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After many years on this journey and an endless number of conversations with my Self and others, I’m coming to the conclusion that a single answer can be applied to every life question. Tobias and later Adamus contributed greatly to this answer, and it sounds simple. But there are many iterations, countless applications – and just as many barriers. The answer, cheesy as it sounds, is simply love. But not just any love. I’m talking about unconditional, unending, unlimited, love for Self.

Now, before you tune this out, I’m not talking about sappy, rainbow-colored hearts-and-flowers lovey-dovey stuff. I’m talking about the tough, gritty, determined-to-prevail-at-any-cost kind of love. And I’m pretty sure this level of self-love is required for staying as a Master on the planet.

As I shared last month, physical challenges are some of the most frustrating vestiges of our old life, maybe because the body literally holds everything for us until we’re ready to let it go. And, for better or worse, it’s the most literal manifestation of my energy, so whatever my body is holding was put there by me. But what’s love got to do with solving the physical issues? Well, probably everything.

I grew up in a very religious Christian home, steeped in Biblical teachings, our particular version of theology, and lots of study and prayer. I tried very hard to understand it all and could explain God’s “plan of salvation” as well as any preacher. But something always gnawed at me. Even though the logic was cut and dried, there was something missing that I couldn’t define. Then, at 14, I had a mystical experience where I felt the presence of Jesus, asking me to follow and work with him. Of course, I said “Yes!” with all my heart and began to focus my personal study on the teachings of Jesus himself (which make up a surprisingly small part of the Bible).

As most anyone knows, Jesus – Yeshua – was the Teacher of Love. Theology, rules, beliefs and traditions meant nothing to him if they were not encased in love, and I wondered how that applied in a world where rules governing every facet of life usually took precedence over fanciful things like love. One of my favorite biblical authors had more to say about this all-important love:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [In fact,] God IS love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (1 John 4:7-8, 16)

Apparently, love was so important that it was the very definition of God! But if that was true, what was all the theology, rules, judgments and threats for? Now I know they were about humans trying to control each other, but even back then it seemed like God’s “bottom line” was love. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” – which brought up yet another question. If I’m a wretched, unlovable sinner, what good is it to love someone else like that? I began to realize that “Love your neighbor as yourself” implied I should already be loving myself. It just took a few decades (and lifetimes) for that to really sink in.

Here’s a couple related thoughts. Adamus has said that love was first discovered here on Earth. Do you suppose it happened around the time Yeshua lived? It was, after all, the entire focus of his life’s work. Adamus has also frequently stated that all Ascended Masters have come by way of Earth – the Planet of Love. Could it be that deep, profound love for self is the essential and miraculous heart of ascension?

It brings an interesting question for those who are eager to leave the planet: Have you fallen in love with yourself? Since it seems to be something you must do right here on Earth, well, now’s your chance!

I’m starting to see that absolute love of self is the key to everything. Consider this, one of the most popular passages, albeit slightly edited:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not love myself, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not love myself, I am nothing.

Self-love is patient, self-love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor me, it is not egotistical or easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Self-love never fails. Then I saw only a reflection as in a mirror; how I see myself face to face. Then I knew myself in part; now I know myself fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and self-love. But the greatest of these is self-love. (1 Corinthians 13)

In my own words, it would go something like this:

All my clever synchronicities, realizations and insights are useless noise if I don’t love myself. Loving myself means I am patient and kind with my body and do not compare myself with others. It means I always take care of me, without fail. As this love is finally allowed, I can know myself fully, the way my soul has always known me, because the greatest of all is love.

In real life, this love manifests in many ways. For me, part of it is presence. In other words, it has become supremely important to be fully present with myself in every possible moment, particularly when it comes to food. (I don’t want to keep focusing on diet and food and body stuff, but it IS a big issue right now, so I’ll share what I’m learning.) As noted last month, being in love makes everything different, and being in love with me is no exception. These last few weeks I removed all sufferi… er, restrictions around what I eat. The first couple weeks it was like every other time: I ate what I wanted, and body responded in the usual ways (aches, pains, and the scale creeping up). This is where I’d always given up before. But this time, something deep had shifted, and I kept at it. There have been a lot of conversations with my body, and she began to get more talkative, almost as if she started believing me, rather than ignoring yet another one of my many tricks.

Then one day she had a request – that I be fully present with her whenever I eat. In other words, no computer, TV, crossword puzzle or magazine while I ate. It wasn’t that I needed to focus on the food (although that can be an amazing experience), she just wanted my presence. Doing so was a brief challenge for my mind, but then it took a back seat to the love, and I began to sense her gentle feedback more clearly. “This please, not that.” “I’ve had enough, thank you.” “Just one, not three.” “Something fresh today, please,” and so on. Also, the clock means nothing to her, which means I’ve been eating – and not eating – at unusual hours. But when I’m present with her in total love, the rest doesn’t seem to matter.

I mean, think about it. When you have dinner with a precious loved one, you don’t sit there reading a book or playing on your phone. You are present with your beloved! It’s a cherished time where you wouldn’t dream of bringing in distractions. Perhaps your own self, your truest soulmate, deserves the same attention.

Loving myself can mean something different in every moment. It might be leaving a place early, eating on my own schedule, saying no to someone, resting when body asks, putting myself first instead of last. It might also mean making tough choices, like challenging my persistent lack of self-worth (and the distortions it brings), refusing to speak ill of my body or complain about my life. Think of when you’ve experienced love, whether with a lover, a family member, a baby, even a pet. Do you treat yourself at least as sweetly as you treated them? Speak to yourself as kindly? Support yourself as lovingly? Accept yourself as fully?

What happens when every single thing is a gift of love to myself? Well, it literally changes how the energy serves me. Years ago, I got a bunch of dental work done. It had been postponed too long and I needed several root canals (where they do a lot of drilling and permanently install foreign matter into my teeth). Lying in the dentist chair, I made the conscious choice to integrate the new material into my body. I imagined speaking to it, “Welcome! You are now part of this Master, please make yourself at home and serve me as long as needed.” It was a lovely way to pass the rather unpleasant time. Then one day, I forgot the invitation. Later that evening my mouth was throbbing with pain, which was unusual. Then I realized I’d forgot to welcome the root canal that day – astonished at the tangible difference it made!

At some point in the last couple weeks my Self finally stated the obvious: Why don’t you welcome and integrate EVERYTHING you put into your body, not just dental stuff? And with that, the love blossomed at a whole new level.

A couple years ago (in Time Out), Adamus dropped a rather tantalizing comment, saying that one day he would talk about love “so pure it melts diamonds.” My ears perked up, “Ooh, maybe I’ll finally get a lover who understands me.” But I don’t think that’s what he was talking about. Lately, he’s reminded us of the fact that this entire human reality consists mostly of hydrogen, helium and a bit of oxygen. Last time I checked, those are colorless, odorless gasses. So, what’s holding it all together to look like stones and apples and trees and dogs and people and everything else? I am. When there’s stuck energy in my body, I’m holding it here. (I won’t go as far as Adamus by saying I’m in love with it, but obviously I’m keeping it for some reason.) My consciousness is fusing these basic elements together into my particular reality.

Pure, unlimited love for myself and my creation dissolves the resistance that keeps it all in place (remember, Resistance is Futile) and – et voilá – flexible reality, maybe even melted crystal prisons!

I like where this love thing is going.

7 comments on "The Presence of Love"

  • Denise Crispino on September 19, 2021 6:35 PM said:
    Amei seu texto!!!
  • Valérie on September 18, 2021 3:32 AM said:
    Thank you Jean for sharing your body stories Blessing 💕
  • Cristina on September 18, 2021 2:05 AM said:
    wow just wow now words could describe how amazing this article is! Thank You!
  • Clifford Rubenstein on September 17, 2021 9:23 PM said:
    <3
  • Sudhir Bhushan on September 17, 2021 4:50 PM said:
    Wowowow, this write up is so utterly LOVE-ly in it's deep insightfulness & practical wisdom ❣️🥰 Makes me feel sooooo in Love with the Human-Divine Presence-Benign of YOU, dear Jean Tinder, Shaumbra's most favourite friend, philosopher, guide in the Shaumbra Heartbeat Monthlys ❣️🤗😇😘😘👏👏
  • Beatrix Topp-Lauterbach on September 10, 2021 2:17 PM said:
    Liebe Jean Tinder... aus tiefstem Herzen DANKE BeatrixChristine
  • Bogusława on September 6, 2021 6:30 AM said:
    Bardzo dziękuję za piękny artykuł 💖

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