The Secrets In Plain Sight!

I'm sure that there were people who saw Joe on the streets and thought that he was someone they wanted nothing to do with.  Well, they don't have to worry about that anymore.  But there was a time when some of those same people were glad to know him.  He grew up in one of the better families in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, where his father's business gave them a good living.  And he was a star in college, both academically and in athletics.  But then he joined the army and was sent to Vietnam, 12 months of fighting.  And when he finished his tour, he wanted the same thing as the rest of us who were taking off their uniforms - to return to life as he had known it.  But, he wasn't allowed that.  People who had been his friends shunned him, his wife left him, and more.  Finally, he quit trying and lived on the streets. Lady Stormy and I, plus a few others, tried to get him to find opportunities that would get him back into society, but there was always one stumbling block, especially after time had passed.  And none of his family, even now, will do anything for him.

And it occurs to me that he might not be the only one like that, and some of you might have known someone like that.

Blessed Be!

Yes, I made a mistake.  I'm human, too!  And this was enough that I want to correct it right away! This goes back to the early days of the show when I offered an episode dcealing with "Our One True Enemy".  But, do you know what?  I missed something.  In my military days, some might have called it "missing the big picture".  True, ignorance is a major part of our one true enemy, but it is not all of it.  There's more.

What is more, it is something which each and every one of us faces each and every day!  And it can be so subtle, and even seem like it's good for us!  To some of a more philosophical bent, it might be regarded as one of the main "active ingredients" of evil!  In fact, it can do plenty of evil by itself.

Yet, we can protect ourselves.  We wear winter clothing in a blizzard to shield ourselves from the freezing cold, and there is something that can shield us from this enemy.  And here we explore exactly that!

Blessed Be!

While I don't want to make too much of a blanket statement, I can say that in this episode I'm revealing something that none of my Sunday school teachers wanted me to know.  Likewise for most of the clergy that I knew back then.  After all, it would infringe on their ability to do some things.

Of all of the authors that I've read, one stands out above the others.  He stood out so much, in fact, that I named my son after him - sort of, but that's another story.  And here, I offer something that he wrote.  And, it offers me a lot of hope.  And I'm sharing it with you so that you can see what you can discover in it.

And what it offers is considerable, especially if you have been living in the illusions which some so-called teachers and self-appointed evangelists try to impose on us.  To begin with, it offers a way to stop being wrapped up in form and method and get into the actual substance of what you're trying to be spiritual for.

And potentially, it can lead to some great things!  All we need to add is our own wisdom and willingness.

Blessed Be!

If there is one issue that bothers me more than any other, it problably is the "one size fits all" approach which some people have about religion or spirituality.

I have nothing against the kind of evangelism that tells people what you've found and how it works so well for you.  I have no problem with inviting people to come and join.  And I certainly have no problem with someone explaining their spiritual path to others - that's what I'm doing here.  Where I have a problem is when people try to force others into marching in lock-step with them, or when people try to claim that another path is somehow "wrong", "evil", or "of the devil".  Not only do I see that as being wrong, there are a number of reasons why I consider that practice to be spiritually dangerous.

Your spiritual path is yours and it's individual.  You'll find overlap with others which makes for some wonderful working together, but it is also yours and personal as well. 

And this puts us at a special advantage.  Let's see what this can mean for us!

Blessed Be!

In your spiritual life on this plane of existence, perhaps the miost nagging question is expressed in the same way as you might express the most nagging question when you were in school: When you are done with this level, will you make it to the good place at the next level?

In elementary school, you tried to make it into the next grade.  And most often you did.  And there was a possibility that you might make it into the advanced-placement class of the next grade.  Then again, you could be put into the next grade but in "special education", or your sourpuss teacher could keep you in the grade you're in!  And I recall in third grade, we had a playground know-it-all who would expound on how some kids just were not going to make it because of all the extra stuff you had to do to satisfy ever-sour-Miss-Lauer. 

And isn't religion kind of like that, no matter what your path?  And some paths more than others. 

So, what does it take?  A look in the revered writings of the various paths reveals how to make the grade, and also how to guarantee that you won't.  What keeps you from making the grade centers around one basic fact.  And do you know what?  Making it successfully seems to center around a few simple concepts which should be well-ingrained in you by now!

So, let's explore!

Blessed Be!

Of all the challenges you can experience or imagine, there is one challenge that is the greatest challenge, at least in terms of what it presents to us.

I have come to realize that a religious dispute is like two siblings arguing over who has There are challenges, and there are challenges, but there is one facing us that appears to be the most major the better parents.

Not only that, but I have reasons why I say so, and I list them here and try to explain the basis of those reasons.  All in all, it seems pretty basic to me, but I've been pursuing this most of my adult life.

But then, there is also the question of how to apply it, and I find some answers to that.  Not all of the answers, of course, because we're talking about The Divine, and The Divine is infinite.

So, let's explore it - and see how much it offers us.

As a matter of fact, it has much to offer - more than we've ever imagined!  You'll see!

Blessed Be!



In the pages of a well-respected scientific journal is the announcement of a discovery which is getting the attention of some folks I consider to be really mundane:  some of the most respected medical institutions in the world are announcing that they have discovered that prayer and meditation can actually have a healing and/or curative effect, even allowing the brain and nervous system to "re-wire" or "re-program" themselves for the benefit of the individual.

WOW!  Isn't it wonderful that these people announce what we've known for a few millenia?

Well, the fact is that what we've known all this time is suddenly becoming respectable and beneficial to the same people who would once call it either superstition, outdated, or perhaps a form of mental illness.

And that has some interesting implications for us, including the fact that it means that more people are going to find what we know. 

And we had better be ready for it.  It's a major opportunity.

Blessed Be!

May 28th is Memorial Day in the United States.  If you are living in another country, you probably have a similar day somewhere on your calendar.  Actually, it's the 4th Monday in May that's the official holiday in the US, originally it was May 30th. 

It is the day we honor those who died in the service of their country in the armed forces.  Originally to honor the fallen Union soldiers in the Civil War (and known as "Decoration Day" back then), it bdecame a day to honor all of the fallen from all wars.  And, most folks including myself include honoring those who did come home but who have since crossed over.  But the main emphasis is on those who fell in battle.

Some, like me, extend the honoring to all who fell from all countries, inclding those who fell fighting against us.  We may have been at war with each other, but we are no longer and in many cases our countries have become good friends.  I can honor their courage and their sacrifice, and the heartache of their families.

With the possible exception of those who intended to have a military career, most had their lives interrupted and had plans to return to resume that life once the war was over.  But instead, a spouse or parent got a knock on the door with news that their loved one was not coming home.

And so, let's think about these men and women, some of whom were actually too young to be thought of as men and women until they put on their uniform.  And how can we honor them?

Blessed Be!

We've spoken of the secrets of reaching out to The Divine in prayer and in ritual.  The next step is to speak of the nature of who it is that we're reaching out to!  And we are indeed talking about The Divine, regardless of the name, names or aspects you use in addressing The Divine.  That can seem overwhelming if we just jump in as if we were just swimming in a lake.  After all, to do so means trying to deal with how much more there is than our own mundane experiences can measure.

Some folks just can't deal with that, and so some become atheists who will claim it's outdated superstition, and others become agnostics who try to claim it's a form of mental illness, or that's how my encounters with such people have gone.  And, then there are others who will try to limit The Divine to their own comfort level (or to their own pre-conceived notions).  

But for those of us willing to go beyond that, realizing that we are not experiencing it all while at the same time taking advantage of The Divine's infinite nature, the rewards and benefits can be beyond imagination - until you see them.

If logic and rightness (such as common snese) are are only limits, then some boundaries might not be as relevant, and at the same time we might see the reason for some others.  

And it brings jus to something that's hard to get any other way!

Blessed Be!

We're going to be getting into some heavy stuff soon, but - no, wait we are indeeed already into some heavy stuff.  Between what we saw on prayer last week and what we explore about ritual today, we're seen what makes up the most powerful rituals ever done!  The difference is in the heart and will of the one who is doing the prayer or the ritual.

And speaking of prayer, guess where ritual has its roots?  In prayer that has a reputation of working.

The formula is ancient and you've seen it elsewhere in other context since you were in school learning to write.  The next step is to see what can be made with it, and what can be put into it.

Now, with this you are going to have an adventure, one that you might wish to write down for the sake of the memories you'll be having.  And also, for that matter, for the results you will be seeing.

And we're both beginning and well on our way, both at the same time.

Blessed Be!