Category: Spirituality/General

In the second part of the 19th century, the naturalistes, who applied some form of science to their writing, recognized Balzac as their precursor, Balzac, whose purpose in writing was not to be faithful in depth to doctrines, methods or systems but rather to immerse the reader in an atmosphere, to comfort him from the realities of life, to inspire him to find himself, to find truth and harmony, to establish a quality of life for himself. Balzac succeeded. And one does not become a scholar on Svedenbörg after the reading of Séraphîta but one knows more and might wish to explore the origin of the New Church. After all, Balzac read Saint-Martin and wrote about Svedenbörg. Why would one concern himself with the following lines from Séraphîta, which content seemed not to have concerned Balzac himself? Some of the most illustrious men, said Monsieur de Thomé, alluding to Buffon's Theory of the Earth, are meant enough to dress in the peacock's plumage without giving him the credit.

Viewed from a materialistic perspective, the evolution of consciousness appears as a linear process. Over time, awareness increasingly reveals itself through the development and refinement of form. In this story, we will add a spiritual dimension and describe how this process might be unfolding.

Seeing With Our "Good Eye" by Marc Ian Barasch Excerpted from the book Field Notes on the Compassionate Life

Life offers up its own daily catechism, even if it's just seeing people in a little better light. Why not just resolve to give everyone the benefit of the doubt? "If we treat people as they ought to be," said Goethe, almost nailing it, "we help them become what they are capable of becoming." Or more to the point: Treat them as they already are, if we but had the Good Eye to see it.

"Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything." Thich Nhat Hanh

"Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit." William James

The Book of Changes, written in China during the 3rd Century B.C., observed the cycles within nature expressed as Yin and Yang, dynamic complements of one another. Chinese Medicine, as a science, observes and supports the flow of Yin and Yang within the body. Yin energy, akin to the moon and Mother Earth, reflects the feminine and aspects of nature that are cool dark, quiet and solid. Yang energy, akin to the Sun, mirrors the masculine facets of nature that are boisterous, bright, and expansive. Yin and Yang’s harmonious continuum of balance allows healthy Chi (life energy) to flow in the body and within all life. Chi keeps the body in the fullness of health through its balanced flow in the meridians of the body. Within Chinese Medicine the removal of barriers in the healthy flow of Chi turns the body from disease back to health.

Aries

In 2005, love will turn serious and should bring interesting life lessons. This comes as a result of teacher planet Saturn, which is due to enter your fifth house of true love in late July for a two-year visit. If you have found love hard to find, ask yourself if you are avoiding a relationship due to a past disappointment. If you want love and have been unconsciously been avoiding attachments, being aware of this tendency may help you move forward much more effectively.

by Michael Lamas

Quiz: What part of the body houses all five senses, four of them exclusively? If you guessed "the armpit," then you'd be wrong. The correct answer is "the head." And because it houses the brain as well, you could consider it the Command Center of the body: working in harmony, we have vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell clustered closely together in a compact bio-unit. It's no wonder, then, that when we stare into the mirror, we identify our face (rather than our neck) as "me."

Enlightenment is not a fixed level of being, nor is it a black and white accomplishment. It is a ladder on which we can all move to a higher rung.

These tools can be done anytime and anywhere. Do each one for as long or short a time as you feel is appropriate. If there are some you don’t relate to, skip them. The more you do the better, and the longer you spend on each one the better. They are based on a particular methodology taught to me by my teacher, that focuses on different facets of your personality.

Just over two weeks ago, I moved from the inner most point of Burrard Inlet, off the Pacific Coast of Canada; to a point along the south shore. Where I now live, the inlet is narrow, about ½ mile from shore to shore. The north shore rises gently from a narrow strip of homes to an uninhabited, forest covered mountain. I have lived in this area for the last 2 years. I have travelled the roads along the inlet for most of my life. I have not really notice the beauty of the inlet until recently.

by Michael Lamas

Is there a purpose to life? Thoughtful people have asked this question since ancient times. Because it's so basic to our being, you would think that the answer would be simple and universal. Apparently, though, it's neither simple nor universal.

She was rough around the edges, with lines deeply etched into her severe features, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Back in the 80s, or even the 90s, I would've figured her for a mill worker, but there aren't any factory jobs left around here any more. Most likely, she was a refuge, even though she was in her hometown.metown.