Etymologically, the word prosperity (from the Latin pro =towards in favor, and from the Indo-European root spe = to expand) means "that which expands favorably"; on the other hand, the word adversity (from the Latin ad = towards versus = against) means "that which advances against or unfavorably".
In occult and esoteric teaching it is said that prosperity and adversity are the opposites of the same energy and what changes in it is the direction it takes with respect to us or our desires. Like everything else in the universe, the energy of prosperity is cyclical and therefore changing; in other words, there is no such thing as permanent prosperity or permanent adversity.
Moreover, this energy constitutes one of the main laws that regulate the functioning of the universe and influences all of us who live in it; and no matter how much we want or try, we cannot elude a universal law, we can only learn to manage it intelligently, and the conscious initiates learn to manage their lives in such a way that the energy of prosperity always produces benefits for them, even when it is against them.
And you may ask, isn't this a contradiction?
No, it is not. It is simply that adversity is not always bad, harmful or unfavorable, just as prosperity is not always good, beneficial or favorable. It all depends on how we learn to correctly understand and manage this universal energy, for it all comes down to periods of activity and rest, or expansion and contraction.
To think that adversity is bad in itself is a common error among the uninitiated or the unconsciously initiated, for it would be tantamount to saying that night is bad and day is good. For example, for the human organism, day and sunlight are favorable for activity and unfavorable for rest, while night and moonlight are favorable for rest and unfavorable for activity. But we also have the example of animal organisms such as the bat, the raccoon, the Iberian lynx, the Andean night monkey or the common fox; they usually have highly developed senses of hearing and smell and their vision is adapted to darkness.
It is therefore a matter of learning and accepting that in our life - be it in its material, emotional, intellectual or spiritual aspect - everything has a right time, a real present that we must know how to identify, so as not to place ourselves out of time and stagnate in a past that will not return or in a future that will not exist, as Ecclesiastes says:
Everything has its time and everything under heaven has its hour.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to destroy, and a time to build;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to break, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The secret of prosperity lies in knowing how to correctly identify in what time we are and what advantages we can and should take from that time before it changes its state; there are always those who believe that their good fortune or their good streak will remain unalterable forever, those are the ones who usually fail in life.
A good merchant, for example, knows that there are products that have their time and do not exhibit them outside that time and that there are businesses that prosper in one season and stagnate in another, so they diversify their business so that when some stagnate others prosper and vice versa, therefore, for them prosperity is continuous. It makes no sense to sell Christmas decorations in February or set up an ice cream parlor on a snowy mountain in sub-zero temperatures, that is not in tune with the immediate needs of the public.
Another good example is that of a hiker or traveler who takes care to know the weather conditions he will face in the place he is going to according to the time or season of the year, and prepares himself with the proper equipment and resources to make the most of his stay; otherwise, venturing out unprepared can mean that if an unexpected change occurs, what could have been a pleasant diversion can turn into a bitter experience.
Thriving personal relationships
I have known couples who have married and their marriage has not even lasted a month, others a few months or a few years and very few have stayed together until death has separated them, and I am not referring to the fact that the latter have always lived happily and without problems between them; No, but a couple relationship is usually stable and successful if both partners have the desire, but also the willingness to reach the same goal and to adapt to the changing circumstances they must face daily to achieve it, because stable couples have learned to overcome the ups and downs of life, to give up the "I" for the "we" or the "mine" for "ours", to reach agreements, to enjoy together the good times, to endure together the hard times and to fight side by side as if they were one person to overcome them; and this can only be achieved when each one of them decides to give the other more than what he/she receives.
Thus, success and prosperity are on the side of those people who have learned that nothing in life remains stable and secure, so they know how to be prepared for the changing circumstances of life and adapt to them, because they have become aware that in the end all adversity and prosperity will pass.
Because ultimately, prosperity and adversity -material, sentimental, intellectual or spiritual- are in reality the result of the adequate or inadequate management of life and its circumstances; and this fortunate or unfortunate management is given by our knowledge or ignorance of the functioning of the laws of nature.
The Universal Retribution Act
The Rosicrucian initiates call it the Law of Amra, in Judaism it is known as the Law of Maaser, in primitive Christianity it is called the Law of the Tithe, in the initiatory Kábala it is designated as the Law of Universal Retribution, and its principle is to Give in order to Receive.
The Melkizedek Tithe
Tithing is an ancient practice that has been practised by initiates and adepts since time immemorial as a means of financially supporting the work of order of Melkizedek; however, with the passage of time, the true value and purpose of this practice has been greatly distorted and even discredited.
I have seen initiates and unconscious adepts prosper enormously with this practice and then abandon it in the grip of greed and ostentation, so I recommend that you do not practice it if you do not really understand it consciously, for there is nothing more terribly karmic than to defraud this Law.
Its principle is very simple: an initiate who is not engaged in priestly and instructional work must contribute 10% of his net income to his instructor, so that he can devote himself to his work without having to spend his time on material needs.
Tradition assures us that this initiate will be favored with a substantial increase in his income that will make him a very prosperous person, for the instructor will bless his contribution, and that blessing produces a multiplier effect of such prosperity, especially when the traditionally ordained legitimate priest of the Order of Melkizedek offers him the consecrated ceremonial bread and wine.
Conscious initiates recognize that we are indebted to nature not only for the gifts we receive from her, which allow us to have great joy and prosperity in life, but we also know that the more we give back to her the more she will give to us, and that the way to realize that return is through two ethical attitudes, which are voluntary service and selfless tithing.
Then Melkizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine; and he blessed him, saying, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abram gave him a tithe of all.
Genesis 14:18-20.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house; and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a great blessing.
Malachi 3:10.
The principle of Giving to Receive
While it is true that the Tithe is a very important aspect in the life of a conscious initiate who wishes to remain in prosperity and abundance, its practice is not enough to achieve this goal, as it is necessary to accompany it with a practice that is an active part of the universal Law of Retribution called the principle of Giving in order to Receive.
One of the most popular texts of recent times -in fact it became a great Best Seller - and that I consider a true initiation treatise is the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" written by Robert T. Kiyosaky with the collaboration of Sharon L. Lechter.
I have met many people who have praised this book, including many of my disciples; but like all initiatory books, I have not been able to get anyone to tell me the great secret it contains. This happens because most people are fascinated by the story, which is really wonderful and stimulating; others, really few, dare to get out of their comfort zone and put into practice what the characters did to achieve financial freedom, but so far none of those who have told me their impressions about the book, have told me about the initiatory secret it hides.
I want to recommend that if you read that book and did not discover the secret of prosperity, then go to the last chapters of the book and look in chapter 9 for section number 10 entitled "Teach and You Shall Receive":
They are only 8 paragraphs masterfully written in only two pages, there you will find the real key to achieve prosperity; notice well that the author begins the third paragraph with these words "If I could leave you with just one idea, it would be that idea." The author is clearly saying that if I could leave you with just one idea that sums up the secret of prosperity, it is precisely everything he is expressing in that paragraph number 10.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of unconscious initiates are unaware that an initiatory text must be read and reread many times until the mind opens to what is hidden to the uninitiated.
In our next article I will address the topic: The Great Initiates.
Prof. Publio S. Colmenares B.