The Swan Center for Intuitive Living
A bridge from where you are in life to where you want to be.
Spiritual Discourses
by
Master Rose Ashley
A complimentary spiritual discourse recording is available on the first day of each month from 9am to 9pm Eastern Time.
Next recording available
October 1, 2026
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Spiritual Tidbits are bits of wisdom from Master Rose.
A new tidbit is posted on the first of every month.
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SEPTEMBER 2026 SPIRITUAL TIDBIT
THE SEA WORLD
I was working with a volunteer at our Outreach horse facility (for privacy reasons, I will refer to her as Elaine). Elaine had been happily volunteering for several months and seemed eager to serve. That all changed one day when a new volunteer with mental and physical challenges arrived. I noticed that Elaine’s usual bright smile had faded and a dark scowl had taken over. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she had trouble working around the new volunteer. She said it made her sick to her stomach to have to look at them. This surprise encounter with Elaine reminded me of a dream I experienced and shared with my Spiritual Guide in the 1970s.
The Dream: Last night I had a most unusual dream that has rested heavily on my mind ever since. I hope you can shed some light on the true meaning of this experience. In my dream, I had decided to take a group of physically and mentally challenged individuals to a fantasy island known as The Sea World. To get to the island, you had to board a bus that drove onto a ferry boat. I asked if I could board the bus with my group. I was told I couldn’t take my group to the island because they were too physically or mentally challenged to enjoy the experience or gain anything from it. Others expressed concerns that it might ruin the experience for the rest of the people on the island if they had to look at people with physical or mental challenges.
I was determined to give my group a chance to enjoy The Sea World experience, so I boarded them onto a parked bus and drove it over to the ferry. When I approached the ferry, a man ran up to me and said I had to park my bus off to the left and wait for tickets to be issued. After following his instructions, I realized that I had been tricked and the ferry was departing without us. I became even more determined to gain admittance, so I told my group to get off the bus and led them down a path and across a sweeping lawn to a spot where thousands of people were looking across the water at the fantasy island, waiting for the next ferry. They were in a joyous mood, happily anticipating the experience they were about to have. One of the tour guides stood before them and gave directions for their imminent departure. Suddenly, they all noticed me and my group. Everyone in my little group wore big smiles despite their challenges and the difficulty of keeping up. Some struggled along the path behind me, walking or crawling as best as they could. Some were desperately trying to control the spasms of their bodies. Those who could walk were pushing people in wheelchairs. It was a brave army of happy and excited troopers, forging onward gleefully.
The tour guide approached me with a discerning look while she explained to all present why the people I brought with me were not permitted to enter The Sea World. Instead of telling them directly, she picked up a large, beautiful puppet doll. Using the puppet, she said that these people were incapable of gaining anything by going to the island. I decided to respond by using a puppet myself, but there wasn't another one around, so I posed my hand into a duck head, as you would in front of a light to make shadow pictures on the wall. By moving my hand, I could convey a message to her puppet. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a little kitten break out of the assembled crowd. It was very tiny, and its fur was as soft as silk. It ran up to me, and I picked it up to caress it. One of the children in my group made her way to my side with great effort. She appeared to be around eighteen months old, and she wore a beautiful yellow dress that shone in the sunlight with enormous brilliance. She smiled and seemed totally oblivious to her plight. When she neared me, she reached out her little hand to pet the kitten. It was hard for her to control her hand, so I lifted the kitten to her cheek, and she rubbed her face into its fur. Her entire countenance lit up, and a radiant glow emanated from her. She began to giggle and laugh, and her laughter rang out like a breathtaking melody. It stirred the heart and soul of everyone in her midst. I turned to the crowd and said to them, “No one here can tell me, after looking at her face and hearing her laughter, that she is not enjoying this experience, gaining something from it, and affecting others in a very positive way. Is there anyone here who would dare deny her this opportunity for such happiness?” The expressions on the faces of those in the crowd were somber indeed. They all dropped their heads, and their eyes showed great shame and humility.
My Spiritual Guide’s Response:
Little One,
I am pleased that you have chosen to share your dream with me. You are very fortunate to have had such an uplifting experience. I will do my best to help you discover the subtleties presented there.
The Sea World island, surrounded by water, represented life on the planet Earth. As you know, Earth is really just a group of islands, surrounded by large bodies of deep water.
Those waiting for the ferry were waiting to be reincarnated into this world of soul’s fantasies and illusions.
An unfortunate trait for many on the road to spiritual growth seems to be a desire to deny life to those who come in with physical or mental challenges. It is their opinion that many of the physically or mentally challenged would be better off dead, stating that they don’t even know what is happening to them; they are nothing more than vegetables; they suffer constantly; they are taking up room that could be devoted to those who have a chance for a normal life.
Some of these naysayers lack the courage to express their thoughts and feelings openly, so they use puppets, tools, and other props to convey their messages.
Society makes outer laws about the rights of those with physical and mental challenges, but many choose instead to follow a whole different set of inner rules or beliefs that do not respect those rights. When you looked around for a puppet or a vehicle to speak through, you were left to use your hand. Therefore, my child, you chose to use the written word to convey your insight to others.
Animals recognize the soul, not the body; thus, your image of the kitten coming forth. Since we should all strive to be childlike in our approach towards spirituality, you were given the picture of the innocent young girl dressed in yellow - the color of the soul body. Her happiness was a reflection of the tremendous joy that soul receives from even the most difficult of outer circumstances. No physical or mental challenge can keep soul from its experiences, which lead it back to its origin.
You and the others were shown soul in all its radiance. No one, when given this true insight, would dare to deny soul its existence and validity, no matter what form it chooses to take. When soul shines forth and speaks truth in the sound of joyous laughter, all in its midst are moved, inspired, and humbled.
My personal reality: When I look at a person, the first thing I see is their radiant inner light. This light is constant and overshadows any outer circumstances. I am reminded that we are all sacred parts of this one spiritual body of light. There is no separation; there is no such thing as an unshared experience. We are designed to love and be loved as we traverse this glorious life together.
Copyright©1972 by Master Rose Ashley
All rights reserved
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