Elements of Prayer: A Post From www.SpiritSimple.com
Posted on February 3, 2010
Filed Under Prayer & Meditation, Spirituality Simplified, The Belief Formula |
The Nature of Praying – from “Agartha” by Meredith Lady Young
Recently I came across the following content about “prayer” from Agartha by Meredith Lady Young and was inspired to share it with you today:
“Prayers are personal and yet there are aspects of praying which need to be noted. There are elements within the prayer framework which help the individual send out the most appropriate requests for guidance and action.
- An opening or salutation – A loving introduction to the forces which one perceives as the focus and outgrowth of one’s being draws the energy of that presence within range of one’s own physical being. Whether or not the word “God” is used, an appropriate designation of the energy or presence to whom one is speaking is necessary.
- A statement of thankfulness for those gifts and perceptions already received – This approach acknowledges one’s own connection to the Universe or God and reaffirms one’s own awareness that gifts of understanding have come to allow the individual to move toward the Light.
- Verification of the problem or focus of prayer – The prayer process invokes eventual healing through the individual’s ability to precisely understand the situation and in so doing more clearly see the matching piece which is the solution. Clarity of thought in this case brings the energy of the dilemma to a head and causes the matching energy of the solution to be equally focused and thus obvious to the individual.
- Affirmation of one’s belief in an appropriate solution – If one does not believe that a solution of some type is possible, then one has no business praying, for no solution will be forthcoming. It is only through one’s belief in a possible solution that appropriate avenues of help will be noticed. In other words, if one is closed to healing vehicles, then none will be found even though they exist in one’s life.
Praying causes energy, celestial and physical, to be directed to a specific area of one’s life, and repetition of the same prayer is very effective in drawing in appropriate telepathic vibrations…In other words, when one uses the same prayer over and over, it builds not only the intensity of the invocation, but also the clarity with which the Universe’s response can be heard, seen and understood.”
*This excerpt was posted by Jeff Maziarek on his Spirituality Simplified Blog (http://jeffmaziarek.spiritsimple.com/).
How Can I Save My Marriage? You Can Start By Asking Yourself A Few Questions
Posted on December 10, 2009
Filed Under Healthy Relationships, It's all about Happiness |
A majority of people who get married either get divorced or stay in unhappy marriages. A happy marriage is not a myth; but it might as well be for most people. When the honeymoon’s over, the happy marriage isn’t far behind. What’s most surprising about this is how surprised most people are when they realize they’re not happy – or that their marriage is a wreck. The time to save your marriage is before you get married; but, if you’re reading this article, that time has presumably come and gone. So what can you do to save your marriage? Try asking yourself these questions:
Leave a CommentMind Control: Do Yourself A Favor And Learn To Control Your Mind
Posted on December 8, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking, Mind-Body-Spirit |
Are you often stressed or depressed? Do you get sick frequently? What if there’s something you can do to change all of that? Would you spend the time and effort to do it? The fact is that there is something you can do to improve your physical, mental and emotional health – not to mention every other aspect of your life. Though it is easier said than done, all you have to do is learn to control your own mind.
Consider that your body is a reflection of your mind. The thoughts you are aware of (conscious) and those thoughts you aren’t aware of (unconscious) all seek expression in your physical form and life. If you’ve thought about this, it’s pretty obvious; but most people simply don’t think about such things. If you haven’t ever considered this reality, I’m sure it seems far-fetched, unlikely, hard-to-believe or difficult to understand. Nonetheless, this is the truth. This is how reality works.
Coming to grips with the fact that your thoughts count is the first step in learning to control your mind. It is a difficult step for many; but, if you don’t understand or believe how your mind shapes and controls your life, health and body, you won’t have any reason to focus your time and energy on learning mental discipline. After all, if thoughts are simply things that come and go – without having any affect at all on our lives – why bother learning to control your mind?
If you’re religious, consider that all religious icons – in one way or another – have said, “As a man thinketh, so it is done unto him.” If you’re more scientific in the way you approach the world, you should already be familiar with Albert Einstein’s opinion on the subject – a view shared by quantum physicists all over the world for nearly a century. If your interests are more practical, or if you are business-minded, then consider the words of Henry Ford, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right either way.” No matter who you are, or what your beliefs, there is someone you trust who has hinted at the great secret of life: “It’s the thought that counts!” Accept it and move on.
Step two involves developing concepts of how the mind operates so you can learn to work with it to produce the results you desire. If you can imagine a television randomly switching from one channel to the next, you have an idea of how the average person’s mind works. Most people “channel surf” in their minds. But, if you see a television behaving in that way, you can bet that there’s someone holding a remote control that’s causing the erratic behavior. Whether their surfing is the result of boredom and lack of concentration, or they’re simply sitting on the remote control unconsciously changing the channel, the outcome is still the same – chaotic signals creating a chaotic experience.
You hold the remote control to your mind. You can use your brain to focus on the signals (thoughts) in your mind that you want to watch on the screen of your mind, or the screen of your life. It isn’t easy at first; but it is possible. Imagine trying to pick up a very heavy weight. You may not be able to at first; but, after some period of exercise – where you gradually increase the amount of weight you lift – you will eventually find that you can lift that heavy weight. Where your mind and thoughts are concerned, meditation is the “exercise” that increases your mental endurance. People meditate so that they can learn to focus for greater and greater periods of time – controlling distraction such as stray thoughts or extraneous noise and activity.
When you learn to control the thoughts you think, you will be able to control your life, emotions and health. Think about it, if you are stressed or depressed, you’re thinking about stressful and depressing things. If you could control your thoughts, why would you continue to think about depressing things? You can indeed learn to control your life by learning to control the mind. It takes effort, but it’s worth it.
Leave a CommentHealth And Wellness: Negative Thinking Makes You Sick
Posted on December 2, 2009
Filed Under Effective Thinking, Health & Wellness |
The more I study the mind and human behavior, the more amazed I am with humanity. I am amazed at our potential for greatness; and I am equally amazed at our potential for ignorance. The mind is a great ally or a powerful foe — depending, of course, on how you use it. This phenomenon is far reaching; but it is most evident in our many expressions of health. Plain and simple: Your mind can make you sick or well; it can kill you or heal you. The choice is yours.
In the past, I’ve understood the resistance most people have to this concept. But now, the effects of thinking on our health are so well-documented, well-known and so obvious that the typical skeptic seems not only ignorant, but bent on self-destruction. Religious people balk at scientific findings that our mind controls our health; while more scientific minds balk at religious notions of faith healing and health through prayer. No matter who you are or how your mind is arranged, there is no way around common sense.
Every religion teaches — in one way or another — that we are the products of our thoughts. “As a man thinketh, so it is done to him…” is but one of the ways religions teach us that our thoughts are important. And for those who have little use for religion, you still have a mind you are responsible for; so I’ll make it as simple as I can:
- When you think negative thoughts (worry, fear, anger, resentment, grief, etc…), you feel bad.
- What you’re feeling are the effects of the stress response that is activated whenever you think thoughts of a negative nature.
- When you think negative thoughts, you turn on your stress response.
- When your stress response is turned on, it turns off your immune system.
- The only thing that heals you or keeps you from getting sick is your immune system.
- When you think negative thoughts, you experience stress, your immune system shuts down, and you not only feel bad, but you open yourself up to illness.
It really is as simple as that: Negative thinking activates the stress response and suppresses the immune system; Positive thinking turns off the stress response and stimulates the immune system. You can argue, disagree, or simply refuse to believe your mind has so much power, but this isn’t a matter of opinion; this is common sense and a matter of basic science that is within the grasp of the average middle-school aged child. Science or faith, your job is the same: Master your thoughts and you will master your life. This may be easier said than done (after all, we have always referred to those who have achieved this level of self-control as, “Masters”), but there is very real value in making an effort to think more positively. Give it a try; you’ve got nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain.
1 CommentDying For A Change: Will Murtha’s New Book Featured On Ponder Central
Posted on December 1, 2009
Filed Under What I'm Reading |
PONDER on THIS for Monday, November 30th, 2009 by Will Murtha in DYING FOR A CHANGE
“Will Murtha: When I haul myself out of bed every day, I see the whole process of life as one big fight. In my present sales environment, I either get there first for the order, or I miss out and lose. We all have to fight for what we have achieved. We must all struggle for what we have. That’s what life is about, isn’t it? Fighting for what you believe. Fighting for what you want.
Voice of Higher Presence: What if I told you that fighting for everything isn’t necessary? There is always enough in the world. There are always enough sales orders, food, housing and clothing. There’s an abundance of water, shelter, love and compassion. The question is never about whether there is enough. It is about whether people want to share what they hoard. Please do not make the mistake of believing that life should be one constant fight and battle from birth till death. When life is approached in that way, it will be empty of the joy you are so desperately seeking in the world.
And, please, do not confuse passion with fighting. They are direct opposites. One leads you to disconnect from both your heartfelt dreams and other people. The other leads you, wonderfully, to a place of fulfillment. A place where you discover what it means to truly be a human being. Passion leads to freedom. Fighting leaves you imprisoned.”
William L. Murtha, in “Dying for a Change”
Leave a CommentNew Mexico: Hiking Along Rito de los Frijoles in Frijoles Canyon
Posted on November 19, 2009
Filed Under General, Pictures |
During the first part of November 2009, Jen and I spent a week in New Mexico hiking in the mountains, canyons and desert. The scenery was stunning; and the variety of ecosystems and terrain was unbelievable. New Mexico is not at all what we expected! And, having spent time in 35-states and several countries, New Mexico is our new favorite place to be.
We stayed in Sante Fe, which is a really neat town with lots to see and do — and GREAT food. Sante Fe is also reasonably close to many of the must-see destinations in North-Central New Mexico. A scenic drive to the Sante Fe National Forest, and hiking in the snowy mountains, started our week of high-altitude fun (Sante Fe is the highest state capitol at about 7,000-feet above sea level). Another scenic drive up the High Road to Taos led us to the Taos Pueblo, the Rio Grande Gorge and many of the other gifts Taos had to offer — including an equally beautiful drive down the Low Road back to Sante Fe.
One of our favorite day-hikes was a day we spent in Frijoles Canyon just outside Los Alamos. We enjoyed it so much, we went back the next day. The drive to and from Los Alamos is another beautiful experience; and Los Alamos is quite a surprise itself. Mountains and canyons, skiing and museums, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Bandelier National Monument, along with the second largest volcanic caldera — Valles Caldera — teeming with Elk, Mule Deer and other wildlife, make Los Alamos a destination with something for everyone.
Rito de los Frijoles (Little River of the Beans) flows through Frijoles Canyon and into the Rio Grande just outside Los Alamos. Frijoles Canyon features steep cliffs with dozens of ancient cliff dwellings and ceremonial alcoves and kivas. As we hiked back down from a 142′ climb up the side of a cliff to a huge alcove, a pair of Mule Deer approached the trail we were walking on. We stopped to take a picture, and one of them walked right by me — within about three feet of me. The deer went about their business with absolutely no fear of us at all — as if they knew they were perfectly safe.
Hiking in the other direction, the Ritos de los Frijoles drops down into a deep canyon on it’s way to the Rio Grande. We followed it — sometimes crossing over it by stepping on stones or fallen trees and sometimes scaling canyon walls hundreds of feet above the little river. Up and down, we made our way to the first of a set of waterfalls (Upper Falls and Lower Falls) that drop the river down several hundred feet to the Rio Grande.
Along the way, we encountered very little wildlife; but we did meet up with a rather large Tarantula that showed as little fear of us as the Mule Deer had. This heavy, hairy spider simply crawled up some rocks on the left side of the trail we were on, crossed the path, and continued up the rocky slope to our right.
As we got closer to the Rio Grande, we could see it in the bottom of the “vee” made by the sides of the canyon. The water appeared to be green — blending in to the colorful landscape of the canyon. A few switchbacks took us down several hundred feet where we took a rest below the lower falls before retracing our steps back, up and out of the canyon.
The next time I go to New Mexico, I’ll spend more time and do many more things I didn’t do this time; but I’ll definitely go back to Frijoles Canyon — and I’ll spend more time there. Next time, I’ll get there as early in the day as possible and stay as late as I can — spending plenty of time lounging by the Rio Grande and taking more time to sit and relax along the rocky path that follows the Rito de los Frijoles through the canyon.
Jennifer and Pete Koerner in Frijoles Canyon, New Mexico
Leave a CommentDying For A Change: William Murtha’s New Book Featured On Ponder Central
Posted on November 17, 2009
Filed Under What I'm Reading |
PONDER on THIS for Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 by William Murtha in DYING FOR A CHANGE
“Please do not cast blame on yourself…To heap regret and recrimination on yourself misses the entire point of what it means to be human. We all fail at one time or another. We all fall short of our own teachings and beliefs. We all make mistakes. That is because we are all human. Know that you are normal to fall short of your own grand vision, and you will inherit a valuable life lesson. That’s what life is for. It creates a framework for us so that we can learn from our mistakes. Of course, there are no mistakes if we use these experiences wisely. Every mistake carries within it the seed of true wisdom. The mistake is that you give yourself a hard time over it. The mistake is that you don’t learn from your mistakes. The mistake is that you let fear stop you from trying to be more. If you do not fail, then you have not tried.”
~William L. Murtha, in “Dying for a Change”
For more information regarding this book, visit Transformation Media Books or the author’s website.
Compiler’s Note: This book is a riveting true story of the author’s fight to survive hypothermia and drowning in the freezing waters off the coast of Britain. In the midst of this near-death experience he suddenly became aware of a Presence that engaged him in an enlightening and heart-warming conversation. While struggling to stay alive, he effectively re-lived many pivotal times in his past and had every question he had ever asked about life answered with complete clarity. I found it to be the type of book that once you start reading it you can’t bring yourself to put it down. It reminds me of the original “Conversations with God, Book 1″ because of the truly profound nature of the teachings delivered to the author. For these reasons I highly recommend it, as not only is it a very entertaining read, but it’s also a valuable spiritual growth resource.
~Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified
Dying For A Change: New Book By William Murtha
Posted on November 17, 2009
Filed Under What I'm Reading |
“Dying for a Change is the gut-wrenching, inspirational true story of William Murtha’s fight to survive hypothermia and drowning in the freezing waters off the coast of Britain. It is a riveting story of survival that will captivate readers with a compelling, life-changing message about miracles and the power of choice.
In 1999, William’s life was rapidly spiraling out of control when all meaning and purpose had vanished. While riding his bike along a channel one evening, William was swept out to sea by a twenty-foot freak wave and had a close brush with death. Only this wasn’t any “ordinary” near-death experience. As his body finally began to shut down, and the excruciating pain subsided, William suddenly became acutely aware of a Presence close by.
What followed, and the book vividly recounts, is the enlightening and heart-warming conversation he had with this Higher Presence. Caught someplace between this world and the next while struggling to stay alive, William “re-lived” many pivotal moments in his past and had every question he had ever asked about life answered with absolute blinding clarity.
Dying for a Change will inspire readers to come face-to-face with their own deepest fears. It is a powerful, emotional story of hope with a profound message that many people in today’s frantic, crisis-filled world will identify with in their own lives. This thought-provoking and insightful book challenges views on mortality, birth, life and God while inspiring readers to live more fully by questioning ideals and dogma that may no longer serve them.
William used his horrendous ordeal as a catalyst for positive change. He eventually gave up the manic, fifteen-hour work-obsessed days and walked away from a materialistic and ego-driven lifestyle that almost killed him. After his “wake-up call,” William turned his whole life around, reconnected with his family and found his true purpose in life. In Dying for a Change, William clearly demonstrates how personal trauma can be used positively to become the inspiration for individual, social and global transformation.
Readers will cheer at William’s “one in a billion” spine-tingling rescue that made headlines in the U.K., inspired a segment on a television documentary and has left audiences spellbound during his global speaking engagements.
Dying for a Change is essentially an everyday, grounded and contemporary story of redemption, healing, forgiveness and new beginnings that will connect with readers of all ages and beliefs.”
To view the newspaper article about William Murtha’s harrowing experience and miraculous rescue, click the link below:
http://www.williammurtha.com/images/Cyclist-can-thank-full.jpg
William’s book, “Dying For A Change,” launches today, Tuesday, November 17th, 2009. To participate in this launch and get one of the first copies of William’s new book, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Change-Survival-Miracle-Choice/dp/0982385080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258416501&sr=1-1
When Your Hut’s On Fire
Posted on November 6, 2009
Filed Under Fear, Worry & Doubt, Manifestation - Creation |
*This inspirational reminder was forwarded to me by Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey…
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but saw only the vast waters that separated him from family & friends. He was alone and exhausted. He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, despair, and anger. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?”
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
Moral of the Story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are hard and going badly, but we shouldn’t lose heart. God never deserts us. He is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
And the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
Visit Jeff Maziarek at: www.PonderCentral.com to learn more about what he’s doing…
Also, check out Jeff’s books at: www.SpiritSimple.com and www.CodiPup.com
1 CommentDon’t Give Up On Your Dreams: The Belief Formula on Ponder Central
Posted on November 6, 2009
Filed Under The Belief Formula |
PONDER on THIS for Friday, November 6th, 2009 by Pete Koerner in THE BELIEF FORMULA
“If you say that dreams don’t come true, I would have to ask you at what point you stopped dreaming and started doubting, and what made you choose that particular time frame as a completion date for your prayer? What might happen if you continued to expect your prayer to be answered instead of proclaiming it a failure? What if your answer was to arrive the day after you hit the “cancel” button on you request?
Unfortunately, you may never know. Why sit around thinking about how you were ignored by God when you could be thinking of all the different ways your prayer could be answered, and how grateful you are that God does such things for you? Why view yourself as a victim when you could just as easily view yourself as the recipient of great gifts – even if some of those gifts are lessons that you asked for in some way, but would rather not learn?”
~Pete Koerner, in “The Belief Formula”
*Special thanks to Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, for posting this excerpt from The Belief Formula on www.PonderCentral.com!
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The Belief Formula
