Editor's Note: The first part of this article about blessing Donald Trump was published on Pierre Pradervand's blog in November 2018, but since we are facing another term of a Donald Trump presidency, we are choosing to publish it on InnerSelf.com at this time. Its message is, once again, timely.
In This Article:
- Why is it important to bless political leaders, even those you oppose?
- How do blessings break barriers of hate and rejection?
- Can love and forgiveness foster personal and societal healing?
- What spiritual practices can help you bless leaders authentically?
- How can blessing create unity in a divided world?
Why It's Important to Love and Bless Donald Trump
by Pierre Pradervand.
“Pierre, you must be losing your mind!”
“Hey, man, you are going soft in the head!”
“What, you expect me to not only put up with, or stop hating, but LOVE the present tenant of the White House?”
No, in fact I don’t expect anything from anyone (when I am in a sane state of mind). I just wish to share an experience.
Since Donald Trump became president in 2017, his decisions and behavior have shocked and deeply alienated probably a majority of US citizens, certainly most of his allies abroad, and many others. These feelings of rejection, even hatred, are like a huge wall of cement which makes it very difficult for him to change his stance.
Blessings, on the other hand, are like drills that pierce the cement wall so that some fresh air (metaphorically speaking) and love may reach him – for that is the only things that will enable Mr. Trump to change his positions.
And I wish to make it clear that politically, I am at the antipode of everything he stands for and expresses. But that is not the point.
Spirituality and blessing operate on a completely different level. They do not analyze a human situation, but tune in to the divine, non-material plane of existence where all is already harmony, perfection and unconditional love.
So, I bless Donald Trump every day – alongside Mr. Putin, President Assad of Syria (considered by many the worst criminal of the 21st century) and President Kim of North Korea. And I can really say I feel authentic love for Donald Trump.
And if the old Aramaic version of the second commandment is true (« Love your neighbor who IS yourself ») could it even be otherwise? On the level of a non-dual spirituality, you are me and I am you because we are simply both expressions of infinite Love in action, waves on the same ocean.
However, this kind of blessing is on a level of deep, deep listening and also FEELING. A blessing that is not felt in the heart has absolutely no healing impact. It just remains words – as so many so-called « prayers » in most religious practices around the world.
When George Bush Jr. was governor of Texas, putting to death more people than any other president in US History, (although his successor did far, far « better ») it took me three years to bless him with total sincerity and feeling.
So, just persevere. As the US metaphysician of the 19th century, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote « A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it.»
Persevere. Your success is CERTAIN.
Comments:
The following are comments from the original blog on the gentleartofblessing.org website as they may help us better understand Pierre's message as seen through other people's eyes (and heart).
Pierre is so correct about this. Just look at what the opposite does. The more we vilify or hate “the other side” the stronger their conviction and greater their resistance to hear us. The harder someone pushes against me the harder I will push back. We need not to stoop to the easy emotions of anger and hate but rise up and love, listen, and live by example. I can say this, see this, but I struggle every day to do this.
-- Paul F.
Thank you for this strong reminder that blessing our most despised leaders is a necessary and do-able thing with healing for US. We can do it and it is on another plane of divine Love.
-- TM
Pierre’s words are like a tonic water urgently needed for the current “indigestion” suffered by the current Politicians, not only the USA, but so many other nations as well! What I hear in Pierre’s wisdom is a truth all humanity must understand. The relationship between Good and Evil (as it is taught by the great ancient traditions such as the Christianity of the Essenes and the I CHING ) is this……
“Evil fights Good and Evil fights Evil.
Good curbs Evil while advancing Good.”
Put another way, there is no such thing as “Good vs Evil”, there is only “Evil vs Evil”.
-- Ed S.
“Bless them who curse you; do good to them who despitefully use you… “. And “Perfect love casts out fear” plus “I believe; help thou my unbelief”. When grappling with injustice there are many examples of love covering a multitude of sin. With blessing and trusting (God, The Universe, Great Spirit, Higher Self) things do go in a better direction. Thank you for sharing and loving even against your own conviction. When caring for patients and seeing them as me, it was a revelation of our one humanity and in unity the oneness of all life and existence. Beautiful blessings on you!”
-- Susan
* * * * *
A Blessing for Political Leaders
(excerpted from the book 365 Blessings to Heal Myself and the World.)
Hatsat Abiola, a Nigerian activist, says to us:
“Guard your light and protect it. Move it forward into the world and be fully confident that if we connect light to light to light, and join the lights together of the one billion young people in our world today, we will be enough to set our whole planet aglow.”
Blessing is a way of joining our lights together. I personally believe that the number needed to move the world is much smaller – maybe a few million really committed spiritual thinkers. So today, our blessings will be for those who still believe themselves to be the world movers, the political leaders of the world.
We bless our leaders that wisdom rather than narrow interests or fear may guide their decisions.
We bless them in their ability to move beyond the narrow confines of nation, class, creed, race or narrow financial or economic concerns.
We bless them in their desire to put the service of mankind and their nations before their thirst for prestige or power. We bless them in their ability to put the care of Mother Earth and the environment before short-term planning and purely economic motives.
We bless them in their authentic compassion that they may be sensitive to the needs of the downtrodden and the marginalized.
We bless them that, despite all the judgments, the prejudices concerning them with which we too often hold them captives, they may be sensitive to the winds of grace which blow freely for all those who hoist their sails.
And finally, we bless ourselves in our ability to hold on to their divine image that too often remains cloistered in their hearts that it may find expression in political courage, deep caring for the outcasts of society and decisive action for the reconciliation of man and nature.
PS: To help you make this blessing more real, may I suggest that you think of three politicians who are your favorite scapegoats and that you visualize and bless them in three qualities they express. And even if you can only think of a single quality, congratulations, that is a good start.
© Pierre Pradervand. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Book by this Author:
The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment
The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment: A Guide to Discovering Your Personal Path
by Pierre Pradervand.
For more info and/or to order this book, For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as an Audiobook and as a Kindle edition.
About The Author
Pierre Pradervand, who passed on July 26, 2024, is the author of The Gentle Art of Blessing, 365 Blessings to heal myself and the World, The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment, and Messages of Life from Death Row. He worked, travelled and lived in over 40 countries on five continents, and was leading workshops on personal and spiritual development, including the art of blessing for many years, with remarkable responses and transformational results.
For over 30 years Pierre practiced blessing as a tool for healing the heart, mind, body and soul. He often reminded us that raising world consciousness was the number one priority to heal the planet, and that our most important assignment while on earth was to learn to love more.
Visit his website at GentleArtOfBlessing.org and PierrePradervand.com
Article Recap:
Blessing political leaders, even those we struggle to accept, is a transformative practice rooted in love and forgiveness. By blessing leaders like Donald Trump, we align with a higher spiritual purpose, breaking barriers of hate and fostering collective healing. Blessings provide an opportunity to connect with the divine, promoting understanding and unity. This practice, grounded in compassion, invites us to reflect on our shared humanity and embrace positive change.
#BlessingLeaders #ForgivenessPractice #HealingThroughLove #SpiritualTransformation #UnityInDiversity