What is an interfaith minister? (gospel music)
No commentsBy Tim Pickles
The word interfaith is open to many diverse interpretations. And the concept of an interfaith minister gives rise to even more confusion. Is this simply a dialogue between some of the major world faiths?; or perhaps its a mish-mash of new age ideas that straddle several different religions?
The Interfaith Foundations perspective is clear. All the great faiths of our world can teach us how to live our lives authentically, with compassion for others, and from the bedrock of Truth. Our spiritual essence is revealed in many ways. We require no single definitive creed or answer. Each faith tradition offers us a route to awakening that has been practiced over many generations within their respective cultures. This is a not a competition for the Truth; rather, each tradition has the potential to teach us more lessons and more practices that will bring us closer to the Source of All in our lives.
We might choose to explore other words and phrases such as Inner Faith, Universal, One Spirit. They each embody a sense of inclusiveness; interfaith is about recognising and embracing the extra value that comes from accepting different approaches and traditions. Interfaith Ministry is not simply appealing to all faiths; it is reaching out to those of any faith and no faith, at the same time. It subscribes to no single faith whilst honouring the beauty and wisdom derived from all faith traditions. This is not a new religion but it might be a new faith movement. It validates the worth of all faiths, particularly in this era of judgement and conflict, without being strictly bound by any prescribed creed. It seeks to rise above specific faiths, whilst drawing inspiration from the sacred teachings of each religion. Interfaith ministry offers a way to experience the Divine within us and around us without the constraints of specific dogma or meaningless ritual. Such practices are not wrong, if they are meaningful to the person using them, but all too often they hold little meaning and are performed by rote.
In the UK, many people view religion in black and white terms: you are either religious or atheist, without any in-between. When I tell friends that Im training to become an interfaith minister, they often reply but I didnt know you were religious. My response is that Im not; I have a sense of my spiritual nature. To some people spirituality can be equally dismissed is irrational. It conjures up images of the difficulties inherent in their own religious upbringing perhaps of an omnipotent enthroned godhead dispensing miracles and judgements at will. But for many others, the invitation to explore their own sense of an inner life, of in-spiration, of their role within a larger universe, is a welcome revelation that the choice between religion and atheism is a false one.
This is not pick-and-mix religion. It is far more challenging than the easily packaged belief systems of the fundamentalists or the literalists. It invites us to practice and engage in inner-enquiry, contemplation, reflection, discernment, prayer. Above all, it takes us to the recognition of a place of not knowing.
The Interfaith Foundation speaks of Many Ways One Truth. The spiritual training offered by the Interfaith Seminary is a guided exploration of this not knowing. The emphasis is upon an experiential approach to faith and truth. It is less about intellectual learning and more about healing our own spiritual or wounds in order to be of service to self and others. We teach an understanding of each great faith tradition in order to reveal their insights into how we can live and how we can love. We explore the fundamental issues of life: birth, death, relationships, illness, trauma, healing, and the quest for meaning and purpose. Interfaith Ministers are encouraged to practice an active ministry in the community through spiritual counselling and mentoring, and through conducting the major ceremonies of life that people require in their lives. Our work is that of helping people to remember their true selves and return to their inherent wholeness.
There are around 400 interfaith ministers in the UK. There are a myriad of interfaith ministries: some come from their own faith tradition and return to it with their interfaith training, to help broaden others understanding and compassion with other faiths; others are therapists, healers, shamans, life coaches, etc. Some use their interfaith ministry and spiritual counselling skills to better serve their clients. Still others use their ministry skills to bring spiritual principles into the business community.
Those who are certain of their religious convictions may not wish to understand what we mean by interfaith. Those who are open to other possibilities for spiritual expression are often enthused to hear about the Interfaith Seminary and Interfaith Ministers.
The Interfaith Foundation and Interfaith Seminary offer spiritual training courses for those of all faiths or none, as well as helping you find a minister for spiritual counselling or to lead a wedding ceremony or funeral service. Call +44 (0) 8444 457 004 for more information.
Learn the True Role of Spirituality in Your Life
By Kanika
To understand the role of spirituality in your life, we first need to understand what Spirituality is. It can be characterized as something that is understood by the superior part of our intellects, or more simply as the moral facet of our lives. Spirituality is something that should rule our character letting us go beyond the barriers of caste & creed and to realize our bond with Truth. Spiritual subjects look upon mankind’s eternal nature and principle, not simply the material, biological organism; they consider the immortal energies having an everlasting connection beyond the bodily senses.
Spirituality plays an important role in totally transforming our lives. It is something beyond the physical world but it includes the growth of the individual’s self through practices such as Meditation and prayers. It helps you to search the Divine within oneself, and speaks to us about the life after death. Our lives are mostly fragmented into pieces because of the stresses and complexities of life. Spirituality is the link that enables these pieces to be integrated into a complete whole and gives our life a meaning and a sense. It helps one to understand the inner Self and the different hidden facets of your own personal self. Each person’s spirituality is a blend of different beliefs and ideas that together constitute a different unique individuality. There are different types of spiritualities that
may form an individual self, such as religious Spiritualities, cultural spiritualities, gendered spirituality, and more. The role of spirituality in our lives can be very clear: as one’s spirituality comes to our perspective and understanding all the aspects of our life, it teaches us that every soul is one with the Divine, and thereby brings us closer to that Divine principle. It makes us see things from the soul’s perspective, thus completely changing our life.
Real spirituality transmutes greediness, selfishness and lust from dross to gold, thus bringing an individual us closer to peace and self -enlightenment. It gives our life a new direction, aim and achievement, providing us with a real understanding of god, self and others. As man is made up of a body & soul, both need nourishment to survive: food nourishes the body and Spirituality Nurtures your mind acting as a link between you and the God within.
Kanika Aneja, a professional content writer currently working with http://www.theosophytrust.org/ , a website offering articles and other resources for Spiritual living. Author wants educate people about a unique power in their own mind, the spiritual power. Visit Theosophy Trust and improve your lives.
The Concepts Of Feng Shui
By Reat Cresen
Feng Shui is more than just rearranging furniture, its a routine. And lifestyles involve mindsets or concepts that are dominant. Feng Shui experts emphatically say no to a number of things with no reason. Nearly all of the things they do come with a line of reasoning that may well not necessarily be embraced by many people.
Nonetheless, it is still a point of view that among other things, need careful reflection and thought. So what are the thoughts that prevail on the onset of Feng Shui? Here are just a few of these common concepts that a Feng Shui devotee or researcher might find helpful.
Sense of Equilibrium
The number one thing that Feng Shui promotes is equilibrium. This stability comes in a lot of forms, in the color composition, in the spatial factors up to the numbers that concern your working space or environment. The balance is more promoted by the five Earth elements of Feng Shui and the bagua, which is designed symmetrically and with total reference to the distinctive elements of the earth by Feng Shui values. The values of Feng Shui is made personalized in every person, but it all boils down to having the right sets of things that harmonize and balance each other out.
Sense of Positivity
A sense of positivity is also what Feng Shui promotes. Positive energy is the feature largely sought after by people who try to get the services of Feng Shui consultants. This positivism needs to be maintained. On the other hand, it wards off all the forms of negative energy that can come in a given space. This is why there are jewelry that assist cure the bad luck in a particular place, specially those which have been established devoid of assistance of Feng Shui.
A Natural Leaning for Beauty and the effects that Promote It
Beauty in symmetry and symmetry in beauty is one of the core concepts of Feng Shui. It appeals to the physically inviting, and additionally adheres to fighting for beauty and balance in things. Feng Shui, in some ways, is a celebration of beauty in design and other physical elements of the space being designed.
Love for Your Environment
Feng Shui promotes the precise respect of the environment before establishing places. Good Feng Shui respects the elements of the earth and makes the Feng Shui devotee more aware of their environment. They dont just work instantly in any oppressive place, although attempt to eradicate any existing negativities in the surroundings.
Love for Self
The love for self is furthermore promoted by Feng Shui. You will sense energy based on what usually feels good to you. Love for self involves not subjecting yourself to oppressive places or harboring negative energies that can be counter-productive to your assorted activities.
Dreaming big and making the atmosphere jive with that dream
In conclusion, Feng Shui is more anchored on the greater scheme of things. While you have a vision and you intend to execute it in various ways, the best technique to begin is to have an environment that embraces those dreams. If you dream big and work hard, but your environment cancels all the things that you are striving for, it will be a enormously demanding task for you.
Feng Shui ensures that there is alignment linking the things you would like and the things that are manifested in the things you see daily.
Visit my website for more information about The Best Feng Shui Products To Buy
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Watch Out How You Become (gospel music) Spiritual
No commentsBy Bob Sherman
You’ll come across countless ideas about ways to grow to be more spiritual. They seek developing companionship with the spiritual forces that exist in the world.
An Internet search will turn up scores of websites that suggest such actions as:
- Become knowledgeable about the old indigenous faiths that once existed in your region
- Become sensitive to both the mystical and material domains
- Clear or quiet your mind and fill it with truth, peace, light and delight
- Enlarge your awareness about god, the supernatural and paranormal
- Acknowledge your divinity and grow to be co-creators that resonate with the essence of your private paradise
Thus, getting to know the spiritual forces that are all about us and in the world is clearly considered one key feature of being spiritual. But, what few understand is that there are distinct spiritual beings or forces that exist in the cosmos. And, by simply yielding ourselves to spiritual forces, we will be uncertain about which group we are giving ourselves to.
The Bible reveals that these distinctive spiritual forces epitomize the true God along with his holy messengers or angles, and the other set is comprised of defiant Satan with his hoard of unruly, sinful angels and unclean spirits called demons.
That two separate groups of spiritual forces exists is illustrated in the incident of the prophet Elisha on a mountain in Dothan in the course of one of the numerous wars between Israel and Syria.
At this time when Syria was involved in a struggle with Israel, the prophet Elisha often heard communications from God concerning the position of the Syrian army. He warned King Saul, the King of Israel, many times regarding how to stay away from a planed ambush by the Syrians.
The Syrian king tried to find out who was the spy amongst his own men. But, a servant of the king said that it was Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. 2 Kings 6:12.
There Syrian king then sent his troops to Dothan, the town in Israel where Elisha was to be found, to arrest Elisha.
One morning, when the chariots and a huge number of the armed forces of Syria had encircled Dothan, Elisha’s servant was frightened at the sight of such a great army. He appealed to Elisha, asking what they should do.
Elisha answered, Do not fear,–for, more, are, they who are with us, than, they who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16. Elisha then requested that God would permit his servant to see these angelic hosts. When God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant he saw the angelic multitude that protected Elisha.
But, the important detail to consider is that there were two angelic hosts. There was the group that was with Elisha and others who were with the Syrians. And these two angelic hosts were in opposition to one another.
Jesus also demonstrated his belief in these two spiritual forces when he spoke with those who believed on him but were not faithful to his teachings. He said, You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’tt know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, hes doing what comes naturally to him. Hes a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44.
So, the significance for us is apparent. There are spiritual forces in the universe. But, the idea that without discriminating you want to get in touch with them and join your life to them thinking you will grow to be more spiritual is not wise.
Unless you seek the true God in meekness and seek Gods ways, you expose yourself to deceiving spirits and demons who will ultimately command you into rebellion against God and his ways. And your end will not be enjoyable.
On the other hand, Jesus gave his word that every single one who comes to him would receive life. And though they die, Jesus will resurrect them back to life.
Thus, choose your spiritual guides with awareness.
Bob Sherman offers insight into the freedom of Christ and how to become a Christian for those interested in learning more about the tremendous God of the universe.
What is an interfaith minister?
By Tim Pickles
The word interfaith is open to many diverse interpretations. And the concept of an interfaith minister gives rise to even more confusion. Is this simply a dialogue between some of the major world faiths?; or perhaps its a mish-mash of new age ideas that straddle several different religions?
The Interfaith Foundations perspective is clear. All the great faiths of our world can teach us how to live our lives authentically, with compassion for others, and from the bedrock of Truth. Our spiritual essence is revealed in many ways. We require no single definitive creed or answer. Each faith tradition offers us a route to awakening that has been practiced over many generations within their respective cultures. This is a not a competition for the Truth; rather, each tradition has the potential to teach us more lessons and more practices that will bring us closer to the Source of All in our lives.
We might choose to explore other words and phrases such as Inner Faith, Universal, One Spirit. They each embody a sense of inclusiveness; interfaith is about recognising and embracing the extra value that comes from accepting different approaches and traditions. Interfaith Ministry is not simply appealing to all faiths; it is reaching out to those of any faith and no faith, at the same time. It subscribes to no single faith whilst honouring the beauty and wisdom derived from all faith traditions. This is not a new religion but it might be a new faith movement. It validates the worth of all faiths, particularly in this era of judgement and conflict, without being strictly bound by any prescribed creed. It seeks to rise above specific faiths, whilst drawing inspiration from the sacred teachings of each religion. Interfaith ministry offers a way to experience the Divine within us and around us without the constraints of specific dogma or meaningless ritual. Such practices are not wrong, if they are meaningful to the person using them, but all too often they hold little meaning and are performed by rote.
In the UK, many people view religion in black and white terms: you are either religious or atheist, without any in-between. When I tell friends that Im training to become an interfaith minister, they often reply but I didnt know you were religious. My response is that Im not; I have a sense of my spiritual nature. To some people spirituality can be equally dismissed is irrational. It conjures up images of the difficulties inherent in their own religious upbringing perhaps of an omnipotent enthroned godhead dispensing miracles and judgements at will. But for many others, the invitation to explore their own sense of an inner life, of in-spiration, of their role within a larger universe, is a welcome revelation that the choice between religion and atheism is a false one.
This is not pick-and-mix religion. It is far more challenging than the easily packaged belief systems of the fundamentalists or the literalists. It invites us to practice and engage in inner-enquiry, contemplation, reflection, discernment, prayer. Above all, it takes us to the recognition of a place of not knowing.
The Interfaith Foundation speaks of Many Ways One Truth. The spiritual training offered by the Interfaith Seminary is a guided exploration of this not knowing. The emphasis is upon an experiential approach to faith and truth. It is less about intellectual learning and more about healing our own spiritual or wounds in order to be of service to self and others. We teach an understanding of each great faith tradition in order to reveal their insights into how we can live and how we can love. We explore the fundamental issues of life: birth, death, relationships, illness, trauma, healing, and the quest for meaning and purpose. Interfaith Ministers are encouraged to practice an active ministry in the community through spiritual counselling and mentoring, and through conducting the major ceremonies of life that people require in their lives. Our work is that of helping people to remember their true selves and return to their inherent wholeness.
There are around 400 interfaith ministers in the UK. There are a myriad of interfaith ministries: some come from their own faith tradition and return to it with their interfaith training, to help broaden others understanding and compassion with other faiths; others are therapists, healers, shamans, life coaches, etc. Some use their interfaith ministry and spiritual counselling skills to better serve their clients. Still others use their ministry skills to bring spiritual principles into the business community.
Those who are certain of their religious convictions may not wish to understand what we mean by interfaith. Those who are open to other possibilities for spiritual expression are often enthused to hear about the Interfaith Seminary and Interfaith Ministers.
The Interfaith Foundation and Interfaith Seminary offer spiritual training courses for those of all faiths or none, as well as helping you find a minister for spiritual counselling or to lead a wedding ceremony or funeral service. Call +44 (0) 8444 457 004 for more information.
Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki
By Roberto Garabell
You have probably come across exotic-sounding terms such as chakra, prana, aura, and tantra in your course of reading books on spirituality, sex, and healing in the New Age literature section of the bookstore. But whats the real scoop behind these exotic vocabularies?
Are All Energy Healings the Same?
Chakra or energy center is a term used in Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu system of energy healing. Prana means life energy. Aura is another terminology traced to Pranic healing. Aura is a non-physical body that consists of energy, which exists along with our physical body. The aura that covers our body is said to have seven layers pertaining to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of an individual as manifested by energy. Studying the color and thickness of auras give ideas on the state of health of individuals. Six colors are associated with aura and interpreted into six personalities. These colors are all present in an individual but one or two are more pronounced.
Green ambitious achiever
Blue spiritual peacemaker
White unconventional chameleon
Red activist
Orange creative communicator
Violet - psychic
Although Tantra is popularly associated with the peculiar practice of sex and spirituality, it is another method of energy healing. It comes from the word tan which means to spread or expand. The concept of connectedness is a recurring theme in Tantric writings on sex and spirituality. As a method of healing, spirituality and sex figure prominently. It is presupposed that the union of man and woman can reach spiritual levels during orgasm, which removes the body and mind off collected impurities. These impurities being negative energies can in turn manifest as physical illnesses.
Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings, which have Hindu origins, Reiki originated from Japan. It is relatively younger than Pranic and Tantric healings having been rediscovered in the early 1900s. Reiki stands for universal energy, an energy brought forth by higher intelligence. Students of Reiki are taught how to tap this energy to heal physical, emotional, and mental illnesses.
Although Pranic, Tantra, and Reiki are all systems of energy healing, they differ in the type of energy tapped for healing: life energy, sexual energy, and universal energy respectively.
The concepts of the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit; the connection of individuals to all living and nonliving things around them and to the universe; and how energy impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are some of the salient similarities of these three healing methods.
Why Do People Turn to Energy Healing?
Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are considered alternative methods of healing. In spite of the availability and relative accessibility of modern medicine, how come more and more people are being drawned to them? Here are some possible reasons:
Energy healing worked where modern medicine failed.
For several reasons both explainable and unexplainable, modern medical treatment failed to heal ailments and conditions in several if not many persons. Research or data may not be able to support this statement. But for the families of the dying as well as for the dying patient, they would take the risk of using alternative methods ranging from herbals and organics, faith healers, witch doctors, and New Age healing techniques just to be get well.
People perceive modern medicine to be isolating.
Medical treatments are oftentimes focused on the disease and its causative agent, which can make a patient feel isolated and treated like a mere host of the disease. Although recent developments in hospital practice are gradually promoting the holistic treatment of a patient, the perception still persists. Unlike in energy healing, since energy and spirituality are intimately linked, the patient feels that all aspects of his health are being attended to.
Energy healing is non-obtrusive and natural thus it is safer.
Repeated surgical procedures are physically and emotionally traumatic for most patients. It is but a logical and attractive option to both patient and families to look for less stressful health interventions. Moreover, with the rising popularity of New Age religions, going natural is the way to go.
Energy healing is a good way of relieving stress.
Meditation is part and parcel of energy healing methods and this is an added come-on for highly stressed people. Moreover, sophisticated equipment is not required thus it becomes all the more convenient for students and future students of energy healing.
The battle between alternative healing and mainstream medicine continues as both present the benefits of their approach. But in the final analysis, what matters is the restoration of good health.
This article is submitted by Julius. He is an avid blogger who has written a lot of articles including Music Can Be a Happiness Drug and Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs Visit Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki.
Popularity: 53% [?]
Healing Trauma (gospel songs)
No commentsBy Dr. Jennifer Howard
by Dr. Jennifer Howard
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER WE WILL NEVER FORGET
The magnified horror of what we experienced a few short years ago on 9/11 is beyond what most of us Americans have witnessed in our lifetime. We still can’t help but feel helpless, angry, sad, as well as many other hard-to-define feelings.
IT EFFECTED ALL OF US
Even though years have gone by, living part-time in New York City gave me some sense of the feelings of the eyewitnesses, bereaved families and everyday residents of the city. I know it’s just a small inkling of what these people actually experienced, but I had a palpable sense of the grief in the city and of all those who died. All the people I see in my practice as a psychotherapist and healer have experienced shattering on many levels. I see the effect it has had on us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HUMAN
Our personal work, for all of us and not only for New Yorkers, is to experience the layers of our feelings as they arise. We need to allow for all the possible responses that occur during experiences of extreme trauma, instead of dismissing them.
WHY AREN’T YOU EFFECTED?
For those of you who don’t feel very effected by this or any other traumatic event, it might be helpful to wonder why. It is true that there is always suffering all over the world and whenever we choose, we can tune in and feel this kind of trauma in many other places rather than just on our own soil. It is important to us that we feel kinship not only with our entire country, but also with the whole of humankind. This is a natural part of being human.
HOW CAN WE BEGIN TO HEAL?
Sometimes our personal wounding can cause us to feel overwhelmed and sometimes we choose to cut ourselves off from our feelings and from our connection to others. Feeling our own suffering and being able to empathize with the suffering of other people is an important way to heal our planet and ourselves.
So how can we heal these effects of trauma in our body-mind-spirit? One of the first ways is to understand how people react in a time of crisis. By realizing how we as people respond, we are able to feel more connected to others and ourselves and thereby not so alone in the world. Something to consider is that people who have survived a difficult childhood are prone to have a more challenging time with recovery from a traumatic event. Allowing ourselves to learn how to use life’s tragedies to teach us will deepen our awareness and help us have resiliency. This will bring us to a place in which we can learn and grow — not just a place to feel hurt and victimized. Some lessons are unusually hard to understand and we sometimes feel lost trying to find meaning. Sometimes we find ourselves blaming the victim; this can re-victimize the person. It also prevents us from seeking a larger context to the event in which there can be meaning.
THE BLAME GAME
Let’s look at our need to blame at all: Certain people could be responsible and our ability to see this larger perspective can help us with the healing. However, there is always the possibility that we may not be able to see and know the big picture at the time, if ever.
I would like to describe some common and normal responses people often experience following traumatic events. (You might see yourself in some of them.) Some of the physiological responses are chest pains, elevated blood pressure, muscle pain and tension, increased sweating, fatigue, flushed or pale skin, headaches, fainting, thirst, teeth grinding, twitches, and stomach upset. Some of the common emotional responses can be powerlessness, shock, numbness, fogginess, dissociation (including being in a daze, apathy, feeling unreal), panic, nightmares, insomnia, aloneness, helplessness, emptiness, uncertainty, depression, guilt, hostility and anger. Some of the mental responses can be short attention span, confusion, blaming others, repeated thoughts of the events and hyper vigilance. Some behavioral responses could include withdrawal, regressive actions, pacing, walking aimlessly, impulsiveness, poor communication, different speech patterns, or antisocial behaviors. These are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and if they persist, it would be wise to seek out one-on-one professional help.
YOU ARE NOT POWERLESS
After experiencing tragedy, many people undergo a sense of powerlessness, rather than look for ways to cope with all of their feelings, make a difference in the world and therefore make the world a better and safer place for everyone. It is important for people to be able to have an impact inside their psyche and outside in their communities. Ask yourself, how you have found a way to feel that you can make a difference in your world or community. How have you worked with your feelings around this event or other traumas inside of yourself and in your life? Have these ways been satisfying or helpful to you?
When you commit to working on all the inner levels of your being, you reconnect with all of you. This then allows you to be able to connect with the outside world in an incredibly fulfilling way.
What are the ways that you can feel your personal connection and power in the world?
MEDITATION
Let’s take a moment to find out. Allow yourself to sit and think about the question now.
Read the following to yourself in a slow meditative manner, and take your time.
Allow your breath to come into your focus for a moment … just follow the in and out motion … in and out … the rising and falling of your breath…
Imagine yourself on a path … see yourself walking down this path … notice the path … what kind of surface it has … notice what’s to your right … notice what’s to your left … Ahead of you, you see a holy building … take in this building … notice what you see, sense, feel, smell … just notice … You see a door ahead of you … let yourself walk in … notice what you see … Allow your self to see a Wise Being ahead … notice what it looks like … notice how you feel seeing it … how do you feel being seen … feel what it is like to be in its presence…
Ask the Wise Being what you need to do to feel connected to the outside world … what task, prayer, meditation, volunteer work, community support … what comes up for you … can you allow for other possibilities … let your creative self go wild … what feels right … take in the information … try to be open to all ideas…
Get ready to ask your second question … What is it that would be the most productive, self-soothing way to nurture the inside of you during this time? … Let the Wise Being speak … just breathe, be open and listen … notice any judgments that arise … just see them and let them go … What way is best for you to nurture yourself? … listen … notice what you feel, see … notice if you are being harsh to yourself … allow your breath to open your body…
Let yourself ask any third question that comes to mind … wait … listen … breathe … What is it that is being said? … notice your reactions …. Breathe …. be kind to yourself…
When you feel you have gotten the answers that are available at this time, say thank you to your Wise Being … Take whatever information you need with you …. Allow yourself to leave the holy place …. Look around one last time …. Know that you can return at any time …. Let yourself return back down the path …. Notice if anything has changed on the way out …. Return to the place where you began the journey … Take several deep breaths …
Give yourself a few moments of quiet and reflect on what you have learned. Write your answers down if you want. You can act on these answers or choose to sit with them for a while. Thank you for being willing to do this work.
I hope this will be somewhat comforting to you. I will keep my prayers going and my personal work. Until the next time, warm wishes to all.
____________________________________________________________
Dr. Jennifer Howard is a licensed psychotherapist, healer, author, relationship counselor, and professional speaker with more than 20 years of experience in helping people make changes in their lives. She’s created a personal development plan and assists people in personal development and spiritual growth through her lectures, workshops, and her upcoming book, Changes That Last. She has offices in Huntington, Long Island, NY, and New York City, is a leading expert on spirituality and psychology, and is a former faculty of the graduate program of A Society of Souls. Dr. Howard has been frequently seen as an expert and featured guest on national television shows including, The Maury Povich Show, Turning Point, America’s Talking, Rolanda, Charles Perez, Les Brown and others.
Right now, Dr. Howard is offering a free downloadable MP3 of her recent lecture, “The Intelligence of the Heart” to anyone who subscribes to her free ezine. Along with the free MP3 members of the site can read articles written by Dr. Howard, gain access to the online Virtual Meditation Room with guided and visual meditations, and more. Visit http://www.DrJenniferHoward.com
Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki
By Roberto Garabell
You have probably come across exotic-sounding terms such as chakra, prana, aura, and tantra in your course of reading books on spirituality, sex, and healing in the New Age literature section of the bookstore. But whats the real scoop behind these exotic vocabularies?
Are All Energy Healings the Same?
Chakra or energy center is a term used in Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu system of energy healing. Prana means life energy. Aura is another terminology traced to Pranic healing. Aura is a non-physical body that consists of energy, which exists along with our physical body. The aura that covers our body is said to have seven layers pertaining to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of an individual as manifested by energy. Studying the color and thickness of auras give ideas on the state of health of individuals. Six colors are associated with aura and interpreted into six personalities. These colors are all present in an individual but one or two are more pronounced.
Green ambitious achiever
Blue spiritual peacemaker
White unconventional chameleon
Red activist
Orange creative communicator
Violet - psychic
Although Tantra is popularly associated with the peculiar practice of sex and spirituality, it is another method of energy healing. It comes from the word tan which means to spread or expand. The concept of connectedness is a recurring theme in Tantric writings on sex and spirituality. As a method of healing, spirituality and sex figure prominently. It is presupposed that the union of man and woman can reach spiritual levels during orgasm, which removes the body and mind off collected impurities. These impurities being negative energies can in turn manifest as physical illnesses.
Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings, which have Hindu origins, Reiki originated from Japan. It is relatively younger than Pranic and Tantric healings having been rediscovered in the early 1900s. Reiki stands for universal energy, an energy brought forth by higher intelligence. Students of Reiki are taught how to tap this energy to heal physical, emotional, and mental illnesses.
Although Pranic, Tantra, and Reiki are all systems of energy healing, they differ in the type of energy tapped for healing: life energy, sexual energy, and universal energy respectively.
The concepts of the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit; the connection of individuals to all living and nonliving things around them and to the universe; and how energy impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are some of the salient similarities of these three healing methods.
Why Do People Turn to Energy Healing?
Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are considered alternative methods of healing. In spite of the availability and relative accessibility of modern medicine, how come more and more people are being drawned to them? Here are some possible reasons:
Energy healing worked where modern medicine failed.
For several reasons both explainable and unexplainable, modern medical treatment failed to heal ailments and conditions in several if not many persons. Research or data may not be able to support this statement. But for the families of the dying as well as for the dying patient, they would take the risk of using alternative methods ranging from herbals and organics, faith healers, witch doctors, and New Age healing techniques just to be get well.
People perceive modern medicine to be isolating.
Medical treatments are oftentimes focused on the disease and its causative agent, which can make a patient feel isolated and treated like a mere host of the disease. Although recent developments in hospital practice are gradually promoting the holistic treatment of a patient, the perception still persists. Unlike in energy healing, since energy and spirituality are intimately linked, the patient feels that all aspects of his health are being attended to.
Energy healing is non-obtrusive and natural thus it is safer.
Repeated surgical procedures are physically and emotionally traumatic for most patients. It is but a logical and attractive option to both patient and families to look for less stressful health interventions. Moreover, with the rising popularity of New Age religions, going natural is the way to go.
Energy healing is a good way of relieving stress.
Meditation is part and parcel of energy healing methods and this is an added come-on for highly stressed people. Moreover, sophisticated equipment is not required thus it becomes all the more convenient for students and future students of energy healing.
The battle between alternative healing and mainstream medicine continues as both present the benefits of their approach. But in the final analysis, what matters is the restoration of good health.
This article is submitted by Julius. He is an avid blogger who has written a lot of articles including Music Can Be a Happiness Drug and Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs Visit Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki.
Building Up Self-Confidence
By Janet Erickson
Only a few individuals really make it in life. A vast majority of individuals are withdrawn and timid - they are not able to make a lot of friends. Boys don’t find dates easily and young ladies are unable to make an impression, all because of their lack of self-assurance. Can you stand a speaker whose style does not have conviction? Shy speakers don’t captivate their audiences. They are unable to be compelling. In short, their speeches are not able to have the necessary pep and spirit to be stimulating and wind up falling flat.
A lack of self-assurance is what stops most people from being assertive, successful and finally happy in life. However, if you can recognize that you do not have the self-assurance you desire, you can work on building it up and making your desires of success become a reality.
How to we define Self-Confidence
If you are able to pick out the characteristics of an individual who is brimming with self-assurance, this will aid you succeed in building up your self-confidence. How do you know that an individual is self-confident? It is easy, really. If you are well-balanced and self-confident, you are assertive, your body language conveys your self-assurance, you hold your head high, you talk with self-assurance but not with arrogance, your attitude is confident, you pursue your goals with determination - well-prepared to take on all hurdle because you don’t avoid taking measured chances when ever required. And whenever you make mistakes, you promptly own up to them. Your plans are set with reason, keeping in mind a honest appraisal of your strengths, your weaknesses and your skills and talents.
Building Confidence
While attempting to establish self-assurance, you probably will have a couple of questions to ask yourself. Is it possible to establish self-assurance? If by nature you are not normally endowed with self-confidence, you may think you stay that way forever. Not necessarily. You are able to actually take small but attainable steps in order to form good confidence. However, self-confidence and success are interdependent. Usually, you can’t achieve your goals without self-confidence playing a role inbeing part ofyour efforts and without success you can’t have confidence.
If that is the situation, how do you establish confidence? Good question . Begin by setting yourself a small enough goal that you can achieve it without too much difficulty. Then attain it and watch your self-assurance grow. Repeat the steps, every time making the goal a little harder than before and gradually build your self-confidence step by step.
To read more about spiritual growth and receive free meditations on energy healing just go to JanetErickson.com .
Popularity: 52% [?]
Watch Out (southern gospel) How You Become Spiritual
No commentsBy Bob Sherman
You’ll come across countless ideas about ways to grow to be more spiritual. They seek developing companionship with the spiritual forces that exist in the world.
An Internet search will turn up scores of websites that suggest such actions as:
- Become knowledgeable about the old indigenous faiths that once existed in your region
- Become sensitive to both the mystical and material domains
- Clear or quiet your mind and fill it with truth, peace, light and delight
- Enlarge your awareness about god, the supernatural and paranormal
- Acknowledge your divinity and grow to be co-creators that resonate with the essence of your private paradise
Thus, getting to know the spiritual forces that are all about us and in the world is clearly considered one key feature of being spiritual. But, what few understand is that there are distinct spiritual beings or forces that exist in the cosmos. And, by simply yielding ourselves to spiritual forces, we will be uncertain about which group we are giving ourselves to.
The Bible reveals that these distinctive spiritual forces epitomize the true God along with his holy messengers or angles, and the other set is comprised of defiant Satan with his hoard of unruly, sinful angels and unclean spirits called demons.
That two separate groups of spiritual forces exists is illustrated in the incident of the prophet Elisha on a mountain in Dothan in the course of one of the numerous wars between Israel and Syria.
At this time when Syria was involved in a struggle with Israel, the prophet Elisha often heard communications from God concerning the position of the Syrian army. He warned King Saul, the King of Israel, many times regarding how to stay away from a planed ambush by the Syrians.
The Syrian king tried to find out who was the spy amongst his own men. But, a servant of the king said that it was Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. 2 Kings 6:12.
There Syrian king then sent his troops to Dothan, the town in Israel where Elisha was to be found, to arrest Elisha.
One morning, when the chariots and a huge number of the armed forces of Syria had encircled Dothan, Elisha’s servant was frightened at the sight of such a great army. He appealed to Elisha, asking what they should do.
Elisha answered, Do not fear,–for, more, are, they who are with us, than, they who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16. Elisha then requested that God would permit his servant to see these angelic hosts. When God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant he saw the angelic multitude that protected Elisha.
But, the important detail to consider is that there were two angelic hosts. There was the group that was with Elisha and others who were with the Syrians. And these two angelic hosts were in opposition to one another.
Jesus also demonstrated his belief in these two spiritual forces when he spoke with those who believed on him but were not faithful to his teachings. He said, You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’tt know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, hes doing what comes naturally to him. Hes a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44.
So, the significance for us is apparent. There are spiritual forces in the universe. But, the idea that without discriminating you want to get in touch with them and join your life to them thinking you will grow to be more spiritual is not wise.
Unless you seek the true God in meekness and seek Gods ways, you expose yourself to deceiving spirits and demons who will ultimately command you into rebellion against God and his ways. And your end will not be enjoyable.
On the other hand, Jesus gave his word that every single one who comes to him would receive life. And though they die, Jesus will resurrect them back to life.
Thus, choose your spiritual guides with awareness.
Bob Sherman offers insight into the freedom of Christ and how to become a Christian for those interested in learning more about the tremendous God of the universe.
Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki
By Roberto Garabell
You have probably come across exotic-sounding terms such as chakra, prana, aura, and tantra in your course of reading books on spirituality, sex, and healing in the New Age literature section of the bookstore. But whats the real scoop behind these exotic vocabularies?
Are All Energy Healings the Same?
Chakra or energy center is a term used in Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu system of energy healing. Prana means life energy. Aura is another terminology traced to Pranic healing. Aura is a non-physical body that consists of energy, which exists along with our physical body. The aura that covers our body is said to have seven layers pertaining to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of an individual as manifested by energy. Studying the color and thickness of auras give ideas on the state of health of individuals. Six colors are associated with aura and interpreted into six personalities. These colors are all present in an individual but one or two are more pronounced.
Green ambitious achiever
Blue spiritual peacemaker
White unconventional chameleon
Red activist
Orange creative communicator
Violet - psychic
Although Tantra is popularly associated with the peculiar practice of sex and spirituality, it is another method of energy healing. It comes from the word tan which means to spread or expand. The concept of connectedness is a recurring theme in Tantric writings on sex and spirituality. As a method of healing, spirituality and sex figure prominently. It is presupposed that the union of man and woman can reach spiritual levels during orgasm, which removes the body and mind off collected impurities. These impurities being negative energies can in turn manifest as physical illnesses.
Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings, which have Hindu origins, Reiki originated from Japan. It is relatively younger than Pranic and Tantric healings having been rediscovered in the early 1900s. Reiki stands for universal energy, an energy brought forth by higher intelligence. Students of Reiki are taught how to tap this energy to heal physical, emotional, and mental illnesses.
Although Pranic, Tantra, and Reiki are all systems of energy healing, they differ in the type of energy tapped for healing: life energy, sexual energy, and universal energy respectively.
The concepts of the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit; the connection of individuals to all living and nonliving things around them and to the universe; and how energy impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are some of the salient similarities of these three healing methods.
Why Do People Turn to Energy Healing?
Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are considered alternative methods of healing. In spite of the availability and relative accessibility of modern medicine, how come more and more people are being drawned to them? Here are some possible reasons:
Energy healing worked where modern medicine failed.
For several reasons both explainable and unexplainable, modern medical treatment failed to heal ailments and conditions in several if not many persons. Research or data may not be able to support this statement. But for the families of the dying as well as for the dying patient, they would take the risk of using alternative methods ranging from herbals and organics, faith healers, witch doctors, and New Age healing techniques just to be get well.
People perceive modern medicine to be isolating.
Medical treatments are oftentimes focused on the disease and its causative agent, which can make a patient feel isolated and treated like a mere host of the disease. Although recent developments in hospital practice are gradually promoting the holistic treatment of a patient, the perception still persists. Unlike in energy healing, since energy and spirituality are intimately linked, the patient feels that all aspects of his health are being attended to.
Energy healing is non-obtrusive and natural thus it is safer.
Repeated surgical procedures are physically and emotionally traumatic for most patients. It is but a logical and attractive option to both patient and families to look for less stressful health interventions. Moreover, with the rising popularity of New Age religions, going natural is the way to go.
Energy healing is a good way of relieving stress.
Meditation is part and parcel of energy healing methods and this is an added come-on for highly stressed people. Moreover, sophisticated equipment is not required thus it becomes all the more convenient for students and future students of energy healing.
The battle between alternative healing and mainstream medicine continues as both present the benefits of their approach. But in the final analysis, what matters is the restoration of good health.
This article is submitted by Julius. He is an avid blogger who has written a lot of articles including Music Can Be a Happiness Drug and Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs Visit Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric And Reiki.
Giving Your Full Attention To Who You Are
By Elysha
In order to seriously realize who you are, you will need to learn the difference of the feeling of when you are stopping as you; your heart, and when you are being distracted by what you are not; your chattering mind. To feel this, you will need to learn to give your full attention in every moment.
Your chattering mind will not have you realizing who you are. It simply cannot because your mind knows nothing about this one. The chattering mind is worlds apart from your heart; it is not going to be of any help with any of this.
Neither can your mind get hold of this one that you are, for there is nothing to grasp or to claim. No, you are simply going to have to find where you already are, right now. And your mind is not going to like you doing it. In fact, your mind will make quite a noise.
Once you begin to learn to see past this noise, the chattering mind will then open its bags of subterfuge and it will go into stealth mode. What you can keep on learning through all of this, is that you are this one which is already right here and prior to this active and tricky mind that keeps demanding your attention.
This mind of yours does everything within its power to distract you from realizing who you are. It has so many tricks up its sleeve. It is adept in this art of distraction; it has it all down to a very fine art. However in every moment that you see the mind’s game, you can simply shift your attention away from your thoughts to this aliveness that is flowing through your eyes.
As you continue to find who you are, you will see that this mind has amazing capacities for distracting you from simply being deeply at rest in the realization of who you are. However, all it is really doing is attempting to ensure its survival; like a small child seeking attention. And because this mind is not you, whenever you see that this is what it is doing, you can again shift your attention to who you are.
If you fall into the trap of thinking that you are realizing when it is only you trying to be something that you are not, then you create a very deep pit for yourself where realization will be lost to you. Your mind is not going to have you realizing - not ever.
The mind is ingenious in its capacity to blind you from realizing who you actually are. You are not, as it would have you believe, under its thumb. It keeps distracting you back into believing that it is you. But you already stand before this mind even arises.
You are always here, right here before this mind. You can see this right now. Simply stop right now and focus your attention into this moment, into all that is around you. Here you are, before any labels, judgments, or descriptions made by the chattering mind.
Realization is very simple. But it has to be realized. You have to find where you actually are and stop right there. You are the aliveness that is flowing through your eyes right now. Bring all of your attention to this one and rest here before the thoughts, even as they continue.
Like learning to play an instrument or learning a new skill, realizing who you are requires you to give your full conscious attention. You begin this journey one conscious moment at a time.
It is a natural journey. It has you becoming much more aware of what is going on around you. It brings you fully into your body.
With this movement at the fore, you will naturally find yourself drawn to the things that remind you of who you are and leaving alone those things that are going to distract you from realizing who you are.
So give your full attention to the aliveness that is flowing through your eyes in this moment right now, stop right here and be this one.
To receive Elysha’s FREE “Seven Steps To Living Your Freedom” e-book and FREE weekly considerations, visit http://www.TrueNatureCentre.com today!
Popularity: 54% [?]
The Concepts (gospel history) Of Feng Shui
No commentsBy Reat Cresen
Feng Shui is more than just rearranging furniture, its a routine. And lifestyles involve mindsets or concepts that are dominant. Feng Shui experts emphatically say no to a number of things with no reason. Nearly all of the things they do come with a line of reasoning that may well not necessarily be embraced by many people.
Nonetheless, it is still a point of view that among other things, need careful reflection and thought. So what are the thoughts that prevail on the onset of Feng Shui? Here are just a few of these common concepts that a Feng Shui devotee or researcher might find helpful.
Sense of Equilibrium
The number one thing that Feng Shui promotes is equilibrium. This stability comes in a lot of forms, in the color composition, in the spatial factors up to the numbers that concern your working space or environment. The balance is more promoted by the five Earth elements of Feng Shui and the bagua, which is designed symmetrically and with total reference to the distinctive elements of the earth by Feng Shui values. The values of Feng Shui is made personalized in every person, but it all boils down to having the right sets of things that harmonize and balance each other out.
Sense of Positivity
A sense of positivity is also what Feng Shui promotes. Positive energy is the feature largely sought after by people who try to get the services of Feng Shui consultants. This positivism needs to be maintained. On the other hand, it wards off all the forms of negative energy that can come in a given space. This is why there are jewelry that assist cure the bad luck in a particular place, specially those which have been established devoid of assistance of Feng Shui.
A Natural Leaning for Beauty and the effects that Promote It
Beauty in symmetry and symmetry in beauty is one of the core concepts of Feng Shui. It appeals to the physically inviting, and additionally adheres to fighting for beauty and balance in things. Feng Shui, in some ways, is a celebration of beauty in design and other physical elements of the space being designed.
Love for Your Environment
Feng Shui promotes the precise respect of the environment before establishing places. Good Feng Shui respects the elements of the earth and makes the Feng Shui devotee more aware of their environment. They dont just work instantly in any oppressive place, although attempt to eradicate any existing negativities in the surroundings.
Love for Self
The love for self is furthermore promoted by Feng Shui. You will sense energy based on what usually feels good to you. Love for self involves not subjecting yourself to oppressive places or harboring negative energies that can be counter-productive to your assorted activities.
Dreaming big and making the atmosphere jive with that dream
In conclusion, Feng Shui is more anchored on the greater scheme of things. While you have a vision and you intend to execute it in various ways, the best technique to begin is to have an environment that embraces those dreams. If you dream big and work hard, but your environment cancels all the things that you are striving for, it will be a enormously demanding task for you.
Feng Shui ensures that there is alignment linking the things you would like and the things that are manifested in the things you see daily.
Visit my website for more information about The Best Feng Shui Products To Buy
Watch Out How You Become Spiritual
By Bob Sherman
You’ll come across countless ideas about ways to grow to be more spiritual. They seek developing companionship with the spiritual forces that exist in the world.
An Internet search will turn up scores of websites that suggest such actions as:
- Become knowledgeable about the old indigenous faiths that once existed in your region
- Become sensitive to both the mystical and material domains
- Clear or quiet your mind and fill it with truth, peace, light and delight
- Enlarge your awareness about god, the supernatural and paranormal
- Acknowledge your divinity and grow to be co-creators that resonate with the essence of your private paradise
Thus, getting to know the spiritual forces that are all about us and in the world is clearly considered one key feature of being spiritual. But, what few understand is that there are distinct spiritual beings or forces that exist in the cosmos. And, by simply yielding ourselves to spiritual forces, we will be uncertain about which group we are giving ourselves to.
The Bible reveals that these distinctive spiritual forces epitomize the true God along with his holy messengers or angles, and the other set is comprised of defiant Satan with his hoard of unruly, sinful angels and unclean spirits called demons.
That two separate groups of spiritual forces exists is illustrated in the incident of the prophet Elisha on a mountain in Dothan in the course of one of the numerous wars between Israel and Syria.
At this time when Syria was involved in a struggle with Israel, the prophet Elisha often heard communications from God concerning the position of the Syrian army. He warned King Saul, the King of Israel, many times regarding how to stay away from a planed ambush by the Syrians.
The Syrian king tried to find out who was the spy amongst his own men. But, a servant of the king said that it was Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. 2 Kings 6:12.
There Syrian king then sent his troops to Dothan, the town in Israel where Elisha was to be found, to arrest Elisha.
One morning, when the chariots and a huge number of the armed forces of Syria had encircled Dothan, Elisha’s servant was frightened at the sight of such a great army. He appealed to Elisha, asking what they should do.
Elisha answered, Do not fear,–for, more, are, they who are with us, than, they who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16. Elisha then requested that God would permit his servant to see these angelic hosts. When God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant he saw the angelic multitude that protected Elisha.
But, the important detail to consider is that there were two angelic hosts. There was the group that was with Elisha and others who were with the Syrians. And these two angelic hosts were in opposition to one another.
Jesus also demonstrated his belief in these two spiritual forces when he spoke with those who believed on him but were not faithful to his teachings. He said, You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’tt know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, hes doing what comes naturally to him. Hes a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44.
So, the significance for us is apparent. There are spiritual forces in the universe. But, the idea that without discriminating you want to get in touch with them and join your life to them thinking you will grow to be more spiritual is not wise.
Unless you seek the true God in meekness and seek Gods ways, you expose yourself to deceiving spirits and demons who will ultimately command you into rebellion against God and his ways. And your end will not be enjoyable.
On the other hand, Jesus gave his word that every single one who comes to him would receive life. And though they die, Jesus will resurrect them back to life.
Thus, choose your spiritual guides with awareness.
Bob Sherman offers insight into the freedom of Christ and how to become a Christian for those interested in learning more about the tremendous God of the universe.
Popularity: 52% [?]
