Many years ago, my local Boy Scout troop went on trip to Philmont, the Boy Scout ranch in northeastern New Mexico. It was a fun trip, full of adventures, but often tiring for a group of teenage boys.
One of our adventures was a full-day backpacking trip into the mountains. I’ll never forget when we got back to our base camp that day, and released our backpacks. I felt so light, as if I was flying, free of all that weight.… Read more
Many folks, perhaps including you, are suffering financially because of the coronavirus. Some have lost their jobs, their life savings, nearly all their financial support. This includes some among our friends and families.
These times are among the most challenging and heartbreaking many have experienced in this entire lifetime.
Let’s begin with what money really is. It is not little strips of paper or metal pieces, especially so-called “precious metals.”
These things are valuable only because humans consider them valuable.… Read more
Lately, we’ve been talking about the coronavirus. While we do not want to dwell on it too much, we realize it’s been preying on nearly everyone’s minds.
As Spirit has said before, the fear around the virus is worse than the virus itself. The big question is “How much protection do you need?”
Lately, Berna and Spirit have held a series of question-and-answer talks. Occasionally, we’ll be using some of those for posts. Today is the first one.
Many years ago, I had a dream about standing in the middle of a cornfield, as a man, in the 18th or 19th century.… Read more
In this time of fear and isolation due to the coronavirus, many folks are feeling lost and lonely. But you never walk alone.
Many of you often feel disconnected, disjointed if you will, in your chaotic world today. But, as we and many spiritual teachers have reminded you, you never walk alone.
God will never abandon his children. God will never abandon her/himself, for you are all part of God. You are God.
The problem many of you are facing is you do not recognize the many ways God speaks to you.… Read more
John
You might be wondering what creativity and the coronavirus have to do with each other. Here are some ideas for you to consider.
Berna
The past few weeks, people have been experiencing much difficulty, fear, and pain. However, the situation around the virus has brought many good things on all levels and aspects of society. To mention a few:
There are also creative ways, often combined with humor, being invented for spending time at home, and for preventing further downfall of businesses.… Read more
Tomorrow, various traditions around the world will observe Easter Sunday. What is Easter? Here’s Spirit’s perspective.
The religious cultures many of you have experienced have misled you on the true meaning of Easter.
You were taught Jesus suffered and died an agonizing death on the cross—all to atone for your “sins.”
We realize what we’re saying here will certainly be controversial among some, perhaps even blasphemous.
But Jesus did not die for your sins. He never had any intention of doing that.… Read more
This week, Spirit has a few more words about last week’s coronavirus post.
When the coronavirus is over, you will enter into that golden age you have long dreamt of. It will be a time when you cherish and love one another more deeply than ever before. And you will cherish and love yourselves more deeply than ever before.
Your bond and love with the God within grants you immunity like nothing else can.… Read more
There is no passion so contagious as that of fear. ~ Michel de Montaigne
One of our readers asked us what country the coronavirus started in. Spirit’s short answer did not address that specific question, but the broader meaning of the virus.
Sometimes the universe will send you a seeming catastrophe in a blatant move to wake you up. (Coronavirus, for example.)
You, your world, your countries have been fighting and warring with each other for centuries. Where has that gotten you?… Read more
The only way you will ever live fully in the visible world is to acknowledge the reality of the invisible world. ~ Spirit
As humans with limited vision, we often ask ourselves, “Will I face judgement after death?” Spirit’s answer, below, likely will sound harsh to some. But the message is clear.
Many of you, including Johnny, grew up in deceptive, manipulative religious cultures. You learned to fear God, to fear Satan, to fear life, to fear death. Above all, you learned to fear judgement after death.… Read more
Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. ~ Eckhart Tolle
I started using computers years ago. Back then, I never dreamed we’d be living in today’s world filled with sometimes–deadly digital distractions.
I love technology. I could not do this work without it. But I set limits.
Berna and I recently spent six days in New York City. We noticed probably 80% of the people walking the streets had their eyes glued to their phones. Several of them nearly ran into us for lack of attention.… Read more
One of my favorite historical figures is French writer and pioneer aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. He once said, “War is not an adventure. It is a disease. It is like typhus.”
Back in 1950, folk singer and songwriter Ed McCurdy wrote the song, Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. It’s an anti-war song. Ironically, 1950 was the year North Korea and South Korea went to war with each other.
That war eventually embroiled 21 other countries.… Read more
Every day you look out at the world around you through the doors of your perception. How real is that perception? What if you’re making it all up?
You may have heard the story about a wise old guru who always had the perfect answer for every question.
One day, someone told the guru he was moving to Chicago, and wanted to know what the city was like. The old guru asked, “What is the city where you live now like?”… Read more
(Death) is a condition that we have brought upon ourselves so that we may pass into a greater condition with greater possibilities. ~ Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East
Our title today, Victory Over Death, may sound ridiculous to some folks. After all, isn’t death the ultimate victor, the winner in this game of life? Don’t all things end in death?
And, as A Course in Miracles says, “Where there is death, peace is impossible.”… Read more
You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. ~ Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 161-180 A.D.
It’s story time again.
A few weeks ago, I was in my office intending to write a list of what I wanted to do the next day. I picked up my old-fashioned fountain pen, which I love writing with. The ink was low, as I hadn’t used it in a while.
The bottle of fountain pen ink in my desk drawer was almost empty.… Read more
Chief Joseph Highway, Wyoming, USA
The great legendary Nez Perce Chief Joseph once said, “All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.”
I would, respectfully, slightly change Joseph’s words: “All people were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers and sisters.”
In today’s chaotic, contentious world, it seems oneness, particularly global oneness, is simply a distant dream, destined to remain forever only a dream.
Will we ever achieve perfect oneness on this beautiful planet of ours?… Read more
The hopeful man sees…sunshine where others see shadows and storm. ~ O.S. Marden
On a clear sunny day a few weeks ago, I was walking down the driveway to my mailbox. I was facing the rising sun. I glanced at the snow-covered ground in front of me. Seeing my shadow there, I thought nothing about it. Although it was a bit strange-looking. Then it hit me.
If I was facing the sun, my shadow should have been behind me! Not in front.… Read more
There is a spirit that guides us, if we will listen. It speaks softly. In order to hear it we must still our thoughts and meditate. ~ Frederick Lenz
Someone recently asked us what spirit guides really do. This was Spirit’s and my answer:
Well, I can only answer from my own perspective and experience with my spirit guides over many years.
First, be aware of the various ways they can communicate with you. For me, it’s generally a strong sense of their presence and energy, especially when you have a question or issue they can help you with.… Read more
2020 is the start of your new year, and a new decade. It’s also the end of an era—an era where all the old ways are crumbling and falling away.
In 2020 you’re going to see even more upheaval and changes than you have in this past decade. The changes will be on every level: personal, individual, family, country, your entire planet.
You have nothing to be upset about, or to fear. This has been a long time in coming.… Read more
Forgiveness is God’s command. ~ Martin Luther
I grew up in an oppressive religious environment, as I know many of you did. I can think of stronger words. But “oppressive” will do for now.
One of my church’s most prominent teachings painted an image of God as a fierce and vengeful old white man. If you didn’t do as he said (really, what the church said he said), you were headed for hell and eternal damnation.
Sound familiar?
You have undoubtedly heard much about forgiveness, especially if you travel in spiritual circles.… Read more
This is a true story. You might call it a Christmas story. But we’ve changed the names, identities, and other details to protect the privacy of the people involved.
One winter morning long ago, Ann sent a strange email to her close friend Joan. Joan’s Uncle Joe, who’d passed over years earlier, had visited Ann the night before.
Joan’s brother Tony was on a work assignment in a war zone on the other side of the world. Recently, there had been a surge in the violence and bloodshed there.… Read more
The True Spirit of Christmas Is Love
This week we’re featuring an article by my dear friend and brother, Ted Murray. Ted’s an accomplished writer and spiritual teacher. He’s also a great tennis coach.
In Ted’s message, he asks a timely question: “What does the Christmas spirit mean to you?”
Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, as it may not be a part of your culture or upbringing. However, the essence of Christmas as a way of life is universal, and it would be wonderful if it wasn’t limited to one season of the year or to one particular religion.… Read more
One of our readers asked us about this issue:
I understand that the rule in the animal world is: eat or be eaten. But I can’t understand why a cat “plays” for fun with a mouse before he kills the mouse. That seems so (unnecessarily) cruel.
We’ve written about animals a few times in the past. This post is a bit different from those earlier ones.
You’re imposing upon animals human characteristics. Animals, wild or domestic, never hold cruel intentions.… Read more
On the one hand you take life too seriously, and on the other, you do not take playful existence seriously enough. ~ Seth, channeled by Jane Roberts
My spirit guides have often said life should be joyful, every part of it—even the end part, which we call death.
I come from a large Sicilian immigrant family. So we’ve had many funerals over the years. There was one funeral I’ll never forget—my mother’s.… Read more
Learning to forgive is much more useful than merely picking up a stone and throwing it at the object of one’s anger, the more so when the provocation is extreme. For it is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others. ~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
You’ve probably heard about Amber Guyger, the Dallas, Texas police officer who shot and killed Botham Jean, an unarmed black man. The officer is white.… Read more
Many of us grew up being taught to always seek help and wisdom outside ourselves. Growing up in a Roman Catholic family, that was certainly my experience. And maybe yours too.