Spiritual Teachers

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There are so many spiritual teachers in one’s life, and they can take many forms. There are humans, some who are well-known like Pema Chodron, Paramahansa Yogananda, Byron Katie, and countless others. And, there are plenty of other humans not so well-known, those within our circle like family, friends, and work/school colleagues. Sometimes a perfect stranger is a spiritual teacher to us.

Then there are the spiritual teachers of the animal kingdom.

In today’s reading in “Everyday Joy, 365 days of ohmygod life,” the authors Z Egloff and Melissa Phillippe share their thought that cats are the ultimate spiritual teachers.

Cats are the ultimate spiritual teachers.
They rest when they’re tired.
They purr when they’re happy.
They clean up after themselves.
And they’re not afraid to show their emotions.

Well, I do think the authors are on to something! Surely many of us would do well to learn from the felines and emulate them in living a satisfying, spiritual life.

Cats as Ultimate Spiritual Teachers

From “Everyday Joy, 365 days of ohmygod life,” by Z Egloff and Melissa Phillippe, March 30

Personally, I’m more of a dog person. Dogs enjoy spending time with humans, far more than cats do. More importantly, dogs show unconditional love, no matter what, even if they’ve been abused by their human. This attribute is definitely a God quality, and no doubt you’ve observed that spelling the word “dog” in reverse results in the word “god”.

Any being can be a spiritual teacher to us. As is often the case, if we are open and willing, we can glean pearls of wisdom from a menagerie of characters.

Divine Power, please make me aware of the spiritual teachers in all forms who cross my path throughout the day, demonstrating a better, happier way to live.

God Speaks to Us Through One Another

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“Humans are social creatures; we need each other for physical and emotional support and for a healthy exchange of ideas.

“Even more, we need each other for spiritual development. God loves us equally and often speaks to us through one another.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” March 29
*As We Understand God

gatheringReading the above made me think of the pandemic. Two years ago, most of us were forced into total isolation due to COVID. Now, I’m used to spending a big chunk of time by myself and I cherish that alone time. But to not meet up with people—at the workplace, classroom, coffee shop, or favorite dinner spot; choir practice; Contra dancing; or, game night—at the various gathering spots that are part of life, is quite a different story. It’s just not natural!

Sure, it was a blessing to have the tools that technology has given us, like Zoom and Skype to be able to meet virtually. But that is no match for being physically in the company of others.

We are social beings and we require physical touch and interaction. We need to feel the energy of others, and through them sense God too. We are here to support one another on The Journey, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I am so grateful we are getting back to in-person gatherings, providing nourishment for one another in a myriad of forms, and offering more opportunities where God speaks to us through one another.

One-Word Prayer

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help

Help!—my one-word prayer throughout most of today.

I’ve been working this technical writing contract for several months but it’s not been very satisfying. There hasn’t always been a lot of work either, but last week I got slammed work as my manager finally had a chance to get me what was needed to proceed before she left on vacation. In looking over the various tasks I needed to tackle, I have found myself lacking energy and focus.

Of course, that won’t do. I am a professional, getting paid to do work, and it needs to get done. I cannot regress to being a child saying, “I don’t wanna!”

Coming out of my morning meditation, I consciously chose to dwell on the good and what I wanted to achieve today, rather than be fearful and dread how I would manage to get through this round of work. And, I realized I didn’t have to think I was alone in this situation, my go-to mindset. Spirit is with me always and wants only good for me. Spirit has the Power and I can use it!

So throughout the day I was pretty much chanting “Help!”, seeking to stay focused and be productive. And, I was! I consciously chose to keep the sound on my cellphone turned off (although it turned out to be a strangely quiet day), and I also didn’t turn on my personal computer. Both of those staples are easy and prolific distractions for me. I made headway in my work and felt good about it; I felt so grateful (and still do). In addition, by reaching out for help when I was feeling anxious, I stayed in contact with Spirit much more than I usually do. What a blessing!

“Realizing that all action starts in and is a result of consciousness, prepare your mind to receive the best that life has to offer. Become increasingly aware of the one Presence, the one Life, and the one Spirit, which is God. Try to drop all sense of lack or limitation from your thought.

“… The Spirit works through you through your belief. All things are possible to this Spirit, therefore, everything is possible to you in such degree as you can believe in and accept the operation of Spirit in your life.”

– “This Thing Called You,” by Ernest Holmes, page 155

My one-word prayer was powerful and effective. It was also a great reminder that while Spirit is in, through, and around me, I need to be and stay conscious, take action, and ask for Its help.

Come By Here, Spirit

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Today’s reading in “Everyday Joy, 365 days of ohmygod life,” by Z Egloff and Melissa Phillippe stated the original meaning of the word “kumbaya” was “come by here” as in Come by here, Spirit. We need your help.

The reading got me curious enough to learn a bit more about this term and its history, as I’ve always enjoyed listening to and singing the song with that single word title. There is lengthy discussion provided by the Library of Congress; below is a brief summary.

The most common claim made today about the origins of “Kumbaya” is that it is from the Gullah-Geechee people of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The earliest record in the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center (AFC) comes from lyrics collected in North Carolina in 1926 for a song called “Oh Lord, Won’t You Come By Here.” The spiritual pleads for divine intervention—for God to come by here and help a people in great need, referencing an area historically connected to the enslavement and oppression of African Americans.

The following rendition of  “Kumbaya” is sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Soweto Gospel Choir-Kumbaya-Come By Here

Click the image to listen to “Kumbaya.”

In asking for help, we acknowledge that we can’t do this thing called Life alone. In gathering with others in prayer, in song, in asking for help, the power of the request is strengthened.

 

Emissaries of Love and Spirit

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Heart of Light“We nurture each other’s special beauty by our loving actions. We all need to know we’re truly appreciated. …our fears of not being lovable can still haunt us at times.

“These fears are easily put to rest when we help someone else feel special. All it takes is a moment of thoughtfulness…

“Our Higher Power needs us to be emissaries of love in the world.”

I will help a friend blossom today and I will grow as well.

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” March 26
*As We Understand God

A new friend of mine came to visit today, and we spent several delightful hours getting more acquainted and learning about one another as we shared about experiences in relationships, travel, careers, and more. We expressed viewpoints on things of this world and things about other realms and Spirit. We were supportive of one another as concerns were expressed about aging, finances, and companionship. Due to my work experiences, I was able to provide some information that would perhaps help my friend as he navigates through some current career matters.

We didn’t agree on all matters, but were respectful. Both of us were candid, authentic, thoughtful, and kind. Each of our worlds were expanded by our time together. A smile, a hug, words of encouragement: each moment of thoughtfulness served to uplift the other.

Through such loving actions with whomever we encounter, we are serving as emissaries of Love and Spirit.

The Life I Desire

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There is a Power for Good in the universe and I can use it to create the life I desire.

I know that negative beliefs, subconscious thoughts, long-ago memories, and race consciousness, among other things, pose challenges for me to manifest my good. But I also know the following and I affirm:

I know that I am one with God.

I know that God in me is perfect.

I know that my real nature is spiritual.

I know that I exist in a boundless good, in a heavenly state, and in perfect being.

I know that my mind is being acted upon by pure Spirit.

Divine Intelligence guides me into peace, happiness and success, into joy, love and perfect life.

– “This Thing Called You,” by Ernest Holmes, page 67

Woman-and-the-sun

With Spirit everything is possible. I need to clear the road (i.e., my mind) so that the good that is seeking me finds me.

I create the life I desire, one filled with loving friends, exciting adventures, meaningful work and service, continuous financial prosperity, vibrant health, a sacred life partnership, and so many other abundant blessings.

 And so it is!

Prayer for Abundance of Love

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love in script

I came across some prayers from when I had had an Akashic  Records reading consultation a few years back.

The Akashic Records are an energetic library of information that contain the details of your soul and its journey. The Akashic energy holds all your thoughts, feelings, actions, and deeds spanning through past lives, present incarnations, and future possibilities.

On my computer there was a prayer for abundance of love. I think it is timely for me to read regularly for a while as I’m working on manifesting more loving and supportive friendships as well as a sacred, loving life partnership.

This prayer is from a book published by Lisa Barnett.

Prayer for Abundance of Love

Mother, Father, Goddess, God, please support me as I open to the flow that is abundance.

Please take me outside of time and space, to the origin of anv beliefs, ideas and feelings that I hold about being Loveable.

I now free that energy to create new space in my life and body to make new choices as I follow my spiritual path.

As I swim in this flowing river of abundance, the right people at the right time appear to offer me love, support me and enhance my life with ease.

So it is. Blessed Be.

Nonresistance

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nonresistance“Gandhi built his whole philosophy of life around the theory of nonviolence. An ancient Chinese sage said that all things are possible to the person who can perfectly practice inaction. And the Bible exclaims: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Surely some great truth must be contained in these simple thoughts.

“Today I practice nonresistance. Disregarding everything that contradict the Reality in which I believe, I affirm that It is operating in my life. Turning resolutely from everything that denies the good I wish to experience, I affirm that good. There is no situation or condition that resists this transcendent thought…”

– “365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes,” March 23

This reading reminds me of the idea of that which we resists, persists. Since my thoughts are creative, I focus on the good I want to experience, and with Spirit’s transcendent power, that is what comes to pass. Resisting anything will only actually keep it in my life, the opposite of what I am trying to achieve.

I surrender and my good flows to me.

Loving Actions

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“A man has no more right to say an uncivil thing to another man than he has to knock him down.”
– Dr. Samuel Johnson

“Disrespect can be as damaging when quietly conveyed as when forcefully shown.

“Hatefulness in any form is never justified. It’s life threatening, in fact, because it deadens our spirit and the spirit of the person we direct it at.

“An act of love is an invitation to come alive. We have the opportunity to celebrate life through loving actions toward others. In so doing, we celebrate our own life in God.”

Today I will replace my impulses to show contempt or anger with loving actions so that I may know life.

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” March 22
*As We Understand God

Loving ActionsThe aforementioned excerpt is yet another reminder for me about how we don’t do anything in a vacuum. Our energy impacts another as we are part of the One. If I injure someone in any way, I am causing harm to myself too. And, of course it’s not uplifting for either spirit nor life-affirming.

There is no question when I am loving, and especially when I am in love (!), I am highly energized, vibrant, and feel fully alive. My joy-o-meter is over the top and I am emanating my light out onto the world, onto all beings and God. And, isn’t that what this world so desperately needs especially right now? My desire is to uplift others with loving actions so that we each come alive.

Today I stay aware of my actions towards others, and through loving words and actions, I help others come alive.

Loving-kindness Meditation

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Loving-Kindness-Meditation

 

Loving-kindness meditation consists primarily of connecting to the intention of wishing ourselves or others happiness.

Metta is an ancient Pali (Buddhist) term meaning loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, and non-violence. In practicing Metta meditation, one begins with their self and gradually extends the wish for well-being happiness to all beings. Specific words and phrases are used to evoke good will.

Metta is first practiced toward oneself. Sitting quietly, mentally repeat, slowly and steadily, the following or similar phrases:

 

May I be happy.
May I be well.
May I be safe.
May I be peaceful and at ease.

 

Allow yourself to sink into the intentions the phrases express. After a period of directing loving-kindness meditation toward yourself, bring to mind a friend or someone in your life who has deeply cared for you. Then slowly repeat phrases of loving-kindness toward them:

 

May you be happy.
May you be well.
May you be safe.
May you be peaceful and at ease.

 

After a while, gradually extend the wish for well-being happiness to all beings. Bring to mind other friends, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, and animals, and send out loving-kindness to them.

 

May we be happy.
May we be well.
May we be safe.
May we be peaceful and at ease.