SCIENTIFICALLY MINDED?

    Many people claim to be scientific in their thinking, yet some of them can be as hung up on their personal ideas as the most devout religious person. I have spoken to a number of very well educated people in my day who never heard of certain scientific discoveries or experiments that have been done in the laboratory. Some have said, "I've never heard of that, but if that is true, this changes everything. I will have to look that up." But then time goes by and they still have not looked it up. They're still adamant about a certain opinion that has been harpooned years ago. If we are going to truly be scientific individuals, we must have the presence of mind to look at both sides of the story. To read a favorite theory that strokes our ego and inflates our personal belief, and then ignore all evidence to the contrary, is not honest scientific research. Take for example, the topic of the near-death experience. Many still tout the belief that the NDE is nothing more than the symptoms of an oxygen deprived brain. They are completely unaware of the new research that has been done in this field that opens up many more questions on the subject than the old blanket theories can answer. Some say that science and religion are diametrically opposed to one another. Other say that they walk hand-in-hand. The truth is, sometimes they strangely agree, and many other times they do not. It is our job as individuals to do our own honest research. We cannot just settle on the opinions of a few or seek out the information that makes us feel good about our pet beliefs and perceptions. With the invention of the Internet and search engines like Google, anyone can have a plethora of scientific information at their fingertips in a matter of moments. It is up to each of us, to find that information and make his/her own decisions on the evidences given. And when we do this, it will not extinguish our faith and kill our spirituality. But rather it will broaden its horizons and make us even more open-minded as individuals.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO ONLY COME AROUND WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING

    It's okay to say no! You don't have to feel responsible for those individuals that only come around when they need something. You don't have to feel guilty for turning people away whom you know are only taking advantage. It is no less spiritual to help the needy and downtrodden as it is to turn away those who learn nothing but use much. You don't have to be the go to guy/girl for the people who take but never give back. Give something to yourself and delete the psychic vampires and users from your life... They are not there to truly be helped or grow in any way; they're only there to take what they can get out of you!

YOUR LIFE, YOUR PATH... YOUR CHOICE

    Life is your choice, no one else's. There is always someone who will try to tell you what is best for you or how to obtain optimum health and happiness; the experts are many, but their opinions always seem to be changing. But what do you want for your life? What is your own heart and intuition telling you? Life is not a one size fits all situation, and no two people require the same thing to experience peace and fulfillment. Follow your own path, it is the only one that will lead to true happiness.

ALONE AND LONELY

    We hear more and more people these days saying that they are lonely and alone. They complain that they have no friends and making new friends in the modern world is a task that seems almost impossible. Certainly it is a difficult thing to do, to live in a society where most people are content to be closer to their electronic gadgets than other human beings. And it's never easy when those we considered our best friends betray us or drift out of our lives. But what can we do to make ourselves feel better under such conditions? I propose a couple of different things: first of all, we can keep company with ourselves. The television need not be our only companion when we are alone. Taking up a daily practice of meditation or self hypnosis is a great way to work on your own thoughts, emotions and mind. Getting to know yourself better and embarking upon a journey of self improvement is a great way to bring joy into your life. If you don't believe me, try it, and see how you feel even after the first week. You will feel proud of yourself, and the light of happiness will begin to shine through the clouds as you begin to make improvements within yourself. Personal accomplishments always strengthen our esteem!

    Another great way to spend time by yourself, is to commune with spirit. Learn how to reach out to the other side and receive messages or have conversations with your deceased loved ones and the angels. The spirits make great companions, and are capable of having some very interesting dialogues. I can attest to the fact, that they can be more entertaining than the living many times. You can also commune with spirit, your subconscious mind and higher self through divination tools such as the Runes, Tarot cards, Angel cards etc. There were times in my own life, when all I had were the techniques and practices outlined in this blog. One would think that would have been a very depressing time. But to the contrary, it was a very exciting and enlightening time. I personally look back on those years now with great fondness and a grateful heart. I learned a great many things in those days and the personal growth was tremendous. You need not pass your days feeling depressed and alone. There is a whole host of things available to you that can help you revolutionize your life. All it takes is a decision and the desire to make the present more personally fulfilling.

ARE YOU LETTING YOUR "TO DO" LIST CONSUME YOUR LIFE AND STEAL YOUR PEACE?

    Everyone has certain responsibilities that they must attend to in life. But often, we overlook the most important responsibility, and that is our own inner peace. If we do not let our minds rest, and find at least a few moments of inner tranquility in our day, it can affect us in numerous ways. Stress and anxiety affect our mood, it affects our health, it affects the quality of our lives, it affects the quality of our relationships. How many people have made themselves physically ill because of worry and stress? How many relationships have suffered or broken up over someone being a workaholic or just not being mentally present even when they were physically there? If we really think about it, we will see that quieting the mind so that we can be fully present in each moment is of vital importance.

    Sitting with the body motionless is not necessarily resting the mind. Our thoughts can be going over a million things and be in great turmoil, with the body not moving a single muscle. Immersing ourselves in television or video games is also not an ineffective form of attaining inner peace. These things are like putting a topical anesthetic on the surface of our conscious mind, while the turmoil still churns behind our shallow distractions. How many times have you turned on a movie, and found that when the story line was at a lull, your mind was drifting back to your troubles or the lists of activities that needed to be done tomorrow. We must learn to quiet the mind and empty it of all worry and stress. The only effective way to do this is through some form of meditation. Whether it's sitting quietly and concentrating on the breath, observing our thoughts and letting them go or being out in nature and just letting the beauty of our surroundings enfold us in its stillness. The quieting of the mind works differently for everyone, but it is a vital part of our daily lives. In taking at least five minutes in our day to detach from the noise and static of the world around us, we allow ourselves to be at ease within ourselves. It helps us to be in tune with our own higher power in the universe and within ourselves. when we are at ease, we are more focused and present in our lives. We live life more fully and love more completely. Just as stress and distraction has a negative, trickle down effect on our lives...inner peace has a positive one.

    When most people are getting ready to make the transition from this life to the next, they do not lay upon their beds and wonder if they did all the jobs in their lives that needed to be done. They're not worried about what activity was left undone. They don't congratulate themselves for always being up on things and not being lax with their duties. One hundred percent of the time the questions are: Did they love enough? Did they make enough time for their own spiritual practices and connect with the divine in their lives? They often regret it if they did not take enough time in their lives for the little things, to live, laugh, and love. And they will often speak about how peaceful or unpeaceful their lives have been until that final/fateful moment. This should give us some indication of what our greatest responsibility is for ourselves and the souls around us - Love and peace; and we cannot love another until we give ourselves peace and unclutter the mind of all its busyness.

ZEN PRAYER FOR LOVING KINDNESS

   I open my heart like a lotus blossom 
waiting in silence for boundless love to fill my pores 
and like the sun warm the world
 I am ready to release myself from hungering after people 
as if their love will save me from my suffering

I am ready to release myself 
from my jealousy of the love other's share
 and which I miss during lonely hours 
I am ready to release myself 
from thinking that love can be found outside of myself
 and that my own heart is empty

 I open my heart like a lotus blossom
waiting in silence for boundless love 
to fill my pores, and like the sun warm the world

THE SACRED SPACE WITHIN

    Late a candle today and honor the sacred within yourself. You are the temple of the higher forces of the universe, you and the universe are one. You are not a victim, you are not a meager being who is below the gods of heaven. You are a conscious being who embodies the very spark of the divine. Your thoughts have power, your decisions are both cause and effect. Know thyself, honor thyself. Create a sacred space today, to commune with and honor the sacred being that you are.