happiness
Addiction And The Calling
If my spiritual calling was masked by addiction once upon time, how many other people could also be masking their calling with such escapism?
As a recovering alcoholic, addictive behavior is something I know all too well – together with the co-dependency behavior that inevitably surrounds the addict. I actually credit my experience with alcohol, and the realization that there is no escape that way, as leading up to me heeding my calling. My life purpose was to work for spirit, and any time not being in touch with that calling left a huge void, or ‘hole in my soul’ type of feeling within me.
My initial training into the mystical was in the African tradition, whereby one is selected by the ancestors and called to the task of healer, priest, counselor and diviner. Channeling and the ancient art of throwing and interpreting the bones are used as forms of divination in this tradition. Continue reading
How Many Other Things Are We Missing?
Courtesy of JoshuaBell.com © 2011 Sony Music Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
Spiritual seekers tend to be very keen to beat the drum of abundance – which is too often merely a thinly disguised obsession with material wealth and earthly comforts.
We simply take too much for granted every day; blessings of Joy, Beauty and Divine Grace are seldom acknowledged in our lives. How spiritually aware can we truly be if we hardly ever stop to smell the roses?
Have you heard the story of the internationally acclaimed violinist who disguised himself as a street busker with a baseball cap, and then proceeded to play Bach undercover at a metro subway station? An email outlining this intriguing story has been circulating since December 2008. There have been claims that it may be a hoax, or an urban myth, but it is indeed a true story. The event was captured on video with a hidden camera. Continue reading
If Only We Had Some Patience In A Bottle
What is one of the most valuable commodities that anyone can possess in this day and age? What is the one precious thing we all seem to lack?
I believe that, given the opportunity, some of us would even trade all of our earthly possessions for a lifelong supply of this magical substance. It is the one thing that can secure us so much happiness, inner peace and long-term fulfillment.
Have you guessed what this ‘eighth wonder of the world’ is? Well, it is the virtue of patience, of course!
The Dutch say that “a handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains”. There is no doubt in my mind that should some genius be able to develop a magical formula to capture patience in a bottle, that person would overnight become the wealthiest and most famous person on the planet! Continue reading
Searching For Beauty Under A Knife
I am often amazed by the amounts of money people spend on their appearance. Many people want so desperately to be beautiful. Some even go as far as cosmetic surgery, in order to be what they would deem attractive. I’m sorry, but nobody will ever be able to convince me to have surgery unless my life truly depended on it.
If only more people would realize that true beauty does not depend solely in your appearance. From what I have seen some of these so-called ‘beautiful’ people certainly are not very kind to the elderly or to children, neither are they gentle with animals. I’m not saying that taking care of yourself is a bad thing. But what is truly taking care of ourselves? In my life it means taking vitamins, getting adequate rest, meditating or praying, eating healthy and doing some exercise. Continue reading
Teaching Others How To Treat You
Do you also believe that we teach others how to treat us? It is a motto I have religiously adhered to for most of my adult life. However, I must add that I have made some radical changes to my ‘teaching strategy’ over the years, and this change in my approach has brought me much inner peace and harmony with others. I have learned that we can ‘teach others’ with much less fuss and drama.
In my early adulthood I used to take a firm stand on just about everything and everyone who I felt were out of line. I am someone who often feels compelled to stand up for others, as well as for myself and my beliefs. I also have this annoying habit of constantly wanting to side with the ‘underdog’ in any given situation. Like most empaths, I just cannot come to grips with any form of injustice or underhanded behavior. Circumstances that are unfair, dishonest or cruel really trouble me, and people who are unreasonable, inconsiderate or simply mean have always been one of my ‘pet peeves’. Continue reading
2011: Doom, Gloom And Celebrity Gossip
The year 2011 has kicked off with yet another batch of psychic predictions from all over the globe. It has become an annual tradition to predict as much doom and gloom as possible, and this year the custom was once again upheld with much enthusiasm and zeal.
The usual depressing prophecies and upcoming disasters were numerous this year, coupled with some mindless trivia about celebrities and movie stars. Why? Because bad news and gossip sells. It is what most people like to hear and it is what most people like to fear. Scientific studies have shown that people prefer bad news in the media. They find it more interesting, respond to it more often and remember it much longer. They also pass the news on to others at a much faster rate. I guess it is in our nature, because knowing the bad news before everyone else might just give us a better shot at survival. Continue reading
Pure As The New Year Snow
The holidays have come and gone, and we are all back in the saddle again. Life goes on.
I am looking out of my window from the warmth of my living room. I see the snow coming down and blanketing the ground and trees. It is really making everything look so beautiful.
What was once muddy and dirty looking is now blanketed with white snow, making everything look so pure, new and refreshed. We now get to see the landscape with a clean new slate of snow, much like the brand new start to another promising year. Continue reading