What in this experience assists me in elevating my consciousness? This is the question I asked myself this week. The week I had was filled with experiences. Did you know that the only thing truly real is that which we can experience? That is what the quantum reality says. Anything else is purely potentiality. What we can hear, what we can feel, what we can see is reality. We can only experience through our own consciousness. Consciousness is the starting point of all experiences. I start here as I bring meaning to the week I experienced.

This was the week of the ANTN Conference – “Boundless” and our graduation as doctoral students. The conference began with a beautiful ritual in which we let go of anything standing in the way of our experience of boundlessness. This would include beliefs that were holding us back. We all have different limiting beliefs. I felt the release during the ceremony.

This week also included episodes of people yelling at me or giving what I would consider disrespect. What in this experience is elevating me to a higher state of consciousness? Should we allow ourselves to be disrespected? What does that even mean? For me, disrespect is someone misunderstanding who I am. That we want the same things that include love and respect. So, I stood up for myself and then when that didn’t work, I just had to know that the only answer was to move out of the experience and to have compassion for the person. He was feeling disrespected. He was reaching out for respect. I get it. That was an easy one for me. Leave the situation and have compassion. But, how does this raise my own consciousness. I believe that compassion is an experience that most definitely raises us in consciousness. It moves us past blame and victimhood to integrity and love and understanding. It builds a bridge not a wall. I choose compassion.

Then came another test. I was on my Zoom Call Graduation Ceremony when a hacker entered the room and literally targeted me with explicit sexual profanities. I have to say I was blind-sided in that I was in a joy and sitting their appreciating my fellow colleagues receive their degrees and honors. Why would something like this happen? Then, to top it off, another hacker entered and literally hit on me. It seemed it was intentionally targeted toward Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren. What and why?

Well, why is not a good question. More than likely, it was a random hit; but I know that nothing in the Universe is random and that I have responsibility to respond from the highest place to everything. I was shaken. It was invasive to my very being. It was scary. It seemed senseless; and yet, there must be something, some gold nugget I can take from this experience. I do believe that as we raise ourselves in consciousness that the dark becomes darker and the knowing of who we are at a cellular level is integral. This experience called for me to take a deep breath and remember who I am. And, who is this person? Someone who doesn’t know who he is or who I am. Compassion came up again as an anecdote to fear and anguish. Also, the question as to why we are afraid. For me, I am afraid if I think I might get hurt or even die. Then, I heard Vice President Kamala Harris answer the question about fear like this. The interviewer asked her how she dealt with the death threats she sometimes got during her time as a prosecutor, prosecuting hardened and dangerous criminals. She said, with conviction. “I just refuse to be afraid.”

It’s not what happens to us. It is happening for us at all times. It’s not what happens to us. It is happening through us at all times. It is not what is happening to us. It is happening as us at all times. How are we going to perceive these experiences. If what we focus on grows, if the Observer Effect is real, then it all makes sense. The title of our Sunday talk was: “All You Can Choose.” There is so much to choose from. When we bump up against 3D reality, what do we choose to take with us. This is making a difference in our brains. We are constantly wiring and rewiring our brain with the emotions and thoughts we think. We get to change in any moment and experience it differently.

That night when I woke up in the middle of the night after that Zoom cyber-attack, I suddenly felt unsafe. I could have ruminated on that thought. I could have found all the evidence that made that true; but instead I chose another route. I said, “God is. I am. Stay close to me, I’m here. God is. I am. I am safe. I am safe. I am always safe. I know who I am.”

Take a deep breath with me right now. Bring something up that might frighten you. Take another deep breath, hold it there and then just let it go. It’s only a thought. You can choose another thought, another way of looking at it. Open up to the infinite reality of who you are. Say to yourself. “I know who I am. I know who I am. I am safe. I am guarded, protected, directed right now and always. God is, I am.”

Every day, we are living in a world of thoughts, beliefs and ideas. What do you choose? From all you can choose, what do you choose? I choose edifying thoughts. I choose thoughts that progress my life in an upward direction. I choose thoughts of love and compassion for others. I ask, how can I serve today? Where am I going? Do I want to go there? If not, then I must turn my back and move myself in the opposite direction in thought. I can do this and I do. I am amazing, powerful and free at all times to choose. So are you!

My week ended on Saturday with the Dr. Joe Dispenza’s “Walk for the World.” A small and powerful group showed up in the wee hours of the morning to walk as the change they wanted to see in the world. For me, it was profound. I realized in that moment, that I have the choice of which reality I want to experience. If I want a loving reality, that is what I will experience. If I get caught up in the dramatics of this earthly experience, that is what I will experience. I am grateful for the power of choice.

Love and Aloha, Rev. Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author and Co-Spiritual Director CSL Kaua`i