The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Part IV
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April 3, 2009
March 30, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Part IV
This is part IV of a four part blog. Please see my last blog entry on March 23 for part III.
When you see someone who is ill, bless him/her and see them in their wholeness and perfect health, for even in their suffering, this wholeness is in their potential and waiting to be recovered.
When your eyes behold a person who is suffering from the vicissitudes of life, seemingly broken by life, bless him/her and see them vital, abundant and joyful: for what on the surface looks broken is really glorious and perfect when one looks within and sees with the eyes and heart of the Soul.
When you pass a homeless person, bless them for their goodness and see them smiling, whole and surrounded by the eternal, unconditional love of God the Parent and filled to overflowing with love, wellbeing and abundance.
Whenever you see a prostitute or pimp, be they those of the physical body or those who slander and defame another with their ideologies and falsehoods, bless them, too, for their goodness, for "they know not what they do" and are, as we all are, "leaning out for love and will lean that way forever." Offer the hand of blessing to them and, therefore, allow them to come to their senses again. Help them to see the wholeness which is at their essence and at the essence of all.
And please remember that it is impossible to bless and to be judgmental at the same time. So continually have as a deep, holy thought the desire to bless, for truly then shall you become a peacemaker, and then one day you shall behold the very countenance and heart of God wherever you look.
This is part IV of a four part blog. Please see my previous three blog entries on March 9, 16, and 23 for parts I, II & III.
March 27, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Podcast Part III
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March 23, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Part III
This is part III of a four part blog. Please see my last blog entry on March 16 for part II.
As well, when something goes wrong in your day and some unexpected event ruins your plans, you, too, can remember to burst into a blessing. For life is teaching you a lesson, and the very event you wish had not occurred, you yourself asked for in order to learn the lesson you wanted to learn. Challenges are blessings in disguise, and only good follows in their path. As you learn to embrace and bless it all; it reveals its gold to you.
Also, to bless is to recognize the universal beauty and goodness which is ever present for those who can "see"; it activates the law of attraction which brings into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy.
By blessing another, you are acknowledging the good within them. You are seeing them with the eyes and heart of God/Goddess. You are seeing their essential nature and not just their surface.
So, when you see a person in shackles, whether they are physical shackles or mental ones, bless them for their unawareness and wish them their freedom, kindness, and forgiveness and a pardon from their ignorance; for one can only be imprisoned by one's image of oneself. For we alone create the iron bars that imprison us when we harden our hearts and stop trusting in and seeing the goodness or "god"ness in each other and in all of our experiences. It is only he/she who is free of judgments who can bless another and see the light in themselves and in others.
This is part III of a four part blog. Please see my next blog entry on March 30 for part IV.
March 20, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Podcast, Part II
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March 16, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Part II
This is part II of a four part blog. Please see my last blog entry on March 9 for part I.
To bless means to wish, unconditional, complete, unlimited goodness for another from the depths of your heart and soul: it means to sanctify, to revere, and to see with pure wonder that which is a gift from God. The individual who is graced by your blessing is made whole and free and so are you as you release all judgments.
To bless is to bring into play the Divine upon another and to confer happiness and peace upon them. Though we are not the source of the blessing, by any means, we can be the willing instrument of God's Grace, Blessing and Love for them. And, of course, this then is a great blessing for us, too.
To bless everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done, without discrimination of any sort is the ultimate form of giving and service, because those who you bless will never know from what source suddenly and unexpectedly came a ray of hope that burst through the clouds of their negativity but they still will be eternally grateful for your generosity.
You can have a very profound effect on someone simply by the act of blessing them. And the ramifications of this blessing can and will exponentially grow as this wave of goodness that you initiate goes way beyond the intended receiver. Your simple thought of kindness can unleash a wave of goodness, blessing and peace that will cover the entire world.
This is part II of a four part blog. Please see my next blog entry on March 23 for part III.
March 13, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing Podcast, Part I
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March 9, 2009
The Sacred, Ancient Art of Blessing, Part I
This is part I of a four part blog.
The ancient art of blessing is such a wonderful way to add sacredness and peace to your life. It is a great way to ground and stabilize your energies throughout the day. It is a magnificent way to grace your day and the day of another person with light, love and peace.
So, when you awaken, begin by blessing your day, for it is so full of goodness. Blessing your day affirms all the good that is everywhere present in the very fabric of all of life and which patiently waits for you to notice.
When you see people in the street, at work, on the TV or in their cars, bless them. Your blessing will silently and magically bring them peace and stay with them all day like a cool summer breeze, like a beacon on their path.
When talking to people, bless them regarding their dreams and aspirations, their health, their finances, their work, their family, and themselves. Bless them in every imaginable way, for such blessings not only grace the one you are blessing, but also bring grace, joy and peace to you.
Bless the nation in which you live, its government and infrastructure, its polity, its teachers, its children, its policeman, its firemen, its bankers, its priests, its doctors and healers and everyone that is a part of the community, whether they are young or old, rich or poor, firm or infirm.
Also, whenever anyone expresses the least amount of negativity or unkindness towards you, respond with a blessing: bless them fully, honestly, happily, for such blessing protects them from their ignorance, and allows you to step aside from the negative energy that was aimed at you.
This is part I of a four part blog. Please see my next blog entry on March 16 for part II.
March 6, 2009
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part II
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March 2, 2009
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part II
This is Part II of a two-part blog. See my entry of February 23 for Part I.
It was because my wife and I chose to "Slow Down! Get there Fast!" that we gradually began to realize that living in New York City with all the noise and frenetic activity was not a match for who we were.
As well, working in two high profile and high pressure professions was also not who we were and what we wanted to do with our lives. Even though we first thought that these jobs were our ticket to heaven; they really were quite the opposite!
So, after living in NYC for only three years; it became obvious to us that we had to leave. So, we made plans and in two years we were out of the City, no longer in those jobs and living in a lot slower paced and less urbanized environment. We moved to a setting that was so much more a match to who we were and not who we thought we should be.
As well, by slowing down, we began to get more and more of our real priorities straight. We took care of ourselves and explored all kinds of enriching avenues of personal growth. We deepened our meditation and other spiritual practices. As well, we started the study and practice of Chi Gung, a Chinese form of meditation and energy mastery.
This all lead me to have the courage to make my passion, which is teaching and writing about the spiritual and healing arts, become my vocation and my work. So, within just two years we moved out of the Big Apple and I began my healing and teaching practice.
Starting anything new always has it challenges and opportunities. So, there were many times when I doubted myself and my abilities. But every time I did, I remembered that if I would just "slow down" I could tune into that "still, small voice within" and there I would find my center and find my Self again and all would be clear. I would remember in this place of Silence who I was and why I came forth.
I would see where I stood on my climb up my mountain of mastery, redouble my courage and confidence and continue on, clearly knowing that I was now "getting there fast!" That is, I was getting there in Divine Timing and in Divine Order and All was truly Good!
So, "Slow Down! Get There Fast!" It works wonders!
This is part II of a two part blog. See my previous blog entry of February 23 for Part I.
February 27, 2009
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part I
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February 23, 2009
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part I
My wife, Jaime, and I were living in New York City some twenty years ago. We were both working in very high pressure jobs in Manhattan. I was in book publishing and she was in insurance.
As well, we had a two hour commute back and forth to work every day. So, by the time we got home we were exhausted from all the stimulation. There was always something to "do" and it always had to be done fast! So, life was a series of unending tasks that seemed to just exponentially explode on us. It wasn't fun to say the least.
So, one day while we were taking stock of all we had to do, my wife, in total frustration, screamed out: "Slow Down! Get There Fast!"
It made us both stop in our tracks and first, laugh, but most importantly, it helped us to realize that we were like hamsters spinning around on a treadmill in a cage. We were going nowhere fast!
So, we asked, "Why are we doing this?" And we realized that we were unconscious. We were just doing more and more just for the sake of doing more and more in the hope that it would make us feel better about ourselves. But it certainly wasn't helping!
So, at that point we recognized that we had to incorporate a conscious, consistent spiritual practice into our lives; that is, we needed to create a time of slowing down. We had been doing numerous spiritual practices for years on a haphazard basis, but it wasn't enough obviously.
So, we then decided to sit and meditate and/or pray for at least thirty minutes an evening. It was so refreshing and relaxing. And most importantly, it helped us reach our goal of feeling good about ourselves very quickly; and we no longer had to run around mindlessly exhausting ourselves to reach our goal!
By slowing down, we got to our goal of feeling good about ourselves very, very fast. The other way of going about it, by running around all over the place, was actually moving us further and further away from our goal.
So, no matter what your goal is: "Slow Down! Get there Fast!" It works wonders!
In my next blog entry of March 2, I will continue this theme and explain how this process of slowing down helped me to find my purpose in life and live my passion.
February 20, 2009
"Think on These Things," Prayer
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February 16, 2009
"Think on These Things," Prayer
"...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and then the God of peace shall be with you."
(Philippians 4: 8-9)
Prayer
Be joyful always,
Pray continuously,
Give thanks in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18
In terms of increasing the quality of my life, I have found that prayer is such an incredibly valuable and precious tool.
When I refer to prayer I do not mean the repetition of rote phrases that no longer have any meaning. Prayer for me is seeing the good in all people, events and circumstances in my life and blessing and appreciating it all.
As you "think" or pray in this way, you are shining light on everything. And it is in this light and because of this light that the hidden beauty and brilliance of whatever you are focusing on is fully revealed.
As well, as you pray, you will continue to see your light grow stronger and stronger. And this light and this strength will be the attracting point and signal that you put out to others and to the universe. And as a result, you will attract even more light and strength to yourself. And in time all the darkness within you will be transformed into the light it always was. In this way you become the beacon on the hill, the lighthouse in the storm.
As you practice this you will be awed by all the good you will find within and without!
Quality is not inherent in an object or a person; it is created one prayer at a time; one kind word at a time; one noble action at a time; one positive thought at a time.
The great Masters still shine so brightly because they knew to constantly strengthen and brighten this flame within themselves with the fuel of prayer, love, service and good thoughts! And because of this, they no longer cast shadows any more! For they had become the Light!
Prayer is not an asking for, it is a becoming.
Yanni Maniates
Think or Meditate on These Things!
November 28, 2008
Dedication, Discipline and Intentionality; the Keys to the "Good Life," Part II
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November 24, 2008
Dedication, Discipline and Intentionality; the Keys to the "Good Life," Part II
This is a continuation of my last posting on November 17.
The ancient Masters were profound and subtle. Their wisdom was unfathomable.
There is no way to describe it; all we can describe is their appearance:
They were as careful as someone crossing an ice-covered stream.
Alert as a warrior in enemy territory.
Courteous as a guest.
Fluid as melting ice.
Shapeable as a block of wood.
Receptive as a valley.
Clear as a glass of water.
Lao Tzu
Intentionality and dedication is the Master's prayer and gift to him/herself. With clear intentions, one can manifest one's dreams, purpose and goals and live in great peace. If you are half-hearted, the Universe responds half-heartedly. If you are clear, the Universe responds clearly.
To attain the Mastery that is your birthright, you must be very purposeful in all that you do. No breath, thought or action is ever wasted. Everything is clear and on target. You know who you are and where you want to go or "be."
Please be assured that this is not a process that is rigid and dogmatic nor is it mental in nature. Nor is this a process that has as its primary focus the accomplishment of external goals. Rather it is a process of being in touch with your Self and, therefore, by being in touch, you become so true to your Self that your every breath, thought and action is inspired from the depths of your soul.
Thus you learn to live a life of impeccable clarity and ease and are no longer buffeted by the whims of the ego. Instead you live in a constant state of inspiration and revelation and flow from one experience to another.
So, to access this state one must take the time to look within and listen to one's Self by employing the sacred tools of meditation, prayer and contemplation.
November 21, 2008
Dedication, Discipline and Intentionality; the Keys to the "Good Life," Part I
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November 17, 2008
Dedication, Discipline and Intentionality; the Keys to the "Good Life," Part I
In whatever way works for you, it is so, so important daily to take the time to make connection with your Source. If you do not, then you will not be in touch with your Self. And, if you are not in touch with your Self, you can not "be" your Self.
You are your "most significant other." If you do not spend time with this most significant part of who you are, you will never be true to your Self nor will you know your Self.
So, some form of meditation, prayer or contemplation is essential in order to connect with your Self and to live the "Good Life." Hence, in order to become one with your Self, dedication, discipline and being clearly intentional are so important.
One of the fastest ways to become one with your Self is to be disciplined---that is to take time to meditate, pray, as mentioned above and to also exercise, eat well, fast, read uplifting literature, etc.---in other words to take time to develop "order and clarity" in your life and to "be" with your Self.
The word "discipline" and "disciple" come from a Latin root that means to grasp or to comprehend. So, to be disciplined means that you steadfastly focus on something so that in time you truly understand or master it. What could be more important than learning how to be a Master of one's life?
Very few people have the patience and discipline to apply this kind of focus in their lives. I dare say that most adults have a shorter attention span than children.
When you know who you are:
When your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will;
No cold can touch your heart;
No deluge can dampen your purpose.
You know that you are alive
Chief Seattle
See my next posting on November 24 for more on this theme.
April 27, 2007
What Does it Mean to Have a "Personal" Relationship with God/Goddess? Part II
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April 25, 2007
What does it Mean to Have a “Personal” Relationship with God/Goddess? Part IV
This is Part IV of a four part blog. Please see my blog entry of 04/23/07 for Part III.
We were never meant to “wing it” on our own. We were meant to fly in a beautiful, harmonious formation together with God/Goddess and others. And this support, strength and clarity is there for the asking and it is very, very real.
But you must first let go of your belief that it is not possible or perhaps not necessary or not cool or in vogue nowadays to develop this personal relationship with God/Goddess. I am not referring to a relationship that relies on someone else’s rigid understanding of how you should do it. But on one that relies totally on the unique way you choose to do it!
For without a strong, personal sense of connection or communion with God/Goddess you will find yourself always “looking for love in all the wrong places.” As well, you are more than likely to be pursuing goals that are not really for your Highest Good. Also, they are likely to be goals that do not best express the essence and the gifts of who you are.
But you no longer need to look or wander aimlessly. The Way is there. Just look within. It is all an “inside job.”
It is really all about coming to “Know your Self.” For when you come to “Know Thy Self, you come to know God/Goddess.
When you look within, you are looking at a mirror that is simply reflecting You back to you. And then you begin to realize that you have been talking to your Self all the time. That You and God/Goddess are One!
You begin to realize that what is possible for you is truly infinite. You realize that the potential of the whole Universe has now opened up for you. And like a child you now begin to live each day in awe of the wonder and beauty of it all and you now really trust and know that all is well.
So, creating a personal relationship with God/Goddess is what it is all about. It is the real purpose of your life, of everyone’s!
“You must be a child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
NB Please do think about what you have just read, just “feel” it; don’t think it and you then will “know” if it resonates with you.
This is Part IV of a four part blog.
April 23, 2007
What does it Mean to Have a “Personal” Relationship with God/Goddess? Part III
This is Part III of a four part blog. Please see my blog entry of 04/18/07 for Part II.
So, if you want a real relationship with God/Goddess, you must develop one on your own by talking to God/Goddess daily—moment to moment even.
This is what I believe St. Paul meant when he said: “Be joyful always. Pray continuously. Give thanks in all circumstances.” With this attitude and in this way, you gradually develop your connection and relationship with God/Goddess. As in any good relationship, it takes time and consistency for it to really gel. But when it does, it is so, so special. And it is so unique and eternal!
Yes, you can ask others how they do it and follow some of their techniques, but ultimately, you have to figure out what works best for you and what your style is. You need to claim the uniqueness of who you are. And you need to truly feel a sense of connection, confidence and communion with who you really are and then you can claim your own distinctive relationship with God/Goddess.
And it is so, so important to understand that this is not just another relationship. This is the ultimate relationship of all your relationships. This is “the big Kahuna,” so to speak.
Your sense of Self, stability, love and strength all lie in your ability to develop this relationship. Without it you are lost and will feel alone. Without it you will try to fill up the voids that you feel within yourself with all kinds of dysfunctional behaviors and experiences. But you will get nowhere.
Without it you will try to get things done or accomplished in your life or make changes in yourself emotionally or physically, but will eventually find your self up against a wall, frustrated and confused that nothing seems to be working.
It is at this point that you finally realize that you were never meant to do it on your own. But that there is a profound wellspring of Love and support that is there waiting, patiently and lovingly, for you to ask for help, support and strength. And when you ask, It always responds. And all that is left for you to do after you have asked is to really listen and to pay attention to the response you get and then trust and act on the inspirations and insights that you receive.
This is Part III of a four part blog. Part IV will be posted on 04/25/07.
April 20, 2007
What Does it Mean to Have a "Personal" Relationship with God/Goddess? Part I
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April 18, 2007
What does it Mean to Have a “Personal” Relationship with God/Goddess? Part II
This is Part II of a four part blog. Part III will be posted on 04/23/07.
So, if you want a real relationship with God/Goddess, you must develop one on your own by talking to God/Goddess daily—moment to moment even. And when I say here, “talk to God/Goddess,” I mean just that.
You actually talk to God/Goddess as you would to a real friend or a loved one. In time you learn how to communicate—that is, to be heard and to really listen. In time you really develop an ongoing, enriching conversation and interaction, albeit somewhat different than the kind you would have with another person. [In a future blog post I will say more about the kind of relationship you can develop.]
You’ll be amazed to discover what you learn about your Self and the world you live in when you develop a personal relationship with God/Goddess. By being in constant communion with God/Goddess, the most incredible gift you receive is the ability to see everyone and everything through the eyes and heart of God/Goddess.
This way of seeing is a completely different experience from your common way of perceiving things which is one that is limited by the narrow-minded filters and fears of your belief systems. Having this direct relationship opens you up to a whole new world. You get to see everything in a totally new light.
As well, by developing this personal relationship you become like God/Goddess. You become more and more fashioned in His/Her Image. You rise above your human, imperfect emotions, identifications and interpretations and instead see clearly and with the eyes of Love. You learn to accept and appreciate it all.
As well, rather than just relying on yourself to change or get things done in your life, you now begin to allow His/Her strength and Love to flow through you and that is when miracles can and do happen in your life. You learn that you are never alone and that together with God/Goddess everything is possible. You come to understand that on your own so little is really possible, but in partnership with God/Goddess all things are possible.
This is Part II of a four part blog. Part III will be posted on 04/23/07
April 16, 2007
What does it Mean to Have a “Personal” Relationship with God/Goddess? Part I
This is Part I of a four part blog.
Well, a personal relationship with God/Goddess is just that—very “personal.” It is very unique and special. A personal relationship with God/Goddess is no different from any other relationship you might have with someone very close and dear to you.
In the most intimate and close of relationships—say that of a parent and a child--the mother of the child has a very different relationship with her child as compared to the relationship that the father has with the same child. So, too, the child has a very different relationship with each of his/her parents. As well, siblings have very different relationships with each other.
So, your relationship with God/Goddess is very, very special and very much a function of who “you” are. No two relationships with God/Goddess are ever or can ever be the same.
Also, (and this point is very important to understand) for the relationship to be a “real” one, it must be one that you, on your own, have directly with God/Goddess. No one else is listening in, no one else is involved. It is purely and privately your relationship—it is just between you and God/Goddess period!
There are rather antiquated and dysfunctional belief systems out there that suggest that you need an intermediary in order to have a relationship with God/Goddess. That simply is not true.
A parent wants to have a direct relationship with their offspring. So, too, does the child want to have a direct relationship with his/her parents. No intermediaries are necessary or wanted. Otherwise, it is not a relationship. It is not personal. It is not intimate. It will go nowhere.
Your relationship with God is literally like that of a child with his/her parents; it is not like the relationship of a mail room clerk with the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It is personal, genuine, intimate and very satisfying.
This is Part I of a four part blog. Part II will be posted on 04/18/07.
November 15, 2006
The Spirit World: A Brief Description, Part II
This is part II of a two part blog. Please see my last blog entry on November 13 for part I.
On the other hand, if you went to “hell,” you would see that there is very little of the light of God there; and the inhabitants tenaciously still hold on to their warped earthbound ego-centered personalities. Actually all the negativity of the lower self is amplified in these realms. All the fearful, angry thoughts, self-centered traits, and controlling and manipulative ways are heightened. It is a very low energy, ugly place. Surprisingly those in these “hells” gain a certain pleasure in sustaining their infringing, restrictive world. Actually, they are so self-absorbed that they notice no one but themselves. It is a very lonely existence.
For instance, the miser remains in the corner of his room endlessly counting his money and zealously guarding it to make sure that no one can have any. Those from the higher realms visit regularly and project love and light to those in “hell.” And occasionally one of those in the lower realms notices and gradually follows the Light to the next higher realm. And this continues until that individual has released his/her self-centered traits. The forces of Love and Light continually project their goodness and Love and gradually all will be drawn back into the Light.
A human being on earth is usually protected from these lowest of realms, but sometimes that protection breaks down either because of drug and alcohol abuse or extreme illness or emotional trauma. Also, some choose to dabble in these energies.
So, “we reap what we sow.” Our life in the spirit word is not determined by Peter at the gates of judgment, but by our cumulative thoughts and actions while on earth. We are our own judge and jury. We determine our fate. We determine our experience. We determine our destiny.
Actually, we either live in “heaven” or in “hell” on earth, too, purely by the company we keep and the thoughts and emotions that are our most predominant. That is why it is so important to be conscious of the company we keep, be it in our thoughts or in our relationships.
We get to choose the realm we inhabit. What we see and experience is a vibrational match to what we think, believe and feel.
This is Part II of a two part blog. Please see my previous blog entry of November 13 for Part I.
November 13, 2006
The Spirit World: A Brief Description, Part I
This is Part I of a two part blog.
There are all kinds of realms or dimensions in the spirit world. These realms are divided by levels of consciousness. The population of one world is totally unaware of the inhabitants of the other worlds. The higher dimensions are filled with the Light and Love of God and are affirming and joyful. Other worlds are gray or very dark and permeated with evil, jealousy, anger and repression. These worlds are really low. As well, there are all kinds of other worlds that are somewhere in between these two.
Actually this mirrors the many different “worlds” that human beings inhabit on earth. My wife and I have often commented when we have visited a “foreign” country or an area of the United States or our neighborhood, for that matter, that we have never been to before that it certainly seems like we have entered whole new planet. Similarly those in spirit congregate according to similar interests and lifestyles. Like attracts like both in the physical plane and in the spiritual planes.
When you pass over, you go to whatever part of the spirit world that you are a vibrational match to. So, if you sincerely are a loving, giving and serving person, you will go to a dimension filled with like hearted people. If you are the opposite, you will join your comrades in negativity in some rather nasty place. I might add here that it is not what you say that determines where you go, but what is in your heart determines it.
So, let’s say you went to a more “heavenly” area. There you begin to see yourself more and more in the Light and Likeness of God and gradually your view of yourself begins to change. In time you no longer identify yourself so much with your present personality and its characteristics and beliefs, but rather, as your ego identity fades in the Light, you begin to see yourself more and more as a part of the Divine whole, as Divine. You still have an individualized identity. It is you! But you now truly know yourself to be a part of the Whole and no longer a separate, disconnected entity.
This is Part I of a two part blog. Please see my next blog entry on November 15 for part II.
Please see my Meditation CD: Peace of Mind is a Thought Away for more on how to master your thoughts and feelings.
October 11, 2006
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part II
This is Part II of a two-part blog. See my entry of October 9 for Part I.
It was because my wife and I chose to “Slow Down! Get there Fast!” that we gradually began to realize that living in New York City with all the noise and frenetic activity was not a match for who we were.
As well, working in two high profile and high pressure professions was also not who we were and what we wanted to do with our lives. Even though we first thought that these jobs were our ticket to heaven; they really were quite the opposite!
So, after living in NYC for only three years; it became obvious to us that we had to leave. So, we made plans and in two years we were out of the City, no longer in those jobs and living in a lot slower paced and less urbanized environment. We moved to a setting that was so much more a match to who we were and not who we thought we should be.
As well, by slowing down, we began to get more and more of our real priorities straight. We took care of ourselves and explored all kinds of enriching avenues of personal growth. We deepened our meditation and other spiritual practices. As well, we started the study and practice of Chi Gung, a Chinese form of meditation and energy mastery.
This all lead me to have the courage to make my passion, which is teaching and writing about the spiritual and healing arts, become my vocation and my work. So, within just two years we moved out of the Big Apple and I began my healing and teaching practice.
Starting anything new always has it challenges and opportunities. So, there were many times when I doubted myself and my abilities. But every time I did, I remembered that if I would just “slow down” I could tune into that “still, small voice within” and there I would find my center and find my Self again and all would be clear. I would remember in this place of Silence who I was and why I came forth.
I would see where I stood on my climb up my mountain of mastery, redouble my courage and confidence and continue on, clearly knowing that I was now “getting there fast!” That is, I was getting there in Divine Timing and in Divine Order and All was truly Good!
So, “Slow Down! Get There Fast!” It works wonders!
This is part II of a two part blog. See my previous blog entry of October 9 for Part I.
October 9, 2006
Slow Down! Get There Fast! Part I
My wife, Jaime, and I were living in New York City some twenty years ago. We were both working in very high pressure jobs in Manhattan. I was in book publishing and she was in insurance.
As well, we had a two hour of commute back and forth to work every day. So, by the time we got home we were exhausted from all the stimulation. There was always something to “do” and it always had to be done fast! So, life was a series of unending tasks that seemed to just exponentially explode on us. It wasn’t fun to say the least.
So, one day while we were taking stock of all we had to do, my wife, in total frustration, screamed out: “Slow Down! Get There Fast!”
It made us both stop in our tracks and first, laugh, but most importantly, it helped us to realize that we were like hamsters spinning around on a treadmill in a cage. We were going nowhere fast!
So, we asked, “Why are we doing this?” And we realized that we were unconscious. We were just doing more and more just for the sake of doing more and more in the hope that it would make us feel better about ourselves. But it certainly wasn’t helping!
So, at that point we recognized that we had to incorporate a conscious, consistent spiritual practice into our lives; that is, we needed to create a time of slowing down. We had been doing numerous spiritual practices for years on a haphazard basis, but it wasn’t enough obviously.
So, we then decided to sit and meditate and/or pray for at least thirty minutes an evening. It was so refreshing and relaxing. And most importantly, it helped us reach our goal of feeling good about ourselves very quickly; and we no longer had to run around mindlessly exhausting ourselves to reach our goal!
By slowing down, we got to our goal of feeling good about ourselves very, very fast. The other way of going about it, by running around all over the place, was actually moving us further and further away from our goal.
So, no matter what your goal is: “Slow Down! Get there Fast!” It works wonders!
In my next blog entry of October 11 I will continue this theme and explain how this process of slowing down helped me to find my purpose in life and live my passion.
October 6, 2006
A Life of Quality & The Art of Prayer
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October 4, 2006
Pray and “Think on These Things”
“…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and then the God of peace shall be with you.”
(Philippians 4: 8-9)
Prayer
Be joyful always,
Pray continuously,
Give thanks in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18
In terms of increasing the quality of my life, I have found that prayer is such an incredibly valuable and precious tool.
When I refer to prayer I do not mean the repetition of rote phrases that no longer have any meaning. Prayer for me is seeing the good in all people, events and circumstances in my life and blessing and appreciating it all.
As you “think” or pray in this way, you are shining light on everything. And it is in this light and because of this light that the hidden beauty and brilliance of whatever you are focusing on is fully revealed.
As well, as you pray, you will continue to see your light grow stronger and stronger. And this light and this strength will be the attracting point and signal that you put out to others and to the universe. And as a result, you will attract even more light and strength to yourself. And in time all the darkness within you will be transformed into the light it always was. In this way you become the beacon on the hill, the lighthouse in the storm.
As you practice this you will be awed by all the good you will find within and without!
Quality is not inherent in an object or a person; it is created one prayer at a time; one kind word at a time; one noble action at a time; one positive thought at a time.
The great Masters still shine so brightly because they knew to constantly strengthen and brighten this flame within themselves with the fuel of prayer, love, service and good thoughts! And because of this, they no longer cast shadows any more! For they had become the Light!
Prayer is not an asking for, it is a becoming.
Think on these things!