The Path of Destiny or Line of Fate?

This brief essay is dedicated to Edna Miriam Lister who embodied our collective destiny of awakening to the fact that "We have the mind of Christ." – 1 Corinthians 2:16.

Edna Lister frequently referred to the soul's path of destiny as contrasted with the line of fate, or the fate line. Fate is defined as "the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power; the course of someone's life, or the outcome of a situation for someone or something, seen as outside their control."

Confusing the subject greatly, the ancient Greek, Latin and modern definitions equate the meaning of fate and destiny as being virtually the same: Destiny is defined as "the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future; the hidden power believed to control future events; fate." Thus, we must dig deeper to uncover the relationship and difference between fate and destiny.


“Fate is what happens when you do nothing, for doing nothing is a choice.”


According to Hesiod's Theogony 901, "Next he [Zeus] married bright Themis who bare the Horae (Hours), and Eunomia (Order), Dike (Justice), and blooming Eirene (Peace), who mind the works of mortal men, and the Moerae (Fates) to whom wise Zeus gave the greatest honour, Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos who give mortal men evil and good to have."

Thus, to the ancient Greeks the Fates were three sister goddesses, the Moerai (Μοιραι, meaning fate, shares or allotted portions), named Clotho (Κλωθώ), Lachesis (Λάχεσις), and Atropos (Ἄτροπος), who presided over the birth, life, and death of men. Their parents were Zeus, king of the gods, and Themis, the goddess of divine law and order, who was Zeus' first counsellor.

Each of the Fates is named according to her role or function. Clotho is the "the spinner," who spun the thread of life. Lachesis, "the apportioner of lots," measured it. Atropos, "she who cannot be turned," cut the thread of life, ending it. The Moirai were described as severe, inflexible and stern. Plato, in the Republic, recounts that the Moirai sing in unison with the Sirens whose enchanting music led sailors to death by shipwreck. Lachesis sings the things that were, Clotho the things that are, and Atropos the things that are to be.

Further research leads to a similarity in function between the Moirai and the Horai (Ὡραι, Seasons), the three goddesses of the natural portions of time, who also guarded the gates of heaven and rallied the stars and heavenly constellations at heaven's need. Eunomia (Ευνομια) was the goddess of good order (eunomos) and lawful conduct, associated with the internal stability of the state, including the enactment of good laws and the maintenance of civil order. Dike (Δικη) was the goddess of justice, fair judgments and the rights established by custom and law. Dike was identified with dikaiosyne (δικαιοσύνη, righteousness). Eirene (Ειρηνη, Irene) was the goddess of peace (eirênê).


“All souls are destined to ascend to God, to return to their Source.”


So we find that the main similarity between the Fates and the so-called Seasons is one of periods of time. In the life of man, the Fates mark the period between birth (emergence) and adulthood (maturity), and the decline into physical death. The Seasons by contrast, mark the duration of life-cycles in a culture or civilization. All cultures arise and knit themselves together according to a set of shared values, a standard of right conduct, those aspects of life deemed best or most fitting.

The life of one man, ruled by the Fates, represents the short-term in relation to cosmic or universal time, which we call eternity. Most striking is the fact that the ancients regarded the Seasons, (all of which relate to one season, spring) as the guardians of the gates of heaven, and equated them with soul virtues, or powers — law and order, justice and righteousness.

However, the heart of the matter is this: The acts of the soul (of a man or woman in the singular), which include his/her thoughts, words and deeds, dictate the fate of the soul in the short term, or within one life. Fate is singular, shaped to fit one soul at a time, individually. You create the measure of your fate by the sum of your actions, whether profit or loss. Fate is what happens when you do nothing consciously toward attaining your destiny, which is this:

All souls are destined to ascend in consciousness to God, to return to the Source from which they came. Ascension is the universal destiny of all souls. Fate can take you no further than the first three Degrees of Ascension, the Neophyte the Disciple, and the Adept. The Path of Destiny includes these and the higher four Degrees of the Mystic, Master, Priest and Christos.

Destiny is your potential when you make the right choices. The right choices include but are not limited to surrender of self in favor of soul, conquering self, obedience to all laws, selflessness, forgiveness, compassion, love, joy, prayer, praise, gratitude — in short, all the qualities of the Christ.


“Destiny is your potential when you choose in accordance with God's law”


How can you tell if you have reached a crisis point on the fate line, or ascended from the line of fate to your path of destiny? Approximately every seven years from your date of birth, you undergo a course correction in life that affects your character, perception of reality, and expression of the moral virtues, the soul powers. You will experience a course correction at ages seven, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, and so on. These ages are typical, not hard and fast. The most pronounced changes will occur at ages 28, 56, 84, and 112.

If you have been doing well in accordance with divine law, you will experience an expansion of your perceptive abilities, and new insight. If you have remained "asleep" in consciousness, you may notice nothing. Those who notice nothing are existing on the line of fate, not really living life at all.

Here is the progression of the worst case scenario: If you have been disobedient, you are doing poorly in relation to divine law, which brings on a physical crisis, usually near age fourteen. You may have an accident, a major illness, a divorce, or experience the death of a loved one. If you do not learn from the crisis, you are on your way to becoming "ill-fated." The second such crisis will be worse, much harder in its impact on your life. Disobeying to the point of reaching the third such crisis will likely be some illness or accident so severe that you may lose your physical body as the result.

Is this the way it has to be? No, not at all. Freedom to choose your course in life is the greatest gift God has given us. You are free to change your mind at any point in life. Such a major change in your thinking usually results from some spiritual rebirth in consciousness, or a religious conversion. If you are interested in stepping onto the path of destiny, you will do well to familiarize yourself with the Seven Sacred Degrees of Initiation. Whatever you choose, know that we are praying for you.

– Linda Mihalic, Via Christa site editor


Edna Lister on Fate versus Destiny

We are all compelled to strive for the doing of even those things which are our life's work. When you have released yourself from the past, your destiny becomes visible. This is living in heaven, here and now, within the fourth dimension of time. Some forever fail the race by stalling at the gates, never quite ready to give up all self. Others desire God so much that they are becoming absorbed by God — only then are they power-full. I have always known that all I need to do is to be as perfectly surrendered an instrument as is possible, and God will give His work through me. – Edna Lister, September 27, 1944.


You may not hold onto even a small bit of self, for self, and become that full Christed One, which you must become to fulfill your own soul-chosen, God-appointed destiny. You have always been ready to let go of self, yet you hold onto the little self as pride, which makes you constantly feel inferior to others. You are neither the greatest in the kingdom, nor are you inferior. So great a glory awaits your total and complete surrender of self.

Do you think you can earn the high place by finding smooth, easy ways? This is not how to gain heaven. You gain it by finding hard things to do, hard ways to climb, tough people to work with and for, and meanness to lift. The Via Christa is the hard way, the path of destiny, not the easy way to the fate line at the bottom. – Edna Lister, December 15, 1944.


You are not worthy of your great destiny until you can let go all self. Then you are victorious, triumphant. The Master can build the right pictures before your eyes to help you desire to conquer self. – Edna Lister, April 7, 1946.


You cannot escape your spiritual responsibility or your ultimate destiny. Realize the magnificence and glory that are before you. Look up in consciousness. Do not struggle against your destiny. If you wait upon the Lord, everything you need will come to pass. You delay the fulfillment of your destiny by your selfishness. You cannot bring it through as long as you want your name on it. You reveal the degree of your contact with heaven only through time and effort. People work on the varying degrees of Light, color, tone, number and name. Each soul works on all degrees, but with one degree dominant for balance. – Edna Lister, August 12, 1947.


The more Power is released through you, the higher your destiny, the worse is the effect of a negative word. Consequently, your reprimand is greater for misusing one word than to another who speaks negatively all day. Play if you must, but remember the price. Your cost is absolute strict self-discipline. Reach out with your arms of Light and lift any negative slips. The rewards are greater than you can imagine.

Your exalted place awaits and shall be given when you are ready to receive it without losing place on the path of destiny. The Heavenly Councils do not give place too soon because this usually awakens some strata of pride to be conquered. – Edna Lister, June 3, 1948.


Somehow God must penetrate the hard, the selfish crust around your heart, the completely self-centered thinking, and how you exalt self into high place. Someday, you must take the humble place and work up from there. Some way Light must awaken you to the destiny that awaits you for the sacrifice of self. Eventually, you will think no more of your self but to serve without thought of self. It has been your choice to play God and to be selfish. You will earn God's respect. Do you understand me? Is that plain enough speaking? The doors have been opened before you. The Father will hold them open, but you will walk every step of the way, earning it. Everyone has free choice. Become. – Edna Lister, July 23, 1955.


The Twelfth Night of the Church is the twelfth day after Christmas, which commemorates the manifestation of the Christ to the Magi. It is the Feast of the Epiphany. Our Twelfth Night is January 12. It is our Heavenly Spiritual New Year, the time when Scrolls of Destiny are presented, new service is set, and Councils make changes in those who are chosen to release the Power on earth and in heaven. They reset the keynote for your year's service and expansion, the life-chord, your harmony vibrations. They put you in tune on Twelfth Night, actually tuning your nerves, exactly as you would tune a musical instrument.

So you must be in a state of grace, which is that attitude of acceptance, surrender, the Oversoul kneeling before high, holy thrones in reverence and awe, devotion and praise, while expressing joy and compassion to the world. Prepared in love and devotion, you may have miracles in your life. What are your desires for this year? What are your plans? Let them be vitalized and quickened now. Hold your thoughts on perfection. Forget those things of the past. Gaze into the future of all glory, then stand steadfast until all is fulfilled. Cut down no lines with the knife of self. Cut no lines either upward to your Father or into the outer to your new creations. – Edna Lister, January 5, 1956.


God can turn anything that happens to good on your spoken Word. You cannot be in an accident or be taken out in an accident unless it is in your fate line. Yet, no matter what happens, the Guards catch every line and everyone on your lines is tempted and tried to determine whether they will go up in consciousness. – Edna Lister, March 6, 1958.


You reach a fate line when you come to a point of physical crisis and choose to move up in consciousness and conquer self. Then you walk the path of destiny. You've heard the saying "living on borrowed time." God extends borrowed time in several ways: He extends a soul's embodiment time here on a day-to-day basis that can last days, months, or years.

Some of the elderly, who become crystallized in the body [in a persistent vegetative state], stubbornly refuse to budge from their selfishness, instead becoming a burden to themselves and to those about them. They borrow time against their store of soul credits, until they overdraft their account. You can legally pray for release for a crystallized soul to pass to the other side.

On the positive side, one or more persons can pray daily for the soul living on borrowed time. Put the soul who can still live a useful life on a cloud and give his line of Light into the Father's hands. When you perfectly balance your daily o'ershadowing love and prayer this way, the soul on borrowed time can have a daily miracle of bodily life and health that can continue for years. The key is daily prayer. Lift. Lift. Lift. Love. Love. Love. Most of all, love well. Investing part of your soul substance to hold another is illegal, tantamount to possession. You have no right to do this. – Edna Lister, May 25, 1960.


As you are crossing a final section in bridging from your line of fate to your path of destiny, you cannot afford to look back, falter, or tolerate interference from the little self. Demand perfection of the self, alertness, awareness of all that happens about you, with no excuses or justification of self. There is only one answer to each episode: "Move up in consciousness into the Light." Make your self a gift to lay on the altar, bringing whatever it is the situation is making or giving with you. – Edna Lister, January 3, 1961.


When you ascend under a high sacrifice of self, you have a choice. You may choose the way you will go. This is law. One choice is to hold to that high point of contemplation, which is full illumination, and hold despite everything, the world, the flesh and the devil. The other choice is to want credit for this saintly sacrifice of self to do your clear and only possible duty — to demand credit for it and so sink into the morass and quicksand of self-pity, frustration and that hopeless attitude of "What's the use? It isn't my fault. They can't blame me for doing it. I'm hindered because …"

When you make this high sacrifice, you are invited to choose and step onto the pathway of the creator gods. To forget self is the path of destiny. To deny it, even slightly, with even a tinge of self, you fall back into the abyss where the path of fate travels. – Edna Lister, January 29, 1961.


Nothing you can do can change your soul's ultimate destiny. You are ascending. You are going onward and shall fulfill all your plans. The time depends on you and your conquering. It is time to polish these taints. Reach out with arms of Light and gather in the past. Let it be consumed in the glory of the present.

Your spoken word would stand fast if you praised enough. Fervent praise brings God's beauties and glories to pass instantly and completely. From this hour forth, conquer and use every moment of conquering to accelerate time to bring to pass the glories, beauties and wonders for you sooner. Hold fast and do not spoil your creations by putting a sword of darkness in to let the mold leak. As always there is but one way to go – up, for you are on God's side, the winning side. Let it be fully and completely and now.

There is but one way to conquer and that is never to allow yourself to think of the past or to pity the self. When you expand and see what your love and conquering, your courage and fortitude are doing for earth, you would be in glory at all times. Glorify the Father, and all Power works through you. Exalt the Father and that He shall fill the voids you create by lifting with Light and glory. – Edna Lister, May 30, 1961.


Step onto the path of destiny. The seed of divine life within you must express you back to God. Fear blocks the working of God's divine plan for your life. Through countless lives you have gotten into silly habit patterns. You must add the mental faculties — reasoning, comparison, induction, the five senses, deduction and synthesis — to instinctive intelligence to ascend from the creature stage.

The Transfiguration is your only comparison. Declare, "I AM following Jesus Christ until I AM as perfect as my Father is perfect." Then you start withdrawing the five senses to direct them upward in ascension. Deductive thinking enables you to see your patterns in the soul records and to eliminate old habit patterns. – Edna Lister, October 22, 1961.


Your Guards release the Power and build a supreme picture-mold of the destiny you should become. Then you must create the conditions, work to release the Power, cleanse your mind and hold the picture long enough to bring it to pass. The difficulty is that you are weak. You succumb to appearances, become afraid, and let the deadly sins of discouragement and disappointment take hold. Then you must build again from the bottom until you learn to be steadfast and hold, to let nothing deter or weaken you.

The need is to stand and having done all, stand and let the Power finish the work. You shall hold every inch of ground you have gained with each step. Let your love expand in breadth, length, depth and height, until you can see the Master's presence in your work place, underlying every darkness. Where you are, there he is, too, blessing you to hold you and to bring you to full glory of expression and love. – Edna Lister, March 27, 1962.


You have a fate line, a path of destiny, and a line of transition between the path of destiny and the fate line, to cross the abyss. The whole world follows its own fate line, bumbling along in the dark. You may pray for a line of transition in a time of change from the old to the new along any line in life.

A path of destiny involves what you do when you experience a rebirth in consciousness and choose to ascend. A line of transition is what you do immediately after changing your mind. You must ascend your fears. You have repeatedly prolonged your transition time of moving from the fate line onto your path of destiny by considering darkness. What do you choose? Weave in the new and work out your salvation. – Edna Lister, April 2, 1962.


You must ascend your fears about an aging body. You have repeatedly prolonged your transition time of moving from the fate line onto your path of destiny by considering darkness. What do you choose? Weave in the new and work out your salvation. Declare, "Every cell unneeded, unlike God and God's divine pattern shall be melted, dissolved and absorbed." This is the law. Let it be so. Give the body over to God completely, doing all the necessary things of earth, otherwise, letting it be. – Edna Lister, April 4, 1962.


When you reach the point where doing evil is inconceivable to you, you transcend your fate line, the appointed time of passing, or death of the physical body. No matter what, you must pay your soul debts. Your soul's experience factors in all these choices, and whether you must build another body. – Edna Lister, November 16, 1962.


When you are living on the fate line, you tune in all the world's disharmonies. When you move onto your path of destiny, which is truly moving onto your own particular vibration, you tune in on your own color, tone, and chord. As you center your focus on your desire, Power follows, feeds it and creates. – Edna Lister, June 16, 1965.


When you finish the fate line, you step onto the path of destiny. The initiations are Rebirth, Baptism by Water, Baptism by Fire, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Death, and Ascension, which is crossing the abyss to sacrifice the last of self. Every part of the physical must be in alignment. – Edna Lister, July 31, 1965.


It makes no difference how alone you are or beset with difficulties, your destiny is to be perfect where you are. You can handle every burden on your back, if you desire to qualify for success. While on earth, you must obey the outer laws of earth. If you take a day off, you must make it up. If you did not keep self up in consciousness, you would fall into self's complacency. – Edna Lister, December 11, 1967.


Moving from the fate line to the path of destiny is a road filled with ditches. Some try to go backward and straddle the ditch until they fall back on their line of fate. When I put you on a cloud of Light, I fill in the ditches you have dug with your self-pity, resentment, anger, and so on. To handle this yourself, declare, "Let this ditch be filled with substance from my Oversoul star." Sometimes little self tries to find the ditch that was filled. When someone says, "I feel lower than a snake's belly," his appetitive soul has literally dug a ditch in his desire body substance on the inner. Lift him from the ditch to a cloud of Light with a platform under him, then fill that ditch. – Edna Lister, December 15, 1967.


You cannot dangle with one foot on the line of fate and the other on the path of destiny, or think you must live by the laws of life you lived by ten years ago. On the path of destiny, God's Power uses you. On the line of fate, you are under the mundane astrological chart, using Power. – Edna Lister, August 7, 1969.


You straddle the abyss between the line of fate and the path of destiny when you give credence to negative reports and words. You must react instantly to reach out, grab, declare it good and say, "Let there be Light." – Edna Lister, October 30, 1969.


Your destiny is to be enfolded into the Whole. Ask yourself, "What am I taking home to the Father?" You take yourself. What kind of person are you taking? One who believes as the Father believes, as He looks out on Creation and declares it good? Are you contributing to the good? You must answer these questions in every area of life. "Is this good?" How can it be made into God's good unless you do so using the spoken Word of God? So, every act has a payment. Someone must pay all the debts before the enfoldment can come.

How many of lines Light and responsibility for the world are you taking back into the Light? Add your share of "This is good." God has not asked you to see what the "good" is in it, but to release the Power. For more miracles, just declare it good, and say, "Let there be Light. Anyone who has the desire and love of God to be the servant of all the Power can ascend. Step from the line of fate to the Path of Destiny. Climb to the highway of Light, and carry all your lines of responsibility along with you. – Edna Lister, January 12, 1970.


Fulfill your destiny, and you shall stand and hold in endurance. These are the steps. There is no past, but only this moment, shining and golden. This is the truth. This is the Light. Nothing else exists, except in your mind. Declare, "There is no pain. There is no evil. There is no darkness. There is only Light." These are the only thoughts and words to use. – Edna Lister, January 3, 1971.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884 –1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother

../Edna Lister


References

Hesiod. "Theogony." The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, translator. Cambridge: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [Theoi Classical Texts Library, retrieved September 23, 2018.]

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Plato. Plato: Complete Works, John M. Cooper and D. S. Hutchinson, editors. Hackett Publishing Co., 1997; ISBN-10: 0872203492