What’s your story? What’s the story you tell about yourself and your life?
How closely do you pay attention to your story? What do you say about yourself and your life — to others, but most importantly, to yourself?
The past few years I’ve made a concentrated effort to watch my words — and also to listen closely to the words of others.
For example, at the post office I overheard a conversation between two men who obviously knew each other.… Read more
I’ve been away from home going on two weeks now, and it’s been an unexpectedly busy time. Not everything went as planned. So I’ve written this week’s article without Spirit. They’ll return next week.
Have you ever told yourself things always work out for you, knowing in your gut it’s true? Even when you could not see “the light at the end of the tunnel?” Or do you usually expect the worst?
It’s been only in recent years that I’ve consistently believed things always work out.… Read more
How many times has someone told you to follow your heart? When I was younger I would get that advice often. But I didn’t always heed it.
Here’s Spirit.
Spirit
How often do you seek advice or guidance from others when you know perfectly well the best path for you to follow?
We see nothing wrong with seeking help from others when you need it. After all, you’re all in this together, as you say. You live in your small and large communities.… Read more
Many of us celebrate every January 1, exactly one month ago today, as a brand-new beginning.
John Cali
We didn’t want to talk about this topic around January 1 because of all the celebrations and distractions of the holidays. But now, from the hindsight of one month, it might be easier to focus on new beginnings.
Spirit and I have talked about this subject before. But nonetheless when January 1 comes around each year, we humans believe the day somehow confers upon us a chance to start over again, to have a brand-new beginning.… Read more
I read an article a couple weeks ago about a woman who’d killed herself. But before she did it she posted her intention on a social media network. This was a sad reminder of something Belgian writer Paul Carvel said: “Internet: absolute communication, absolute isolation.”
John Cali
This sad lady took an overdose of pills, as she said in her post. She also said she just wanted to say goodbye to her social media friends. Apparently not one of her roughly 1,500 online friends read her short note.… Read more
Spirit is always saying life should be fun — and you can always find joy in even the most awful experiences.
People sometimes tell me it’s nearly impossible for them to find fun in life, especially with all the stresses of the modern world. And when they have challenging experiences, it’s hard to find much joy there.
Is that your experience? It was mine when I was younger. I’m not “perfect” yet, but I’ve succeeded in finding more fun and joy in my life as I move through the years.… Read more
Interesting title, isn’t it? Bet it got your attention.
John Cali
Many years ago I graduated from a Jesuit (Roman Catholic) college. Since I was thinking of becoming a Catholic priest, I had four years each of theology and philosophy. All of which I enjoyed. One of my favorite subjects was Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Thomas was born in Aquino, Sicily in 1225. He studied for the priesthood and was eventually ordained in the Dominican order. In a relatively short lifetime (49 years) he became a widely known and respected theologian and philosopher, rising to prominent positions in the Roman Catholic hierarchy.… Read more
Many years ago I had a personal experience of how quickly our bodies can heal. Here’s a slightly edited excerpt from an article I wrote about that experience.
“One night last month I was baking my dinner in the oven. When it was done I carefully removed the hot pan and placed it on the stove top. A moment later, without thinking, I picked up the pan with a bare hand. A searing pain surged through my hand and up my arm.
In his book, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, Richard Bach said “You teach best what you most need to learn.”
A couple weeks ago, after we published our weekly article, False Responsibility, I got a painful reminder of something I most needed to learn.
In that article I talked about a friend who was depressed by some family problems. The problems had nothing to do with her directly, except she allowed them to drag her down.
This week’s video gives us a glimpse into the life of an amazing woman, Alice Herz-Sommer. Alice’s story is perfect for this holiday season when many folks’ thoughts turn to peace on earth.
John Cali
A few weeks ago, on November 26, Alice celebrated her 107th birthday. She’s the oldest living Holocaust survivor.
Alice, an accomplished pianist, says music helped her and others survive the horrors of the concentration camps. As she put it, “Music was our food.” Today, at 107 years young, she still practices the piano three hours a day.
I have quite a few folks among my family and friends, mostly women, who are genuinely loving people, but who often take care of others while neglecting themselves. Sound familiar?
John Cali
I call this false responsibility. Not false in the sense of being phony, but false in the sense of having misaligned priorities.
These folks, for whatever reasons, feel unduly responsible for others. Sometimes it seems for practically the whole world. Or at least the world of their families and friends.
A few weeks ago I was shopping at the local supermarket. As I paid the bill I reached into my pocket and pulled out my car key. I walked out of the store about 100 feet to my car. When I got to the car, my key had vanished.
John Cali
So I had to walk home to get my spare key. Fortunately, I live in a very small town, but it was still about a five-mile round-trip hike to get the spare key.
On October 29 The Washington Post ran an article demonstrating how pervasive technology has become in our lives.
John Cali
The first sentence of the article read “You can’t get away from a cell phone call, even at the top of the world.”
It seems TeliaSonera, a Swedish telecom company, has installed new high-speed internet service near, of all places, Mount Everest’s base camp at 17,000 feet above sea level. Now folks climbing the world’s tallest mountain can use cell phones, Facebook, and Twitter on their way to the summit.
I’m sure most of you have heard that before. Even as a little child I can recall my parents often telling me to be grateful for all our family had — just count your blessings, they said.
John Cali
As those of you in the USA know, Thursday this week is Thanksgiving Day. For those of you who don’t, this is the country’s yearly celebration of giving thanks, or counting our blessings.
Spirit and I have talked about this subject in several newsletters over the years.
One of the most feared and deadly gunfighters in the Old West of the American frontier was Dr. John Henry Holliday. A strange subject for the John Cali’s Spirit Speaks Newsletter, wouldn’t you say?
John Cali
When I was younger I was a big fan of the Old West and all its colorful characters, including Doc Holliday and Buffalo Bill Cody. Buffalo Bill founded the town I now live in.
In the early1870s Doc Holliday left his dentistry practice after he discovered he had tuberculosis.
One of our readers recently asked, “I am wondering if Spirit would comment on whether he thinks activism is a useful activity.”
John Cali
Here’s the rest of her letter:
“Regarding the channeled message (she’s referring to this article, Fighting for Peace), I am wondering if Spirit would comment on whether he thinks activism is useful activity. Activism for the environment, for progressive social change, for political change, in favor of the people rather than the handful of elites, etc.
Over the years many folks have asked Spirit and me how they can learn to channel. While we don’ t teach channelling, we’re always happy to share our perspective on the process.
John Cali
One of my first recommendations to anyone wanting to channel is the book Opening to Channel by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. The book was first published many years ago, but it’s still timely and relevant.
Opening to Channel is the book that launched me on my path of channelling.… Read more
Grand Teton Mountain Range, WyomingI’m blessed to live in a rural, remote area of Wyoming far from the racket and rush of the city. It wouldn’t suit everyone, but it’s perfect for me.
One of the many things I love about Wyoming is the intimate closeness we have with the natural world. We’re literally surrounded by all things wild and wonderful — the beasts, the birds, the mountains, the vast open spaces.
This time of year is particularly beautiful.… Read more
I know this is another of our crazy-sounding titles, but bear with me and it will make sense.
John Cali
Last week I had an intensely challenging time with technology breaking down.
First my phone quit working. Then my internet service decided it needed a break, and worked only when it felt like it. Then my main computer also decided it needed a break and completely froze up. I was in technology hell.
I contacted my phone company, my internet service provider, and my trusty tech guru.… Read more
Spirit has said our pets are often our spiritual teachers. Intriguing idea, isn’t it?
John Cali
In July this year we wrote an article, Heart to Heart. In that article Spirit said this:
“Animals, especially your domestic pets (as you call them) — and especially dogs and cats — are more often than not your teachers. They have little to learn from you. But you have much to learn from them.”
I know many of us dearly love our pets and often treat them as revered family members.
Do you find it hard to forgive someone who perhaps has hurt you? Or maybe you find it hard to forgive even yourself for past misdeeds.
John Cali
I have a lifelong friend I grew up with. Though we’ve drifted apart over the years, we’re still in touch occasionally. Sue (not her real name) never got along well with her mother.
After Sue married, the estrangement grew deeper and more bitter. Eventually her mother became very ill, but lingered on a few years.
In the US, when we say someone has an “attitude,” we usually mean he or she is arrogant, opinionated, or just generally obnoxious. It’s as if having an attitude is a “bad” thing. But there are also “good” attitudes.
John Cali
A stunningly beautiful example of a good attitude is a young man named Nick Vujicic. Nick was born with no arms or legs. If you want to be inspired and uplifted, watch this short video of Nick. Then read what Spirit has to say.
The definition of “paradise,” to many folks I know, is where they live — or where they wish they lived. What does that word mean to you?
John Cali
As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, I live in a remote area populated by more wild animals than humans. It’s a beautiful place. But we have such potentially dangerous animals as rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and grizzly bears. (Though I’ve never run into any of those in all the years I’ve been here.)… Read more
I live in a remote part of the western United States. We still have plenty of wild critters roaming around out here, some of them quite dangerous.
John Cali
Among those wild critters are grizzly bears. You don’t want to get one of them mad at you. You don’t even want to be anywhere near one, mad or not.
This time of year we have lots of tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park, home to many grizzlies, about 50 miles west of here.
Are you afraid of growing old? Or maybe you’re already at that age where our society considers you old. How do you feel about aging?
John Cali
As I’ve gotten older the thing I’ve noticed most is how many folks my age (and younger) are brainwashed into believing aging is a curse. They believe their bodies must inevitably deteriorate as they move through the years. In the end they know they must die of “something.” Meaning illness or disease, usually painful.