religion
Strength In Frailty
The wise accept that it is sometimes best to give in when under pressure. Sun Tzu was a great teacher in the art of flexibility in leading his people, through teaching, education, art, poetry and the art of grace. To his people, this was magic. It meant listening to his opponent, pointing out his strengths, not cornering them, and letting them have a way out to continue their way of life.
He was a great artist and poet, and was known not as a warrior, but as a visionary and leader. Now little is left of this art of grace, the art of diplomacy, of delegation. This art requires a delicate balance of self-control and sacrifice, which need not always be exhibited by one person alone. There is strength in frailty, and showing humility and spirit in the face of great pressure. It will always demonstrate the greater need to preserve one’s people over the greed of self-preservation and ego, seen over the many reigns of the great emperors of past.
One could fight to the very end, but yet to what end? At what cost? So many people seem to feel one should take a small point of contention and fight it down to its last little molecule of dust. For what?
What Heaven Is Really Like
Is there a Heaven? And if so, what is it like? You have probably thought about this at one time or another, as this is a concept found in many religions. Well, I can tell you only what I saw.
Although my time there was brief, I will never forget it. Imagine walking into a place that is the most beautiful that you have ever seen. That is what I experienced. The gardens were breathtaking. I have never seen flowers look the way they do there. And there was a sense of peace and happiness there that remains beyond words.
I had seen all of this when I had a near-death experience. It was just a glimpse, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. But it was not my time, for I had my life journey to continue, and with it the spiritual gifts that were given to me and which I will treasure for the rest of my life.
We Are All Equally Spiritual
There is so much terminology and discussion about what it means to be ‘spiritual.’ There are both religious and other esoteric practices that people use, and entire languages developed around spirituality. While I personally believe that much of this is good, it can also often lead to things like elitism and greater polarization of people and groups.
So, the question today is: what does it mean to be spiritual? The answer is far simpler than some might believe, simply because of the original meaning of the term ‘spirit.’
In the Western world much of our religious tradition comes from Greek or Hebrew esoteric writings. In Greek the term for spirit is pneuma, and in Hebrew it is ruach. These are transliterations of the original words.
Spiritual Development, Or Putting Out Fires?
Many people come to me when life gets tough, things go south, dreams are crashed, emergencies are looming, and then, once they are up and running so to speak, off they go again. I call this ‘putting out fires.’ It is just a superficial solving of problems, getting quick answers, or even seeking to ‘feel good again’ once the externals in their life are working… for now. When the problems come back, people then once again seek out another ‘fix’ without addressing any of the underlying reasons or issues, or energetic or spiritual causes of the problem.
Treating only he symptoms will provide quick relief, or perhaps simply some entertainment value. It can be a way to distract yourself, in order to feel good again. Seems a bit like having a drug, alcohol, sugar or nicotine habit, no? Therapists run into this same issue. People seek out therapy when there is an issue, problem, challenge, or they don’t feel good, when actually the best time to get deep work done, to actualize your growth, expand and get stronger, is when you are stabilized (at least a bit), and when you are strong enough to have the psychic and emotional space to grow – not just struggling to get out of pain, or fear, or grief.
Can You Really Sell Your Soul To The Devil?
Can you really sell your soul to the devil? I’ve heard this question asked and I’ve heard some ridiculous answers, often coming from those who claim to be experts on the subject. In truth, this question cannot be easily answered, as it is a complex matter. And, it seems as though many people do not want to hear the truth.
So, what happens when one makes a deal with the devil, so to speak? Let me begin by saying this is not a new concept. These types of pacts are believed to have been going on since before recorded history. One of the earliest tales of such a deal was in the 10th Century. Pope Sylvester II was rumored to have made an unearthly, dark pact. The same is alleged of famous violinists Giuseppe Tartini in the 17th Century, and Nicolo Paganini in the 18th Century.
The Right To Belief
As with the waves of the seas and the motions the wind, there is a beauty in the rhythm of the regularity of belief. With this, people always seem to feel it is best to add an element of surprise to outwit their own survival, to outwit nature, or even God, and with that, tend to cheat their own survival.
Nature itself does not fear or care, nor does spirit fear itself. It may fear for us, in its own, benevolent self, but it has no personal concern for morals that we decree in order to trap or harm each other. It is as free and as spirited as itself, and does not care for our intellectual opinions. As such it also may not have as much of a concern with our egos, as we are its children.
But with our own gloating selves, and in being able to intuit or divine, and daring to outwit, declare, organize or define, we have not been able to decide why we want to control that which cares for us. Is it just that we have a misdirected relationship with ourselves, our families, our communities, our church? Is it simply a naive sense we have, that we need to control everything and everyone?
Speak Your Piece With Archangel Gabriel
Gabriel is known as the angel of communication and God’s messenger in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Bible tells us it was he who brought the message of Christ’s birth to mankind. As the great communicator Archangel Gabriel can also help us in speaking our piece in life, and empower yourself as a result.
Very often seen with his trumpet in religious art, Gabriel brings us messages from the spirit realm during our sleeping hours. His fabulous angelic presence emanates the most intense white light, which brings about purification wherever it is required.
Gabriel is associated with the element of water. So, whenever you find yourself near a river, the sea, or a lake, you should find that his messages bring particular focus and complete clarity of thought. In fact, Gabriel uses water to its best effect by purifying one’s soul, and helping us to reflect on any matters that may be on our mind.