A girlfriend of mine pleasantly surprised me with an unexpected visit last week. She was on her way to Mexico for a conference and during a layover found out it had been cancelled due to swine flu. She rerouted her trip to the next warmest place, LA.

Shes a psychologist, considers herself a hardcore scientist with “complete faith in mainstream science. If it hasnt been proven, it isnt true.” Need I mention shes also an atheist? Im none of those things. I enjoy an easy-to-digest book on quantum physics as much as the next layman, but Im as skeptical of science as she is of spirituality. And I believe in a power greater than myself-a source of love. I call that God.

Nevertheless, my gorgeous friend and I do share plenty of common ground. For one, weve both been vegetarians for twenty years. She told me that one day she knew in her twelve year-old little heart it wasnt right to eat animals and stopped. We also share a yen for hot weather, sunshine and swimming pools, so we hopped in the car and headed to Palm Springs. As the warm desert air breezed through the open windows and Kansas panted in the back seat, we got on the topic of spirituality, namely how “unspiritual” she is. I told her it didnt matter whether she was spiritual or not. It only mattered if she felt something was missing.

She confided that one of her favorite childhood past times was trying to communicate with animals-squirrels, cats, dogs, and birds-but they never communicated back. I suggested that she can never really know they werent communicating. We laughed at the idea that perhaps it was the animals that told her not to eat them. I said, “To me, the definition of spirituality is really simple. Its oneness.” She thought about it and replied, “Thats an interesting way of defining it.” I said, “And you exemplify that. I think youre much more “spiritual” than you think.” She said, “Well, I do view the world as one interconnected organism.” Spoken like a true scientist.

Truth is true. As I understand it, all minds are joined. As she sees it, the world is an interconnected organism. The only thing true is that we are one. Nowhere does my energy end and yours begins. Einstein said separation is an “optical delusion of consciousness.” Well, here, Ill just find his whole quote.

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.”

Everything is moving towards oneness though it may not always appear that way. This is true in our own lives as well as in the collective consciousness. There could be no Obama without Bush. Oneness doesnt require that we perceive it in order for it to be true. As Einstein said, its very difficult to be aware of it. But this doesnt mean it isnt happening or that its a free pass to sit around. On the contrary, we all have a unique and active role in the unfolding of that creation. Each of us has a special part to play in the “task” of healing. In fact thats kind of what I was trying to say in the previous post.

My friend arrived at the understanding of connectedness through science. I came to it through more spiritual means of study. Someone else may learn it through worldly travel and another through volunteer work. Or golf. It doesnt matter. We will all end up in the same place. My friend and I were brought together by the swine flu, and even that-swine flu-can be a means for shaking the sleep of separation from our eyes. Anything can be used to help us understand our oneness if we choose to see it that way.

We must change our worldview, as Einstein said, not only for the healing of the world but also for our “inner security.” The cruelty inflicted on a pig in a cage kills us as well. The child neglected by his or her parents and let down by a broken foster care system hurts us too. The question then isnt how you reach that conclusion. The more important question is how you begin to experience everyone and everything as yourself. For quantum physics attests they are literally a part of you, only your “optical delusion” blocks that awareness. The answer lies in widening your circle of compassion. Within that is the liberation we all seek and the knowingness that there really is only one of us here.

Widening the Circle by Cynthia Morgan

An accredited and sought-after Los Angeles-based board certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele. Not only has Morgan improved the lives of her clients, but her unique philosophy that “we dont need to do anything to heal-rather we need to undo the thoughts that stand in the way of healing” applies to issues with weight, addictions, illness, pain, phobias, depression, and whatever else one deems as a “problem”. Her philosophy and techniques have proven to be highly successful, establishing her as true leader in her field.

Find out more about Cynthia here: www.cynthiamorgan.us
Read Cynthias blog here: www.theoverwoman.com

By Cynthia Morgan

When I see the word religion I see “realign.” The utmost task of any religion and spiritual thought system is to realign us to Truth or God. Somewhere along the way we took a wrong turn, veered off course, and ended up lost. Now we need help. It only makes sense that in order to get back Home, we turn to those who have found the way.

Who are they? Thankfully, theyre generous, charitable folks who left us some directions. They are Truth cartographers, seekers who once wandered this earth dazed and confused like us. Yet replete with diligence and faith, they hit the road, blazing a path, arriving at a destination and leaving a marked trail of the smoothest road for the rest of us to travel. Their maps-their guidance and instruction-are the foundation of our most truthful religions and spiritual thought systems.

These people have become our great mystical thinkers. They are the brilliant, the enlightened, the yogis, the sages and the seers. They have touched God. And they are too few and far between. Despite their perspicacity, however, not one of these beings can accurately depict what we will discover once we get to our destination. Why? Because the experience doesnt translate well into words. How does one begin to describe an experience that is not of the world? How does one put into words a feeling beyond words? Words will always come up short.

If someone, who has never been in love before, asked you to describe it, what could you say that would equal the experience? That person wont get it until he actually falls in love. He needs an experience to know. Likewise, mystical cartographers cant tell us what God is like, they can only chronicle what they did to find God, “I turned left there, made a sharp right here, walked straight that way, and ran into Him.”

Truth is inexplicable, but getting to Truth can be explained. Thus every spirituality, religion, philosophy, and science is built on a map. Perhaps, a better word would be “story.” Every map tells a cartographers tale of what he went through, what he encountered, what was essential to the journey, what he discarded, and so forth.

These stories do more than show us the way, they help make abstract theoretical concepts such as the nature of existence or God more understandable. Christianity has the Genesis story (well, two stories actually), Buddhists, Hindus and Muslems have their stories, philosophers have as many stories as there are philosophers, and A Course In Miracles has its unique metaphysical story.

Students choose their particular story, or spiritual belief system, based on factors such as their past, their parents, their intellect and sensibilities, their strengths and weaknesses, where they grew up, and what they need to learn. Which is why many diverse paths are necessary-each story attracts its followers through a form that speaks to them. Each form allows someone to hear what he might have missed, or dismissed, had there only been one story.

Again, these stories are not Truth, because Truth is an experience. Rather, they are concepts, words, theories and symbols of Truth, crunched down to fit into nice neat frames of reference. These stories glimpse the infinite through a finite lens. Thus loopholes and doubt will reign throughout the myriad attempts at explaining the inexplicable. Words are fallible because they are, as A Course in Miracles says, “twice removed from reality.” Words are symbols of symbols. And somewhere in the crunching down, somethings going to get crunched out.

Through times of antiquity philosophers have warned us of the pitfalls of words and language. As American novelist William S. Burroughs put it: “Words become images when written down, but images of words repeated in the mind and not the image of the thing itself….Truth is here when all the words are rubbed out.”

We cannot minimize the importance of the words, or the story. No one in their right mind would confuse a road map with the destination, but without the road map wed be lost. We wouldnt arrive at our destination, or at least not as quickly or as easily. So it is with spiritual narratives, they lead us to abandon words. They guide us to a wordless place-to “the image of the thing itself”-which is where we all, deep down, wish to be. We will never be satisfied with an intellectual understanding of unconditional love, we want to experience love pouring out of our pores.
Alas, this blog is just a bunch of words. But I’m sending you love through it anyway.

An accredited and sought-after Los Angeles-based board certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele. Not only has Morgan improved the lives of her clients, but her unique philosophy that “we dont need to do anything to heal-rather we need to undo the thoughts that stand in the way of healing” applies to issues with weight, addictions, illness, pain, phobias, depression, and whatever else one deems as a “problem”. Her philosophy and techniques have proven to be highly successful, establishing her as true leader in her field.

Find out more about Cynthia here: www.cynthiamorgan.us
Read Cynthias blog here: www.cynthiamorganblog.blogspot.com

By Carole Lynne

These days, many of us have more worries on our minds than we did two years ago. Most people are concerned about their jobs and their bank accounts. And if you are not personally concerned, you are most likely close to someone who is more anxious than usual. This is a time when all of us must remember that faith is power.

Faith is the belief that things will get better and that which seems impossible is possible. It has often been said, “thoughts are things and they change our lives.” If we have thoughts that life will get better, then our creative imaginations are able to create solutions to our problems and we travel down the road of success. If on the other hand, our thoughts keep telling us that life will not get better, then we are likely to create unhappy times and travel down the road of a less successful life. Which road do you choose to travel?

Faith is powerful because as more and more of us send out positive thoughts those thoughts act like threads of positive energy weaving together blanketing the earth in faith. Faith unites us all in a spiritual global atmosphere.

Despite all the different religions, ideologies, dogmas and personal beliefs we are all one people. A tribal woman in Africa, a person of the Jewish faith, a Buddhist Monk, a devout Catholic, a Muslim or members of Spiritualism and Unity: all share faith. No matter what spiritual community we are part of, faith is the connecting thread of positive thought that can help us as a world to raise the spiritual consciousness of all peoples. As we become better human beings through the power or faith, we are able to make better decisions for our personal lives and for the global community.

The good news is that with a little discipline and motivation, we can all choose to embrace the power of faith.

Faith belongs to everyone, no matter who you are.

Spiritual Practice of Daily Faith Affirmations

Bring power to your faith by using daily faith affirmations as a tool. An affirmation is a positive statement to be repeated several times in your mind or spoken out loud. As you repeat the affirmation, you are sending helpful messages to your body, mind and spirit. Each time you repeat an affirmation of faith, you are reminding yourself to remain positive as you are presented with the challenges that each day brings.

Use faith affirmations throughout the day and watch your life change. The power of your faith will make each day a good day, no matter what happens. Travel the road of faith and your moods will be better — those around you will be energized by your presence. This will lead to improved personal relationships and more progress in the workplace. The power of daily faith affirmations can only help you and others. There are no bad side effects — only positive results!

In The Morning

Begin each day with an affirmation of your faith in the goodness of life.

Start of Day Affirmation: I give thanks for the life that I am living and for every breath I take. As I begin this day, I will walk the path of faith.

Through Out the Day

Repeat the Cycles of Life Affirmation below, whenever you need a quick boost in your ability to be a positive and powerful person. As you go through your day, there are bound to be cycles of happiness and disappointment. However, when we walk the calming path of faith and evoke its powers, we have an acceptance of life and can handle any situation that presents itself. While we may at times be tempted to ride the emotional roller coaster, with its crazy ups and downs, the power of faith reminds us that the emotional roller coaster is a “no no” for us. We remain calm and focus on all the positive blessings of the day: the warm greeting from a friend and the laughter we share with others. Keep your personal power high all day with this affirmation.

Cycles of Life Affirmation: I give thanks for the day that I am living and its blessings. With the power of faith I can focus on all the positive things that are happening. I will continue to make good decisions and remain calm.

Late Afternoon

At some point in the late afternoon, take a two-minute “faith break.” Many of us tend to feel a drop in our energy at this time, and our personal power may be at its lowest point. This is a time to renew your faith in yourself and in the future of this day. Drinking in the energies of renewed faith can be as refreshing as a cool glass of water on a hot day.

Afternoon Renewal of Faith Affirmation: I take a moment to get in touch with my deep faith in life. In this moment, I visualize someone I love or a beautiful place that I enjoy visiting. As I renew my faith by bringing positive images into my mind, I am refreshed.

In The Evening

During the evening hours, there are bound to be ups and downs as we become involved with loved ones, or with loneliness. There are often numerous personal tasks that we must take care of. And those of us with health issues have special challenges to deal with. Regardless of your lifestyle or situation, make time for reflection in the evening.

Evening Prayer: I give thanks for another day of life on this beautiful earth. I am grateful that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and clean clothing to wear. I am so blessed! I ask that I become more trusting in the power of faith as I walk its path each day. May I, through the power of faith, be continually reminded that we are all one.

Whether you are a member of a religion or organized spiritual group or do not choose to be a member of any group, you can live a life of faith knowing that each of us is part of the cosmic universe. We are all born capable of reaching our highest goals as we understand that faith is power. As we make the daily practice of faith affirmations part of our lives, we will see a noticeable difference in our moods, our behavior and our success rate. Things will get better! And if enough of us realize that faith is power, not only will life improve for us, but for everyone.