Synopsis,
In the 5th posting of the series, I define the seven psychic or Claire-senses we have. I describe the "Paranormal and some good links.
ESP and Psychic Abilities
The term clairvoyant is used commonly and interchangeably whenever people discuss the subject of Extra Sensory Perception – ESP. I would like to bring in a definition of each extra sense we possess. A definition for the seven “Claire” senses can be helpful.
Clairvoyance
Or "Clear Seeing" is the ability to see anything which is not physically present, such as objects, animals or people. This sight occurs "in the mind’s eye", and some mediums say that this is their normal vision state. Others say that they must train their minds with such practices as meditation in order to achieve this ability, and that assistance from spiritual helpers is often necessary. Some clairvoyant mediums can see a spirit as though the spirit has a physical body. They see the bodily form as if it were physically present (This is Bill’s strength; Bill, Jill and I have an ongoing psychic circle, called “Connecting with Loved Ones in Spirit, which meets every Tuesday evening). Other mediums see the spirit in their mind's eye, or it appears as a movie or a television program or a still picture like a photograph in their mind (which is a good way to describe the way Jill and I “see”).
Clairaudience
or "Clear Hearing” is usually defined as the ability to hear the voices or thoughts of spirits. Some Mediums hear as though they are listening to a person talking to them on the outside of their head, as though the Spirit is next to or near to the medium, and other mediums hear the voices in their minds as a verbal thought.
Clairsentinence
or "Clear Feeling" is a condition in which the medium takes on the ailments of a spirit, feeling the same physical problem the spirit person. The medium also takes on specific mannerisms and attitudes. People have stated that a Clairsentient medium at times even looks like the person who they are in touch with (I have been told exactly that by some of our sitters).
Clairalience
or "Clear Smelling" is the ability to smell a spirit. For example, a medium may smell the pipe tobacco of a person who smoked during life. I have smelled Chicken soup, so strongly I had to ask if anyone else smelled it. When asked about chicken soup, our sitter said that her (pased- grandmother would always sit over a bowl of home made chicken soup. Jill, smelled the strong odor of cleanser, which was a strong validation to our sitter.
Clairgustance
or "Clear Tasting" is the ability to receive taste impressions from a spirit but this is a rare ability.
Clairsentience
or "Clear Sensing” is the ability to have an impression of what a spirit wants to communicate, or to feel sensations instilled by a spirit.
Claircognizance
or "Clear Knowing", is the ability to know something without receiving it through normal or psychic senses. It is a feeling of "just knowing". Often, a medium will claim to have the feeling that a message or situation is "right" or "wrong."
As I stated before Bill, Jill and I have a psychic circle on Tuesdays evenings. We bring into our circle from one to five people to give psychic/medium readings to. See my website for more information http://www.hyp4life.com/
Bill’s predominant senses are Clairvoyance and Clairaudience. He also reads auras and energy.
Jill’s predominant senses are Clairaudience and Clairsentinence. She has an ability to separate and sit with spirit to gain information and messages.
My predominant senses are Clairaudience and Clairsentinence; I allow the spirit to make me feel what they had felt in life. People have told me that when I am communicating with their loved ones I actually “look like them”.
All three of us are Claircognizance and Clairsentinence.
There are some people who call what we do “Paranormal” implying weirdness or not normal. Let’s look at the word first, before labeling our work too quickly.
There are various definitions for the paranormal, Beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation: “such paranormal phenomena as telepathy; a medium's paranormal powers”.
http://www.ask.com/web?q=dictionary%3A+paranormal&content=ahdict%7C9513&o=0&l=dir
Paranormal is a general term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation, or phenomena alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure. In parapsychology, it is used to describe the potentially psychic phenomena of telepathy, extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, ghosts, and hauntings. The scientific community, as referenced in statements made by organization such as the United States National Science Foundation, contends that scientific evidence does not support paranormal beliefs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal#Skeptical_scientific_investigation
What is paranormal?
We are often asked, "What exactly does paranormal mean?" The term paranormal is used to describe a wide variety of activity and phenomena. According to the Journal of Parapsychology (a quarterly publication devoted primarily to the original publication of experimental results and other research findings as published by the Parapsychological Association), the term paranormal describes "any phenomenon that in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible according to current scientific assumptions." The actual word is derived from the Latin use of the prefix para meaning "outside or beyond" what is considered normal.
http://www.milwaukeeparanormal.com/What-IS-Paranormal.html
There has been much research in the field of Mediumship. In Britain, the Society for Psychical Research has investigated some phenomena, mainly in connection with telepathy and apparitions. According to an article in the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, in some cases mediums have produced personal information which has been well above guessing rates.
The VERITAS Research Program of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, run by Dr. Gary Schwartz, was created primarily to test the hypothesis that the consciousness (or identity) of a person survives physical death. Studies conducted by VERITAS have been approved by the University of Arizona Human Subjects Protection Program and an academic advisory board. Gary’s book “The Afterlife Experiments” is on my reading list.
References and Links;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship
http://veritas.arizona.edu/
http://www.nsac.org/
http://www.lighthousespiritualcentre.ca/Churches/churchengland.html
http://www.edgarcayce.org/.
http://www.ask.com/web?q=dictionary%3A+paranormal&content=ahdict%7C9513&o=0&l=dir
http://www.isd-sparta.org/
http://www.sethlearningcenter.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Metaphysicality - Part 4; Mediumship
Synopsis;
In the 4th posting in the series, I discuss the new popularity of psychic mediums; a history and definition of Psychic Mediumship; what to look for, be aware of and be concerned about, when using a medium to connect you with passed loved ones and give some insight as to what my partners and I do during a psychic circle.
Mediumship
There are TV shows like “Ghost Whisperer”, “Medium” and more Psychic shows, from psychic detectives to pet psychics than ever before. The subject of Psychic/Mediumship is once again, very popular.
I say “once again” because contrary to current thought it is by no means “New Age”;
Mediumship is and always has been Age-less.
The ability that Mediums like John Edward, John Holland Lisa Williams, and others demonstrate are as inherent to human beings as their other five senses. People are beginning to believe that in fact, we are all psychic.
In fact, it was watching John Edward on TV that first aroused my curiosity about how Mediumship works. Through various synchronicities (which I attributed, at the time, to coincidence) I went from being a cynic to a skeptic to a believer and after many classes and effort to becoming a psychic/medium.
A Definition and a Brief History of “Mediumship”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship
The term "Mediumship" denotes the ability of a person (the “medium”) to apparently experience contact with spirits of the dead, spirits of immaterial entities i.e. angels, spirit guides, ghosts etc.
The medium generally attempts to facilitate communication between non-mediumistic people (the “sitters”) and spirits who may have messages to share.
A medium may appear to listen to and relate conversations with spirit voices; go into a trance and speak without knowledge of what is being said; allow a spirit to enter their body and speak through it; relay messages from the spirits those who wish to contact them with the help of a physical tool, such as a writing instrument.
Mediumship is also part of the belief system of some “New Age” groups. In this context, and under the name channeling, it refers to a medium who receive messages from a "teaching-spirit".
There is a long documented history of Mediumship. Attempts to communicate with the dead and other spirits have been documented back to early human history.
One of the most well-known is the story of the Witch of Endor, who was said to have raised the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel to allow the Hebrew King Saul to question his former mentor about an upcoming battle, as related in the Old Testaments’ First Book of Samuel in the Jewish Tanakh.
Mediumship became quite popular in the United States after the rise of Spiritualism as a religious movement. Modern Spiritualism is said to date to the mediumistic activities of the Fox sisters in New York State in 1848. The trance mediums Paschal Beverly Randolph and Emma Hardinge Britten were among the most celebrated lecturers and authors on the subject in the mid 1800s. Mediumship was also described by Allan Kardec, who coined the term Spiritism, around 1860.
After the exposure of the fraudulent use of stage magic tricks by physical mediums such as the Davenport Brothers, Mediumship fell into disrepute, although it never ceased being used by people who believed that the dead can be contacted.
From the 1930s through the 1990s, as psychic Mediumship became less practiced in Spiritualist churches, the technique of channeling gained in popularity, and books by channelers who related the wisdom of non-corporeal and non-terrestrial teacher-spirits became best-sellers amongst believers.
For some mediums, a spirit guide is a highly evolved spirit with the sole purpose of helping the medium develop and use their skills. They assist mediums in following their spiritual path. For other mediums, a spirit guide is one who brings other spirits to a medium's attention or carries communications between a medium and the spirits of the dead. Many mediums claim to have specific guides who regularly work with them and "bring in" spirits of the dead. Some mediums believe that spirits of the dead will communicate with them directly without the use of a spirit guide.
In Spiritualism, a portion of the services, generally toward the end, is given over to the pastor, or another medium, who receives messages from the spirit world for the congregants. This may be referred to as a "demonstration of Mediumship." A typical example of this older way of describing a mediumistic church service is found in the 1958 autobiography of C. Dorreen Phillips. She writes of the worship services at the Spiritualist Camp at Chesterfield, Indiana: "Services are held each afternoon, consisting of hymns, a lecture on philosophy, and demonstrations of Mediumship."
Today "demonstration of Mediumship" is part of the church service at all churches affiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches 'NSAC'.
These types of services are held each Sunday at The Institute for Spiritual Development in Sparta NJ. Their website is http://www.isd-sparta.org/
Mental Mediumship is communication of spirits with a medium by telepathy. The medium mentally "hears," "sees," and/or feels messages from spirits, then, directly or with the help of a spirit guide, passes the information on to the message's recipient(s). Trance Mediumship is often seen as a form of Mental Mediumship.
Some mediums remain conscious during this communication period, while others go into a trance, wherein a spirit uses the medium's body to communicate. Trance Mediumship is defined as a spirit taking over the body of the medium, sometimes to such a degree that the medium is unconscious.
“Part trance mediums” are aware during the period of communication,
while “full trance mediums” pass into an unconscious state in which their physical and mental processes are completely controlled by the spirit communicator.
Because the typical trance medium has no clear memory of the messages conveyed while in a trance, a medium of this type generally works with an assistant who writes down or otherwise records his or her words.
A good example of this kind of relationship can be found in the early 1970’s in “The Seth books”. Full Trance Medium Jane Roberts channeled “Seth” an advanced spirit guide, while her husband Robert Butts transcribed the sessions. Her website is http://www.sethlearningcenter.org/
Edgar Cayce, known as “The sleeping Prophet” is another example of Trance Mediumship. Mr. Cayce has an extensive library in Virginia Beach, Virginia of thousands of recorded full trance medium readings covering all aspects of human life. For more information on Edgar Cayce goes to http://www.edgarcayce.org/.
In Spiritualism, psychic senses used by mental mediums are sometimes defined differently than in other paranormal fields. The term clairvoyance, for instance, may be used by Spiritualists to include seeing spirits and visions instilled by spirits, whereas the Parapsychological Association defines "clairvoyance" as information derived directly from an external physical source.
***
In my opinion, it is extremely important for anyone, seeking the use of a Medium to contact deceased loved ones, to understand how the process works and to always keep their healthy skepticism.
Some important things to keep in mind;
- As in all professions, we all have varying degrees of proficiency. Mediums are no different, you will find some that are amazing and some are less; Most are 100% ethical and unfortunately some are… less.
- The best way to judge any professional is through word of mouth and referrals.
Listen to friends and family that have been to a Psychic/Medium (P/M). You would be amazed by how many people, who you would not expect to go to a P/M, that do. You would be equally amazed about how many people, some that you know who are Mediums or have great hidden mediumistic abilities.
- Most P/M’s are scrupulous but unfortunately there are those that are frauds.
When seeking a Medium be aware of and avoid any who,
- seems to be fishing for information, or coming up with many very general impressions. If they are more focused on your reaction, if they are reacting to what you are saying, rather than what they perceive from spirit, they are probably doing what is known as a “Cold Reading” and is either not an experienced psychic or perhaps a fraudulent one.
A Medium should always be more concerned with what spirit is telling them than what you are.
If you plan to come for any P/M work either with me or with our Circle, PLEASE tell us nothing!
In the 4th posting in the series, I discuss the new popularity of psychic mediums; a history and definition of Psychic Mediumship; what to look for, be aware of and be concerned about, when using a medium to connect you with passed loved ones and give some insight as to what my partners and I do during a psychic circle.
Mediumship
There are TV shows like “Ghost Whisperer”, “Medium” and more Psychic shows, from psychic detectives to pet psychics than ever before. The subject of Psychic/Mediumship is once again, very popular.
I say “once again” because contrary to current thought it is by no means “New Age”;
Mediumship is and always has been Age-less.
The ability that Mediums like John Edward, John Holland Lisa Williams, and others demonstrate are as inherent to human beings as their other five senses. People are beginning to believe that in fact, we are all psychic.
In fact, it was watching John Edward on TV that first aroused my curiosity about how Mediumship works. Through various synchronicities (which I attributed, at the time, to coincidence) I went from being a cynic to a skeptic to a believer and after many classes and effort to becoming a psychic/medium.
A Definition and a Brief History of “Mediumship”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship
The term "Mediumship" denotes the ability of a person (the “medium”) to apparently experience contact with spirits of the dead, spirits of immaterial entities i.e. angels, spirit guides, ghosts etc.
The medium generally attempts to facilitate communication between non-mediumistic people (the “sitters”) and spirits who may have messages to share.
A medium may appear to listen to and relate conversations with spirit voices; go into a trance and speak without knowledge of what is being said; allow a spirit to enter their body and speak through it; relay messages from the spirits those who wish to contact them with the help of a physical tool, such as a writing instrument.
Mediumship is also part of the belief system of some “New Age” groups. In this context, and under the name channeling, it refers to a medium who receive messages from a "teaching-spirit".
There is a long documented history of Mediumship. Attempts to communicate with the dead and other spirits have been documented back to early human history.
One of the most well-known is the story of the Witch of Endor, who was said to have raised the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel to allow the Hebrew King Saul to question his former mentor about an upcoming battle, as related in the Old Testaments’ First Book of Samuel in the Jewish Tanakh.
Mediumship became quite popular in the United States after the rise of Spiritualism as a religious movement. Modern Spiritualism is said to date to the mediumistic activities of the Fox sisters in New York State in 1848. The trance mediums Paschal Beverly Randolph and Emma Hardinge Britten were among the most celebrated lecturers and authors on the subject in the mid 1800s. Mediumship was also described by Allan Kardec, who coined the term Spiritism, around 1860.
After the exposure of the fraudulent use of stage magic tricks by physical mediums such as the Davenport Brothers, Mediumship fell into disrepute, although it never ceased being used by people who believed that the dead can be contacted.
From the 1930s through the 1990s, as psychic Mediumship became less practiced in Spiritualist churches, the technique of channeling gained in popularity, and books by channelers who related the wisdom of non-corporeal and non-terrestrial teacher-spirits became best-sellers amongst believers.
For some mediums, a spirit guide is a highly evolved spirit with the sole purpose of helping the medium develop and use their skills. They assist mediums in following their spiritual path. For other mediums, a spirit guide is one who brings other spirits to a medium's attention or carries communications between a medium and the spirits of the dead. Many mediums claim to have specific guides who regularly work with them and "bring in" spirits of the dead. Some mediums believe that spirits of the dead will communicate with them directly without the use of a spirit guide.
In Spiritualism, a portion of the services, generally toward the end, is given over to the pastor, or another medium, who receives messages from the spirit world for the congregants. This may be referred to as a "demonstration of Mediumship." A typical example of this older way of describing a mediumistic church service is found in the 1958 autobiography of C. Dorreen Phillips. She writes of the worship services at the Spiritualist Camp at Chesterfield, Indiana: "Services are held each afternoon, consisting of hymns, a lecture on philosophy, and demonstrations of Mediumship."
Today "demonstration of Mediumship" is part of the church service at all churches affiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches 'NSAC'.
These types of services are held each Sunday at The Institute for Spiritual Development in Sparta NJ. Their website is http://www.isd-sparta.org/
Mental Mediumship is communication of spirits with a medium by telepathy. The medium mentally "hears," "sees," and/or feels messages from spirits, then, directly or with the help of a spirit guide, passes the information on to the message's recipient(s). Trance Mediumship is often seen as a form of Mental Mediumship.
Some mediums remain conscious during this communication period, while others go into a trance, wherein a spirit uses the medium's body to communicate. Trance Mediumship is defined as a spirit taking over the body of the medium, sometimes to such a degree that the medium is unconscious.
“Part trance mediums” are aware during the period of communication,
while “full trance mediums” pass into an unconscious state in which their physical and mental processes are completely controlled by the spirit communicator.
Because the typical trance medium has no clear memory of the messages conveyed while in a trance, a medium of this type generally works with an assistant who writes down or otherwise records his or her words.
A good example of this kind of relationship can be found in the early 1970’s in “The Seth books”. Full Trance Medium Jane Roberts channeled “Seth” an advanced spirit guide, while her husband Robert Butts transcribed the sessions. Her website is http://www.sethlearningcenter.org/
Edgar Cayce, known as “The sleeping Prophet” is another example of Trance Mediumship. Mr. Cayce has an extensive library in Virginia Beach, Virginia of thousands of recorded full trance medium readings covering all aspects of human life. For more information on Edgar Cayce goes to http://www.edgarcayce.org/.
In Spiritualism, psychic senses used by mental mediums are sometimes defined differently than in other paranormal fields. The term clairvoyance, for instance, may be used by Spiritualists to include seeing spirits and visions instilled by spirits, whereas the Parapsychological Association defines "clairvoyance" as information derived directly from an external physical source.
***
In my opinion, it is extremely important for anyone, seeking the use of a Medium to contact deceased loved ones, to understand how the process works and to always keep their healthy skepticism.
Some important things to keep in mind;
- As in all professions, we all have varying degrees of proficiency. Mediums are no different, you will find some that are amazing and some are less; Most are 100% ethical and unfortunately some are… less.
- The best way to judge any professional is through word of mouth and referrals.
Listen to friends and family that have been to a Psychic/Medium (P/M). You would be amazed by how many people, who you would not expect to go to a P/M, that do. You would be equally amazed about how many people, some that you know who are Mediums or have great hidden mediumistic abilities.
- Most P/M’s are scrupulous but unfortunately there are those that are frauds.
People who so desperately want to hear from loved ones that they let their guard and common sense down are most vulnerable to fraud. They are unaware of or choose to ignore that there are those supposed “Mediums” who are fraudulent and are doing this to steal from the most vulnerable of us.
When seeking a Medium be aware of and avoid any who,
- seems to be fishing for information, or coming up with many very general impressions. If they are more focused on your reaction, if they are reacting to what you are saying, rather than what they perceive from spirit, they are probably doing what is known as a “Cold Reading” and is either not an experienced psychic or perhaps a fraudulent one.
A Medium should always be more concerned with what spirit is telling them than what you are.
- Asks you to return with more money. If the P/M suggests that you should come back for more readings, because your loved ones are requesting you to do so, along with asking you for more money, they are frauds and you should leave as soon as possible! Messages that you receive from a loved one is as important for the loved one in spirit to get to you as it is important for you to receive it.
All those in spirit want to get their message to you immediately, completely and always from a place of love. They will never say “I will have a message for you on your next session”, if a medium says that they want you to return for additional readings, you should know that it was not your loved one’s message, that message is coming from a fraudulent medium. That is just not how spirit communicates. Please keep a healthy sense of skepticism.
All those in spirit want to get their message to you immediately, completely and always from a place of love. They will never say “I will have a message for you on your next session”, if a medium says that they want you to return for additional readings, you should know that it was not your loved one’s message, that message is coming from a fraudulent medium. That is just not how spirit communicates. Please keep a healthy sense of skepticism.
Many people want to hear from loved ones so badly that they can be easily scammed.
There is nothing wrong with going back for additional readings as long as it is you who wants to return and it is your request. Most P/M will suggest that you wait a while before scheduling an additional session.
If you plan to come for any P/M work either with me or with our Circle, PLEASE tell us nothing!
It is not that I (we) don’t want to know who you want to contact.
The information, validations and messages MUST come from them, your loved ones in spirit. As soon as we think about who you want to come through, we are using a different part of the brain. When a P/M begins to think with the logical part of the mind a situation arises that I call “From me/To me”.
I can get mixed messages if I am confused by a message coming “From me” which is based on assumptions, guesses and are usually wrong.
This is also connected with “Cold Readings”.
What we do want is information “Coming TO me”. Information coming from spirit will not make sense to us, but the validations, information and messages are not for us, they are for you.
After a session is over, I/ We will ask for you to validate the information that we did bring through.
I hope that this posting was informative.
Please feel free to post a comment or question and I look forward to replying.
The next posting will be on 1/18/2009 and will be titled,
Please feel free to post a comment or question and I look forward to replying.
The next posting will be on 1/18/2009 and will be titled,
Metaphysicality – Part 5; ESP and Psychic Abilities.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Only in America!
No matter your political views; Democrat or Republican; Liberal or Conservative; Moderate or Extremist, we can agree that only in America can what just happened in November, happen. Furthermore, I'd like to thank President Bush for making it possible for Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. Those who know me will be very surprised that I am thanking President Bush, considering my opinion of his performance in office over the past 8 years (that comment will be a long posting, all by itself). The reason I am thanking President Bush needs to be looked at from a recent historical point of view.
If Gore had been President, the events on 9/11 would, in all probability, have happened as they did. However, we would not be in Iraq, we may still be in Afghanistan, but the world would be very different. Certainly, the environmental issues that we face would be happening, but the response by our elected officials, headed by a president like Gore would have been much stronger. Our reliance on foreign oil would probably have been the same, but there likely would have been more governmental request and support for more environmental friendly energy sources. Research and development on solar energy and stem cells would be 8 years further than they are now. And I know, that there would be no necessity for a debate on the legality of "Water boarding" as an acceptable method of torture in the United States of America! (That WILL be a posting for another time).
The political climate in the U.S., probably would have been very similar to the way it was under Clinton...
If Kerry had been elected and started to bring the political direction of our country back towards the center as compared to the far right swing by Bush/Cheney during their first 4 years, the majority of liberals, Democrats and moderate Republicans would have become complacent once again. The war in Iraq would have been viewed as it is now, as a mistake (a very costly, counter-productive, mismanaged, ill-conceived and poorly planned mistake... sorry for the editorial comment) and would have been ending. Environmental issues would have become once again important to our government, as stem cell research and solar energy would.
And once again, the political climate in the U.S., probably would have been very similar to the way it was under Clinton...
So then... Why, you may ask, am I thanking President Bush?
Because it took our country to be in the situation it is in now...
- Two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq;
- Our climate changing, causing floods and draughts;
- Corporate greed out of control ie. ENRON, AIG et.al.;
- The possible bankruptcy of our automobile industry;
- A class struggle between the "Haves and the Have-Nots" that we have not experienced since the 1920's (and the 1st Great Depression)
-and of course lets not forget the current financial disaster...
to put racism, prejudice and fear behind it and use the courage that it has always had...
It came through and showed the world what we Americans have always done.
We did the right thing...
WE elected a true American!
No where in this world, no other country could this happen!
When I say "True" American, I mean just that.
Look at him...
He is not Black or White... He is BOTH.
He is Christian, but with a Muslim name who supports Israel's right to exist.
He comes from a poor single parent household and raised by his maternal Grandmother.
He put himself through college.
He graduated Harvard and was the first Black man to be the President of the Harvard Law Review!
He could have done anything!
How many Wall Street Corporations must have salivated over the prospect of a Barack Obama!
How much would a prestigious law firm have offered him to join them?
High six figures? You Bet!
As a Harvard graduate, he had the world at his feet and could anyone blame him for taking that big brass ring?
Or going for the money?
He sure put in his dues... He sure worked hard for it.... I'm sure a lot harder than some others...
But he didn't...
He became a community activist...
The type of person that works for people who are poor and have very little political clout...
the type of person mocked by Sarah Palin (OK I'll stop editorializing for now) a low paid community activist vs. a high paid lawyer...
says a little about the man's character... don't you think?
I don't know if I would have gone for the big bucks either.
Oh who am I kidding...
I would have jumped at the chance for big bucks over community activism...
But that's me...
How many men have had similar upbringings as our new President and have gone down a much different path?
If you wrote a screenplay about his life, it would be rejected because he would be too much of an "everyman".
There is a little piece of each of us Americans in Barack Obama and maybe that is why we can all identify with him so... that little piece of each of us reflected back to us in his eyes, his smile.
He is calm, confident and focused in the face of a job that is...
well, challenging doesn't quite describe it now does it?
and in actuality, why anyone wants to be President is beyond me, but... Barack Obama does...
And I think, after listening to him....
he just may be the one American that can get us out of the mess we're are ALL in.
I for one will, along with my prayers at night, add a little addendum, for our new President...
Who know... if we all put a little prayer out there for him, even if you don't believe in prayer'
(I never used to) he and we will turn this messed up world around.
Peace!
Garry
If Gore had been President, the events on 9/11 would, in all probability, have happened as they did. However, we would not be in Iraq, we may still be in Afghanistan, but the world would be very different. Certainly, the environmental issues that we face would be happening, but the response by our elected officials, headed by a president like Gore would have been much stronger. Our reliance on foreign oil would probably have been the same, but there likely would have been more governmental request and support for more environmental friendly energy sources. Research and development on solar energy and stem cells would be 8 years further than they are now. And I know, that there would be no necessity for a debate on the legality of "Water boarding" as an acceptable method of torture in the United States of America! (That WILL be a posting for another time).
The political climate in the U.S., probably would have been very similar to the way it was under Clinton...
If Kerry had been elected and started to bring the political direction of our country back towards the center as compared to the far right swing by Bush/Cheney during their first 4 years, the majority of liberals, Democrats and moderate Republicans would have become complacent once again. The war in Iraq would have been viewed as it is now, as a mistake (a very costly, counter-productive, mismanaged, ill-conceived and poorly planned mistake... sorry for the editorial comment) and would have been ending. Environmental issues would have become once again important to our government, as stem cell research and solar energy would.
And once again, the political climate in the U.S., probably would have been very similar to the way it was under Clinton...
So then... Why, you may ask, am I thanking President Bush?
Because it took our country to be in the situation it is in now...
- Two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq;
- Our climate changing, causing floods and draughts;
- Corporate greed out of control ie. ENRON, AIG et.al.;
- The possible bankruptcy of our automobile industry;
- A class struggle between the "Haves and the Have-Nots" that we have not experienced since the 1920's (and the 1st Great Depression)
-and of course lets not forget the current financial disaster...
to put racism, prejudice and fear behind it and use the courage that it has always had...
It came through and showed the world what we Americans have always done.
We did the right thing...
WE elected a true American!
No where in this world, no other country could this happen!
When I say "True" American, I mean just that.
Look at him...
He is not Black or White... He is BOTH.
He is Christian, but with a Muslim name who supports Israel's right to exist.
He comes from a poor single parent household and raised by his maternal Grandmother.
He put himself through college.
He graduated Harvard and was the first Black man to be the President of the Harvard Law Review!
He could have done anything!
How many Wall Street Corporations must have salivated over the prospect of a Barack Obama!
How much would a prestigious law firm have offered him to join them?
High six figures? You Bet!
As a Harvard graduate, he had the world at his feet and could anyone blame him for taking that big brass ring?
Or going for the money?
He sure put in his dues... He sure worked hard for it.... I'm sure a lot harder than some others...
But he didn't...
He became a community activist...
The type of person that works for people who are poor and have very little political clout...
the type of person mocked by Sarah Palin (OK I'll stop editorializing for now) a low paid community activist vs. a high paid lawyer...
says a little about the man's character... don't you think?
I don't know if I would have gone for the big bucks either.
Oh who am I kidding...
I would have jumped at the chance for big bucks over community activism...
But that's me...
How many men have had similar upbringings as our new President and have gone down a much different path?
If you wrote a screenplay about his life, it would be rejected because he would be too much of an "everyman".
There is a little piece of each of us Americans in Barack Obama and maybe that is why we can all identify with him so... that little piece of each of us reflected back to us in his eyes, his smile.
He is calm, confident and focused in the face of a job that is...
well, challenging doesn't quite describe it now does it?
and in actuality, why anyone wants to be President is beyond me, but... Barack Obama does...
And I think, after listening to him....
he just may be the one American that can get us out of the mess we're are ALL in.
I for one will, along with my prayers at night, add a little addendum, for our new President...
Who know... if we all put a little prayer out there for him, even if you don't believe in prayer'
(I never used to) he and we will turn this messed up world around.
Peace!
Garry
Metaphysicality - Part 3; Metaphysical Counseling
Synopsis,
In the 3rd posting in the series, I offer a definition and my philosophy on Metaphysics and how I have developed it into a therapeutic tool.
Metaphysical Counseling –
“Metaphysical” is defined by various dictionaries as “beyond the physical or beyond physics, dealing with the nature of being”. It deals with the exploration of what reality truly is. It suggests new, challenging and alternate realities than those generally held by the general public.
What is reality anyway?
Is it not simply your perspective of what you believe the “truth” to be?
Isn’t "reality" the truth that is believed by the society you live in?
What IS a truth anyway?
Lots of questions, I know, but that’s what teachers, good teachers do…
ask more questions and give less answers.
If I ask you and you determine what the (your) truth is then I earned my paycheck, until the next question comes and we start again…
Let’s look at a “fact”…
The Earth is in an orbit around the sun, PERIOD. A Fact!
There are nine planets including ours that orbit our sun which is a star in the Milky Way, PERIOD. A Fact!
ooops… They just demoted Pluto (not the Disney Cartoon dog) the planet, is no longer a plant it’s… errr… something else…
“Ok kids, you know our science books that we have had since your parents were here in our school? …
Lets just disregard the fact about Pluto…”
Get my point?
Six hundred years ago the world was Flat, PERIOD. A Fact!
Then it took Columbus to turn the world A-round.
Can your reality change when viewed through a different set of eyes?
And so, introduce to you a “newer” truth?
And If this new truth, makes more sense than your old belief and you feel better and happier with this new belief…
Well, isn’t that what education, growth and maturity is all about? Becoming aware of and the acceptance of new ideas (truths).
Many regard Metaphysics as a spiritual philosophy of life. It can be more accurately regarded as a spiritual exploration, which focuses on discovering who you truly are; an immortal soul, having a human experience.
There is no conflict with your religious belief, it simply allows you to expand your religious beliefs to grow and encompass more of what your soul is all about.
Religion doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be so restrictive and inflexible as to prevent your soul from the growth, knowledge and advancement it came to the physical world to experience.
Metaphysics embraces and respects all religions and belief systems and is based on the underlying common belief inherent in all religions, which is that there is a greater power than us.
However, there are times when the “human factor” can have a negative impact on religion in general. This conflict between religion, politics, relationships, the stress of physical life and the inner truth that is part of each human soul is where Metaphysical Counseling is so beneficial.
Unfortunately, in human society, with so much indifference, poverty, disease, genocide, war, prejudice, crime and man’s inhumanity to man, it is not surprising that so many people doubt the existence of any “God”.
Equally unfortunate is how more and more people have become so callused and hardened to the existence of a higher power. Questions like,
“What can one person do?” or
“If there is a God why would he allow (fill in the blank) to happen?”, reflect a growing feeling that there is no God, no soul, no heaven.
It becomes easier to simply believe that when you die, you’re gone, in the ground… dust to dust and that’s it. That view of what “it” is all about can lead to severe depression. Put very simply, Metaphysical beliefs state that each soul comes into the human body as a child goes to kindergarten, to learn.
We are living in a very exciting time of spiritual transformation and evolutionary changes in human consciousness. It is important to feel that you are supported, encouraged and nurtured as you discover your own spiritual awareness and the growth that this awareness promotes.
I have combined the therapeutic use of hypnosis and Mediumship into this process that I call “Metaphysical Counseling”.
In a session I may use one of the following different hypnotic techniques including,
“The 4 Parts of Self”
While in a hypnotic state, you are directed to your “Spiritual Sanctuary”, where you sit, facing four chairs. In each from left to right, your Physical, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual Self, each in turn, tell you what you need to hear for your happiness and well being.
“Seeing the Spark”
While in a hypnotic state, you become your own Medium. I have you sit in your Spiritual Sanctuary. In the distance you become aware of a spark of light that comes closer and forms the shape of the past loved one that you want to contact and allow them to give you their message to you.
“Hearing Your Higher Self”
While in a hypnotic state, you have a conversation with your own higher self, to ask him/her questions and learn your life’s purpose.
I combine these hypnotic exercises with a Mediumship reading, similar to the “Connecting with Loved Ones in Spirit” Workshop and/or Circle. When Metaphysical Counseling is combined with hypnotherapy, the results can be inspiring.
For more information on Metaphysical topics, look at my Reading List http://www.hyp4life.com/reading_list.htm in particular, the work of authors Dr. Brian Weiss- (Many Lives, Many Masters), Neale Donald Walsch - ( Conversations with God ), James Redfield- ( The Celestine Prophesy ) and Jane Roberts- (The Seth Books)
The next posting, Metaphysicality - Part 4; Mediumship will be posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009
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