Archive for November, 2009

In 1962 in northeast Scotland, a dedicated group of people created a community named Findhorn. They lived by applying the principles of attraction, which they demonstrated by creating a flourishing garden on a land and climate that was harsh and labeled unsuitable for vegetation. The result, both a testimony to harmony with nature and conscious connection to all things, yielded fruit for the body, mind and spirit. David Spangler was one of the early residents of Findhorn, and during his time in the Findhorn community, he began writing down how those laws worked. In 1975, his writings were first published as The Laws of Manifestation. This book is now available again through Red Wheel/Weiser. Recently, I sat down with David to speak with him about his book and his time at Findhorn.

Kala: Hi David, thanks for joining me here on Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog. A couple of years back, I interviewed the folks at Findhorn on the Explore Your Spirit show. I’ve always been fascinated with Findhorn and what was accomplished there by a small group of conscious people. In 1970, you arrived at Findhorn and were the first American to be part of the community. Tell me about your time at Findhorn and what you experienced by being part of the community.

David: I was at Findhorn for three years during which time I served as a co-director along with Peter Caddy, one of the three original founders, and was instrumental in starting the community’s educational program. Those three years were magical. When I first arrived in 1970, there were only about fifteen people in the community, but people began arriving and staying, mostly at that time from the United States, until in 1972 there were about a hundred and fifty people living there as members. It was my first experience living in a community, and I enjoyed it tremendously. It was a chance to interact on a daily basis with like-minded people in a spirit of mutual support and encouragement. What was not to like about that?

Initially the focus at Findhorn was on the gardens and the work with the nature spirits and Devas, the angels of nature. But as the community grew so quickly, there was a need for some kind of internal educational process to bring the new members up to speed with what Findhorn was about, its spiritual vision and purpose. For years, Peter had done that himself in a one-on-one fashion, but this was no longer practical. That was when I began developing an educational process within the community. The two main teachings of the center were attunement to the Sacred, the “God Within” as Eileen Caddy called it, and cooperation with the spiritual intelligences within nature, the nature spirits and the Devas. A third became living in community in a mutually empowering way. Everything else evolved from those three principles, and part of my job was to make those principles clear.

In 1973, I felt I needed to return to the United States and resume my work here, which had been interrupted when I went to Scotland. But I have retained a deep fondness for the community and over the years have often gone back for visits. I continue to collaborate with them. For instance, next spring I’m collaborating with their educational department to offer a class, “Living Whole” which will feature a one-week experience in the community with Findhorn faculty and three months of online teaching with me. Information can be found on our website, www.Lorian.org.

Kala: It was said that Dorothy Maclean communicated with the intelligence of nature in her work at Findhorn. Some people describe this as interacting with fairies, gnomes and other beings. Was there interaction with other beings in the gardens of Findhorn?

David: The fairies, gnomes, and so forth belong to a large class of beings we called “nature spirits.” These are the beings that work energetically with specific plants and locations. Overlighting them are much vaster, more powerful Beings who are like the souls of entire species or who overlight vast landscapes and ecologies. These Beings Dorothy called the “Devas,” a Sanskrit word meaning “Shining Ones.” They would be equivalent to angels. Dorothy communicated with the Devas, receiving quite precise instructions that permitted her and Peter to grow the miraculous garden on which the fame of the community rested. An elderly Scottish gentleman named R. Ogilvie Crombie or Roc who lived in Edinburgh but who visited the community regularly was the main contact with the nature spirits. By the way, an excellent new book has just been released about him, his life and his work at Findhorn. In Britain, it’s called The Gentleman and the Faun but in North America it’s titled Meeting Fairies and is published by Allen and Unwin.

Kala: Your book, The Laws of Manifestation was written based on the laws you observed during your time at Findhorn. You state in the book - “This is what manifestation is: the working of natural laws of energy exchange and transference within a consciousness of the Whole and through an attunement to the Presence of Wholeness… It is a dynamic state of consciousness. On human levels, manifestation does not replace working for a living, it is simply a different way of expressing the livingness of the work and the work of living where work is truly seen as Love in Action”. I think this is one of the most important laws that is overlooked, that we also do have to work and take action and that thought alone will not accomplish what we wish to manifest. How best does one combine thought and action to manifest?

David: The two are really indispensable to each other. A process of manifestation can begin with either. I may need to do something, to take some action, in order to get energy moving in my life and clarify my thoughts so that I can think and imagine more precisely and clearly just what I wish to manifest. And going the other way, I may have clear images and thoughts of my manifestation but again I need to do something to open the channels for those images to connect with the larger world. Which way you approach a manifestation depends on the specific circumstances. Think of trying to play Chopin on the piano using only one hand. You can pluck out part of the melody but the richness and fullness of the music will be lost.
Thinking enables me to connect with energies of meaning: what does this manifestation mean in itself, what does it mean in my life, what does it mean in my relationships to others, and so on. Action alone won’t do that. On the other hand, action connects me to the world of matter and formation, the shaping of things, the response to opportunities, the engagement with form. Thinking alone won’t do that.

Kala: I teach esoteric teachings and have referred to what I teach as from an old age, rather than what people try to lump together and describe as new age. In reading your book, I found a similar focus, especially with your thoughts around manifestation and how it should be aligned with the Higher Will. In more recent times, manifestation has been described more as the law of attraction and a way to get what you want, many times without asking is this for your highest and best. What are your thoughts about manifesting and how it should be activated?

David: We think of manifestation generally in too restricted a way, likening it to the effect of a magnet upon iron filings. We see it as a way of bringing something into our lives. It helps to see it as an action of change: we are changing ourselves into something else and because of that we are changing the world around us as it configures to the “shape” of our life. Now this change might be great or it might be small. If I manifest a toaster, there’s probably not a great difference between me with a toaster and me without one, and the world is not going to be much affected. But if I manifest a new job or a spouse, say, that is going to change me, perhaps dramatically, and my world and relationships will change accordingly. So we need to think of manifestation not simply of attraction as if that’s all there is to it but as an act of life-shaping and to some degree of world-shaping. In my language, I say that manifestation is really an act of incarnation.

Kala: Your book is described as “transforming lives by working with the natural laws“. What do you define as a natural law?

David: A natural law to me is a description of a principle that operates in harmony and consistency with the structure and nature of reality. It is not a local phenomenon but something that operates across the spectrum of life and beingness. Thus gravity is a manifestation of the structural and atomic nature of the cosmos and doesn’t just work in Cleveland but not in Detroit; it works everywhere. For this reason, I don’t think of the “Law of Attraction” per se as a natural law, or even as a law at all. It’s a phenomenon that can occur based on principles of resonance, but not all the time; there are plenty of exceptions to its operation, for which we should be grateful. We wouldn’t want to attract everything we think about or feel, but if it were a true natural law, we would.

Kala: Since 1965, you’ve worked clairvoyantly with a group of non-physical beings, described as “from the inner worlds of spirit who are part of an inner school whose purpose was to explore and develop a spiritual teaching around the process of incarnation”. Tell us about the beings you work with.

David: My work with non-physical beings generally falls into two categories. One is with beings whom I find in my environment, such as nature spirits, or other beings who may come to me for one reason or another but in a one-off kind of way. The second is with the group you mentioned. They have often referred to themselves as a “school,” but they do not mean an educational institution. Rather they use the word in the way we might say a “school of thought,” that is, a group following a particular line of understanding, research or work. They, in turn, are part of a much larger group of beings made up of humans, angels, and devas whose overall interest is to promote the welfare and blessing of all humanity and all lives upon the earth. This particular “school” with whom I work is like a research think tank: they are running experiments, and sometimes I feel like I’m one of them! Basically, they are part of a movement to inspire a planetary spirituality, one that is neither Western nor Eastern in its basis, but one grounded in the essential nature of humanity, of the human person, and in sacredness. They are exploring just what such a planetary consciousness and spirituality might be like and how best to inspire its unfoldment “down here.” It’s not something that can be taught or revealed; it’s something that must emerge from our collaboration with them. That it, at this point in human evolution, a new spirituality must emerge from us, not from them–or more precisely, it must emerge from partnership between incarnate and dis-incarnate beings.

Within this larger objective–which a great many individuals and groups are pursuing–a particular “detachment” of this school, like a department perhaps, is working with me on the issue of redefining the nature of incarnation and what it means to be a person in order to more readily access the spiritual light that is innate in each of us. This light is not one coming from transpersonal sources but from within us as a result of the generative or creative nature of the incarnational process itself. In short, each of us is a source of what might be called “Self-Light,” a spiritual force that can be a real blessing to the world. How to understand and tap this Self-Light or “incarnational Light” and make it a practical tool in our lives is the specific objective of this department, that is, of the specific non-physical colleagues and partners with whom I work.

Kala: What is Incarnational Spirituality?

David: Incarnational Spirituality is the name I’ve given to the understanding and practice of using Self-Light in partnership with the the spiritual light from within the world and from transpersonal levels, and of course, with the Light of the Sacred that ultimate underlies all of it. Originally, I was calling it “person-centered spirituality” since it focused upon the spiritual value and presence of the personal level of consciousness and existence, not the transpersonal. But I came to realize this was too limited a term and that what I was really researching and studying in partnership with my inner colleagues was the spiritual power and consequences of the incarnational process itself. This research has formed the basis for all my classes and writings, particularly in the past eight years or so since I’ve been using the term “Incarnational Spirituality.”

I suppose one origin of this phrase was with an inner Being who appeared one day as I was writing an article about some of the challenges facing humanity at this time and said, “The problem with humanity is not that you’re too incarnated; it’s that you’re not incarnated enough.” I knew he didn’t mean we weren’t physical enough, but that we’re not connected enough, not whole enough. I wanted to know more, and this led me into researching the process of incarnation and what it means spiritually and otherwise to be an incarnate person. If any of your readers are interested in learning more, they can do so by going to my website www.lorian.org I teach online over the Internet for the most part, and there are a number of new classes soon to begin this winter and spring.

Kala: Going back to Findhorn, do you think new communities of this type will be created? Why hasn’t this concept caught on and expanded in other areas?

David: That’s a good question. I think there are new communities being formed all the time, though not necessarily in the Findhorn mode; I’m thinking here of the co-housing movement which has a lot of community elements. And there were a few communities founded inspired by Findhorn’s example. The Sirius Community in Massachusetts is one of these. But starting and running and living in an intentional community is truly hard work and not for the faint-hearted. It’s not easy making them economically self-sufficient (even Findhorn hasn’t achieved that after nearly fifty years of existence), and they require a lot of time, energy, commitment and sacrifice from everyone involved to be successful. Aside from entering a religious community, which is a different kettle of fish anyway, not that many people either can or are willing to leave their work and connections in the larger society where there are more opportunities than most small communities can offer. It’s probably the same dynamic that leads people to move from small towns to cities but not necessarily the reverse.

Kala: Who is David Spangler? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

David: They would probably say I’m loving, funny, a happy father to great children, a most appreciative and grateful husband to a fantastic woman, someone who likes to play games, someone who needs more exercise, and a writer who uses long, complex sentences where short, simple ones would do! Oh, and I love chocolate!

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you David. Thank you for your time.

For more info:
More about David Spangler:
Since returning to the United States from Findhorn in the early seventies, David Spangler has continued to travel and lecture widely. He has developed and taught classes at a number of institutions, including the University of Wisconsin, Seattle University, and the California Institute of Integral Studies. He also teaches classes for the Lorian Association for Incarnational Spirituality at www.lorian.org

More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s have just been released with Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

In this time of reflection and connection, we gather to celebrate the abundance in our lives. As we look across the proverbial table at the harvest we’ve collected – our relationships, love, family, joy, and friends, it becomes remarkably clear that we are a sum of many parts and that each of these parts are interconnected and interact with each person in our lives.

Each relationship strengthens us and allows us to stretch beyond our boundaries in ways that we may not have imagined. The golden cord on which this energy travels is linked through our soul and our spiritual connections. Whether or not we are aware of these connections when they occur, the ripple effect from the thoughts, emotions and actions from that moment forward become part of who we are and shape our destiny.

As we float along in this sea of energy on the physical plane, which we refer to as planet earth, let us join in a prayer of gratitude for this planet, this great gift given to each of us, with its inspirational natural beauty and nourishing resources.

Today, say a prayer of thanks, for all the bountiful good in your life. When you do, make sure to remember to include the planet in your prayers. The energy in each prayer is powerful and sends ripples of white light around the planet and surrounds each person that you include in your prayers. One of the greatest esoteric teachings to be shared is to remember how powerful each of us are and how much energy is behind each prayer, especially when conscious thought is focused with the prayer. When you pray, speak the words aloud, visualize the intent and direct the energy toward your intention. With careful focus and direction, a prayer can move mountains.

One of the most powerful ways to activate the prayer that you speak, is to then put it into action. Visualize the prayer and then consider how you can live in sync with the prayer in your daily actions. Then turn this prayer into your vision statement, so that you can live and act according to the prayer that you wish to see come to fruition. In this act, you are aligning with the Divine and you in your body, mind and spirit, are becoming a temple in which for the prayer to come through. My action prayer/vision statement for my work on Explore Your Spirit and as a teacher of the esoteric teachings is this: “Spirit does not exist in just one location; rather it is all encompassing, living within and amongst us in each moment, thought and action. I believe that Spirit is raised to it’s highest level, when individuals gather with wisdom, compassion and a discerning desire to provide service to humanity”.

With this prayer in mind, I invite you, here in the now, in this season of thanksgiving, abundance and gratitude, to say a prayer, give thanks and then become the action that you wish to see in your prayer.

For more info:
More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s have just been released with Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

On March 3rd, 2008 I entered a previously overlooked large tomb on the Giza plateau. I had come to this neglected area, west of the Great Pyramid, following new information that was set to challenge everything we know about the evolution of Giza’s famous monuments. In 1817 Henry Salt (1780-1827), the British Consul General in Egypt, an avid explorer and collector of Egyptian antiquities, recorded how he and Italian explorer Giovanni Caviglia (1770-1845), entered a network of Catacombs beneath the plateau, exploring them for a distance of “several hundred yards”. Even though they chanced upon three large, interconnected chambers, the two men abandoned their search and returned to the surface, having come upon no gold or treasure. What they did uncover has never been made public, and Salt’s memoirs recording their work remained unpublished until 2007, the site of the Catacombs being lost in the process.

Underworld of the Soul

What Salt and Caviglia found back in 1817 is of immense importance to the Egyptological world, for rumours concerning the existence of a lost underworld at Giza go back to the Pyramid age. Ancient Egyptian creation texts, as well as an assortment of funerary literature, i.e. books of the dead, speak of a hellish realm of darkness called the Duat, guarded by demons and snakes, which has to be navigated by the soul of the deceased to achieve rebirth and an afterlife among the stars.

In an ancient Egyptian funerary text called the Am-duat, the “Book of that which is in the Underworld”, the Duat is ruled by the falcon-headed god Sokar. He was patron of the sprawling cemeteries and pyramid fields that served the ancient city of Memphis, and in particular those at Rostau, the ancient name for Giza. Archaeologists have found textual evidence of the existence in South Giza of an important shrine to Sokar honouring something called the Shetayet, a name given to the Tomb of Osiris.

Adding to the belief that a physical representation of the pharaoh’s underworld existed at Giza is its ancient name, Rostau, which means something like the “mouth of the passages”. In the fourth-century AD Graeco-Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus (fl. AD 360-390), wrote of “subterranean fissures and winding passages called syringes” beneath the Pyramids, constructed before a great deluge in order that the memory of the ceremonies of the ancients might not be destroyed.

Arab travellers recorded similar tales. These spoke of subterranean passages created beneath the Great Pyramid by a legendary king named Saurid to preserve his race’s knowledge of the arts and sciences in advance of a cataclysm involving fire from heaven and a subsequent deluge.

As far back as the ninth century the ruling caliph, al-Mamoun, spent an enormous amount of energy tunnelling a hole through into the Great Pyramid hoping to find gold and treasure. This he failed to do, but those who came after him continued the trend, forever searching for hidden entrances to subterranean tunnels and vaults that were said to connect the Great Pyramid with the nearby Sphinx monument.

Wonderful Discoveries

Having determined to locate Salt’s lost Catacombs, I sought the help of the Association for Research and Enlightenment of Virginia Beach, VA, the research wing of the Edgar Cayce Foundation. Since the mid 1970s they have sponsored research expeditions in the hope of locating the lost Hall of Records, the name given to Giza’s lost underworld by their founding mentor Edgar Cayce (1877-1945). With their support our team made preparations to fly out to Egypt.

My intention was to investigate a seemingly unrecorded tomb west of the Great Pyramid that was in the search area indicated by Salt’ newly-discovered memoirs as concealing the entrance to the lost catacombs. This same general area of the plateau conformed to a ground-sky star correlation involving the stars of the constellation of Cygnus, the celestial swan, known also as the Northern Cross. In ancient Egyptian funerary texts Cygnus would appear to have signified the womb, navel and even the site of the vulva of a sky-goddess named Nuit, who is personified in the night sky as the Milky Way. It was in the terrestrial counterpart of Nuit’s womb, the so-called Shetayet, that the god Osiris achieved transformation into an ascended being, and there seemed every good reason to conclude that Salt’s Catacombs were the entrance to this underworld realm, lost to the world for thousands of years.

Having reached the tomb on camels that eventful day in March 2008, Egyptological researcher Nigel Skinner Simpson, my wife Sue Collins and I explored its every nook and cranny without discovering the entrance to any lost Catacombs. About to move on to other nearby tombs to continue the search there, we noticed a crack in a rock face, once sealed by a mud brick wall. Peering inside, an incredible sight greeted us – a vast cave chamber filled with rock debris, and enhanced here and there to make it more rectangular in appearance.

Hesitantly, I descended into the darkness, as flocks of bats exited the entrance, disturbed by this rude intrusion into their natural habitat. After exploring the opening chamber and various side compartments, I entered a long cave tunnel that headed in the direction of Giza’s Third Pyramid. In the pitch darkness, I navigated a seemingly never ending carpet of fallen rocks and boulders. The uneven floor, thwart with dangerous cracks and hollows, was covered with animal bones, most likely those of camel carcasses dragged in by hyenas.

Dangers in the Darkness

Reaching a natural bifurcation in the cave tunnel, I felt it the right time to double back and return to the surface, having taken some 20 minutes to travel just 80-90 metres. On subsequent visits, Sue and I penetrated the darkness for a much greater distance, before we began suffering the ill effects of oxygen starvation. Adding to our problems was the constant threat of life-threatening diseases associated with bats and bat guano, as well as the shocking discovery in the caves of a species of spider that we tentatively identified as the white widow.

Clearly, we had not found Cayce’s Hall of Records, or the legendary Tomb of Osiris. Yet in the deepest cave compartment reached we found lightly incised parallel lines on the walls, as well as other evidence of untouched archaeological features, giving hope that the caves might provide firm evidence of human activity on the plateau going back before even the Pyramid age. The cave complex’s existence might even throw new light on the ancient Egyptians’ belief in a Duat underworld existing at Giza in its role as Rostau, the “mouth of the passages”.

Snake Guardian

Most extraordinary of all is the story told to us by an elderly tomb guardian, who we encountered in the vicinity of the Tomb of the Birds. He refuses point blank to enter the caves. When asked why, the man, who wore a headscarf and traditional galabeya, said that they were the abode of a giant snake called el-Hanash. Apparently, it is “nine meters (30 feet)” long, and anyone attempting to enter el-kahf (Arabic for “the cave”) will be squeezed to death in its powerful coils. It is a fable, of course, yet one that echoes the very ancient belief that snakes of great size inhabited the Duat underworld, a tradition that persisted into Roman times with the belief that beneath the Great Pyramid reposed a god in the form of a huge serpent called Agathodaimon, the “good spirit”.

I later learnt more about the mysterious el-Hanash. One story told to me by a local craftsman in Nazlet el-Samman, the village of the Pyramids, related how this underworld serpent protects the entrance to the “Hall of Records”. He will spit venom in the face and blind anyone who attempts to steal the great “diamond” it protects. Yet one day a chosen one will enter the caves and el-Hanash will blind them in just one eye. This person will go on to enter the Hall of Records and find the great jewel that has the power to bestow on them great powers.

It is a strange tale, tainted by modern new age thought, although it seems to echo the ancient Egyptian belief that the Underworld of the Soul, or Tomb of Osiris, contains a power object that radiates an unearthly light. Clearly, nothing like this was found in the caves by Salt and Caviglia. Yet they left this underground world only partially explored, as we did ourselves, offering hope that one day this mystery will finally be revealed. Until then, it remains safely under the protection of el-Hanash.

Copyright Andrew Collins, 2009 – All theories and evidence presented in this article are expounded in Beneath the Pyramids by Andrew Collins (Fourth Dimension Press, Virginia Beach, VA, 2009).

Andrew Collins will be a guest on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show in spring 2010 . Check back for the official show date coming soon.

More about Andrew Collins…

Andrew Collins, is a science and history writer and the author of various books that challenge the way we perceive the past. They include From the Ashes of Angels (1996), which shows that the Watchers of the book of Enoch were shamans responsible for the Neolithic revolution, and that their homeland—the biblical Eden—was southeast Turkey, where archaeologists have recently found the oldest stone temple in the world; Gods of Eden (1998), which reveals that Egyptian civilization is thousands of years older than is conventionally believed; Gateway to Atlantis (2000), which demonstrates that Plato’s Atlantis was located in Cuba and the Bahamas, and The Cygnus Mystery (2006), which argues that veneration of the Cygnus constellation was responsible for the world’s earliest sky religions. His latest book Beneath the Pyramids uncovers Egypt’s cave underworld for the first time. Andrew, born in 1957, lives with his wife Sue near Marlborough, Wiltshire. For more information on Andrew Collins and his work, go to www.andrewcollins.com

Author Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “We must not die with our music still inside of us.”  What I believe he meant by this was that each one of us has very unique and special gifts deep inside — natural skills and talents that we were given.  We know that many talents can be acquired and developed with elaborate training, but many others already exist, just waiting to be discovered and honed.  Whether it’s a flair for the arts and creativity, personal skills such as communication and leadership, or a knack for precision and accuracy, there is something special and unique about each of us.  Have you ever noticed how some children have a natural ability to balance and dance, or others who can sing in tune?  Years ago, I watched with amazement how a friend’s 4-year-old could handle an adult-sized basketball and kick a soccer ball with precision.

To this day, many of us have not yet discovered what unique things we can accomplish just by trying.  These gifts are buried too deeply and covered over by our hectic schedules and an inability to reach inside ourselves.  I met a grown woman one day who told me about a desire she had always felt to work with or care for animals.  She put in long hours in an office and constantly day-dreamed about starting an adoption agency for small pets.  I told her that her “calling” will remain a fantasy until she responds to it, and I encouraged her to find ways of exploring possibilities.  I met a man several years ago who had a gift for teaching scripture in his church and yet he worked in sales.  He eventually answered the “calling” by quitting his job and going to school to become a pastor, something he wished he had done many years earlier.

Some of our inability to live our dream or to love what comes naturally to us stems from the discouragement we experienced as children.  Our parents meant well, but often their words and actions hurt our morale and self-image, and caused us to give up.  When I was in junior high school, I discovered a passion for reading the works of Edgar Allan Poe and emulating him in my stories and tales.  But it seemed that when I showed my work to my parents and teachers, they were quite critical and continued to point out all the things I was doing wrong in my writing.  Eventually I became so discouraged that I gave up the love of writing and felt I couldn’t live up to their expectations.  I know now they all meant well with their comments and criticism.  They wanted to help me be the best writer possible, or use a style that they felt would be most effective.  But it backfired and caused me to give up.  It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I dusted off that internal “calling” to write and began creating work that led me to this column and other works.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  My interpretation of this passage is that we must not train our children the way we think they should go, but instead the way the greater power that created them intended for them to go.  Be sure that you aren’t trying to live your dreams through your child.  I received the following e-mail from a parent; “I’ve seen my daughter draw beautifully but she doesn’t seem to care to do it much.  Artistic ability runs in our family.  How do I encourage our daughter to keep at it so she’ll go far?”  Perhaps the parents of this child were putting too much pressure on her to excel at art because they wanted her to be great.  The comment about the family’s artistic ability may indicate the motivation for the pressure.

I challenge you to see your child as a gift with hidden secrets and treasures within — that only she and the greater powers that created the magic of life itself know her ultimate capabilities.  You have the rewarding opportunity to help her unlock these gifts through your encouragement and coaching as a parent.

Here are three important things you can do to help her discover what she loves and what she could achieve.

Allow Your Children to Explore. Create opportunities for them in all forms of art, creativity, and play.  If you see that they have an affinity for something specific, it’s fine to encourage them but avoid pressure; otherwise, they may develop an aversion to the activity.  Always ask your children their preferences, and help them experience what is most meaningful to them.

Allow Them to Dream Boldly. Based on their dreams and desires, allow them to ask for things without criticism. It’s important to avoid squelching or discouraging your children’s requests based on their creative aspirations. Buy an empty notebook or a colorful essay book so they can log their dreams and desires. You don’t always have to fulfill their requests. Set an example by joining them and sharing some of your dreams with them.

Use More Encouragement and Less Praise. Praise is too judgmental and applies labels to a child.  Encouragement empowers youngsters to listen to their hearts and determine what they think about themselves or what they created.  Ask plenty of open-ended questions and allow them to describe to you their opinions and thoughts about something they did or created.

If you’ve noticed some wonderful artistic ability in your child, cherish it and nourish it.  It’s desirable to encourage them to excel in that area, but be ready to let go if they choose not to pursue the interest.  Don’t try to clone yourself in your child, and certainly don’t attempt to fulfill your thwarted desires through them.  Be your child’s coach and guide, and you’ll help them find their own unique place in this world.  Doing so will help them live a full and happy life, and to hear that song inside them waiting to be sung.

More about Bill Corbett…
Bill Corbett is the author of the book Love, Limits, & Lessons® and the founder and president of Cooperative Kids.  The book is designed as a quick reference guide for adults in handling challenging behavior and is now available in a Spanish translation edition.  Bill has a degree in psychology from University of Phoenix, sits on the resource advisory board of Attachment Parenting International, and is the former creator and host of the radio talk show Parent Talk in Nashville, TN.  He created the Love, Limits, & Lessons® parent education course on discipline that is taught by instructors nationwide, and writes a syndicated column offering behavior advice that can be found in many parent magazines in Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New England.  Bill has three adult children, two grandchildren, and lives with his wife Elizabeth near Hartford, CT.  Visit his website www.CooperativeKids.com for further information and parenting advice.

Most people mistakenly believe that outside factors cause stress. For example, deadlines at work, financial challenges, family issues, health problems, or relationship tangles. But these are normal obstacles that everyone faces as adults. And guess what? They aren’t the cause of your stress. The real reason you are getting stressed out is because you’ve bought into the myth that you’re not good enough and you’re not up to meeting those challenges.

Imagine how your everyday life would change if you suddenly became unafraid to fail. Imagine how powerful and serene you would feel if you didn’t care about others’ opinions or judgments. This is the definition of a stress-free life—and you can get to this point by discarding your limiting beliefs.

When you discard limiting beliefs—e.g., I’m not thin enough, pretty enough, smart enough, rich enough, successful enough—you open yourself up to unlimited personal and professional possibilities. That’s because the mother of all fears—namely, that you’re not good enough—has been preventing you from loving yourself, being true to yourself, and doing what you really want to do in your life.

Most of all, it’s making you feel as if you don’t measure up. It’s also leading you to align your everyday behaviors and choices with what you think others want and expect from you. That’s why you’re stressed out!

Start by aligning your decisions with you, not someone else. Here are five new ways to counteract stress, regain your courage to be who you really are, and take charge of your own life and career.

Stressbuster #1: Stop using money to keep score.

We use money to impress others, to fulfill a need for self-worth, and to “buy” happiness. The next thing we know, we’re in debt, we’re unhappy with what we have, or we develop an insatiable need for more “stuff.” Start seeing money for what it is—a way to buy necessities. Stop seeing it as a way to define your success.

Stressbuster #2: Stop letting the media define your beauty.

Many of us live in a perpetual state of distress over how we look—too fat, too old, too short, too bald, unfashionable, and so on—because we believe the beauty myths perpetuated by the media. Stop worrying about what others think about you. Start caring about and exhibiting your positive traits—such as honesty, helpfulness, and intelligence.

Stressbuster #3: Stop letting religion rob your self-worth.

If you belong to an organized religion, you’ve probably gotten the message that you’re unworthy, or that if you just do A, B, and C, maybe you’ll earn redemption. Stop feeling guilty for making decisions that you know in your heart are good for you, and stop asking permission to do so. You were created good enough. Start believing you are.

Stressbuster #4: Stop seeking accomplishment in busyness.

Many people measure their self-worth by how much they get done. Then they complain, “I don’t have enough me-time.” Get rid of all the “shoulds” that are making you feel stressed out (“I should clean my closet, I should visit my folks.”) Ask yourself why you don’t, and then deal with that, rather than feeling guilty. Stop feeling bad for taking time for you—time to contemplate, time to relax. You’re worth it.

Stressbuster #5: Stop seeking rewards outside yourself.

You may be someone for whom a promotion, raise, bigger office, or nicer car are signs of success. Chances are, you’re addicted to striving, and you’ll never quite reach the place that feels good enough. Stop the cycle. Look inside to identify qualities in yourself that are good enough—right now, just the way they are. Start defining yourself in terms of your generosity, empathy, or other worthy qualities.

More about Jan Denise…

Jan Denise is a syndicated newspaper columnist, an empowerment guru, and author of the new book, Innately Good: Dispelling the Myth that You’re Not (Health Communications, 2009). You can find out more about her and her teachings at www.innatelygood.com.

For the past month or so, two major players in the astrological pantheon have been preparing to face off against each other in a challenging 90 degree formation that astrologers call a “square” aspect.  These two players are Saturn and Pluto, affectionately known as the Lord of Karma and the Lord of Death.

Saturn is the planet that defines limits and creates restrictions and boundaries; it inspires self-doubt and the knowledge that hard work is required in order to achieve our goals.  Wherever we find Saturn, there is work to be done (hence the term the Lord of Karma).  Saturn has just entered Libra, the sign of beauty, relationships, and those things upon which we place value.  Here it is challenging us to confront (Saturn) any romanticized (Libra) ideals that we hold which are not firmly grounded in reality.

Pluto (yes, Pluto is still a planet for astrologers!!) is the Lord of the Underworld of power, darkness, death and rebirth.  Pluto rules the kind of transformation that begins at the cellular level, where everything is dismantled and something completely new arises in its place.  Pluto entered the sign of Capricorn (the sign that is ruled by Saturn) in January of 2008 and proceeded to destroy the financial and governmental structures (Capricorn) that were weak and lacking a solid foundation.

Just like the four phases of the lunar cycle, in which the Sun and Moon dance from the New Moon (the conjunction) through the first quarter square, to the Full Moon (the opposition or 180 degree angle) and the closing square, planets engage in a similar dance that we call the “synodic” cycle.  The cycle of Saturn and Pluto coincides with major shifts in the global landscape as an outmoded structure is replaced with something new.  For the individual, there is often an internal shift that creates a new way of seeing the world and perhaps the necessity to let go of something so that transformation can occur.

The current cycle between Saturn and Pluto began with the conjunction back in late 1982-3 when both planets were in the late degrees of Libra.  In the United States and Britain, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher began a conservative revolution that transformed the financial systems in both countries and reverberated around the world.

The opening square (90 degrees) between Saturn and Pluto in March of 1993 coincided with the first World Trade Center bombing on February 26 which we can argue began the war of Islamist fundamentalism that continues today as we complete the current Saturn/Pluto cycle.  At this time Bill Clinton took office and reversed the conservative policies of Reagan, and the disarmament crisis in Iraq forced the UN inspectors out of that country which we can once again argue began the road to the invasion of Iraq that forever altered the political landscape around the world.

The opposition phase (180 degrees) between Saturn and Pluto began in August of 2001, the period in which heightened activity by Al Qaeda resulted in the attacks on September 11.  The opposition corresponds to the Full Moon cycle in which the unconscious elements of the planetary dynamics are brought into full view and in this case the seeds that were sown during the opening square came to fruition at the time of the opposition in the war against Islamic fundamentalism and the invasion of Iraq.

Other significant events marking a major transformation in the global landscape during this period include the entry of China into the World Trade Organization, cementing its role as a major player in the global economic system.

As we begin the final square of the current cycle in the dance between Saturn and Pluto, what can we expect?  The opening salvo in this square occurs on November 15, and Saturn and Pluto will be in a tight aspect through the second phase of the cycle in January of 2010.  The Saturn/Pluto cycle operates on a global level, but also on a personal level.  What will we need to let go of personally (Pluto) in order to achieve a firmer footing (Saturn) in our lives?  Where do we need to face the hard truth (Saturn) and break through barriers for change (Pluto)?

The fact that Pluto is traveling through Saturn’s sign of Capricorn is significant, as it provides a double emphasis on the need to build a strong foundation (Saturn/Capricorn) from which we can derive real power and transformation (Pluto).  Anywhere we have been deluded or swayed by mass hypnosis into unconsciousness, we will have an awakening that can be exhilarating or rude in accordance with our ability to understand the process.

The impact of this Saturn/Pluto square will be particularly powerful in the United States because it is affecting the Midheaven of the US chart, the point of the government and its standing in the world.  Events that were set in place during the opening square and the opposition will come to fruition now, for better or for worse.

The conflict between Saturn and Pluto often generates a great deal of fear, particularly in the face of intense events that occur around us.  Any time we encounter Pluto in its guise as the Lord of Death we can become fearful in the face of the certainty of endings and change.  But Saturn requires that we face our obligations and work diligently to overcome them, regardless of the obstacles that are placed in our path.  In doing so we become stronger and more powerful; better able to navigate any rough waters that we encounter.

If this planetary combination affects your own chart, you are being called to find the delicate edge between control (Saturn) and surrender (Pluto).  This is a creative balancing act that is taught in many yoga classes, where we become aware of the edge of our ability to control our lives and our experience, and then we surrender as we release that control to go beyond those limits.

In the square aspect, such as we see here with Saturn and Pluto, there is the potential to integrate the power of the two planets in an experience of powerful transformation.  But first we must embrace the darkness and dive into the unknown with perfect love and trust.

Lynn Hayes will be a guest on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show in early 2010 . Check back for the official show date coming soon.

Lynn Hayes has been an internationally renowned astrologer and transformational life consultant for over 25 years, helping thousands of people break through the barriers that have kept them from achieving their dreams. She currently writes an astrology blog for BeliefNet and her writings on astrology and personal transformation have been published all over the world and the entire collection can be found on her website: www.astrodynamics.net

This Summer on the Bohemian Blog, I created a feature article series dedicated to “Inner Beauty”. It was originally designed to be a brief respite from our busy lives, offering a moment to relax and reflect on the beauty in our world, both natural and man made. These articles have proved to be so popular, that I’ve decided to continue this series year round as I meet more beautiful and talented conscious creators who bring such natural wonders to our world. This Fall, the focus evolves into ‘Exploring Within’ as we delve into the mysteries of the connection between this world and the other side. On this path, I encountered Pamela Wells, creator of Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Tarot Guidance Cards. Her work connects every women to the Inner Goddess living within. Join us here as we enter into a sacred space of discussion and exploration.

Kala: Hi Pamela, Thanks for joining me here. You’ve created Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Tarot Cards, which are described as valuable tools for spiritual seekers, tarot practitioners and women of any age. The cards are based on the major arcana cards of the tarot, with this set featuring 22 goddess cards. What was your inspiration to create this metaphysical line of art centered on women and the goddess?

Pamela: I had reached a transitional period in my illustration and design career where I wanted to pursue creative work with less restrictive design rules. At about the same time I met a medicine woman who mentored and encouraged me to paint and draw what I felt passionate about. One of the first images I painted was the Strength card. The Strength card is mid-point in a majors only tarot deck and suggests inner growth and awareness that evolves over our lifetimes. Strength says, “I wisely use my life-force energy to create and direct my good work in the world.” The archetypal significance or the card represented to me a message of passionate action. I was ready to fully incorporate the meaning of this card in my life.

It was wonderful I had a mentor friend who understood my need to find more meaning and to create work I felt passionate about. Once I began painting, I realized I could be guided in the painting process through my meditation and prayer. All these wonderful synchronistic events unfolded during the creation of the card deck as my faith grew that all would be well even if I didn’t know where the project would lead me.

I created the remaining major arcana cards in a similar co-creative process. What I envisioned was often informed by my own life experience and through inner guidance.

Kala: The cards are available in a gold-framed collector’s set boxed edition which also includes a 120 page spiritual guidebook and a wisdom prayer guide to be used with the cards. What really intrigued me though, was the fact that you also have the cards available as an app for the iPhone and iPod. I’ve had the opportunity to play with the cards on my iPhone and have really enjoyed the experience. I now refer to the app as: “Tarot on the Go”! It’s been very entertaining and enlightening to be anywhere with my iPhone and have a question on my mind and then open up my Goddess iPhone app and ask the question and there are the cards right there, speaking to me. What prompted you to turn the cards into an iPhone app?

Pamela: How the iPhone/iPod format came about was very synchronistic. Martin Adams, the Ceo of Wisdom Titles, invited me to submit the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess deck. I thought it was a great opportunity to introduce another useful format for readers.I met Martin Adams years earlier through my husband who worked for him at his Anusara Yoga Studio. I had no idea that he had started a new company called Wisdom Titles for ebooks, iPhone and iPod apps until he contacted me through email. Likewise, he had no idea I had created a deck set until we reconnected. In the iPhone/iPod format the deck of cards and book is made available in a convenient any time, any where use. I agree it is great to have when immediate guidance is needed. The only thing the app doesn’t currently include are the introductory chapters of the deck set which we plan to add in at a later date.

Kala: Describe how the process of creating the cards worked for you? Do you work with spirit guides? Does the information come first and then the artwork or do they flow out at the same time?

Pamela: What a wonderful question. The creative process is so important in all areas of life as well as honoring the power of our creative-intuitive right brains. When creating artwork I start with an inspirational idea. The word inspired actually means “in spirit” so I get into a state of mind that can best described as animated creativity. My ideas about imagery for painting come about when I am walking in a remote canyon or local nature trail. Since I am visually oriented I “see” the images as if they were being projected from the back of my eyes to a screen in the back of my mind. So, the process begins with envisioning the imagery for the composition first. Then during the painting process I paint in the symbolic elements and details as they come about naturally. I do dialogue with my spirit guides. I usually contact them in more of a meditation or quite state when I am unsure about something. I usually start with the question “What do I need to know?” During the creative process my guides are co-creating with me!

Kala: How important is it do you think to connect Body Mind and Spirit in all activities?

Pamela: In our culture, we are rewarded and receive praise for doing something even if there is an internal resistance, no matter what we feel or believe, and to just “do it”. Indeed, we become masters of even even doing many things at once (multitasking) in the interests of efficiency and goal achieving. However, the downside of all of this doing is that we often feel burnt out and stressed.This is a life that is driven by quantity.

Another approach is to periodically pause the doing and return to the reason and intention behind what you are doing. When you reconnect to the source of your energies, you begin to call all of who you are into unity. This connection recharges your mind, body, and heart in service of what you believe. So when you resume your doing, there is a more optimal flow of your energy and it can be done more clearly and effectively. This connection of mind, body, and heart (Spirit), is vital to sustaining a life of purpose and inspiration. This approach invites you to the quality of how you participate in activities – “how you do it”. It is what keeps your burning bright and not burned out.

Kala: Your education and background includes working as a fine artist, commercial illustrator, graphics and web designer for over twenty years, with an interest in the study of transpersonal psychology, integral transformative spiritual practice and the evolution of human consciousness. How has your career inspired you – and – what you create as an artist?

Pamela: My career has been an excellent source of experience, training and skills which include good communication with clients and an understanding of color and design that help sell a client’s products or services. I have always been interested in business but it has only been in the last 10 years I had the intention to work for client’s who had business interests related to my personal studies in spirituality and transpersonal psychology. Working for clients in the healing arts is when I am inspired the most. It is a real pleasure to bring together my education, experience and training with my passion for transpersonal human development and the evolution of higher consciousness.

Kala: As an entrepreneur, you’ve found an outlet to share your talents with the world. How does what you do for a living also express who you are as a person?

Pamela: I have always been creative and an independent thinker which is rarely encouraged or viewed as an asset in most business settings. Being self-employed I can do creative commercial work for clients and work independently on my own projects without as many creative limitations. Lately I am working with clients who hire me for my unique style and creative approach. Most of my clients now have buinesses in the healing arts or are looking for stylized design/illustration solutions that incorporate an understanding of these markets. My own personal creative focus has been in service to supporting and empowering women and other spiritually inspired artists.

Kala: How would you describe your personal spiritual path? Do you feel that you are continuing the work as described in the past as of the Goddess or walking a similar path?

Pamela: My own spiritual path could best be described as the healing path of the wounded healer. A wounded healer is from a family with a history of emotional or physical abuse. I believe this life path was essential to my understanding of universal lessons that helped me survive difficult times and helped me choose a life of internal power and purpose.

So, through my own life experience I would define an Everyday Goddess as a women who understands and uses her external and internal power to shape her life in a co-creative way with the Divine.

My creative work is part of an evolutionary shift in consciousness of what it means to be a woman. I believe women co-create history with men and can reject continuing to be victims of past history. It is important for women to take responsibility for their own choices, past and present and stand side-by-side with men as equal co-creators for an enlightened future. Part of women transcending victimhood includes taking responsibility for our own evolution, realizing unity with other women, being emotionally rational and standing autonomously without wavering. There is much more I have to say about how women can empower themselves in the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess deck.

Kala: I couldn’t agree more Pamela and this is the time for the return and rise of the Divine Feminine in all aspects. Regarding your work, do you accept custom orders for art? and what has been your favorite product or artwork that you have designed thus far?

Pamela: I do accept custom orders. Most of the art for the Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess cards were custom portraits of friends or colleagues.

My favorite painting is the cover image of the women picking the apple. She is meaningful to me because the archetypal imagery in this composition points to similar themes in all the Everyday Goddess cards. She is rather mysterious and I like that. Surrender into the mystery is the first act to begin to understand the paradoxical nature of the divine feminine.

Everyday Goddess Tarot Cards by Pamela Wells

Kala: Who is Pamela Wells? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Pamela: I think they would say that when I am inspired about something, I will pursue it with the highest level of steadfastness and commitment. Or maybe they would say jokingly that I am very stubborn! They would say I am curious – a student of life, loving, playful and fierce as a warrior if I feel my loved ones are threatened.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their entrepreneurial side and start their own business?

Pamela: Follow your heart (intuition, passion and love) in what you create and use your mind (skills and intelligence) in what you sell. Being creative births your unique vision into the world. Selling means providing a product or service to other people that improves their lives. If you can put heart and mind together, you will be doing what you love in devotional service to other people and the whole world benefits.

Know yourself. Have a good assessment of what you can do or are willing to learn how to do. Know what you can’t do well or don’t want to do and budget for them in your business plan then delegate those tasks to an expert. I would say that the most important character traits that one needs are persistence and independent thinking.

Kala: Beyond your work here Pamela, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Pamela: My work really inspires me because it gives me a creative way to express what I see inside as well as to be of service to others. My creative work incorporates my interest in women’s issues of self-empowerment, self growth and spirituality. I also love to read and learn anything related to travel, transpersonal psychology, integral spiritual practice and human consciousness.

I explore Spirit through my relationship with friends, family and my husband. My husband is a gifted Anusara Yoga teacher, best friend and a loving adversary for heated discussions about the Divine. I also have three dogs who enjoy nature as much as I do, keep me in present time (at least during our walks) and remind me that all is sacred.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Pamela. Best wishes for your continued success.

Pamela: Thank you Kala. It has been wonderful to talk with you.

More about Pamela Wells:
Pamela Wells has been working as a fine artist, commercial illustrator, graphics and web designer for over 20 years specializing in creative work that leads to greater understanding and awareness. Her design approach incorporates her interest and knowledge in the study of transpersonal psychology, integral transformative spiritual practice and the evolution of human consciousness. Pamela Wells’ creative projects with clients are dedicated to raising the awareness of their customers through their products and services by finding solutions that are proactively engaged in a fast changing world with the clear goal of growing business without compromising personal values and integrity. Design solutions are comprehensive, inclusive and balanced in a time when old, partial approaches and solutions are no longer working in a globally connected and complex world. In the emerging field of digital artwork, Pamela has pioneered her own unique style of painting and won many art awards as well as shown her fine artwork throughout the country. Her digital fine artwork has been published in how-to publications and Pamela has written how-to digital articles for both local and national publications. Her stylized goddess imagery incorporates her interest in women’s issues of self-empowerment, self-growth and spirituality.

Pamela is a professional member of the Society of Illustrators. Pamela Wells’ work reflects a deep compassion and commitment to empower men and women and the ecological preservation of the planet which benefits all living things. To learn more about Pamela and her artwork, visit the goddess fine art gallery at www.ArtmagicPublishing.com or www.Artmagic.net.

In 2009, Pamela Wells authored and illustrated a Collector’s Edition guidebook and card set for women called Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess – Spiritual Guidebook & 22 Wisdom Cards for Contemplation and Prayer. This boxed set is available at New Leaf Distribution, DeVorss & Company or www.ArtmagicPublishing.com. Pamela Wells currently lives just outside of San Diego, California with her husband and their three dogs.

Following Sound into Silence:  Chanting Your Way Beyond Ego into Bliss – Illustrated book with mantra-music CD (2008, Hay House)
.. excerpt from the book by Dr. Kurt “Kailash” Bruder

Invitation to Chanting
Are you hoping to find a simple, straight-forward spiritual practice that reliably calms and concentrates your mind, elevates and stabilizes your feelings, and inspires and energizes your will? The fact that you’re reading this suggests that you’re already a spiritual seeker—someone wanting to experience the Great Mystery directly and hoping that this experience will translate into concrete improvements in your day-to- day life.

Devotional chanting is the very spiritual practice you need, allowing you to take full advantage of a resource that’s already available to you for your own evolution: your voice. If you’re like me, at some time or another you’ve been inspired by stories of saints and sages. You’ve probably imagined yourself becoming like them—holy, compassionate, wise, and carefree—only to discover that wishing didn’t take you there. Learning about how great someone else’s spiritual life was doesn’t do much by itself to improve your own. True enough, reading about their heroic efforts with respect to self-discipline and their amazing insights can be inspiring. However, it can also be discouraging in the long run, especially when you discover that the particulars of their path are simply too ambitious for you to imitate.

Yet, there’s this nagging sense that you can be more than you’ve been thus far and that a way of life that transcends your current limitations exists, if only you knew how to access it. But where do you begin? What you need is a system for spiritual development that works with your life as it is, yet challenges you enough to result in definite growth. It should stretch you where you need to expand and provide incentive to strive where you’ve been lax, while not overwhelming you with its complexity or difficulty. The practical spiritual exercise of devotional chanting has filled these needs for me, and I know it can do the same for you.

My own entry into chanting was from two different “angles.” One was my search for an approach to spiritual growth that would engage every dimension of my being, especially my feelings. For many years, my emphasis was on cultivating the clearest and most accurate understanding of ultimate reality that I could. This process led me to consider a wide variety of perspectives, first exclusively within Christianity, and then within other wisdom traditions as well. While I learned many things that I still regard as valuable, this philosophical approach was sometimes rather “dry” and detached. I wanted a practice that involved all of me—my body and heart, as well as my mind—which would lead me to a direct experience of the ideals I was pursuing. Devotional chanting delivers.

The other point of entry for me was my work as a scholar-teacher of communication. For the bulk of my professional life, I’ve been investigating the relationship between people’s specific communication behaviors and their interior lives, especially their sense of self. I came to realize that everything we say (or sing) to ourselves and others shapes us and contributes to the quality of our lives. My studies of interactive methods for spiritual development that have been used by people throughout history and around the world inevitably led me to devotional chanting…

Why Chant?
The advantages of this ancient form of worshipping the Divine are many and varied. Not only does chanting quiet our minds, it also helps us forget our troubles; produces a sense of connection with others; and fosters a wealth of positive feelings such as serenity, lightness, and joy. Many chanters—novices and veterans alike—even report the sensation of having transcended their bodies during this practice. Chanting is a technique that makes the best use of our love of pleasure, redirecting our desires toward the Supreme. In this way, chanting is a shortcut to ecstasy. Mantra repetition is a simple, enjoyable, and powerful procedure for purposefully reorganizing your consciousness. The uncomplicated nature of chanting may seem at odds with some of the extravagant claims made for its power as a form of spiritual technology.

After all, how could speaking or singing syllables from an ancient foreign language possibly generate such an amazing range of benefits? The very act of repeating a mantra induces relaxation, allowing you access to the sublime silence always abiding at the core of your being. Simplifying your mental processes by working with mantras will support you in increased concentration and emotional command. Additional benefits may be realized when you chant in coordination with other types of sadhana (spiritual practice). For example, the rewards of chanting are exponentially increased when also harnessing the force of imagination—such as repeating mantras while visualizing the Perfections that are being invoked…As you move through these pages, you’ll learn about other benefits common to all mantras, as well as many that are linked to the repetition of specific mantras…

Visit Kailash’s website, http://OmKailash.com, for chant-relevant information, events schedule, audio and video clips of Kailash chanting and teaching, and much more.

Kala Ambrose speaks with authors, artists, explorers and researchers, delving into topics of ancient mysteries, metaphysical explorations and new discoveries from science and spiritual arenas. In this interview, Kala speaks with William Gladstone, author of The Twelve, a novel about 2012 and the Mayan Prophecies.

Kala: William, you’ve written a novel entitled The Twelve, based upon the Mayan Calendar and the prophecies regarding the date of December 21st, 2012. It seems that everyone has a varying opinion on what will occur in December 2012. What is your prediction?

William: There will be a major vibrational shift on December 21,2012. However it will not be the end of the world as we know it. Only those already prepared and vibrating at a higher level will actually experience the subtle change. This vibrational shift has already started and will continue for many years. Within ten to twenty years major changes will have occurred and begin to be perceived by the majority of people.Like any prediction this is not a certainty but highly probable. The Mayan as do most indigenous peoples believe that human beings have free will. The future is positive but in the end up to the free will of each human being and all human beings collectively.

Kala: The main character in your book, Max, has a near death experience in his teen years in which he sees twelve names but can’t remember them when he awakes. How does this vision impact Max throughout his life?

William: Max never forgets the vividness of this experience. However eight years pass before he meets the first of the twelve names. It takes Max more than 45 years to meet all twelve names. The more names he meets the more he realizes how important his near death experience is.

Kala: Each of the twelve people in Max’s vision represent a different culture and a different religion, the twelve tribes… Do you feel that each “tribe” has an important piece of the puzzle, that if brought together, would answer some of the greatest supernatural and metaphysical mysteries that scholars and mystics have pondered throughout the ages?

William: This is the absolute truth and supported by legends from many prominent world religions and spiritual traditions.

Kala: Some people believe that humanity is destroying the planet and causing global warming, while others believe that the earth has cycles and is in a warming trend cycle, which also happens to be coinciding with an active solar flare cycle from the Sun. What are your thoughts on earth changes and humanity’s role in the changes?

William: The two are interrelated. No doubt the earth itself has its own cycle. However it is also clear that human technology and behavior is contributing to global warming and other climate change.

Kala: In the story line, Max knows from childhood that “there was a purpose to his life and an important destiny that he had been called upon to fulfill”. Do you believe that everyone has a purpose and destiny to fulfill in their life and if so, how do they go about finding it?

William: Everyone has a destiny and a purpose. There is no easy formula for finding out what that destiny and purpose might be. For those fortunate to be living their purpose they know when they are acting to their highest and greatest potential and purpose. For those not so fortunate I encourage everyone to be honest at all times and to live in integrity with compassion and concern for all living beings. Anyone who lives a life of commitment and purpose to the challenges and joys given to them in each moment of life will ultimately live their destiny. An individual’s destiny may be nothing more than experiencing joy and love and sharing those emotions with others. No one knows for certain their destiny and true purpose until their life is complete.

Kala: What has writing this book taught you? Did the journey take you places that were unexpected?

William: I discovered my own inner wisdom. It was not until I read the finished manuscript that I really appreciated what a magical life I have lived and what the true purpose of my life might be. There is no question that the individual insights that the main character Max Doff learns throughout his life are useful to millions of people.There is a certain magic to The Twelve which can open any reader to the deeper realizations of reality and spiritual wisdom. Most importantly the novel points to a practical solution of how each human being can contribute to the well being of the world whatever their religion or belief or non belief in the significance of 2012.

Kala: William, it’s been a pleasure to speak with you. All the best wishes for your continued success!

For more info:
More about William Gladstone…
William Gladstone majored in Spanish literature at Yale University and cultural anthropology at Harvard
University. He also received an advanced degree in literature from the University of Salamanca in Spain. Gladstone has worked at the highest levels of book publishing, created the Waterside Technical Book Conferences, and has been involved in the creation of several digital publishing enterprises, including the first print-on-demand book publishing company. Gladstone has served on the boards of public and private companies and was the founding president of the Alumni Association for School Year Abroad, based in Andover, Massachusetts. He travels extensively throughout the world, assisting authors and book publishers, and resides in Cardiff, California. His website is: www.12thebook.com

More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s have just been released with Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

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I made both a Chinese astrological chart and a western astrological chart of the Presidential inauguration on January 20th. The Chinese chart report is first. As the events these past several months are reflected in what the charts say, we can reasonably say, therefore, that what was predicted in the charts, will indeed happen.

President Obama was sworn in on January 20th, at 12:06 PM in Washington DC. Chinese astrological calculations show a picture of a long period of reform coming, and in spite of the challenges and oppositions that are bound to come up the new Administration will succeed in large measure. The energy at the time in which the new Administration began was contracting, not expanding. This means that the situation of the Nation, as seen in January, 2009, in general gets worse before it gets better; it takes time to turn around. (It is now August, 21st. The recession is just beginning slowly to turn around. It is most probable that the economy will pick up little by little through the later part of this year and through 2010.) Creative planning is being called for in the current Administration. Creative planning is the vital element for the success of the Administration. The time, as shown in the Chinese chart, calls for an independent leader, one who carefully weighs all sides and who acts forcefully in face of serious opposition.

Overall, the dynamics of the Chinese chart show a trend toward repolarization of wealth. This means the poor will ultimately benefit even though the getting there will be fraught with difficulties. The Government will be seeking out new and alternative solutions, but their efforts will exceed expected returns; they won’t be able to come through with all they promise because the opposition is growing in intensity throughout the term of the Administration. Financial resources being unstable, it will take considerable time to turn the situation around. The Chinese chart does show, however, increasing resourcefulness and storing up of money after the first year. The picture is complicated and difficult. The country is being divided by opposing forces. The opposition to the President doesn’t care that the President is popular and is doing all it can to undermine the President. It will continue this way and grow in virulence.

The second and third years of the Obama Administration promise to be very dynamic. Opposition to the President will become loud through the second year. And the fourth year shows a hidden danger coming up. The Chinese chart does not say from whom or to whom, but it does say that opposition will come up very strongly toward the end of the Presidential term. All through his Presidency, Obama will have challenges. It is an exciting time. And while the President does have enemies he appears to have protection as well.

President Obama’s hopes of unifying everyone, reaching across the aisle, will not work. Divisive factions are growing and will come to challenge him loudly especially toward mid-term. And while mid-term may bring up some radical choices, the President will receive assistance from key people right from the start and throughout the four years of his first term. It is probable that he will be reelected. He has the genius, or luck of turning adverse conditions to his advantage. President Obama glows with vitality and vigorously carries things through. His gift of attracting others, however, is double edged; it works both for and against him. He has a danger of becoming entangled in the snares of his political enemies. President Obama’s alliances will therefore not always be trustworthy. Notwithstanding, he is a clever politician.

The Western astrological chart for the inauguration had Mercury retrograde and combust showing Justice Roberts having a senior moment flubbing his administering of the Oath of Office. Some people had the opinion that the inauguration was made invalid because of this flub, however, according to the 22nd amendment of the Consititution, the inauguration was, indeed, valid. Notwithstanding, there was a second oath of office given to President Obama on January 21st at 7:35 PM at the White House. A brief analysis of it follows this report, but it doesn’t hold water beyond warning the President of the serious intentions of his opposition; there are no accidents; that chart does say something. The country is deeply divided and there are a lot of fearful, angry people that can stir up a lot of trouble.

At the time of the Presidential Inauguration the Moon was at 29 degrees Scorpio in the 7th house. This means the Nation will have something to weep about during the the current Administration. This position of the Moon tells of an ominous turning point in the affairs of the Government tied to trouble in foreign relations and turmoil at home. We need to be on the lookout for violent characters.

To allay the fears of some people: while the chart does point to notable deaths of Senators and other outstanding figures, it does not point to the death of the President; the President is protected and has great popularity. The highest branches of the Government will be able to flourish and exercise power under him. But while the President has the ability to build up something of lasting value he will be vexed; he won’t find himself in the best of circumstances all the time and he has enormous problems to deal with.

The Inauguration chart showed the President turning his attention to the real estate crisis, something he already has done. The chart also showed the following concerns of concern: trouble to children involving poverty and crime, illness coming from afar (swine flu), rising mortality rate, increase in crimes against women, crooks in the financial markets, international criminals, in other words, vice and immorality rooted in the past.

The Inauguration chart also showed that there would be much activity in Government circles involving banking and labor, also disgrace to public officials and people in high places of business; in other words, we will see plenty of scandals involving finances, banking and labor. We’ve already seen some.  The Administration’s aims will likely be vexed by shifting circumstances and factional struggling, causing changes of mind related to complex financial issues. The Administration’s financial and social plans will therefore be thwarted, compromised, or delayed to the discomfort of the public while the public is being intimidated by nefarious media characters. Some hoped for, and important social and economic reforms will get bogged down and delayed, in other words. The people started out with high hopes and need to be more realistic lest they be disappointed.

In two years from the time of the Inauguration radical developments will likely come up in the Congress. There will be dramatic developments and a likely upset in the country at that time. The opposition will get very loud. And in four years there will be a noteworthy loss that will bring weeping to the Nation. There is something tragic shown in this chart that will affect the Nation. Other charts over the years will reveal what this means. No matter, the President is protected, and will likely be reelected for a second term.  We can expect religious disputes to come up. The Administration favors taking bold new scientific, technological and medical directions that will attract dissention from religious fundamentalists. The new Administration will encourage innovation and invention, nonetheless. Technology is highly favored and will the an area for positive international cooperation.

The chart also shows that projects that were put aside or underfunded in the past Administration will come up in the future to engage the new Administration in working to build hospitals, schools, and such public works as roads, bridges and levies. There is also a call to improve interstate and international commerce and shipping. There are plans on the table for a new trans-continental rail system.  This year, when Saturn enters Libra after the end of October, the power of the President will be considerably strengthened and the economy should show some encouraging signs of improvement.

The chart also shows elements in the media grasping for power and stirring up a hornet’s nest that contribute to conditions of danger that must be watched; there is danger of terrorism. Again, the Inauguration chart says that it is most unlikely the President will be harmed in spite of the dangers, but it is possible that someone close to the President will be in danger. It is also very possible that in four years an act of violence will come to affect the Nation. But that has to be confirmed by other charts along the course of time to be predicted with any certainty. The Inauguration chart, however, does point to turbulence and danger of violence developing through the four years of the Administration. Wisdom tells us to be watchful. The violent talk on the media is something to be watched. Dissention and turmoil will develope over the Administration’s economic and social policies. Rebels and rabble-rousers will rise up to stir up riots, strikes, and destruction of property. These violent forces must be taken very seriously. As of this date, August 21st, you can see it already happening. It will not stop so easily. It is very serious.

The chart of the second oath of office, given on January 21st at 7:35 PM at the White House casts a shadow over the Presidency altogether. The second chart is extremely negative and shows that there are dark forces militating against the Government, and the Presidency itself; these forces must not be ignored. This chart lends serious weight to the negative indications of the first Inauguration chart, and shows the enormity of the problems that confront the Obama Administration.

Listen to T. Raphael Simons interview on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show

More about T. Raphael Simons…

T. Raphael Simons is a psychic reader, astrologer (Western and Chinese forms), feng shui expert, hypnotherapist and life coach and is  available for consultations and counseling in person and by telephone. Author of Feng Shui, Step by Step, Feng Shui Strategies for Business Success: Arranging Your Office for Success and Prosperity, and The Feng Shui of Love, his interest in the metaphysical sciences and arts began in 1970, he first learned to read Tarot cards in 1971 and took up reading them professionally in 1977. From there he studied astrology for seven years with Ivy Jacobson beginning in 1980. In 1988 he took up the study of Chinese astrology and fengshui with Terry Lee in New York and has been practicing and teaching Chinese astrology and fengshui ever since. He also trained in channeling in New York with the medium Alex Murray. Since 1999 Raphael has been a member of OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids), the most ancient bardic and druid order in the UK in which he was elected a full member in the Druid grade. Raphael has been living in Durham, North Carolina since 2003, moving to NC from New York City. Originally trained as a musician, he taught music at Princeton University and Oberlin College. More info at: www.psychicarts.net