religion
When Spiritual Leaders Let Us Down
It is a hard lesson for some of us to learn that people are just people. We are all capable of good and evil. The difference is the choices that are made on how to handle our emotions and feelings.
When you put faith and trust in an individual and are let down, you start to second guess your decisions and lose some faith in yourself to make wise decisions. It can leave a big hole in your heart and create trust issues in the future.
It seems impossible for a person who has done remarkable good deeds to also choose to do bad things. We must realize that all people have temptations in life. Some people can avoid the albatross on their back, while others simply cannot. It takes a very strong person to walk their talk.
The same applies to ‘highly spiritual’ people, because some healers, gurus and spiritual leaders certainly have had their own cross to bear.
Emotional Self-Care Through Daily Spiritual Practice
For those that are highly sensitive, including psychics, mediums, healers and empaths, awareness and self-care are critical to our overall well-being. If you are an individual that fits into this group and you are not doing daily maintenance on your emotional well-being and spiritual body, then you are leaving the gate wide open for an attack that can not only impact your emotions, but also your mental and physical health. This maintenance is achieved primarily through a daily spiritual practice.
Spiritual practice can be anything from prayer to meditation and is defined as the regular performance of actions and activities for the purpose of inducing spiritual experiences and cultivating spiritual development. Simply put, spirituality is the way you choose to find meaning, hope and inner peace in your life.
If you already adhere to a specific faith, tradition or religion, wonderful, but be certain that you are taking time each day to actively engage with your beliefs. Why is this important? Research has shown that those that engage in a regular spiritual practice live longer, and are healthier mentally and physically.
Little Miracles – Charms, Milagros And Ex-Votos
Years ago, my Grandfather gave me a gold bracelet. Upon his travels, or on special occasions in my life, he would gift me a charm to add to this bracelet. It was to remind of the things I loved or accomplished.
These charms are all special to me, but the one that stands out is the gold angel he gave me one Christmas. I remember when opened the box, the Angel was sparkling. I knew she was inviting me through the doorway to the unseen – to be able to speak through the veil.
This was my initiation to charms. Today, I use them as talismans, jewelry, mementos, and for divining. I’m also a collector of small, unique boxes and that’s where my charms reside. Many of my charms are items that were passed down to me, such as a thimble, buttons, coins, safety pin, small crystal figurines, toys from cereal boxes’ I also have found objects, like feathers and an acorn. Some are purchased charms, and charm kits from my favorite artists.
No matter our background or culture, symbols are universal and they tell a story. When I use my charms for divination, I ask clients to select charms at random, or intentionally. I then read their chosen charms before they leave from a session. There is usually a charm or symbol that speaks to them that about a loved one, or someone that passed on. It’s often through this symbol we can speak to them or make that connection.
Spiritual Power And Spiritual Practice
We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. This is important to remember when considering the nature of spiritual things. The root word for spirit is ‘breath.’ This means that every person that is breathing is equally spiritual.
Too often people think that there is a hierarchical system within spirituality; that some people are ‘more spiritual’ than others. This is simply not true. There may be individuals that have a more intentional spiritual practice, with more understanding, knowledge, or wisdom. However, this does not make them ‘more spiritual.’
The nature and purpose of spiritual practice is also something that can be misunderstood. Whether it be prayer, meditation, invocations, or other sacraments, these practices are not just to get what we want. It can be a byproduct of authentic spiritual seeking and practice, but in nearly every tradition, true spiritual power is often summed up with three principles: Love, Joy, and Peace.
All spiritual practices are intended to lead us to tap into these three qualities. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Love, Joy, and Peace are the first of many “fruits of the spirit.” Authentic spiritual practice is meant to lead us to the experience of these three things.
Tarot And The Future
The Tarot is a wonderful resource for gauging which direction we are heading in life. However, too often people seeking information will misunderstand the system. They want to know the future, but the Tarot does not create the future. The Tarot is a metaphysical tool and does not negate metaphysical laws. We can certainly see which direction we are headed in our lives, based on the insights the Tarot can provide. However, it is important to pay attention to the whole message that is coming through.
Rushing to the end of a Tarot reading is unwise, since there are often elements of change that are integral to the outcomes. I often explain it like this: the Tarot works in much the same way as a Global Positioning System (GPS). The end point will represent the coordinates that we either desire, or are currently headed toward. The other cards represent the path to get there. At times, the Tarot will provide directives that help us along the way. Just like with a GPS, we cannot expect to get to the right location if we are unwilling to follow the instructions necessary to get us to the right place.
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.