I only have one goal this year: Punctuality!
“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:16, 18-19)
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Took A Family Trip!
Don't want to do that again with what I was dealt! Maybe with a different deck!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Monday, December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas!!!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Friday, December 22, 2006
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Why is it that I hate shopping for myself unless I absolutely have to, right until I have to go Christmas shopping. It's like the shopping bug bites me during this time of year!
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)
Christmas Shopping!!!!
Why is it that I hate shopping for myself unless I absolutely have to, right until I have to go Christmas shopping. It's like the shopping bug bites me during this time of year!
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
I ordered some Chinese food for myself and my husband went to pick it up. Turns out, they had him pay $24 for a meal that wasn't mine. Oh course, he didn't find that out until he got home and I told him that wasn't my order. So I put on my sneakers and went back with the order, and they gave me the right order. Out of curiosity I asked them if they were going to resell it and they said "yes!" Huh! Maybe it's me, maybe I'm too cautious. But I sure as heck wouldn't want to resell hot food that someone has taken out of the store and brought back. There's no telling what that person could have done to the food intentionally or non-intentionally...not only would I NOT want to resell it, I would NOT WANT TO BUY IT! What is wrong with those people at that store? Nevermind!
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven"? (Luke 1:76-78)
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven"? (Luke 1:76-78)
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Speaking In Tongues
I found this information very interesting:
Glossolalia, otherwise referred to as “speaking in tongues,” has been around for thousands of years, and references to it can be found in the Old and New Testament. Speaking in tongues is an unusual mental state associated with specific religious traditions. The individual appears to be speaking in an incomprehensible language, yet perceives it to have great personal meaning. Now, in a first of its kind study, scientists are shining the light on this mysterious practice -- attempting to explain what actually happens physiologically to the brain of someone while speaking in tongues.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered decreased activity in the frontal lobes, an area of the brain associated with being in control of one’s self. This pioneering study, involving functional imaging of the brain while subjects were speaking in tongues, is in the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, the official publication of the International Society for Neuroimaging in Psychiatry.
Radiology investigators observed increased or decreased brain activity - by measuring regional cerebral blood flow with SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging - while the subjects were speaking in tongues. They then compared the imaging to what happened to the brain while the subjects sang gospel music.
“We noticed a number of changes that occurred functionally in the brain,” comments Principal Investigator Andrew Newberg, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Religious Studies, and Director for the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, at Penn. “Our finding of decreased activity in the frontal lobes during the practice of speaking in tongues is fascinating because these subjects truly believe that the spirit of God is moving through them and controlling them to speak. Our brain imaging research shows us that these subjects are not in control of the usual language centers during this activity, which is consistent with their description of a lack of intentional control while speaking in tongues.”
Newberg went on to explain, “These findings could be interpreted as the subject’s sense of self being taken over by something else. We, scientifically, assume it’s being taken over by another part of the brain, but we couldn’t see, in this imaging study, where this took place. We believe this is the first scientific imaging study evaluating changes in cerebral activity -- looking at what actually happens to the brain -- when someone is speaking in tongues. This study also showed a number of other changes in the brain, including those areas involved in emotions and establishing our sense of self.”
Newberg concludes that the changes in the brain during speaking in tongues reflect a complex pattern of brain activity. Newberg suggests that since this is the first study to explore this, future studies will be needed to confirm these findings in an attempt to demystify this fascinating religious phenomenon.
This preliminary study, done only at Penn, examined five subjects in a laboratory setting. The study, set for publication in the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, can now be accessed on-line at http://www.sciencedirect.com. The article is titled, “The Measurement of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow During Glossolalia: a Preliminary SPECT Study.” Co-authors include: Nancy Wintering, Donna Morgan, and Mark Waldman.
PDF of the study and images available upon request.
Suggested caption: “From a new brain imaging study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, SPECT scans were taken of subjects while worshiping versus speaking in tongues. The speaking in tongue images primarily show a decrease of brain activity in the frontal lobes, which is what normally makes us feel as if we’re in control. There was also a decrease in activity in the left basal ganglia, which is involved with focusing attention and emotional responses. Finally, the thalamus activity increased during speaking in tongues which supports it is an active state of the brain.”
Please courtesy images: “Courtesy: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.”
Dr. Newberg is the director of the new Center for Spirituality and the Mind at PENN. To learn more, go on-line to: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology/CSM/index.html or email mindreligion@uphs.upenn.edu. Through the collaboration of distinguished scholars from the University of Pennsylvania, the interdisciplinary group works to promote future research and scholarly dialogue on the mind, religion and ethics.
PENN Medicine is a $2.9 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #3 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals, all of which have received numerous national patient-care honors [Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center]; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network.
http://ashiana.conforums.com/index.cgi
~ Isis
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524795/?sc=dwhn
It was posted here: http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t81745.html
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)
Glossolalia, otherwise referred to as “speaking in tongues,” has been around for thousands of years, and references to it can be found in the Old and New Testament. Speaking in tongues is an unusual mental state associated with specific religious traditions. The individual appears to be speaking in an incomprehensible language, yet perceives it to have great personal meaning. Now, in a first of its kind study, scientists are shining the light on this mysterious practice -- attempting to explain what actually happens physiologically to the brain of someone while speaking in tongues.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered decreased activity in the frontal lobes, an area of the brain associated with being in control of one’s self. This pioneering study, involving functional imaging of the brain while subjects were speaking in tongues, is in the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, the official publication of the International Society for Neuroimaging in Psychiatry.
Radiology investigators observed increased or decreased brain activity - by measuring regional cerebral blood flow with SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging - while the subjects were speaking in tongues. They then compared the imaging to what happened to the brain while the subjects sang gospel music.
“We noticed a number of changes that occurred functionally in the brain,” comments Principal Investigator Andrew Newberg, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Religious Studies, and Director for the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, at Penn. “Our finding of decreased activity in the frontal lobes during the practice of speaking in tongues is fascinating because these subjects truly believe that the spirit of God is moving through them and controlling them to speak. Our brain imaging research shows us that these subjects are not in control of the usual language centers during this activity, which is consistent with their description of a lack of intentional control while speaking in tongues.”
Newberg went on to explain, “These findings could be interpreted as the subject’s sense of self being taken over by something else. We, scientifically, assume it’s being taken over by another part of the brain, but we couldn’t see, in this imaging study, where this took place. We believe this is the first scientific imaging study evaluating changes in cerebral activity -- looking at what actually happens to the brain -- when someone is speaking in tongues. This study also showed a number of other changes in the brain, including those areas involved in emotions and establishing our sense of self.”
Newberg concludes that the changes in the brain during speaking in tongues reflect a complex pattern of brain activity. Newberg suggests that since this is the first study to explore this, future studies will be needed to confirm these findings in an attempt to demystify this fascinating religious phenomenon.
This preliminary study, done only at Penn, examined five subjects in a laboratory setting. The study, set for publication in the November issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, can now be accessed on-line at http://www.sciencedirect.com. The article is titled, “The Measurement of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow During Glossolalia: a Preliminary SPECT Study.” Co-authors include: Nancy Wintering, Donna Morgan, and Mark Waldman.
PDF of the study and images available upon request.
Suggested caption: “From a new brain imaging study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, SPECT scans were taken of subjects while worshiping versus speaking in tongues. The speaking in tongue images primarily show a decrease of brain activity in the frontal lobes, which is what normally makes us feel as if we’re in control. There was also a decrease in activity in the left basal ganglia, which is involved with focusing attention and emotional responses. Finally, the thalamus activity increased during speaking in tongues which supports it is an active state of the brain.”
Please courtesy images: “Courtesy: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.”
Dr. Newberg is the director of the new Center for Spirituality and the Mind at PENN. To learn more, go on-line to: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology/CSM/index.html or email mindreligion@uphs.upenn.edu. Through the collaboration of distinguished scholars from the University of Pennsylvania, the interdisciplinary group works to promote future research and scholarly dialogue on the mind, religion and ethics.
PENN Medicine is a $2.9 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #3 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals, all of which have received numerous national patient-care honors [Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center]; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network.
http://ashiana.conforums.com/index.cgi
~ Isis
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524795/?sc=dwhn
It was posted here: http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t81745.html
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)
Saturday, December 16, 2006
My Curiousity Being Fed
I read an interview with Lisa Williams on Lifetime TV
Writer: I'm a Gemini and find it hard to clear my mind. What can help me learn to meditate?
Lisa: Gemini's tend to have so many things going through their heads. I would say start with guided meditation. You can find this sort of thing on the Internet and in bookstores. Once you start using guided meditation, you will start to train your brain. Most people give up after one or two tries, but it's not an overnight success. The more you keep trying meditation, the easier it gets to clear your mind.
So I looked up Guided Meditation and found this:
Visualize yourself in a safe, calm place.
You are peaceful, you are loved, and you are protected.
Bring your attention to the areas in body or life where healing is desired.
Take deep breaths and exhale. You are calm. You are safe.
Open your heart.
Begin a dialougu with your pain and listen for the answers.
Dis-ease, I send you love and gratitude for sending me this gift of awakening.
Help me to understand your purpose.
Dis-ease, what are you trying to teach me?
Why have you come to me?
How can I best heal myself?
Dis-ease, I honor your wisdom and advice and I release you.
Record your answers when done with this exercise. Reflect upon, evaluate, or act on the healing message and advice you received today.
Which books would you recommend to develop my psychic abilities?
Lisa: First you need to develop your spiritual awareness with a lot of self healing. The book "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay was an integral part of my development. Once you work on yourself, you then can start looking at your spirit guides and angels. For those who are more advanced, an excellent book is "Working With Your Guides and Angels" by Ruth White. Other books to check out are "From One World to Another" by Rita Rogers, "The Unbelievable Truth" by Gordon Smith and "Hands of Light" by Barbara Brennan.
Question from Jennifer in NY: Do spirits ever appear to the living in their dreams?
Lisa: Yes, definitely. When we dream, we have that subconscious relaxation similar to meditation. Therefore it's easy for spirits to communicate with you during this time.
Here is another meditation I found that's a little longer. This one is by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Sit comfortably erect, without leaning forward or backward, left or right. Close your eyes and think thoughts of good will. Thoughts of good will go first to yourself, because if you can't think good will for yourself — if you can't feel a sincere desire for your own happiness — there's no way you can truly wish for the happiness of others. So just tell yourself, "May I find true happiness." Remind yourself that true happiness is something that comes from within, so this is not a selfish desire. In fact, if you find and develop the resources for happiness within you, you're able to radiate it out to other people. It's a happiness that doesn't depend on taking anything away from anyone else.
So now spread good will to other people. First, people who are close to your heart — your family, your parents, your very close friends: May they find true happiness, as well. Then spread those thoughts out in ever widening circles: people you know well, people you don't know so well, people you like, people you know and are neutral about, and even people you don't like. Don't let there be any limitations on your good will, for if there are, there will be limitations on your mind. Now spread thoughts of good will to people you don't even know — and not just people; all living beings of all kinds in all directions: east, west, north, south, above, and below, out to infinity. May they find true happiness, too.
Then bring your thoughts back to the present. If you want true happiness, you have to find it in the present, for the past is gone and the future is an uncertainty. So you have to dig down into the present. What do you have right here? You've got the body, sitting here and breathing. And you've got the mind, thinking and aware. So bring all these things together. Think about the breath and then be aware of the breath as it comes in and goes out. Keeping your thoughts directed to the breath: that's mindfulness. Being aware of the breath as it comes in and out: that's alertness. Keep those two aspects of the mind together. If you want, you can use a meditation word to strengthen your mindfulness. Try "Buddho," which means "awake." Think "bud-" with the in-breath, "dho" with the out.
Try to breathe as comfortably as possible. A very concrete way of learning how to provide for your own happiness in the immediate present — and at the same time, strengthening your alertness — is to let yourself breathe in a way that's comfortable. Experiment to see what kind of breathing feels best for the body right now. It might be long breathing, short breathing; in long, out short; or in short, out long. Heavy or light, fast or slow, shallow or deep. Once you find a rhythm that feels comfortable, stay with it for a while. Learn to savor the sensation of the breathing. Generally speaking, the smoother the texture of the breath, the better. Think of the breath, not simply as the air coming in and out of the lungs, but as the entire energy flow that courses through the body with each in-and-out breath. Be sensitive to the texture of that energy flow. You may find that the body changes after a while. One rhythm or texture may feel right for a while, and then something else will feel more comfortable. Learn how to listen and respond to what the body is telling you right now. What kind of breath energy does it need? How can you best provide for that need? If you feel tired, try to breathe in a way that energizes the body. If you feel tense, try to breathe in a way that's relaxing.
If your mind wanders off, gently bring it right back. If it wanders off ten times, a hundred times, bring it back ten times, a hundred times. Don't give in. This quality is called ardency. In other words, as soon as you realize that the mind has slipped away, you bring it right back. You don't spend time aimlessly sniffing at the flowers, looking at the sky, or listening to the birds. You've got work to do: work in learning how to breathe comfortably, how to let the mind settle down in a good space here in the present moment.
When the breath starts feeling comfortable, you can start exploring it in other areas of the body. If you simply stay with the comfortable breath in a narrow range, you'll tend to doze off. So consciously expand your awareness. A good place to focus first is right around the navel. Locate that part of the body in your awareness: where is it right now? Then notice: how does it feel there as you breathe in? How does it feel when you breathe out? Watch it for a couple of breaths, and notice if there's any sense of tension or tightness in that part of the body, either with the in-breath or with the out-breath. Is it tensing up as you breathe in? Are you holding onto the tension as you breathe out? Are you putting too much force on the out-breath? If you catch yourself doing any of these things, just relax. Think of that tension dissolving away in the sensation of the in-breath, the sensation of the out-breath. If you want, you can think of the breath energy coming into the body right there at the navel, working through any tension or tightness that you might feel there ...
Then move your awareness to the right — to the lower right-hand corner of your abdomen — and follow the same three steps there: 1) locate that general part of the body in your awareness; 2) notice how it feels as you breathe in, how it feels as you breathe out; and 3) if you sense any tension or tightness in the breath, just let it relax ... Now move your awareness to the left, to the lower left-hand corner of your abdomen, and follow the same three steps there.
Now move your awareness up to the solar plexus ... and then to the right, to the right flank ... to the left flank ... to the middle of the chest ... After a while move up to the base of the throat ... and then to the middle of the head. Be very careful with the breath energy in the head. Think of it very gently coming in, not only through the nose but also through the eyes, the ears, down from the top of the head, in from the back of the neck, very gently working through and loosening up any tension you may feel, say, around your jaws, the back of your neck, around your eyes, or around your face ...
From there you can move your attention gradually down the back, out the legs, to the tips of the toes, the spaces between the toes. As before, focus on a particular part of the body, notice how it feels with the in-breath and out-breath, relax any sensation of tension or tightness you might feel there, so that the breath energy can flow more freely, and then move on until you've reached the tips of the toes. Then repeat the process, beginning at the back of the neck and going down the shoulders, through the arms, past your wrists, and out through your fingers.
You can repeat this survey of the body as many times as you like until the mind feels ready to settle down.
Then let your attention return to any spot in the body where it feels most naturally settled and centered. Simply let your attention rest there, at one with the breath. At the same time let the range of your awareness spread out so that it fills the entire body, like the light of a candle in the middle of a room: the candle flame is in one spot, but its light fills the entire room. Or like a spider on a web: the spider's in one spot, but it knows the whole web. Be keen on maintaining that broadened sense of awareness. You'll find that it tends to shrink, like a balloon with a small hole in it, so keep broadening its range, thinking "whole body, whole body, breath in the whole body, from the top of the head down into the tips of the toes." Think of the breath energy coming in and out of the body through every pore. Make a point of staying with this centered, broadened awareness as long as you can. There's nothing else you have to think about right now, nowhere else to go, nothing else to do. Just stay with this centered, broadened awareness of the present ...
When the time comes to leave meditation, remind yourself that there's a skill to leaving. In other words, you don't just jump right out. My teacher, Ajaan Fuang, once said that when most people meditate, it's as if they're climbing a ladder up to the second story of a building: step-by-step-by-step, rung-by-rung, slowly up the ladder. But as soon as they get to the second story, they jump out the window. Don't let yourself be that way. Think of how much effort went into getting yourself centered. Don't throw it away.
The first step in leaving is to spread thoughts of good will once more to all the people around you. Then, before you open your eyes, remind yourself that even though you're going to have your eyes open, you want your attention to stay centered in the body, at the breath. Try to maintain that center as long as you can, as you get up, walk around, talk, listen, whatever. In other words, the skill of leaving meditation lies in learning how not to leave it, regardless of whatever else you may be doing. Act from that sense of being centered. If you can keep the mind centered in this way, you'll have a standard against which you can measure its movements, its reactions to the events around it and within it. Only when you have a solid center like this can you gain insight into the movements of the mind.
Yet another one that I thought was interesting:
It is not I, but the Christ within
who does the work.
Words of hope eternally echo the promise of Christmas and the unconditional love of the Christ within us. Let us be aware of this love flowing within us, around us, and to one another as we prepare ourselves for this time of prayer and meditation.
In this time, we will let divine love shine through us to reveal our unity and wholeness in Spirit. Let us center ourselves in the Christ within and draw close to one another in heart and mind. As we relax in the comfort of the Christ presence, we begin to pray …
The Christ of my being fills my heart with love. I am calm and at peace.
I let the endless and unchanging peace of Christ flow through me. Every atom of my being, every thought and impulse yield to this flow. My heart is filled with peace and love.
I turn inward to the depths of my being, and in the silence, I feel the presence of the Christ. In this awareness of oneness, I let pure love and peace radiate from me.
In the silence, there is peace. I retreat to the center of my being, where I am one with the Christ.
In awareness of the Divine, I pray …
Christ is reborn in me as wisdom that guides me in all decisions.
I am secure in the love of Christ, and I trust this loving presence to guide me at all times. I am divinely directed on my path. I do not fear any obstacle as I move forward, for I know I am being guided to my good.
With the Christ as my light, I make decisions and I proceed with confidence. I live in the now and in the presence of Spirit. I am grateful as I awaken to a greater awareness and understanding of Spirit within.
With gratitude for divine light, I continue to pray …
The Christ Spirit renews me with energy and enthusiasm for life.
The light of the Christ awakens healing power within and recharges every atom of my being with pure life. I am filled with endless creative energy which gives me a new zest for living.
The Christ within me is healing power and energy that fill me with a new sense of wholeness and freedom. Let me amplify this power in my life and let it lead me into happiness.
I celebrate my oneness with the healing life of the Christ, knowing that nothing can separate me from this pure life and energy.
With strengthened faith, I return to the silence of prayer …
I am complete in the Christ presence. I give thanks for the gifts of Spirit.
I have available to me everything I will ever need or want through the light of Christ that shines through me and reveals my divine source.
As I pray now, I focus my thoughts on prosperity. My divine source reveals to me an endless abundance of gifts, always available to me. My life is complete.
My heart is filled with gratitude, and I give thanks for the in every area of my life.
With a grateful spirit, I return to the silence of prayer …
Our time of prayer is coming to an end. We gradually return to this present moment, awake, relaxed, and refreshed—united in the presence of the Christ within.
In the spirit of oneness, let us conclude this sacred time together by praying the “Prayer for Protection”:
The light of God surrounds us;
The love of God enfolds us;
The power of God protects us;
The presence of God watches
over us.
Wherever we are, God is!
“And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46-47, 49)
Writer: I'm a Gemini and find it hard to clear my mind. What can help me learn to meditate?
Lisa: Gemini's tend to have so many things going through their heads. I would say start with guided meditation. You can find this sort of thing on the Internet and in bookstores. Once you start using guided meditation, you will start to train your brain. Most people give up after one or two tries, but it's not an overnight success. The more you keep trying meditation, the easier it gets to clear your mind.
So I looked up Guided Meditation and found this:
Visualize yourself in a safe, calm place.
You are peaceful, you are loved, and you are protected.
Bring your attention to the areas in body or life where healing is desired.
Take deep breaths and exhale. You are calm. You are safe.
Open your heart.
Begin a dialougu with your pain and listen for the answers.
Dis-ease, I send you love and gratitude for sending me this gift of awakening.
Help me to understand your purpose.
Dis-ease, what are you trying to teach me?
Why have you come to me?
How can I best heal myself?
Dis-ease, I honor your wisdom and advice and I release you.
Record your answers when done with this exercise. Reflect upon, evaluate, or act on the healing message and advice you received today.
Which books would you recommend to develop my psychic abilities?
Lisa: First you need to develop your spiritual awareness with a lot of self healing. The book "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay was an integral part of my development. Once you work on yourself, you then can start looking at your spirit guides and angels. For those who are more advanced, an excellent book is "Working With Your Guides and Angels" by Ruth White. Other books to check out are "From One World to Another" by Rita Rogers, "The Unbelievable Truth" by Gordon Smith and "Hands of Light" by Barbara Brennan.
Question from Jennifer in NY: Do spirits ever appear to the living in their dreams?
Lisa: Yes, definitely. When we dream, we have that subconscious relaxation similar to meditation. Therefore it's easy for spirits to communicate with you during this time.
Here is another meditation I found that's a little longer. This one is by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Sit comfortably erect, without leaning forward or backward, left or right. Close your eyes and think thoughts of good will. Thoughts of good will go first to yourself, because if you can't think good will for yourself — if you can't feel a sincere desire for your own happiness — there's no way you can truly wish for the happiness of others. So just tell yourself, "May I find true happiness." Remind yourself that true happiness is something that comes from within, so this is not a selfish desire. In fact, if you find and develop the resources for happiness within you, you're able to radiate it out to other people. It's a happiness that doesn't depend on taking anything away from anyone else.
So now spread good will to other people. First, people who are close to your heart — your family, your parents, your very close friends: May they find true happiness, as well. Then spread those thoughts out in ever widening circles: people you know well, people you don't know so well, people you like, people you know and are neutral about, and even people you don't like. Don't let there be any limitations on your good will, for if there are, there will be limitations on your mind. Now spread thoughts of good will to people you don't even know — and not just people; all living beings of all kinds in all directions: east, west, north, south, above, and below, out to infinity. May they find true happiness, too.
Then bring your thoughts back to the present. If you want true happiness, you have to find it in the present, for the past is gone and the future is an uncertainty. So you have to dig down into the present. What do you have right here? You've got the body, sitting here and breathing. And you've got the mind, thinking and aware. So bring all these things together. Think about the breath and then be aware of the breath as it comes in and goes out. Keeping your thoughts directed to the breath: that's mindfulness. Being aware of the breath as it comes in and out: that's alertness. Keep those two aspects of the mind together. If you want, you can use a meditation word to strengthen your mindfulness. Try "Buddho," which means "awake." Think "bud-" with the in-breath, "dho" with the out.
Try to breathe as comfortably as possible. A very concrete way of learning how to provide for your own happiness in the immediate present — and at the same time, strengthening your alertness — is to let yourself breathe in a way that's comfortable. Experiment to see what kind of breathing feels best for the body right now. It might be long breathing, short breathing; in long, out short; or in short, out long. Heavy or light, fast or slow, shallow or deep. Once you find a rhythm that feels comfortable, stay with it for a while. Learn to savor the sensation of the breathing. Generally speaking, the smoother the texture of the breath, the better. Think of the breath, not simply as the air coming in and out of the lungs, but as the entire energy flow that courses through the body with each in-and-out breath. Be sensitive to the texture of that energy flow. You may find that the body changes after a while. One rhythm or texture may feel right for a while, and then something else will feel more comfortable. Learn how to listen and respond to what the body is telling you right now. What kind of breath energy does it need? How can you best provide for that need? If you feel tired, try to breathe in a way that energizes the body. If you feel tense, try to breathe in a way that's relaxing.
If your mind wanders off, gently bring it right back. If it wanders off ten times, a hundred times, bring it back ten times, a hundred times. Don't give in. This quality is called ardency. In other words, as soon as you realize that the mind has slipped away, you bring it right back. You don't spend time aimlessly sniffing at the flowers, looking at the sky, or listening to the birds. You've got work to do: work in learning how to breathe comfortably, how to let the mind settle down in a good space here in the present moment.
When the breath starts feeling comfortable, you can start exploring it in other areas of the body. If you simply stay with the comfortable breath in a narrow range, you'll tend to doze off. So consciously expand your awareness. A good place to focus first is right around the navel. Locate that part of the body in your awareness: where is it right now? Then notice: how does it feel there as you breathe in? How does it feel when you breathe out? Watch it for a couple of breaths, and notice if there's any sense of tension or tightness in that part of the body, either with the in-breath or with the out-breath. Is it tensing up as you breathe in? Are you holding onto the tension as you breathe out? Are you putting too much force on the out-breath? If you catch yourself doing any of these things, just relax. Think of that tension dissolving away in the sensation of the in-breath, the sensation of the out-breath. If you want, you can think of the breath energy coming into the body right there at the navel, working through any tension or tightness that you might feel there ...
Then move your awareness to the right — to the lower right-hand corner of your abdomen — and follow the same three steps there: 1) locate that general part of the body in your awareness; 2) notice how it feels as you breathe in, how it feels as you breathe out; and 3) if you sense any tension or tightness in the breath, just let it relax ... Now move your awareness to the left, to the lower left-hand corner of your abdomen, and follow the same three steps there.
Now move your awareness up to the solar plexus ... and then to the right, to the right flank ... to the left flank ... to the middle of the chest ... After a while move up to the base of the throat ... and then to the middle of the head. Be very careful with the breath energy in the head. Think of it very gently coming in, not only through the nose but also through the eyes, the ears, down from the top of the head, in from the back of the neck, very gently working through and loosening up any tension you may feel, say, around your jaws, the back of your neck, around your eyes, or around your face ...
From there you can move your attention gradually down the back, out the legs, to the tips of the toes, the spaces between the toes. As before, focus on a particular part of the body, notice how it feels with the in-breath and out-breath, relax any sensation of tension or tightness you might feel there, so that the breath energy can flow more freely, and then move on until you've reached the tips of the toes. Then repeat the process, beginning at the back of the neck and going down the shoulders, through the arms, past your wrists, and out through your fingers.
You can repeat this survey of the body as many times as you like until the mind feels ready to settle down.
Then let your attention return to any spot in the body where it feels most naturally settled and centered. Simply let your attention rest there, at one with the breath. At the same time let the range of your awareness spread out so that it fills the entire body, like the light of a candle in the middle of a room: the candle flame is in one spot, but its light fills the entire room. Or like a spider on a web: the spider's in one spot, but it knows the whole web. Be keen on maintaining that broadened sense of awareness. You'll find that it tends to shrink, like a balloon with a small hole in it, so keep broadening its range, thinking "whole body, whole body, breath in the whole body, from the top of the head down into the tips of the toes." Think of the breath energy coming in and out of the body through every pore. Make a point of staying with this centered, broadened awareness as long as you can. There's nothing else you have to think about right now, nowhere else to go, nothing else to do. Just stay with this centered, broadened awareness of the present ...
When the time comes to leave meditation, remind yourself that there's a skill to leaving. In other words, you don't just jump right out. My teacher, Ajaan Fuang, once said that when most people meditate, it's as if they're climbing a ladder up to the second story of a building: step-by-step-by-step, rung-by-rung, slowly up the ladder. But as soon as they get to the second story, they jump out the window. Don't let yourself be that way. Think of how much effort went into getting yourself centered. Don't throw it away.
The first step in leaving is to spread thoughts of good will once more to all the people around you. Then, before you open your eyes, remind yourself that even though you're going to have your eyes open, you want your attention to stay centered in the body, at the breath. Try to maintain that center as long as you can, as you get up, walk around, talk, listen, whatever. In other words, the skill of leaving meditation lies in learning how not to leave it, regardless of whatever else you may be doing. Act from that sense of being centered. If you can keep the mind centered in this way, you'll have a standard against which you can measure its movements, its reactions to the events around it and within it. Only when you have a solid center like this can you gain insight into the movements of the mind.
Yet another one that I thought was interesting:
It is not I, but the Christ within
who does the work.
Words of hope eternally echo the promise of Christmas and the unconditional love of the Christ within us. Let us be aware of this love flowing within us, around us, and to one another as we prepare ourselves for this time of prayer and meditation.
In this time, we will let divine love shine through us to reveal our unity and wholeness in Spirit. Let us center ourselves in the Christ within and draw close to one another in heart and mind. As we relax in the comfort of the Christ presence, we begin to pray …
The Christ of my being fills my heart with love. I am calm and at peace.
I let the endless and unchanging peace of Christ flow through me. Every atom of my being, every thought and impulse yield to this flow. My heart is filled with peace and love.
I turn inward to the depths of my being, and in the silence, I feel the presence of the Christ. In this awareness of oneness, I let pure love and peace radiate from me.
In the silence, there is peace. I retreat to the center of my being, where I am one with the Christ.
In awareness of the Divine, I pray …
Christ is reborn in me as wisdom that guides me in all decisions.
I am secure in the love of Christ, and I trust this loving presence to guide me at all times. I am divinely directed on my path. I do not fear any obstacle as I move forward, for I know I am being guided to my good.
With the Christ as my light, I make decisions and I proceed with confidence. I live in the now and in the presence of Spirit. I am grateful as I awaken to a greater awareness and understanding of Spirit within.
With gratitude for divine light, I continue to pray …
The Christ Spirit renews me with energy and enthusiasm for life.
The light of the Christ awakens healing power within and recharges every atom of my being with pure life. I am filled with endless creative energy which gives me a new zest for living.
The Christ within me is healing power and energy that fill me with a new sense of wholeness and freedom. Let me amplify this power in my life and let it lead me into happiness.
I celebrate my oneness with the healing life of the Christ, knowing that nothing can separate me from this pure life and energy.
With strengthened faith, I return to the silence of prayer …
I am complete in the Christ presence. I give thanks for the gifts of Spirit.
I have available to me everything I will ever need or want through the light of Christ that shines through me and reveals my divine source.
As I pray now, I focus my thoughts on prosperity. My divine source reveals to me an endless abundance of gifts, always available to me. My life is complete.
My heart is filled with gratitude, and I give thanks for the in every area of my life.
With a grateful spirit, I return to the silence of prayer …
Our time of prayer is coming to an end. We gradually return to this present moment, awake, relaxed, and refreshed—united in the presence of the Christ within.
In the spirit of oneness, let us conclude this sacred time together by praying the “Prayer for Protection”:
The light of God surrounds us;
The love of God enfolds us;
The power of God protects us;
The presence of God watches
over us.
Wherever we are, God is!
“And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46-47, 49)
Friday, December 15, 2006
Today is an Awesome Day!
My photography business has been keeping me going, going, going. And by no means is that a complaint, that is a blessing! I know there are many self-starters out there and they are sitting around looking at the four walls! On top of me running my business, I had my son with me since Wednesday with a high fever, and today about 15 mins. after Laila gets to school, she throws up, so she was with me too! My hectic day lasted until my last picture drop-off at 3pm and then I felt much more relieved! At the very end of the day, I got a phone call from one of my pastor's with a great blessing to our family! Too big to share on the Internet, but my husband and I are very, very grateful! My father and step-mother are also in town for my sister, Tia's graduation! They are gone to the graduation tonight, and hubby and I are going to a Christmas party, so I will see them tomorrow morning.
Yesterday was a monster day as well. I had an interview in the morning and two meetings in the afternoon.
The day before yesterday, I received a 15-page script to learn for Monster.com as a speaker for them. I'm excited to do it, but my goodness! We have to learn that thing by heart! This will be a serious challenge for, especially since I have never learned a script without cheatsheets before. It's a challenge I'm ready to step into!
“But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
Yesterday was a monster day as well. I had an interview in the morning and two meetings in the afternoon.
The day before yesterday, I received a 15-page script to learn for Monster.com as a speaker for them. I'm excited to do it, but my goodness! We have to learn that thing by heart! This will be a serious challenge for, especially since I have never learned a script without cheatsheets before. It's a challenge I'm ready to step into!
“But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Happy Birthday Laila!
My baby girl turned 5 today! Wow, I'm so excited for her and so proud of her at the same time!
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Laila's 5th Birthday Celebration!
Today we celebrated Laila's fifth birthday at her school. Hubby couldn't make it because he suffers from migraines, and he has been home in the bed for two days. I got her a wonderful Barbie cake from Sam's that had her picture on it. Her actual birthdate isn't until Sunday, but I will try to post pictures of her party before Monday.
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Just Asking
So I have this friend that called me this morning and asked what I was doing. I told her that I was listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show to try and win one million dollars. She asked me how, so I gave her all the instructions, the first cash call number I had and all the envelope numbers that she can choose from. I shared with her the envelope number that I wanted to pick as well. At this time, I am gathering my kids up to take them to school and I tell my friend I will have to talk to her later, I can't talk to her in my van, because it routes the call in the speakers and I won't be able to hear the radio. Minutes go by and while I am listening for the cash call numbers, my friend calls in. I'm pissed, because I told her that I canNOT talk and listen to the radio, because it won't let me. So I pick up the phone and she asks for the second number. I asked her, "weren't you listening!!????" I can't pull over and look for the numbers right now, I'm trying to listen for the next cash call number and your interrupting my radio." So I hung up, and yes, she had the rude nerves to call me back. Now let's pause for a minute. This tells me that she's thinking, "if I don't have the second number, then I don't care what other numbers you don't hear."
Okay, let's continue: so I'm ignoring her calls and I get all the numbers. I don't get through to the line, but the caller that did get through picked the same number that I had in mind. She lost. So I called my friend, and we were laughing at the fact that my envelope only had a $100 in it and not the million. So I asked her, what envelope would she pick and she refused to tell me. I felt offended. Maybe I should not have, but I figured: 1. It's just a speculation; 2. I have my own envelope number in mind (other than the one that wasn't the winner); 3. I shared all the information I knew to get you in the game, the least you can do is tell me what your speculations are. Or at the very least, tell me that you'll tell me after they find a winner. But don't just flat out tell me "No!" With an attitude, like I'm going to call Tom Joyner and give him your number. AND if I was, I would have the courtesy to share the money with you.
I told my friend that I was not going to try to persuade my reasons on her as to why she should tell me what envelope number she THOUGHT was the winner, and it wasn't worth what it was turning into, and I know where her heart is. So we left it at that.
Okay, now think about your opinion of my feeling on the situation (should I have felt offended), and should my friend have told me her number given the fact that I shared all that information with her to get her in the game.
Now, is your response the same if "the friend" was my sister?
“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25)
Okay, let's continue: so I'm ignoring her calls and I get all the numbers. I don't get through to the line, but the caller that did get through picked the same number that I had in mind. She lost. So I called my friend, and we were laughing at the fact that my envelope only had a $100 in it and not the million. So I asked her, what envelope would she pick and she refused to tell me. I felt offended. Maybe I should not have, but I figured: 1. It's just a speculation; 2. I have my own envelope number in mind (other than the one that wasn't the winner); 3. I shared all the information I knew to get you in the game, the least you can do is tell me what your speculations are. Or at the very least, tell me that you'll tell me after they find a winner. But don't just flat out tell me "No!" With an attitude, like I'm going to call Tom Joyner and give him your number. AND if I was, I would have the courtesy to share the money with you.
I told my friend that I was not going to try to persuade my reasons on her as to why she should tell me what envelope number she THOUGHT was the winner, and it wasn't worth what it was turning into, and I know where her heart is. So we left it at that.
Okay, now think about your opinion of my feeling on the situation (should I have felt offended), and should my friend have told me her number given the fact that I shared all that information with her to get her in the game.
Now, is your response the same if "the friend" was my sister?
“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25)
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
“Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:7, 9-10)
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Bachelor's of Science in Theology!!!
I finally did it!!!
“Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
“Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
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