A friend of mine alerted me to a fantastic service.  The Center for Spiritual Awareness that is run by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, offers a variety of spiritual tools in exchange for a donation of any size.  Here is what you will receive:
• A Studies in Truth Lesson every month.
• Truth Journal magazine four times a year.
• CSA Newsletter eight times a year.
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are personally involved in a ministry dedicated to individual and planetary enlightenment.

To learn more about the CSA go to http://www.csa-davis.org/.  If you want to take advantage of the lessons click on the membership tab and follow the instructions.

Enjoy!

I just finished listening to Ms. Venus Andrecht’s CD “God is Always Happy”. This statement is derived from conversations Venus has with “entities’, beings at a different level of existence that communicate with her mind. Basically the message is that we are all part of “God”, and as such, only play a role for the sake of God wanting to have an experience. As a result of having the experience, God is happy and joyful. In other words, God decides to have an experience, we as “individuals” and components of God, have the experience, and God is happy. Even when there is suffering in our existence, God is happy because the situation or event is experienced.
This is an interesting spiritual approach. I admit I struggle with the concept a bit because it eliminates purpose in life. Perhaps some of you reader can provide some insight.
Ms. Andrecht can be heard weekly on Hay House Radio and she also has her own site http://www.venusandrecht.com/. Her CD’s and books can be purchased at Hay House.

Our culture has taught us that we should categorize behavior and things as right or wrong. Parents, schools, and society as a whole engrain this concept into our heads as children. Trying to be right can even become an obsession for some, often times without considering the cost. Who decides what is right and what is wrong? Why do we categorize things as right or wrong? The answer to the first question is the basis of this article. Our next article (part two) will address the latter.

 

You may have answered “society”, “my employer”, or “I decide what is right for me” all of which would be correct. The simple answer is that people decide what is right and what is wrong. They apply labels to behavior and things. How many times have we heard someone say, “What she did was wrong”, “This is the right tool for the job” or even “He is the wrong person for the job”? Can a person actually be wrong? Can a tool be right? People things and even behaviors are what and who they are.

 

People create the concept of right and wrong in their minds and categorize the things they see, hear and experience. A concept by definition only exists in the mind. A tool is a tool. Spanking a child is an action. Even after things or behaviors are deemed to be right or wrong they do not change. A tool is still a tool and spanking a child is still spanking a child. The categorization of right and wrong exists only in a person’s mind just as a child’s imaginary friend only exists in their mind.

 

Part two of this article will examine why people feel the need to categorize things and behaviors as right and wrong.

I was unfamiliar with flowdreaming until a friend of mine suggested I listen to a meditation CD. The teacher of “Flowdreaming for Spiritual Progress” is Summer McStravick. She is the daughter of Venus Andrecht, author of “God is Always Happy”, who you may heard of. There are two sections on the CD, one to help you meet your Greater You, Your Spiritual Guide, or Your Angels, another to find your life purpose.
Flowdreaming is a concept that many of you may be familiar with through Law of Attraction, Greg Braden’s teachings, along with many more. However, most of us are unaware of the Source and how we can benefit from it. When I say “Source” I am referring to all energy sources, god, supreme beings, or whichever term you may want to use. Since we are all connected and part of the energy source, we can utilize it to find answers, get guidance, and change our life, find balance, sense the greatness beyond, obtain whatever we want, and gain in spirituality. The meditation or flowdreaming exercises are designed to assist us in exploring the source, uncovering our connection to it and each other, and manifesting change in our lives.
I tried both exercises twice. As a novice to meditation, I was not able to completely connect during all the sessions. However, I did have a wonderful experience during one attempt. I felt a rush of white light and a warm, incredible energy that literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. I can’t describe it more than that. When the meditation ended, I felt at peace and rejuvenated. I also received a personal message that gave me a lot to think about.
Flowdreaming is a useful tool that anyone can try. Each session lasts just over 20 minutes, which is shorter than a lot of the other tools I have sampled. The result will vary and perhaps you will not experience what you want, but keep trying. Meditation takes practice and if nothing else it is a great way to relax and settle our minds. Enjoy the CD!

I just finished reading “Absolute Knowledge that Liberates Consciousness” by Roy Eugene Davis.  It’s a book designed to help those of us that are seeking spirituality by giving us insights to personal growth and providing tools to help us along the way.

The book explains some of the whys of why people struggle with any kind of change.  But it also tells us we can be inspired and highly self-motivated to live with a clear sense of meaningful purpose.  As a novice in the spiritual realm, I must say the book answered several questions I had regarding balancing material wants versus spiritual growth.  The techniques shared in the book have also been very helpful in moving me along on my spiritual journey.  The book is only about 100 pages, but don’t be fooled, it is jam packed with information and is an intense read for lack of a better term.

 Mr. Davis has taught these philosophical principles and spiritual practices all over the world for more than 50 years.  He studied under Guru Paramahansa Yogananda and was ordained in 1951.

A couple weeks ago our discussion group watched Louise L. Hay’s“You can Heal Your Life” DVD.  Visually it’s a beautifully designed movie with a comfortable, empathetic, and warm feel to it.  We followed the path of a young fictional woman; she could be anyone, man or woman, you or me, embarking on a journey to make sense of her life.  Initially, she is depressed and unhappy, wondering if life doesn’t have more to offer than the grind of daily life. Her life is saturated with fear, uncertainties, and self-doubts.  

The message we got is that there is a major connection between our thoughts and beliefs and how we experience our lives.  Ms. Hay, a pioneer in the self-help arena, stated that “if you change your thinking, you can change your life”.  She continued on by saying that one way to do this is by using positive affirmations.   These affirmations may not initially be true, but by sticking to their use, we can experience gradual positive improvement in our lives.  As an example of the power of positive affirmations, Ms. Hay shared her story of applying this method in her documented and successful fight against cancer.

In the commentary section of the DVD, Louise L Hay has assembled other prominent spiritual teachers like Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., Cheryl Richardson, Doreen Virtue, Esther and Jerry Hicksand Gregg Braden.   They all echo the belief of the power of the mind and possibilities for change displayed on the DVD.  We definitely recommend viewing this part.

In conclusion, our group felt this DVD provided a life lesson worth sharing with others.  Get the DVD, and if you can afford it, buy the accompanying book with the same title, we did.  In the book you can lookup whatever problem or ailment you have, and get the corresponding Positive Affirmations to correct the situation.

In our group’s quest to become more spiritual, we have often come across a technique using positive affirmations.   Most positive affirmations are short, yet have very focused and powerful messages.   For example, one of the most basic activities is to stand in front of a mirror, look directly at our own reflection, and say to ourselves: “I love you.”

The concept of positive affirmations is that our beliefs and thoughts can dramatically change our lives.   With continuous application of the affirmation, a person will change in their lives.  At times the change is gradual, other time almost immediate.  They can also be designed specifically to help with whatever ails us whether it is emotional or physical.

As we move forward on our personal spiritual journeys, we are with out question incorporating positive affirmations into our exercises. 

Along these lines, a friend of mine sent me a movie clip that really made me feel good.  I liked enough to forward it to all me friends AND purchased a copy to show at a conference I am attending this weekend.  It’s called the Blue Ribbon Movie and here’s the link:

http://www.MakeADifference.com/U/?19067

About a year ago, a group of us began discussing spirituality or the lack thereof in our lives.  Lucy, who has been leading a spiritual life for years, suggested we start reading some spiritual books, watch some spiritual DVDs, and then meet on a regular basis to share our experiences and observations.  The whole experience has been tremendous.   It has added open-mindedness, gratitude, and humility to our lives.

Twenty years ago the spirituality and self-help sections in most bookstores were almost non-existent.  Today there is an abundance of information.  Our approach is pick two or three “approaches” or authors at a time.  In reality many of them take us to the same destination, they are merely different paths to get there.  A route that may work for me may not fit another, but it does not diminish its validity.  So as we work our way through the various spiritual texts, we expect to learn from all of them which in turn will move us forward on the spiritual journey.

Now we also want help spread the information as we continue on our journey.  The intent is to provide reviews of the material we come across, keep you informed on upcoming events, seminars, book releases, etc.  There will also be links to sites we have found to be spiritually beneficial and enlightening.