Seventy
By Gerrit Gielen
Today – May 26th 2026 – I turn seventy. And yes, old age has now officially begun.
There are more years behind me than there are ahead. Yet I feel no heaviness, only a quiet wonder. So far, this process of growing older has been one of the most beautiful journeys of my life. I feel as though I am slowly rising toward the source of myself — becoming more and more who I truly am. As if a role I have played for a long time, with heart and soul, is something I may now release with love and gratitude.
My body is no longer as fast, strong or supple as it once was. But what I let go of physically is more than compensated by what is awakening in my mind and soul. It is as though the walls of my personality that once confined me are softly beginning to crumble. Behind those walls there is no emptiness, but an infinite, living space — a still, radiant vastness filled with shimmering stars.
Being human on earth also means choosing fear and loneliness. I have known both. Now I let them go, slowly — I have learned from them, seen how they shape humanity. The wonderful thing is that releasing and connecting go hand in hand. The more I let go, the more deeply I connect: with the people who truly live in my heart, and with the Earth herself. I feel gratitude for every moment of my life.
The achievement-driven society, the noise and chaos of these times, I leave behind with a smile — I have fortunately never lost myself in them. What remains is a clear, quiet love for the living planet. For the wind through the trees, the light on the water, the silence of the forests. Never before have I felt so deeply connected to Mother Earth. That heart-connection with Gaia I carry with me, wherever I go. She remains.
I do not know how many seasons I am still granted. But for as long as I am here, I hope to pass on something of the inner landscapes I am privileged to behold — of the peace, the love and the quiet grandeur that unfolds within me.
Gerrit Gielen
6 thoughts on “Seventy”
Thank you for this, Gerrit. Yes, I have found in the last ten years an even greater awareness of the expanse of life, and an awareness of the presence of my soul and its mission for me. More, since December, when I turned 80, I have felt a great calm. It penetrates my work, my writing, my relationships, my questioning. It feels often like I have entered a new world. Many years ago–over twenty–I wrote a series of pamphlets for the A.R.E. on Edgar Cayce’s words on the Christ Consciousness. Every day I went out to a lovely small place for coffee and wrote for two hours. These pamphlets eventually became a book. And then the organization decided not to print them. It seemed a bit of a betrayal, but I also felt I had reaped such a treasure that what they chose to do didn’t matter. I had received awareness of the presence of the Christ Consciousness in me, in everyone, and received this from a profound teacher. It has been a great influence indeed. Yet day to day in the years that have passed, I made many mistakes in life and wondered if I had not reached awareness after all. Only, the feeling always returned, the presence of the Christ Consciousness, like a gift. I feel that now, and in these my later years, I am blessed by sensing my life’s mistakes were but part of this immense wonderment in the glory of it All.
Regina, I loved reading your words. They are everything I dream for myself at 80. I am 66. Still very far from the end. My mother died this Christmas at 96. She drove until she was 94. I could live another 30 years, …. yet like you I live with Christ Consciousness, so I hope for years of peace and awareness. I love that you wrote, I too love to write, but I never did it professionally. I would love to hear more of how you fill your days. Do you still write? I feel mine is a gradual awakening. I met Eckhart Tolle, at a small gathering when his book, Power of Now first came out. He is an awakened man. His awakening was sudden. I have had the pleasure of meeting him on a number of other occasions, and can confirm his awakening is complete. Mine…. I accept without any judgement, mine is gradual.
Thank you for sharing.
Carol
“When two souls dance together in freedom, something extraordinary emerges. A powerful, high vibration is created—one that reaches far beyond what a single person can generate alone. It becomes a gift to Earth itself, a living example of what becomes possible when love is no longer based on fear, but on freedom and growth.” From article on Soulmates by Gerrit.
Is it possible that such a relationship form between any two individuals, regardless of sex, race, age,….? In which case two friends on a similar path might emerge with the same level of awareness and find unconditional love between them. This would create a high vibration. Is sex necessary? Am I missing something?
Happy Happy Belated Birthday 🎂. Want to know how to time doesn’t exist?
So, you ask me, “What time is it?”
I reply, “It’s now.”
You as me again and I say,”It’s now.”
And since this could go on forever, it’s always “now”.
So Happy Birthday Now!
And when you ask me where? It is always: here.
Such beautiful words, Gerrit! I truly enjoyed reading them. I love your perspective on the aging process. I felt a glow in my heart in feeling that you identify more and more with your soul’s nature. I feel that’s a wonderful thing, especially while here on Earth. I wish you lots of peace in this new decade. I am very thankful to you and Pamela. I am 35 and will be 36 this July, but inside I feel much older, especially in going through my own dark night of the soul. It helps to know there are like-minded people out there in the world. Sending lots of love.