The Depression Epidemic by John Cali

According to Andrew Weil, MD, “…some substantial percentage of the depression epidemic is manufactured by the medical-pharmaceutical industry.” He goes on to say the industry has convinced many people that ordinary sadness is an abnormal condition, a “disease” that should be treated with drugs.

But even if that “substantial percentage” is removed, Dr, Weil continues, it still leaves us with a huge number of folks with unexplained depression. The number has increased the past 50 years. Depression is particularly widespread in industrialized countries, especially the United States.… Read more

Addictions Revisited by John Cali

We received some interesting comments about last week’s newsletter article, Addictions. Here are a couple of excerpts from two different people:

“What does Spirit have to say about AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and similar organizations? I mean, if by joining AA (someone) gains a clearer understanding of the precious Being that he/she is, isn’t that a good thing?”

“I remember my mother telling me, ‘Therapy is supposed to be a way back to life, not a way of life.’”

Then I received an email from my dear friend, Mikala St.… Read more

Addictions by John Cali

When we talk about addictions, we usually think of such issues as drugs, alcohol, sex, tobacco, food, etc. But addictions are not limited to those.

Until the past few years, in my own personal thinking, I had pretty much limited my idea of addictions to those. But there are far more addictions than the “standard” ones. And, in my opinion, our society mostly fails to understand and treat the underlying causes of addictions.

Here’s Spirit.

Spirit

You all came to this incarnation with the innate knowing that feeling good is your natural state of being.… Read more

The Myth of Jesus by John Cali

Our friend, Melody Fletcher, publishes a great blog, Deliberate Receiving, all about Law of Attraction. She recently wrote a blog post, If We Create Our Own Reality, How Did Jesus Get Crucified?

An obviously thought-provoking title, especially if you grew up Christian, as I did.
Here are some thoughts on the subject — from me, my spirit guides, and Seth (the spirit guide channelled by Jane Roberts).

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I abandoned the traditional Christian view of Jesus many years ago. As a result, my family is still wondering if he’s going to “save” me, or if I will burn in hell.… Read more

The Peaceful Mind by John Cali

In our article two weeks ago we talked about the ways modern society poisons our minds. This week we’re talking about the opposite end of the spectrum — the peaceful mind.

Meister Eckhart once said “The quieter the mind, the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling, and more perfect the prayer is.”

I’ve been meditating over 30 years, though I do not consider myself an expert at it. I continually explore the teachings of those I do consider experts, such as Eckhart Tolle in our video of the week.… Read more

Botox Revisited by John Cali

A while back we wrote an article, Botox and Beauty. In that article we talked about a mother who was regularly giving her eight-year-old daughter Botox injections.

Just today I came across the story of a father giving his 18-year-old daughter breast implants. The father happens to be a plastic surgeon. He’s also done plastic surgery on two older daughters, in their early 20s, and other family members.

Quite apart from the ethics of a doctor operating on his own family, I was surprised (though I should not have been) at what the 18-year-old said.… Read more

The Illusion of Time by John Cali

Plenty of scientific studies have shown people can project their thoughts to other people, as with mental telepathy. Most of us have experienced some form of telepathy. Today folks talk openly about it since it’s no longer a taboo topic.

Telepathy often happens instantly, with no apparent passage of time, and regardless of distance. Some studies have even shown when people send telepathic messages, the receivers get the messages days before they were actually sent.

How is that possible? If we believe in linear time it’s not possible.… Read more

Pets: Our Teachers and Healers by John Cali

I just came across an article we wrote years ago, but never published on our website. I thought it appropriate this week since we’ve been talking about animals lately.

Spirit

Your domestic pets, especially dogs and cats, are one of the greatest gifts humanity has ever received. We realize you sometimes take these delightful creatures for granted — just as you sometimes do your fellow humans.

Pets are not in your lives solely for your entertainment, though they certainly do entertain you.… Read more

Wholeness by John Cali

posted in: Blog, channeling | 14

We’ve talked about this subject many times before, but it keeps coming up in my conversations with folks. The other day a friend referred to his wife as his “better half.” It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that expression, and I do not like it any better now than I did long ago.

Are we really incomplete, only half a person, without another, especially a romantic partner? I know many folks, including me, who’ve lived happily alone for years.… Read more

Are You Poisoning Yourself? by John Cali

posted in: Articles, Blog | 5

My spirit guides, or “Spirit” as I call them, have often counseled against immersing ourselves in the mainstream news media every day.

In this very short video, Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh talks about “mindful consumption.”

Spirit

(Note from John: This message from Spirit is a bit sterner than they usually give us. But I think it’s a good message, and timely for our world today.)

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As John said, we have often advised people to not “consume” a steady diet of mainstream news.… Read more

Kindness Prevails

posted in: Blog, channeling, inspiration | 22

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. ~ Princess Diana

fruits-kindness-love

 

I may be taking liberties here, but I would change Princess Diana’s words to “…one day someone will do the same for you.”

In today’s world of political turmoil with angry people regularly spewing venom at each other, there certainly does not appear to be much kindness. The news media often highlight the cruelty of people toward each other.… Read more

The Raccoon by John Cali

Strange title for a spiritual newsletter article, isn’t it?

My spirit guides often say animals can be our best teachers. Even most of those creatures who’ve been horribly abused by humans rarely seem to lose their capacity for joy, love, and simply being fully present in the moment.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates in California took a raccoon under her wing after authorities found the poor creature in a two-by-two-foot cage. He’d been imprisoned there four years, without adequate food or water.… Read more

Talking To God by John Cali

One of the most common questions folks ask us is “How can I communicate with my higher self?” Or “How can I talk to God?” Both are essentially the same question.

Another question we’re asked is “How can I begin to channel?” But, again, it’s the same question.

My spirit guides have always said we cannot not talk to God, because God is always talking to us — and in many ways. It’s just that we’re not always listening.

Here is a great short video from Neale Donald Walsch about not only how to talk to God, but also how to get answers.… Read more

Alone by John Cali

How comfortable are you when you’re alone? If you’re like a lot of folks, you probably avoid being alone as much as possible.

Then there are those who actually enjoy being alone. I’m one of them. I love people, but I also need my “alone time.” And I’m never bored or lonely.

Here’s a great video with some practical tips on how to be alone, and the benefits of alone time.

Here’s Spirit.

All humans need “alone time,” to use John’s phrase.… Read more

Having Fun Can Save Your Life by John Cali

Anatomy of an Illness, a 1979 New York Times best-selling book, tells the inspiring story of Norman Cousins’ full recovery from a crippling disease, simply by having fun.

Those of you who’ve been around as long as I have probably remember Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review. Cousins and the magazine are long gone, but his story is unforgettable. He used the power of laughter and comedy to cure himself of a life-threatening disease. In other words, by having fun.… Read more

Happiness Is a Choice by John Cali

US President Abraham Lincoln once said “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.”

Do you believe that?

We’ve talked about this subject publicly and privately many times over the years. I agree with President Lincoln. But not everyone does.

This past week has been one of our busier ones around here. So we’re revisiting an article on happiness we published several years ago.… Read more

Your Amazing Body by John Cali

Spirit often talks about the self-healing powers of our bodies. Yet we sometimes question and doubt those powers. Or we interfere with them, though not normally by deliberate intent.

An article I recently read talked about our bodies’ amazing abilities, not only to heal themselves, but also to regenerate themselves. Research is ongoing. But, according to the article, the human body can regenerate its liver, heart, red blood cells, brain cells, digestive tract cells, skin, and so on.

Here are some of Spirit’s thoughts on the human body.… Read more

Love Is a Choice by John Cali

Many years ago Spirit gave me their definition of love, and it’s the definition I’ve stayed with ever since: “Love is a choice to see the divinity in all beings.”

So what does that really mean?

For me, it means love is not a feeling, an emotion – which is the way I used to view it. And many folks still do. Certainly we feel emotion around a person or an animal we love. But true love goes beyond the feelings, the emotions.… Read more

Feeling Jittery by John Cali

The past few days I’ve been feeling jittery. You know – nervous, unable to concentrate, scattered thoughts, etc. This is totally out of character for me. I’m normally calm, focused, and peaceful. So it came a most unpleasant surprise.

Spirit “popped in” a night or two ago when I was feeling particularly disturbed by the “jitters.” Here’s what they said.

Spirit

Many of you, especially the more spiritually aware, are feeling “jittery,” as John said. This is nothing to be concerned about.… Read more

The Ripple Effect by John Cali

We never know how even a single small act of kindness will affect others. And possibly transform their lives.

Here’s a great video about how powerfully our thoughts and actions can touch the lives of others.

Here’s Spirit.

We often hear humans bemoaning their lack of power. Most of you feel powerful only when you group together. It doesn’t matter how small or large the group. Simply being part of a group gives you a sense of power.

Yet that power you feel as part of a group is in some ways an illusion.… Read more

2012: The End of the World? by John Cali

posted in: Articles, Blog | 18

Last week my spirit guides told me “Your world could end in 2012.” Not the most uplifting news to hear.

As you probably know, for years the doomsayers have been predicting the end of our world when the Mayan calendar supposedly ends in December 2012. Hollywood even made a horror movie based on that scenario.

I’m sure there are some folks whose world really will end in 2012. Let me explain.… Read more

A God of Hatred by John Cali

posted in: Articles, Blog | 1

Spirit recently said something to me that I thought was as profound as it was brief:

“Religion divides. Spirituality unites.”

John Cali

Two prominent news stories in the United States today are the upcoming presidential election and the death of Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs. Both events are being used and misused as platforms for those with a religious or political agenda.… Read more

Right and Wrong by John Cali

posted in: Blog, channeling | 3

I recently heard a wonderfully wise and witty speech by Brene Brown. She talked briefly about religion:

“Religion has gone from a belief in faith and mystery to certainty. I’m right, you’re wrong, shut up.”

That superior condescending attitude applies not only to religion, but also to other areas of our modern society. Politics, for example. And even personal relationships.

I grew up in a large Roman Catholic Italian family. Many of them are still Catholic today, or at least Christian.… Read more

Love Is Not Enough by John Cali

posted in: Articles, Blog | 4

John Cali

A long time ago, in the dim and distant recesses of my memory, I remember one of the darkest times of my life. My young son, then about seven years old, his mother, and I were sitting together talking about a deeply troubling and painful situation in our lives.

We were working, struggling our way through this devilishly difficult conversation. Our son, wise little one that he was (and still is, though not so little any more), thought love was the answer to the seeming dilemma.… Read more