It was not until our next trip to Colorado in the Summer of 2008 that I felt in the right space and peace of mind to continue to pursue my rodding journey. After a couple days of settling in, I took the opportunity to return to the Star Gazing Deck for a rodding engagement. Rather than try to recreate all of the elements of my meditations (e.g. Here I Am prayer, Wolf poem, and so on), I simply when through my normal prayerful meditation including asking for thanks and forgiveness.
When I was done, I opened myself to the possibility of communication and asked God if there was any communication that I needed to receive. I picked up the rods and observed as they swung to the “Yes” position – just as they had done during my first experience. After a few moments, I ‘relaxed’ the rods letting them pitch forward then returned them to their upright position. They again swung to the “Yes” position. I did this a few times until I was convinced that this was all that I needed to know or say.
I shared my experience with Malia. While inspired by the confirmation of the same positive response that I had received during my first experience, we wondered if that was all that I would ever receive.
A Call to BE
On the next morning, I returned again with rods in hand to the Star Gazing Deck. After following, my same meditative process, I picked up the rods, opened myself to the possibility of communication, and asked God if there was anything that I needed to receive. I was surprised to see that the rods did not move to the “Yes” position, instead the rods moved to the following positions:
Left Rod: B
Right Rod: E
I sat with awe and inspiration for what I saw in front of me. I wondered if this was just part of a longer communication. So, after a few moments, I ‘relaxed’ the rods letting them pitch forward, then returned them to their upright position. They again swung to the position
Left Rod: B
Right Rod: E
I asked for a final confirmation and again the rods returned to the same position:
Left Rod: B
Right Rod: E
To me there was no denying, the simple but powerful communication. I couldn’t wait to share my experience with Malia. I woke her and shared what had happened. Over the next couple days, I returned to the Star Gazing Deck each morning. Each day, I was greeted by the same message “BE”. And, each day I would share my experience with Malia and we would delve deeper into the calling, even the challenge, to just “BE”. We couldn’t wait for my parents to arrive at the cabin (from their 50th Anniversary trip to Europe), so we could share our experience with them. And, I must admit there was a part of me that wanted to see if Dad, through his own rodding practice, might be able to confirm the validity of my own.
To BE or Not to BE
After my parents arrived and settled in, we retreated to their bedroom and told them of my “BE” experiences with my rods. They were just as intrigued as we were. And, I asked my Dad if it would be possible for him to seek some validation of my experience.
In my Dad’s next rodding engagement, Dad felt a very strong sensation in his hands (which from previous sessions he has come to associate with some kind of focused spiritual energy). He had a sense that, instead of continuing with his usual mantra/session, he was to be open and surrender to a possibility that the rods may move on their own accord (with no influence from him other than he is part of All Energy) relative to my “BE” rodding experience.
Dad watched as both rods spontaneously rotated in sync 7 times and stopped pointing toward the blessed Infant Jesus of Prague candle that has become part of his rodding sessions. After rotating 7 more times, each rod again stopped pointing toward that figure. Again rotating in sync 7 times, both rods stopped pointing for awhile toward where I was in the cabin before returning to point toward that figure.
Q. Are these movements in some way sending spiritually energy, however called or characterized, in Jack’s direction?
R. Yes.
When the right rod then pointed toward me in the cabin and the left rod toward Dad, he again asked:
Q. Is this in some way sending spiritually energy, however called or characterized, in Jack’s direction?
R. Yes.
Spontaneously the right rod proceeded to spell:
W I L L I A M B E W I T H J A C K
Q. Is such energy sourced from Grandma’s (my maternal great-grandmother) spirit?
R. No.
Q. From Baby William’s spirit?
R. No.
Q. From the Infant Jesus of Prague?
R. No.
Q. From the All of All?
R. Yes.
Q. Is Jack’s rodding experience relating to “BE” spiritually sound and valid?
R. Yes.
Q. Is this experience accurately understood by Jack?
R. Yes.
Q. Is there any negative energy or spirit, however called or characterized, associated in any way or to any extent with Jack’s rodding journey experiences?
R. No.
Q. Is it appropriate for me to communicate all this to Jack?
R. Yes.
Q. Is there anything more for me to be-say-do in this session relating to this matter?
R. No.
That evening, as would become our nightly ritual, we returned to my parents’ bedroom to share our experiences. We marveled over the independent confirmation of my ‘BE’ experience. And, we noted how the directive for ‘WILLIAM BE WITH JACK’ was yet another inspiring way to consider the term ‘BE’. We also noted, for what it is worth, that my spellings were ‘across’ the two rods, while Dad’s spellings had always come from one or the other.
OK, I’m BEing Already
The next morning, I received another set of ‘BE’ spelling. But, I did become more aware that as the rods move to the now familiar position, they might over or under swing. Then, to my amazement, I could watch as they, with what I can only describe as spiritual energy, would slowly correct their position.
Nevertheless, as inspiring as the message was, I must admit that I was beginning to wonder if that is the only message that I would ever need or receive. But, in some sense, it reinforced the simple, but powerful message to BE. It could mean so many things – BE who I was intended to be. BE all that I can. But, there was almost a bit of frustration – that might BE all.
Encouragingly, I got a slightly different message during my next rodding engagement. Based on a suggestion from Dad, I began holding the rods up during my initial meditation (rather than waiting until I finished my prayers). As I did so, the rods moved to the BE position. Then, to my surprise the right rod rotated to point directly at me. After considering this for a moment, I realized that this could be interpreted as a rudimentary spelling of ‘BE ME’. Wanting to make sure of my understanding, I recalled that Dad said that he, from time to time, has received confirmation by the rods performing the same movement on matters of particular importance. So, following his lead, I asked if my understand was valid and the rods repeated the same “BE ME” motion 3 times.
All in the Family
After the ‘BE ME’ rodding experience, the next rod movement that I discerned was the left rod moving to the BE position. Then, the right rod moved first to pointing at me, then to other areas of the arc. At first, I was confused by the possible meaning. I thought that perhaps it was the beginning of a different spelling. But, then I considered that the rod was, in fact, pointing over my shoulder. The rods, as best as I could tell, stopped at what I interpreted to be the bed in which Malia was still sleeping, then to the loft area where my children were sleeping, and finally to my parents bedroom where I assumed they were.
Was it possibly a message for me to BE with the rest of the family? To BE the best I could be for my family? For them to be the best that they can BE individually? I must admit that my skills in the rodding practice, my ability to ask the right clarifying questions, and interpret the results were limited. But, I at least confirmed that my general understanding was valid through 3 repeats of the exact same motion.
That very same morning, Dad again had the strong feeling of spiritual energy in his hands. So, he went to the Garden to re-confirm the authenticity of my BE rodding experience. As he did so, he had an accompanying sense to continue exploring, as he had in prior sessions, the place and role of “family” in the whole of everything, including spiritual rodding practice. (As he was meditatively and repetitively reciting at the outset of his engagement, BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM, a particular pair of birds that Malia had been noticing at times in and around the Garden perched on the fence for awhile. We had come to view these birds as mates and wondered whether the timing of their appearance together had any representational significance.) In this context, Dad asked:
Q. Is it OK for me to test again the authenticity of Jack’s simultaneous two-letter spelling experiences?
R. Yes.
Q. To do so, is it OK to request that the rods move in a manner I will understand as confirming the authenticity of Jack’s simultaneous two-letter spelling experiences?
R. Yes
In response to Dad’s request that the rods so move, and after both rods rotated in sync 7 times, the left rod stopped at B and the right rod at E (i.e., a simultaneous two-rod/two-letter spelling of “BE”). As previously mentioned, this was significant, because Dad had not had such two-handed spelling experience. So far, he has had only this one such experience. Considering the authenticity of my BE rodding experience to be a significant matter of importance, he asked and received a second and third confirmation. Then, Dad continued:
Q. Is it OK in this engagement to test the soundness and validity of the spiritual thesis I am currently exploring that “family” is in reality important in the all of everything: the universe, the spirituality of the universe, and life on this planet, including human life?
R. Yes.
Without further request, both rods rotated in sync 7 times and in sequence stopped, moved, and pointed in parallel toward: Where Mom was in the cabin; next Baby William’s figure in the Garden; then Grandma’s designated position in the Garden; next Dad; and then twice where Malia and I were in the cabin.
Still without additional request, both rods proceeded to rotate in sync 7 times and, astoundingly, sequentially moved and stopped with simultaneous two-rod/two-letter spelling:
Left Rod Right Rod
B E
F A
M I
L Y
Both rods rotated in sync seven more times and stopped pointing parallel in the Garden’s spiritual position for the rods.
Q. Is family, essentially as humans understand this term, in reality important in the physical universe?
R. Yes.
Q. On this planet?
R. Yes.
Q. In human relationships?
R. Yes.
Q. Is family, in some way, in reality important in the spirituality of the universe?
R. Yes.
Q. Is there a direct relation and connection, in some way, between families in the human and spiritual domains?
R. Yes.
Q. May I further pursue these matters over human time and space?
R. Yes.
Needless to say, when Dad, Mom, Malia, and I huddled together that evening, we were astounded by our individual rodding experiences – each of their own accord and even more so in their harmonic nature. The confirmation of our ‘BE FAMILY’ messages through independent sessions, albeit my rodding practice a little less sophisticated at this point in my journey. There was a great sense of love and connection for the calling to BE family. And, of course, our conversation turned to how and when it might be appropriate to share with the rest of the Barber family.
The Nature of BEing
With the clarity that came from our discussions about “BE FAMILY” from the previous evening, I headed out to my rodding engagement the next morning. This time, I was much clearer about the movements of the rods that I observed. Consistent with my previous experience, the rods first spelled ‘BE’. The right rod then pointed to me and subsequently to Malia, my kids, and my parents. For me, it was an affirmation that my previous rodding experience was a call to ‘BE Family.’
As I continued my meditations, I asked for blessings for the day. As it so happened, we were to take a hike that day to the beautiful waterfall on the Anthracite Mountain range, visible as you travel over Ohio Pass. At which point, the right rod rotated to a position of roughly 11 o’clock. At first, I was concerned that this position (in conjunction with the left rod still pointed in the B position) resembled the ‘No’ sign. Maybe, it was a warning that we should not go on the hike.
Then, I realize that the right rod pointed in the distance to the left of Carbon Mountain that lay in front of me. In fact, it was pointed in the exact direction of the waterfall. So, I then believed it might a blessing for our trip. Or, perhaps, it was a more general message to BE with Nature. To be sure, I asked for a confirmation of my understanding of the signs as a calling to BE with Nature. The rods repeated the same motion, two more times.
So, we went on our hike to the waterfall and it was a wonderful experience. And, that evening, we were able to not only share about our hiking adventure, but the ‘Be with Nature’ message that I had discerned from my rodding engagement.
Harmonic Rods
The morning of our last day, I went to the Star Gazing Deck for what I knew would be my last rodding engagement of the trip. After my initial prayers, the rods moved to the B Waterfall (Nature) position. I thanked God for our hike and our wonderful trip in general.
I asked if there was any other communication. The left rod moved to the B position. The right rod moved to, what I first believed to be in the direction of my parents’ room. But, I realized that Dad was about to engage his rods in Garden, so I wondered if that was a sign that I should join him since we had previously discussed and wondered whether there would ever be a need for us to have a rodding engagement together.
So, I asked for confirmation. Was this a sign for me to join Dad in the Garden for a shared rodding experience? For the first time, I received ‘No’. To confirm my understanding, I asked if I should just BE with my parents. The rods repeated the B – Parents two more times. And, I noted that the right rod moved in such a way as to not pass through the ‘No’ sign. So, the message was clear to me. It was just important to be with my parents. I finished my rodding session and went down to tell Dad about my experience.
I AM
That evening (which was our last for our Summer trip), we gathered for our final sharing about our rodding experiences. I told them of my engagement that morning which included both the affirmations of the ‘Be with Nature’ and ‘Be with Family’ messages as well as the ‘no’ need for Dad and I to rod together.
Dad then shared about his morning engagement. During the session, he inquired about my BE-with-Nature rodding experience, he confirmed through his rods the authenticity of, and the validity of my understanding of, that experience. Dad also confirmed that for now it is not appropriate for us to do co-rodding engagements.
As usual, he ended this session with his closing request that the rods move on their own accord (without any influence from him other than that he is part of All Energy). The rods moved and stopped, as frequently they do, with the left rod pointing toward Baby William’s figure and the right toward Grandma’s designated position in the Garden. Spontaneously, Baby William’s rod rotated 7 times and then spelled:
I L O V E [rotated 7 more times] I A M
During the LOVE part of this spelling, he assumed that YOU would be the next word as it had been in a number of prior spellings from Baby William’s spirit. He was surprised by the rod rotating after spelling LOVE, which he had not seen previously. He was inspiringly astonished as the rod proceeded to spell I AM.
Unsolicited in any way, Grandma’s rod likewise rotated 7 times and spelled:
I L O V E [rotated 7 more times] I A M
He remember reverently communicating, “I do too,” and thinking how fitting this is for a truly special time when we, collectively, are privileged and blessed to BE-gin unfolding, with each other and our spiritual partners, harmonic individualized rodding practices.
As we considered the meaning of the “I LOVE I AM” message, it occurred to us that there were several possible interpretations.
1. Similar to the ‘I think therefore I am” saying, it could just be a statement that because of the ability to love, we know that we exist.
2. Since “I AM” is a form of Being, it could just be a statement: “I love that I am” as a simple statement of wonderful it is to live/exist.
3. Or, since “I AM” is sometimes associated with God, it could be a statement: “I love IAM” as a way of professing one’s reverence for God and the ‘All of All’ of it.
Each interpretation is rich in its own way. And, they are each valid on their own accord. So, perhaps, they were all intended. Regardless, we found ‘I LOVE I AM’ to be a fitting end to this fantastic and awe-inspiring part of our rodding journey.