Spiritual Awareness

Final Essay for Spiritual Awareness Course

By: Rev. Cynthia Ewing

When I started this course, I was not expecting a lot from it. I was already in the middle of taking the Spirit-Quest Class and thought that the Awareness class would be a lot like the other class. As I finished the class I found myself taking away more pearls of knowledge.

The first pearl I took from this class was that mankind is definitely awakening from its slumber. I know I have seen this before, but did not take as large a notice to it in the past. I see my family for one start to awaken. My sister, who I would not expect to be using metaphysical tools, has been using them on her children to help them in their waking and sleeping hours. I think she is just starting to understand what tools she is truly using.

The next pearl is not new to me either. Our thoughts are very powerful. Because we are in this murky third dimension we do not believe that our thoughts play a large role in shaping our lives. We believe that if we do what is right and expected of us that everything will go well. Our thoughts bring in the opportunities or the difficulties we ask for. If we think in a negative manner and speak in one, we bring negative events into our lives. It is therefore important for everyone to think in a positive manner. The whole key is spinning the negative into the positive. One must pay attention to ones thoughts.

Keeping our energy our own is another important pearl. I have had many experiences in my life where I have given away my own energy in a relationship without realizing what I was doing. Rev. King describes it so well when she talks about starting a new relationship. You feel like you are flying high. Then one day you realize that either you or the other person is trying to control the other. The person is put down or made to feel inferior. They are feeding off of the other's energy. This can also happen in other types of relationships. In a parent-child relationship, my Mother was constantly trying to take my energy. She felt inadequate and was willing to take it out on me. In this course I was able to see our relationship a little differently. There are more than a couple views in a relationship.

Rev. King also spoke of tapping into the universal energy and using it to help our environment. I drove around at lunch time one day after reading the lesson and marveled at the beauty that was all around. I also noticed shadows and nuances that brought to my attention hidden things. We can use the universal energy to help our planet and therefore help ourselves if we just open ourselves up to a power larger than ourselves. If we close ourselves off to this source it just stands to separate us even more from the Light and in the process making us feel very alone.

I feel privileged to have been able to take this course. I found the insights to be very helpful to my mission. They have helped me to understand my relationship with my mother on a different level. They have also given me some pearls of wisdom that I can pass on to others who seek my counsel and advice. I have read the Celestine Prophecy many years ago and did not get this much information out of the book itself. I guess I was not ready at that time. Thank you for the experience.

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

Metaphysical Healing Final Essay

By Rev. Patricia Buben

I really enjoyed the course in Metaphysical Healing and came out with much more knowledge about the Chakra system, how the chakras align to the glands, the layers of the aura and the function of the aura.

It is interesting how similar metaphysical healing is to Reiki. The big difference is that there are attunement processes in Reiki that help to balance, align and open the chakras. Both methods align to the Universal Energy Field and can be bring Universal Energy into the body systems to cleanse and heal the body. The aura and energy anatomy are actually the blueprint for the body. Illnesses and imbalances show up in the energy field first, before they affect the body through disease. In this way, disturbances can be felt by the healer while scanning the auric field and can be remedied by bringing in Universal Energy even before the physical body is affected.

Hands-on healing has been used for many centuries by spiritual healers inside and outside of religion. It is referenced in the Bible and is the most ancient of healing techniques. It seems to be making a comeback in the forms of Therapeutic touch, Polarity therapy and Reiki.

The metaphysical healer has many tools in helping a client heal. Positive affirmations, visualization and meditation techniques help to prepare a client for healing and puts them into a higher energy state which can help to make the hands-on healing session more effective. Healing is strongly connected to spirituality as it is believed that Universal Energy Field is directly from God.

There is also the concept of absent or distance healing where the healer uses a representation of the client (can be a picture) and performs the healing service without the client being in the room.

As a Reiki practitioner, there are many techniques I can add from this course. I like the idea of using affirmations, visualizations and meditation to the practice of Reiki to help the client get into the right frame of mind for healing and also to use them on an ongoing basis to help the client relax when under stress.

In summary, this class was very well written, presented much detailed information about the body systems and integrated everything very well. Hands-on healing has become very popular over the last 10-15 years and I think it is important for people in the healing professions and ministers to understand how it works so that they can advise their parishioners as to the value of it as well as include healing services into the churches.

**********************

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spiritual Awareness

Spiritual Awareness   As a Reiki III Master I have practice positive healing energies on both myself and others for many year but the Spiritual awareness class had made me aware of other channels of energy as well and how to work with them.  Often what appeared at first to be heath issues has turned out to be negative energies draining the body that are being sent by others.  Thus now I cleanse the negative energies before I even start to use healing energies, often this alone restores health to the body. When I find this the case then I teach the person to do this for themselves for if we have enemies they continue sending us these negative energies as long as they have them their selves and want to blame others for it.  Using the system taught in this class I have coupled it with a positive energy of love to aid the negative person to gain healing too if they so choose.  I find seldom does the negative energy stop by just telling it to stop thus I send back what they have received and triple it if necessary so they feel the pain the are sending but then I place a crown of thorns around that individual where the thick energy is trapped from being sent out again but then I go a step forward and send an energy of white light and love through the thorns as love energy is light and can move easily and the negative is a heavy, thick energy and cannot pass through the thorns.  Thus for a while the person sending out this negative energy is weakening themselves to the point they must stop sending it out, for it only rebounds and then in the weakened stage they become still and can finally feel the strength of the love energy I am sending to them and thus not only is the person I am working with finds healing the other person does too if they are willing to let go of their anger and do so.  Often these are not bad, mean people but folks who feel trapped in life and cannot find a way out and  thus they find others to blame and send out this pain to them as a sub conscious call for help themselves. This new Spiritual Awareness has served me well and hopefully will do so for the many I am called on to help, as well.  Rev. Linda Francis ********************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

Spirituality Course

This was a challenging course that provoked much inner thought. It is near impossible to know what to pick for this discussion. Perhaps one of the most interesting lessons was that on different spiritual philosophies. Here we learn of stoicism that played an important role in defining much of Christianity. 

The stoics believed there was no higher God than reason, a direct challenge to Christianity so it was interesting to uncover why stoicism was such an important tenet for Christianity. Stoicism says that everything may be understood through reason, and the Christians equated reason with God, so all things can be understood through God. This is a very profound statement. In spiritual development, to achieve true growth we must seek reason, we must understand concepts and understand God. The stoical Christian tenet says effectively that true understanding comes through connecting with God. 

This leads to the crucial statement of the lesson "understanding what influences us makes us better ministers". This is certainly true. To be able to act as a minister for others we need a true understanding ourselves – an understanding that must act on all levels. How can we lead others when we are searching in the dark ourselves. This does not mean that one must achieve perfection to minister, but it does mean that we need to understand the means for working towards perfection. Here, stoicism progresses to give revelations – that God is energy (and therefore part of everything as with the divine spark I discussed in the paganism essay) and that the way to oneness with god is to accept this existence and therefore god, exactly as it is.

The next key point of the lesson is that the bible is not the only source of Christian ethics and it goes on to show the key philosophical thinkers who shaped Christianity such as Saint Augustine. This gave rise to many of the concepts that have been accepted as Christian truth, coming from God, when they were not. These include pre-destination, the idea that only the chosen may go to heaven, and it was this that powered the inquisition and the burning times. This lesson shows one of the key points of the whole course, that spiritualism involves questioning, that nothing should be taken on trust, and that with an inquiring mind we can come to true understanding.

Again, an excellent course and I thank the creator for the wisdom it contained.

Rev. Sue Bellworthy

********************

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

Spiritualism

An interesting concept from this course was the discussion about not being able to learn anything if you already thought you knew about it. This ties in with the concept of each of us finding our own path to god. Believing that we alone have the secret formula, the one true way to reach god, divides us from all others, when we should instead be recognizing and celebrating the gift of our own unique experience of God’s creation.

Much horror has been perpetrated in the world in the name of God. Believing that we alone know the truth is a very dangerous idea. It is only in recognizing that we are all travelers on the road, searching for the way to whatever our own concept of God may be, that can we be freed of the human ego trip of being right and justified in our actions.

The second concept I found of interest was the one about scientists in their white lab coats. The white lab coat being a form of spiritual dress for the religion of science rang a bell within me. I find this idea to be very true.

Western civilization has embraced the notion of reality being only that which we can demonstrate, prove and repeat under controlled conditions. The problem inherent in this is that we have no way of actually verifying or observing anything other than through our own senses. And by their very nature our senses limit us. A dog can hear and smell things that we can not perceive because of the limitations of our physical senses. Does that mean that what the dog smells or hears does not exist, because we can not hear or smell it?

That is the type of logic on which scientific experiment is based. More and more we are finding that as we create more sensitive devices we are detecting things that science did not admit the existence of in the past. How much of what we believe will be proven false by the very science that created our beliefs to begin with? We have latched on to science as the new religion although few would look at it in that way.

The interesting thing is that now the science of quantum physics has brought science back to the idea of God. Science is now demonstrating that the hard fast rules we thought the universe was working by are not so hard and fast as we thought. Quantum physics is not yet a household word. But as more and more people are confronted with it, we will be forced as a society to acknowledge that the spiritual has a real place in our lives.

As a minister I struggle with finding my place in the world. My life has been rich because of the spiritual dimension that gifts me with a true appreciation of how wondrous the world is and what a blessing it is to be alive, even in its most painful moments. But my own experiences and beliefs do not put me in a position of being able to counsel others on how they should approach life. I try to be open and listen, to perhaps point out things I see from my perspective. But, the ministry does not confer the right to impose anything on those who seek our help. It is many times difficult to stand back and be gentle, when the impulse is to rush in with what is after all, only my own opinion, the fruit of my own experience.

The ministry is both an opportunity and a burden in many respects. The opportunity lies is seeing the ministry as a prod to always examine what it is that motivates us. It gives us frequent pushes in the direction of self growth. The burden lies in the fact that it is a way to feed the ego. It is only too easy to succumb to the belief that as ministers we are closer to God than others are. The final lesson in this course spoke to that in a very real way.

We are all only fellow travelers, one no better than the other, just on a different road, at a different point in the journey. The only clear thing I can see is that our society is in a spiritual crisis, longing to find some meaning in our existence. If there is any place that I believe we as ministers can truly be of help, it is in reaching out and affirming that there is no one right way of finding God. We must all struggle to find our connection, and only in respecting each man’s right to choose his own path can we support each other.

Rev. Cynthia Boelens

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

Metaphysical Healing

As with spirit quest – it is impossible to detail all I have learned in this excellent course. To deal with the aspects I found hardest to accept first. My main problem is with the shamanic approach to illness, the view that illness is self-created and that anything can be relieved by the power of thought. While I agree that mental attitude has a great effect on recovery from illness, I can’t accept that illness is self-caused in all cases. There are too many illnesses that just don’t seem to fit the pattern quite apart from accidents, birth abnormalities etc.

This aside, the other methods described in the course are definitely ones that I shall continue to use in the future. For example, I like the concept of past life regression as a tool for healing the present by unraveling complex behavior loops and to explain choices and preferences in the current incarnation. Equally valuable are the methods of energy healing including reiki, which have produced some excellent results in my hands. Combining energy healing with assessment of the aura and of the chakras greatly increases its power. As a rule I find it easier to sense the aura with my hands rather than see it with my eyes, and yet my hands can sense colour as well as areas of high and low energy and areas of damage. The aura is therefore very useful when I want to identify areas in greatest need of treatment, or identify the problem. The chakras as energy centres of the body have a major role in health, and aligning the chakras as part of a healing treatment greatly increases the success.

In my opinion, Teiki (and other energy healing) is a valuable method of healing but it should be noted that Reiki is not a magic cure and it cannot successfully treat every condition. To state otherwise is to mislead and to give false hope, and to promote Teiki as a cure-all for monetary gain is unconscionable. Despite this, Reiki may bring spiritual and mental relief to those with serious and incurable conditions (Rand, 1995). It can be argued that Dr Usui’s views that those who did not respond to Reiki were simply unwilling to accept the cure are far too simplistic. The majority of illnesses, though possibly exacerbated by stress and/or mental health, are caused by external factors beyond the control of the patient. Students of the chakras and the subtle bodies and of shamanism will interrupt here and point out that disease is often manifest in the higher bodies – the mental and etheric, before it becomes manifest in the physical form, and accordingly may be treated at this nascent stage. This is entirely possible, but appearance of disease in these higher bodies does not imply voluntary or even subconscious acquiescence to the illness. I do not subscribe to the view that illness and disability is a form of karmic payback, our Gods and Goddesses are not cruel, vengeful beings and have better ways of teaching us. Maybe there are some people who enjoy ill health for reasons of their own, but the majority will be only too eager to regain health. This unfortunately means that the many patients with life-threatening and incurable illnesses who want nothing more than to survive and will try any method of treatment offered are potentially vulnerable to charlatans.

The course offered a lot of very useful advice on setting up a healing practice. I do not intend to use the healing methods learned in this course in a practice setting, reserving them for personal use among family and friends, and for animals. Being trained in main line medicine, these techniques offer a valuable addition to the traditional methods of healing and using a combination of both has dramatic results. 

Rev. Sue Bellworthy

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics, as well as courses in Mystical Christianity, Buddhism and Comparative Religion. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spiritual Awareness

Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

As a child I was deeply spiritual, something that I brought with me into this lifetime. I had visions and was clairvoyant from the time I was around 7 years old. I soon realized that I was different than my friends and by my late teens had suppressed most of my psychic abilities. I then lost (for lack of a better word) my way spiritually for the better part of 15 years.

Every good story has to have a starting point and this one begins in my late 30’s. I am restless…I know that I want/need something but can't quite put my finger on it. I quit my job and go back to college…maybe what I need is another degree. After a year I am still floundering, but I have a new neighbor and she draws me into conversation about psychic phenomenon. She wants to buy a deck of Tarot cards and wants me to go with her to a “new age” bookstore.

I have no clue what “new age” is all about, but I read Tarot cards when I was 19 and I think, this could be fun again, maybe I will get some answers. I end up buying the cards, but I find Ralph Blum’s Book of Runes. I buy the Runes, incense and Tarot cards and spend the entire weekend sitting on the floor of my tiny apartment reading the cards and runes and journaling every reading. This will continue to be my way of contacting that higher self for many years to come.

Every reading takes me a little deeper into myself and I am amazed at what was there to be discovered. Soon I am reading everything there is about becoming aware and enlightened.

I take classes in crystal healing and learn how to journey out of body. I decide that I will be a healer and a teacher. I find an incredible Reiki master and receive my attunements from him. I know that now I have found my path and am anxious to see where this will lead me.

By chance, I pick up a book on Native American Spirituality and then go on to meet up with a friend of mine who is a therapist. While waiting for her, an associate comes over, sees the book and tells me that he is doing research on Shamanism and there is a woman who is working on her PhD studying Native Shamans. He promptly gives me a flyer for her workshops and walks away leaving me bewildered.

My friend never shows up, she has forgotten our meeting. So I go home and finish reading the book. Next I get books by Fools Crow and then study the visions of Black Elk and want to know more about the Lakota. How can I do this? I don’t know anyone who is Native American, much less how to approach them.

So I root around and find that flyer that I was given 4-5 months earlier. I call the woman and she is excited to hear from me and wants to share her journey with me. She is having a drum making ceremony and she tells me to order a kit from this Native man in Washington State and come to the ceremony in 4 weeks.

I am awakened again and again the night before with dreams that my drum won't go together. I wake up groggy, grab the wet leather from my bathtub and drive to her house. I stop at a traffic light and next to me is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. He is definitely Native American, long flowing black hair on a huge Honda motorcycle. I say to myself, “why can't I ever meet a man like that..”

He is totally oblivious to me, and he drives on toward the river. I turn toward her house and then decide that I need caffeine to make this day work. After a quick drive through, I pull up in front of her house and a big black motorcycle flies past and screeches into her driveway. Yep, it’s him.

Long story short, his name is Petaigig Ichiwaiwanka (Peta for short) it means “Keeper of the Fire” in Lakota. We spend the next year together as he is dying of cancer. He tells me as he lay dying that I am to write the book of the warrior of Black Elk’s vision who brings the world together in peace.

I tell him “NO”… he refuses to let it go. Finally to shut him up and maybe give him some peace, I agree. He dies that night and I spend 8 years studying with the Lakota.

My life is completely consumed by the writing of this book. I am having visions almost every night; the spirits come into my room and awaken me, explaining what I need to do next.

When I ask a Lakota medicine man to bless my ceremonial pipe, he blesses my apartment first. When he enters my bedroom, he stops dead in his tracks, turns to me and says, “Are you aware that you have a doorway to the spirit world in your bedroom?”

“Yes I am aware.”

He just nods and continues with his ceremony. The book of the warrior takes 6 years to finish. When it is finally done I think, “This is the path of my life, this is what I came here to do.” But nothing happens. My agent has a meltdown and runs away from Manhattan and never returns the hundreds of pounds of paper that I have sent her. I finally self-publish the book.

When the Celestine Prophecy comes out I read it in one sitting. I have experienced so much of what he is writing about and I share the book with my friends. We are all amazed at the journey that we have embarked upon and that so many others are doing the same.

I am getting restless again, so I go back to teaching college and it is a student who gives me the next push. She is getting married at a small wedding chapel. It is a sad little affair and the people who own it are fairly miserable…no happiness, no smiles…just business. Take your money, rush through a short ceremony and toss you out. No photos, no nonsense.

She says to me, “YOU SHOULD DO THIS, YOU COULD DO THIS SO MUCH BETTER.” I laugh. She goes on to say that I have the personality for this, that I would make brides feel special and…on and on she goes.

Six or eight months pass and I get to thinking about what she said, it suddenly piques my interest and I think, “why not?” I call to see what I need to have to do this and am told I need to be either a minister or a judge.

I am neither. But when I was a hippie…(insert laughter here) there was a church in California that was ordaining people. And my friends were all ministers performing weddings. What was that church called…you guessed it…Universal Life Church. I did a search online and found you.

Now, this was a big step for me. I was by this time in my mid-50’s and a Buddhist. I take my spiritual path very seriously and I am not sure that I want to be ordained online. It takes me several months to decide that I could still teach and do this too.

That is how I came to you. My wedding chapel is all the rage, I am an older woman who has seen much and experienced much more. My life is filled with love. I am called upon to share the most important day of a couple’s life. I get to join them in love and compassion and send them on their way to fulfill their dreams. I wrote this for the ceremonies that I perform, it is a Buddhist way of thinking, but I think that it applies to all people who are in a relationship:

Today you have declared yourselves to be husband and wife. Today you have committed yourselves to one another for the remainder of your lives. This one simple act has changed your lives forever. It was your passion for one another that brought you together originally and passion that brought you to this moment. But a union founded on passion alone cannot survive. From this moment on, you will need to learn to transform your passion into compassion. Compassion for one another will give you the strength to grow and endure as the years go by.

And when things get rough as they will in any relationship, I ask you to stand before one another as you are doing here today, hold hands, look deeply into one another’s eyes and remember this day, this moment, the sacred vows you have just pledged to one another and the deep and abiding love that you share.

Thank you for the gift of the seminary. It is a wonderful place to share and express ideas and most of all faith.

Namaste,

Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

Defining Spirituality Essay

      I will begin my essay by first stating that I have never been much of a reader, let alone a person who enjoys studying information in books.  I have learned that what comes from books are always someone else's beliefs or opinions that may or may not resonate with your individual life lessons.  Everything that I know in regards to my own understanding of spiritual truth, are things that I discovered on my own.  They involve my own personal experiences, research and discovery.  While some insights were gained from material I was guided to read, such information was merely a tool in which to propel me forward within my own understanding.  I have learned that there is no definitive source of "truth" in the world, however, there are many sources of information that provide keys to helping unlock our own individual understanding of truth and this individual understanding applies directly to our current soul age.  What this means is that we can only understand information that our soul is ready for- if we are not ready for it, then we will not be able to comprehend it in this particular lifetime.

      What I have come to know is that our soul incarnates into human form in order to learn, grow and evolve, which involves numerous lifetimes.  Basically, our physical world is nothing but a classroom for our consciousness.  As beings of conscious energy, we are connected to all things, and as such, we are also always connected to our creator (God).  Each new lifetime results in the creation of a new temporary personality (self/ego), which we explore the world through.  Death is nothing but a transition to the next lifetime, or if you are at the end of your human lessons, you will move to the next level of lessons and experiences, whether that is another dimension or plane of existence. 

      Mature and old souls are much more aware of their spirituality, while younger souls are scarcely able to comprehend such things.  It should then be of no surprise to learn that an overwhelming majority of souls currently on this planet are younger souls.  New souls have had to be created as the planet's population increased, which happens if there aren't any previous souls ready to reincarnate.  Everything about our new incarnated life was predesigned - who our parents would be (genetic makeup), where we live, astrological alignment, etc.  From that design, we would be assured of experiencing things that would help us learn whatever lesson(s) our soul decided to learn during the next lifetime.  Nothing is ever "predestined", which is why it takes many many lifetimes to evolve to the next soul age.  Souls may get trapped in ego, never following their guidance and learn their life's lesson, so they recycle and repeat until they learn what they need to learn to move forward.

      Yet, within each new incarnation, we are still connected to the experiences of our previous lifetimes.  While we may not readily remember them while incarnated, we still have a 'sense' of the past. 

      There is, of course, a lot more detail involved, but I'm just trying to give an overview of some of the things that I have learned during my own life's journey.  As for my own soul age, I am reaching the end of the road for my human incarnations.  It wasn't until I came to understand the lesson of soul ages, that I realized why I've felt so detached from humanity during this life.  Part of the process of the final transitioning is the gradual disconnect from humanity, as we prepare to move forward into the next evolutionary state.

      With this knowledge, I began the Defining Spiritualism course.

      Upon completion, I came away with mixed feelings about the course, mainly because of disagreements with the author.  While he says at the end that he never attempted to be objective, it truly showed through several comments he makes throughout the course.  I also find it quite odd that a course primarily written to showcase various forms of spiritual philosophy was written by an author who basically says at the end that he doesn't even believe in philosophy. 

      However, from a historical overview perspective on philosophy, I enjoyed the course.  I think the background information and the various schools of thought were well done.  I was not, however, in agreement with some of the author's personal conclusions. 

      Here are some of those disagreements that I discovered during the course, which is based upon my own perception of what was written - right or wrong. 

·        The author believes that 'thought' can never answer the question regarding spiritual truth. 

I believe this is wrong based upon my own personal experiences.  There are numerous ways to reach insight and truths, and if you are ready to understand something, then you will be guided to that information through whatever means you're ready for.  How can intuition be followed, if you aren't able to understand or trust the intuition through thought?  Words may be a limiting factor, but again, if you are ready, information will be decoded enough for you to understand.  Yet, some of the things I have come to learn, even I cannot put them into words… but then again, this information was for me on my path, not meant for everyone else. 

Many things have come to me during what I call, "thought meditation".  A question will appear in my mind, something profound that I want to understand… and as I sat pondering the idea, an answer or understanding would be shared with me.  Simply, you have to be open to finding guidance and truths through any means available- emotional, mental, and intuitive. 

Synchronistic events are what I consider to be thought-related guidance.  While some events may be intuitive, the vast majority are things that occur which are meant to make us 'think' about what they mean.  They help us to question, ponder, and dig deeper for information within ourselves.  Truly, when you can achieve trust in combined mental, emotional and intuitive guidance, you will begin to understand everything on a much deeper level.

·        The author believes that, "when you realize you know nothing and then begin to realize that there is nothing to be known, it is then that you come to know everything."

I strongly disagree.  This concept would basically mean that there is truly no point to our existence, other than just existing.  Yet, I know that our entire existence is as a vessel for our soul to learn, therefore, there is quite a LOT to be known.  It would be wiser to say, "I do not know everything and never will," then to say you know nothing and there is nothing to ever know.

However, the fact remains, while incarnated, we will never know everything, because if we truly did learn everything, we would cease to be able to have a human experience.  How could one know everything, and still see and interact as a normal human with the world around them?  Such a thing would be impossible.  However, the author does refer to this concept by saying, "The universal truth cannot be learned, cannot be understood and cannot be taught.  It cannot even be known as it is so vastly beyond the confines of the self that the self cannot exist in its presence," although I'm not sure if he even understood the point he was making.  Our mission isn't to become spontaneously enlightened in one fell swoop, but to gradually develop enlightenment through numerous lifetimes of experiences and lessons. 

Furthermore, the author's statement does bring up a good point in that, "The universal truth… cannot be taught."  This is true because we are programmed to only be able to understand what we're ready for, what our soul age is capable of grasping.  Ever wonder why you can discuss something with someone, show them proof of what you're saying, but they will simply just stare at you blankly, unable to comprehend what you're saying?  The fact is they are not ready to understand it; their soul hasn't reached the level where they are ready to understand what you are trying to teach them. 

·        The author also made personal statements sounding like fact such as, "Help the people you minister to by encouraging social interaction.  This is such a necessary part of the human condition…"

I can personally tell you that this is not true.  That is the problem with many people, they teach in terms of absolute fact based upon their own personal beliefs and assumptions, that they leave those who don't fit that mold, feeling like there is something wrong with them.  Throughout my life I have never really enjoyed interacting with other people, I have never really felt a need to, and when I did interact, it felt somewhat foreign to me.  Yet, those who understand about spiritual progression know that once the soul has grown to an advanced level, they begin to drift away from mundane human interactions.  The fact is, by the time our soul reaches advanced levels, we have already, "been there, done that" in so many previous lifetimes, that it just no longer holds meaning for us anymore.  While people around us are excited about events or traveling, etc… we just have a sense that we've already done it, so why bother doing it again.  It is easy to become frustrated and even more reclusive during this time, because so many people think there is something wrong with us, because we're not behaving like everyone else.  The fact is, we are just aware of so much more than everyone else, that forcing ourselves to behave like them is just pointless to us.

I think as ministers or anyone for that matter on a profound spiritual journey, would do well to avoid seeing in personal absolutes when it comes to teaching others.  This was just one example I highlighted in the course, but there were several others I found while reading.

I do want to touch upon one final idea that the author mentioned. 

·        When he described the Buddhist idea of nirvana and how western people have a problem with that.

The "problem" basically stem from the human ego.  The human ego causes us to believe that we are special, we are perfect, we deserve to live forever, and that ceasing to exist means everything about our life was pointless.  However, if people understood death as I do, they would realize the errors of such thinking.  If any person can honestly look in the mirror and see all of the times they have judged others, been prejudicial, been angry with someone, hated someone, wanted to get even… once they honestly remember those things, can they truly say that they "deserve" to be immortal?  Would they want a heaven or afterlife with the same judgmental, prejudice people they currently walk the earth with?  Personally, I can say without hesitation that I would not want my human life's "personality" to be immortal.  I would not want to think, act, or react with this faulty human-ego process.  I know that beyond this skin, my consciousness is void of such fallibility, so why would I desire to see it tarnished by forever by human ego?

      In closing, I'd like to add my favorite Buddhist quote, "Do not believe something, just because I have said it."  I tell this to everyone I talk to about what I have learned.  Therefore, I tell you now, do not believe what I have told you and do not believe what you read or hear, believe only that which you experience yourself, directly.  Because if you cannot trust yourself, if you can't believe your own personal experiences, then how can you trust and believe in something outside of yourself?  The answers lie within, not outside of you.

Thank you for reading.

With Blessings.

-Rev. Bradley

********************

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

Master of Metaphysical Healing is a fascinating course, which every healer should take. It coalesces many, if not all, facets of the art of healing. From anatomy to the healers prayer it teaches, or reminds, us of those aspects of healing every healer should know.

Written from the perspective of South Africa, Rev. Dr. Katherine Lee Kruger presents a view that was new to me; with which I was vaguely familiar, but about which I really knew little. The teachings of the African healers are deeply meaningful, giving a much broader and deeper understanding of the healing arts.

This is a really complete course on healing. Many other teachers pick one aspect or method and go into it in great detail. Rev. Dr. Kruger goes in depth for many methods. I appreciate the fine background, which she has presented. The anatomy and aura sections are the perfect start. It would be useful to have each lecture on cards that could be filed for easy, future reference.

As for the practice itself, I am a Reiki Master so am familiar and comfortable with all of the hands-on healing approaches. I do not feel that way about some of the other techniques. In particular, any practice which involves deep relaxation bordering upon hypnosis, can be dangerous if used by someone who has not been trained. Practicums are needed in these areas, especially something like past life regression. What if the client sees something violent or threatening and becomes panicked? What if it seems impossible to bring the person out of trance? I was once involved in a relaxation session that took us through our own deaths. After coming out of it, one person became hysterical. Fortunately the leader was a trained psychologist and was able to handle the situation.

Finally, I am looking forward to my attempt to see auras. I have been trying to do this for many years. Hopefully with Rev. Drs Kruger’s instructions I will be successful.

Rev. Judith Wolf

********************

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

I found this course to be very informative and enlightening. As a nurse, I inherently

feel that God has blessed me as a healer, and called me to ministry of healing. The author

of this course describe that many of the tribal healers had experienced a major illness, and

then received the calling as a healer. The tribal healers often tested the new healer in

training, to ensure that they would be true to their calling. One of the major themes I was

impressed with throughout most of the course was that Spiritual Healer must work using

integrity and honesty. The last lesson ended with an oath, I found this very impressive.

Metaphysical healing, is a form of healing that the mainstream medical society may not fully

understand, but it is beneficial to many.

In one of the lessons, the author described that the participant of the healing session, did

not have to believe in the healing. This was fascinating to me. I have a core belief that healing

requires faith, it is the faith of the healer and the person seeking healing that interacts and

with Gods power and produces the healing power. To me it requires a certain amount of faith

for one to even seek spiritual healing. When Jesus healed many one of the questions he

frequently asked was “Do you believe”. It is difficult for me to comprehend, that the clients

faith does not affect the healing process. Though it is a powerful thought to think that I could

heal someone whether they believed me or not. I know that Jesus did heal some that did not

believe, and there faith was strengthened as a result.

The author of the course also discussed aura's. There are aura's around individuals,

with dis-ease an individuals aura is interrupted. Part of the healers job is to recognize that

these aura's exist,and to smooth entry ways of dis-ease in the client. The function of the

medical intuitive was also discussed in this chapter. A medical intuitive, is able to see right

into the body and locate those areas that need attention. It is important to ask for permission,

from the persons higher self. As the healer takes the journey through the clients body, using

visualization and meditative techniques, the diseased parts are identified. All of these

techniques, involved using the part of the human that connects with our God self. It is the

higher self of an individual. Traditional healers tune in or participate in active communion

with God. Witch doctors practice witchcraft and there are differences. As for me God is

an essential component in the healing process. He guides me to the affected areas and allows

me to be used as a vessel of healing. I choose not to get away from this point. He gets all the

glory for the healing, for the healer is just a vessel. Since the healing process is a spiritual

process, if there is a client that you do not feel comfortable with you should not participate

in the healing process. Witchcraft exists, there are good and evil spirits, and as healers we

must be sensitive to the spiritual world. Part of being a healer of integrity is not dabbling in

occult type practices. Willfully participating in ritual practices that could harm another, could

open up spiritual doors. One of the items discussed in the lessons was about absent healings,

there are times when the healer does not have to be present for the healing process to occur.

This truth can be very beneficial to the healer,in providing healing at any point for the client.

Which justifies my ideas about healing and the healing process of individuals. Healing is

on such a higher frequency than Western medicine presents. A healer also has to be in tune

to the spiritual world. Healing requires the mind to be in a positive state, and This requires preparation of the mind. Positive affirmation, positive thinking, meditations, visualizations, along with spiritual practices all are the basis of preparing the client for healing. The words we

speak to our clients are of utmost importance. As healers our words are powerful and provide a

visual field that fosters healing. Keeping that statement in mind, we must ensure that our words are wisely spoken, and foster a positive environment for the client's healing process to occur.

Most of the theme of the lesson was that we as healers, must recognize the importance

of our work. We must also foster a sense of confidence and professionalism for our clients.

All of this will legitimize our practice, a dream of the author. I was thrilled to see in part of the last lesson that in South Africa the mainstream of the healing arts were recognizing the traditional healer. This gives one hope that the medical society will recognize that healing of an individual comes in many forms. It is a spirtiual journey to healing, our creator designed us to self heal. The ancients recognized this fact, and passed this on from one generation to the next. Traditional healing practices should complement modern madicine and does not have to compete with the modalities of modern medicine.The types of healing modalities the client chooes should be a personal choice , encouraged and respected by all health care professionals.

In conclusion, I found this course to open my mind up to a new thought process. As a

nurse, from the western traditional medicine scene, and with the interest in nontraditional medicine, this course help me understand how to intertwine both to aid in the healing of the whole person. To treat the healing practice as a gift from God and to work with integrity and professionalism. The author did a great job in presenting the information each week. I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I know that in the treatment of my patients I can complement both the traditional and non-traditional modalities to treat the whole person. One of the last lessons of the course ended with with an oath for the healer to take I found this to be very exciting. I really agree with the author of this course that as healers we work with truth and intergrity, and eanding with an oath holds us accountable to our calling. This course was very inspiring and I do not think that there is anything different that I would recommend.

All work cited from this paper is a summarization from the material presented in this course.

Rev. Linda Muhammad

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar