found spiritual awareness that bound me to it could no longer support the patterns evident in the old relationships. As rich and loving as the relationships had been, it was time to let them go. I made a similar decision and slowed career growth to accommodate the unfolding spiritual pattern that was much more satisfying than the business model that had governed three decades. Looking back, the choices were natural and flowed easily with minimal disruption.
In the 7th Decade, I’ve noticed that the idols I created are also falling down. These aren’t the second commandment of “thou shalt have no gods” idols. Rather, these are the idols that were carved with great precision around the beliefs we grew up with. Those beliefs that governed the early decades can no longer stand the test of time and are slowly turning to dust. Other idols have also fallen. Like the charismatic teacher(s) that were set on a pedestal because “he-she” was so knowledgeable you recorded every word they uttered in dozens of notebooks. Those idols were smashed when their human behaviors marred the integrity of their teachings.
There’s an enormous advantage to looking back over the decades, especially the later ones. You can see how your life followed a blueprint that defined its purpose. Though, while you were going through the years, it might not have been so obvious. All the ones you met along the way agreed to act in your stage-play and you in theirs. The roles were staged and each played their part. There was no right or wrong decision. All of it was a learning process.
From the lofty perch of the waning 7th decade, the rhythm of life is changing. All systems may not be in a state of perfect balance, but there’s continued striving towards that ideal. There’s silent comfort that the spiritual values awakened so many years ago will continue to govern the remaining two or three decades.
A massive generational exodus will soon take place as Baby Boomers leave the world stage. During the remaining quarter century, the wise ones will begin to downshift and simplify their lives. They’ll spend time in reflection and hone in to undertake extensive life reviews. Their questions will reveal the narrative. Was it a life well lived? Did I stay true to the revealed purpose? Was it a life lived in balance? Is there any unfinished business that needs to be tidied up before the final curtain?
You were given roughly eight to10 decades. As you’re reading this, ask yourself what decade you’re in. What do you see about where you’re at? Are there tasks that still need to be accomplished? Are there individuals who inspire you and make you a better person? Are there others who bring you down and from whom you must sever the relationship? If you could project out to your final decades and reviewed your life, what would you take away from that review? Whatever decade you’re in now, gear up and create the life you would be pleased to review in the final year.
Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to http://www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com.
