The Value Of Making Mistakes
‘I sometimes react to making a mistake as if I had betrayed myself. My fear of making a mistake seems to be based on the hidden assumption that I am potentially perfect and that if I can just be very careful I will not fall from heaven. But a 'mistake' is a declaration of the way I am, a jolt to the way I intend, a reminder I am not dealing with the facts. When I have listened to my mistakes I have grown.’ Hugh Prather
The very nature of our earthly education is that we do not always know in advance what is expected from us and therefore what the right thing to do is. Yet, this principle applies at all times, but most of all whenever we are ready to venture forth into new experiences. Whilst in physicality all of us are spiritually the equivalent of young children at school and therefore are bound to make mistakes. There is nothing wrong with that! Indeed, they are good for us and we are meant to make them, so there really is no need to become unduly upset over any kind of error of the past or present. For one thing, they teach our earthly self humility and that is a quality that is greatly needed by all of us. And for another, as long as we glean something valuable from any experience, we are progressing and growing, and our spirit and soul have every reason to rejoice.
By trying one or two – maybe three or four – of the wrong things, the discomfort and/or pain they cause us in the end guides us towards that which really is meant to be for us, and is therefore good and right. That does not mean the other options we tried were wrong! As they helped us in our search, they too were right at that time for us and our development. Having established that something has no value for us, we owe it to ourselves to search for what has. Clearly, we needed every one of our ‘mistakes’ of the past. Each one of them has helped us to grow into the one we are now. Everything we have learned up to any given moment is stored in our soul memories and we are benefiting from it. Consciously and unconsciously we are constantly drawing from this store and adding to it, all the while making our life more agreeable and easier to cope with.
Making no mistakes means refusing to become fully alive. Following our inner guidance is particularly valuable in this connection. Only when we have learnt to listen to it can the small still voice of our conscience show us, through the reactions that rise into our consciousness from the world of our feelings, what is right or wrong in any situation. The main trouble in the past has been that we all too easily ignored this voice and swept it aside, unaware of the fact that each one of us is equipped with this kind of inner guidance and its immense value. Ignoring this wise one within, that most certainly has been a mistake, but where would we be without any of them? We would hardly ever have learned anything.
The more highly evolved we become, the more times we have travelled round the zodiac. These journeys have taken us many times through every single one of its signs and learning the lessons each one provides for us. This means that time and again we have experienced lifetimes in Gemini and Virgo, both ruled by Mercury, the winged messenger of the Gods of antiquity. The same as all other aspects of our nature, the critical faculties were given to us for the wise higher purpose of helping us to develop the ability to discern and discriminate. In Gemini and Virgo our critical faculties are developed and every lifetime spent in one of them hones and sharpens this ability some more.
As a result, we easily spot the flaws in everything and especially in the people around us. Something inside us instinctively seems to draw us to them. Wise ones are aware of this and also of the importance of every one of our thoughts and spoken words and the effects they are having. For sake of the smooth running of their human relationships, they control their critical faculties and in keeping with their advanced evolutionary state, they only impart criticism when it is helpful to someone. In that case they do so in constructive ways and with kindness and understanding, compassion and love in their hearts.
And because erring is human and forgiving Divine, whenever they are disappointed that they themselves have failed in some way, they forgive themselves the same as they would anyone else for making a mistake.
Recommended Reading:
• ‘The Power Of Thought’
• ‘Thought – The Most Powerful Force Of All’
• ‘White Eagle On The Power Of Thought’
• ‘The Creative Power Of Thought’
• ‘The Power Of Thought In Spiritual Healing’
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The above is a chapter from ‘Astrology As A Lifehelp In Relationship Healing’.
If it has whetted your appetite to read more, please follow the link below:
‘Astrology As A Lifehelp In Relationship Healing’
