Raising the Inner Shepherd

Neville's Inner Vision

Within Zechariah's land, the 'shepherd' is a state of consciousness, the ruler of your inner day. The cruel shepherd who visits none, heals none, feeds none, is the habitual thought that neglects wounded parts and feeds only on distraction or pride. You are not condemned to this dream: you can revise it by turning to the I AM, the living awareness that attends to every corner of your mind. Raise up a true shepherd—the compassionate governor of your inner life—that visits the cut off and the broken, tends the young ideas, and nourishes the stillness. This guardian does not feed on others' energy but directs your energy toward healing, integration, and creative life. The grim decree—eat the flesh of the fat—melts when you replace it with care, listening, and steady attention. By imagining and assuming the presence of this wise watcher, you reconstitute the land, empower your center, and reveal the kingly reign of God already seated within you.