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A Spiritual Community and Way of Life that honors all paths to God
Practitioner's Corner
On Being Human
By Juanda Moore, RScP
In the beginning was the word, and the word was God. As humans, we sometimes think of ourselves, as children of the Word or as emanations of the energy produced by the Word. During any lifespan, or human time, we change and evolve from the emanation that was initially created. The energy that created us is constant, everywhere present, powerful, infinite, and eternal, but our manifestation of it is what changes over lifetimes. During human spans, we are affected by externalities, cosmic forces and internal variations related to our existence. These forces and variations help us maintain our physical balance and thrive in this life energetic. When working well, these forces allow our physical to hums and the spiritual to evolve to a higher level or awareness naturally. Or, when the external factors and internal variables impact us in an out-of-balance manner, our life energetic continuously wanes, and wilts, and falters, and our physical functions in an impaired state and the spiritual descends to a lower level of expression.
The centers of energy or vortexes of energy that run through our physical to the etheric and are understood by many to be chakras, are high points of energy and are spiritual portals to source . You've got to imagine these whirling dervishes as lines of energy flowing vertically through the center of our body temple and operating as 'wormholes' of activity so high as to connect them to the infinite source of energy. Also imagine these flowing channels of energy intersecting at specific stations or locations in the body, influencing our physical, but also having an effect on the emotional and spiritual. The balanced energetic channels allow us to connect from our physical, through the heart, to our absolute being-ness. The imbalanced energetic, interestingly enough, also connects through the same energy centers vibrating at the base of our bodies ... the physical, through the bridge between the physical and spiritual ... the heart, to the energy center located at the crown of our head ... connecting us to depression and other forms of stagnant mental and spiritual functioning.
When you feel you are out of balance, and feel ungrounded, connect to the here and now through pleasuring your body. Get a salt scrub. Enjoy a moment with your favorite person. Take a moment to meditate on the availability of Source. Rebalance the Base Chakra. When you feel a lack of emotional security and are listless, connect by birthing a creative project or find your passion in something you love to do. Weed your garden. Donate time to a shelter. Lend a listening ear to a friend. Eat pie. Sit in the silence and breathe. Rebalance the Sacral Chakra.
W hen you experience doubt or feel and your relationships are difficult, move towards calming your senses. Sense your entire body enveloped in golden amber light, and sit with this until it warms and heals. Lose the need to judge, accept that God's plan is unfolding. Eat ice cream. Relax. Rebalance the Solar Plexus.
W hen you feel physically and emotionally exhausted, and feel your feelings are shut down and inoperable, show love and actively allow others to be as they are, not as you would have them be. Loose the gates of compassion in your heart, and allow the love of God to burst forth unencumbered and touch absolutely everything, everyone, and every activity in your life. If you're just not feeling it, imagine it until it is so. If it doesn't resonate at the moment, meditate on the beating of your heart until the beating becomes the love of God that is unconditional. Smile more, create the gaps for God to re-boot your heart and spirit to reveal itself within. Clear spaces, pare down, streamline and meditate. Rebalance the Heart Chakra.
W hen you feel you are not being heard nor respected. When you continually clear your throat, when your voice is raspy, when you sense you're not speaking up nor out, when the histamine fixes are not fixing it, when letters and posts don't add clarity ... pray out loud, sing and dance, still the voices within so that self-expression and light and super consciousness emerge. At this point your awareness is heightened and your Throat Chakra is rebalanced.
When you feel that your sinuses are sending you a message and it's not just because of external factors, when your mind makes you think you are stagnant and your life energy is just not flowing, visualize peace. Plan a 7-day cleanse, drink more water, see a baby's smile, smell many roses, watch your grass grow, be grateful for the life you lead, listen to Wayne Dyer or your favorite inspiration. Find insight in the Bible. Rebalance your Third Eye.
W hen your Crown Chakra is beset with depression, when you feel it's about you, about being in a human condition, raise your spiritual hopes by getting your human-ness, in tune with the infinite energy that you represent. Meditate on the breath of God that animates your being. Advance your human-ness to absolute being-ness. Live in a state of grace because, it's all good, and it's all God.
Namaste
AUGUST
Theme of the Month: "Taking The Weight Off"
Book of the Month: The Art of Being & Becoming, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
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Featured August Service Provider
G. Haven Young
This is the second in a series which features different outstanding service providers who appear on the list put together by the Pastoral Care Ministry. Haven Young is a long-time member of the Center for Spiritual Living, well known for his smile and his resonant speaking and singing bass voice. He is also a loyal paid advertiser in the church newsletter and our website, where he promotes one of the two services we will feature in this article. He is owner of “Haven’s For Total Security” a busy security firm in Fresno which employs a staff of twenty and provides commercial and private customers with high technology security systems, such as card proximity and biometric access control systems, transponder keys and remote car security systems, and alarms. You may have caught his very effective TV ad with Haven in the truck.
The other service Haven can provide is as a therapeutic provider of NLP, or Neuro Linguistic Programming. Haven is a well-trained Master Practitioner of NLP and helps those who seek his services to deal with phobias, emotional baggage and other blockages, chronic pain, and ultimately to face change in their lives. The basic premise of NLP is that the words we use reflect an inner, subconscious perception of our problems. If these words and perceptions are inaccurate, they will create an underlying problem as long as we continue to use and to think them. Our attitudes are, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy.
This philosophy is directly in harmony with broader principles taught by Ernest Holmes in the Science of Mind textbook. Haven incorporates a technique called DHE (Design in Human Engineering) to help us to recognize our patterns and our reactions to old triggers or buttons. “It’s about finding triggers, control buttons and going into the control panel of your brain and resetting the intensity, brightness and volume of your switches,” he says. By neutralizing or desensitizing the old triggers, we’re able to move into a place where we unwind the emotion and are no longer bothered by the issue.
In addition, he has done stage hypnosis training and is active in conversational hypnosis classes. What an interesting guy. As a service provider, Haven says, “ Stop by for a spell sometime.” Ooooh. I think I will !
Meant for More
How do I find what life's about
Unless I venture farther out?
Something in me is not content
Something affirms that I am meant
For more, and so I have to try
And see if somehow I can fly.
Going beyond the edge of things,
I may find out that I have wings
Though they are of a different kind
Than birds, being mainly in the mind.
Whatever now I seem to be,
Yet more is to be found in me.
-- James Dillet Freeman
July 2010 Newsletter Articles
CSL Fresno Recommended Service Providers
By Stevie Fisher, Secretary, Pastoral Care Ministry
The Pastoral Care Ministry is compiling the names of recommended service providers (electricians, gardeners, realestate sales, etc.) by and for the CSL membership. Not everyone on the list is a member of the Center for Spiritual Living --- some are trusted referrals made by members. You can find the listposted on the Bulletin Board in the Oneness Hall, Thank you.
July Service Provider - Profile This is the first in a series of Newsletter articles which will highlight each month different outstanding serviceprovider on the "Service Providers" list. This month we highlight Pat Stefano, artist and member of CSL-Fresno. Pat offers her creative services to those who need help in "Creating Space" in their home, garage, or place of business. "Creating Space" is the name Pat has given to her services and she can help you de-clutter, rearrange,re-organize, down-size, and clean any space that is in need and is bogging you down. Pat will apply herartistic eye and her knack for organization, working with you to identify and achieve your goals to create the spaceyou want. We all have "To-Do" lists to some day organize a room, closets, cupboards, drawers, garage etc. Mostof us could use a helping hand to get the job done. That helping hand is Pat Stefano. Contact Pat in person or through her contact information posted in the Oneness Hall, to discuss your needs and for a free estimate.
Our July Community Gift Goes to Hinds Hospice
Each month a portion of the contributions received by this Spiritual Center is donatedto a worthy organization as our gift back to the community. This month's gift will goto Nancy Hinds Hospice Center, who's mission is to uphold the dignity and ease thesuffering of the terminally ill while supporting the loved ones and those who aregrieving. More information about Hinds Hospice is posted on the bulletin board in Oneness Hall.
ABUNDANCE AND WEALTH MINISTRY REPORT
By Lujuana Bull, RScP
Lots of exciting cool things are in the works. We could use your help and you'd enjoy yourself as we communally createthe optimal reality for ourselves and our Center. The following things are in progress. Please contact Lujuana for moreinfo and to lend a hand.
Cultural Festival (a major fundraising event in September - check with Julia Dudley-Najieb)
4 T Program (an abundance awareness campaign)
Freedom Fund (an unexpected income program - see Rev. Michael's Inspiration)
Building Fund Program (a visible $ giving program)
CSL Fresno Bake Sale during the Hinds Hospice Walk, Saturday, September 11, 2010
Unity & Peace Weekend (Our 3rd annual weekend of celebration, meditation, prayer and play)
Guest Speaker Series (filling our sanctuary with attendees, laughing, learning, and sharing)
Yummy Monthly Potlucks!
By Rose McCaskill
We are looking to enhance our CSL monthly potlucks, which are always on the last Sundayof the month, right after the Sunday service. Put it on your calendar to bring a dish and stay for a wonderful lunch enjoying a variety of main dishes, salads and deserts. You may soon start getting a "Potluck Call" or email from our new Potluck Committee. A committee of volunteers has come together to assist in organizing, hosting, cleanup andcoordinating the dishes provided by family and friends attending the church and enjoying the potluck meal. These volunteers will also coordinate the celebration of birthdays that fall during that month. Eventually we hope to have music and other enhancements tomake this a fun monthly occasion. Heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who have stepped forward in this effort. Committee members are Ani Stokoe, Cathy Davis, Nancy Schreiber, Pat Stefano, Julia Dudley-Najieb, and Rose McCaskill.
Reminder: When you bring your food to potluck, please put it in a dish or container labeled with your name on it and takeit home that same day with any remaining food left in the dish. This will make the cleanup easier and discourageleftovers from being transferred to the church fridge which eventually end up being thrown out.If you have any other suggestions or questions, please contact Rose McCaskill.
Love & Blessings, Rose
Musical Ministry
AS HAPPENS EVERY SUNDAY, EXPECT SOME EXCELLENT AND TALENTED MUSICIANS FEATURED EACH WEEK IN THE MONTH OF JULY, ORGANIZED AND ACCOMPANIED BY OUR TALENTED MUSICDIRECTOR, PETER SORENSEN.
Summer Workshop Series - Presented by CSL-Fresno's Practitioners
The first workshop in the Summer Series, held in June on "Meditation" and led by Betty Harris, was well-prepared,well-attended, and well-received by those who attended. Be sure not to miss any of the rest of them. All Workshops are offered for a Love Offering!
June 27 1:00 - 4:00 Integration of Spirit/Mind/Body Through Intentional Movement
July 11 1:00 - 4:00
Being You is Easy !!!
July 25 1:00 - 4:00
Balancing, Integrating & Healing Your SQ - Spiritual/Soul Quotient
August 8 1:00 - 4:00
Vibrations of Abundance-I
August 15 1:00 - 4:00
Vibrations of Abundance - II|
For more information call 559-485-2676
Communal Prayer for the Watersand Water Life of the Gulf of Mexico
The prayer below is structured using the healing energyof the ancient Hawaiian Ho'oponopono and is offered byDr. Masaru Emoto, scientist and author of "Messages From Water" who has shown scientifically the power ourthoughts and prayers have on water. The prayer is directed initially at WATER - the element connecting ALL Life on the planet. Water ... the carrier of Spirit and theflow-er of Love!!!We are not powerless. We are powerful. Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily...multiple timesdaily....can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening with the oil leak in the Gulf. We can set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico. We don't have to know how......we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any power active in the Universe today.
Dr. Masaru Emoto'sHealing Prayer for the Gulf
"I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings. To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, coral, algae, and all living creatures . . .I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
"Bad News Burnout?
During this time of endless catastrophes that congest ourmedia landscape - a world of oil spills, economic downturns and political instabilities, bad news has the potential to get you down. To grasp what's going in both a physical and spiritual perspective, we may find ourselves being instruments of change. As Andrew Harvey points out, "Catastrophe can become grace, and disaster possibility, only if we transform their energy by accepting what they have to teach us and acting with complete sincerity to transform ourselves."
If you wish to join in a call to sacred action for the Gulf and our entire Earth, you may connect with the Evolutionary Leaders: In Service to Conscious Evolution via a series of free telephone and internetconnections. If you miss a call, podcast recordings will be available "When tens of thousands take one small collective step, there will be a powerful impactfor the good of humanity.You have the opportunity here today to makedramatic change. Let people know who you areand what you stand for."http://www.evolutionaryleaders.net/gulf/or search for "Gulf call to sacred action"Evolutionary Leaders who will be participating in the free live series of discussions include Deepak Chopra, Lynne McTaggert, Jean Houston, Rev. Michael B.Beckwith, Joan Borysenko, James O'Dea, Greg Bradden, Andrew Harvey, Barbara Marx-Hubbard, and many others.
A Path to Freedom
By Rev. Michael Torphy
In this beautiful country we’re so blessed and privileged to live in, we celebrate freedom in the month of July. Freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom to become anything we want to be, freedom to worship any way we choose and freedom to go or live anywhere we wish are all something we truly cherish and protect.
It is universally true that having comfort in your finances is one way you can experience freedom; the financial freedom to afford a nice home, have food in your refrigerator, keep yourself healthy, pursue your happiness or to be able to give back and support causes you believe in. Since the economy is what it is and it has affected us all in someway this month I’m proposing a simple but effective process that anyone can participate in.
Our teaching is not about begging and beseeching. It’s not about being a victim or living in airy-fairy land either. No! We have spiritual tools that when used and practiced sincerely and consistently you can prove they work every time you use them, and they will always make your life better then it was. One tool that scares a lot of individuals is tithing. Yes, I said the “T” word. Quite frankly I wasn’t brave when I first started, I was curious. The practice of tithing is based on the law of circulation. If you’ve hesitated in the past to practice tithing this opportunity being presented gives you the chance to check it out without affecting your every day normal financial support.
This month I invite you to join me in an experiment that has changed many people’s conscious outlook on the meaning of prosperity and their experience with it. The Center for Spiritual Living Fresno will be distributing a sign up packet for this process that I call, The Unexpected Income Program. This program is a spiritual process and is open to anyone and everyone who wishes to witness that this is an abundant Universe and there is always more coming into our lives than we recognize, acknowledge and give Spirit credit for by giving thanks.
Blessings,
Rev. Michael
Unexpected Income Program
A program that increases your Financial Health by becoming aware of the constant unexpected income you receive but don't consciously notice!Here's how it works! Everyone willing to make this commitment to the Center for Spiritual Living donates 10%of all unexpected, increased income that occurs during the month of July. Unexpected incomeshows up in many ways. It may be being treated to dinner or a movie, a gift, a percentage offon a purchase, finding some coin or cash somewhere, getting a check in the mail you weren'texpecting, etc. It's all a form of income and your good.What do you do? Every day during July you will:
Read the SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT (next page) each morning and/or night. This affirmation also appears inthe "Unexpected Income Program" pamphlet.
Use the AFFIRMATION during the day whenever and as often as you can.
Tithe 10% of all increased good you receive (this is separate and over and above your normal gift to the Center).
Say thank you every time you get Unexpected Income and every time you give back.
What will the Center for Spiritual Living be doing? The name of each person who tithes will be given to a practitioner and they will be treating for the overflow of good beingattracted into your life everyday during the month. How do you begin? Fill out the agreement you'll find in the pamphlet or on page 3 of this newsletter; then drop the agreement in the offertoryon Sunday, stick it through the mail slot or mail it to the Spiritual Center. You watch. Wonderful things will begin tohappen the moment you put the pen to paper to sign up. The earlier you start the earlier it will begin.
I'll leave you with this statement by Ernest Holmes, the founder of Science of Mind and Spirit, from Living the Science ofMind, page 346. "If we have given out but little and received only an equal amount, we can begin to give out more, and just as surely as wedo this, more will return to us. The giving and receiving are at the center of our own being; the going out from us is butone end of the coming back to us, and the coming back to us is merely the other end of the going out from us.
"This program gives anyone who is leery of tithing a small chance to prove that this spiritual law works. We are all in thistogether. Let's raise ourselves and hence each other to a higher, more prosperous level in our financial lives. No one canfind out if something works until they have sincerely tried. I'm signing up; are you?
Loving and Blessing you as always,
Rev. Michael
Unexpected Income Program
MY AGREEMENT
I now gratefully and consciously join all those who participate in the Unexpected Income Program. During the month of July I joyfully read the treatment daily, say the affirmation as often as possible and give back to the Source of all creation by sharing myunexpected income in the form of a tithe of 10% "off the top" as a gift to Center for Spiritual Living Fresno.
By unexpectedincome, I understand it means increased financial good received over and above any current normal income I am now receiving. I also understand this program begins on the first day of July and ends on the last - BUT - will continue to work in my life all of the time.
Name________________________________________
Address_______________________________________
Phone________________________________________
E-Mail________________________________________
Affirmation:
I release all limited thinking and accept the Infinite Good of God, now.
Spiritual Mind Treatment
There is one Mind, Undivided and fully Present everywhere. All things are manifested from the One Mind. Spirit iseverywhere Present, Timeless, Eternal, and Unlimited. It is Love, Peace, Joy, Harmony, Creativity, Radiant Health,Abundant, and Limitless.
I am one with Life, one with Love, one with Source, as a wave is one with the ocean. Just as the wave cannot beseparated from the ocean, I cannot be separated from God. As I know this for myself, I know it for everyone. There is noseparation.
This is an Abundant Universe. I see evidence of that Abundance in Nature as countless stars, and in the AbundantLivingness of Life. All the Abundance I can embody is mine. I now consciously expand my awareness of my capacity for Abundance in all aspects of my life. In this moment, my Good comes to me, enough to give and to share with abundant reserves. I recognize that what I think about expands. As I think about what I do want, I easily release my limiting thoughts. I quietly turn within and acknowledge the Inner Presence of my being uplifting me with Abundance, Peace,Harmony, Love, and Acceptance. As I know this for myself, I know it for everyone.
I am grateful for my life. Grateful for everything that has brought me to this point in my awareness. Grateful to knowthat today, in this moment, the Law responds to my word.
As I know this Truth, I know there is nothing more for me to do. These words spoken into the Spirit of Love and theAction of the Law are now manifesting into form. I release these words and allow them to be.
And So It Is! |
