Luck or Karma: Does it matter what you call it?
By Caryn Colgan

I feel blessed that my home borders a wetlands area where I frequently see herons, turtles, coyotes, ducks, muskrats and an assortment of birds of prey. Most days I walk the path along the preserve with my camera outfitted with a telephoto lens.

Early one afternoon I rounded a bend and noticed a hawk sitting on the roof of one of my neighbor's homes and stopped to watch it. The bird turned its head and was staring at me. In my mind I said, "Beautiful bird, if it's not an inconvenience to you, I would love for you to circle over me so I can take your picture. But only if you don't mind."

Suddenly the hawk lifted its wings, leaned forward and glided off the roof. I was excited because I thought it was responding to my humble request. I had no idea that I would be blessed beyond my wildest expectations.

Slowly the bird flapped its wings and approached me. I started to laugh with delight as it eased into a circling pattern directly over me. I snapped over 300 frames. Had I known it would circle me for so long I would have laid on the sidewalk to steady my camera.

Good luck implies a random bumbling into good fortune. Bad luck implies an unforeseen blunder or misfortune. In either case, when someone says "luck' was involved he or she fails to perceive or acknowledge the influence of the person or persons involved.

"In quantum mechanics, the observer and the system being observed became mysteriously linked so that the results of any observation seemed to be determined in part by actual choices made by the observer. This situation is represented by the wave function, a function in the complex domain that contains information about both the cosmos at large and the observer's apparent state of knowledge." 1

Essentially, this means that any person observing any event becomes part of the event AND influences it whether she or he intends to or not. Luck has nothing to do with it.

I don't believe I influenced the bird to circle me, though I might have. For the sake of my karma I do not want to invade someone or something else's free will or deny others the freedom of choice-even if I could. In this case, I made my intentions clear but also asked in a way that would hopefully not interfere with the bird's needs. If I had influenced its actions, I wanted to be as respectful as possible.

I believe I became an observer and participant beyond what my physical body can perceive. On some level, possibly the soul or Spirit-self level, I likely knew the bird was in the process of becoming airborne. The bird's actions were a part of the wave function that becomes available to be perceived by an observer (me). On the other hand, it is possible that the bird understood my request. This would not surprise me at all.

Luck can't explain the bird's actions or the many, many other times I've trusted my "intuition" with pleasant results. The timing with both of my intentions were too magical. Likewise, when negative things happen I don't blame luck. I ask myself "What can I learn from this?" Over and over again I get the same answer: luck has nothing to do with it.

What goes around comes around.

Karma is a sort of accounting system whereby a person's thoughts, words and actions determine how life will unfold. To the extent I'm conscious of my thoughts, words and actions I make decisions that will yield as many assets in my life as possible.

As I work to improve my karma, I'm finding that I create more and more glorious events and relationships. By striving to be conscious of the seeds I am sowing in the various areas of my life, I reap better results. But it takes work. For example, any time I have a negative thought I must first become aware of my thought and then redirect my mind toward a goal or positive thought.

I recently attended a prosperity workshop during which an activity involved people wadding up money and tossing it to someone on stage. After the activity, many of us hugged one another and wished one another a prosperous life journey. At some point during the hugging, I lost a lovely citrine earring I had bought from Bonita Chamberlain, an extraordinary woman who imports gemstone jewelry from struggling Afghan villages. Unable to find it immediately after the workshop, I approached the banquet staff the next morning. Two of the men helped me search for my earring but the small earring was well hidden. Deciding to focus beyond my disappointment, I put my energy toward appreciating the two men who were diligently searching for my lost treasure. Within a few seconds I found two crumpled twenty-dollar bills.

Was it a coincidence or luck that I found not one but two bills of equal value?

I could have pocketed the $40 and treated myself to a delicious meal. Instead I turned to the two men and told them how much I appreciated their good intention and wished them a wonderful day. One of the men said, "You just made my day, lady."

His words still make me smile. I believe I found the money because I was feeling gratitude and that sentiment became part of the wave function. Even though I was searching for jewelry, my focus on appreciation expanded my perceptions so I could look at the right place at the right time and brighten someone else's day.

In Ancient Pact the characters repeatedly say, "Coincidences Occur Where Life & Destiny Intersect". Essentially I'm saying there are no accidents or coincidences. Labels such as luck, good or bad, are a concept that prevents people from accepting responsibility for their thoughts, words and actions.

Destiny isn't determined by someone or something else. It's not proclaimed by an external force or entity. Destiny, as I use the term, is the karma a person has created. Individuals and groups begin to experience "good karma" when they understand this concept and take ownership. The ones who whine about "bad luck" will continue to be "victims" of their own minds. This may sound harsh but my intention is to wake people up to the world we can create when enough of us wake up and take control of the magnificent wave functions that are available to us.

By labeling an event or situation as luck or accident, an individual or group misses an opportunity to see karma unfolding as a learning opportunity. There is tremendous power in deciding to stop being a victim of circumstances and choosing to take action to handle the situation.

I've had my home on the market for over one year. Two real estate agents and a stint on For Sale By Owner and the home has not budged. Despite having offers, the sales transaction never made it to closing due to the sellers needing to sell their home or inability to reach a reasonable price. Off and on during this time I felt helpless and powerless as the real estate market in my area sank lower and lower. Then I realized that anytime I hit an obstacle like this before things turn out better than they would have if I freaked out and tried to force my desires to fruition. I decided to ask myself "What can I learn from this?"

Certainly, there is some karma being meted out-from this lifetime or before. One obvious lesson is patience. Another lesson is that I noticed when the first party tried to buy the house I immediately felt tension and told a friend I wasn't really ready to move. It was no surprise when the transaction failed since I had terminated it mentally and emotionally "cancelled" it.

My situation is not bad luck. My lack of focus and desire defeated that sale. I am not a victim but the creator of my situation and life. The label I attach to my perceptions makes a big difference in how I feel about myself and the situation. The label also impacts my ability to take the next steps with clarity. If I see myself as a victim I will feel weak and overwhelmed. If I choose to be a powerful, creative being I will feel competent to take the appropriate next steps.

We can create a better world when we stop labeling events as luck or accidents.

Everything happens for a reason and it's always karma. This is true whether it is an individual's karma or the karma of the group with which the individual is affiliated. What goes around definitely does come around.


1. Glenn Learning Technologies Project (LTP) "The Observer in Modern Physics Some Personal Speculations"
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/Numbers/Math/Mathematical_Thinking/observer.htm

Caryn Colgan is a workshop leader, speaker and the author of the award-winning Ancient Pact, Volume 1: The Element of Air and the Ancient Pact, ReMember Spiritual Contemplation Cards. www.caryncolgan.com