Quiet Waters: The Ultimate Release by Hans Brockhuis

As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death. ~ Leonardo da Vinci

SoulCarriedtoHeavenSoul Carried To Heaven
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905)

One of the few certainties in life is that for all of us the day will come that we are going to leave earth. That very day we will have lived our life. Perhaps as a series of events that have gone by. But maybe you have tried to denote every major incident, to do something with it, and then went on with the feeling you have really learned something.Read more

Is Your Mind Driving You Crazy? by John Cali

Image by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri

Buddha once said “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

Until I started meditating many years ago, my mind really was driving me crazy. I can still get distracted, but I’ve found meditation to be a powerful tool for quieting my mind—and body too.

Our modern world holds many distractions. This is not necessarily a bad thing.Read more

Can You Heal Your Body Without Doctors? by John Cali

Witch Doctor Healing by Malcolm Lidbury

A recent article in The Independent, a British news site, reported Pentecostal church pastors in Britain were telling their church members with the AIDS virus to rely on God for healing—and to ignore medical doctors.

At first I thought the pastors were being foolhardy and irresponsible. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.

As one of the pastors in the article said, “…we believe that the first healing comes from inside, it’s a spiritual healing.Read more

You Are the Universe by John Cali

There’s an expression in Sanskrit, “Aham brahmasmi.” It means “I am the universe and the universe is me.”

My spirit guides have often said we are not our physical bodies. However, most of us identify the person we call “I” with our physical bodies. So if we are not our bodies, who are we? Where are we? What are we?

If the Sanskrit expression is right, and I believe it is, then whatever we perceive to be “out there” is really in here, within each of us.Read more

Are You Happy? Part 2 by John Cali

We had some interesting and insightful responses to our article, Are You Happy?, earlier this week. So today we’re going to talk again about happiness.

Here are a few more of my favorite happiness quotations:

  • Through practices of self-awareness, you will establish an unshakable baseline of happiness through all of life’s ups and downs. ~ Deepak Chopra
  • Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.

Read more

Are You Happy? by John Cali

Spirit and I have talked about happiness many times over the years. Although they and I firmly believe we were meant to be happy in this lifetime, no matter what our circumstances, I know so few truly happy people. Often that’s because they look for happiness where they will never find it.

Today I want to share with you some of my favorite happiness quotations:

  • Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.

Read more

The End of Life by John Cali

Last weekend around the dinner table, I was talking to some of my family about death. Not a subject most people want to sit around casually discussing at dinner. But death comes to us all, and we all think about it, at least now and then. Not necessarily in a somber, macabre way, but in simply acknowledging death is part of life.

Many years ago, I read the book Final Exit by Derek Humphry. As the book’s subtitle says, it’s about “the practicalities of self-deliverance and assisted suicide for the dying.”… Read more

Reader Question: What Stories Do You Tell About Yourself? by John Cali

When we were younger my family and friends loved to sit around a campfire telling stories. The stories were often about our own lives — the joys, the sorrows, the good times, the tough times.

Often we believed those stories defined us. Yet, as Deepak Chopra says, “Freedom lies in separating yourself from your story.”

Last month after we published our newsletter article What’s Your Story? one of our readers sent us a question.

Reader’s Question:

The reader first quotes the final paragraph of our article, followed by his question, which I’ve edited slightly.… Read more

The Heart of the Matter by John Cali

Medical research shows most heart attacks happen between 6:00 a.m. and noon, with Monday mornings being the most common time.

You don’t have to be a cardiologist to understand the research. As with so many other dis-eases, heart problems are often caused by stress. The first part of the day is the most stressful for many, as they contemplate all they have to do that day.

But why Monday mornings? Well, you could make a logical argument that since Mondays are the first day of most people’s work week, that’s the time of highest stress — especially if you hate your job.… Read more

What’s Your Story? by John Cali

One day as I was grocery shopping I happened to hear two ladies discussing their woes. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but could not help overhear them. They were not talking quietly.

Both were having health problems. They were describing their problems in great detail to each other. This went on for quite a while, and I finally moved to another part of the store, out of earshot.

I see nothing wrong with acknowledging problems, whether they be health issues or anything else.… Read more

How To Harness the Power of Meditation by John Cali

In private readings Spirit often advises people to meditate. I think that’s great advice. I’ve been meditating over 30 years, and it’s immeasurably enriched my life.

So how can you harness the power of meditation? I asked Spirit that question, and here’s what they said.

Spirit

The power of meditation lies in the fact it removes you from the distractions and attractions of your daily lives, for however long you meditate.

Meditation doesn’t have to take a long time. Even 10 or 15 minutes a day is fine.… Read more

Religion by John Cali

I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I practiced my religion faithfully for many years. Then I began to “lose the faith” — literally. I became disillusioned with what I perceived to be a judgemental, controlling, closed society, almost a cult. So I left.

I realize that’s not everyone’s experience with Catholicism, or any other religion. Many of my family remain faithful Catholics, and their religion brings them a peace and sense of community they would not otherwise have.… Read more