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The latest buzz is all about the movie, The Secret. Many folks say it's HUGE. In case you're unaware, the movie's general theme is about creating what you want by accessing the Universal Law of Attraction, that is, attracting what you put your attention on. If you focus your attention on positive things, well, positive things result. Ditto the negative. But what intrigues me is the movie's seeming use of spirituality as a tool to manifest "stuff" and a naivety with which the narrators disregard the inner workings of the psyche which can sabotage the positive thinking approach to "having it all."

The Secret is the Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" of 2006-7. I've seen the Secret and view it as a prime example of "spiritual materialism" which is behavior that is purely ego-driven. Some thoughts:

When there is a conflict between a positive thought and a negative emotion, the emotion will always win. So, when one decides to "think positive" but is doing so because, emotionally, they are frustrated, angry, envious, jealous, or fearful, etc., there's a pretty good chance the thought will not manifest - which is one reason why many folks' attempts at living the Secret ("positive thinking", visualizing positive manifesting, and prayer, for that matter) end up in not "getting what I want." Too, when the effort, and for many it is efforting (which goes against the Yin and Yang of Universal flow) comes from one's ego, there's a good chance that one will not get what one wants or one will get what one doesn't want (i.e., the Soul's response to the ego's demand). Trust is sorely lacking here.

Too, in our Western culture, we are basically averse to pain on every level. This week I saw an interview with Jennifer Hudson, the young singer who was voted off of American Idol and stole the show in the movie, Dreamgirls. Jennifer was asked how she responded to being eliminated from Idol when most people thought she would win. She admitted that it was painful and that she cried a lot, but that eventually she returned to her faith. "I chose to trust that God had a bigger plan for me than I could see at the time," she explained. Trust...surrender...allow...probably not a lot of hand-wringing, mental gymnastics, "mind control", positive thinking (better go see the Secret!!!).....just allowing and trust.

The Secret, in my mind, is supposed to be the antidote to experiencing life's disappointments, or, for that matter, eliminating life's disappointments. For me, Jennifer's story is a powerful reminder of how life's disappointments may in fact be preparation for something even more significant in our lives. And, this belief has the best chance of coming true when one makes a demonstrated (read "conscious") commitment to learn and grow from one's present day circumstances NOT by evading, avoiding, denying and "thinking" one's way away from them.

So, for example, what am I learning about me, my work, my business, or how I am in relationship.. what's really at cause when it comes to a dearth of clients, or clients I would like to have, or a painful breakup of a relationship, or... The pain and suffering are teachers pointing to what we need to learn about "me" - about who I am and how I am in life. The pain forces one to grow, to mature emotionally and spiritually, to face fears and frustrations...the pain is a call to action, a call to learn, an opportunity to grow...and since many folks refuse to be self-responsible for working on their own "stuff", well, now we have the latest quick-fix, The Secret, that says, "OH, no biggie, just think positive and all will be well." Hmmm.

Just be positive...hmmm...my take is there are many, many silently angry, fearful, frustrated folks out there...folks who have 20, 30, 40, 50 years of anger, fear, frustration, etc. inhabiting their cells and have never dealt with their emotional awareness or maturity. These are some of the 98% of the folks who will find it challenging, well-neigh impossible, to sustain positive attitudes, positive outlooks, positive reactions to the vicissitudes of life...on whom the secret of The Secret will be lost. "Waddya mean, I thought positive six 5B4times yesterday and nothing happened!?" Six times in the midst of a day replete with negative judgments of others, bullying, gossiping, being sarcastic, angry, mean-spirited and disrespectful, not trusting anything or anyone, lying, cheating.

For the 2% who really, really get it, the Secret is no secret - living life from the inside out, trusting without needing to control, experiencing life's pain as a teacher, surrendering their ego, seeing that life is larger than getting that parking space or Starbucks...that's it's not about spiritual materialism.

The Tibetan teacher, Chogyam Trungpa, suggests we be conscious about getting caught up in the lure of spiritual materialism. When our ego is driving our spiritual development, we're headed in the wrong direction - accumulation of stuff and avoiding our emotions, not spiritual maturation.

Personal growth and spiritual awareness and maturation are not about ignoring our feelings of deficiency, not about filling the holes of emptiness, the void of lack, going around the feelings we experience inside. The question is, "Am I a spiritual seeker and practitioner so I can evolve emotionally, consciously and spiritually by exploring my emotions as a doorway to spiritual growth, or am I using spirituality from an egoic place to move away from, to deny, and avoid my fear, my anger, my frustration, etc., in an attempt to "quick-fix" myself through material gain?"

When a pickpo575cket meets a Holy man, all he sees is the pockets. IMHO, The Secret, for many (over and above the 2%), is all about the pockets.

(c) 2007, Peter G. Vajda, Ph.D. All rights in all media reserved.

---ABOUT THE AUTHOR---

Peter G. Vajda, Ph.D, C.P.C. is a founding partner of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta-based company that supports conscious living through coaching, counseling and facilitating. With a practice based on the dynamic intersection of mind, body, emotion and spirit - that is, Essential Well BE-ing - Peter's approach focuses on personal, business, relational and spiritual coaching. He is a professional speaker and published author. For more information contact http://www.spiritheart.net, pvajda@spiritheart.net or phone 770.804.9125

If you've seen the movie, The Secret, then you are familiar with Rev. Michael Beckwith from the Agape Spiritual Community in Culver City, CA.

Rev. Beckwith teaches a concept he calls visioning, wherein you ask the question (most often, I think, with a specific issue in mind), "What is God's idea?" then be still. If you can quiet the mind-chatter you begin to image receive images and feeling tones. This is revelation; God is thinking through you.

I can go on at length about this process and what you might do after you receive these feeling tones and images - better to hear Rev. Beckwith directly, of course - but the point is that if you ask and be open, and get your ego out of the way, God speaks to and through you.

(A brief explanation here as to what I mean when I refer to God: I mean that Infinite Source Of Creative Life-Force Energy, the Energy that when you are connected to it feels like love, peace, and harmony; and when you are disconnected from it feels like fear, hatred, disharmony and so forth. A simple metaphor: if God is the sun, you and I are sunbeams, creations of and extensions of that Energy.)

This process has application and implication in all areas of human endeavor. We are surrounded by rich and complete spiritual ideas that need vehicles for manifestation. As conscious extensions of Source Energy, we can very effectively plug into the "Source Mind" and discern between the ego's reactionary functioning and the purer "intention" of God and become those vehicles.

As a saxophonist, as a channeller of loving energy, my job is to "get out of the way" in much the same manner as Rev. Beckwith's visioning process. I ask the question, "What is God's idea about this music?" or, "What is the musical message God wants to communicate through me?" or, "What is the purest creative, loving energy that I can let pass through me while I perform this music?"

Then I try to get out of the way, I try to let go of my ego's "mentation mechanisms," I listen and respond to the musical "images and feeling tones." With specific intention, I let go of attachment to outcome and let that loving feeling come into my heart and flow out through my fingers into the saxophone in the best way I know how.

That, I hope, is the essence of Romantic Sax Music, and that, I hope, is what you, the listener, can feel when you hear the music.

Mark Maxwell is a saxophonist and recording artist living in California who's mission in this incarnation is "To assist in the uplifting of the spirit of humankind through the judicious use of saxophones." His 17 self-produced and self-promoted CDs have sold over a half a million copies.

His music can be found at Romantic Sax Music.

I have covered a fair amount of material thus far in articles 1 and 2, so let's summarise the evidence we have up to now. We know that the two Marys attended the sepulchre when The Lord was laid inside. We also know that whilst the two Mary's rested on the first Sabbath of Unleavened Bread the Romans, at the behest of the Pharisees sealed the tomb and placed a gua16D0rd of soldiers there. Initially, the two Marys would not have been aware that the tomb had been sealed and a guard set. We know too that the two Marys wanted to purchase ointment and spices for the anointing of The Lord's body. They did this and after the first Sabbath was over they came to the tomb carrying the spices hoping to be able to do so but could not because the tomb was sealed.

Let's now move on to two more things in Matthew's and Mark's accounts that are easy to read over and miss unless we stop and think about them. Matthew first in verses 28:2-6 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Now here in this account are at least two things that are easy to miss and/or erroneously take for granted as read when they are not written as we might think they are. Notice first verse 5 "And the angel answered the women", answered them for what reason? In order for the angel to 'answer them' there must have been some sort of dialogue going on in the first place, but nothing is recorded here! The women have not said a word to this angel in this account; so on the face of it, this means, there's nothing to answer. So what's going on here, and is something missing in this account? The other piece of information omitted here are the names of the women. The angel answers the 'women' but which women? We can only assume it's the two Marys but that would and could be an inaccurate assumption if we wish to ratify these accounts in Matthew and Mark with those in Luke and, especially, those in John.

Now for some background information; the Greek text upon which we rely for a more accurate rendering of God's Word is known as the 'Received Text'. These manuscripts were copied and translated by a man called Erasmus in the early 16th century. Even then these manuscripts were fourteen hundred years old and were obviously in a very poor condition and thereby incomplete with many pieces missing. Here, therefore, in Matthew's and Mark's accounts is a good example of how these missing fragments of manuscript have affected the Holy Scriptures with its omissions. We must also take into account that this man Erasmus was a Roman Catholic and that the Good Friday thing is definitely one of their evil corruptions of the Truth so are the missing pieces a deliberate omission or accidental!!?? The Truth is we don't know, but don't forget the uproar it would have caused in the 'Holy' Roman Empire if Erasmus had included all the evidence, with the possible threat of heresy hanging over him. He could also have risked excommunication and/or even torture and death for his 'heretical' activities.

Whatever the Truth of this matter, this passage in Matthew 28 is incomplete and therefore renders it totally disjointed. The reality and Truth of it is this: The two Marys visit the tomb between the two Sabbaths and return home disappointed because the tomb is sealed - we then have a short space in time - the hours between the two Marys first visit and the end of the weekly Sabbath. In other words the earthquake occurs later for the benefit of the Roman guards only (to give them a 'wake up call' and to use them as witnesses) and to break the seal on the stone door. The angel also appears, first to roll away the stone from the door and then, for the 'benefit' of the Romans, to put the fear of God into them so they freeze as dead men. The two Marys were not present at the time of the earthquake; how do we know that? Quite simply, because 1) What would be the point? We know The Father God is not into putting his children into unnecessary frightening or dangerous situations (see my series of articles on Ogre gods). 2) The Father God knew that the earthquake episode and angelic appearance would be reported back to the Pharisees even though they would, and did, do all they could to silence the soldiers and hush the event up. OK, after the earthquake there is now another short gap in time until the arrival of the first visitor(s) to the empty tomb. According to Matthew's account there then follows a conversation between these women and the angel which is only half recorded, but are these unnamed women the first visitors? All will be revealed.

We can now have a look at Mark's account for there is a similar disjointedness that's easy to miss and read over. Mark 16:1-2 And when the sabbath was past, (the first Sabbath) Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, (after the second Sabbath) they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. (Brackets mine)

Here we can see support for Matthews account in verse 1: And when The Sabbath (the first Sabbath) was passed the two Mary's had bought spices that they might come and anoint Him. When a Sabbath passes it's the evening and it's getting dark - Sabbaths end at the end of the day, and this is when the two Mary's came with the spices the first time only to find the tomb sealed. They return home and report to the other 5B4women what they have seen. Verse 2 then describes 'women' coming in the morning early as the sun was rising after the second Sabbath - the weekly Sabbath, but notice, we don't know who these women are. To assume the two Marys are here together in the morning can only be that, an assumption. OK, we don't know who they are but we do know they knew that the tomb door had been sealed, for look at what they are saying. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door?" As they are approaching the tomb, they are asking this question because the last time one of them was there she witnessed it had been sealed. We therefore know that at least one of the Marys is present in this early morning sunrise group.

This is all very revealing is it not, and I will continue with Luke's and John's accounts later? Before I do that I want to firm up the reality of the fulfilment of The Lord's promise that He would be in the 'heart of the soil' (earth) for three days and three nights. As shown, and in order to ratify the Gospel accounts, there had to be more time involved to accommodate all the visits that the two Mary's made to the tomb. I have also proven that certain manuscripts are missing from the Matthew account. We also know that The Lord died on the Passover - not Easter, which also proves there would have been two Sabbaths that week not one - both of which closely followed The Lord's death and burial.

We k5B4now that the Lord died late in the afternoon and had to be buried before the Sabbath commenced - the midweek High Day Sabbath of Unleavened Bread. We also know from Matthew's account that the two Marys attended the tomb between two Sabbaths only to find the tomb sealed. The account in Mark then relates the story of some women coming to the tomb early in the morning of the first day of the week only to find the stone rolled away and The Lord already gone.

The question now is this; at what time did The Lord rise from the dead? This is now easy to calculate. He died on a Wednesday afternoon and was buried before the commencement of the first Unleavened Bread Sabbath just before sunset (the first Sabbath starts). He was then in the tomb Wednesday night, all day Thursday, (the first Sabbath ends) Thursday night, all day Friday, (the second Sabbath starts), Friday night and Saturday until just before sunset Saturday evening (the second Sabbath ends). This adds up exactly to seventy two hours or three days and three nights and His prophetic sign to the wretched Pharisees fulfilled. This means that by sunset Saturday evening The Lord had already risen from the dead. We must understand too that the time of the discovery of His resurrection has nothing to do with the actual point in time of its occurrence. All that matters is the fact that He fulfilled the sign He gave to a group of unbelieving Pharisees. Any other 4D6explanation to this episode makes The Lord Jesus Christ a liar and a false prophet - please think about this if you are a real seeker of The Truth - Jesus Christ.

This series of articles will continue with Luke and John's accounts plus the explanation of that wonderful discussion that took place on the road to Emmaus. This is important because many believe this story supports the Good Friday to Sunday lie - so watch this space.

Charles Crosby

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions yes2faith@yahoo.co.uk

Most spirituality information has an emphasis on your being, not your doing. For those seeking spiritual growth it is critical to keep your beingness in alignment with what serves you.

Be what serves you. What does that mean? Of course, we are all trying to do the things in life that serve us and make us happy. Why wouldn't we? We certainly wouldn't consciously make decisions that do not serve us, would we? No, we wouldn't consciously be that way.

If we are living consciously we would be able to clearly see the concepts and values that are important to us and then consciously make the choices and decisions that would keep us in alignment with them. What is so hard about that? Obviously, we would make the choices that serve us and take us to where we desire to be.

We, as individuals and societies, all agree that one of the places that we "desire to be" is a place called "world peace." This is a concept that most people in the world embrace as a God-given right. We should all live with the full expectation that we can all get along EC2with our fellow human beings.

If most of the people in the world subscribe to this concept, then why is there so much killing and destruction going on in the world in our avowed attempt to achieve "world peace?" What is keeping us from reaching this fundamental goal of just getting along with each other? If we say that we, as individuals and societies, would be better served by achieving this goal then why haven't we achieved it? Or even come close to achieving it?

For the past two thousand years of recorded history we can document that we have pretty much done whatever it takes to not achieve this goal. Could it be that we are unconsciously choosing to attain other short term, less all-encompassing goals than our stated goal of world peace?

Could it be, in fact, that we are not living consciously, as individuals and as societies, and that the consequences of this unconscious living is being manifested in the way we live our lives and view the world as it is today? This is but the tip of the iceberg concerning the questions we have been asking ourselves regarding our inability to attain even our most fundamental values. Values such as inner peace and world peace.

Our questions concerning life and our relationship to all things that make up life are valid, and it is well within the human psyche that we should expect we could come up with some answers. This is not an unreasonable expectation.

You need to look at life's questions with the intention that you will reach clarity on what you decide is the best path for you to follow. You must be the final arbiter in the decisions you make about your life. The decisions that you make concerning your own life will ultimately determine what your world looks like.

Because here's the deal: You are creating your life as you go along. You are not only creating your own life, you are also creating the world we live in by every choice and decision that you make concerning every aspect of life.

This is a huge Ah-haaaaa.

Yes, I am telling you that you that you are a powerful creating machine and you are creating all the time. The difference between you knowing this or not is answered by the question, "Are you creating consciously or unconsciously?"

The question is not whether you are creating. You are creating! Now the question becomes, are you creating consciously or are you sleepwalking through life and accepting the consequences of your unconscious creations and being unaware of "what's happening?"

How do you determine if you are being served by your beliefs. Well, you simply ask yourself this four word question, "Does this serve me?"

Can it be this easy. Yes, life is effortless if you choose for it to be effortless. Ask yourself this question, "Does that serve me?"

Richard Blackstone is an award winning author and international speaker on Love, Oneness & Creation. Journey into discovery of Self by reading this FREE report; "The 3 Simple Immutable Laws of the Universe" at: http://www.NutsandBoltsSpirituality.com

The expectation or hope of dramatic, obvious contact with a spiritual guide or guides too often leads to disappointment. Much emphasis has been placed on spirit guide contact by many spiritual authors, but frankly, we believe your higher-self should receive more attention.

Below are seven tips for gaining authentic spiritual guidance.

1. It's very important to note that not all "guides" offer absolute truth and wisdom just because they are not in a physical body. Some have strong biases and may not be objective with their advice to you.

It's easy to mistake a disincarnate soul (someone who died but did not go to "the Light" for a variety of reasons) or a mischievous or dark entity for a "guide." If the guide offers input that sounds impartial or prejudiced in any way, doesn't feel uplifting or of a higher vibration, or feels negative and gives negative sounding advice (e.g., telling you to do something that would incur karma), demand that it leave and ask for spiritual cleansing help from whomever you pray to.

For example, if you make contact through a ouija board, pendulum, or some other means with an energy who claims to have been someone famous, such as Elvis, be wary. Even if it really is a deceased, famous personality, there is no guarantee that the information imparted will be truthful and non-subjective. Besides, it's common for dark entities to play such games.

2. Everyone perceives spiritual guidance differently. Some hear (clairaudience), some see (clairvoyance), some just know (claircognizance), some feel (clairsentience), some taste or smell, and some experience various combinations or all of the above (clair-all). This is true with past life recall also. If you just know or feel, you may not directly hear or see your guides or past lives.

Although you may very well have one (or more) main guardian angel or guide, it's likely that most people are not supposed to have a consistent, direct, conscious link to him or her while incarnated. Why, you ask? If you could pick up your spiritual telephone and had an invisible, on-call advisor to give you direct answers, 100% sure-fire direction any time you needed it, this would be cheating; you would not learn the lessons you've incarnated to experience.

Furthermore, we agree that help from angels of the Light and ascended master guides is available to many, but the insight you receive may be so subtle that you won't be able to identify much about the source, other than to know that it feels genuine and pure.

3. It's entirely possible, in our opinion, that many people have created, in their mind, a name and image of the helpful spiritual energy they call their guide. We don't see anything wrong with this, as long as it's only to identify the energy.

4. We don't feel that associating a name with spiritual insight or discovering the name of a guide is important because it may not always be a guide from which you are deriving information, and it's easy to become dependent on a guide.

5. Receiving outside help is great when needed, but relying on yourself as much as possible in meditation by connecting with your subconscious mind and your higher-self is usually best. Your subconscious mind is where all past and present life memories are stored, along with all fears and defenses. Your higher-self is also your link to your super-conscious, or all that is. Some say it's a direct connection to God, your god-self.

Our Direct Your Destiny (tm) e-package offers extensive tips and tools to help you get the most of your inner guidance.

6. If you meditate regularly and connect with your higher-self, you will have all the help you need, which may sometimes include the help of other-dimensional guides of the Light. All you have to do is focus on the dilemma or question, and if you are meant to know the answer, you will know it, when you are meant to realize it, one way or another.

Through years of practicing meditation, we regularly receive flashes of insight and the answers to questions by detaching just enough from the conscious mind to allow higher-self insight to flow to the doorstep of consciousness. Sometimes it seems as if the answers are waiting there for us to perceive.

7. Meditation is so important for self-awareness and stress reduction. Develop and practice it as a regular discipline and you will benefit in many ways, including receiving regular spiritual guidance and the ability to discern cosmic noise from divine insight.

In summary, we believe it's to your advantage to put aside the desire to commune with specific spiritual guides and instead focus on becoming or remaining grounded and centered, and accessing your inner awareness and your higher-self.

Copyright Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

Scott Petullo and Stephen Petullo are identical twins and have been exploring metaphysics since the early 1980's. They are experts in the fields of prediction, personal fate, love life, and past life regression, and are natural psychics and mediums. Get their free report: 13 Spiritual and New Age Myths and 11 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Psychic.

http://www.mystictwins.com
http://www.holisticmakeover.com

Recently I was watching the Oprah Show and she had a guest who was overspending to be above "the Joneses". She constantly felt the need to buy new things that she could not afford just to look good to everybody. Oprah asked her if she had a spiritual connection and she said no. It reminded me of a British comedy called "Keeping Up Appearances". One woman is constantly doing and saying things to impress everyone around her. The problem is, everyone is annoyed by her actions and she is totally oblivious to it. The point is we will always search for something to fill the void that is inside of us. That void can only be filled with our connection to our source.

That spiritual connection will keep us centered in our hectic daily living. It helps us to be calm in overwhelming situations. We cannot survive without a strong spiritual base. Some people may say they are surviving just fine without it. It may appear that way on the surface, but they know deep down that they are empty and always searching for that unknown thing to fill the void. We are all spiritual beings, made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, it is only natural that we must be connected to our Creator. The following are keys to maintaining a spiritual connection:

Daily Prayer - It is good to start the day with prayer and to end the day with prayer. Starting your day with prayer notifies the universe that you will be in alignment spiritually during the day. You are prepared to meet the world no matter what situation may occur during the day. In event that you are faced with a difficult situation, you can refer back to your morning prayer to stay centered. Part of your morning prayer should be stated that you want to see everyone through God's eyes. That allows you to be more tolerant of others and yourself at all times. Saying a prayer in the night allows you give thanks for the events of the day relax for the night knowing that you are totally centered.

Meditation - Spending a few minutes each day could help you to keep centered; it could be any time of the day. Some people like to do it in the morning to set intentions for the day. Some people like to do it in the night to help them relax and get back to center for a good night's rest. Some people do a few minutes during the day to keep them centered during the day. No matter when you do it, meditation gives you connection you need to be centered.

Attitude of Gratitude - Giving thanks for everything in your life. All the good things and all the things that appear to be bad. Remember it is not what you go through, it is your attitude as you go through it. Being grateful for everything, great or small, shows that you are open to receiving. You are showing the universe that you are forever grateful, and that draws your desires into your life. How about giving thanks when you sit down for a meal. Here is the beauty to doing this, you give yourself time to get centered before eating and that allows you to enjoy your meal even more because you focused on the joy and experience of each bite. Ladies, it helps you to eat less because you will be chewing slower and that get you full faster.

Community - There is a saying, "no man is an island". We were made to be a part of a community. We were all born into families, no matter what we thing about them. Anyway, being a part of a spiritually-centered group helps us to maintain our spiritual connection. Birds of a feather flock together, right. Well, we all need support and this group would help when things seems rocky to stand your ground. Not just being a part of the group but actually meeting regularly and doing activities together.

So, following these keys will allow you to have and maintain a spiritual connection. This practice centers your life and gives you the peace that you need for a golden life.

2008 Raquel C. Smith, Values Alignment Coach

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Raquel C. Smith, "The Values Alignment Coach," publishes the transformational Golden Life Living' monthly ezine. If you're ready to transform your life into a golden life and start living the life of your destiny, get your FREE ebook now at http://www.goldenlifecoaching.com

The creation of the earth, world or universe took place because a law was put in motion. This same law is what governs both the natural and the spiritual world that we exist in. The Law of Spiritual Attraction is not a religious fad, but it is largely an unchangeable concept that came into existence before creation.

In other words, we are all connected to a spiritual being no matter if we are affiliated with a religion or not. It can get really complicated if we turn this into contradictory theories of evolution. However, the law of spiritual attraction is bigger than any man-made theories, ideologies, or intellectual idiosyncrasFFFies.

Before we can determine the benefits of spiritual law and how it works, we have to first understand the natural law. In the natural world, meaning what our eyes can physically see, we have the opportunity to change the things that we can see and don't like about our lives. We change those things by positive thinking and determination that initiates action in achieving the desired results. As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual world. However, what we do in the natural dictates what happens in the spiritual world. It becomes a boomerang effect.

There are some instances in the bible that gives us examples of how the law of spiritual attraction really operates and holds true in the natural as well. I will give you three examples below:

1. "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:9) 2. "Give and it shall be given back to you." (Luke 6:38) 3. "Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and you will find. Ask and it will be given to you." (Matthew 7:7)

If a fisherman goes to sea and sits there without letting down his bait with his fishing line, will he catch any fish? The answer is no. The fish are attracted to the bait and that is the only way the fisherman will catch his fish. If you don't ask for something that you want, will you get it? If you don't knock at the closed door, will someone come to the door and open it for you? If you don't seek or go after your goals, will you achieve them?

You must take action in the natural to gain access to the spiritual because whether you believe it or not, all things come from above and only if you activate your faith by first believing this one fact will you be able to attract those things that you desire. The fisherman understood that in the natural, he had to believe that the fishes existed in the sea because in the spiritual, someone put them there, so he could have access to them. He also understood that to gain access to the fish required him to activate this belief, which we call faith, by throwing out his fishing line and bait.

What do you want and desire in your life? Do you believe that everything you desire has already been created and exist in the spiritual world? Why don't you yet have it, then? Are you asking for it> Are you seeking it? Are you knocking on that door that holds your desire?

It is possible to receive all that you desire in life, but you must believe and trust the creator of all things. He wants you to have it because He prepared it for you before the foundation of the world and it is in the spiritual world waiting for you to take action. Throw out your bait and you will catch that big fish that you so badly want. Change the way you think to line up with the truth that whatever you want you can have it. It is already settled in heaven.

Copyright (c) 2007 Cheryline Lawson

Cheryline Lawson is author of several books and a passionate communicator through her articles, blogs, website and other informational products. Learn more about the law of attraction by visiting her website today at http://www.thelawofattractinganything.com and educate yourself about the law of attraction.

Planning is essential before writing an effective sermon. The first step is to identify with the audience. This requires a lot of empathizing. Misunderstanding among people can be reduced if they step into the others shoes.

The second step is to infer whether it is going to be a need-based or Biblical principle based sermon. If the audience is a congregation of newly married couples, a topical sermon on how to foster a closer relationship with a spouse would be appropriate. If the congregation is a general one that needs to just hear the Word of God, an expository sermon is alright.

The third st5B4ep is to identify the goal, i.e., To speak the Word of God with full faith in Him. Or it can be To help drug-addicted kids get back to normalcy. Goal identification after the first two steps is better than keeping it as the first step; this can save a lot of time, energy and mistakes due to oversights.

The fourth step is to use this goal and select relevant passages in The Bible. This requires an in-depth knowledge not only of the Bible but also its applicability in peoples lives. Just like an effective teacher spends more time and effort in preparing than in delivering a lesson, an effective preacher spends more time and effort in this selection process. Topical sermons require more time to prepare than expository ones as the former needs to document real life experiences, relevant case studies, etc. from different chapters and verses, in order to convince the audience.

The sermon should be based on authoritative, credible sources (as far as explanations are concerned), be brief if possible, and easily applicable to the audiences real life experiences. Whether the contents are oral or audiovisual, they need to have an impact on the audience.

Sermons provides detailed information about sermons, expository sermons, free sermons and more. Serm26Fons is affiliated with Christian Dating.

Early in the year 2007, I was working in a dead-end job which paid me below $128 every month. Some times we waited for up to four (4) months before part of the wages were paid. I had little hope for a better future.

Being a firm believer in the love of God through Jesus, I kept on praying trusting Him for a miracle Job. In my home country, getting highly paid jobs required connections of which I seemed to have none; I was frustrated and at my wits end.

I am not sure how, but some how I came across a free copy of a little e-book called The Science of getting rich by Wallace Wattles on the internet. I downloaded a copy and saved it on my old Celeron desktop for study. Reading chapter 11 Acting in the certain Way, I came across a sentence that I felt addressed my situation: "Hold the vision of yourself in the job you want, while you ACT with faith and purpose on the job you have, and you will certainly get the job you want. "

There was a research institute that earlier on in the year I had visited and submitted my resumes and because I had no one to stand for me, I kept missing opportunities. My visits there showed me how things were done: the lawn was well mowed, a rare sight in any government establishment; the workers each had a name tag hanging on their necks as dog-tags or clipped to their dresses; they came to work early; they were excited about the job; and they were highly paid compared to my dead-end job.

So I went into action. I continued to cry out to God, who was able to save me from my situation; I studied the words of Jesus in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."; then I got a my ID card and hung it round my neck like a dog-tag; I kept on visualizing myself walking around a neat environment with all the lawns constantly mowed and tended; I started coming to work early and took the small tasks I was given seriously; I started making personal financial budgets that reflected someone that earns a higher monthly wage.

My colleagues thought I was silly to have hung my ID card like that. No one was proud of the job. It was no job since people preferred to come late and close early and were hardly on seat to work. As an engineer, I was actually redundant since there was no engineering related work for me to actually do.

In the month of august, I discovered that I had missed a test for a job I had applied with our country's Central Bank. It was distressing but I consoled myself with a verse of scripture that said, God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. To me missed opportunities, poverty and lack are the same with darkness; but God dwells in me.

That same month, God performed a miracle as far as I am concerned - I got the job with the research institute. I presently wear my ID card like they do, I walk in between the lawns etc just as I envisioned. I couldn't believe my eyes when my first pay check came my way.

This is a true story and I am still working there now as I type this post. I sowed a seed and through right action and thought, this seed germinated and produced the fruit called "...a better job". I have also manifested a laptop and some other stuff I can't write about now. I still think a Christian can experience the so-called law of attraction, but should do so with caution and never assume the position of God. Satan tried it once and was casted down out of heaven. The principle of sowing and reaping as presented in the Bible appeals to me more. I still have some stuff i need to see manifest but yet to or might never come to past. Its a fact in life. No amount of huna or Nevillizing would help me. They might even get me in trouble. Only my relationship with the Lord would p412ut me through it all.

Ricky Macharm has a great free resource blog, http://law-of-attraction-for-christians.blogspot.com/ containing different articles. Visit today.

When you receive the Seal you will completely reveal yourself to God. You will renude yourself, uncovering everything you once thought you could hide from Him. This is not only natural in innocence, but also spiritual.

God created the world and what surrounds it in the universe in seven days. On the seventh day He rested. That was when He looked upon what He had created. And He could see it as it truly was--pure.

What God had created was pure. He had not made a mistake in anything He had created. Everything had its purpose. And when He created man, that man was pure too, and completely without sin.

On the fifth day God created the first man. He breathed the Spirit of Life into the man once He had shaped him out of the earth. This is how He will set the Seal upon you. The Seal will shape you out of the earth.

When you are sealed God will impress the shape of a tiny piece of the earth upon your forehead. It is the tiny place where a single wheat Seed is sown and has the chance to sprout up and grow until it bears fruit.

Your soul will be the soil that Seed grows in. You will feed the Seed with the life it needs to live and grow and bear much fruit. The Seed also needs the water, air, and sunlight, and it gets these from God.

But the soil you provide. You are a necessary element of the growth of the Seed. And Jesus Christ Himself is that first wheat Seed sown in you. He wants to grow up in you and bear Fruit.

Adam, the first man, was alone for a while in the Garden of Eden. God wanted him to be alone until he was lonely enough to greatly appreciate the woman God had planned for him.

And Adam did appreciate her. He loved her very much. God caused Adam to sleep a deep sleep and He took out one of Adam's ribs. He fashioned the woman around that rib, and Adam had a wife.

But God was the best Companion for Adam. All the other animals of the earth and birds of the air had female companions. Adam did not have one. So h86De knew he was alone when he saw the others.

God did not leave Adam alone for long. He gave him Eve as his wife, but He also visited Adam frequently and kept him company. And when He visited Adam had nothing to be ashamed of.

Adam had not sinned yet. God had made Adam completely innocent of any kind of sin or evil. And Adam was naked, along with his wife Eve. They had no reason to want to cover themselves. They had no sin.

When you are sealed God will make you as innocent as Adam in the Garden of Eden. He will cleanse you of all your sins, wash you until you are pure with the Seed sown in you.

When Jesus Christ is sown in you as that first Seed, you will be accounted as completely innocent of any sin. You have to be as innocent as God Himself--you are growing up the Seed Jesus with your power along with the Power of God.

So when you are sealed you will renude yourself before God. You will have confessed your sins to Him and now you will stand before Him revealed and known to Him. Thus He will know you when you receive the Seal.

And now Jason invites you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian?
And "Get God's Seal of Approval and Get the Victory Over Evil"
Jason Witt

Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations. The sin is limitations. As soon as you once come up to a mans limitations, it is all over with him.

Emerson

Given the assault on traditional values, are we headed in the right direction with ethical leaders? This is a valid question to ask given the current circumstances of my organizations in America. The recent collage of scandals and unethical dealings by both government and business leaders has made everyone skeptical about todays leaders.

There is a trust factor that has been lost between leaders and followers due to economic factors, such as technology advances and outsourcing. Some critics point to these factors as natural occurrences. Americans have seen similar issues in the past. What can be done to change thEB9is negative trend in ethics?

Organizations in the 21st century need to reevaluate their moral foundation in order to change. Why should organizations want to change their ethics? After the September 11th terrorist attacks in America, it was obvious that American institutions were vulnerable. Yet the aftermath of such tragedies have produced a spiritual void in America.

Obviously, this reality places more critical need for something different in America. I am not advocating infusing religion into a secular environment. However, organizations need to fill this spiritual void. First, leaders need to understand spirituality. The term spirituality relates to the spiritual need of humanity. Spirituality relates to peoples needs to discover their full identity as human beings.

Second, secular development and spiritual formation often run counter to each other. Building ones awareness of his or her spiritual self is dealing with spirituality. The process of spiritual formation allows individuals to grow in a constructive manner. It encompasses emotional maturity, character development, and personal achievement; however, spiritual formation speaks to the need of discovery of destiny. Therefore, the notion of spiritual formation addresses the issue of personal development in a holistic approach by nurturing body, mind, and spirit.

Finally, applying spiritual formation in an era of cynicism may be an alternative in supporting good leadership values. Having the right values is critical in an organization. Everyone on a team is expected to get along and share common points, such as values. Therefore, leaders need to moral the way for good ethical conduct. Leaders are also responsible for mentoring these values.

Unfortunately, value formation and spiritual formation dont necessarily correspond with the traditional Aristotelian model. In the past, traditional organizations have no room for spirituality of any kind. The supporting assumption is that well-run organizations are unemotional. Due to the turbulent pace of life and continued unethical behavior, contemporary leaders should consider embracing spirituality as a method to build better ethical organizations. Only time will tell if these will happen.

References:

Ashar, H. & Lane-Maher, M. (2004). Success and spirituality in the new business paradigm. Journal of Management Inquiry, 13(3), 249-260.

Kern, C. (2003). Creating and Sustaining an Ethical Workplace Culture, Pepperdine University. King, S. (2006). The Moral Manager. Public Integrity. 8(2), pp.113-133. 2007 by Daryl D. Green

Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making (personal and organizational), leadership, and organizational behavior. Mr. Green is also the author of four books, including More than a Conqueror: Achieving Personal Fulfillment in Government Service. Do you want to improve your life? Do you want to make better decisions? If you answer "yes," then go to the 'master decision-making' website at http://www.darylgreen.org

God Does Answer Prayer

Have you ever felt like God wasn't answering your prayers? Do you know how to pray in a way that will get answers?

If you want to see more answered prayer you first need to truly believe that God wants to give you the desires of your heart. He loves you and wants you to have faith in Him.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Do you believe God when He says that He will reward those who seek Him? The Bible makes it clear that God will hear and answer your prayers when you come to Him in faith:

"Ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Don't let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord" James 1:6-7

Obstacles To Answered Prayer

There are things that can hinder your prayers. One of those things is getting too focused on how you think God should answer your prayer. When you do that you can stand in the way of having prayer answered. God wants to answer your prayer but He doesn't always choose to answer in the way you expect.

Something else that can get in the way of answered prayer is your unwillingness to forgive other people. If you harbour unforgiveness you will block God from answering your prayers.

Another obstacle to answered prayer is praying your own will without any reference to what God wants. Answered prayer is dependent on lining your will up with God's will. Do you ask God how He wants you to pray? Do you listen to see what God's will is before you begin to pray?

How To Get Your Prayers Answered

The next time you pray, try asking God to show you how to pray first. When you've heard God and know His will you will be able to pray in faith, knowing that He will give you what you ask for.

The Bible gives lots of guidelines for how to pray. If you follow God's instructions you will have your prayers answered. If you ignore God's directions don't be surprised if your prayers remain unanswered. When you are willing to do things God's way you will see amazing answers to prayer.

Would you like a free coaching guide to help you to hear God more clearly and redesign your life around what's important to you?

Be Your Own Life Coach Now is a practical step by step coaching guide designed to help you to start transforming your life right away. And it's yours free just for visiting my website.

If you found this article helpful you might like to visit http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk where you'll find more fee life coaching articles to help you start transforming your life today.

Lynne Lee is a Christian life coach and spiritual mentor. She helps people to re-design their lives around what matters most.

One of the most important things to remember when choosing a tattoo is that it should be something that is personally significant. Some people choose tattoos on a whim, without giving them much thought. But if you're a religious person, sacred heart tattoos are a great option to consider.

It probably doesn't surprise you to learn that some of the most popular tattoos people choose are religious symbols and icons. Getting an image of the cross tattooed, for example, makes some Christians feel closer to God. For some Jews, a Star of David can be an intimate, indelible reminder of their heritage and history.

The sacred heart is also associated with profound spiritual and cultural significance. It can be a symbol of sacrifice, a symbol of strength, or a symbol of both. Its meaning, just like your tattoo, is intensely personal.

Choosing the sacred heart for your tattoo also involves some decision-making. For example, do you want a color tattoo or a monochrome tattoo? In many traditional depictions, the sacred heart is multicolored, or at least primarily red. If you choose to color your tattoo, you will need to consider two factors: cost and pain.

First, make sure you are aware of the cost differences. In general, colored tattoos cost significantly more than plain black tattoos - mostly because the ink costs more, but also because the artist has to take the time to switch equipment. If cost might be an issue for you, you might want to consider opting for black ink.

Second, you should be aware of your pain threshold. If you have a high tolerance for pain, then you can probably also choose a colored tattoo. Because the artist has to re-load his gun every time he changes colors, the process of getting a colored tattoo necessarily takes longer than getting a monochrome one, and the complex shading can make this difference even more pronounced.

You might also want to think carefully about the location you choose for this particular tattoo. Because of the spiritual connotations of this image, you may feel uncomfortable getting this tattoo in some less "clean" places on your body. Of course, your tattoo is always your decision, but you should make that decision carefully.

Clearly, there are many factors to consider when you're thinking about getting sacred heart tattoos. This powerful image can be a source of pride, both spiritual and aesthetic, and no matter where you get it or how many colors you use, you won't regret this decision.

For other great ideas and designs on sacred heart tattoos, please visit: Tattoo Ideas

Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming conscious our inner being. It means the rising of the consciousness beyond the ordinary existence, and awakening to some Universal truths. It means going beyond the mind and the ego and realizing who you really are.

Spiritual growth is a process of shedding our wrong and unreal conceptions, thoughts, beliefs and ideas, and becoming more and more conscious and aware of our inner being. This process uncovers the inner spirit that is always present, but hidden beyond the ego-personality.

Spiritual growth is of great importance for everyone, not only for people who seek spiritual enlightenment and choose to live in far away or secluded places. Spiritual growth is the basis for a better and more harmonious life for everyone, a life free of tension, fear and anxiety.

By discovering who we really are we take a different approach to life. We learn not to let outer circumstances influence our inner being and state of mind. We manifest composure and detachment, and we develop inner power and strength, all of which are very useful and important tools.

Spiritual growth is not a means for escaping from responsibilities, behaving strangely and becoming an impractical person. It is a method of growing and becoming a stronger, happier and more responsible person.

You can walk on the path of spiritual growth, and at the same time live the same kind of life as everyone else. You do not have to live a secluded life in some far away place. You can raise a family, work or run a business, and yet at the same time engage in practices that lead to inner growth.

A balanced life requires that we take care not only of the necessities of the body, feelings and mind, but also of the spirit, and this is the role of spiritual growth.

10 tips for spiritual growth:

1. Read spiritual and uplifting books. Think about what you read, and find out how you can use the information in your life.

2. Meditate for at least 15 minutes every day. If you do not know how to meditate, it is easy to find books, websites or teachers who can teach you meditation.

3. Learn to make your mind quiet through concentration exercises and meditation.

4. Acknowledge the fact that you are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit. If you can really accept this idea, it will change your attitude towards many things in your life.

5. Look often into yourself and into your mind, and try to find out what is it that makes you feel conscious and alive.

6. Think positive. If you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately switch to thinking positively. Be in control of what enters your mind. Open the door for the positive and close it for the negative.

7. Develop the happiness habit, by always looking at the bright side of life and endeavoring to be happy. Happiness comes from within. Do not let your outer circumstances decide your happiness for you.

8. Exercise often your will power and decision making ability. This strengthens you and gives you control over your mind.

9. Thank the Universe for everything that you get.

10. Develop tolerance, patience, tact and consideration for others.

Spiritual growth is the birthright of everyone. It is the key to a life of happiness and peace of mind, and the manifesting the enormous power of the inner spirit. This spirit is equally present within the most material person, and within the most spiritual person. The level of the manifestation of spirituality is dependent on how much the inner spirit is close to the surface, and on how much it is covered and hidden, by thoughts, beliefs and negative habits.

Copyright Remez Sasson

Remez Sasson writes and teaches about self-improvement, positive thinking, creative visualization, success, mind power, spiritual 3C8growth and meditation. He is the author of several books, and the publisher of the biweekly ezine, "Consciousness and Success".

Visit his website http://www.SuccessConsciousness.com, and find many article, quotes and ebooks.

Today there is a powerful spirituality movement. When I say spirituality I am not speaking of religion; I am speaking of something different--a connection with the Divine. This connection is what many mystics call "union with God." Sometimes this happens through a religious path, but not often. When it does the person who achieves divine union usually finds herself on the outside looking in.

One time a minister in a somewhat interfaith organization told me that the spiritual ministers usually didn't make it as successful ministers. That statement and the truth of it says something in itself, I think. Spirituality is not a good thing when it comes to maintaining buildings or systems, which are basically the little units of power that everyone needs in order to be able to function in a power-over society. Spiritual people draw on another source of power that is shared by everyone and everything.

One can have a great career working within a religious institution trying to sneak in spirituality and ways to connect every once and a while to those who are interested , but one is not often oneself. Ones own spirit runs dry and this can lead to much despair, corruption of the soul, and even physical and psychosomatic illnesses that lead to death. Worse than this, it can lead to a shift of thinking and a hardening of the heart that can lead to spiritual death. It is important to understand the difference between religion and spirituality. If one is religious and becomes spiritual, he will quickly be given a lesson that demonstrates the difference.

If this New Year you would like to attend to your spiritual needs and be free of the chains that so easy beset many of us in this material power over society, it is important for you to begin a spiritual, not religious journey. It is important to seek and find what suits you best to enhance your spiritual life. This only comes from having and open mind and being around a supportive group of people who are spiritual. If you are around a lot of people who are as bad off as you are socially or spiritually I doubt they will be helpful. As a NeB98w Year resolution you may need to spend some time away from such people in order to save your eternal soul.

I am not talking about joining some strange cult, or fasting until you cant walk, or drinking poison Kool-aid, I am talking about using well proven techniques to find the God within, to commune with that God within, and to ultimately connect with and merge with that God. This merger comes as a result of letting go of the false ideas of self and realizing who we really are. It is easy to do this in the head, but practices like meditation and contemplation help us realize it in our hearts and make it a reality. If you want to make a New Year resolution why not go all the way. Go for enlightenment and spiritual freedom not only in this life, but for all eternity.

It is written that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Where shall we find this truth? We, like the one who made the statement, are the truth, the way,and the light. When we transcend the ego and realize this, entering deep within and allowing our divine, wise self to reawaken, we will be free and free indeed. The beginning step is to seek. Repeating actions the same way only brings about the same results. It is time, if you would like to live, to die to the old things and take a journey into the new Kingdom of Heaven that resides within. If we cannot find love, light, hope, God and the Kingdom ruled by love within us, we shall never find it.

Om Prakash John Gilmore is a spiritual director and healer. He teaches Tai-Chi, Chi-Kung and martial arts. Om Prakash has written many books on how to free the human soul and is the founder of the DSWellness Cyber School and the Universal Cyber Circle of Creation Spirituality. From his website http://www.dswellness.com there is a link to the school and Cyber Circe where you will find free courses and a religious service based on mysticism and spiritual principles. You will also find a free Journal of Practical Spirituality and the descriptions and previews of some of his books for freeing the human soul and reclaiming your own identity.

Lots of people online are looking for a home business these days. There are many fly by night money making opportunities out there so why not take a different approach to successfully finding your perfect home business. An approach that is making ordinary people, find exactly what they have been searching for, but just never could get it. A way to find the perfect internet business that will change your life for the better. If you have been online a while just wandering around aimlessly hoping that you will find the perfect business opportunity, take a deep breath and do these few steps that will greatly enhance your chance of finding the right business for you.

1. First visualize yourself finding the exact home business that you have been looking for. See yourself working it in your spare time from your very own computer. This is a process that will summon your subconscious to magically find exactly what you are looking for in a business.
2. Believe that you will find your perfect opportunity. If you are looking to make a living online, you have to begin by believing you can do it. You can start by simply believing that the opportunity will appear. You will then put the energy in motion to accomplish this goal of finding a home business.
3. Start the process of searching. In my case it was the very first oppor16CDtunity that I miraculously stumbled upon. Remember it could be closer than you think.
4. Trust that where you are headed is exactly where you want to go. If you believe, anything is possible.

Scott Zeringue is an internet marketer that understands the power of Law of Attraction. Use this power to create the life you can only imagine. If you feel like you are ready for a drastic change for the better then visit http://www.wealthconception.com/

(St. John of the Cross in his book, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, indicates that God tears down the old body of one who seeks union with God, so that a new temple appropriate to receive God will grow).

Janet and I had just spent two years living by ourselves in a remote area of Pennsylvania. It was 1983, and I was tending oil wells on the property, cutting wood for our woodstove, and chasing black bears away from our trailer, while Janet planted a large garden, cooked so18C8ybeans in a pressure cooker, and made lots of yummy homemade bread!

It was an idyllic setting, with our little mobile home situated on a hill surrounded by a hundred acres of forest dotted with shallow, Pennsylvania oil wells. We were able to practice meditation all day, every day, either sitting in meditation practicing concentration, or practicing mindfulness during our activities.

But reluctantly we eventually had to move on, and decided to spend some time at the Zen Center in San Francisco for our first stop. Soon after arriving, we found ourselves participating in a week-long, fourteen-hour a day intensive meditation retreat with about forty other monks and lay people.

And thats when it happened . . .

My meditation had been deepening quickly during the retreat, influenced by the subliminal effects of the many other meditators in the hall. All distractions had disappeared, and only mind remained observing itself. This appeared as a blank screen, an image that my mind was extraordinarily attracted to, and remained effortlessly absorbed in.

Things were going pretty well, until large blocks of time began mysteriously disappearing from my awareness. The bell would sound, indicating the beginning of a forty-minute meditation period, and seemingly two seconds later, it would sound again ending the session! I didnt know where the thirty-nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds were going to; but whatever was happening was intriguing and somewhat amusing until unexpectedly one afternoon in the hall, everything changed forever.

It began with a literal bang. I actually thought that someone snuck up behind me and hit me on the head with a telephone book! Then I heard booming words coming from inside my mind, powerful and commanding words sounding like a loudspeaker and etching themselves permanently in my mind: You are now completely healed.

Immediately following these words, my ears began ringing loudly, and the upper part of my body heated up, feeling feverish. I also became extremely giddy for no apparent reason and could barely control the urge to laugh out loud. I actually thought that I would have to leave the hall before I disrupted everybody.

Next, I saw waves of energy visibly flowing from the top of my head down through my body and out the bottom of my feet, spreading throughout the hall and into each of the silent meditators sitting with me. I could barely keep from laughing; how silly they all looked, sitting there practicing their meditation with such seriousness, and with such concerned faces. And how ridiculous were those powerful words that blasted from inside my head; You are now completely healed. Healed of what? I was in peak physical condition, the prime of my life! What needed healing?

I gazed about the hall and marveled at these meditators; so ridiculously solemn. I felt as if a flippant, glib being had taken over my body and was showing me that everything was merely a silly dance. It was so liberating, and the urge to laugh became uncontrollable. It was as if I was back at home in Ohio with my father scolding me for giggling at the dinner table! The more he frowned, the more I giggled.

I finally had to leave the hall before my laughter erupted, but when I went to my room and tried to sleep, the giggling abruptly stopped.

It was an unimaginable terror-filled night with wild random snippets of visions in vivid color raging through my mind, several flashing every second. The top half of my body was on fire, and the bottom half, ice cold, and my heart was palpitating and pounding so severely that it would actually stop beating for long periods of time, producing intense feelings of fear and impending death.

Then my body would become numb. I could feel nothing, as my breathing became shallow and would almost stop, with no apparent heartbeat, and I would have to move my fingers and toes to make sure that I was still there. Then, after about twenty minutes in this catatonic state, the wild, random scenes would begin again, accompanied by a runaway heartbeat.

The severity of this alternating manic activity and dead calm only became worse during the night, and finally, about four a.m. when everybody was just waking up, I stumbled into the hallway looking for help. Someone called the head monk who came quickly, but had no idea what was going on. He summoned a physician that was fortunately attending the retreat, who after a cursory check of my heart piled me into his car and headed for San Francisco General Hospital.

The emergency room was packed, and I had to wait an interminably long time. About three hours later, a male nurse wheeled me into an examining room and hooked up an EKG. He glanced at the tape and said, Wow! Stay cool man, Ill get some help!

E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com

Elegua is also known as Esu in the Yoruba Pantheon of Orisha. Orisha are the deities of the Yoruba tradition. He was brought to the Diaspora via slavery to the Carribean in places like Cuba where the Lucumi/Santeria tradition continued the Yoruba worship of orisha in the New World. He is the messenger who takes ones prayers and sacrifices to the foot of God in heaven.

Elegua opens and closes the road or way for us in life. He stands in the crossroads and 4 corners. No ceremony is started without paying tribute to him first. He takes many forms and has many names. He is considered a trickster and can be a difficult teacher when there is a lesson needed to be learned.

There are said to be 256 roads or paths of Esu/Elegua. These paths correspond to the 256 Odu in Ifa. Many have not made it to the New World with the slaves. They remained in Nigeria. No pri5B4est or priestess in the Yoruba/Lucumi faith is without an Esu/Elegua. Each person who receives an Elegua receives one specific to their path and needs. Divination is done to determine what path of Elegua is to be given to the person. Elegua is one of the few orishas that you dont have to be fully initiated to receive. One can be an aleyo, outsider (literal translation) or not initiated and receive and Esu/Elegua if they have issues he can help with. This is one of the aspects that what makes Elegua so unique.

He is a very complicated deity. He is known as one that can create confusion very easily. So he always has to be pampered and treated with reverence to avoid hassles created on his behalf. Anytime there is a sacrifice or ceremony he has to be given something first. He is the appropriator of ceremonies. Without Elegua being acknowledged first chances are the outcome desired in a ceremony will not come to fruition. He is considered one of the primary Warriors given in the Ibora or set of Warriors given by a Babalawo. A Babalawo is an Ifa priest initiated in the secrets of Ifa. He gives the set of Warriors to those who need it. The warriors in the Diaspora consist of Elegua, Ogun, Ochosi and Osun. In Nigeria Osun is not given with the warriors. Priests and Priestesses of Orisha may give Elegua to their godchildren but not the whole set of warriors. It is with this Elegua the godchild is initiated to Orisha with when they dec4F7ide to get initiated.

Contrary to what most people believe not all roads of Elegua like children or want to play. Some can be very serious and dangerous if annoyed or played with. One has to know the road of their Elegua and his particular characteristics. They are not all the same.

Regina has done it again with her site on Santeria. Being initiated in both Yoruba and Bantu religion she is very knowledgeable on the subject of African Religions in the Diaspora. This is definitely the site to check out if you are interested in Santeria-Lucumi and related topics. santeria-lucumi