Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. (Albert Einstein)
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
… that we see manifested in the material plane is but a shadow of that in the spiritual plane. (5749-3)
First, – analyze self and self’s purposes. Know thy ideals, and know the difference between ideals and ideas. Few individuals have ideals that are based upon spiritual things, of which the mental and material ideals are merely the shadow. (2953-1)
Although we live in an illusory world of shadows, the shadows of this material reality don’t have to be ugly – in fact, they can be quite beautiful and even sacred. In a resource that I have posted titled “Reality Creation,” I referred readers to some writings by Mark Thurston that use Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as an analogy of how the light of spirit shining upon the forms of the mind produce the shadows that we perceive as physical reality.
This is all symbolic of course, and we must be careful not to take such things literally. Yet it is in the poetic that truth can often be sensed most immediately.
Mark also used a graphic image of a flashlight shining on a beautiful statue in a museum. The shadow cast on the nearby wall followed the form of the statue – blurred of course, but beautiful in its own way.
Presumably if the statue had been ugly and grotesque, the shadow would have followed that form. So it is in the material reality that we inhabit – there are all kinds of shadows. The patterns that we hold in our mind create our personal reality – mind is the builder.
Continuing with the theme of reality creation by application of ideals as an act of faith, we find another evocative symbolic representation of light and shadows in the readings:
Keep the heart SINGING! Keep the mind clear! Keep the face toward the LIGHT! the shadows then are BEHIND! (39-4)
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil. Keep thy face to the light and the shadows fall far behind. But when troubles and doubts and fears come, and ye trust alone in the deceitfulness of the material things - these may only bring disappointments and fears and heartaches. Walk in the light of God. (254-101)
Looking to the front ever, for as one looks towards the light the shadows fall behind and do not become stumbling blocks to individual development. Thoughts are things, and while the past that is passed may be used as stepping-stones to higher things, looking back causes one to stumble … (262-28)
Shadows pass. Only the light and truth lives on. (262-109)
The Cayce approach to dealing with the shadows of the material world is to "spiritualize" them. The light of a spiritual ideal shining through our thoughts and physical behaviors makes the activities of our daily lives sacred. Consciously turning our attention to the light of our spiritual ideal and living it mind and body makes for beautiful shadows in the midst of life. Putting faith into action through the application of our ideals spiritualizes the shadows of life, making for happiness and soul growth. Keep the faith!