Category Archives: Spiritual articles

Why Ukulele?: Giving Things Value

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“Things only have the value that we give them.” –Moliere (1622-1673)

Take my ukulele, for instance. I have a strong affinity for the instrument, to put it mildly. I believe things about the uke that proud parents believe about their kids:

* My uke is cute.
* She… is a She.
* Every uke has its own spirit, personality, likes, etc.
* The ukulele is a smile… in sound.

Before I get too carried away with my personal sentiments about the greatest little instrument in the universe, let me tell you, there is another side to this coin, or so “they” say:

* Some ukes sound better than others.
* Some are easier to care for than others.
* Some ukes are imperfect, poorly made, and don’t last long.
* Some ukuleles are weird…

Are any of these things true? The positive things are, for me. But again, why? Because I believe them. I give the ukulele value because of my beliefs about it. My beliefs cause the feelings and responses I have about a ukulele or anything else.

This applies to everyone, and everything in life. Why do parents love their children? Because we have a belief that we must, that it’s natural, that they need us. But if we didn’t have those beliefs, well, our relationships with our kids might appear much different than they are now. Would that be a bad thing? There’s no telling, but it would be different.

Going further, how many times have you said, “I can’t do that because…” The good news is, you’re right! And the bad news is… you’re right! If you believe you can’t do something, you certainly won’t do it – you can’t, until you believe you can. By believing you can’t, you give that limitation value. Take the value away by changing your belief and giving value to the accomplishment instead, and chances are great that you can do all things – even “that” one.

What do you love? Money, another person, security, hobbies, work, food, pets, flowers, cars? The single reason you love something is because you give it value.

And now to the question I often ask: Does that serve you? If giving money value, that is, loving it, feels good and furthers your life, then it serves you. But if it makes you feel obligated, stuck, limited, or fearful of what may or may not happen either now or in the future, it no longer serves you. Maybe this value did in the past, but it doesn’t anymore.

So as always, you have a choice. DO you wallow in guilt and discomfort, still assigning value? Or do you lovingly release it, taking away its value for you and joyfully moving forward?

It’s all up to you. “Things only have the value that we give them.” And we, means you!

Why ukulele? Because I said so, that’s why! :d

Play Without Ceasing – Unity World Day of Prayer

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You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Pray without ceasing.” But what is prayer? Taking what may seem like a bold leap, I’m asking you to consider that prayer is play.

So what is play? Children know this better than most, but if you ask them what it is, they can’t describe it in words. That’s because play is a state of mind, a state of being. Play is fun, carefree, joyful, happy, imaginative… In short, anything is possible in play.

Anything is possible in prayer, too. And traditional religions (Christianity in particular) aren’t the only ones teaching this.

“The world is your oyster.” –Shakespeare

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Anything the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” –Napoleon Hill

“It sounds counter-intuitive but the more you give, the more you will receive.” –Dr. Joe Vitale

“All things are possible when you claim your Goddess-self. Imagine you are a Goddess, Now, be the Goddess you imagine.” –Abby Willowroot (1997)

The key is in Abby Willowroot’s quote: “Be the Goddess you imagine!” Call it Goddess, Universe, Source, Spirit… Call it whatever you can relate to. But first imagine it. Then, be it.

When children play, they convince themselves that they are super heros, princesses, firefighters, unicorns, and all mmanner of seen and unseen things. They imagine so vividly that they become their play.

We need to imagine being who, what, where and how we want to be, ideally. We must imagine it so vividly and persistently that we can’t help but become it.

This is not work. It’s play at its finest!

So the play-prayer connection? Prayer is not work. It’s a recognition of, and identification with the universal truth that all things are possible, for you, right now, and they’re happening now, for you. This is why we use affirmative prayer in Metaphysics – because begging doesn’t feel good, and being positive feels great. 🙂

You may need lots of prayer treatments, at least once a day for many days. The truth is, you can “be there” in one treatment, no problem. However, consistently treating/praying helps convince your logical, human mind that what you are praying is so now.

Keep your thoughts, words and actions elevated. Act as if you’re already where, who, and what you want to be. Because every thought, word and deed is a prayer. This is why I say play without ceasing. The more fun you have, the better you feel more of the time, the better your life looks and feels to you.

Play without ceasing… Starting now!

Handwoven Braided Bag – And a Little on Kids

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Like most of my handwovens, this bag was woven on my Cricket loom. It’s a small rigid heddle loom that’s portable but very versatile. The loom and the bag can be deceptive. Both are small, but useful, fun, beautiful, and appreciated.

Lately it’s been brought to my attention that little things are under appreciated. Unfortunately, the “little things” are children. I have a child of my own and do try to appreciate him consciously. However, in some settings, “grown-ups” don’t want children around. I’ve heard, “Just put the kids in the nursery. They wouldn’t understand a spiritual message, so just keep them quiet.” Statements like these break my heart.

Children are the future of any environment. They will carry on family, community, spiritual centers, and the Earth in general. Their enthusiastic, unlimited ideas are what will zap lack consciousness out of the water for good. And I mean, literally, for good states of mind. And at present, our willingness to appreciate, serve and guide children will create their future, as well as our own.

Here is what could happen:
1. We put kids in the nursery for babysitting while the parents “stay for the message.” Elsewhere we complain about their presence, energy, noise, running around, etc. So kids (and parents) don’t want to gather there anymore. As a result, the place (spiritual center or any other) dies off as the people do, because there is no youth to sustain it.

2. We love and nurture children. Even from birth we respect their spiritual connection and guide children to maintain that connection in their own ways. We offer engaging messages and activities that grow with the children. From our loving service, we create a fulfilled and fulfilling spiritual center, where parents, children and all others who gather there, are loved, blessed and appreciated.

The questions are:
Which senario do we want to create?
Do we truly want children in our midst, or are we just giving them lipservice?
Are our words and actions toward parents and their children in line with the senario we want to create?
If not, what in our thinking needs to change to serve the highest good of all?

Children are of greater value than most people know! I don’t even know how valuable they are… But I’m willing to treat them as priceless beings.

How “grown up” is it to act as if “children should (still?) be seen and not heard?”

Appreciate the little things! The little loom, the small bag, the growing children. Because they just might have an important role to play in your very own future. And even if they don’t, appreciation is never misplaced, ever!

Manifesting… Computer?

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I bet you’re wondering why I haven’t posted. I try to post at least twice a week, but sometimes the Universe offers something better, like an opening to realize something, and then share it. Allow me to explain… This is gonna be great!

I’ve been “meaning to” get anew computerfor a long time. About 2 years at least. But at the same time, I’ve been saying, “I’m gonna run this one into the ground first!” Lately though, I’ve been seeing the new computer in a positive light, like this:

* Laptop: I can carry it around…
* Record on location
* Take notes at meetings, whereas now I record them with a stand-alone recorder and transcribe the pieces I want afterward
* Post on the go… Now what fun would that be!
( Take picsand videosmor easily, to increase visibility ultimately to share more things,with more people

Those are just some things. Abraham (channeled by the wonderful Esther Hicks) says weneed to affirm why we want something. That really struck me. Because this isn’t the why as in, “Why do you want that?” “Well, it will bring in more money. I did this, so I should have that.” You know, like when we were kids, said we wanted something, and got the infamous response… “Did you do your homework first? Clean your room? Take out the trash?” “No…” “Well then, no (thing) for you.”

When you look at “why” that way, it’s no wonder you don’t want to explain/justify/clarify why you want something! But Abe’s “Why” is much different. Abe means, “How will it feel to have that thing?” Needless to say, a lightbulb, or a thousand of them, went off in my head. I actually laughed out loud when I heard that on the workshop CD, because it felt so true for me.

So I decided to feel now, how I will feel with a new computer. I felt good! It felt good to have that thing. Abe goes on to “explain” all the reasons why we could want anything. Ultimately it boils down to, “I want it because it feels good!”

Society doesn’t teach us this, but the truth is, there is nothing wrong with wanting something for the fun and/or good feeling of it! Like attracts like… So if we feel good now, wanting something because that feels good, what do we attract? That’s right… More good feelings, and the tangible and intangible good things that go along with them!

Remember how I said I’d run my PC into the ground before getting a new one? Well, guess what I got… The thing will no longer even start up properly, let alone get far enough to post or do anything else. And I don’t care. I didn’t lose much data, and what I lost isn’t gone… It’s stored elsewhere, it will just take time to re-download it all. . I feel good about starting over with something better. And my new computer is on its way, coming from agood place, rather than a grudging, “Well, I guess I really have to get one now…” It’s more like, “Yay! Now I can pick out my favorite laptop!”

Be well! And remember that how you feel improves your present, and attracts your future!

Tune up and Fanfare: Playing Life in Tune

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All religions fundamentally teach the same thing:

Treat others the way you want to be treated. You reap what you sew. What you give, you receive in return.

The Law of Attraction, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, Judaism – and these are just some world religions – each one has its way of teaching that like attracts like.

Tuning an instrument is a good example. Now stay with me here…

You choose another instrument, an electronic tuner, a tuning fork, or your own sense of “perfect” (absolute) pitch as a tool. That tool gives out a vibration of the note you need to tune your instrument. Using that vibration as a guide, you tune your instrument, and forever play in peace and harmony… I mean in tune.

We are no different. As spiritual beings living in a human world, we forget what our tools are sometimes – awareness, feelings, intuition. But we have them, and they put out vibrations. We can choose to tune our thoughts, emotions, words, actions and reactions with those positive vibrations. If we do, we play in tune. If not, we create, by our own choice, discord.

Are you playing in tune today? No matter what you did yesterday, you can always choose to be in tune today. And even if you woke up discordant this morning, you can be in tune now.

There’s a reason why the piece is called Tune up and Fanfare… Because when we’re tuned up, it creates beautiful, triumphant, exciting music. This is the symphony of your own life, with all your parts in tune with the universal mind and spirit.

Are you Sick?: Healing Consciousness

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1. Have you received a diagnosis of illness?

2. Do you feel sick?

3. Do you think about being sick right now?

4. Do you resent your disease?

5. Do you think about how much you want this problem to go away?

Are you sick?

You may answer yes to the first 5 questions. But in truth, the answer to the last one is no.

You are not sick. Your essence is wholeness, life, health and vitality. You are the creator of your life, and you are a creation of Spirit, God, the universe… Neither the creator (you) nor the creation (you) can be sick.

Sick is not what you are. It may describe how you feel and more importantly, how you think. But it is not what you are.

There is little need to delve into the past and ask yourself why you became sick. What specific thoughts and feelings contributed to the outer manifestation of sickness in your experience? What you need to realize now is that no matter what happened in the past, it was your own thoughts and feelings that contributed to the experience of illness.

And if your thinking and beliefs made you sick, they can restore wellness just as easily.

This may seem hard, but it’s a matter of awareness. Before this, you weren’t aware of what you were thinking and maybe not even aware of your true feelings. But now you must be, because only by being truly aware, and without judgement, can you make yourself well.

Wellness is a process. All of life is a consciously evolving process. If you want to have a healthy mind and body, you need healthy thoughts and feelings.

Use affirmative prayer, meditation, music, books and other materials, and the conscious support of like-minded people to evolve toward wellness. You may choose to find a holistic practitioner and/or one who offers Reiki, ZPoint, Quantum-Touch, or other services, along with any other treatment of your choice. Competent professionals in any field will be willing to work with you and accept the ttreatments you choose, medical and non-medical alike.

You don’t have to be sick… Unless you think you must. Do you choose to believe what an outside source (doctor, relative, friend, etc) tells you? Or do you believe the spiritual truth of your being: that you are complete wholeness, immediately, now and eternally?

The choice is yours!

Are you sick?

Shades of Consciousness Handwoven Scarf

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The pinks in this scarf gradate from one shade to another. And though you probably can’t see this in the picture, the textures change too. These different shades and yarn textures interlock with the warp to create Shades of Consciousness.

“Life is consciousness” is a Metaphysical concept. Basically it’s saying that both your individual life and universal life itself are conscious, aware, and intelligent.

There are many aspects of intelligence and just as many kinds or aspects of consciousness. Like shades and textures, none is better than the others. You are, where you are, and that’s ok. It is when you acknowledge just where you are – truly becoming aware of it without judgement – that you can move forward to consciously, knowingly create the life you want.

These shades of yarn weave themselves through the standard warp. But the warp here is variegated. It is one solid texture, but the color changes now and then.

So, when you look at one shade of pink on the scarf, then move to the next time it appears, it doesn’t look exactly the same. It’s the same yarn, same shade, and same texture. But it interacts differently with the variegated warp.

Your life is like this too. You may seem to have the same experience over and over. However, it’s not exactly the same, because your consciousness is not the same all the time.

Even without realizing it, your state of mind changes from moment to moment. So if you become discouraged by repeating patterns, simply acknowledge that you’ve had this experience before. Then, knowingly, deliberately change your thoughts about it. Choose a better thought than the one you’re thinking now. As you do this, you become a different person, your mind and consciousness expand, and you react differently to the experience.

Just because you reacted in one way before, doesn’t mean you absolutely must react in the same way every time.

Life is consciousness. You are consciousness. And because you know this, you can make sure you interact with the threads of your life the way you want, to create the picture you desire.

Light – Metaphysical Christmas Song

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Merry Christmas… in July!

Metaphysical science, Unity, religious science, and New Thought have many common beliefs. One that stands out at Christmas time is the idea of Christ. Although most of us believe Jesus existed, we see him as a teacher, a wayshower, and no better than any of the “rest” of us humans experiencing life on earth.

Christ is a state of consciousness. It is already within us; our purpose is to become knowingly aware of it and to demonstrate, or show it in our lives and the world around us.

It is at Christmas that we focus on the Christ mind within us. Though every day we can renew the Christ child within, we’re especially mindful during Advent and Christmas.

Remember that the season of miracles and giving is not just when it’s magically bright, cold (or hot), with carols ringing through the air. These are just outward manifestations of an inward consciousness or state of mind: the belief, as in Santa Clause, that anything is possible.

Because truly, anything is possible, not just at Christmas, but all year long. And the more we let the Christ light shine within us, the more light we see in the world.

Light – Lyrics

Instrument: Celtic harp

1. The Christ in me lights up the world
As peace and love are now unfurled.
I give and through it I receive
The greatest gift of Christ in me.

2. I see the Christ in others shine,
Lit from within by God divine.
And as each candle lends its light,
In harmony we all unite.

3. So like a baby love is born
Where there was not a light before.
And in the light, the darkness fades.
Now comes the dawning of the day.

4. And so it is in every life-
Each one can choose to be the light,
To hold a candle high above,
And share with all your gift of love.

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Crystal L. Howe: And so It Is, Vol. 1

What is God?

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This “simple” question has filled volumes and will probably continue to fascinate humankind for our entire existence.

I am not a theologian and don’t intend to be. However, I know universal truth, aligned with the Law of Attraction, Metaphysics, and New Thought. Similar belief systems include Unity and Religious Science. It is this absolute truth I present here as what God is.

God is source.

God is life.

God is lifeforce.

God is energy.

God is everything.

God is Spirit.

God is love.

God is cause.

God is abundance.

God is peace.

God is joy.

God is truth.

God is light.

God is beauty.

God is power.

God is goodness.

God is unity/oneness.

God is flow.

God is consciousness.

God is understanding.

God is awareness.

God is all.

These are not attributes of God. Attributes, or characteristics, are adjectives. They describe what God is like: loving, compassionate, etc. In contrast, these are nouns – concrete things, though abstract to our understanding – that you could substitute for the word God: God is beauty.

It is no less accurate to say God is beautiful. But God is not only beautiful, but is beauty itself. The very idea of beauty is the same as the idea of God.

I’m not going to give definitions of all the things God is, here. Just remember, when you feel peace, you are experiencing God. When you feel aware of something, you’re feeling God.

Also keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive list of what God is! If you find a list like that, let me know! 😀 Rather, this is a sampling, and in fact just my own limited human understanding, of what God truly is.

When contemplating this and articulating your own beliefs about God, think on this. If you believe that like attracts like, then you must also believe that whatever you think God is, will attract more of that to you.

For example, “God is love” attracts more love to you. But “God is angry” attracts anger. Many traditional religions believe in an angry, punishing, vengeful God. And they are perfectly welcome to believe that. Just consider the ramifications of your own beliefs about what God is. If you like those ramifications, keep believing what you believe now. If, however, you don’t like them, know that you’re free to change your beliefs at any time and adopt more positive ideas about what God is and about anything else in your life.

Because as you believe it is so, so it is in your life.

LEARN: Life Expanding and Revealing Notions

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When we think we “have to” learn something, we think too much about it.

Needing to learn something implies lack. If nothing else, we believe we lack knowledge. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be seeking it – we’d know we already have it. And we don’t like lack. We resist lack by default. But by virtue of the Law of Attraction, that lack persists.

Why does lack persist? Because like attracts like, and therefore, what we resist, persists. It must. If we feel resistance to lack, and like attracts like, then we attract more… More resistance to lack. And more lack of knowledge.

Now we’re consciously aware of what’s going on here. And we can create new beliefs about learning.

First, what is learning? My own definition is simply this: Learning means gathering conscious awareness.

And these are the true characteristics of learning:

* Abundance: Embracing the knowledge that is already everywhere.

Knowledge may appear to come from books, other people, etc. But the universal truth is that all knowledge, like everything else, is within each of us already. We’re just consciously tapping into it now. These things and people that seem to be “the source” of some knowledge, are just tools to bring us the conscious awareness of our knowledge.

* Joy: Feeling the excitement of new awareness.

For many of us, learning is a struggle. (Why do you think I’m writing this? :D) However, struggle is how we perceive it, and this can be changed, like all perceptions. When we believe learning – the gathering awareness of knowledge – is joyful, we experience that joy.

* Expansive: Broadening the personal mind.

Q: Does learning mean cramming, studying, pouring over something, trying desperately to remember things, feeling bored with constant repetition… Only to forget it all at some point and need to go back and learn it all over again?

A: Only if we want learning to be this way!

If you’re ready to knock out these beliefs for good, and I do mean forever and for good beliefs, decide for yourself that from now on, learning is different for you.

Now, learning is an opportunity to fill your personal mind with more of the universal, spiritual, or God-mind. It’s not just knowledge or experience you’re gathering when you learn. It’s an energetic connection to more expansion.

Once again, like attracts like. When you intend to expand your mind, while feeling joyful and abundant, you attract more expansion, joy and abundance!

And this, blessed be, is why we learn! What a
life
expanding
and
revealing
notion!