One evening not long ago, I was confronting a personal issue that was creating some inner turmoil and sadness for me. The details don’t matter. But the way Spirit responded to me does matter.

John Cali

Late that evening, just before sunset, I went out to the little wooden deck behind my house. I could see the mountains all around. Some of the higher peaks were still covered with the snowfall of several days earlier. The sky was grey and overcast, and it matched my dark mood.… Read more

When something good happens in your life, something you’ve wanted a long time — more money, a lover, a great job, etc., what’s your reaction? Are you grateful, knowing you deserve it? Or do you think it’s just a random stroke of good luck that will never happen again?

John Cali

In Spirit’s and my conversations with many people over the years, I wouldn’t like to count the times folks have told us how unworthy and undeserving they feel. We talked a little about this in our June 27 newsletter.… Read more

You all have undoubtedly heard the quote (actually, a misquote), “Money is the root of all evil.”

John Cali

About a month ago, I read an interesting article on computer criminals in the Washington Post — you know, those folks who fill your email inbox with spam, and worse.

Among the responses to the article was this one:

Money is the root of all evil! Then again, if that were taken away, these scumbags would find some other means to exploit their fellow man.… Read more

Do you feel the need to always be right? In Spirit’s and my work over the years, we’ve seen this need as a dark, destructive force in many relationships.

John Cali

One bright, beautiful spring morning last week, I was jogging in the foothills south of my house. I passed a couple of women walking in the opposite direction. One of them was talking loudly and I couldn’t help overhearing her.

With enthusiasm and energy, she exclaimed, “I’d rather have a relationship than be right.”… Read more

Most politicians are drawn to the limelight and the media headlines like moths to a flame. But a few of them are different.

John Cali

Craig Thomas was one of those who was different.

As you may have heard, Wyoming’s senior US Senator, Craig Thomas, died last week after a brief illness. Craig was born and lived most of his life in Cody, the town I live in. He was loved and respected by almost everyone in Cody and throughout Wyoming.… Read more

Years ago, when I was much younger, I remember a funny little story about the evils of drinking alcohol. But the real message, intended or not, was not about drinking.

John Cali

Here’s how the story goes:

A father wanted to teach his son that drinking alcohol was bad. So he took a glass of whisky and dropped a worm into it. The worm immediately shriveled up and died.

Father, hoping son would get his point that alcohol could kill you, said, “So what does that mean to you?”… Read more

Many years ago when I lived in Southern California, I remember reading in one of the local newspapers a fascinating article written by Kirk Douglas.

John Cali

Last weekend I watched the Spiritual Cinema Circle’s newest feature film. The movie starred the legendary Kirk Douglas in what he said was his last performance of this lifetime. It’s a powerful movie about fathers and sons. With Father’s Day coming up Sunday, June 17, it’s a particularly timely movie.

The movie reminded me of the article Kirk wrote many years earlier.… Read more

I don’t have a “green thumb” — I’ve never succeeded at growing much except weeds. Years ago, the large lawn around our home in Virginia was a powerful testament to my lack of gardening talent. If it hadn’t been for my wife, the place would have looked like a desert.

John Cali

We have a pretty short growing season out here in northwestern Wyoming, and the landscape is green only for maybe the first six or eight weeks of summer. And then it starts to dry up again.… Read more

I clearly remember, as a young boy, being super-sensitive to other people and to situations. Often it caused me great pain and made me wonder what was “wrong” with me.

John Cali

Many years ago, just as I was starting out on a conscious, deliberate spiritual path, I attended a “new age” seminar. The whole weekend, I was amazed by all the “secrets” I, as a little child, had suspected were true. But our Catholic faith forbid us to explore them.… Read more

How much do other people’s opinions of you matter? I have to occasionally remind myself there’s only one person’s opinion that matters. And that is my own.

John Cali

The other day I saw a quote from Dale Carnegie I absolutely loved:

Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.

Our wise and wonderful animal friends are often great role models for us, are they not?… Read more

One of the most-asked questions Spirit gets in personal readings is “Why am I here – – what’s the meaning of my life?”

John Cali

Last week I was watching Tomorrow Is Today, a movie on a recent DVD from the Spiritual Cinema Circle. It reminded me of what was probably the last film I saw in a movie theater, Life Is Beautiful. That was back in the late 1990s.

The themes of both films are similar. They celebrate life and love amidst daunting, terrifying circumstances.… Read more

We can all probably think of people in our lives whose presence uplifts us. We always feel good in their company.

John Cali

Last week I was shopping in one of the local stores. Just after I arrived, one of the young ladies who works there came in with her dog. (Life is pretty informal out here in these little western towns. As in Europe, people don’t mind if you bring your dog into a store.)

The dog was a tiny black bundle of fur — she was about eight or nine inches tall, and couldn’t have weighed more than three or four pounds.… Read more

Until the past several weeks or so, it’s been a pretty mild and dry winter here in northwestern Wyoming.

John Cali

About a month ago, I was down at Frank’s Barber Shop for my regular haircut. It’s a friendly gathering place, typical of little western towns like ours. The small group of us there were having an animated conversation, fueled mostly by Frank, the eternally effervescent proprietor.

Eventually the talk turned to the weather, as I guess it does almost everywhere in friendly little places like Frank’s Barber Shop.… Read more

This past week was a strange time here in Wyoming. But, as it turned out, it wasn’t just in Wyoming.

John Cali

Last Friday morning the weather forecast predicted a little snow, not unusual for March here in northwestern Wyoming — about an inch, the forecast said.

Well, it snowed and snowed and snowed all day and well into the night. Saturday morning we had over a foot of the white stuff sitting on the ground. In all the years I’ve lived in Wyoming, we’ve never had that much snow all at once — in the surrounding mountains, yes — but never here in the valley.… Read more

Do you ever wonder why there is so much “evil” in our modern world. And, if you believe in a divine being — call it God, Goddess, whatever you want — why does it allow all the suffering we see today on the planet?

John Cali

I recently watched the movie, Conversations With God, based on Neale Donald Walsch’s best-selling book of the same name. The movie, produced by Stephen Simon of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, chronicles the true story of Neale and how he rose from a destitute homeless person to an internationally acclaimed author.… Read more

How often do you find yourself resisting and railing against something or someone you have absolutely no control over? Frustrating, isn’t it? I’ve found myself in that situation more times than I care to think about — or admit.

John Cali

I took a break from my work one day last week to walk up into the foothills south of town where I usually jog. It was a really windy day. I’ve talked before about the famous (or, depending on your perspective, infamous) Wyoming winds.… Read more

Has it ever taken you a long while to get the answer to a vexing question or problem? And then when you do get the answer, you’re amazed at how simple it really is. Often it’s just been sitting there in front of you, but you didn’t notice.

John Cali

The other day I was talking to a computer technician about some problems I was having with one of our computers. I’d talked to several technicians over several months, but none of them could come up with a solution.… Read more

How do you view your physical body? As your friend, or your enemy? Or something in between? You know — a nuisance you gotta put up with.

John Cali

Over the years of my work with Spirit, I’ve observed a clear pattern emerging around the issues most people are concerned about. The four big ones are work/career; relationships, especially romantic ones; money/abundance; and physical health. Today we’re going to talk about physical health.

I’m always surprised, when I talk to family and friends, how many of us expect to deteriorate physically as we grow older.… Read more

Do you ever wonder if your life matters to others, even to those you love? Do you ever think you could be making a real, positive difference in their lives?

John Cali

I have a dear friend I’ve known about 30 years. We don’t see each other much, as she lives in the eastern United States and I’m in Wyoming. But we stay in touch.

She’s been ill with a rare, potentially fatal, disease for some years now. She recently came through her eighth surgery.… Read more

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your own thoughts? As if your mind was controlling you instead of the other way around?

John Cali

It often amazes me how much we can learn by simply observing ourselves. Especially when we do it deliberately and as objectively as possible.

I’ve been doing that with myself this past month or so. As much as I pride myself on being on a conscious, deliberate path of personal and spiritual growth, it surprises me how easily I can stray from the path.… Read more

Since today is Valentine’s Day we’re going to talk about matters of the heart. When we choose to follow our hearts instead of all the outside influences shouting at us, we’re always guided perfectly. Whether we’re talking about romantic relationships or simply finding our way through our lives — or through an airport.

John Cali

The other night I had a vivid and fascinating dream lasting almost the whole night. The next morning I awoke, not feeling rested but drained, as if I’d been working all night.… Read more

In these newsletters I’ve occasionally talked about the beauty of my Wyoming home. It truly is a magical place. But there’s magic in every place, no matter where we live or travel.

John Cali

I’ve written before about the beautiful foothills above my little town where I go running almost every day.

From those hills you get a spectacular view of the town and the big valley stretching far beyond it.

The mountains surrounding the valley glisten with a golden-amber light I’ve rarely seen in other places.… Read more

Lately I’ve been thinking about how interconnected we all are. Especially after reading a recent article in the Washington Post.

John Cali

Last week I was reading an article about three young, successful businessmen, all multi-millionaires. Names you might recognize. The article talked about their flight in a plush private jet to Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

It was a fascinating article with insights into the trio’s business and personal lives, and their relationships with each other.… Read more