Israel's Wealthiest Woman Says She Can See the Future
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 31, 2009
TEL AVIV The office door has a steel vault veneer, and Shari Arison -- controlling stockholder in Israel's largest bank and its largest construction company, heiress to the Carnival Cruise Lines fortune and head of a long list of other undertakings -- has a lot to protect.
And as with any proper vault, this one is full of surprises.
Fairy figurines fill a knickknack shelf, and paintings of fairies hang from the soft-toned walls. Statues of dolphins leap from a cream-colored carpet, and goldfish gurgle in a tank just behind a chair. A yard-long see-through candleholder with a dozen flickering votives is angled across Arison's desk, looking like it connects to Kabbalah or the Upanishads or Area 51 or Something Larger Than Us, but which she says is there just because.
But the biggest jolt comes from the woman in the executive chair: Arison -- billionaire ($2.7 by Forbes's most recent estimate), perhaps the richest woman in the Middle East, a major force in Israeli philanthropy -- claims that she can see the future.
This is much bigger than a parlor trick. In her new book published this summer in Israel, the 51-year-old Miami native says she felt the Indonesian tsunami sweeping over the land two months before it happened and sensed Hurricane Katrina pummeling New Orleans. In an interview, Arison says she also "saw the writing on the wall" before the global economic crash.
Read the rest by clicking here.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
New Things Coming This Year
Welcome to 2009! I'm very glad to see you here.
I will be starting my "Deepening Spiritual & Psychic Awareness" workshop this month (January) at the Learning Light. I started this blog in anticipation of that workshop, so I'll be posting more as time goes on and we get interesting stuff from the workshops to talk about here.
The workshop will be meeting on the 4th Sundays of January and February, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and then will be switching to 1st Sundays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm from then on. Don't worry about writing it all down. It will be published in the Learning Light newsletter and on their website (at http://www.learninglight.net), and I'll be posting reminders here, of course.
So the first meeting will be Sunday, January 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The fee is $20 per class (but I think it goes down to $15 per class starting in March). Please dress VERY comfortably.
Most people find that deepening their spiritual awareness automatically increases their psychic awareness and also facilitates their manifesting abilities. Of course, you can take the class for the spiritual benefits without desiring the psychic development benefits, and I assure you that it will be an enriching experience for you.
But my own experience has been that deepened spiritual awareness is an important cornerstone on the psychic development path. So if your main interest is in psychic development, take this workshop.
Much more to come later. Wishing you a magical and wonderful week!
Rob
I will be starting my "Deepening Spiritual & Psychic Awareness" workshop this month (January) at the Learning Light. I started this blog in anticipation of that workshop, so I'll be posting more as time goes on and we get interesting stuff from the workshops to talk about here.
The workshop will be meeting on the 4th Sundays of January and February, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and then will be switching to 1st Sundays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm from then on. Don't worry about writing it all down. It will be published in the Learning Light newsletter and on their website (at http://www.learninglight.net), and I'll be posting reminders here, of course.
So the first meeting will be Sunday, January 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The fee is $20 per class (but I think it goes down to $15 per class starting in March). Please dress VERY comfortably.
Most people find that deepening their spiritual awareness automatically increases their psychic awareness and also facilitates their manifesting abilities. Of course, you can take the class for the spiritual benefits without desiring the psychic development benefits, and I assure you that it will be an enriching experience for you.
But my own experience has been that deepened spiritual awareness is an important cornerstone on the psychic development path. So if your main interest is in psychic development, take this workshop.
Much more to come later. Wishing you a magical and wonderful week!
Rob
Friday, November 7, 2008
To Abraham, Martin, John & Bobby
Your sacrifices were not in vain. A new day has dawned in America.
Click here to see the election night reactions from around the world.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
What Happens When We Die?
According to TIME Magazine and a major medical study, it seems that consciousness goes on. That sound you hear is a million skeptic paradigms cracking open.
"A fellow at New York City's Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Sam Parnia is one of the world's leading experts on the scientific study of death. Last week Parnia and his colleagues at the Human Consciousness Project announced their first major undertaking: a 3-year exploration of the biology behind 'out-of-body' experiences. The study, known as AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation), involves the collaboration of 25 major medical centers through Europe, Canada and the U.S. and will examine some 1,500 survivors of cardiac arrest. TIME spoke with Parnia about the project's origins, its skeptics and the difference between the mind and the brain."
Read on
"A fellow at New York City's Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Sam Parnia is one of the world's leading experts on the scientific study of death. Last week Parnia and his colleagues at the Human Consciousness Project announced their first major undertaking: a 3-year exploration of the biology behind 'out-of-body' experiences. The study, known as AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation), involves the collaboration of 25 major medical centers through Europe, Canada and the U.S. and will examine some 1,500 survivors of cardiac arrest. TIME spoke with Parnia about the project's origins, its skeptics and the difference between the mind and the brain."
Read on
Monday, September 29, 2008
Seeing and Reading People's Auras
All life forms - plants, animals, and people - have auras which can be seen and which can reveal information.
Tomorrow night I'll be leading a workshop in which we will learn how to see people's auras, and also learn what the colors in the auras can disclose about the person. Amazing amounts of information can be discovered through aura readings!
Come join us, and discover the secrets for yourself!
Go to www.psychic-fun.com for more info
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Miracles
Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Of course, most people don’t feel bound by Einstein’s constriction, and lead lives in which most things are not miracles but the person still desperately hopes for one to convince them that magic, divinity, spirituality, whatever, might really exist in the physical world.
We who walk the spiritual path usually quickly find out that “miracles,” as understood in the context of the material world, happen quite often, if not all the time. We see people, animals, energies, and other things that “aren’t really there.” We know things that will happen in the future, or that have happened outside of our sight or other possible inductive knowledge. We talk to the dead, and those who were never born. We sense things beyond the capabilities of our physical senses. We live in a world of “miracles,” as far as the material world is concerned.
For myself, to maximize my own potentials, I choose Einstein’s second way - to live as though everything is a miracle. I treat all things that enter my consciousness, whether it’s a communication from another person, a raindrop that falls on my head, or a cloud pattern that catches my eye, as a sign from divine spirit that merits my complete attention and may result in yet another “miracle” coming into my life.
That doesn’t mean that I necessarily act in response to every stimulus I receive. Even with my own very open construction of “time,” I have only so much attention I can give to any particular stimulus. But I do allow it to enter into my consciousness, and I open myself to the possibility that it may, indeed, be itself or a doorway to yet another "miracle."
And I find that the more open I am to “miracles” happening in my life, the more “miracles” do indeed happen in my life.
Try it. I think you’ll enjoy the result!
Of course, most people don’t feel bound by Einstein’s constriction, and lead lives in which most things are not miracles but the person still desperately hopes for one to convince them that magic, divinity, spirituality, whatever, might really exist in the physical world.
We who walk the spiritual path usually quickly find out that “miracles,” as understood in the context of the material world, happen quite often, if not all the time. We see people, animals, energies, and other things that “aren’t really there.” We know things that will happen in the future, or that have happened outside of our sight or other possible inductive knowledge. We talk to the dead, and those who were never born. We sense things beyond the capabilities of our physical senses. We live in a world of “miracles,” as far as the material world is concerned.
For myself, to maximize my own potentials, I choose Einstein’s second way - to live as though everything is a miracle. I treat all things that enter my consciousness, whether it’s a communication from another person, a raindrop that falls on my head, or a cloud pattern that catches my eye, as a sign from divine spirit that merits my complete attention and may result in yet another “miracle” coming into my life.
That doesn’t mean that I necessarily act in response to every stimulus I receive. Even with my own very open construction of “time,” I have only so much attention I can give to any particular stimulus. But I do allow it to enter into my consciousness, and I open myself to the possibility that it may, indeed, be itself or a doorway to yet another "miracle."
And I find that the more open I am to “miracles” happening in my life, the more “miracles” do indeed happen in my life.
Try it. I think you’ll enjoy the result!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Gary Zukav Quote
"Illusion holds power over you when you are not able to remember that you are a powerful spirit that has taken on the physical experience for the purpose of learning.
"It has power over you when you are compelled by wants and impulses and values of your personality.
"It holds power over you when you fear and hate and sorrow and fester in anger or strike out in rage.
"It has NO power over you when you LOVE, when compassion opens your heart to others, when your creativity flows unimpeded joyously into the present moment.
"In other words, the illusion has no power over a personality that is fully aligned with the soul."
Gary Zukav
"It has power over you when you are compelled by wants and impulses and values of your personality.
"It holds power over you when you fear and hate and sorrow and fester in anger or strike out in rage.
"It has NO power over you when you LOVE, when compassion opens your heart to others, when your creativity flows unimpeded joyously into the present moment.
"In other words, the illusion has no power over a personality that is fully aligned with the soul."
Gary Zukav
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Shifting Realities
I heard a young man talking about his understanding of "reality" the other day, and he was very specific and determined in his speech. When other people expressed different understandings he decreed that they were "in denial."
In my own experience, my understanding of "reality" has changed as I accrued various life experiences.
Each time, I thought I had all the answers and "finally understood it all," and then later I changed my mind when my understandings deepened.
The same was true for the above-referenced young man, by the way. He, too, said that he had held a specific world-view, but then he had experienced some shifts in his understandings, and now he really understood it all.
And it was all true, from a certain perspective. But there have been many, many books written since that time, with other and broader insights, and I understood how people could grow beyond that author's system, and gain even deeper psychic and spiritual awareness.
But we can't let this impede us from our journey - in fact, it may actually be the point of the journey: to explore, learn and discover today's truths on our way to tomorrow's truths, different though they may be.
As Heraclitus noted around 2500 years ago: "Change is the only constant."
Don't be afraid of it; rather, embrace it.
Your openness to change, that what you experience as "reality" today may be very different from what you experience it as tomorrow, is the key to your being able to move to a higher plane, and deepen and broaden your understandings of the spiritual world.
In my own experience, my understanding of "reality" has changed as I accrued various life experiences.
Each time, I thought I had all the answers and "finally understood it all," and then later I changed my mind when my understandings deepened.
The same was true for the above-referenced young man, by the way. He, too, said that he had held a specific world-view, but then he had experienced some shifts in his understandings, and now he really understood it all.
"Every age, every generation has its built-in assumptions - that the world is flat, that the world is round. There are hundreds of hidden assumptions, things we take for granted that may or may not be true. In the vast majority of cases, these conceptions about reality - which belong to the prevailing paradigm or worldview - aren't accurate. So if history's any guide, much that we take for granted about the world today simply isn't true".This all came to mind because of a book about psychic development that had been written in the 1980's that I recently ran across. In the book, the author had constructed this vast, intricate system of exercises and insights that the book promised would deliver amazing psychic experiences.
John Hagelin, Ph.D.
And it was all true, from a certain perspective. But there have been many, many books written since that time, with other and broader insights, and I understood how people could grow beyond that author's system, and gain even deeper psychic and spiritual awareness.
"There is often a big disparity between the way in which we perceive things and the way things really are."So, as Dr. Hagelin notes in his quote, if history's any guide, then quite probably the insights and awarenesses that we ooh and aah over today won't be such wonders in 10 or 20 years time, and may even have been debunked and discredited.
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
But we can't let this impede us from our journey - in fact, it may actually be the point of the journey: to explore, learn and discover today's truths on our way to tomorrow's truths, different though they may be.
As Heraclitus noted around 2500 years ago: "Change is the only constant."
Don't be afraid of it; rather, embrace it.
Your openness to change, that what you experience as "reality" today may be very different from what you experience it as tomorrow, is the key to your being able to move to a higher plane, and deepen and broaden your understandings of the spiritual world.
Planet Earth Forever
From the makers of "The Secret," a beautiful little video entitled: "Planet Earth Forever."
Deepak Chopra Quote
"If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up."
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Psychic Awareness Is Natural
Beginning in the book "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, and then continuing in Robert Stone's book "The Secret Life of Your Cells", is documented the discoveries and experiments of world-famous polygraph (lie detector machine) expert Cleve Backster, which experiments Dr. Stone also later participated in as a subject himself.
It all began when, one day, Backster had hooked up a polygraph machine to a leaf of a large plant he was about to water, to see how long it would take for the water to reach the leaf. He then decided to go get the water. Note this carefully - he hadn't gone to get the water, he had simply decided to go get the water.
There was an immediate positive reaction from the plant. Was the plant "reading" Backster's mind? Hundreds of experiments followed, all confirming for Backster that plants did indeed react to human intentions or thoughts, and, even more, that human cells removed from a person's body still reacted to that person's emotions.
In his book "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals: An Investigation", renowned English biologist Rupert Sheldrake detailed his investigation of hundreds and hundreds of cases over a five-year period of animals displaying what appear to be "psychic" or precognitive powers.
Consider, just for a moment: if animals, plants, and even simple cells can "read minds" or demonstrate other "psychic" awareness, doesn't it seem logical that we humans - much more sophisticated and complex organisms - have these powers as well?
It all began when, one day, Backster had hooked up a polygraph machine to a leaf of a large plant he was about to water, to see how long it would take for the water to reach the leaf. He then decided to go get the water. Note this carefully - he hadn't gone to get the water, he had simply decided to go get the water.
There was an immediate positive reaction from the plant. Was the plant "reading" Backster's mind? Hundreds of experiments followed, all confirming for Backster that plants did indeed react to human intentions or thoughts, and, even more, that human cells removed from a person's body still reacted to that person's emotions.
In his book "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals: An Investigation", renowned English biologist Rupert Sheldrake detailed his investigation of hundreds and hundreds of cases over a five-year period of animals displaying what appear to be "psychic" or precognitive powers.
Consider, just for a moment: if animals, plants, and even simple cells can "read minds" or demonstrate other "psychic" awareness, doesn't it seem logical that we humans - much more sophisticated and complex organisms - have these powers as well?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Giving to Others
"All that one gives to others one gives to oneself.
If this truth is understood, who will not give to others?"
Ramana Maharshi
If this truth is understood, who will not give to others?"
Ramana Maharshi
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
When the Student is Ready . . .
This is a lesson that took me a long time to figure out. Hopefully, this post will save you the time and effort and you can learn on my dime.
There is an old Zen saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
I always thought that this meant that there was something extra-special about guru-like teachers, that they would somehow magically sense when a student on the path of spiritual wisdom was ready and and then they would just appear and bestow their words of wisdom.
I was wrong. What this saying really means is that, when the student is ready, then he/she will recognize the teacher that was always there.
We hear instructional or guiding words everyday, from people we know, from the radio or TV, from the Internet, from books we read, and so forth. And most of the time our brains go "yeah, heard it before" or "that's so stupid" or "whatever!"
But then there comes a time when we hear an expression or phrase that we've heard 1,000 times before, and our brains go, "Whoa! Wait a second! Now I understand what that really means! Gee, that changes my whole level of understanding."
And we get a little paradigm shift.
The teacher has "appeared."
There is an old Zen saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
I always thought that this meant that there was something extra-special about guru-like teachers, that they would somehow magically sense when a student on the path of spiritual wisdom was ready and and then they would just appear and bestow their words of wisdom.
I was wrong. What this saying really means is that, when the student is ready, then he/she will recognize the teacher that was always there.
We hear instructional or guiding words everyday, from people we know, from the radio or TV, from the Internet, from books we read, and so forth. And most of the time our brains go "yeah, heard it before" or "that's so stupid" or "whatever!"
But then there comes a time when we hear an expression or phrase that we've heard 1,000 times before, and our brains go, "Whoa! Wait a second! Now I understand what that really means! Gee, that changes my whole level of understanding."
And we get a little paradigm shift.
The teacher has "appeared."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Forgiveness
"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Kierkegaard quote
"The majority of men live without being thoroughly conscious that they are spiritual beings."
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard
Monday, August 25, 2008
Exercise: Visiting A Spiritual Place
“Be Here Now” was a 1971 book by Baba Ram Dass (Richard Alpert), and its core message (the title of the book) is just as relevant today with respect to living a spirit-centered and fully-empowered life on a moment-to-moment basis.
When our awareness is distracted by thoughts of the past or future, or of events happening in other places, we diminish our abilities to fully experience the magic and power and the infinite possibilities of the present moment at that one particular place and time.
So, generally, being “here now” is a wonderful philosophy and I usually try to keep that focus myself.
On the other hand, the “here now” that some people may be experiencing right now may perhaps be able to be improved upon, if only for a moment, and this is a quick and easy exercise you can do right now that can achieve that sort of improvement, and maybe get you feeling quite happy and spiritual.
And it’s really very simple.
[The following is written in the style of a guided meditation, so you could repeat it into a recorder and play it back to yourself or have a friend read it to you.]
So just close your eyes for a moment, and imagine the most spiritual, sacred place in the world. It might be a temple, church, pyramid, mosque, or other religious building, or it might be a place where some very sacred and holy event took place.
And if you don't know any particular sacred place right now you can just invent one in your mind, just as spiritual and powerful as any place on earth.
And just imagine that place as clearly as you can, in all the little details.
And when you have a very clear imagining of that sacred and spiritual place in your mind, then imagine that you are actually at that place, that very spiritual place.
And notice all the details and qualities of what it’s like to be there: the feels, the sounds, the colors, the textures. Let your senses fully experience what it would actually be like if you were there, right now, in person; whatever sights, smells, or sounds that you would actually experience if you were there right now.
And then finally allow your inner self to feel the spirituality of that place, the true magic of being there, all the way from your feet through your whole body to the top of your head. And just allow it all to happen, and let the sacredness and spirituality of that very special place fill you completely.
And when you are completely filled with the feeling of the spirituality and power of that place, so much so that you are actually almost glowing with that beautiful sacred feeling, and when you’re ready, then come on back to the “here and now” and allow your eyes to open at their own pace. And take a deep, slow breath, and then let it out.
And just allow that wonderful feeling of sacred spirituality that you received from that special place to stay with you for the rest of the day, and maybe tomorrow too, nurturing you and empowering you and making you feel so good, inside and out.
Perfect!
When our awareness is distracted by thoughts of the past or future, or of events happening in other places, we diminish our abilities to fully experience the magic and power and the infinite possibilities of the present moment at that one particular place and time.
So, generally, being “here now” is a wonderful philosophy and I usually try to keep that focus myself.
On the other hand, the “here now” that some people may be experiencing right now may perhaps be able to be improved upon, if only for a moment, and this is a quick and easy exercise you can do right now that can achieve that sort of improvement, and maybe get you feeling quite happy and spiritual.
And it’s really very simple.
[The following is written in the style of a guided meditation, so you could repeat it into a recorder and play it back to yourself or have a friend read it to you.]
So just close your eyes for a moment, and imagine the most spiritual, sacred place in the world. It might be a temple, church, pyramid, mosque, or other religious building, or it might be a place where some very sacred and holy event took place.
And if you don't know any particular sacred place right now you can just invent one in your mind, just as spiritual and powerful as any place on earth.
And just imagine that place as clearly as you can, in all the little details.
And when you have a very clear imagining of that sacred and spiritual place in your mind, then imagine that you are actually at that place, that very spiritual place.
And notice all the details and qualities of what it’s like to be there: the feels, the sounds, the colors, the textures. Let your senses fully experience what it would actually be like if you were there, right now, in person; whatever sights, smells, or sounds that you would actually experience if you were there right now.
And then finally allow your inner self to feel the spirituality of that place, the true magic of being there, all the way from your feet through your whole body to the top of your head. And just allow it all to happen, and let the sacredness and spirituality of that very special place fill you completely.
And when you are completely filled with the feeling of the spirituality and power of that place, so much so that you are actually almost glowing with that beautiful sacred feeling, and when you’re ready, then come on back to the “here and now” and allow your eyes to open at their own pace. And take a deep, slow breath, and then let it out.
And just allow that wonderful feeling of sacred spirituality that you received from that special place to stay with you for the rest of the day, and maybe tomorrow too, nurturing you and empowering you and making you feel so good, inside and out.
Perfect!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Marianne Williamson on Spirituality
"Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us."
Marianne Williamson
Very clearly and cogently stated. Nothing more need be said. If I could buy a thousand billboards I would spread this message across the nation. If people could learn only one thing, this would be enough.
Thank you, Marianne!
Marianne Williamson
Very clearly and cogently stated. Nothing more need be said. If I could buy a thousand billboards I would spread this message across the nation. If people could learn only one thing, this would be enough.
Thank you, Marianne!
Ya Mo B There
Michael McDonald and James Ingram perform their classic hit.
Crank up the sound and get up and dance and sing along!
Crank up the sound and get up and dance and sing along!
Friday, August 22, 2008
An Exercise In Scrying
This is a two-part exercise in "scrying." Scrying is simply obtaining psychic information from gazing at or into a visual source and observing images in this visual source that help provide answers to the question in mind. This might be a crystal ball, a pool of water, smoke smudges on a card, tea leaves, or a variety of other sources.
In this on-line exercise, we're going to use clouds as our scrying source.
The first video presented here is simply a montage of pretty images and music to get your mind into a relaxed state. Just click on it, relax, and enjoy!
Then we come to the second video. This video again presents pretty, relaxing music, along with a lot of pictures, mostly of clouds. Before you start this video, fix your question firmly in mind. Then click on the video to get it started, and relax, and look to see if you notice any images, symbols, signs, or other "pictures" in the clouds that might bear on or relate to your question.
Once you've clearly formed your question in your mind, then just let it go and enjoy the music and the video. If there are relevant images, symbols, signs, or other pictures in the clouds that you see, you will become aware of them, and you will remember them.
Here's the first video. Just to get you into a relaxed state of mind. Simply click on the arrow in the middle of the picture and enjoy!
Wasn't that nice? Ummmmm!
OK, now here's the second video. Just get your question clearly in your mind, release it, and click on the arrow in the middle of the picture, and notice any images, symbols, or pictures in the clouds that might help you answer your question.
In this on-line exercise, we're going to use clouds as our scrying source.
The first video presented here is simply a montage of pretty images and music to get your mind into a relaxed state. Just click on it, relax, and enjoy!
Then we come to the second video. This video again presents pretty, relaxing music, along with a lot of pictures, mostly of clouds. Before you start this video, fix your question firmly in mind. Then click on the video to get it started, and relax, and look to see if you notice any images, symbols, signs, or other "pictures" in the clouds that might bear on or relate to your question.
Once you've clearly formed your question in your mind, then just let it go and enjoy the music and the video. If there are relevant images, symbols, signs, or other pictures in the clouds that you see, you will become aware of them, and you will remember them.
Here's the first video. Just to get you into a relaxed state of mind. Simply click on the arrow in the middle of the picture and enjoy!
Wasn't that nice? Ummmmm!
OK, now here's the second video. Just get your question clearly in your mind, release it, and click on the arrow in the middle of the picture, and notice any images, symbols, or pictures in the clouds that might help you answer your question.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
From "Spirituality For Dummies"
"The study of spirituality goes deeply into the heart of every matter and extends far beyond the physical world of matter. Spirituality connects you with the profoundly powerful and divine force that's present in this universe. Whether you're looking for worldly success, inner peace, or supreme enlightenment, no knowledge can propel you to achieve your goals and provide as effective a plan for living as does spiritual knowledge.
"* No financial or societal stature helps you get ahead in life as much as spiritual wisdom.
"* No amount of outer efforts bears as much fruit as understanding and flowing with the spiritual laws of this universe.
"* None of the powerful people you know can 'connect' you like the power of knowing your own self.
"* No friend can know and guide you as much as that truly best friend who exists behind all friends, behind all enemies, and in your very own soul."
- Sharon Janis, Spirituality For Dummies
And, yes, I happily and proudly own a copy of this book and will quote from it from time to time. Part of our growth into spiritual awareness is acknowledging the (previous) limitations and the "dummy-ness" of our earthbound minds, releasing those limitations, and rejecting any shame or guilt that we may attach to such limitations. And I think that any resource that can move us along the path to becoming truly and deeply spiritually enlightened is a good thing!
"* No financial or societal stature helps you get ahead in life as much as spiritual wisdom.
"* No amount of outer efforts bears as much fruit as understanding and flowing with the spiritual laws of this universe.
"* None of the powerful people you know can 'connect' you like the power of knowing your own self.
"* No friend can know and guide you as much as that truly best friend who exists behind all friends, behind all enemies, and in your very own soul."
- Sharon Janis, Spirituality For Dummies
And, yes, I happily and proudly own a copy of this book and will quote from it from time to time. Part of our growth into spiritual awareness is acknowledging the (previous) limitations and the "dummy-ness" of our earthbound minds, releasing those limitations, and rejecting any shame or guilt that we may attach to such limitations. And I think that any resource that can move us along the path to becoming truly and deeply spiritually enlightened is a good thing!
Monday, August 18, 2008
What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Listening to this song always raises my vibrations. I hope it does the same for you. I just love the lyrics - what a beautiful perspective on life it offers!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Illuminations22 Services and Birthday Party Report
The non-denominational interfaith Illuminations22 Ministry holds services at 3:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month - including tomorrow, August 17, 2008 - at the Learning Light, located at 1212 East Lincoln Avenue (near the intersection with East Street), in Anaheim, California, telephone number (714) 533-2311. Healing services are provided from 2:20 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Join us!
The birthday party was HUGE fun. I only got a few pix before my camera battery ran out (no, even psychics don't think of everything), but General Manager Kerri also had a camera and so I may be able to post more pix later.
Highlights:
* Sonja (our events director, who arranged the event) and her athletic family won many of the prizes for the games. Are we surprised? Was the fix "in"? (Just teasing!)
* Rosemary's son Noah was also an event favorite and took home a prize.
* Lilith Mageborn made a TON of food. A delicious taco bar, beans, vegetables, plus the beverage bar run by Mary. No one went home hungry - and I think Andrew took home 8 cupcakes or so himself!
* Illuminations22 pastor Suzan sent over a beautiful hand-made birthday cake and a HUGE card for me but had to miss the event to take care of her sick puppy Kiki.
OK, let's see some pix:
The Learning Light
Waiting for guests to arrive
OK, Charley's here! Time to start the party!
The smart people hit the taco bar early
It all looks good to Richard!
Meanwhile, me and Andrew are getting our butts whopped by Kerri and Camille. (Nevertheless, Andrew keeps strategizing!)
The birthday party was HUGE fun. I only got a few pix before my camera battery ran out (no, even psychics don't think of everything), but General Manager Kerri also had a camera and so I may be able to post more pix later.
Highlights:
* Sonja (our events director, who arranged the event) and her athletic family won many of the prizes for the games. Are we surprised? Was the fix "in"? (Just teasing!)
* Rosemary's son Noah was also an event favorite and took home a prize.
* Lilith Mageborn made a TON of food. A delicious taco bar, beans, vegetables, plus the beverage bar run by Mary. No one went home hungry - and I think Andrew took home 8 cupcakes or so himself!
* Illuminations22 pastor Suzan sent over a beautiful hand-made birthday cake and a HUGE card for me but had to miss the event to take care of her sick puppy Kiki.
OK, let's see some pix:
The Learning Light
Waiting for guests to arrive
OK, Charley's here! Time to start the party!
The smart people hit the taco bar early
It all looks good to Richard!
Meanwhile, me and Andrew are getting our butts whopped by Kerri and Camille. (Nevertheless, Andrew keeps strategizing!)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Spiritual Beings Having A Human Experience
I wanted to talk a bit about the quote at the top of the blog: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." The quote is by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), the French philosopher and Jesuit priest.
This is a very important concept to master in traveling the spiritual path.
I remember when I was teaching classes about ghosts and hauntings. There were always some people who were a little nervous about actually encountering a ghost. I would remind them: Well, what are "ghosts" anyway? Just people, like us, but people who are no longer using their bodies. After the body dies the spirit remains. The fact that ghosts exist is one of the strongest bits of evidence that the spirit doesn't die, and that "dying" simply refers to letting go of the human body. But we, as spiritual beings, go on.
The same thing applies to the concept of "angels," as well. If we become angels after our bodies die, then doesn't that imply that the angel essence is within us all along, and that we free that angelic essence when we let go of the body?
There's another quote, from the Jedi master Yoda from the Star Wars movies (I believe it's in The Empire Strikes Back), that reinforces this concept: "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."
And, indeed, we are "luminous beings." Those who have learned or been trained how to see "auras" can literally see (although it's not really done with the eyes) the spiritual glow of all living entities. (Parenthetically, this is not a difficult ability to master, but its use in the material world seems to be rather limited, unless one goes on to learn how to do psychic "readings" of auras.)
The Sanskrit greeting "Namaste" (literally, "I bow to you") is yet another reminder. From Wikipedia:
"Namaste is one of the few Sanskrit words commonly recognized by Non-Hindi speakers. . . .
"In recent times, and more globally, the term 'namaste' has come to be especially associated with yoga and spiritual meditation all over the world. In this context, it has been viewed in terms of a multitude of very complicated and poetic meanings which tie in with the spiritual origins of the word. Some examples:
"I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me." -- attributed to author Deepak Chopra
"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
"I salute the God within you."
"Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India.
"That which is of the Divine in me greets that which is of the Divine in you."
"The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
In using the Namaste, we are reminded that not only are we primarily a spiritual being, but that all other beings are primarily spiritual as well.
The challenge, of course, is that 99% of the other entities that we encounter during the day will primarily treat us as a human entity, rather than a spiritual one, and so we tend to respond from our human aspect, rather than our spiritual part. It's an easy trap to fall into.
But if we are going to succeed in our journey on the spiritual path then it is a trap we need to learn to avoid.
You are a spiritual entity, magnificent beyond all possible comprehension of the human brain. Your "angel essence" is entirely within you right now. Your "divinity" is entirely within you right now. Don't let the illusion of the body and the physical world interfere with your awareness of your true spiritual magnificence.
Keep reminding yourself, like an affirmation: I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. We need to re-train our brains from their addiction to the physical world. This is a great way to start doing that now.
So in closing, to you I say: Namaste! The divine Spirit in me recognizes and acknowledges that the same divine Spirit is also in you, and my human part honors and bows before that divine Spirit.
This is a very important concept to master in traveling the spiritual path.
I remember when I was teaching classes about ghosts and hauntings. There were always some people who were a little nervous about actually encountering a ghost. I would remind them: Well, what are "ghosts" anyway? Just people, like us, but people who are no longer using their bodies. After the body dies the spirit remains. The fact that ghosts exist is one of the strongest bits of evidence that the spirit doesn't die, and that "dying" simply refers to letting go of the human body. But we, as spiritual beings, go on.
The same thing applies to the concept of "angels," as well. If we become angels after our bodies die, then doesn't that imply that the angel essence is within us all along, and that we free that angelic essence when we let go of the body?
There's another quote, from the Jedi master Yoda from the Star Wars movies (I believe it's in The Empire Strikes Back), that reinforces this concept: "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."
And, indeed, we are "luminous beings." Those who have learned or been trained how to see "auras" can literally see (although it's not really done with the eyes) the spiritual glow of all living entities. (Parenthetically, this is not a difficult ability to master, but its use in the material world seems to be rather limited, unless one goes on to learn how to do psychic "readings" of auras.)
The Sanskrit greeting "Namaste" (literally, "I bow to you") is yet another reminder. From Wikipedia:
"Namaste is one of the few Sanskrit words commonly recognized by Non-Hindi speakers. . . .
"In recent times, and more globally, the term 'namaste' has come to be especially associated with yoga and spiritual meditation all over the world. In this context, it has been viewed in terms of a multitude of very complicated and poetic meanings which tie in with the spiritual origins of the word. Some examples:
"I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me." -- attributed to author Deepak Chopra
"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
"I salute the God within you."
"Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India.
"That which is of the Divine in me greets that which is of the Divine in you."
"The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
In using the Namaste, we are reminded that not only are we primarily a spiritual being, but that all other beings are primarily spiritual as well.
The challenge, of course, is that 99% of the other entities that we encounter during the day will primarily treat us as a human entity, rather than a spiritual one, and so we tend to respond from our human aspect, rather than our spiritual part. It's an easy trap to fall into.
But if we are going to succeed in our journey on the spiritual path then it is a trap we need to learn to avoid.
You are a spiritual entity, magnificent beyond all possible comprehension of the human brain. Your "angel essence" is entirely within you right now. Your "divinity" is entirely within you right now. Don't let the illusion of the body and the physical world interfere with your awareness of your true spiritual magnificence.
Keep reminding yourself, like an affirmation: I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. We need to re-train our brains from their addiction to the physical world. This is a great way to start doing that now.
So in closing, to you I say: Namaste! The divine Spirit in me recognizes and acknowledges that the same divine Spirit is also in you, and my human part honors and bows before that divine Spirit.
Learning Light's Birthday Party
. . . is tomorrow night!
From the Learning Light website:
Celebrate the LLF's 46th Birthday...
Come enjoy:
*BBQ
*Margaritas
*Music
*Games
*Prizes
*AND FUN, FUN, FUN!
SATURDAY, August 16
6-9pm, $25
We'll see what happens as far as the margaritas go. I guess they're getting a one-day alcohol permit. It's very unusual for us to have alcohol at events.
But certainly no one is required to drink. So, whether you drink alcohol or not, please do come and join in the fun! It's a "beach party" theme, so Hawaiian shirts and dresses will probably be the way to go. I hope to see you all there!
From the Learning Light website:
Celebrate the LLF's 46th Birthday...
Come enjoy:
*BBQ
*Margaritas
*Music
*Games
*Prizes
*AND FUN, FUN, FUN!
SATURDAY, August 16
6-9pm, $25
We'll see what happens as far as the margaritas go. I guess they're getting a one-day alcohol permit. It's very unusual for us to have alcohol at events.
But certainly no one is required to drink. So, whether you drink alcohol or not, please do come and join in the fun! It's a "beach party" theme, so Hawaiian shirts and dresses will probably be the way to go. I hope to see you all there!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Kitaro: Theme From Silk Road
One of the ways to raise our vibrations discussed below is to "Listen, dance or sing to happy or spiritually uplifting music."
Right on cue, I therefore present for your enjoyment some beautiful music indeed from one of my favorite musicians, the Japanese composer Kitaro. Here he performs the hauntingly delicious "Theme From Silk Road." Click on the arrow in the middle of the picture and enjoy!
Right on cue, I therefore present for your enjoyment some beautiful music indeed from one of my favorite musicians, the Japanese composer Kitaro. Here he performs the hauntingly delicious "Theme From Silk Road." Click on the arrow in the middle of the picture and enjoy!
Exercise: Raising Your Vibrations
One of the things that we discussed at the last manifesting workshop was the importance of keeping our vibrational energies high. But raising our vibrations is good for all spiritual work, not just manifesting.
The best part is that it's fun and easy to raise your vibrations!
Here's a list of activities that can help you raise your personal vibrations. Try and do as many of these as you can every day, and have fun with it!
* Meditate and/or do creative, positive visualizations
* Develop your natural spiritual and psychic awareness and healing abilities
* Experience and express gratitude for all of the wonders in your life right now
* Use affirmations
* Give yourself permission to delight in love and experience abundance freely and openly
* Listen, dance or sing to happy or spiritually uplifting music
* Every day, give something away and make someone else feel happy (even if it’s just your beautiful smile!)
* Keep close to and work with tools that nurture your spirituality (like chakras and crystals)
* Spend time in natural settings, amongst living plants and animals, and clear running water
* Practice deep, regular breathing
* Eat light, high vibration foods like fresh fruits and vegetables
* Think positively, and use “go towards” strategies instead of “away from” strategies
* Keep company with loving, giving, positive-thinking, kind and gentle people
* Keep in touch with your feelings, and be aware of what is causing them
* Purify, nurture, and pleasure your body
* Tickle your funny bone - read/tell jokes, watch comedies, and laugh often and long
* Use positive and uplifting colorology and aromatherapy
* Forgive yourself and others
The best part is that it's fun and easy to raise your vibrations!
Here's a list of activities that can help you raise your personal vibrations. Try and do as many of these as you can every day, and have fun with it!
* Meditate and/or do creative, positive visualizations
* Develop your natural spiritual and psychic awareness and healing abilities
* Experience and express gratitude for all of the wonders in your life right now
* Use affirmations
* Give yourself permission to delight in love and experience abundance freely and openly
* Listen, dance or sing to happy or spiritually uplifting music
* Every day, give something away and make someone else feel happy (even if it’s just your beautiful smile!)
* Keep close to and work with tools that nurture your spirituality (like chakras and crystals)
* Spend time in natural settings, amongst living plants and animals, and clear running water
* Practice deep, regular breathing
* Eat light, high vibration foods like fresh fruits and vegetables
* Think positively, and use “go towards” strategies instead of “away from” strategies
* Keep company with loving, giving, positive-thinking, kind and gentle people
* Keep in touch with your feelings, and be aware of what is causing them
* Purify, nurture, and pleasure your body
* Tickle your funny bone - read/tell jokes, watch comedies, and laugh often and long
* Use positive and uplifting colorology and aromatherapy
* Forgive yourself and others
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Love everything
"Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love."
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
