What castle do you live in?

Today our bus stopped in front of the Chillon Castle, just outside of Montreaux, Switzerland. When I looked over the precipice to see the bottom of the massive structure and I saw water all the way around the base, I exclaimed, “Wow! A real castle!” I hadn't seen one with a moat before.

If you haven't seen Chillon Castle in person, you’ve likely seen it in a movie. It’s very famous, if not by name, then by looks.

Chillon Castle was built on a rock just out of the reach of land. A drawbridge connects the mainland to the front door. And waaaay down the sides of the castle there is water all the way around. A moat type of waterway is on one side, and Lake Geneva on the other. It’s very impressive—if you’re into castles.

While touring the monument I started to ponder why castles had outlived a meaningful purpose, other than to serve as tourist destinations. Kings, dukes, counts and their like, built them to protect their political, economic, and territorial claims. But over time, enemies discovered the weak spots of such structures, and they were not sufficient to protect kingdoms any longer. For instance, Chillon Castle could hold enough food and supplies for 40 days habitation by its dwellers. If under siege, what were the trapped to do after 40 days? So, rulers had to find more effective ways to protect their kingdoms. Castles became obsolete, ineffective, and burdensome.

I thought about other kinds of castles that people live in today, not of brick and mortar, but of beliefs and fears.

For example, believing a mighty portfolio of stocks and bonds protects from future misery and suffering, is a type of castle. It might feel like an impenetrable wall of defense against poverty and lack while the value and size increases, and other factors stay happy in life. But what if the enemy strikes in a different way, through the belief of a hopeless disease, for instance, and the money suddenly has no relevance. A health cure is needed which money cannot buy.

Or what about basing one’s happiness on the presence of family and friends, and putting them all around you. Then one day, they start to disappear for myriad reasons. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails to deliver on its promise?

Or what about body appearance, believing the perfect body makes one successful, wins opportunities, gains social status, and brings happiness? Then, one day, the body doesn’t conform to the material ideal any longer and disappointment and despondency set in. Isn’t that a type of castle that eventually fails us?

What about body and drugs? Isn’t there frequent belief today that the body is a type of castle, a dwelling place that needs to be protected from invaders, called germs, viruses, and bacteria? To defend the castle, the body is filled with drugs (fighting soldiers). But people continue to get sick anyway, and with ever worsening diseases. This castle of human belief is not impregnable. The enemy keeps getting in.

Over time, and through substantial spiritual growth, it will be learned that the body is not our castle, and drugs are not our defenders. We are reflections of Soul, and our spirituality is absolute immunity against any potential invaders.

What castle do you live in?

After thinking through the above, I decided that the safest castle to dwell in is a consciousness of Truth and Love. The child of God’s creating is not a vulnerable mortal having to fend off invading material enemies. The child of God is a spiritual reflection of divine Light that is truly impregnable to any evil or threat because no darkness can enter the Light. The Light is a safe place to dwell! A castle of Light is a safe place to sleep at night and reside during the day.

Chillon Castle from Lake Geneva