5. Personal Responsibility.

Personal Responsibility When God gave his human creations free will, Personal Responsibility inevitably followed. It is no coincidence that the socialist Robert Owen included Personal Responsibility in the principles for living that he brought forth through the mediumship of Emma Hardinge Britten. Indeed, Personal Responsibility is a means through which a just, equitable and harmonious society can be built and sustained. It is therefore not only relevant to Spiritualists, it is relevant to mankind as a whole.

Whilst all of the principles are inherently linked, it is revealing that in its earliest form this Principle read, “Personal Responsibility with compensation and retribution for all the good and evil deeds done here,” as they clearly go hand and hand. (The Spiritualists’ Lyceum Union.) We are solely responsible for all of our actions, our words and our thoughts and the consequences they generate – both the good and the bad. While our lives are supported by those in Spirit, they cannot live our lives for us or erase the effects of our thoughts, words and actions. This knowledge encourages us to behave responsibly, to consider our decisions carefully and to accept the results of our deeds both for ourselves and others here in this life.

One simply has to look to our present economic climate to see how the actions of the few effect people across the globe. We are all living with the consequences of the decisions others in a position of great responsibility have made. For this reason, some see this principle as a great burden, for it is often much easier to negate all responsibility, to blame others or to rely solely on the advice of other people – all things that lessen the burden. Yet it works both ways.

We are equally responsible for all of the good that we generate through our thoughts, words and actions. We have the potential for causing positive ripple effects across the whole of humanity. We need only look to the way in which the people of the world have come together to help their brothers and sisters during the natural disasters of recent years to see how every little does help. Viewed in this way, Personal Responsibility is far from being a burden.

For me, the most profound message emanating from this Principle is the great freedom it gives mankind. It reminds us that through action we can change our lives. It reminds us that we alone are responsible for becoming who we want be. It frees us from the judgements of others by reminding us that it is our choices that determine who we become in this life and indeed why we are remembered when we leave it. Through this we are encouraged to engage in positive actions, actions which could affect ourselves and others for the better, actions which could change our lives and the lives of those around us.

As Spiritualists we have chosen to live our lives according to the Principles adopted by the Spiritualists’ National Union, Principles which Robert Owen intended as guidelines for living a moral and ethical existence on this physical plane, guidelines which may allow our Spirits to develop during our time in the school of life so that when we return to the ‘Summerland’ we can look at what we created and be pleased.

Nichola Corner, 23 May 2010