66. Bargaining

©2001 Athene Bitting All Rights Reserved

LXVI

Striking Bargains, Astral Contracts,

& Energy Exchange

Lecture based Questions:

1. Draw or describe a reminder or symbol of one of your helpers.

Think of a teacher, mentor, or an angel who has guided you through some difficult time. Now would be a good moment to meditate on this helper.

2. What is the Universal Law of Correspondence?

Every emotional condition manifests in our physical experience with a directly correlating condition. For example, conscious emotions express themselves in how we interact with people and how our environment supports our feelings. In contrast, our subconscious emotions and our deeply set beliefs express themselves in how people interact with us and how our environment generates conditions to support our beliefs.

Let us examine the quote from Wallace D. Wattles’ book The Science of Getting Rich:

There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made,

and which, in its original state,

permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

Mr. Wattles states the principle very clearly. All thoughts and feelings give rise to physical experience. The creative force expresses our beliefs, thoughts, jokes, and feelings. We can call this force Lakshmi, the generator of worldly blessings. We can call this stuff energy, for it is neither a particle nor a wave. It arranges particles and waves and is itself arranged by intention. Your intention doesn’t have to be conscious to do its work. Any thought form will create the impulse to move it.

Remember that the Mental, Emotional, and Physical dimensions are negative in nature—meaning that they tend to follow the law of entropy. Decomposition, destruction, and the territorial mind are natural to these realms. Negative feelings and thoughts generate negative physical experiences. These are specific to each type of thought and feeling. The challenge of the game of life is to use these negative physical moments as clues to our enlightenment. The problem at hand indicates which discipline is to be addressed.

3. What is Bargaining?

In our limited belief systems, we create boundaries that we can feel comfortable in. So we say things to ourselves such as: “After this happens, then that will happen.” So we choose our deaths, our successes, and our failures in this manner. Each bargain is based on the assumption that there is only one option. Each option is deeply rooted in our beliefs in destiny, our limited logic, social indoctrination, and character.

There is another problem to bargaining. We can use it as an excuse for non-achievement. For instance, pretend you made the bargain: “After I get my life in order, then I can finish my great American novel and achieve success as a writer.” Here you can see that the probability of the first part of the bargain is fraught with possibilities for sabotage. If that is the only option you allow yourself, then you have a perfect excuse for non-accomplishment.

The fallacy in bargaining lies in that the Divine Plan is missing. Allowing beautiful surprises and incredible good luck to enter life is much better than tightly controlled failure.

4. What is an Astral Contract?

Sometimes we feel guilty or unfinished when it comes to a person or a task. Then we might make a statement such as: “I don’t deserve to be happy.” or “D and I are joined by destiny.” or “I want as many chances as it takes to get this thing right.” The universe always accommodates us. Thus we will fulfill the Astral Contracts we have made in vows or in exclamations. Eventually, the time comes when we realize that we don’t have to be married to the same person for 500 lifetimes, or stuck doing the same old thing over and over again.

5. What occurs on the Mental, Astral, and Etheric levels with bargains and contracts? Are these relationships necessary?

They are not necessary, but they are valuable learning experiences nonetheless. We are free to end these obligations at any time.

Whenever we have strong emotional ties to somebody or some other object, it is natural to connect with an Etheric cable. This is why loss can be such a trauma to the body. When the cable is broken, the Etheric body suffers a wounding. This is neither good nor bad. It depends on the preferences of the individual as to whether one should sever these types of ties frequently and feel more detached.

The Astral Body bears these promises or contracts as emblems on the clothing and in archetypal though forms floating in the aura. Because Will Force is usually involved in Astral Contracts, there is a stiffness in the energy of the jaw area.

6. What is the universal law of Energy Exchange?

You could say that it is the original quid pro quo—something for something. When you desire to gain something, you sacrifice or pay in work, goods, or money to acquire it. This might sound inane, but it has a deep resonance in your life. What you pay for is what you appreciate or value. What you appreciate is what you maintain in your life.

The Astral World is full of thought forms and archetypes that give manifestation to physical experiences, possessions, and relationships. The archetypes that we appreciate are the ones that gain momentum and strength. The archetypes that we take for granted are the ones that disintegrate and disappear from our lives.

So, the exchange of energy is programmed in our natures to teach us value and responsibility. What we exchange energy for (in the forms of work, goods, or money) is what we value. What we value is what we reinforce on the Astral Level. What we put energy into is what increases.

7. Why is it necessary for permanent transformation?

Specifically in the realm of knowledge, the exchange of energy is necessary for the student to retain the information and value it. Truth transforms us. However, it cannot touch us unless we ask for it. The exchange of energy signifies that the student is inviting Truth to do its transforming work.

8. Do novenas, sacrifices, and bargains fall under Energy Exchange?

Novenas and sacrifices do, as they are the investment of work or goods or money in exchange for a request.

Bargains do not. They are Astral Contracts—vows or declarations of a person who feels that there are no options.

9. Can neuroses and tribal myths be involved in these relationships?

Yes, they can be certainly be intertwined in bargains. A bargain is actually an expression of a neurosis.

10. What is the best path to avoid making unnecessary tangles?

Sever the cables that might attach to you each day. A good thing to say for this is:

I SEVER, I SEVER, I SEVER ALL TWILIGHT TIES.

To break a contract made under neurotic conditions, you can say:

ALL BAD BARGAINS ARE NOW NULL AND VOID.

11. How does Active Faith fulfill the law of Energy Exchange?

In the Astral and Mental dimensions, Faith is solid, powerful, and awesome in all respects. It is like dynamite. This physical dimension is actually fabricated from Faith. Faith arranges all the atoms in our universe and choreographs the order of everything.

So you see, the most powerful influence in this world is a potent energy. When you focus that power into your target of attention, miracles can happen. There is a profound movement of energy that can be called an Energy Exchange.

7. Meditation Exercise: Doors of Transition

• Imagine a picture of an open door.

• What general emotion do you feel when you look at this picture?

• Describe the room as you are standing in it. What is the function of the room, what is behind you, what is to the right of you, what is to the left of you? What specific emotion do you feel about this room?

• What is behind the door that you are facing? What specific emotion do you feel about passing through the door? How do you feel about what is on the other side?

• Say, “I embrace everything that is good for me. I discard everything that is bad for me.”

❂

I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Direct your attention to your most immediate goal. What conditions have you artificially created against its manifestation? The Divine Mind has not intended for you to place your ideals behind bars or in glass cages. You are meant to have it all, enjoy it all, and bless everything around you with your success.

The best part of taking incarnation in the physical life is the vast potential for opportunity in growth, strength, and controlled learning. The very boundaries set against us are our best tools for leaping high into the realms of immortal victory and wisdom. The illusions of society create for us the plans for our escape from them. Their pressures give us the clues for our directions. The physical necessities of food, sleep, medicine, comfort, and companionship give us the structure by which enlightenment can be reached.

You have the inkling already that our paths lie in the direction of our noses. It is thus so simple. We already possess the compass to fulfillment, but we only require the steps to get us there.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s lesson. There can be no manifestation without exchange of energy—specifically, the energy expended in active faith. This does not mean working out a physical activity in exchange for the object of desire. On the contrary, the equation is much more simple—so simple, in fact, that many have trouble to believe it. Active faith means to act as though the ideal has already occurred. The formula goes thusly:

1) Give thanks to God, or the Divine Creator, that this blessing has manifested for you. In other words, give thanks in advance.

2) Allow all the chakras to relax and flow in harmony with the new blessing.

3) Repeatedly visualize and emotionally create the feelings of safety, satisfaction, and happiness that occur when this ideal manifests in your life. This convinces the Astral Body that the manifestation has occurred. When the Astral Body believes in the ideal, it starts the chain of events for physical incidence.

4) Guard against over-joy, mania, or ultra-high emotions. These create a negative backlash such as attack, depression, or carelessness.

5) Monitor yourself for all feelings of resistance, fear, worry, or prejudice in regard to your ideal. Whenever one of these comes up, repeat steps 1 through 4.

6) Every day, affirm your profound belief in this blessing by a physical activity that contributes to the success of your goal. No matter how small this contribution may seem, such as writing a single line of words, taking a small walk, or, placing a coin in a prosperity bowl, it accumulates much greater energy because of your deliberate intention and combined action.

Dear God,

Thank you that I am already in my perfect new job and getting my fabulous income!

Thank you, that I am enjoying my new improved health and body!

Thank you, for my family’s new improved home and environment!

Thank you, for our new improved lifestyle!

Thank you, for my new improved schedule!

Thank you for my new improved harmonious relationships!

Under Grace, in God’s perfect ways!