Someone recently left a comment on one of my blogs in which she mentioned God, and then apologized if the word offended me. I understood her concern because so many people seem to have a problem with it. The funny thing is, it’s not just agnostics and atheists that don’t like to say “God.” People of every religion, nationality, race, gender, and personality type are afraid that they will offend someone by using the word. I confess, that I have sometimes had the same concern. My business could be adversely affected if I declare my perception of God openly and it offends people. But it is now and always has been God that gives me the courage to do things I’m afraid of, things I don’t know how to do, or things that may be harshly judged by others.
When I replied to the comment, my feelings about it came out too fast to be censured by political-correctness and I realized that it’s time to be bold. I believe in God. My understanding and experience of God does not include judgment and wrath and certainly not rejection. I have read the Christian Bible cover to cover, attended churches of a few different denominations, and studied all the religions of the world. My God is not the one confined by religious dogma, with human personality weaknesses. God needs nothing from me and puts no conditions on loving or supporting me. God is not a person, sitting on some far-off thrown that I can never be good enough to reach.
My experience of God is an all-encompassing love with total acceptance for everything that is; it is pure joy, as a living energy. God is not a personality, but a conscious field of living light, an incomprehensible presence of pure love. God knows everything because everything is part of God; not just made by God, but actually a part of the whole that God is. Nothing exists that is not God. Science supports my personal experience of God with the explanation that the universe, having been formed of a singularity, can only contain elements of the original one thing. Put another way, God is the universe and everything in it, seen and unseen, known and unknown. Some may think that this makes God impersonal, but it does not.
To understand how the universe can actually be the body of a loving God, we have to advance our understanding of the word, “Love.” The human understanding of love generally includes fear, rejection, disappointment, frustration, possession, lack, and hurt. Our limited awareness and consciousness of separation prevents us from experiencing what love actually is. Love is a living energy who’s only objective is to support and nourish. Love does not judge, it just loves. Love does not condemn or reject, it just loves. We have heard that God is love, but you could also say that Love is God.
I do not, in fact could not impersonalize God because all that I’ve ever done or learned or been has been because of God. I pray to God. I give thanks to God. I seek guidance and inspiration from God, and when God prompts me, I follow. God prompted me today to be bold, honest, and open about what I believe and know to be the truth about God. I avoid using, “He, Him, Her,” or any other humanizing term because that would be talking about only one aspect of God. All That Is is neither masculine nor feminine, but all-inclusive. Nor do I condemn or judge those who do refer to God with such terms, because any relationship with God is a step on the journey to fully remembering God.
I believe the most important thing we can do in this life, in fact the whole purpose of life itself, is to remember who and what we really are; part of God. The more we remember this and live accordingly, the more we will see peace, joy, abundance, and wellness manifest in our world. The greatest service we can ever do in this life is to awaken our own consciousness and assist in the awakening of consciousness in others.
I realize that this writing may offend some people. It may be objectionable, confusing, or uncomfortable to some. My hope is that it will help people feel more comfortable with saying, “God” without reservation and possibly expand someone’s understanding of God. I don’t as a matter of habit seek out controversy. In fact, I usually try to avoid it. I much prefer reaching people gradually and gently so they will not close their minds and shut down their heart. It is not my way to shout from the rooftops what I believe and then try to make everyone else go along. I don’t like to force anything. But God pushes me beyond my comfort zone, (frequently!) If I really believe what I believe, then I should have no fear in stating it to anyone. The time for apprehension is past. It’s time to be bold. It’s time to show who I am and live my truth openly so that others will be encouraged and supported in doing the same. It’s hard work to hide who we are and it creates a stress that we really don’t need. Relationships are diminished by our fear of exposing who we really are. To truly love we have be truthful and open enough for people to know us and get close to us. We have to live our truth. This dissertation is my truth. This is what I believe and know, based on personal experience. This is who I am.
Within the writings of every religious tradition you will find the directive to know God, to have a personal one-on-one relationship with God. Every great master has tried to teach us about oneness and how to experience it personally, how to live on Earth as if we know that all is one and we each are part of the one whole. Some of them knew this so deeply that they sacrificed their lives to help us awaken to the truth that we are never separate from God because we are part of God. The message remains the same as it ever has been; All is One.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Blessing Each Other
Living in Abundance
With all the talk about the Law of Attraction and manifesting our heart's desire, one important point seems to get glossed over. What are we contributing to others and the world?
The abundance we experience is not just a matter of affirming abundance, but of living it. How do we live abundance? By giving. When we give of ourselves, our time, and our talents, we make a living declaration of having more than enough. When we care for others and give to them without need of repayment or acknowledgment, Life gives to us in the same way.
Do you want to increase your experience of abundance? Then give of what you have and what you are. Give from your heart, with love. Do things for others that are not required of you, and don't brag about it. Ask yourself each day, "What can I do for others today? What am I giving today?" Do it, then let it go. Don't look for your reward. Perfect support, healing, inspiration, and abundance will come to you in the most perfect way for you. In the process, you will know true joy and deep inner peace. Those are the bonuses.
One of the ways that I support others is with my Squidoo lenses and groups. I contribute beauty through pictures and inspiration through articles. The group lens allows me to place the pictures of member lensmasters throughout so that others can find them. I visit other lenses frequently and leave positive comments and encourage others to do the same. As a result, a wonderful, supportive community is growing around me. My Empowerment & Enlightenment group now has a tremendous collection of resources for anyone wishing to increase their understanding and awareness.
The 200th lens in Empowerment & Enlightenment” is by lensmaster Spirituality, our most active member. Katinka has contributed more lenses to this group than anyone, so I was pleased with her timing when she submitted Is God Omniscient? If so, do we have free will?. This is a Monkey Brain lens for the debate about free will and an all-knowing God.
The best place to start getting to know Katinka is on her lensography, Spiritual Lenses – Katinka Hesselink Net – Religion and Spirituality resources. She has a vast collection of well-constructed lenses on a wide variety of spiritual topics.
Please stop by one of Katinka’s lenses, (or all of them!), and congratulate her.
Lensmaster enslavedbyfaeries submitted a great lens right after Spirituality did and definitely deserves honorable mention as lens #201.
Lens #201 in Empowerment & Enlightenment” is Teach Peace and is a beautifully presented lens on teaching our children about peace while being the living example of it.
You can find many other great lenses on a variety of topics on her lensmaster page at, enslavedbyfaeries. Be sure to also check out her lensography, enslavedbyfaeries Lensography.
With all the talk about the Law of Attraction and manifesting our heart's desire, one important point seems to get glossed over. What are we contributing to others and the world?
The abundance we experience is not just a matter of affirming abundance, but of living it. How do we live abundance? By giving. When we give of ourselves, our time, and our talents, we make a living declaration of having more than enough. When we care for others and give to them without need of repayment or acknowledgment, Life gives to us in the same way.
Do you want to increase your experience of abundance? Then give of what you have and what you are. Give from your heart, with love. Do things for others that are not required of you, and don't brag about it. Ask yourself each day, "What can I do for others today? What am I giving today?" Do it, then let it go. Don't look for your reward. Perfect support, healing, inspiration, and abundance will come to you in the most perfect way for you. In the process, you will know true joy and deep inner peace. Those are the bonuses.
One of the ways that I support others is with my Squidoo lenses and groups. I contribute beauty through pictures and inspiration through articles. The group lens allows me to place the pictures of member lensmasters throughout so that others can find them. I visit other lenses frequently and leave positive comments and encourage others to do the same. As a result, a wonderful, supportive community is growing around me. My Empowerment & Enlightenment group now has a tremendous collection of resources for anyone wishing to increase their understanding and awareness.
The 200th lens in Empowerment & Enlightenment” is by lensmaster Spirituality, our most active member. Katinka has contributed more lenses to this group than anyone, so I was pleased with her timing when she submitted Is God Omniscient? If so, do we have free will?. This is a Monkey Brain lens for the debate about free will and an all-knowing God.
The best place to start getting to know Katinka is on her lensography, Spiritual Lenses – Katinka Hesselink Net – Religion and Spirituality resources. She has a vast collection of well-constructed lenses on a wide variety of spiritual topics.
Please stop by one of Katinka’s lenses, (or all of them!), and congratulate her.
Lensmaster enslavedbyfaeries submitted a great lens right after Spirituality did and definitely deserves honorable mention as lens #201.
Lens #201 in Empowerment & Enlightenment” is Teach Peace and is a beautifully presented lens on teaching our children about peace while being the living example of it.
You can find many other great lenses on a variety of topics on her lensmaster page at, enslavedbyfaeries. Be sure to also check out her lensography, enslavedbyfaeries Lensography.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bless the Darkness
Although it is difficult at first, blessing our antagonists and dysfunctional situations is the most powerful way to transform them. Blessing something is a statement of non-resistance, non-judgment, and acknowledging the oneness of all things. It brings the light of truth to transmute darkness into its true form, which is light. All forms or expressions of darkness are nothing more than expressions of complete forgetfulness of the truth. When they are blessed, light stimulates remembering of the truth. It awakens the divine consciousness in form. It may take place slowly or quickly, but transmutation will occur.
Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. To dispel darkness, we turn on a light. Cursing darkness does not bring light, only more darkness. When we curse it, we become more like it, forgetting who and what we are. If we continue to curse negativity, we may become so negative ourselves that we are no longer able to see or experience light of any kind. Then our own spiritual awakening will be long delayed. Our lives will reflect the forgetfulness of our truth with toxic relationships, financial hardships, illness, and depression. Its like seeing someone who has fallen into a hole. Cursing negativity is like getting down into the hole with them. Blessing it is like staying on the surface and lowering a rope to help them out of the hole.
“Bless them that curse you.” (Jesus) This is exactly what Jesus was talking about 2000 years ago. Rather than adding to the darkness in a person or situation by cursing, bless them. A wonderful way of doing this is to imagine a ball of pure, white light in your heart. Think of a person or situation of which you have a negative experience. Send love and light to that person or situation. This simple process only takes a few seconds and can be done anywhere. The more you do it, the better you will feel. As you send love and light to others, you will actually feel an increase in love, light, peace, and joy within yourself. You will see a difference in the way people react and relate to you. Situations that used to be very stressful will become increasingly calm and simple to deal with.
You can intensify and expand this process if you have more time to devote to it. I use a more involved practice myself that you may find useful and rewarding. I first align myself with the present moment and the energy of life, (God). My process continues as I think of the people in my life, one by one. “From my heart, I send love and light to Mike. I send love and light to Mike’s ego. I send love and light to Mike’s pain-body. I send love and light to Mike’s physical body. I send love and light to Mike’s mind. I send love and light to Mike’s emotions. I send love and light to the soul of Mike.” While this is much more involved, I’ve experienced more profound results in myself, my relationships, my situations, and in others. I also send love and light to my marriage, my family, my web sites, to my own body, ego, pain-body, mind, and emotions.
When I started sending love and light to my web pages, I was inspired to make a few changes and my hits went up considerably. If I get writer’s block, I send love and light into the unwritten document and the words begin to flow. When I send love and light into my homework, the work is easy and I finish it quickly. My health has been improving daily since I began this practice. My joy and peace are often so deep and broad as to be inexplicable. I hope you enjoy and benefit from this practice as much as I have, and more.
Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. To dispel darkness, we turn on a light. Cursing darkness does not bring light, only more darkness. When we curse it, we become more like it, forgetting who and what we are. If we continue to curse negativity, we may become so negative ourselves that we are no longer able to see or experience light of any kind. Then our own spiritual awakening will be long delayed. Our lives will reflect the forgetfulness of our truth with toxic relationships, financial hardships, illness, and depression. Its like seeing someone who has fallen into a hole. Cursing negativity is like getting down into the hole with them. Blessing it is like staying on the surface and lowering a rope to help them out of the hole.
“Bless them that curse you.” (Jesus) This is exactly what Jesus was talking about 2000 years ago. Rather than adding to the darkness in a person or situation by cursing, bless them. A wonderful way of doing this is to imagine a ball of pure, white light in your heart. Think of a person or situation of which you have a negative experience. Send love and light to that person or situation. This simple process only takes a few seconds and can be done anywhere. The more you do it, the better you will feel. As you send love and light to others, you will actually feel an increase in love, light, peace, and joy within yourself. You will see a difference in the way people react and relate to you. Situations that used to be very stressful will become increasingly calm and simple to deal with.
You can intensify and expand this process if you have more time to devote to it. I use a more involved practice myself that you may find useful and rewarding. I first align myself with the present moment and the energy of life, (God). My process continues as I think of the people in my life, one by one. “From my heart, I send love and light to Mike. I send love and light to Mike’s ego. I send love and light to Mike’s pain-body. I send love and light to Mike’s physical body. I send love and light to Mike’s mind. I send love and light to Mike’s emotions. I send love and light to the soul of Mike.” While this is much more involved, I’ve experienced more profound results in myself, my relationships, my situations, and in others. I also send love and light to my marriage, my family, my web sites, to my own body, ego, pain-body, mind, and emotions.
When I started sending love and light to my web pages, I was inspired to make a few changes and my hits went up considerably. If I get writer’s block, I send love and light into the unwritten document and the words begin to flow. When I send love and light into my homework, the work is easy and I finish it quickly. My health has been improving daily since I began this practice. My joy and peace are often so deep and broad as to be inexplicable. I hope you enjoy and benefit from this practice as much as I have, and more.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Presence and Oneness
Uploaded on authorSTREAM by JacquelineStone
I created an affirmation slide show for experiencing oneness and practicing presence. It is now available to view or download free on author Stream. If you have read or are reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" or "The Power of Now" you may get more out of it than someone who hasn't.
This is my gift to anyone who is ready to receive it. Empowerment is not just something we do for ourselves, but something we do for the benefit of all humanity, for all life.
The first presentation is 29-slides. The second, linked below, is a more intense 45-slide presentation for awakening consciousness.
Awakening Consciousness
I created an affirmation slide show for experiencing oneness and practicing presence. It is now available to view or download free on author Stream. If you have read or are reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" or "The Power of Now" you may get more out of it than someone who hasn't.
This is my gift to anyone who is ready to receive it. Empowerment is not just something we do for ourselves, but something we do for the benefit of all humanity, for all life.
The first presentation is 29-slides. The second, linked below, is a more intense 45-slide presentation for awakening consciousness.
Awakening Consciousness
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Eckhert Tolle's "A New Earth"
I'm reading Eckhert Tolle's new book, "A New Earth." He approaches the challenge of becoming aware of who/what we are through realization of what we are not. This is the most complete information I've ever seen on the ego. Sometimes, its hard to know if the ego is talking or I'm talking. I have to look at motive. If the underlying motive for anything I'm doing or saying is to make myself look or feel more important, that's ego. If its out of a genuine desire to help or empower others, that's the real me.
I have a friend that used to ask, "Is it coming from love or coming from fear?" That's a great reminder, but many times we don't recognise that something is coming from fear because it is well disguised. Love on the other hand, always shows itself.
The most important thing I'm getting out of the book is the practice of being fully present. The past does not define me or limit what I can do right now. The future is an unwritten book so I can't read it today. The more I respond only to what is actually happening in the present moment, the less bothersome things are. It takes some conscious effort to stop myself from tacking on things from the past that my mind associates with what is happening now. I just have to remember that this precise moment has never happened exactly like this before and treat it as a new experience.
Are you reading this book or have you read, "The Power of Now?" What do you think?
I have a friend that used to ask, "Is it coming from love or coming from fear?" That's a great reminder, but many times we don't recognise that something is coming from fear because it is well disguised. Love on the other hand, always shows itself.
The most important thing I'm getting out of the book is the practice of being fully present. The past does not define me or limit what I can do right now. The future is an unwritten book so I can't read it today. The more I respond only to what is actually happening in the present moment, the less bothersome things are. It takes some conscious effort to stop myself from tacking on things from the past that my mind associates with what is happening now. I just have to remember that this precise moment has never happened exactly like this before and treat it as a new experience.
Are you reading this book or have you read, "The Power of Now?" What do you think?
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