My Spiritual Journey Through Time
Albert Einstein said, “The reason for time is that everything does not happen at once.”
My life experiences — as I look back at 88 — are quite different from most people I know or read about. My sense of time is the reason, which I discovered in the 1980s when my life was devoted to searching for my inner spiritual nature.
One of the people that influenced me in the 1980s was Gregge Tiffen, a metaphysician who advised on past lives, and present circumstances and actions. He learned his skills in Tibet, and was the best therapist I have ever met for every aspect of my life. I studied his guiding principles for decades, am still studying today, and discovering how these principles are so true in my life. There were many that he gave me, but the following two are most relevant to this story.
1. Spirituality: “Feel within and do not express to others, and do not pursue any earthly metaphysical nor spiritual centers. The Universe gives the deepest and most meaningful secrets of the cosmos.” I learned this the hard way. Previously when I spoke of spiritual experiences I was thrown in a mental institution. In searching spirituality in the 1980s, I was hurt in many ways by people in spiritual disciplines that were demanding, because I was very independent. I have always wanted community, but never wanted to be forced to follow.
2. Timing, Future and Goals: “Leave to the Universe to present future opportunities, at least for any time setting. Timing is out of your hands.” He explained further by saying I was one of the 7% in speed, and that it disturbed him greatly, as I was the first one in speed he had met that was a woman. “A woman does not have the opportunities in society today to work at that speed”, he said.
This quite unique sense of timing has been problematic in my life, primarily because I have been ahead of time in my businesses and in engineering design and technology — especially with being a woman. Add to that, a lack of patience didn’t help. Today I know that the Universe does answer everything for me, but never when I want it. I have a plaque above my desk, “Lord grant me patience, but please hurry.” I wrote a poem a while ago while on a walk: “This message came to me from a tree — Patience is the morality of Eternity.”
I did know about my speed. At seminars in which I spoke or led, I would humorously say, “I am a 20th century speed demon.” As a garment stitcher on piecework in the 1950s, I was one of the fastest, while maintaining quality — therefore making an excellent income, which supported self and education. This skill at speed enabled me to engineer and design a fast production system in my business, yet my high quality clothes hung with top designers in retail, while being the cheapest.
Unlike many others in business and after success, my speed pushed me quickly into the next business or life experience. I did not stay and grow, and didn’t care whether I made money or not, because I have always desired to experience many aspects of life: 3 different corporations, a series of engineering design grants, teaching students, protégés, structuring classes, and a great deal of volunteer work to help others.
Being ahead of time cost me acceptance and advancement of my innovations. One that just made it in 1957 was a chemise dress I designed that became the second best selling chemise in the world at that time.
My first business was approached too quickly in 1958, and I failed. But it did teach me how to do it better — failures teach. I succeeded with my next business in the 1960s for 20 years.
The next life experience was winning engineering design grants from National Science Foundation in late 1980s and 1990s. These were great for academia, but much too ahead for industry, especially for a woman.
However, it started me on the next experience of writing. My first two books, one on pattern design, the other on poetry, were self-published. They were good for my teaching and for my friends, but too ahead for the world. Finally in 2018 I published my 3rd book, “Past, Present, Future: 70 Years in Fashion…” A moderate success was enough for me.
I realized that fame and wealth were not desires, as I became more deeply spiritual. As I look back I am quite happy and satisfied with my life experiences and inner spiritual knowledge.
Every time I feel overwhelmed and ask the Universe for help, I get the message: “Everything in its time.”
Thank you Darshak Rana, for your Spiritual Saturday prompt for telling our story on spirituality.
