beliefs
The Touching Tale Of The Praying Hands
In the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, Germany, lived a family with 18 children. Yes, eighteen! To put food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by trade, worked nearly 18 hours a day at his trade, as well as any other paying job he could find in the neighborhood.
Despite their seemingly hopeless situation, Albrecht and Albert, two of the older children, had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they were well aware that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to an art academy.
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down to the nearby mines and use his earnings to support his brother, who would attend the academy.
Then, after four years, when the brother who won the coin toss finished his studies, he in turn would support the mining brother to also attend the academy – either by selling his artwork or, if necessary, by working in the mines.
They tossed a coin one Sunday morning. Albrecht Dürer won the toss and went to Nuremberg to study art. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and spent the next four years financing his brother, whose creative work at the academy was almost immediately a sensation.
Albrecht’s etchings, woodcuts, and oils were far superior to those of most of his fellow students and even his professors, and by the time he graduated he was beginning to earn substantial fees for his commissioned works.
What The Mind Believes, The Body Perceives
Self-talk and inner dialogue play a crucial role in our overall well-being – body, mind and spirit. The way we think and talk to ourselves shapes our reality, affecting not only our emotions and moods, but also our physical health.
For example, if we wake up and immediately think, “I feel terrible. I’m still exhausted. I don’t want to face the day,” our body will respond in kind. We’ll move sluggishly, feel each ache more intensely, and reinforce a state of fatigue.
Negative self-talk can even affect digestion, metabolism, and immune function because the body takes its cues from the mind. When we repeatedly tell ourselves that we lack energy, the body responds by slowing down.
However, when we consciously shift our thoughts to a more positive perspective, we cultivate an inner environment that supports healing, resilience, and vitality.
The same principle applies to how we perceive ourselves physically. If we stand in front of the mirror and focus on perceived flaws, our posture and energy will reflect that self-criticism. We may unconsciously choose clothing that reinforces our negative self-image and move through the day with slumped shoulders and diminished confidence. Our bodies reflect the beliefs we hold about ourselves.
Conversely, when we practice self-talk that is uplifting and empowering, our body responds accordingly. By consciously choosing to carry ourselves with confidence, even if it feels unnatural at first, we initiate a shift in both our emotional and physical states.
The Spiritual Significance Of 777
The number seven is a powerful sign when it appears in your life. Traditionally considered a lucky number, seven carries energies that can help expand various aspects of your life, allowing you to manifest greater results.
But seven is about much more than manifestation. It is a deeply spiritual number that often aligns with pivotal moments of deep understanding and transformation. When it appears repeatedly, it signals alignment with your divine purpose — a confirmation from Spirit that you are on the right path and an encouragement to continue your inner work.
The presence of the seven often marks periods of profound spiritual growth, offering insights into your role in the world and how you choose to show up for others.
You may notice a sense of effortless flow, as if guided by an unseen force. This occurs because your awareness of what serves your highest good — and the greater good — has expanded. Your intuition is sharpened, giving you access to universal insights and enabling you to act with greater compassion and wisdom.
Seven is closely associated with the expansion of consciousness. Its repeated appearance in your life may inspire you to explore spiritual matters more deeply, seeking wisdom in philosophy, metaphysics, and esoteric traditions.
This number encourages introspection and self-discovery, inviting you to reflect on your journey and embrace the deeper truths of the universe. Those who frequently encounter the number seven may also experience an increased connection to higher realms, noticing synchronicities, heightened intuition, and a greater awareness of unseen spiritual forces.
Reincarnation And The Karmic Journey Of The Soul
Reincarnation — the belief that the soul experiences multiple lifetimes through a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth — is embraced by many spiritual and religious traditions worldwide. Wisdom traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and various indigenous belief systems integrate reincarnation deeply into their teachings.
For those who embrace the concept, reincarnation offers a transformative perspective on life and mortality. When we believe that our soul consciousness continues beyond this life, death is no longer something to be feared. Instead, it becomes a transition — a doorway to new opportunities for growth and evolution. Reincarnation provides a rich and expansive framework for understanding the soul’s journey.
Whether you fully embrace the concept or explore it with curiosity, reflecting on the interplay of karma and rebirth can inspire greater mindfulness, compassion, and purpose. In this view, death is not an end, but a passage — a gateway to continued exploration and spiritual progress.
Belief in some form of continued existence beyond this life is widespread. A 2011 Ipsos Global Advisor survey of more than 18,000 people in 23 countries found that 51% of respondents believe in an afterlife that includes beliefs in heaven, hell, and reincarnation. Specifically, 7% of respondents said they believed in reincarnation.
In the United States, a 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that approximately 33% of adults believe in reincarnation. This belief is more prevalent among younger adults under 50 (38%) compared to those aged 50 and older (27%).
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life!
We’ve all had those days when all we do is tear ourselves down. In moments of self-judgment and negativity, we tell ourselves that we’re not good-looking enough, rich enough, smart enough, young enough, thin enough, talented enough… the list goes on.
While occasional self-criticism is normal, for many it becomes a lifelong habit of self-torture — an internal dialogue of negativity that shapes their reality.
Negative thinking and judgmental self-talk have profound effects on both mental and physical health. Chronic self-criticism fuels anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, often leading to feelings of hopelessness and inaction. On a physical level, this mindset increases stress and weakens the immune system, making us more susceptible to disease.
But beyond psychology and biology, this pattern also has metaphysical implications — it acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more we tell ourselves that we are unworthy, incapable, or unlucky, the more these beliefs take root in our energy field. Over time, they manifest as actual experiences in our daily lives, reinforcing the very negativity we wish to escape.
The good news? Just as negative thoughts shape our reality, so do positive thoughts. When we shift our mental energy toward uplifting, empowering, and constructive thoughts, we raise our energetic vibration. Over time, this inner shift produces tangible results — our confidence grows, new opportunities arise, and life begins to feel more fulfilling.
Overcoming Your Self-Limiting Beliefs
You’ve probably heard this before. I talk about it all the time. But this concept has had such an impact on my life that I just have to keep sharing it!
You are not your thoughts or your emotions. You are the soul or spirit that has the ability to observe and experience your thoughts and feelings.
When I came to this realization, I had been working for years on my tendency to be very critical of my inner dialogue. But it was only when I looked at it from a spiritual perspective that I realized how hard I had been on myself.
Our minds are constantly full of inner chatter that, left unattended, can become a toxic breeding ground for fear, self-judgment, and limiting belief patterns. Once I realized that as a spiritual being I was separate from my thoughts and feelings, I began to observe them more objectively.
As a natural consequence, I found myself asking some very compelling questions. What was I believing about these thoughts? What kind of emotions do these thoughts evoke? This kind of self-reflection opens up a conversation with your heart, your soul, your higher self.
Your mind is designed to keep you safe. Too often this means keeping you within your comfort zones and self-limiting beliefs. Your heart and soul, on the other hand, want you to grow and expand. The higher self wants you to learn, play, explore and experience as much as possible in this lifetime.
From Skeptic To Believer In One Night!
As a child, I often eavesdropped on my parents’ heated arguments. Late one Saturday night, during one of these usual “ear-to-the-door” sessions, things seemed surprisingly less intense than usual. Instead of the customary shouting, I heard what sounded more like a lighthearted debate.
I could clearly hear my mother daring my father to “go with her” that Sunday night.
It wasn’t until years later that I learned the true nature of the dare. My mother had managed to persuade my father to accompany her to a spiritualist service in a London church.
To this day I am not sure how she managed to persuade him to go, but it turned out to be a life-changing experience for my father. I imagine it was also a great relief for my mother, who finally had a partner who shared her faith and passion.
Raised a Catholic and later a devout spiritualist, my mother often endured the ridicule of my father, who made fun of her faith in God and her beliefs about heaven and the afterlife.
But her dare marked the beginning of a significant change for him. While my father had never embraced organized religion or spirituality, he was about to have a profound spiritual awakening.
So, off they went. As “luck” would have it, Joseph Benjamin, a well-known spiritualist medium at the time, was one of the guest speakers at the church that weekend. My father later admitted that as he bundled up in his winter coat and scarf, he secretly hoped that he could make a quick getaway after the service and perhaps stop for a beer or two at his favorite local pub! Continue reading