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The Illusion and Gift of Time

Time is one of the most fascinating mysteries of existence. It is both intimate and elusive, shaping the way we experience the world while remaining a construct that crumbles under deeper scrutiny. As I continue my journey of exploring what is REAL and TRUE, I’ve been drawn to the interplay between multiple perspectives on the nature of time. Through these reflections, a beautiful intersection has emerged, one that humbles me and stirs a profound sense of wonder. I invite you to explore this intersection with me today—to consider time not as a straight line, but as a cyclical invitation for growth, discovery, and presence.


Time as a Tool for Growth

In one of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s episodes from Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, he poetically refers to "Father Time" as a creation that allows for growth. Imagine for a moment that all things—birth, life, death, and rebirth—exist simultaneously.


How, then, do we experience them? Through time.


Time becomes the canvas upon which our stories unfold. It gives us the space to grow, to learn, and to become. Without time, there would be no unfolding, no journey—just an infinite stillness and oneness.


This idea resonates deeply with the meditations I’ve experienced. In these quiet moments of stillness, I’ve glimpsed something beyond time—a sense that everything is happening all at once, layered and infinite. And yet, here we are, moving step by step, moment by moment. Time is the thread that allows us to perceive and weave our stories, to journey from one insight to the next.


This reflection feels particularly poignant today, as I honor the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing. In the year since, I’ve felt his presence more vividly than ever before. It’s as though becoming more myself has brought me closer to his spirit. This has deepened my understanding of time as something more than linear—a bridge, perhaps, that connects the seen and unseen. Through my own growth and unfolding, I feel him walking with me, reminding me that love transcends all boundaries, even time itself.



Me and dad skiing in December 2022
Me and dad skiing in December 2022

The Persistent Illusion

Albert Einstein famously said, “The distinction between past, present, and future is a stubbornly persistent illusion.” To me, this is an invitation to question the rigidity of time as we typically experience it. What if the past is not truly behind us, nor the future ahead? What if they exist together in an eternal now, accessible through the power of presence?

Spiritual masters throughout history seem to echo this sentiment. They transcend time, offering teachings that heal the past and reveal the future. Quantum physics, as discussed by Kim Chestney in The Illumination Code, also defies the linear nature of time, suggesting that reality is far more interconnected and dynamic than we’ve been taught. The past and future fold into the present, creating endless possibilities.


Nature’s Cycles

While our human minds often perceive time as linear, nature tells a different story. The sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the seasons ebb and flow. Life on Earth—from the tiniest sprout to the vast movements of the ocean—operates in cycles. Even the planets around us rotate and revolve in rhythmic patterns, dancing through the cosmos.


These cycles remind us that time is not a race to an end point but an ongoing spiral.

We are reintroduced to challenges, lessons, and insights again and again, each time from a slightly different vantage point. Time is not just a measure; it is a sacred rhythm, offering us opportunities to deepen our understanding, to grow into new layers of ourselves, and to release what no longer serves.


The Power of Now

Eckhart Tolle, in his transformative teachings, reminds us of the power of presence. In The Power of Now, he invites us to step out of the mind’s incessant chatter about the past and future and anchor ourselves in the present moment. He teaches that living in the present is the path to fulfillment, peace, purpose, and love. When we live fully in the now, we dissolve the illusions of time and find ourselves deeply connected to the truth of existence.


Other spiritual masters echo this wisdom. They remind us that the present moment is where life truly unfolds, where we meet ourselves as we are, and where we connect with the divine. It is in the now that we can access gratitude, joy, and clarity—not because the circumstances of our lives are perfect, but because the present moment is inherently whole.


An Invitation to Presence

So, how do we approach today with this understanding of time? What if we saw this moment not as a fleeting tick on a clock but as a gateway into the infinite? What if we embraced the cyclical nature of life and allowed ourselves to meet recurring challenges with fresh eyes and an open heart?


Time, as illusory as it may be, gives us the structure to evolve—not through striving or rushing, but through presence and surrender.


Take a moment now to pause. Feel your breath move in and out. Notice how even your body lives in cycles: the inhale and exhale, the beating of your heart. These rhythms are mirrors of the larger cycles at play in the cosmos. Trust them. Lean into them. Reflect on what it would mean to live fully present in your body, grateful for the opportunities you’ve had and those still to come. Let today be an opportunity to experience time not as a pressure, but as a gift—a spacious, spiraling journey of growth and renewal.


In the end, time is both an illusion and a guide. It invites us to dance within its rhythms, to grow through its cycles, and to discover the eternal now that exists beyond its boundaries. Let us honor its mystery and allow it to teach us how to live more fully, with clarity, presence, and grace.

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