Noah’s Ark & The Great Deluge

Most people are aware of Noah and the great flood.  This epic Old Testament biblical story of the great global deluge has inspired many artists, poets, film makers and scholars throughout history and continues to be a popular children’s book.  Similar stories of a great flood that covered the entire planet are mentioned in the Torah and the Quran, as well as almost every culture throughout history.  The Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh and the ancient Greeks, Romans and Native Americans all have their own variations of the legendary flood story, as does the myth of the Sumerian water god Enki.  The flood story is all over the world … clearly found to be an event that was sent to us from the people of the past.  Whether or not the great deluge is an actual historical account or not is quite controversial, however it is hard to dispute that somehow the message of the flood is important.
Although most people are aware of one of the bibles most well-known stories, considered to be a retribution of God or the gods, most likely there is a lot about it that you may never even heard of.  In many ways this New Testament story is fantastical … Hebrew mythology that gives clues into a world that once existed and perhaps a world that may return … where giants roamed the earth and the angels produced offspring with humans.  According to the Book of Genesis, God saw that humankind and the Nefilim were committing all sorts of wickedness and therefore decided to destroy man, all except Noah and his family.
Scientists believe that they may have actually found evidence that suggests that Noah’s Ark really existed.  They have found what they believe to be the remains of Noah’s ark beneath snow and volcanic debris on Turkey’s Mount Ararat.  Tours to this Turkish site will take you directly to what is believed by many to be the fossilized remains of Noah’s Ark.  Many people are convinced that this is indeed the Ark of Noah and that it has been revealed to the world at this time for an important reason … the universe wants people to know about it.

I believe that everyone’s perspective of this story, the values and lessons that they are gifted from it, will all be different.  As a student of spirituality and metaphysical studies, the story of Noah, whose righteousness found favor with God or the gods, inspires me to live a whole life … a life that celebrates the parts about existence that are miraculous and natural … the animals, farming and the joy of family.  I think of Noah’s wife and how she must have responded to such a great calling and how brave, strong and intuitive she must have been.  I apply this story in my daily life, by understanding that life sometimes seems cruel … yet, it is filled with wonder … and fortunately everlasting light and life.  The story invites me in … into something deeper, more complex, yet seems to subliminally advise that although our minds can come up with all kinds of clever and creative mixes and matches, scientific studies, conclusions and experimentation, hybrids, cloning, etc … the best things in life indeed are those that need no alteration, no changes or tweaks, as they already are blessed with the love of the creator, of the universal mind.  The story of Noah says that God had promised never again to flood the earth, and offered the rainbow as a sign of good faith saying, “This is the token of covenant which I make between me and  you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my rainbow in the cloud”.  Sealed with the promise that is represented by the rainbow … the bridge that is nothing other than pure light and something of deep metaphysical significance, a stairway to heaven, Noah and his family are then left with their next important mission, as this story of destruction becomes one of creation.

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How to Handle the Shadows of Others with Grace & Compassion

The Shadow, a term introduced by Carl G. Jung is the sum of everything in us that is repressed, undeveloped, unconscious and denied, including both dark rejected aspects of the self, as well as positive undeveloped potentials.  Shadow Work is a deep process of psycho-emotional healing that helps to evolve through cultivating awareness and embracing the many parts of the self, aligning and integrating them through the course of spiritual and psychological growth. Everyone has a shadow.  The mass consciousness of our planet does as well.
As a student of metaphysical sciences I am aware of the shadow and I take an active approach to integrating my own shadow into my consciousness.  I am also aware of the shadows of others whose shadows come out to play once in awhile, often antagonizing my own and threatening the very core of my shadow integration.  When this began to happen I knew that I needed to find a way to successfully handle the shadows of others, whose presence in my life is a permanent part of family relationships.  Otherwise I will never be able to fulfill my desire and need to release my shadow from the shadowy depth of my being, without retreating to a remote part of the planet.  Distant retreat was simply not an option.  I needed to find a way to react differently to the shadows of others, with grace … more lovingly, with more acceptance and tolerance … and as I did this, I noticed that my own shadowy pieces began to heal as well.
When dealing with the shadows of others, I allow life to be my classroom.  I allow their shadows to teach me about my own, by recognizing whether or not I feel judgment toward them or whether I am just observing them.  When I find myself judging them, then I know that I must have the qualities that I am judging within myself somewhere.  Sometimes I can recognize this … a painful process, sometimes I cannot, yet I simply continue to observe myself either way.  If you want to see the nature of your shadow, If you observe something it is not a projection, but if you judge it, it is.  Whether I am simply observing their shadow or observing it with judgment I remind myself of a few things in order to make peace with them, their shadows, my self and all of life … giving me the strength, conviction and courage to face their shadows without running from my own.
I first analyze my reactions to this person’s shadow, especially my first reaction.  I really observe myself as though I am watching from above … recognizing that I have a shadow too, just as I recognize the shadow within them.  I ask myself whether or not I am reacting from a human perspective or from the eternal perspective of the self.  I remind myself of the nature of the shadow in the human experience and of the human condition that we are all a part of.  I remind myself to see things from the perspective of the eternal self, releasing the other person from the responsibly of somehow negative affecting me, accepting the shadow within them … and the shadow within me.  The more energy I put into accepting the shadow in them and the natural element of the human expression, the less vulnerable I feel to absorbing their shadows’ projections as my own and the less irritated I feel by my own shadow that they are reflecting.  I simply let go and send love, with great compassion and spiritual understanding of the human condition.  I release myself from the bondage of holding on and forgive.  I remind myself often that others have a shadow, just as I do.  I recognize the flaws within myself and within others … and in doing all of this, through handling and dealing with the shadows of others … I receive a great gift.  I begin to heal my own shadow in the process and live my life more fully, from a greater place of love where fear has less power over my actions and true spiritual wisdom guides me.  I release the resentments and accept the shadow in others, as the shadow in us all is an unavoidable and is necessary part of the human experience.
If you enjoyed this article and want to know more, visit UMS and take a look at their course and meditation on Shadow Work.

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Conscious Manifestation

If you could consciously create all that you desire, would you?  What would you create?  A great relationship, happiness, prosperity, travel … Go ahead, give it some good thought.  What do you want to manifest in your life?  Do you have what it takes to make your dreams come true?

It is possible to transform each day into the gateway that leads to an exceptional and abundant life.  You can choose the future that you want to experience and then set into motion the vibrational energy to create and attract it.   You can consciously create all that you desire.  You see, this is possible because the Universe, both what we see and what we do not, consists of an enormous web of energy and we are a part of this energy.  We are beings of vibrational energy that interact with this web of energy.  Our energy is so strong, so powerful that it goes forth and changes the fabric of the future.  Wow, right?  Every act and thought contributes to creating a happy, prosperous, healthy and rewarding existence.
If you are ready to live more consciously and let go of living in an unconditional way, manifesting the same repeatable patterns into your life over and over again, than you must first realize that you have a choice.  Without realizing it, we draw experiences and people to us unconsciously, and interact with them in programmed ways.  It is possible however to do this in a more conscious way, drawing to you people, situations, things, opportunities and experiences that you need in order to manifest your desires.
You can manifest good things in your life by consciously paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, which are extensions of you.  Your own thinking effects your life, the life of those around you and the entire fabric of the Universe.  You can manifest an exception life by affirming what you want to have happen and trust in life to bring it to you.  Life loves you and wants you to be happy.  Solutions will come into your life that you never dreamed of.  What a lovely thought!

Conscious creation is all about drawing to you what you need in order to receive what you want.  So get out a pen and paper and begin to really answer the question, “What do you really want in life if your only option was success?”.  Let your heart guide you.  Once you have a clear picture of your desires, then let go … have faith and begin working toward accomplishing some small goals in your life that are a part of the larger goals.  Action married with intention, along with the web of the universe is extremely powerful, so be prepared for opportunities to unfold quickly.  Develop the art of loving things as they are now.  When you notice something you want to change, you must first love and accept it just as it is. Only love is big enough to embrace all the seeming mistakes of the past and the bumps along the way to manifesting all your heart’s desires.  Stay tuned into the frequency you wish to receive from.  The more joy you feel, the more joy will come your way.  Do things that bring you happiness and stay connected to your heart through gratitude.

Here are some techniques and tips toward successful conscious manifestation.

• Have gratitude for your life and understand that unconscious manifestation thrives on complaining.  So if you want to stop all unconscious manifestation in your life, stop complaining. We keep our childhood programming in place by complaining as though we are victims and life is just happening to us.  Old patterns will drop away effortlessly when you stop complaining.
• When happiness comes knocking, go ahead and answer it.  Let the happiness in when it comes your way.  By making the choice to be happy as much as possible, no matter what life throws at you, before you know it, your high vibration will create even more joy in your life.  It will literally be drawn toward you.
• Do not dwell on problems, rather focus on the solution.
• If a negative thought, person, experience, etc. starts to bring you down, you can break the spell … you don’t have to go with those negative feelings.  You do not have to ride the wave.  Simply make the choice to feel happy and good.  You are the creator of your experience.
• Forgiveness is something you do for yourself to release yourself from the prison of holding on.  It does not mean that you condone behavior however, so just let it go.
• How you start your day is important, so start it well.
• Start a gratitude journal.  Write in it every night before bed.
• Make an affirmation bowl and place it on the table.  Choose a positive affirmation from the bowl each day at put it on the refrigerator.  Better yet, let the children pick out the affirmations for the day.  Children love affirmations.  Get them doing them early.

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Meditation Can Change The World

Are you familiar with the healing powers of meditation?  Did you know that mediation can change the world?  That it contributes to the peace of entire nations?  Did you know that meditating is not only good for your own stress levels, but it also contributes to the reduction of stress and stress-related illness for your neighbors to?  Do you do your part to help yourself and help the consciousness of the masses?  
There are numerous benefits of meditation, including dramatic stress reduction.  When you meditate you clear away the information overload that builds up and contributes to  stress.  Stress is a natural part  of human life, but today we are experiencing pandemic levels of stress, stress-related mental illness and lifestyle diseases that are abnormal by historical standards.  Meditation is known to dramatically help reverse the negative effects of stress on the body and mind.
Meditation can give a deep sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and overall health.  There is a growing body of scientific evidence being released by the world’s leading universities demonstrating how meditation produces a large range of positive outcomes.  These include normalized blood pressure and heart rate, empathy, heightened immunity, sharpened memory, increased energy levels and creativity, chronic pain relief, overall increase in well-being and happiness, increased brain function, better decision making capabilities, decreased stress, decreased depression and anxiety and faster recovery from stressful events, to name a few.  The emotional benefits of mediation include a reduction of negative emotions, mindfulness, optimism, increased self-awareness and an overall peace within the self.

Meditation is not only good for the individual who practices, but for the mass consciousness as well.  This is a new concept for many.  There have been numerous studies that have shown that a large group of people meditating together have a measurable effect on the greater population.  You can be a part of a great movement for peace and never leave the comfort of your home.  If we all come together and focus, and every individual does their part to affect the mass consciousness of humanity, we can change the world.  We can bring about peace through peace, rather than peace through war.

Meditating together also lets us come together in a shared intention for change.  On a global scale, we have witnessed many times how a small handful of people, strongly unified by a common intent, can profoundly influence a larger group of people.  Great global movements for peace begin with the unity of people who desire peace for the greater good.  If the number of people who meditate peace are large enough, this can neutralize negativity, neutralizing stress of the masses (even those who are not meditating) and lower crime and the desire for war.  A group of individuals can have a marked influence on the calming influence throughout society.
I see meditation as a divine gift, a way that we can contribute and give to our world.
According to the world-renowned quantum physicist, public policy expert and leading proponent of peace, Dr. John Hagelin, stress has a significant effect on the brain and group meditation is a brain-based approach to peace.  He says that the epidemic of stress that contributes to so many health problems, including stress-related illness such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke,  can be reduced through meditation.  Dr. Hagelin explains that anti-social behavior and aggressive-impulsive criminal behavior are stress driven behaviors, born of stress.  Stress has a negative effect on brain functioning and under stress the prefrontal cortex shuts down.  Dr. Hagelin goes on to say that when the prefrontal cortex (otherwise known as the higher brain, responsible for higher human functioning, such as moral reasoning and judgments) shuts down, under stress, we are driven by the primitive, impulsive brain.  At this point we then lose control and lose the ability to consider the implications of our actions.  You could see how this would be problematic.  A simple tool to reverse the negative effects of stress on brain functioning is meditation.  The amazing part about this is that you not only effect yourself when you meditate, you effect others, contributing to the mass consciousness of the planet.
So please, do your part and together we can change the world.  To learn more, please visit the University of Metaphysical Sciences.  Free downloads are available.

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Affirmations: The Power of The Word

An affirmation is the assertion that something exists or is true. Every word you think and every word say is an affirmation.  You can use affirmations to change your life in a positive way by consciously choosing words that create good in your life.  An affirmation opens the door to change.  It is possible to reprogram the mind in a such a way that you attract all sorts of good to you by using affirmations.  Successfully affirming good into your life can be easy.  In order for your affirmations to manifest there are few tips that will keep you open to receiving what it is that you would like welcome into your life.  So let’s get started.
*It is a good idea to have a notebook handy for affirmation work, preferably a new one devoted to your affirmations.  Even if you never use it, other than simply recording your affirmative statements, a notebook serves as a reminder of the thoughts and words you are introducing into your consciousness.
What you choose to think is what you will get in life.  An affirmation is a declaration that something is true.  Affirmative statements go beyond the reality of the present into the creation of the future by the words you use in the now.  Affirmations are planting seeds for future prosperity.  The more you repeat the affirmation, the better the chances of successful manifestation.
Our thoughts and words are like seeds in the mind.  A happy atmosphere within your mind will create a fertile environment, with rich soil that will create beautiful results.  That is the key to bringing your positive affirmations into reality … the right environment for them to grow.
Many people do not find affirmations helpful, but the truth is that they must bring about positive change if they are done correctly.  Here are a few guidelines to follow to find success in using affirmations.

• Always say affirmations in the present tense.
• Write, speak or think your affirmations everyday until you see results.
• If you do your affirmations before bedtime they will swim around within your mind all night long.
• It is easier to think positive affirmations when you feel good, so create a joyful inner environment with lots of gratitude.
• Every thought you think and every word you speak is creating your future.  If you say your affirmations, yet live in a state of contradiction, don’t expect much.  In fact, things may get worse.  Pay attention to the words you use everyday, both with your inner voice and your outer voice.  Choose positive affirming words all day, everyday … as much as possible.  You must change the way you speak and think in order for affirmations to work.
• Every complaint is an affirmation of something you do not want.  It is important to turn negative affirmations around into positive affirmations.
• Too many negative thoughts create blocks of resistance that slow down positive affirmations or inhibit them completely.  Thoughts of bitterness, blame, guilt and resentment need to be let go of in order to achieve maximum results from your positive affirmations.
• If you do not feel you deserve the manifestation of the affirmation, you will create a barrier to bringing your positive affirmation into fruition.  Your beliefs affect your life.

Every moment you have a choice as to what you will think about.  Our thoughts create our experience in life.  It is important to remember that every thought you think and every word you speak is an affirmation, so you want them to be as conducive to as great a life as possible.  It is very important to pay attention to the words you use every day, and the way you feel when saying them, for we become programmed by them.  Saying affirmations is only part of the formula … what we do for the rest of the day and night is even more important.  The secret to having your affirmations work well is to create a nurturing and loving inner environment,  conducive to their growth.
Positive affirmations and positive thinking techniques can help develop a powerful and positive attitude in life, which is an essential element in life success and good health. You can use affirmations to change your life in a positive way.   Here are a few affirmations to get your started, although once you get some practice you will be able to write your own.

• I am open and receptive to all the good and abundance in the Universe.
• Right now, I accept the abundance that is flowing into my life.
• I trust my intuition to lead me to abundance.
• Changing careers is easy and joyous.
• My intuition clearly guides me to my new career.
• Each morning I wake up energized and excited for my day because I am passionate about my work.
• I am supported in my pursuit of prosperity.
• I am willing to recognize the opportunity to change careers.
• I am guided to an abundance of joy.
• I lovingly do everything I can to assist my body in maintaining perfect health.
• My new work environment is fun and supportive. I enjoy each day there.
• I leap knowing that there is nowhere to fall to. I trust in the universe.
• My life is filled with delight, joy, love, and good humor.
• I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am.
• Today is a delightful day. Money comes to me in expected and unexpected ways.
• I choose to express a confident attitude to others.
• I already have the experience and understanding I need to perform my absolute best.
• When I believe in myself, others believe in me to.
• All my relationships are loving and harmonious.
• I trust in the process of life.
• My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendships.
• I choose to allow love, joy and freedom into my life.
• I open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.

For more affirmations, please visit The University of Metaphysical Sciences.
Enjoy your life!  The universe wants you to be happy.

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Just What Kind Of Craft, Is Witchcraft?

The word witch is enough to stir up all kinds of small town trouble, but is it really that big of a deal?  What do witches do anyway that have people talking till the cows fly home, singing opera and wearing cute tights?  Witchcraft illicits great fear … fear that creates a lot of black magick in itself.  So stay with me for a few moments here.  I want to dispel the myths and verify the magick, all while freeing you from the fear that causes the most blackest of arts.
Magick is all around us and within us.  It could be said that we are made of magick … It is a natural part of the human experience, a natural reaction to life and an external expression of humanity’s psychic connection to the universe.  Believed to be a survival technique developed in times of need, witchcraft is a belief that humans co-exist with nature in an organic and cooperative relationship with the Universe that is deliberate with intent.  The relationship with the Universe, with life, with nature creates heightened states of awareness and sensitivities in the practitioner, opening them up to a more awakened life experience.
The craft, short for witchcraft, is practiced by diverse people, in a pan-global context.  It has simply been defined as the craft of the wise.  Although the craft is nature-oriented with pre-Christian roots, the framework and definitive identifiers continue to evolve and change.  It can be practiced in either an agnostic or atheistic belief system.  The belief in divinity is not necessary to practice the craft, although many who do have a belief in immanence of the divine.  The craft often coexists with other religious, scientific and spiritual views.  There is a lot of liberty … a source of attraction to many.  A practitioner of the craft creates change with nature-based spirituality and techniques.
This special skill set that brings about the change that occurs with the craft is called magick.  The co-creational process of change involves vibrational life energy, resonant energetic magnetism, focused willpower or prayer, natural laws and greater than mundane forces.  The craft calls the practitioner to reveal there own truth, while being the priest or priestess of oneself.  The craft takes its teaching from nature and the natural forces that are used to perform magick are inherit within each individual and within the earth itself.  It is a necessary part of the personal empowerment that comes along with the craft that the practitioner lives with integrity and responsibility.  This is often more difficult than simply going along with what is considered the norm and the “right” way of doing things.
The craft is an opportunity to invest in the energetic co-creational process, while connecting with nature and taking control of your life.  It is a powerful and encouraging revelation when the wisdom of our ancestors finds itself useful in your life.  The reward of personal empowerment often leads to the realization of the true potential of an individual … a sense of divine purpose.  The gift of magick is available to everyone, although some may have a little more of a natural gift for it.
The fear of change, as well as the fear of the power that accompanies the ability to command through the force of your will and bring about change is at the root of the stigmatization and  social alienation of witches.  Oddly enough the gossip, finger-pointing, blaming and hatred that comes from this sort of fear can be very damaging, a spell of its own, that effects the practitioner the most.  The thoughts, words and deeds of an individual are indeed magickal in themselves, as the energy that goes out … eventually comes back around.

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A Course In Miracles: Can It Help You In Your Life?

It is likely that you have either heard of A Course In Miracles (ACIM) or are already familiar with the teachings.  Many luminaries of our time, motivational speakers, metaphysicians, new agers and spiritual leaders refer to ACIM often in their teachings, books and speeches.  A Course In Miracles has been translated in several languages and has sold over one and a half million copies.  The popularity of the Course continues to grow.  Their are currently over 2,200 study groups that now meet worldwide on a regular basis.  No one has the rights to the material in ACIM because the authors claimed that the writer of the text was divine, therefore anyone is free to quote the material just like other religious texts such as the Bible.
A Course In Miracles (ACIM) is the result of the collaboration between two Columbia University psychologists, Dr. William T. Thetford and Dr. Helen Schucman. In 1965, Helen experienced what she described as a Voice which spoke clearly in her mind, saying “This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.”  The two continued over a period of seven years to document and assemble the information that came to Helen from the voice, whose name was given as Jesus.  The three-volume set was published in 1975 through the Foundation for Inner Peace.
A Course In Miracles (ACIM) is a self-study, spiritual thought system.  Although it uses traditional Christian terms and language, the focus of ACIM is on universal spiritual teachings. ACIM expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality and is not a religion. A three-volume curriculum consisting of a Text, Workbook for Students, and a Manual for Teachers, the student has several ways available to study the material.
The Course teaches the way to universal love and peace, owning our feelings and thoughts, releasing others from blame, remembering God and undoing guilt through forgiving others. The basis for fear and guilt are explained, as well as how they can be overcome through miracles.  Miracles are defined as a maximal expression of love. The miracle is a shift in perception from fear to love.
The summary introduction, which appears in ACIM reads:
“This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.”
This Course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:
Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.”
The Course is aimed to create spiritual transformation within an individual.  Many people have found great peace and self-acceptance through studying the Course, with profound spiritual experiences.  The Course is well-known in many spiritual circles around the world.  ACIM helps people make better sense of life and live in a greater state of balance and peace.  You may find it helpful to you as well.  ACIM is divided into lessons.  It is recommended that you do no more than one lesson per day.  Try it out for a week or a month.  There is no better way to see if ACIM is right for you then by trying it out for yourself.
May your life be filled with happiness and spiritual wealth!

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The Importance of Meditation

In Silence, the people of the Followers of the Inner Light, found answers to the deepest questions of their hearts.  Meditation is simply described as a serious act of contemplation, although entire books have been written to define it.  Meditation has been practiced since before recorded history and all culturally intact indigenous people use some form of meditation or another.

Through the vehicle of silence, by looking inward, chanting, studying dreams, using mantras and many other meditative techniques a secret doorway opens.  This door connects you to the divine, to the creator, to the source that connects all that is.  Who wouldn’t want to find that door?
The practice of meditation underlies many spiritual practices and traditions.  There is great value in meditation among all religions and spiritual groups of people.  It holds great value for you too.  Learning to meditate and doing it well can and will change your life, for the better.  Imagine the answers to the greatest mysteries of life, as well as solutions to your own problems being revealed to you.

Different cultures have different ways of meditating.  They are all important and useful to your own life because they all work.  You may find great achievement through some methods, more than others and that is why understanding these techniques is so important.  One meditative practice used by the Shamans was drumming.  The Indian culture embraces many forms of yoga, as one way to open the door to the divine and the popular Christian form of meditation is through prayer.  You see, there are many ways to meditate.  Chances are you already incorporate meditation into your life somehow.  The real question is not if you do meditate, but rather how well you meditate?  Life will blossom in ways you did not even know possible.  When we remember the self, who we really are … we wake up.

Many contemporary meditative practices have been established and created, most are modern revisions of traditional forms of meditation.  When studying various traditional and contemporary meditation forms, it is easy to find the ones you resonate with best.  I personally love the teaching of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh.  He teaches mindfulness meditation, a form of insight meditation that can be done while walking or any other activity of life.  The focus of walking while practicing mindfulness meditation is to be fully present in the moment.  Smell the air, feel the breeze, listen to the sounds around you … this is mindfulness.  The Catholic church had there own ancient form of walking meditation known as the labyrinth.  Yes, the labyrinth began in the Catholic church.  A labyrinth is most often a circular Mandala type of pattern with a walking path through to the center, with only one way in and one way out.  There is great symbolism here, as the path is said to be much like that of life.  We choose a path, follow it and accept what comes.

World Religions – The Common Threads

Each individuals’ perception of religion is as unique as each individual themselves.  There are many interpretations and points of view to everything.  Everyone experiences their own sacred religion in a different way and many people adopt the things that they like in a religion, while ignoring the parts that they dislike.  This adoption of likes and dislikes, often happens subconsciously rather than through conscious awareness.  I have taken pieces and parts of religions around the world for years and called them my own.  I adopted the philosophy of “taking a little bit of this” and “a little bit of that” to be a great honor for the religions that have become a part of my foundational belief system.
There are common threads that weave the worlds religions together in a spiritual tapestry of inter-knowing and reflection.  One thread, regardless of religion is that of a higher power that presides over all that is.  The simplicity of “just being a good person” is another.  Some examples of being a good person would be helping to take care of others, practicing right action and doing good deeds.  There are of course variations as to what doing the right thing means among religions, however most would agree to the great importance of the choices made in life and the path that they put you on.  Many wars have been fought in the name of religion, many righteous purging in the world of one group or another.  Another common trait that all religions share is that of ritual.  Whether it is singing, prayer or gathering together, these rituals are ways of focusing an intent.  That’s right all religions do this.  Intention is important, as it is the seed that becomes the plant that will grow.
The beauty of all religions is that they act as a guide toward our fulfillment and enlightenment.  They help to establish a desire for doing good, a belief in a higher power and a focus of divine intent.  Studying the various religions of the world is a rewarding and rich undertaking because it allows deeper understanding of yourself and at times your own religion.  It has a wholeness to it, a realism unveiled, a recognition of the importance of the parts that make up a whole, as much as the importance of the whole itself.
The world has many religions to share with us.  Each has its own practices and beliefs, and each has served humanity in its own way.  There is great value in each and although different, just as people too are different, they are very much the same.

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The Herbal Allies Among Us

There exists an army that stands by, awaiting to be your ally.  The plants that grow in the wild want to be your friends.  They want to share the gifts that they have with the world, just as many of us do.  The only difference is that the plants already know what it is that they are good at, what they have to share with the world.  Many of us, on the other hand, are still learning about the gifts and talents that we have to share.  Actually the plants are already our friends.  We could not live without them and yet there secrets and healing abilities have a great deal of discovery to take place.
The herbal world is full of wonder and excitement.  It is a world of enchantment, healing and magic.  Herbal medicine, also known as herbalism or botanical medicine, is a medical system based on the use of plants.  Herbs are used by many different cultures throughout the world today and have been utilized since the antiquity of time.  Herbalism has its roots at the very beginning of human history, recorded in every corner of the earth.  Actually before 500 B.C. plants were the only source of medicine.
This ancient healing system of herbs has so much to offer, an increasingly vital element to our health and well-being.  Nature is said to be the wisest source of healing and herbs have the ability to heal the body, mind and spirit in gentle, yet effective ways.  Herbs can help us to recover from illness, ease tension and pain, cleanse our system, increase immunity and so much more.
The more I learn about herbs, the more amazed I become.  They are so useful and important, always surprising me with yet another way to utilize them and improve my life somehow.  I began my studies with simple ways of using herbalism, such as making teas and at times herbal infusions.  Gradually I began to to make all sorts of herbal remedies, from poultices, lozenges, oils, ointments, inhalations, infusions, tinctures, gargles, baths, extracts and capsules.  Don’t let all those fancy ways of preparing herbs to scare you though.  Herbal Wisdom is a deep well, although the wisdom and healing potential exists no matter how deep you delve.  Entire schools are devoted to herbalism.  After all we are talking about an ancient art that has been around since the beginning of time.  The animals too look toward the plants for remedies.  I always give thanks, showing tremendous amounts of gratitude to the plants that I harvest.  I share love, as well as water, compost, honey and at times cakes and tea … for the fairies of course.
The knowledge to heal yourself and those around you is empowering and invaluable.  It adds great dimension to my life, as there is nothing greater than helping myself and those I love, live the best life possible.  I wish this for you too.  So whether you harvest from the wild, purchase or grow your herbs, please be sure to do a little research first and foremost.  Also, connect with the herbs you wish to use, invite them to be your friend … You will be glad that you did.
As with all healing modalities, consult with a physician first.  Be sure to get proper medical advice and treatment, especially in emergency situations, from your medical doctor.

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