I know you've heard of genetically modified organisms. Please educate yourself as to what is being done to our food supply. Here is an eye-opening video. About half way through it becomes extremely interesting, scary, but inspirational.
The importance of biodiversity
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Have you ever heard of a Klein Bottle?
Have you heard of panentheism? Not pantheism, but panENtheism.
Read the articles at these links, and your mind will be blown.
What is a Klein Bottle?
Panentheism article (mentions the Klein bottle)
Have you heard of panentheism? Not pantheism, but panENtheism.
Read the articles at these links, and your mind will be blown.
What is a Klein Bottle?
Panentheism article (mentions the Klein bottle)
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Dan Aykroyd on UFOs!
I didn't know this side of Dan Aykroyd. If you watch it all the way to the end, you will understand why I think it's so important to be open-minded about the UFO phenomenon.
http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/videos/ufosinterdimensionalultraterrestrials/dan-aykroyd-unplugged-on-ufos.html
http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/videos/ufosinterdimensionalultraterrestrials/dan-aykroyd-unplugged-on-ufos.html
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Today I cried for the loss of a man I never met.
There is a man I've known for a few years who has been a casual acquaintance up until we decided a couple of weeks ago that we would like to get to know each other better by dating. Well, he left me a message this morning, apologizing for having missed our date this weekend. He called from St. Louis where his Dad passed away yesterday.
I cried. I never met his father, but having lost my Mom to cancer 10 years ago, I know how hard that is.
I've never seen this side of my friend. He is always joking, having fun with life. Now I see that even in the midst of the difficulties he's going through now, he is also considerate enough to think to call me to apologize for missing our date. We hadn't even firmed up which day or what we were going to do yet. I cried for his pain and smiled for his thoughtfulness.
There is a man I've known for a few years who has been a casual acquaintance up until we decided a couple of weeks ago that we would like to get to know each other better by dating. Well, he left me a message this morning, apologizing for having missed our date this weekend. He called from St. Louis where his Dad passed away yesterday.
I cried. I never met his father, but having lost my Mom to cancer 10 years ago, I know how hard that is.
I've never seen this side of my friend. He is always joking, having fun with life. Now I see that even in the midst of the difficulties he's going through now, he is also considerate enough to think to call me to apologize for missing our date. We hadn't even firmed up which day or what we were going to do yet. I cried for his pain and smiled for his thoughtfulness.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Solstice and Equinox Traditions
From http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/
Solstice and Equinox Traditions
Observing holidays is a tradition intertwined with spirituality. The depth of humanity's need for holy days and the biological connection to the earth's yearly cycles are subjects that have not been satisfactorily researched.
Here are some astronomical events that have been used to mark holy days in many different religions for thousands of years. Celebrating these events recognizes both the continuity of humanity over thousands of years and how much we have progressed from the simple agrarians who depended upon astronomical sitings for their survival. For further reading on these topics see here http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/GoldenBough.htm.
Spring Equinox
Spring or Vernal Equinox, also known as Ostara, Easter, and St. Patrick's Day, occurs in the middle of March in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the beginning of Spring and the time when days and nights are of equal length.
Megalithic people on Europes Atlantic fringe calculated the date of the Spring Equinox using circular monuments constructed of huge stones. Germanic tribes associated it with the fertility goddess Ostara. The Mayans of Central America still gather at the pyramid at Chichen Itza which was designed to produce a "serpent" shadow on the Spring Equinox. The Ancient Saxons held a feast day for their version of the fertility goddess, Eostre, on the full moon following the Vernal Equinox. Eostre is associated with the symbols of decorated eggs and hares.
Ancient influences from the worship of the goddess Ostara or Eostre have persisted in the form of fertility symbols of Easter eggs and the hare or rabbit. By the use of these symbols of spring, rebirth, and fertility we reinforce our connection to humanity's past.
Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice, sometimes known as Midsummer, Litha, or St. John's Day, occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of Summer.
The first (or only) full moon in June is called the Honey Moon. Tradition holds that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives and was a popular time to get married because of the events association with fertility gods and godesses. Harvests of St. Johns Wort were used in potions and woven into garlands to decorate and protect houses and domestic animals. Slav and Celt tribes celebrated with huge bonfires and people would jump over the embers for luck. In Scandinavia women and girls ceremonially bathed in rivers.
In Portugal, people say that St. John's Eve water possesses great healing power. Before dawn both cattle and young children bathed in rivers or dew, to ensure health and strength. In Russia, the summer solstice celebration is called Kupalo. Kupalo comes from the verb kupati, to bathe, and mass baths were taken on Midsummer morning.
Celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires and ceremonial bathing recognizes and strengthens our connections to nature and humanity.
Fall Equinox
In the Northern Hemisphere the Autumnal Equinox, occurs around September 23rd or 24th. It is also known as Michaelmas, Mabon, and Harvest Home.
Traditionally, the Japanese marked the spring and fall Equinox with higan, a seven day period in which they remember their ancestors by visiting the family grave, cleaning the tombstone, offering flowers and food, burning incense sticks, and praying.
The Polish Feast of Greenery involves bringing bouquets and foods for blessing by a priest, then using them for medicine or keeping them until the following years harvest. The Roman celebration of the Fall Equinox was dedicated to Pomona, goddess of fruits and growing things.
A feast was celebrated with a traditional well fattened goose which had fed well on the stubble of the fields after the harvest. Another tradition of of the Autumnal Equinox is the use of ginger. All manner of foods seasoned with ginger are part of the day's menu from gingerbread to ginger beer.
In England, the last sheaf of corn harvested represented the `spirit of the field' and was made into a doll. Corn dolls were drenched with water representing rain or burned to represent the death of the grain spirit. Large wickerwork figures were also constructed to represent a vegetation spirit and burnt in mock sacrifice. Farmers and merchants gathered at fairs. Often a large glove was suspended above the fair, symbolizing the handshake of promises and openhandedness and generosity.
The tradition of celebrating the end of summer with a 'burning man' has been enthusiastically revived in the US as a festival of performance art and creativity. Participating in your own burning man celebration is a powerful way to connect with humanity, past and present.
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the sun at its lowest and weakest. In the Northern Hemisphere it usually occurs around December 21st.
In pagan Scandinavia the winter festival was the Yule, celebrated by burning the hearth fires of the magically significant Yule log. In the Celtic Druid culture, the Winter Solstice was celebrated by hanging sacred mistletoe over a doorway or in a room to offer goodwill to visitors. Germanic tribes decorated a pine or fir tree with candles and tokens. The Inca held midwinter ceremonies at temples that served as astronomical observatories like Machu Pichu.
Romans celebrated this event with Saturnalia, a festival of merrymaking, and decorating their homes and temples with holly and evergreens. Also popular was the exchange of small gifts thought to bring luck on the recipient.
In the fourth century AD, Christian authorities in Rome attempted to eliminate the pagan festivities by adopting December 25th as Christ's birthday. The effort was never completely successful, and eventually many Winter Solstice customs were incorporated into Christmas observances.
Since so many of these traditions have persisted for thousands of years despite extensive efforts to eliminate them, we think it best to celebrate the Winter Solstice with these ancient customs, recognizing our links to the rest of humanity, past and present.
Solstice and Equinox Traditions
Observing holidays is a tradition intertwined with spirituality. The depth of humanity's need for holy days and the biological connection to the earth's yearly cycles are subjects that have not been satisfactorily researched.
Here are some astronomical events that have been used to mark holy days in many different religions for thousands of years. Celebrating these events recognizes both the continuity of humanity over thousands of years and how much we have progressed from the simple agrarians who depended upon astronomical sitings for their survival. For further reading on these topics see here http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/GoldenBough.htm.
Spring Equinox
Spring or Vernal Equinox, also known as Ostara, Easter, and St. Patrick's Day, occurs in the middle of March in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the beginning of Spring and the time when days and nights are of equal length.
Megalithic people on Europes Atlantic fringe calculated the date of the Spring Equinox using circular monuments constructed of huge stones. Germanic tribes associated it with the fertility goddess Ostara. The Mayans of Central America still gather at the pyramid at Chichen Itza which was designed to produce a "serpent" shadow on the Spring Equinox. The Ancient Saxons held a feast day for their version of the fertility goddess, Eostre, on the full moon following the Vernal Equinox. Eostre is associated with the symbols of decorated eggs and hares.
Ancient influences from the worship of the goddess Ostara or Eostre have persisted in the form of fertility symbols of Easter eggs and the hare or rabbit. By the use of these symbols of spring, rebirth, and fertility we reinforce our connection to humanity's past.
Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice, sometimes known as Midsummer, Litha, or St. John's Day, occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of Summer.
The first (or only) full moon in June is called the Honey Moon. Tradition holds that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives and was a popular time to get married because of the events association with fertility gods and godesses. Harvests of St. Johns Wort were used in potions and woven into garlands to decorate and protect houses and domestic animals. Slav and Celt tribes celebrated with huge bonfires and people would jump over the embers for luck. In Scandinavia women and girls ceremonially bathed in rivers.
In Portugal, people say that St. John's Eve water possesses great healing power. Before dawn both cattle and young children bathed in rivers or dew, to ensure health and strength. In Russia, the summer solstice celebration is called Kupalo. Kupalo comes from the verb kupati, to bathe, and mass baths were taken on Midsummer morning.
Celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires and ceremonial bathing recognizes and strengthens our connections to nature and humanity.
Fall Equinox
In the Northern Hemisphere the Autumnal Equinox, occurs around September 23rd or 24th. It is also known as Michaelmas, Mabon, and Harvest Home.
Traditionally, the Japanese marked the spring and fall Equinox with higan, a seven day period in which they remember their ancestors by visiting the family grave, cleaning the tombstone, offering flowers and food, burning incense sticks, and praying.
The Polish Feast of Greenery involves bringing bouquets and foods for blessing by a priest, then using them for medicine or keeping them until the following years harvest. The Roman celebration of the Fall Equinox was dedicated to Pomona, goddess of fruits and growing things.
A feast was celebrated with a traditional well fattened goose which had fed well on the stubble of the fields after the harvest. Another tradition of of the Autumnal Equinox is the use of ginger. All manner of foods seasoned with ginger are part of the day's menu from gingerbread to ginger beer.
In England, the last sheaf of corn harvested represented the `spirit of the field' and was made into a doll. Corn dolls were drenched with water representing rain or burned to represent the death of the grain spirit. Large wickerwork figures were also constructed to represent a vegetation spirit and burnt in mock sacrifice. Farmers and merchants gathered at fairs. Often a large glove was suspended above the fair, symbolizing the handshake of promises and openhandedness and generosity.
The tradition of celebrating the end of summer with a 'burning man' has been enthusiastically revived in the US as a festival of performance art and creativity. Participating in your own burning man celebration is a powerful way to connect with humanity, past and present.
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the sun at its lowest and weakest. In the Northern Hemisphere it usually occurs around December 21st.
In pagan Scandinavia the winter festival was the Yule, celebrated by burning the hearth fires of the magically significant Yule log. In the Celtic Druid culture, the Winter Solstice was celebrated by hanging sacred mistletoe over a doorway or in a room to offer goodwill to visitors. Germanic tribes decorated a pine or fir tree with candles and tokens. The Inca held midwinter ceremonies at temples that served as astronomical observatories like Machu Pichu.
Romans celebrated this event with Saturnalia, a festival of merrymaking, and decorating their homes and temples with holly and evergreens. Also popular was the exchange of small gifts thought to bring luck on the recipient.
In the fourth century AD, Christian authorities in Rome attempted to eliminate the pagan festivities by adopting December 25th as Christ's birthday. The effort was never completely successful, and eventually many Winter Solstice customs were incorporated into Christmas observances.
Since so many of these traditions have persisted for thousands of years despite extensive efforts to eliminate them, we think it best to celebrate the Winter Solstice with these ancient customs, recognizing our links to the rest of humanity, past and present.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Daily Life as a Prayer
I wrote this around the time I wrote The School of Life.
Daily Life as a Prayer
I offer this idea to you - live your life as a prayer. Feel the power of the Universe that blesses you. Rejoice in it and use it wisely. This morning you woke up with a roof over your head, clothes to wear and food to eat. Live with a grateful attitude.
What a glorious world we live in! We are physical and spiritual beings.
To stimulate your physical aspects so that they function as well as possible for your benefit and to benefit your fellow humans, I suggest daily activities similar to the following:
You have a mind – exercise and feed it! Read, watch television, listen to the radio, communicate with others, surf the web. Decide what makes sense to you from the input you receive. Only you can decide what you believe. What is your truth? What beliefs work for you? Use your mind. If you feel strongly that something is true for you, don’t let anyone persuade you otherwise. But remember, as our life’s circumstances change, so, too, may our beliefs. You will grow spiritually and be nurtured physically if you let go of beliefs that no longer serve you and allow new ones to flower.
You have a body – enjoy and employ it! To make best use of your body, purposely stimulate each one of your 5 senses daily.
Be aware of a strong smell and rejoice that your olfactory organs relay that information to your brain. How does it make you feel? What memories does it trigger? Isn’t your nose a wonderful tool? It gives you pleasure and can warn you of danger (as in smelling smoke from a fire). Send feelings of gratitude to your body for your sense of smell.
Look at an object and let your optic nerves send the awe of its shape, texture and color to your brain. Explore the way the object appears until you can see it in your mind’s eye with your physical eyes closed. Visualization skills are a powerful tool for manifestation! Your eyes are wonderful gifts also. Be grateful to your body for them.
When you eat or drink, hold it in your mouth a little longer than usual before swallowing. Is it sweet, sour, salty, or bland? Allow your taste buds to send the pleasurable impulses to your brain and be aware of them. Not only has the Universe provided you with fuel for your body, you experience the pleasure of enjoyable flavors as an added bonus! Fuel your body well according to what you believe from information you accept as true for you. Have a grateful attitude toward your body for your sense of taste.
Use your fingertips to explore the texture of something in your immediate environment. Feel the velvety petals of a flower, the grain of the wood on your kitchen table, or the warmth of the sun streaming through a window. Be aware of the pleasure and sensibility of your sense of touch. Without the nerve endings near the surface of your skin, you wouldn’t know when you were getting burned or cut, for instance. Be grateful for your skin and nerve endings.
Stop and just let your ear drums send you signals you might tend to ignore a large portion of the time. Hear the hum of the furnace, a dog barking, or the trickle of a fountain. Delight in the music of everyday life. Our ability to hear gives us pleasure and warning of danger in our immediate environment. Love your ears!
Another great way to get in touch with your physical body and to keep it in good working order, is to exercise it. Cardio-vascular exercise keeps our heart and other muscles in shape so that our daily tasks are easier for us. But if you have a job that involves a lot of movement, an additional daily workout may not be necessary. I do highly recommend some other form of body workout, such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong or yoga to promote flexibility and align your mind, body, and spirit.
You are made of Spirit - go inside yourself daily with deep contemplation or meditation. Feel the light of your True Self shining through your physical body, giving you the gifts of true wisdom and intuition. Nurture these awesome gifts!
Even if you see life from a mostly scientific viewpoint, take a few moments each day to contemplate what you think allows the Universe to function, change, and grow. Open yourself to the wonders of the Universe. Feel the energy coursing through your body, and recognize its power. As the sun rises each day, the moon illuminates the nighttime, and the seasons flow, experience and be aware of, the awe and mystery of nature.
Another way to live your life as a prayer is to look outside yourself, as well as in. Performing a selfless act each day shows your love and reverence for all of creation. Do something of your own free will for a friend, family member, or a complete stranger. Give a compliment to your competitive sibling, offer to go grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor, babysit for a harried friend who has a new baby. But whatever kindness you perform will have much more value if you do so without expectations, or strings attached. Do some good, hard work and contribute to society! Pray like you mean it!
Daily Life as a Prayer
I offer this idea to you - live your life as a prayer. Feel the power of the Universe that blesses you. Rejoice in it and use it wisely. This morning you woke up with a roof over your head, clothes to wear and food to eat. Live with a grateful attitude.
What a glorious world we live in! We are physical and spiritual beings.
To stimulate your physical aspects so that they function as well as possible for your benefit and to benefit your fellow humans, I suggest daily activities similar to the following:
You have a mind – exercise and feed it! Read, watch television, listen to the radio, communicate with others, surf the web. Decide what makes sense to you from the input you receive. Only you can decide what you believe. What is your truth? What beliefs work for you? Use your mind. If you feel strongly that something is true for you, don’t let anyone persuade you otherwise. But remember, as our life’s circumstances change, so, too, may our beliefs. You will grow spiritually and be nurtured physically if you let go of beliefs that no longer serve you and allow new ones to flower.
You have a body – enjoy and employ it! To make best use of your body, purposely stimulate each one of your 5 senses daily.
Be aware of a strong smell and rejoice that your olfactory organs relay that information to your brain. How does it make you feel? What memories does it trigger? Isn’t your nose a wonderful tool? It gives you pleasure and can warn you of danger (as in smelling smoke from a fire). Send feelings of gratitude to your body for your sense of smell.
Look at an object and let your optic nerves send the awe of its shape, texture and color to your brain. Explore the way the object appears until you can see it in your mind’s eye with your physical eyes closed. Visualization skills are a powerful tool for manifestation! Your eyes are wonderful gifts also. Be grateful to your body for them.
When you eat or drink, hold it in your mouth a little longer than usual before swallowing. Is it sweet, sour, salty, or bland? Allow your taste buds to send the pleasurable impulses to your brain and be aware of them. Not only has the Universe provided you with fuel for your body, you experience the pleasure of enjoyable flavors as an added bonus! Fuel your body well according to what you believe from information you accept as true for you. Have a grateful attitude toward your body for your sense of taste.
Use your fingertips to explore the texture of something in your immediate environment. Feel the velvety petals of a flower, the grain of the wood on your kitchen table, or the warmth of the sun streaming through a window. Be aware of the pleasure and sensibility of your sense of touch. Without the nerve endings near the surface of your skin, you wouldn’t know when you were getting burned or cut, for instance. Be grateful for your skin and nerve endings.
Stop and just let your ear drums send you signals you might tend to ignore a large portion of the time. Hear the hum of the furnace, a dog barking, or the trickle of a fountain. Delight in the music of everyday life. Our ability to hear gives us pleasure and warning of danger in our immediate environment. Love your ears!
Another great way to get in touch with your physical body and to keep it in good working order, is to exercise it. Cardio-vascular exercise keeps our heart and other muscles in shape so that our daily tasks are easier for us. But if you have a job that involves a lot of movement, an additional daily workout may not be necessary. I do highly recommend some other form of body workout, such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong or yoga to promote flexibility and align your mind, body, and spirit.
You are made of Spirit - go inside yourself daily with deep contemplation or meditation. Feel the light of your True Self shining through your physical body, giving you the gifts of true wisdom and intuition. Nurture these awesome gifts!
Even if you see life from a mostly scientific viewpoint, take a few moments each day to contemplate what you think allows the Universe to function, change, and grow. Open yourself to the wonders of the Universe. Feel the energy coursing through your body, and recognize its power. As the sun rises each day, the moon illuminates the nighttime, and the seasons flow, experience and be aware of, the awe and mystery of nature.
Another way to live your life as a prayer is to look outside yourself, as well as in. Performing a selfless act each day shows your love and reverence for all of creation. Do something of your own free will for a friend, family member, or a complete stranger. Give a compliment to your competitive sibling, offer to go grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor, babysit for a harried friend who has a new baby. But whatever kindness you perform will have much more value if you do so without expectations, or strings attached. Do some good, hard work and contribute to society! Pray like you mean it!
The School of Life
I wrote this article several years ago.
Welcome to The School of Life!
What will you learn today?
This School of Life is open year round,
twenty four hours a day, seven days a
week.
Sometimes we are teachers, sometimes
students, or other special persons that
help this school function so that we may
all graduate eventually.
The school is recreated by your thoughts
each day upon waking. You must be open-
minded to understand how limitless
the education you can receive here truly
is. There are no limits whatsoever unless
you allow them to exist by believing
they are there.
As you enter the front hallway, you will
see all manner of awards in display
cases. The awards are the circumstances
of our lives, and our environment,
created by our actions. Some were won by
yourself, some by fellow students and
some by teachers and administrative
staff. Oh, yes, and janitors
(environmentalists), cafeteria workers
(farmers) and maintenance staff
(laborers, scientists, conStruction
workers, etc.) have very special awards
all their own. You may also take those
roles occasionally. The parents, family,
friends and childcaregivers come for
special events to learn and teach, too.
There is as much to be learned in
those important jobs as in the role of
student! Love awarded for love given,
respect awarded for respect given, and so
on. You have to have bestowed an award to
receive one. No awards are more important
than any others in this hall filled with
so many.
The library past the hall of awards
contains all the collective knowledge of
mankind. Open the doors to wisdom any
time you wish - this library never
closes! It holds your thoughts. You are
free to read anything and decide what you
believe to be true. View videos, listen
to music, enjoy yourself! We learn
through entertainment, too!
There is a gymnasium in this School of
Life and sports and gymnastic equipment
for competitive games or solitary
workouts as suits you. Competition
teaches many lessons as does working out
alone, or just being in stillness in
meditation. A healthy body helps your
mind and spirit function at optimum
levels together.
Classrooms exist with structured
schedules and pre-assigned learning
materials. You are free to enroll in
these or you may choose self-paced
courses for which you choose the format
and learning materials and learn through
experience. You may stay in classes as
long as you wish, but if you choose to
move on before you have learned the
lessons assigned you in a class, please
be assured you will find yourself back in
that class in one lifetime or another.
Remember, you chose your classes, whether
you are conscious of that fact or not!
Your guidance counselor only advised you.
The cafeteria here serves anything your
heart desires to fuel your body. Choose
wisely! Help replenish the food supplies
without waste so others may continue to
be nourished here. There are even lessons
to learn here in the cafeteria!
There is a supply room with all manner of
art and office supplies with which to be
creative.
Next we come to the office - your
conscience. Here your records are kept;
the story of your life. Others may store
information about you here, but the only
records that truly matter are the ones
you keep. What is true for you? Have you
punished yourself for lack of
participation? For tardiness? For
absences? For mistreating others here at
school? You are the one who doles out
your punishments through your actions.
You teach others how to treat you by your
beliefs about yourself.
There is a detention room adjoining the
office of your conscience. You put
yourself in detention out of a lack of
understanding of how to make the most of
this place, this School of Life!
Ah, yes , and the restrooms and showers
are here for us to wash and flush away
the cares and grunge of daily life that
build up if we let them!
The playground is always open here, too!
Children, as well as adults learn from
play. Enjoy this life!
The education here is open to anyone with
a thirst for knowledge. Some think they
are prohibited from attending, though no
one is! Take advantage of it! You are one
of the lucky ones who is aware of its
open enrollment! We can all be at the
head of the class together, if we only
realize it.
Welcome to The School of Life!
What will you learn today?
This School of Life is open year round,
twenty four hours a day, seven days a
week.
Sometimes we are teachers, sometimes
students, or other special persons that
help this school function so that we may
all graduate eventually.
The school is recreated by your thoughts
each day upon waking. You must be open-
minded to understand how limitless
the education you can receive here truly
is. There are no limits whatsoever unless
you allow them to exist by believing
they are there.
As you enter the front hallway, you will
see all manner of awards in display
cases. The awards are the circumstances
of our lives, and our environment,
created by our actions. Some were won by
yourself, some by fellow students and
some by teachers and administrative
staff. Oh, yes, and janitors
(environmentalists), cafeteria workers
(farmers) and maintenance staff
(laborers, scientists, conStruction
workers, etc.) have very special awards
all their own. You may also take those
roles occasionally. The parents, family,
friends and childcaregivers come for
special events to learn and teach, too.
There is as much to be learned in
those important jobs as in the role of
student! Love awarded for love given,
respect awarded for respect given, and so
on. You have to have bestowed an award to
receive one. No awards are more important
than any others in this hall filled with
so many.
The library past the hall of awards
contains all the collective knowledge of
mankind. Open the doors to wisdom any
time you wish - this library never
closes! It holds your thoughts. You are
free to read anything and decide what you
believe to be true. View videos, listen
to music, enjoy yourself! We learn
through entertainment, too!
There is a gymnasium in this School of
Life and sports and gymnastic equipment
for competitive games or solitary
workouts as suits you. Competition
teaches many lessons as does working out
alone, or just being in stillness in
meditation. A healthy body helps your
mind and spirit function at optimum
levels together.
Classrooms exist with structured
schedules and pre-assigned learning
materials. You are free to enroll in
these or you may choose self-paced
courses for which you choose the format
and learning materials and learn through
experience. You may stay in classes as
long as you wish, but if you choose to
move on before you have learned the
lessons assigned you in a class, please
be assured you will find yourself back in
that class in one lifetime or another.
Remember, you chose your classes, whether
you are conscious of that fact or not!
Your guidance counselor only advised you.
The cafeteria here serves anything your
heart desires to fuel your body. Choose
wisely! Help replenish the food supplies
without waste so others may continue to
be nourished here. There are even lessons
to learn here in the cafeteria!
There is a supply room with all manner of
art and office supplies with which to be
creative.
Next we come to the office - your
conscience. Here your records are kept;
the story of your life. Others may store
information about you here, but the only
records that truly matter are the ones
you keep. What is true for you? Have you
punished yourself for lack of
participation? For tardiness? For
absences? For mistreating others here at
school? You are the one who doles out
your punishments through your actions.
You teach others how to treat you by your
beliefs about yourself.
There is a detention room adjoining the
office of your conscience. You put
yourself in detention out of a lack of
understanding of how to make the most of
this place, this School of Life!
Ah, yes , and the restrooms and showers
are here for us to wash and flush away
the cares and grunge of daily life that
build up if we let them!
The playground is always open here, too!
Children, as well as adults learn from
play. Enjoy this life!
The education here is open to anyone with
a thirst for knowledge. Some think they
are prohibited from attending, though no
one is! Take advantage of it! You are one
of the lucky ones who is aware of its
open enrollment! We can all be at the
head of the class together, if we only
realize it.
Friday, March 9, 2012
The New Paradigm of Mind and Matter
If you can get past the website title, this article on the nature of reality is fascinating!
The New Paradigm of Mind and Matter
The New Paradigm of Mind and Matter
Monday, March 5, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Barbara Marciniak'sbooks about her communications with extraterrestrials
I have the first book in the series, "Bringers of the Dawn", which was published way back in 1992. It really resonates with me. Could she just be crazy? Yes, but the information she offers speaks to me.
I have the first book in the series, "Bringers of the Dawn", which was published way back in 1992. It really resonates with me. Could she just be crazy? Yes, but the information she offers speaks to me.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Oh my gosh! The Conan O'Brien video on the ULC homepage is hilarious!
Universal Life Church
Anyway, I'm ordained through the
Church of Spiritual Humanism
as well as the ULC.
I admit I became ordained through these churches because it's fast and free. But, also because this means I can perform legal marriages in most states. Lots of celebrities are ULC ministers.
Beginning in 2003, I studied for a year and a half through the University of Metaphysics. I paid a good chunk of money, and earned an unaccredited Bachelors and Masters of Metaphysical Science as well as a Metaphysical Practitioner's certificate and ordination in the International Metaphysical Ministry. I graduated with high honors and my thesis on dreams was accepted. I learned a lot about Religious Science and New Thought. I remained affiliated with them, submitting my monthly ministerial activity reports and paying my yearly affiliation fees for several years, until it began to feel like they were in it more for the money than to spread enlightenment. Many states don't recognize their ministers legally either. I cut ties with them and decided to check out free online ordination. I know I did the work, accumulated the knowledge, and feel qualified to minister to those who ask for my help.
You may think metaphysics is only worthy of an eye roll, but all of the major world religions are based on the same metaphysical principles. Believe me, I've done the research. I was born into this world a Catholic, later considered Mormonism, became a Lutheran during my first marriage, then studied and practiced Wicca after the turn of the millenium. If this freaks you out, click on the link. Wicca is not at all what many think it is. There's no Satanic worship. It's a nature religion, that acknowledges the presence of God in everything and everyone. Many aspects of God are recognized, both male and female. I began studying Wicca because I was concerned about my youngest's desire to become a witch. Boy, did I have my eyes opened!
For me, now, Religious Science and New Thought are the best fit.
I respect everyone's right to believe and practice whatever works for them in their lives, as long as they're not harming anyone else. I do take issue with those who try to convert others to their religion. But even then, I realize their strong belief that there is only one path to God must make them want to help others to see their way.
Universal Life Church
Anyway, I'm ordained through the
Church of Spiritual Humanism
as well as the ULC.
I admit I became ordained through these churches because it's fast and free. But, also because this means I can perform legal marriages in most states. Lots of celebrities are ULC ministers.
Beginning in 2003, I studied for a year and a half through the University of Metaphysics. I paid a good chunk of money, and earned an unaccredited Bachelors and Masters of Metaphysical Science as well as a Metaphysical Practitioner's certificate and ordination in the International Metaphysical Ministry. I graduated with high honors and my thesis on dreams was accepted. I learned a lot about Religious Science and New Thought. I remained affiliated with them, submitting my monthly ministerial activity reports and paying my yearly affiliation fees for several years, until it began to feel like they were in it more for the money than to spread enlightenment. Many states don't recognize their ministers legally either. I cut ties with them and decided to check out free online ordination. I know I did the work, accumulated the knowledge, and feel qualified to minister to those who ask for my help.
You may think metaphysics is only worthy of an eye roll, but all of the major world religions are based on the same metaphysical principles. Believe me, I've done the research. I was born into this world a Catholic, later considered Mormonism, became a Lutheran during my first marriage, then studied and practiced Wicca after the turn of the millenium. If this freaks you out, click on the link. Wicca is not at all what many think it is. There's no Satanic worship. It's a nature religion, that acknowledges the presence of God in everything and everyone. Many aspects of God are recognized, both male and female. I began studying Wicca because I was concerned about my youngest's desire to become a witch. Boy, did I have my eyes opened!
For me, now, Religious Science and New Thought are the best fit.
I respect everyone's right to believe and practice whatever works for them in their lives, as long as they're not harming anyone else. I do take issue with those who try to convert others to their religion. But even then, I realize their strong belief that there is only one path to God must make them want to help others to see their way.
Me on Pinterest
I wasn't sure about Pinterest at first, but I'm really enjoying it! It's a great way to make connections, and you're exposed to things you didn't even realize you liked and wouldn't have found otherwise.
I wasn't sure about Pinterest at first, but I'm really enjoying it! It's a great way to make connections, and you're exposed to things you didn't even realize you liked and wouldn't have found otherwise.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
First I want to start off with some shameless advertising. Here's a link to mine and my daughter's artfire handcrafted gifts studio, Youphorium.
Although I refer to myself as a craftsperson, a portrait artist, and a minister, I do those things for the love of it. I make very little money from the first 2, and none from the 3rd,.To pay the bills, I am head housekeeper at a hotel. I was coming home from work today (I've been working 6 days a week to keep my head above water) on the bus and had an aggravating encounter with a fellow passenger. He was aggravating, and then I got aggravated at myself for the way I handled it. First, let me say, I'm single and live alone. This sometimes has me more on the defensive than I need to be. And I was tired this afternoon, dead tired. For some reason, lots of unstable people seem to ride the bus on Saturday afternoons. There was an extremely intoxicated and/or crazy man talking mostly to himself, but also occasionally to others. He decided to poke me in the arm to engage me in conversation. OK, now, in my own defense, my dad was a certified lunatic, so I'm really gun shy around mentally unstable people. AND, in his ramblings, I had heard him say he wants to live in the same apartment complex where I live. I tried so hard to ignore him, even when he insinuated I'm prejudiced, but when he poked me, and asked if I heard him, I said "yes" and looked him in the eye. I was worried that if he saw me get off the bus, he might follow me to ask me questions about the apartment complex. Everyone on the bus was avoiding the man. Black, white, men, women. I was the only person who decide to say anything to him. When I looked in his eyes all I could feel was empathy. He was just a lonely soul looking for a connection. I felt ashamed of myself. What kind of minister must I be if I couldn't muster up more than one single word for someone obviously hurting so badly. And then I forgave myself.
I've learned a lot about myself and people in general since moving to a major metropolitan area. Most of what I see reinforces my belief in the basic goodness of the human species. All of it is interesting.
One of our products. A terra cotta pot, handpainted, lid included, for rainy day money, or whatever.
Tongue-in-cheek, just for fun, a good conversation starter.
Although I refer to myself as a craftsperson, a portrait artist, and a minister, I do those things for the love of it. I make very little money from the first 2, and none from the 3rd,.To pay the bills, I am head housekeeper at a hotel. I was coming home from work today (I've been working 6 days a week to keep my head above water) on the bus and had an aggravating encounter with a fellow passenger. He was aggravating, and then I got aggravated at myself for the way I handled it. First, let me say, I'm single and live alone. This sometimes has me more on the defensive than I need to be. And I was tired this afternoon, dead tired. For some reason, lots of unstable people seem to ride the bus on Saturday afternoons. There was an extremely intoxicated and/or crazy man talking mostly to himself, but also occasionally to others. He decided to poke me in the arm to engage me in conversation. OK, now, in my own defense, my dad was a certified lunatic, so I'm really gun shy around mentally unstable people. AND, in his ramblings, I had heard him say he wants to live in the same apartment complex where I live. I tried so hard to ignore him, even when he insinuated I'm prejudiced, but when he poked me, and asked if I heard him, I said "yes" and looked him in the eye. I was worried that if he saw me get off the bus, he might follow me to ask me questions about the apartment complex. Everyone on the bus was avoiding the man. Black, white, men, women. I was the only person who decide to say anything to him. When I looked in his eyes all I could feel was empathy. He was just a lonely soul looking for a connection. I felt ashamed of myself. What kind of minister must I be if I couldn't muster up more than one single word for someone obviously hurting so badly. And then I forgave myself.
I've learned a lot about myself and people in general since moving to a major metropolitan area. Most of what I see reinforces my belief in the basic goodness of the human species. All of it is interesting.
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