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"The Altered Human" - August 31st 2004

Feel free to copy/paste any of these readings to share. Just scroll down and read the entries or do a search (use the key combination Ctrl + F) for a particular word or phrase.  

This is a blend of  Prayers, Meditations, Readings, etc. We are very interested in your own special readings to be posted here. Using the [Guest Book], write us with your ideas and experiences.

"Symptoms of Inner Peace"

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears of past experiences.  An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.  A loss of interest in conflict.  A loss of the ability to worry. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.  Feelings of connectedness with others and nature.  Frequent bouts of smiling.  An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others, and the uncontrollable urge to extend it. 

When was your last time?   When will be the next time?   Have you missed any chances recently?   Will you miss the next opportunity?

The grace of Spirit is a wind which is always blowing  ~  Sri Ramakrishna

All that you and I have to do is to put up our sails and let the wind of grace carry us across the sea of life to the other shore.  But most of us are firmly stuck on this shore.  Our sail is in tatters and our boat cannot move because of all the excess baggage weighing it down: our likes and dislikes, our habits and opinions, all the resentments and hostilities which we have carefully acquired.

But just as it is we ourselves who have acquired this baggage, it is we who can gradually learn to toss it overboard.   The wind is blowing, but we have to make our boat seaworthy.  We can patch up our sail and unfurl it to catch the wind that will carry us to the other shore. . . . . .   What are you doing right now?

This is a test of the "Emergency Friendship System"

..... A Friend .....

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

How did you do? How many people did you think of while reading this? Maybe it is time to get the address book out and make some contact(s)? Think how they will feel? Think how You will feel?

"Anyway"

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.,

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

{Someone had printed this up and left it at the back of the Church, where I have been attending with other souls; the printed copy attributes it to "Mother Teresa". }   (thanks to F. Sias for sending this along.)

"Group Drumming Boosts Cancer-Killer Cells in Study"

CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A ground-breaking study due to be published in the January 2001 issue of Alternative Therapies links a specific type of group drum playing, known as Composite drumming, with an increase in Natural Killer (NK) cell activity, one of the mechanisms through
which the body combats cancer and viral illnesses.

Led by Barry Bittman, MD, CEO of Meadville Medical Center's Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, PA, the research team tested a variety of different group drumming protocols and non-drumming control groups made up of healthy adults. In their findings, titled Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects, they found that one particular group drumming method correlated with increases in NK cell activity, Lymphokine-Activated Killer (LAK) cell activity and chemical changes that together signal a
strengthening of the body's natural immune system.

This represents a reversal of the so-called Classic Stress Response, in which stressful activities depress immune function, and suggests that drumming might be a beneficial ``stress-buster,'' analogous to laughter.

Bittman cautions against oversimplification or exaggeration of the study results. ``If someone asked me right now, 'Is this treatment valuable for cancer patients?' I would say we have only the first step to say there's promise, and we need more research,'' he says. To view details of the research go to http://www.amc-music.com/drumstudy. SOURCE: Meadville Medical Center

"The Mustard Seed Vise"

One side of the vise is reality, one side of the vise is destiny, the pressure holding my seed, is time - the 'right now', the Present. I have a seed deeply held inside me. I know it's there because I can watch it float around. Sometimes I push it far away and I sleep. Sometimes, from choice, but more often from circumstance, the seed comes back into view and ripples form. The vibration will wake me up. The seed breaks the surface of my awareness: I can open the seed and look inside. I watch the unveiling of my truths, the inside of the seed grows and becomes larger than anything I can hold alone.

I know what my mind thinks
I know what my soul understands
I know what my heart believes

It is what my eyes see
It is what my fingers feel
It is what my arms hold

Time to stop looking and close my seed, until I am reminded again . . . . .

~ John Lehmus

Totems by Sayahda (Douglas, Alaska - www.sayahda.com)

The Fish

Fish are amazing creatures. Some are bright and colorful others are translucent and plain. Powerful yet graceful swimmers, they live in the water and ride its currents. Water is the primordial life source, a symbol of the womb, motherhood and woman. Those with this totem will have strong ties to these qualities.

Many races of antiquity have honored creatures inhabiting water. Early philosophers and scientists realizing all life has its origin in water chose the fish as the symbol of the life germ. Water is dynamic and constantly in transition and can reflect the same in a persons life. When fish appears to you it signifies a time of movement and change.

The subconscious and unconscious mind has always been associated with water. Because fish live here they are linked to the elements of the unknown and hold the energy of transformation. Fish swim under water and can reveal to those with this totem their hidden fears and deepest desires.

Fish were sacred to the Greeks and Romans. In early Christianity three fishes were used to symbolize the trinity. Fish is also one of the eight sacred symbols of the Buddha. Throughout history fish have been associated with religion and worship. Prayer and meditation are important balancing elements for those with this medicine.

The Frog

There are numerous species of frogs found all over the world.  Their bodies are designed for jumping and their sharp eyes help them capture their prey, mostly insects.  Because the frogs eyes bulge out from the sides of the head they are able to see in nearly all directions. This provides them with excellent depth perception.

Frogs  have a well developed sense of hearing.  Behind each eye is a large disked membrane, an external eardrum that picks up sound waves and transmits them to the inner ear and then to the brain.  This coupled with their exceptional sight give them both clairsentient and clairvoyant abilities.

The frog produces sound similar to the way humans do by forcing air from the lungs over the vocal cords.  Their variety of complex calls from ribbets to croaks associates it with language. Those with this totem have the potential to take command of the spoken word and are often bilingual.

Tree frogs are strong jumpers and despite their toes being only half webbed they are also strong swimmers. One of the most interesting characteristics of the tree frog is the changing of its colors from bright red, green, orange, to aqua.  Color change is brought about through the stimuli of light and moisture which create physiological change and result in contraction or expansion of the pigment cells in the skin. These bright colors appear on flanks, groin, surface of the thighs and the belly and serve in species recognition or in confusing predators.  One species native to South America has brightly colored eyespots on its rump.  When approached by a predator, the frog lowers its head, elevates its rump thus confronting the predator with a seemingly much larger head. The study of color and its affects on a persons psyche is helpful.

With the exception of a few species, most frogs do not care for their young.  They mate and then abandon their eggs.  Because of this lessons associated with survival are common in frog medicine people.  Scientists believe that the health of frog populations reflect the health of the eco system as a whole.

Because frogs are found in water and on land they hold the magic of both. Water has long been associated with emotional cleansing.  Mud the combination of earth and water is used in healing therapies to rid the body of toxins. Because those with this medicine are extremely sensitive the use of mud baths is advised.

The frog is a totem of metamorphosis.  Most frogs undergo a two stage life cycle.  Eggs hatch into tadpoles which grow and eventually become adults. This signifies the awakening of ones creativity.  When frog leaps into a persons life it is an invitation to jump into their creative power. To do this it is helpful to know which stage of life you are presently in. By studying the characteristics of the frog the discovery of your present life cycle is known.

"The Four Agreements"

Be Impeccable with your Word - Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of Truth and Love.

Don't take Anything Personally - Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't make Assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.   With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always do your Best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Excerpted from the book "The Four Agreements - A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom", by Don Miguel Ruiz.

"Clear Mind"

Clear mind is like the full moon in the sky. Sometimes clouds come and cover it, but the moon is always behind them. Clouds go away, then the moon shines brightly. So don't worry about clear mind: it is always there. When thinking comes, behind it is clear mind. When thinking goes, there is only clear mind. Thinking comes and goes, comes and goes, You must not be attached to the coming or the going.

- Zen Master Seung Sahn

"An Afternoon in the Stacks"

Closing the book, I find I have left my head inside. It is dark in here, but the chapters open their beautiful spaces and give a rustling sound, words adjusting themselves to their meaning. Long passages open at successive pages. An echo, that continues from the title onward, hums behind me. From in here, the world looms. A jungle redeemed by the linked sentences carved out when an author traveled and a reader kept the way open. When this book ends, I will put it inside-out, like a sock, and throw it back in the library, but the rumor of it, will haunt all that follows, in my life. A candle flame in Tibet, leans, when I move. ~ Poem by William Stafford

"I Believe"

I believe - that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe - that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe - that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe - that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe - that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe - that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe - that you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe - that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe - that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe - that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe - that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe - that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe - that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe - that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe - that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe - that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe - that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe - that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe - that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe - that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe - that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe - that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I believe - that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe - that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

- Thanks to A. Duclos from Maine for sending this reading

Totems by Sayahda (Douglas, Alaska - www.sayahda.com)

The Dolphin

Dolphins live in groups of up to 100 individuals. Females give birth to a single young. Several Dolphins surround her to assist with the birth. They will pull the newborn out by its tail and protect it from harm. Injured and sick Dolphins are cared for by others who will lift them to the surface to breathe.

Dolphins spend large portions of their day playing. They live their life in joyful harmony with each other and their world. They seem to have learned the lesson that love is the most important part of life and can teach those with this totem how to love themselves and their world more. The power of Dolphin is community in balance.

Dolphins use a variety of clicks, whistles, grunts and body postures with which they communicate. Each Dolphin has an individual whistle that it calls itself, and it uses other Dolphin's personal whistles to call their attention. Those with this totem would benefit from some form of work or activity that uses the voice as a healing or communicative tool.

Some people believe that Dolphins are more intelligent than humans. They have a large brain and a great intelligence and are often associated in mythical lore with higher forms of consciousness.

Dolphins have been known to inexplicably beach themselves in large numbers. Perhaps they are following a sick or injured Dolphin to try to aid it. There was a story told to me about a man who singled out a dolphin from its group and killed it. The remaining dolphins beached themselves over and over and eventually died.

Dolphins have a purity of being which touches our inner nature. If Dolphin swims into your life, follow its lead and open yourself to the energy of love, harmony and balance. Express your inner truth and follow your inner joy. Dolphin asks you to return to the depths of your being and rediscover the love  that you truly are.

The Dove

The dove is a member of the pigeon family and both hold the qualities of home, security and maternal instincts. Many with this totem will experience unsettling childhood's and will be challenged continually to acquire a solid secure foundation in all areas of their lives.

The legends and lore surrounding the dove associates it with many goddesses and it is considered the embodiment of the maternal instinct. The brood of dove consists of two eggs. Two represents the creative and feminine energies. Home and family are important to those with this totem and life lessons will be most predominant in these areas.

Since the dove is a ground feeder and eats mostly seeds those with this totem would benefit from a diet rich in wholesome seeds, nuts and grains. They would also do well in any health profession relating to nutrition.

The dove's song is its most distinctive feature and is more symbolic at dawn and at dusk, although it can be heard throughout the day. Dawn and dusk represent the in between times, a time in which there is a thinning of the veils between the physical and the spiritual, the past and the future. Meditating during these times can help those with this totem break through the veil of illusion and discover the truth of any situation.

In certain mythology mourning is associated with the dove. The song it sings notes this. If you listen closely to the dove its song can appear both melodic and mournful. How you perceive its sound often reflects the energies that are playing out in your life. The dove can help those with this totem to mourn what has passed and in so doing awaken to the promise of the future. It is a bird of prophecy and can help you see what you need to let go of and what you need to give birth to in your life.

The Eagle

The eagle is a sacred messenger, carrying our prayers to the Creator and returning with gifts and visions for the people. Eagle feathers aid medicine people in calling on this connection when they need to contact spirit for healing.

Eagles require isolation from human encroachment to breed in the wild.   If a human strays to close or touches their nest, they are likely to abandon it. Both male and female incubate the eggs.

The eagle is incredibly patient. They are often seen perched in a tree maintaining the same position for hours at a time. One of the life challenges for those with this totem is to learn how to master this art in every area of their life.

Eagles are good at feeding themselves from the land and still soar to great heights in the sky. They teach us the balance of being of the earth but not in it. They have excellent hearing. Eagles can hunt as much by ear as by sight. To those to whom eagle comes, the ability to hear spiritually and physically will increase.

Their sharp beaks are designed to cut, tear and crush. Eagles have strong jaw muscles. The jaw is important to digestion and speech with humans. For those with this totem it is important to know when to speak, how much to speak and how strongly. Unless speech is controlled one's words could cut, tear and crush.

Eagles eyes are set closer to the front of the head. They can see forward and sideways and their vision is 8 times greater than humans. Meditation on the number 8, especially its figure (or the symbol of infinity) will reveal much about the vision eagle can awaken.

To align oneself with Eagle medicine is to take on the responsibility and the power of becoming so much more than you now appear to be. A new dimension is opening up for you. If Eagle has blessed you with its presence in some way, you are being given potent gifts of clarity and vision to use for the good of all people helping to bring forth the light out of the darkness. Eagle also serves as a reminder to those with this totem to communicate with Great Spirit daily so the gifts Eagle offers you can be utilized fully.

Irish Blessing

May the blessing of Light be upon you, Light on the outside, Light on the inside.

With God's sunlight shining on you, May your heart glow with warmth, Like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike.

May the Light of the Lord shine from your eyes like a candle in the window, welcoming the weary traveler.

May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you falling gently on your head, refreshing your soul with the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming. May the strength of the winds of Heaven bless you, carrying the rain to wash your Spirit clean, sparkling after in the sunlight.

May the blessing of God's earth be on you, and as you walk the roads, may you always have a kind word for those you meet.

May you understand the strength and power of God in a thunderstorm in winter. And the quiet beauty of creation in the calm of a summer sunset. And may you come to realize that, insignificant as you may seem in this great universe, You are an important part of God's plan.

May he watch over you and keep you safe from harm.

Reading

We do ourselves a great disservice by judging where we are in comparison to some final destination. This is one of the pains of aspiring to become something: the stage of development we are in is seen against the imagined landscape of what we are striving for. So where we are - though closer all the time - is never enough.

The simple rose, at each moment of its slow blossoming, is as open as it can be. The same is true of our lives. In each stage of our unfolding, we are stretched as possible. For the human heart is quite slow to blossom, and is only seen as lacking when compared to the imagined father, mother, daughter, son, we'd like to become.

It helps to see ourselves as flowers. If a flower were to push itself open, which it can't, it would tear. Yet we humans can and often do push ourselves. Often we tear in places no one can see. When we push ourselves to unfold faster or more deeply than is natural, we thwart ourselves. For nature takes time, and most of our problems stem from impatience.

Remember today my friend that in this moment, you are Enough - you are Whole... you are Complete. The most you can be Right Now.  Breathe in for just a moment...and then remember to do it again, and again, and again, and again. For how long, you may ask? For the rest of your life . . . . .
Dream-Builder Newsletter - By Paul Bauer - check out dreamsalive.com

Reading - Something to Think About

If the World were 100 People

There would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from North and South America, 8 Africans

52 would be Female and 48 would be Male

70 would be non-white, 30 white

59 % of the entire worlds wealth would belong to only 6 people and all 6 would be citizens of the United States

80 would live in substandard housing

70 would be unable to read, 50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death

1 would be near birth

only 1 would have a college education

99 would not see this message, because only 1 would have a computer.

When one considers our World from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance and understanding becomes glaringly appreciated.

Reading - From: Jody Holly (Thank you Jody)

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.  The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule "braying" (or whatever mules do when they fall into wells).  After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.  Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.  Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back--he would shake it off and step up!

This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up." He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up.  It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well!

So, the next time you're feeling overwhelmed, remember the mule in the well.   Adversity can raise us to the next level when we use it to our advantage.

Reading - The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship. - Ralph Waldo Emerson   (this reading was sent in by J.D.S. of Massachusetts) Thanks.

Totems by Sayahda (Douglas, Alaska - www.sayahda.com)

The Chipmunk

Chipmunk, like squirrel, embodies the quality of trust. They have little fear of people and are often found in rural areas, city parks and in the wild. Chipmunks are very curious and take the time to explore everything that comes across their path. They are inquisitive, fearless and playful. They do what they want to do in their own time frame. They are quite vocal often drawing attention to themselves. Chipmunk medicine people make excellent leaders, spokespersons and supervisors.

When a chipmunk is twelve weeks old they have the ability to be on their own. The symbology of the number twelve-or the combined numbers of one and two should be studied by those with this totem. Cycles occur regularly in a persons life and those with chipmunk medicine will often find that changes will occur in their life approximately every twelve weeks or twelve months. Knowing this gives you forewarning and the opportunity for preparedness.

By watching the chipmunks behavior much can be learned. They appear to scamper to and fro always in a hurry to get somewhere. Starting in one direction, circling around and arriving back where they started from. There is no detail that goes unnoticed by the chipmunk as they circle around and see beyond the obvious. Chipmunk teaches the art of observation and graceful movement.

Chipmunks have an air of independence and certainty about them. Their inquisitive nature leads them into unexplored territory and their detailed mind leaves no stone unturned. If chipmunk is your totem pay attention to how your energy is being used. Are your thoughts constructive or destructive? Are your fears keeping you from playing and enjoying life? Are you in charge of your life or have you given your authority over to another?

Chipmunk is the messenger of many realms. If this is your totem you are on your way to self discovery and balance.

The Crab

Crabs are bottom dwellers in the sea as well as in fresh water. Some even venture on land. They can walk and run sideways, burrow and swim. The crab is able to shift its focus instantaneously and quickly move in a sideways direction to confuse its predators. Mankind has a tendency to focus on what is directly in front of them and often overlooks what is creeping in the side door. The crab holds the teachings of shifting focus and expanding inner perception. Sudden and unexpected movements are used to its advantage. Those with this medicine will often learn their soul lessons through unexpected changes in their personal environment.

Since crabs are bottom dwellers and are at home in the water they are linked to the subconscious mind and all the secrets that it holds. They burrow into the depth of life then swim to the surface with new insight and understanding

The crabs segmented body has several appendages of which five pairs serve as walking legs and two as sensory antennae. These antennas serve as a bridge between heaven and earth. Messages transmitted from Great Spirit through these antennae symbolize the awakening of consciousness and offer those with this totem the gift of clairvoyance.

Most crabs have fairly complicated nervous systems. They are able to resist changes in external environments and flourish in hostile situations. Aggressive towards one another, especially in the mating season, males fight to gain access to females and communicate their aggression by waving their pincers. Those with this medicine will benefit by learning the art of balanced communication.

The crab uses all of its senses to survive. Its body movements as well as its excellent sight, smell, taste and hearing assist it in reaching its desired destination. They are skillful in everything that they do. Crabs teach us how to empower ourselves on all levels, perfecting, refining, awakening and expanding our own perceptional abilities.

When crab scampers into your life unexpected events are about to occur. These events will require the use of all your senses.  The crab shows you how to develop and refine all aspects of yourself. It only requires that you open your heart to its wisdom and be willing to follow its instructions. In so doing, true empowerment is yours for the asking.

The Crow

Crows are very vocal birds. They are sly and often deceptive in their actions. Crows have been known to build false nests high in treetops to confuse predators. The height of their nests gives them the opportunity to watch everything that is going on around them. Many cultures think of crow as the keeper of knowledge for nothing escapes their keen sight.

Crows travel in groups and make mischief in teams. As one crow explores something new, others will watch closely to see what happens and then learn from it. In this way they seem to always be in council with each other. They often raise a ruckus when hunters are around, warning deer and other birds. Crows recognize possible danger and always post lookouts when feeding--their most vulnerable time.

Their language is complex and they have a remarkable voice range. Each caw has its own meaning. Sometimes crow warns of impending danger. Other times it signals a time to join in council and make decisions. Listening to crow can teach those with this medicine how to hear the truth of what is being said.

The striking black color of crow represents the color of creation. It is the womb out of which the new is born. Black the color of night gives birth to the light of a new day. Crow is a daytime bird reminding us that magic and creation are present in both. Their ability to shift between the known and unknown world indicates new journeys. The magic of self discovery is close at hand for those with this totem.

Because crow is adaptable to all environments and will eat almost anything they can survive in almost any situation. Crow is associated with magic, unseen forces and spiritual strength. If crow flies into your life, get out of your familiar nest, look beyond your present range of vision, listen to its caw and act accordingly.

Reading - "Prayer for Openness" - Exerpted from "The Cup of Our Life" by Joyce Rupp

Spirit of Freedom, open my mind and my heart. Lift the barriers, unbind the strong grasp of my demands when I want everything to go my way.

God of spaciousness, reach into my inner space, sweep out all the old clutter, enlarge my capacity to receive.

Bringer of truth, empty me of whatever impedes the growth of our relationship. Help me recognize and accept your sources for my growth.

Creator of the seasons of life, soften my resistance to emptying. May I welcome each inner season as a catalyst for my transformation.

Faithful friend, deepen my trust in you. Ease my doubts, fears and discouragements. When I am feeling vunerable, remind me that you are my safe haven.

Divine mystery, may I be ever more rooted in you. Draw me into solitude. Entice me into endless encounters where I experience oneness with you.

Holy Wisper, open the ears of my heart. May I hear your voice within the silence as well as within the noise of my life. Re-Awaken me so that I can listen to you wholeheartedly.

Bringer of Good and Giver of Growth, we yearn to be open and receptive to your generosity. May we trust your presence amidst the cycle of emptying and filling.

Reading by Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Those are a success who have lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who have gained the respect of intelligent people and the love of children, who have filled their niche and accomplished their task,
who leave the world better than they found it, whether by a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of the earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and
gave the best they had."

Reading - On Qualified non-dualism.

God is, as it were, the Soul, and nature and souls are the body of God. Just as I have a body and I have a soul, so the whole universe and all souls are the body of God, and God is the Soul of souls. Thus, God is the material cause of the universe. The body may be changed - may be young or old, strong or weak-but that does not affect the soul at all. It is the same eternal existence, manifesting through the body.

Prayer

On this Father’s Day let our final words be words of praise. Let us praise those fathers who strive to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father. Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children. Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their stepchildren’s love and respect. Let us praise the fathers who have lost a child to death and continue to hold the child in their heart. Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory. - Rev. Kirk Loadman-Copeland.

Earth God  (Summer Solstice)

Open our souls to truly be present with you.

Allow us to hold onto a piece of your ever waking moments.

Quiet our "thinking" so we are attentive to the mysteries you reveal.

You are turning and tilting for all your bounty to harmonize through all of your millions of cycles.

Some of my many thanks:
The morning mist as it blankets the fields with its sprinkling of wild flowers.
The stream cascading its treads of stone and moss, continuing its journey to the lake below.
The rising moon as it replaces the night darkness with soft shadows.
The bird songs as their conversations awaken our mornings and can also bid us good night.
The ocean seal that plays hide and seek, testing its curiosity with our wonder.
The wild berries await ripening; for the next cycle of rain and sun.

Earth God

Awaken us to understand and appreciate you; that we may be taught how to live every day as intentional as you.

John Lehmus © 2000 - Summer Solstice - Labyrinth Reading

Totems by Sayahda (Douglas, Alaska - www.sayahda.com)

The Bear

The bear is a powerful symbol and image in both myth and lore. It has stirred the imagination so much that a constellation was named for it, Ursus Major, The Great Bear. Seven stars of this constellation form the big dipper and they have links to the seven great rays of light of the universe.

Bear also plays a prominent role in many Native American cultures. Bear is seen as a powerful ally and spirit helper. The gifts that bear offers to those with this totem are strength, introspection and knowledge.

Bear can sometimes be too quick to anger and too sure of it own power. While they have little to fear they can forget caution, which is an important trait to have. If bear is your totem be careful that you don't throw your caution to the wind for being unaware of your limits in certain settings can be disastrous.

Contrary to popular belief bears do not truly hibernate. They do live to a great degree on their stored up fat. The depth of their sleep depends upon the amount of fat stored. This reflects the bears ability to teach you how to go within and find the resources necessary for your personal survival.

During the winter the black bears kidneys shut down completely. Scientists are studying this activity hoping it can provide a clue to more successful kidney transplants in humans. The kidneys serve as a vital function in our bladders excreting urine and also filtering the blood plasma. Metaphysically the kidneys are symbolic of discernment and discrimination.

If bear shows up in your life pay attention to how you think, act and interact. Make sure you are not being judgmental in any situation and recognize the good in all things. Use discernment in all that you do and discriminate with care. Bear teaches you to go within so you can make choices and decisions from a position of power and integrity.

The Bluebird

The bluebird is a member of the thrush family. The males are entirely blue, while the females are blue only in the wings. The color blue is associated with spiritual awakening. A color that calms the mind and soothes the heart. Since the color blue is symbolic it will represent different things to different people. A daily practice of prayer and meditation are beneficial to those with this medicine.

Bluebirds arrive from the south in the early spring. They live in open country and woodland settings nesting in holes in trees or fence posts. In native cultures the south is the direction of innocence and childlike activity. When a bluebird shows up it could be asking you to lighten up and let go of any dramas that are presently occupying your life. If it appears in your immediate surroundings this message is more pronounced.

Bluebirds hold the energy of gentleness. They are not aggressive and will avoid confrontation whenever possible. They are patient and observant birds and choose to spend their time enjoying life, however, if a bluebird is provoked it will stand its ground and defend itself. The bluebird teaches us how to move through life with a gentle strength and a patient persistence.

Living ones truth without inflicting it on another person can be a challenging affair. Mankind often feels a need to awaken others with their knowledge. This need can trigger personality disputes causing unnecessary frustration and conflict.

The bluebirds song is one of joy and playfulness. When if flies into your life it serves as a reminder to allow others to grow in their own way and time. Live your personal truth but remember to honor anothers truth. We are all equal in the eyes of the creator. The path a person walks is a personal choice that was created from the soul blueprint. We don't always understand anothers choice but it is imperative that we respect it.  Equally so, we must respect ourselves.

The Bumble Bee

Unlike the honeybee, the bumblebee usually has fewer individuals in its colony. They do not store large amounts of honey like the honeybee does. Bumblebees are one of the few insects that can control their body temperature. In cold weather the queen and her workers can shiver their flight muscles to warm themselves allowing them to fly and work at lower temperatures than most other insects. Their large size and hairy coat also helps to keep them warm.

Yogi masters have been known to quiet their heartbeat and adjust their body temperatures when in an altered state. This skill is linked to the ancient initiations of mastering the body, mind and spirit. Those with this totem usually have strong past life ties connected to the ancient secrets of longevity and can benefit from the study and practice of yoga. They also make good hypnotherapists.

All bees are productive. They remain focused in their activities and do not get distracted from their goal. Their legs are one of their most sensitive organs. A bee actually tastes through its legs and reminds us to slow down, smell the roses and taste the sweet nectar of life. Hypoglycemia and diabetes can sometimes occur in those who carry this medicine. Therefore daily exercise and good nutrition is advised.

The bumblebee carries the power of service. They are important pollinators of many plants. As a bee lands upon one flower, collecting its nectar, pollen also attaches itself to the leg fibers. It is then transferred to other flowers, creating a fertilization process. Their movement from one plant to another symbolizes the interconnectedness of all living things. The bumblebee is a messenger that holds the secrets of life and service.

If your energy is scattered the bumblebee can show you how to regain focus. If it stings you, it is saying, wake up and follow the rhythm of your own heartbeat. When a bumblebee buzzes you it is asking you to follow its lead. In so doing you will arrive at the destination most appropriate for your new life awakening.

Prayer by John Fuller

O God of Life, often our hearts are filled with awe and questioning about the meaning and mystery of life in this time.

What sense or hope is there in the World?
Who are we that have come to this place?

Sometimes we say we do not know it is beyond us.

Other times we say we are just ourselves, the sons and daughters of the past.

And in these latter words we come near the truth,
for we are the sons and daughters of eternity.

We are the great society of lives bound up with all being - now, and the past and the future.

We are the voices of sorrows and confusions that have been from the coming of mankind.

We are a deep yearning for words that have never been shaped.

We are an anxiety, a cry in the night, - and a dream, and an awakening that come from before mankind ever uttered voice.

We are the Travail of earth struggling upward, the cry of life seeking a meaning, and the hunger for fulfillment, which even in satisfaction hungers again.

And even as we seek and cry for sense and hope and who we really are, for love and light and peace, our eyes dance in laughter rising through our hungers.

We are moments of joy and happiness in the midst of losing what is dear and safe, and never will be the same again.

We are sparks of ecstasy in the wonder of being and becoming, that leaps beyond any resurrection.

All that has been, courses through our veins and we are the unborn of all that will be, one moment in the incarnation of the very ground, of being itself.

That is our sense and hope and who we are that have come to this place, this time; - eternity caught in a moment of time.

And so we praise you, God of life, and we enter into the silence to be in touch with what is most closely ours --- Amen

Prayer

We acknowledge our oneness with the creator and all creation; Support each other in achieving our fullest potential; Strive to remove all barriers which separate us; Aspire to share with others and our children our commitment to active service and joyful participation in the creation of a new world and acknowledge our need to be directed in this endeavor by the Power, the Presence and the Grace of Our Holy Spirit. Amen  (St. Francis in the Foothills - Tucson, Az)

Prayer Response

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El Elyon na Adonai; Age to age you're still the same by the power of the name. El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkahmka na Adonai; We will praise and lift you high El Shaddai.  

Translation of Hebrew: El Shaddai - God Almighty, El Elyon - The most high God, na Adonai - O Lord, Erkahmka - I will show you mercy (St. Francis in the Foothills - Tucson, Az)

Reading

EXCERPT: Verses for Eating Mindfully

1) Serving Food

In this food,
I see clearly the presence
of the entire Universe
supporting my existence.

2) Looking at your Empty Plate

My plate, empty now,
will soon be filled
with precious food.

3) Contemplating your Food

This plate of food,
so fragrant and appetizing,
also contains much suffering.

4) Beginning to Eat

With the first taste,
I promise to offer joy.
With the second,
I promise to help relieve the suffering of others.
With the third,
I promise to see others' joy as my own.
With the fourth,
I promise to learn the way of non-attachment and equanimity.

5) Finishing your Meal

The plate is empty.
My hunger is satisfied.
I vow to live
for the benefit of all beings.

6) Drinking Tea

This cup of tea
in my two hands-
Mindfulness is held uprightly!
My mind and body dwell
in the here and now.

7) Washing the Dishes

Washing the dishes
is like bathing a baby Buddha.
The profane is the sacred.
Everyday mind is Buddha mind.

Present Moment , Wonderful Moment (By Thich Nhat Hanh- Featured in Thich Nhat Hanh Month @ BB Awareness Place)

Reading - Unconditional Friendship with Ourselves

"Well being of mind is like a mountain lake without ripples. When the lake has no ripples, everything in the lake can be seen. When the water is all churned up, nothing can be seen. The still lake without ripples is an image of our minds at ease, so full of unlimited friendliness for all the junk at the bottom of the lake, that we don't feel the need to churn up the waters just to avoid looking at what's there."

On developing Loving Kindness and an Unconditional Friendship with Ourselves - called Maitri.

Taken from "When things fall apart" - Heart advice for difficult times - by Pema Chödrön - Chapter six.

Reading 

If you want to know your past, look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future, look into your present actions." -- Buddhist proverb.

Reading

"Earth, Teach Me" - from The Ute Indians

Earth, teach me stillness . . .
as the Grasses are stilled with light.

Earth, teach me suffering . . .
as old Stones suffer with memory.

Earth, teach me caring . . .
as Parents who secure their young.

Earth, teach me courage . . .
as the Tree which stands all alone.

Earth, teach me limitation . . .
as the Ant which crawls on the ground.

Earth, teach me freedom . . .
as the Eagle which soars in the sky.

Earth, teach me resignation . . .
as the Leaves which die in the fall.

Earth, teach me regeneration . . .
as the Seed which rises in the spring.

Earth, teach me to forget myself . . .
as melted Snow forgets its life.

Earth, teach me to remember kindness . . .
as dry fields weep with rain.

Totems by Sayahda (Douglas, Alaska - www.sayahda.com)

The Dog

Throughout history dogs have been known as protectors and guardians. Their acute hearing and keen sight forewarned their masters of impending danger. In India the dog is a symbol of all caste systems, reflecting the small becoming great. In early Christianity it was a symbol of guardianship. Dogs are also associated with motherhood because of their nurturing and caring nature.

The domesticated dog is a faithful companion to humans and has a strong willingness to serve. Their sense of spirit and the ability to love even when abused is incredible. The dog teaches those with this totem how to give and recieve love unconditionally. It also carries the energy of forgiveness. People with dog medicine would do well in service oriented jobs.

Dogs are intelligent and sensitive. They are able to sniff out dangerous situations accurately and guide us into saftey. Psychic gifts have long been are associated with the dog because of their ability to detect subtle energy frequencies often unknown to mankind. If dog suddenly appears in your life pay attention to your immediate surroundings and let the dog guide your footsteps.

Certain breeds of dog were designed for specific functions. The study of the breed and its purpose can help you define the energy associated with it. Since wolves and coyotes are its descendants these should be studied as well.

The behavior of a dog often reflects the personality of its owner. Through its observation and constant interaction with you it anticipates your next move, and serves as a mirror image of who you truly are. The dog is a great teacher for those who are willing to be loyal students. The choice is yours.

The Dove

The dove is a member of the pigeon family and both hold the qualities of home, security and maternal instincts. Many with this totem will experience unsettling childhoods and will be challenged continually to acquire a solid secure foundation in all areas of their lives.

The legends and lore surrounding the dove associates it with many goddessess and it is considered the embodiment of the maternal instinct. The brood of dove consists of two eggs. Two represents the creative and feminine energies. Home and family are important to those with this totem and life lessons will be most predominant in these areas.

Since the dove is a ground feeder and eats mostly seeds those with this totem would benefit from a diet rich in wholesome seeds, nuts and grains. They would also do well in any health profession relating to nutrition.

The dove's song is its most distinctive feature and is more symbolic at dawn and at dusk, although it can be heard throughout the day. Dawn and dusk represent the in between times, a time in which there is a thinning of the veils between the physical and the spiritual, the past and the future. Meditating during these times can help those with this totem break through the veil of illusion and discover the truth of any situation.

In certain mythology mourning is associated with the dove. This is noted by the song it sings. If you listen closely to the dove its song can appear both melodic and mournful. How you perceive its sound often reflects the energies that are playing out in your life. The dove can help those with this totem to mourn what has passed and in so doing awaken to the promise of the future. It is a bird of prophecy and can help you see what you need to let go of and what you need to give birth to in your life.

The Ant

The ant is very industrious. Some ants are solitary but most are part of a large community. Within the community there is a repertory of activities and behaviors. Their activities include gathering and hunting. Within a community each ant knows its place and performs its duties with total loyalty to the whole.

Worker ants are skilled architects and hold the medicine of how to become the architect of your own life. It can show us how to construct our dreams into reality. Ants are very persistent and can teach this skill as well.

The power of ant medicine is teamwork. Each ant will do its part to ensure the survival and health of the whole colony, regardless of the role it has been assigned. If ant has to fight, it will; if ant has to dig tunnels, it will; if ant has to carry leaves for miles, it will - all for the good of the community.

Ants are selfless servants always looking out for their fellow ant. They focus on the best outcome for the community and teach the art of self sacrifice and true service. The queen ant has wings and the ability of flight until fertilized. Once fertilized she pulls off her own wings sacrificing her own flight for the birth of a newborn. Although there is a caste system within the ant community all ants honor and respect each other and work for the common good.

Ants are tireless workers and hunters and teach the art of perseverance and patience in all that they do. Those with this totem will find that many of their life lessons will involve the mastery of patience in some way.

Ant medicine is subtle yet powerful. It teaches us how to release our egos and aligns us with the virtue of equality. Imagine what the world would be like if humanity held and applied the values that the ant expresses. The next time you step on, squash, injure or kill an ant intentionally, ask yourself why you are choosing to destroy the unconditional love that the ant shares so freely. Valuable insights about yourself and your history can be learned from this tiny little totem.

Prayers

I Pray for You

Slow down your pace: "Part of the problem is that everyone is in such a hurry."

Find true meaning in the simple tasks of living:  "They think the next car, the next house, the next job."

Wake up....... not only after your sleeping, but many times during your day: "They seem half-asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things."

Love yourself First: "The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

Amen 

(Edited Text from Morrie Schwartz - John Lehmus)

Reading

R E M I N D E R S

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally
meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to bring you joy.

Always put yourself in another's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't get on well in life until you let go of past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Be blessed and comfort someone else with these words.

(sent in by E Forbes.   Namasté)

Reading

SOLITUDE AND SECLUSION

Life is an island in an ocean of solitude and seclusion.  Life is an island, rocks are its desires, trees its dreams, and flowers its loneliness, and it is in the middle of an ocean of solitude and seclusion.

Your life, my friend, is an island separated from another islands and continents. Regardless of how many boats you send to other shores or how many ships arrive upon your shores, you yourself are an island separated by its own pains, secluded in its happiness and far away in its compassion and hidden in its secrets and mysteries.

I saw you my friend, sitting upon a mound of gold, happy in your wealth and great in your riches and believing that a handful of gold is he secret chain that links the thoughts of the people with your own thoughts and links their feeling with your own.

I saw you as a great conqueror leading a conquering army toward the fortress, then destroying and capturing it.  On second glance I found beyond the wall of your treasures a heart trembling in its solitude and seclusion and jewels, but without water.

I saw you, my friend, sitting on a throne of glory, surrounded by people extolling your charity,  enumerating your gifts, gazing upon you as if they were in the presence of a prophet lifting their souls up into the planets and stars.  I saw you looking at them, contentment and strength upon your face, as if you were to them as the soul is to the body.

On the second look I saw your secluded self standing beside your throne, suffering in its seclusion and quaking in its loneliness. I saw that self stretching its hand as if begging from unseen ghosts. I saw it looking above the shoulders of the people to a far horizon, empty of everything except its solitude and seclusion. 

I saw you, my friend, passionately in love with a beautiful woman, filling her palms with your kisses as she looked at you with sympathy and affection in her eyes and the sweetness of motherhood on her lips; I said, secretly, that love has erased his solitude and removed his seclusion and he is now within the eternal soul which draws toward itself, with love, those who were separated by solitude and seclusion.

On the second look I saw behind your soul another lonely soul, like a fog, trying in vain to become a drop of tears in the palm of that woman.  Your life, my friend, is a residence far away from any other residence and neighbors.

Your inner soul is a home far away from other homes named after you. If this residence is dark, you cannot light it with your neighbor's lamp; if it is empty you cannot fill it with the riches of your neighbor; were it in the middle of a desert, you could not move it to a garden planted by someone else.

Your inner soul, my friend is surrounded with solitude and seclusion. Were it not for this solitude and this seclusion you should not be you and I would not be I.  If it were not for that solitude and seclusion, I would, if I heard your voice, think myself to be speaking; yet, if I saw your face, I would imagine that I were looking into a mirror.

From "A Third Treasury" by Khalil Gibran  (sent in by Jairam, Thank you)

The Butterfly

The butterfuly represents the process of transformation and shapeshifting. When butterfuly shows up, make note of the most important issues confronting you at the moment. What state of change are you at in regard to them?

To the Native Americans the butterfly is a symbol of change, joy and color. They appear to dance as they light upon flowers telling us not to take things so seriously within our lives. They feed on flowers which they help polinate, thereby further spreading beauty. They represent the element of air, quickly changing and ever moving, so gracefully. The art of transformation. Butterflies are messengers of the moment. Those with this totem would do well in any field of communication.

Butterflies come in a variety of colors. To understand the message that the butterfly holds for you a study of its colors can be helpful.

Whenever an eco system is damaged, butterfly is usually the first to leave. They are especially sensitve to the harmony of earth. If butterfly comes to you in a hurt, trapped or ill way, you are being asked to stop distrubing the natural design of life and to flow with events in a more gentle, natural way.

The Cardinal

The cardinal is a power packed bird that transforms and awakens us. Its color and its voice are its two strongest characteristics. It is a member of the finch family and is often recognized by its brillant red color.

The eggs laid by the female hatch in about twelve days. This, along with the cardinal being a year round resident, reflects the rhythm of the number twelve. The number twelve often has important significance for those with this totem. It can indicate a turn of events or a life changing situation. When the cardinal flies into your life expect a change to occur within 12 days, 12 weeks, 12 months or at the hour of 12. Because this bird is a year round resident its medicine is available at all times and should be used by those with this totem whenever a need arises.

Cardinals have a loud and distinct whistle. Whistles are reminders to listen closely and pay attention to what is blowing on the wind. Unlike other birds, the female joins in on the whistling reminding us to listen to our inner feminine voice more closely and heed its advice. Since most female birds are quiet and camouflaged, a cardinal totem almost always reflects a need to assert the feminine aspects of creativity and intuition.

Cardinals eat many decaying weeds and injurious insects. When a cardinal appears in your life it is telling you to pay attention to your eating habits. Are you eating things that might be injurious to your health? Is your diet nutritionally balanced? Extra care should be given to the blood and circulatory system. Past life ties to overindulgence or the consumption of poisionous substances is often linked to cardinal medicine people.

The bright red color of the cardinal is very symbolic. Red represents the blood or life force of the Mystic Christ. In yogic circles this vital force is known as the kundalini. The kundalini lies dormant within us until activated by a disciplined spiritual practice. Once activated spiritual empowerment can be attained. The cardinal offers safe passage into the world of empowerment for those who ask for its help.

When a person with cardinal medicine steps onto a spiritual path there will be no turning back. Everything else in their life will seem insignificant. Extra care must be taken here to insure personal happinesss, particularly in the area of one to one realationships. Balancing spiritual ideals and physical pleasure will need to be instated in ones life so harmony on all levels is known.

Cardinals are named for the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church with their bright red robes. A great love or a strong dislike for religion and churches is common amongst cardinal medicine people and can indicate a past life connection with one or both.

The cardinals voice is strong and clear and reflects an air of importance. This power packed bird can teach you how to express your truth, develop confidence and walk your talk. If you respect its teachings it will lead you home.

The Cat

Cats in general, wild or domestic have certain qualities in common. They are associated with myth and lore, magic and mystery. Nine lives, curiosity, independence, cleverness, unpredictibility and healing. Those with this medicine should also study its color, size and breed for a deeper understanding.

Cats have more rods in the retinas of their eyes which enables them to see effectively in the dark. The dark is often assocaited with mankinds fears. Since the cat is at home in the dark, it serves as a valuable ally into the world of the supernatural and the unknown and can help those with this totem move through their fears efficiently.

The energy field of a cat rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the opposite of a human energy field. Because of this, cats have the ability to absorb and neutralize energy that affects humans in a negative way. This is part of the healing medicine that the cat holds.

If something affects you in a negative or unpleasant way place a cat on your lap or find a cat to pet. Your energy field will immediately realign itself and inner balance will be restored.

Because of their x-ray vision, acute hearing and high intelligence they were used throughout history as guardians and protectors. In ancient Egypt cats guarded the temple gates and were used to ward off evil.

If cat appears in your life the blending of magic and mystery is at hand. A trustworthy teacher, the cat will guide you into the world of self discovery and transformation.

Meditation #1
BUDDHIST "SOUND BITES"

Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control-these three alone lead to sovereign power.   -Alfred, Lord Tennyson

If you have no feelings about worldly things, they are all Buddhism; if you have feelings about Buddhism, it is a worldly thing. -Zen saying

The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life. To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair. -Walker Percy

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes. -Alan Watts

Arouse the mind without resting it on anything. -Diamond Sutra

Meditation

Don't go outside of your house to see the flowers.  My friend, don't bother with that excursion.
Inside your body there are flowers.  One flower has a thousand petals.  That will do for a place to sit.
Sitting there you will have a glimpse of beauty inside the body and out of it, before gardens and after gardens.  - kabir   

January 2000

Prayer for Peace

May I be at peace
May I have an open heart
May I know the beauty of my true nature
May I be healed
May my life be a gift of peace in the world

May the world be at peace
May we all have an open heart
May we all know the beauty of our nature
May we all be healed
May we all serve as a gift of peace to each other

Within each heart there is a place of peace
May we each live from that place
And thus we are healed into the heart of peace.  Amen

Prayer - Great Spirit of Light and of Darkness

Great Spirit of Light and of Darkness; We gather once again to remember a fallen friend, and nourish ourselves from the fountain of reflections.

Open our Hearts to the anguish of our pain, to the tired taste of swallowed tears, and to our unrealized vision.  In this place we bring our scattered lives together, groping for meaning and looking for truth.

Be with us as we continue our search for understanding of the mystery of the temporal.   Stay with us as we wander through our memories, seeking pathways to our future.

Move with us as we unravel the implied imperatives of hopes un-fulfilled.  Justice makes tireless demands and we grow weary.

As we touch one another in common cause, and with the great spirit in our midst, Let us find the way and the courage to realize the dream with still lives within us. Amen

For Martin Luther King, Jr - Toni Vincent

Totems - Introduction by Sayahda

Mother nature, our provider, is going through a cycle of change. Humanity, her caretakers, are experiencing the effects of that change. As disruption occurs a ceremony begins. The primary source of a person's ill being is not in the body. It is due to a fundamental imbalance in the spirit. Mother nature, our mirror, is inviting us to step inside the circle and experience the ceremonial dance of reunion. The choice is yours.

When I was a child my father, a Cherokee Indian, often took me into the woods so I could discover the many little sounds of life awakening. This gift from my father opened my heart to the birds, plants, rocks and animals which have become my allies. Sharing simple pleasures is a part of the Indian way. I would now like to share a small gift with you.

Each day upon arising step into nature, physically or mentally.  The first thing you see, become it. Take on its characteristics for a few moments. Breathe into it and allow it to breathe into you. In this way a deeper insight about yourself is gained, as you discover the heartbeat of life awakening.

Landscapes

In learning to understand the symbology of animal totems we must also view the landscapes in which they thrive. Each landscape has specific qualities that sustain the animal kingdom. When encountering an animal in the wild examine the landscape in which you find it. Then examine the shapes and contours of your personal environment. By reflecting on the landscape plus the characteristics of the animal, a deeper insight about yourself and the message the totem brings to you is acquired.

Forests

Forests are connected to the feminine forces within the universe. Birth and creation. Throughout history forests have been the symbol of the unconscious mind. A place to be in silence, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. A safe place to move within and free the consciousness. Giving birth to a new creation without outside interference or interruption. Many totems living here are agile and quiet in their movement which can reflect a need for you to attain grace of movement and a quiet mind.

Wetlands

Wetlands combine the elements of water and earth. Decomposition is part of the transitional process that breaks down the old so that the new can emerge. This reflects the alchemical process that takes place within self, especially if your totem is one that lives or is found here.

Meadows and Valleys

These are areas of abundant animal life and vegetation. They are usually located near a river or stream. Meadows and valleys can symbolize emotional cleansing or purging. The intensity of the flow of water indicates the amount of cleansing a person is undergoing. The soil is well nourished in meadows and valleys and can reflect the need for fertility and nourishment in your life.

Mountains

Mountains reflect the power of spirit. They have height and a verticality which is traditionally masculine. Mountains remind us of the spiritual attainment that is ours if we overcome obstacles. They represent spiritual elevation, communion with the spirit world and an inner strength that can be acquired especially by learning from the totems that live here.

Desert

The desert is a place of purification. The intense heat burns impurities from the body. This purification transmutes and transforms all levels of the human condition from a spiritual to a cellular level. The desert is also reflective of magic, the dream time, and psychic vision. The stillness and erie feeling that one often experiences from the desert night can awaken unconscious vision and power. Animals living here often have unusual characteristics and lifestyles. The art of shape shifting lies within this landscape and the animals who inhabit it.

Cities

Cities and towns are often crowded places with little sacred space for each city dweller. You often find scavenger totems here, mice, rats, bugs and insects. There are also several species of birds that live in cities. Although cities are not the original habitat of these totems, they have learned how to adapt and survive in such environments. Totems found here teach felxibility and survival.

Meditation

Silence

when you are thinking,
you are separate from others
because you are thinking
some thoughts and the
other person is thinking
different thoughts.

but if you are both silent,
then all the walls
between you will disappear.
two silences cannot
remain two.
they become
one.
        -osho     

Meditation

Buried Treasure

you could have golden treasure
buried beneath your feet,
and walk over it again and again,
yet never find it
because you don't realize it's there.
just so, all beings live
every moment in the city
of the Divine,
but never find it
because it is hidden
in the well of
illusion.
        -chandogya upanishad

Religion - Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism

TAOISM

Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism were recognized as official religions in pre-communist China. Originally a philosophy, Taoism became a religion shortly before the Christian era began. It is fast disappearing in China, its only sphere of influence.

Taoism is the oldest personally founded religion in China. The founder, Lao-Tzu (604 to 517 BC) emphasized a return to the primitive simplicity of nature, a quiet and personal search for the Tao, the eternal, impersonal, mystical, supreme principal that lies behind the universe.

The symbols yin and yang are notable from Taoism. These are the "two interacting energy modes", the yang being masculine, active, warm, dry, and positive. The yin in feminine, dark, cold, inactive, and negative. Everything that exists is constituted by the interplay of these two modes of energy.

The religion of Taoism bears little resemblance to the philosophy of Lao-Tzu, being characterized by superstition, extreme animism, witchcraft, astrology, demonism, and ancestor worship.

CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism is really a philosophy of life, not a religion. The main concern of Confucius (551 to 446 BC) was with human relationships, the science of government, and ethics within the social order. He acknowledged the being of God (called Heaven) and the place of religion, but he added little to that field.

The Superior Man was the ideal to be followed. Confucian temples idolized the found as this Ideal Man. Since there was no separate priesthood, government officials performed priestly functions. These included nature worship, veneration of Confucius, the emperors, and the ancestors, in elaborate ceremonies. There were five relationships indispensable to life. These existed between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder brother to younger, and friend with friend.

The Confucian scriptures, called The Classics and The Four Books, were compiled by Confucius and are collections of his sayings. They contain no teaching regarding a future life. These books, however, are thought to be the most important influence in the development of the Chinese ideal of character.

BUDDHISM

Buddhism is the first religion to become international. There are between 250 and 500 million followers today.

The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama (560 to 480 BC), a prince of the Kshatriya caste of Hinduism. At age 29 he decided to seek the answer to the problem of sin and suffering. The way of philosophical speculation being unsuccessful, he took the path of extreme bodily asceticism. After five futile years he resorted to less rigorous practice. At 35, while seated under the bodhi tree in meditation, he experienced enlightenment and became the Buddha, the "enlightened one." During the remained of his life, he preached the Middle Path to Enlightenment, or nirvana, the place of freedom from rebirth. He died at 80, with about 500 disciples.

The Buddhist Middle Path to salvation from rebirth demands true knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. These are:

1. Existence entails suffering

2. Suffering is caused by inherently insatiable desires.

3. Desire must be suppressed in order to end suffering and existence.

4. The way to do this is to follow the Eightfold Path, which forms the heart of Buddha's teaching: right views (beliefs); aims (intentions); speech; action; livelihood (living); self-discipline; self-mastery; and concentration (contemplation).

Essential Features of Buddhism

Gautama's concern was conduct, not worship. He apparently acknowledged the possibility of gods and demons but said nothing about them.

The delusion of self and questions as to whether the soul exists has been a source of quarrel among Buddhists for centuries. The ego is composed of five constantly changing skandhas, or states of being. While there is no permanent ego-entity, what a person does has its effect upon his future. Karma and transmigration are accepted doctrines.

Nirvana, the "place of passionless peace," where all desire has ceased, all karma has been completed, and there is no more rebirth.

Buddhist Scriptures

The Tripitaka, or "Three Baskets," were transmitted orally from Buddha's time and written in the Pali language probably during the 2nd Century BC. The Three Baskets are the Vinaya, containing monastic rules; The Sutra, teachings of the Buddha; and Adhidharma, metaphysical commentaries on the teachings. Added to these is a large body of literature, some in Sanskrit, containing many legends and much philosophizing.

Two Main Schools of Buddhism

Hinayana, the Lesser Vehicle (Southern Buddhism), is generally closer to the original teachings. Salvation of the individual is emphasized, and only the original Pali scriptures are accepted. This school is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. Distinctive features are:

* The saffron-robed monk is conspicuous. He follows the Path as set in the early scriptures.

* A reverent attitude toward relics and images of the Buddha is maintained.

* Monasteries are frequented by monks and by laymen who periodically enter to live as did the Buddha.

* Another Buddha named Maitreya will come to enlighten the age as Gautama did his.

* Thousands of inferior deities have been added, depending on the religious background of each country.

Mahayana, the Greater Vehicle (Northern Buddhism), has as its goal the salvation of all things and is noted for its adaptability and radical departure from the original tenets. Found in Japan, Korea, China, Nepal, Tibet, and Indonesia. The following features are distinctive:

* Buddha is worshipped as the supreme Reality, the divine Being, or as an avatar, an incarnate savior.

* There is an innumerable company of bodhisattvas - men who have attained nirvana but postpone entrance in order to help mankind.

* Prayer is addressed to images of these bodhisattvas.

* Maitreya will be the next Buddha.

* Heavens and halls in the afterlife are vividly portrayed.

Sects of the Mahayana School

1. The Pure Land sect

* Found in China and Japan

* The central figure is Amida, a Buddha who presides over the Pure Land, or Western Paradise

* The Pure Land of Bliss is the Western regions is the ultimate goal

* Faith in Amida assures entrance to the Pure Land. Good works are unnecessary.

* Rules for living are few. Clergy live normal lives, not separated from the world.

2. Zen, the intuitive sect

* Dhyana, the Sanskrit word for meditation, became Ch'en in China and Zen in Japan.

* Salvation is to be found within. The true Buddha nature is within one's own heart.

* Reason cannot give truth or reality. The koan, an irrational question to baffle the mind, is used to facilitate enlightenment.

* Zazen , the method of meditation, is similar to Yoga in Hinduism

* The goal is satori, a flash of intuition, such as achieved by Gautama.

* Zen is rigidly individualistic, needing no temples, monasteries, or images. Simple living and self-discipline are advocated.

3. Nichiren, the socio-political sect

* Nichiren was a militant and intolerant reformer of the 13th Century (AD) in Japan.

* Salvation is to be found only in the Lotus Sutra, a Sanskrit scripture called also the Gospel of the Pure Law.

* Highly emotional and extremely nationalistic in practice

* Has numerous subsects which are strong in Japan

4. Lamaism, or Tibetan Buddhism

* A mixture of Tantrism, Shamanism, and sorcery

* Uses prayers wheels, mills, and flags

* Extensive demon worship, with many buddhas and bodhisattvas

* Celibate priests, called lamas, live in massive monasteries. Head lamas are reincarnations of the souls of predecessors.

* The Dalai Lama is the supreme head of church and state

Facts about Hunger

About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five.

Today 10% of children in developing countries die before the age of five. This is down from 28% fifty years ago.

Famine and wars cause just 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families simply cannot get enough to eat. This in turn is caused by extreme poverty.

Besides death, chronic malnutrition also causes impaired vision, listlessness, stunted growth, and greatly increased susceptibility to disease. Severely malnourished people are unable to function at even a basic level.

It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year.

Often it takes just a few simple resources for impoverished people to be able to grow enough food to become self-sufficient. These resources include quality seeds, appropriate tools, and access to water. Small improvements in farming techniques and food storage methods are also helpful.

Many hunger experts believe that ultimately the best way to reduce hunger is through education. Educated people are best able to break out of the cycle of poverty that causes hunger.

Sources (by paragraph):

1. The Hunger Project, United Nations
2. CARE
3. The Institute for Food and Development Policy
4. United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
5. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
6. Oxfam
7. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Reading

The Art of Peace

The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose that to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.  - Morihei Ueshiba

Reading

Snowy Visit

I walked up the hillside with my long shadow leading the way
The orange-red sun made the snow surreal

The snow flakes were being pushed off the branches by the wind
They begin their decent again, just like they never stopped

The snow flakes would get in-between the skylight and me
I would see sparkles of blue, green-yellow, orange-red and purple

The snow flakes would eventually hit my face, chill me, warm me and give me fresh breath, all at once.

I am able to sit and watch the snow rest on the branch of the small Pine tree.
What will come first to move these flakes again?
Warming sun, blowing wind, melting rain?

I'll have to come back tomorrow to visit, and to find myself, again.  - John Lehmus

Meditation

Whether you are going or staying
sitting or lying down,
the whole world is your own self.
You must find out whether the mountains,
rivers, grass, and forests
exist in your own mind
or exist outside it.
Analyze the ten thousand things,
and when you take this to the limit,
you will come to the limitless;
when you search into it,
you come to the end of search,
where thinking goes no further
and distinctions vanish.
When you smash the citadel of doubt,
then the Buddha is simply yourself.

-- Daikaku --

The Jewish Religious System

(Part 3 of 3 on the Jewish Religion)

THE SADDUCEES

The Hebrew word by which the Sadducees were called is tsaddiqim, "the righteous ones". If we only look at the points of differences between them and the Pharisees, we get a distorted picture of the Sadducees; but each party had its strong characteristics, that of the Pharisees being a rigid realism, while the Sadducees were aristocratic. According to Josephus, "they gain only the well-to-do; they have not the people on their side." The high priestly families, for example, were almost all Sadducees.

BELIEFS OF THE SADDUCEES

The Sadducees accepted only the written law and prophets as binding. They rejected the entire traditional interpretations and the further developments of the Scribes. "The Sadducees say only what is written is to be thought of as legal...what has come down from tradition of the fathers need not be observed." (Josephus, Antiquities, XIII, 10,6).

In legal matters the Sadducees were very rigid in judging offenders, while the Pharisees were much milder. "They saw in the tradition of the elders an excess of legal strictness which they refused to have imposed upon them, while the advanced religious views were, on the one hand, superfluous to their worldly-mindedness, and on the other, inadmissible by their higher culture and enlightenment" (Scheurer, Jewish People, Div. II, Vol. I, p. 41). A more thorough discussion of legal matters among the Sadducees can be found in Unger's Bible Dictionary, pp. 952,953.

In ritual, the only important differences of Sadducees from Pharisees was in respect to laws of cleanness. They derided the Pharisees for the oddities and inconsistences which they had brought into their laws of purity. They did not reject the idea of Levitical uncleanness, however, and they demanded a higher degree of cleanness for the priest who made the red heifer offering than did the Pharisees.

DOCTRINES OF THE SADDUCEES

The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the body or in retribution or reward in a future life. They did not feel bound by any doctrine which did not proceed from Moses, and there was no assertion by Moses in the Pentateuch of any resurrection from the dead. The Sadducees would have given much more weight to Moses' writings than to any of the prophets or historians, even though they regarded those writings canonical.

The Sadducees denied that there were angels or spirits, independent spiritual beings besides God. Even the soul, they said, was only refined matter and would perish with the body.

It is not surprising that the Sadducees laid great stress on human free will. With a strong insistence on personal liberty there came a decrease of the religious motive. They insisted that man was at his own disposal, and they rejected the idea that a divine cooperation takes place in human actions. The Pharisees accentuated the divine to the verge of fatalism, and insisted on absolute preordination of every event in its smallest detail. The Sadducees opposed notions like these.

THE SANHEDRIN

The rise of this great council of the Hebrews took place in the time of Greek supremacy, though there has been some attempt to trace its origins to the council of seventy elders named by Moses. The first mention of the Sanhedrin is in the time of Antiochus the Great (223-187 B.C.) It was evidently an aristocratic body, with the high priest acting as president. When the Roman order was introduced by Pompey, the high priest still retained the position of governor of the nation, making it likely that the Sanhedrin was carrying on.

Herod the Great began his reign by ordering the whole of the Sanhedrin put to death, appointing his own council of elders in their place. Under the Roman pro-curators, the internal government of the country was in the hands of the Sanhedrin to a much greater extent. And in the time of Christ and the apostles, the Sanhedrin is frequently mentioned as being the supreme Jewish court of justice. The Sanhedrin was abolished after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SANHEDRIN

The Sanhedrin was composed of 71 priests who served for life and who were selected from the following:

•The acting high priest presided over the council; all former high priests were members.

•Male members of the high priestly families

•Scribes, legal assessors, bureaucrats

•Pharisees and Sadducees

•Elders - tribal and family heads

Criminal judges were members of the Sanhedrin, and twenty-three of them sat in judgment, with two clerks to record votes for acquittal and conviction. In capital cases, argument for acquittal was heard first, then those in favor of conviction. Anyone who had spoken in favor of the accused could not then speak against him; but one who had spoken against the accused could change his testimony in his favor. Sentence for acquittal could be pronounced immediately; but sentence for conviction was reserved for the next day.

In voting, each member stood, beginning with the youngest. A simple majority was sufficient for acquittal; but a majority of at least two votes was required for conviction. More members of the Sanhedrin would be brought in two at a time to vote whenever there was a majority of only one for conviction. When all 71 had voted, the person was acquitted if there was still a majority of only one.

Jesus appeared before the Sanhedrin on a charge of blasphemy (Matt. 26:65; John 19:7). Peter and John were charged with being false prophets and deceivers of the people (Acts 4 and 5), Stephen with being a blasphemer (Acts 6:13 ff), and Paul with being guilty of transgressing the Mosaic law (Acts 23).

The Sanhedrin had the right of ordering arrests by its own officers; of finally disposing of such cases as did not involve capital punishment. A sentence of death had to be ratified by the Roman procurator.

THE TALMUD

The Talmud was made up of the Pentateuch and the Mishnah. The Mishnah was the oral law, an amplification of the written law which was handed down by word of mouth by the scholarly priests (and Scribes) in each generation. Orthodox Jewish scholars believe that on Mt. Sinai, an oral law was given by God in addition to the written law.

Both parts of the Talmud are sacred; both comprise what is referred to as the Torah.

The oral tradition itself was set down in writing in later times; and the scholar of the early rabbinical schools discussed the Mishnah for years of his education - his goal was complete mastery of the Mishnah. The discussions of the scholars through the centuries were, in turn, set down in writing, and comprise a vast literature of interpretative commentaries on the Mishnah.

The oral discussions which took place in the Palestinian academies, together with the pertinent texts of the Mishnah, were set down in written form and are known as the Palestinian Talmud. Likewise, the oral discussions of the Babylonian academies, plus the Mishnah, are known as the Babylonian Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud is regarded as the more authoritative in regard to matters of religious law, because its teachers lived about 100 years later than those of the Palestinian schools, and because it was the first Talmud to reach the rabbinical schools of the Western World, after the Roman era.

Many orthodox Jewish scholars think that the printed version of the Babylonian Talmud is the fixed and final form of the oral tradition and that its teachings are identical in authority to the teachings which are derived from the Bible itself. Other scholars maintain that the whole oral tradition is still in a state of flux, with contributions having been made by scholars up until the present time. These scholars use all the analytical tools at their disposal to refine and sift this prodigious system of doctrine for every last nuance of meaning. They compare editions, examine the errors of scribes, examine the changes and substitutions of text, and generally break the work down into its jots and tittles in their quest for truth.

Reading - Gods Eyes
by Sue Walbridge

Have you ever seen those eyes that say, “God dwells here”? Such eyes are rare, but they are among us. They are gentle eyes that show tremendous strength. They are calm and serene while engaged in intense activity. They are playful, yet, they show great depth of wisdom,
gained by hard labor in “Lives Lessons “. They are mischievous, yet, reflect a disciplined mind. They gleam with an internal joy overshadowed by a distant sadness from knowing much pain and suffering. They are mysterious, for they have beheld many secrets, unknown by many. A far away look may greet you, though they see into your very Soul. They are ancient, yet, eternally youthful, for they know they are Immortal.
Have you ever seen those eyes that say, “God dwells here”?

copyright 1996

Reading - What is a Smile - (from the www Self-Knowledge List)

is it a facial posture,
a contraction of muscles,
is it a feeling,
or a feeling which has surfaced
like bubbles in an eternal spring,
what is the smile we see,
why does a smile form?

how many ways can we smile,
with our lips, our eyes,
our ears, hands,
hearts, souls, toes?

we can smile outside and not
inside and,
inside but not outside.

where does a smile go
when it doesn't come out?
is it still a smile?
does it go to a smile bank?

do we smile for
ourselves, or for others?
can we donate our smile
to others and get a
smile donor sticker
for our driver's license?

if we recieve another's smile,
where does it go in us
where do we store it,
to our brain, heart, elbow, spleen?

do we have a smile train
inside of us, and our
smiles go to wherever they need to?

Reading - I am Dying, I am Living - by John Lehmus 2000

At the ocean I stare at the horizon and picture the curvature of the earth and travel there: I am Dying; I am Living

On a clear night I stare up to the stars hard enough, to rise up into them, close enough to reach out and pick some, although I never have: I am Dying; I am Living

When I am still and near a tree, I picture that more than half of the tree is under the ground and go down to visit the wonderful twists and turns of the roots: I am Dying; I am Living

When I hear music that makes me tremble, the sky becomes encircled by the earth, and the musical notes dance above the treetops, in the clouds: I am Dying; I am Living

Have the faith to accept the mystery of living and have the faith to accept the mystery of dying.

Meditation

Earth, Teach Me
from The Ute Indians of North America

Earth, teach me stillness . . .
as the Grasses are stilled with light.


Earth, teach me suffering . . .
as old Stones suffer with memory.


Earth, teach me caring . . .
as Parents who secure their young.


Earth, teach me courage . . .
as the Tree which stands all alone.


Earth, teach me limitation . . .
as the Ant which crawls on the ground.


Earth, teach me freedom . . .
as the Eagle which soars in the sky.


Earth, teach me resignation . . .
as the Leaves which die in the fall.


Earth, teach me regeneration . . .
as the Seed which rises in the spring.


Earth, teach me to forget myself . . .
as melted Snow forgets its life.


Earth, teach me to remember kindness . . .
as dry fields weep with rain.

The Jewish Religious System

(Part 2 of 3 on the Jewish Religion)

THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE SCRIBES

In the time of Christ, the rabbis required from their students absolute respect, even greater than the honor due to parents. "If a man's father and teacher have lost anything, the teacher's loss should have the precedence, i.e., he must first be assisted in recovering it; the burden of a teacher is to be born in preference to that of a father, a teacher must be ransomed from captivity before one's own father." The rabbis in general everywhere claimed the first rank (Matt. 23:6,7; Mark 12:38; Luke 11:43; 20:46).

The main task of the Scribes was the theoretical development of the law. They developed the general precepts of the law; and where the written law made no direct provision, they created an application, either by establishing a precedent that was followed thereafter, or by inference from previous legal decisions. In this way, up to the time of Christ, Jewish law became an extensive and complicated science. Very great study was needed to gain even a general acquaintance with it.

The Scribes assumed that it was their special task to improve what was already binding by developing more and more subtle sophistication in reasoning. To develop a system of law binding on everyone, it was necessary to come as near to a consensus as possible. So the whole process of systematizing the law was carried on by oral discussion, the acknowledged authorities instructing the students and debating legal questions with each other, for centuries.

This made it necessary that the chief among the Scribes live in certain central places, and until 70 A.D. Jerusalem was the main headquarters of the Scribes, after that at Jamnia and Tiberias. Gradually, the theories of the Scribes became valid law; the rules developed by them were recognized in practice as soon as the various schools were in agreement. The Scribes were, in fact, legislators, especially after the destruction of the Temple, for then there was no civil court of justice under the Sanhedrin (see below).

The second task of the scribes was teaching the law. Every Israelite was supposed to have a thorough knowledge of the law. As a consequence, the famous chief rabbis gathered about them large numbers of students. Because parts of the oral law were never committed to writing, constant repetition was required to make it stick in the minds of the learners. Questions were directed to the students for the decision, while pupils also questions the teachers. Because all knowledge of the law was strictly traditional, the student had only two duties - to keep everything in memory, and to teach only what had been given to him.

There were special locations for this instruction, "houses of teaching" (synagogues), and the Temple itself among the colonnades or other spaces in the outer court (Matt. 21:23; 26:55; Mark 14:49; Luke 2:46; 20:37; John 18:20).

The third duty of Scribes was to pass sentence in the court of justice. Obviously, men so well versed in the law would be asked to be judges. We know that scribes were members of the Sanhedrin (see below). After the fall of the Jewish state in 70 A.D., scribes were both legislators and judges.

THE WRITINGS OF THE SCRIBES

In the development and writing of the law there evolved two main bodies of written work, the Halachah and the Haggadah.

Edersheim, in Life and Times of Jesus, Vol. I, p.98, states that the Halachah contained "either simply the laws laid down in Scripture, or else derived from or traced to it by some ingenious and artificial method of exegesis; or added to it, by way of amplification and for safety's sake; or, finally, legalized customs. They provided for every possible and impossible case, entered into every detail of private, family, and public life; and with iron logic, unbending rigor, and most minute analysis pursued and dominated man, turn whither he might, laying on him a yoke which was truly unbearable. The return which it offered was the pleasure and distinction of knowledge, the acquisition of righteousness, and the final attainment of rewards."

Scheurer, in Jewish People, Div. II, Vol I, pp. 339 ff, states that the Haggadah "is an amplification and remodeling of what was originally given, according to the views and necessities of later times. It is true that here also the given text forms the point of departure, and that a similar treatment to that employed in passages from the law takes place in the first instance. The history is worked up by combining the different statements in the text with each other, completing one by another, setting the chronology, etc. Or the religious and ethical parts are manipulated by formulating dogmatic propositions from isolated prophetic utterances, by bringing these into relation to each other, and thus obtaining a kind of dogmatic system. "

THE PHARISEES

The word "Pharisee" is from Greek by way of the Aramaic word for "separated". The name Separatist is thought by some to be derived from that separation which took place in the time of Zerubbabel, and then again in the time of Ezra, when Israel separated from the heathen dwelling in the land and from their uncleanness (Ezra 6:21; 9:1; 10:11; Neh. 9:2; 10:29).

However, the name probably has a stricter meaning, coming to the Pharisees as a result of their extremely strict view of the idea of pollution, not only from the uncleanness of the heathen, but also from that pollution with which they thought the majority of Israelites were likewise affected. They might have been called "separatists" by some in praise, and by others in blame. It is unlikely that they took the name for themselves because they called themselves the haberim, those who "associate", this term referring to one who associates himself with the law in order to observe it strictly in opposition to the encroachments of the heathen world culture.

The priests and scribes (see above) formed the inner structure of Jewish religion after the captivity. These two groups became more and more separated until, in the Maccabaean period, two parties, sharply at odds with each other, were developed from them, the Pharisees from the Scribes, and the Sadducees from the ranks of the priests (see below). The characteristic feature of the Pharisees arose from the legal tendency, while that of the Sadducees came from the social position.

During the Greek period, the chief priests and rulers of the people took an increasingly more negative attitude toward the law; so the Pharisees united themselves more tightly into a group that kept to a strict observance of the law. In the time of John Hyrcanus, they were in hostile opposition to the Maccabees, because the Maccabees chief objective was no longer the carrying out of the law but maintaining and extending political and economic power.

The stress which the Pharisees laid on the religion of the people won the majority of the nation to their side, and Queen Alexandra, to keep civil peace, gave the power into the Pharisees' hands. It was consistency with principle which gave them spiritual supremacy and kept people on their side. Although the Sadducees were at the head of the Sanhedrin, the whole conduct of internal affairs was in Pharisee hands; they completely ruled the public life of the nation, and this continued essentially throughout the time of Christ and the apostles.

From Scheurer, Jewish People, Div. II, Vol. II, p. 28, "They had the bulk of the nation as their ally, and women especially were in their control. They had the greatest influence upon the congregations, so that all acts of public worship, prayers, and sacrifices were performed according to their injunctions. Their sway over the masses was so absolute that they could obtain a hearing even when they said anything against the king or the high priest; consequently, they were the most capable of counteracting the designs of the kings. Hence, too, the Sadducees, in their official acts, adhered to the demands of the Pharisees, because otherwise the multitude would not have tolerated them."

TEACHINGS OF THE PHARISEES

Concerning immortality, the Pharisees taught "that every soul is imperishable, but that only those of the righteous pass into another body, while those of the wicked are punished with eternal torment" (Josephus, Wars of the Jews, II, 8, 14). "They hold the belief that an immortal strength belongs to souls and that there are beneath the earth punishments and rewards for those who in life devoted themselves to virtue or vileness, and that eternal imprisonment is appointed for the latter, but the possibility of returning to life for the former" (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII, 1,3).

The Pharisees also taught the existence of angels and spirits, while the Sadducees denied them (Acts 23:8), and this also represented the general standpoint of later Judaism.

Concerning divine providence and human freedom, the Pharisees "make everything depend on fate and on God, and teach that the doing of good is indeed chiefly the affair of man, but that fate also cooperates in every transaction" (Josephus, Wars, II, 8, 14).

"They assert that everything is accomplished by faith. They do not, however, deprive the human will of spontaneity, it having pleased God that there should be a mixture, and that to the will of fate should be added the human will with its virtue or baseness" (Josephus, Antiquities, XVIII, 1,3).

Concerning politics, the standpoint of the Pharisees was looking at civil affairs from a religious point of view. They could be content with any government as long as religion was not hindered; but they became, in a sense, a political party when they rose to oppose a government that interfered with the practice of the law.

PRACTICES OF THE PHARISEES

All Israelites avoided, as far as possible, all physical contact with the heathen, in order to avoid being defiled. The Pharisee, in addition, avoided physical contact with any non-Pharisees, even among other Jews. The fact that the Pharisees found fault with Jesus' contact with publicans and sinners agreed exactly with this point of view (Mark 2:14-17; Matt. 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32).

In the Talmud, seven kinds of Pharisees are described (from Delitzsch, Jesus und Hillel):

•The Schechemite Pharisee, so-called because he keeps the law for what he can profit from it, as Shechem submitted to circumcision to obtain Dinah (Gen. 34:19).

•The Tumbling Pharisee, who, to appear humble, hangs down his head and is in danger of falling down.

•The Bleeding Pharisee, who often meets with wounds because he walks around with his eyes closed so as not to see a woman.

•The Mortar Pharisee, who wears a cap shaped like a mortar to cover his eyes so as not to see impurities or indecencies.

•The "What-Am-I-Yet-To-Do" Pharisee, who, because he doesn't know much about the law, says "Tell me what my duty is now, and I will do it."

•The Pharisee From Fear, who keeps the law because he is afraid of future judgment.

•The Pharisee From Love, who obeys the Lord because he loves him with all his heart.


A COMPARISON OF PHARISAISM AND CHRISTIANITY

It was Jesus Christ's great effort to make clear the principles of the Law of the Old Testament dispensation and to carry them to their legitimate conclusions, to "fulfill the law", not to confirm the law as many have thought. The Pharisees taught such a slavish adherence to the letter of the law that its true character, which pointed to something higher than its letter, was completely overwhelmed; and its moral precepts, which were intended to elevate men, were instead made to contract and debase the ideas of morality.

While it was the aim of Jesus to call men to the law of God itself as the supreme guide of life, the Pharisees multiplied minute precepts and distinctions to such an extent that the whole life of Israel was hemmed in and burdened on every side by instructions so numerous and trifling that the law was almost lost sight of (Matt. 12:1-13; 23:23; Mark 3:1-6; 7:2-4; Luke 13:10-17; 18:12).

It was Christ's leading aim to teach men that true piety lay not in outward forms, but in substance; not in small details, but in great rules of life. The whole system of Pharisaic piety led to the exact opposite. Under its influence "the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42) were undervalued and neglected. Religion in the heart was ignored (Luke 11:38-41). The most sacred obligations were evaded (Mark 7:11). Vain and trifling questions took the place of serious inquiry into the great principles of duty (Matt. 19:3). Even the most solemn truths were handled as mere matters of curious speculation or means to entrap an adversary (Matt. 22:35; Luke 17:20).

Christ taught compassion for the degraded and friendless; liberality to the poor; holiness of heart; universal love; a mind open to the truth. The Pharisees shunned lower classes and pushed from themselves such as the Savior would have gathered into his arms (Luke 7:39; 15:2; 18:11; John 7:47,48). They made a prey of the friendless (Matt. 23:13). With all their pretence, they were really avaricious, sensual, and dissolute (Matt. 23:25; John 8:7). They devoted their energies to making converts to themselves (Matt. 23:15).

(This was Part 2 of 3 on the Jewish Religion)

Reading

Meditation on Compassion - Thich Nhat Hanh

Love is a mind that brings peace, joy and happiness to another person.  Compassion is a mind that removes the suffering that is present in the other.  We all have seeds of love and compassion in our minds, and we can develop these fine and wonderful sources of energy.  We can nurture the unconditional love that does not expect anything in return and therefore does not lead to anxiety and sorrow. 

The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves "inside the skin" of the other.  We "go inside" their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering.  Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough to see their suffering.  We must become one with the object of our observation.  When we are in contact with another's suffering, a feeling of compassion is born in us.  Compassion means, litterally, "to suffer with".

We begin by choosing as the object of our meditation someone who is undergoing physical or material suffering, someone who is weak and easily ill, poor or oppressed, or has no protection.  This kind of suffering is easy for us to see.  After that, we can practice being in contact with more subtle forms of suffering.  Sometimes the other person does not seem to be suffering at all, but we may notice that he has sorrows which have left their marks in hidden ways.  People with more than enough material comforts also suffer.  We look deeply at the person who is the object of our meditation on compassion, both during sitting meditation and when we are in actual contact with him.  We must allow enough time to be really in deep contact with his suffering.  We continue to observe him until compassion arises and penetrates our being.

When we observe deeply in this way, the fruit of our meditation will naturally transform into some kind of action.   We will not just say, "I love him very much", but instead, "I will do something so that he will suffer less".  The mind of compassion is truly present when it is effective in removing another person's suffering.  We have to find ways to nourish and express our compassion, even if that person says and does things that are not easy to accept.  We practice in this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent upon the other person being lovable.  Then we can know that our mind of compassion is firm and authentic.  We ourselves will be more at ease, and the person who has been the object of our meditation will also benefit eventually.  His suffering will slowly diminish, and his life will gradually be brighter and more joyful as a result of our compassion.   (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Reading

Prayer - You Are No Longer Ordinary

God be in my head - and in my understanding
God be in my eyes - and in my looking
God be in my mouth - and in my speaking
God be in my tongue - and in my tasting

God be in my lips - and in my greeting
God be in my nose - and in my smelling
God be in my ears - and in my hearing
God be in my neck - and in my humbling

God be in my shoulders - and in my bearing
God be in my back - and in my standing
God be in my arms - and in my reaching
God be in my hands - and in my working

God be in my legs - and in my walking
God be in my feet - and in my grounding
God be in my joints - and in my relating
God be in my guts - and in my feeling

God be in my bowels - and in my forgiving
God be in my loins - and in my swiving
God be in my lungs - and in my breathing
God be in my heart - and in my loving

God be in my skin - and in my touching
God be in my flesh - and in my paining
God be in my blood - and in my living
God be in my bones - and in my dying

God be at my end and at my reviving

(Prayer - You Are No Longer Ordinary. By the Reverend Jim Cotter - Episcopal Priest in England and also a Mystic - composes prayers and does gorgeous work. - Introduced by Carolyn Myss, Ph.D. (Myss sounds like mace) - "Anatomy of the Spirit" (c) 1996 - thanks Peary for the tapes.)

Reading

The world deserves more than itsy-bitsy lives, itsy-bitsy friends, itsy-bitsy fun and joy, itsy-bitsy contribution.   It demands big Love.  Not somwhere else, not someone else.  There is no one else to send to the mountain, there are no clean hands.  There is no time but now and no one but us.  (Alan Hansen)

The Jewish Religious System - Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and The Sanhedrin

(Part 1 of 3 on the Jewish Religion)

The religious life of the Jews in the time of Christ was controlled by the members of the Jewish priesthood, composed of the high priest and his family, the members of the supreme council, the Sanhedrin, and the local priest, or rabbi, who presided over the synagogue. Among the religious leaders there were many factions; and these factions had grave and fundamental differences in doctrine and practice.

This paper contains a description of each of the main elements of the Jewish religious hierarchy, namely: the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin. There is also a discussion of the doctrinal differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and there is a description of the Jewish Talmud, which comprised the written and oral scriptures and traditions of the Jews.

THE SCRIBES

In New Testament times the Scribes formed a small and exclusive class, holding absolute spiritual supremacy over the people. Everywhere you would see the Scribe as the mouthpiece and representative of the people; he pushes to the front, the crowd respectfully giving way and eagerly listening to his statements as those of a recognized authority. The great respect paid to Scribes is reflected in the title of honor "my master", in Hebrew rabbi. From this respectful address the title Rabbi was formed, probably beginning as such in the time of Christ. In John 3, Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, addressed Christ as "rabbi", a form of respect for a recognized teacher.

In New Testament Greek the words nomikos, "learned in the law; jurist" (Matt. 22:35; Luke 7:30; 10:25; 11:45,52; 14:3), and nomodidaskalos, "teacher of the law" (Luke 5:17; Acts 5:34) are used.

The period of the Sopherim, Scribes, began officially with the return of the Jews from captivity. Ezra was both a priest and a scribe; and the law read by Ezra (Neh. 8-10) was the Pentateuch essentially as we have it now. And from that time the Pentateuch was acknowledged by Jews as the binding rule of life. The office of scribe had its origin somewhat earlier than this official beginning, however.

The scribe of the Greek state (grammateus) was more than a mere writer; he was also the keeper and registrar of public documents (acc. to Thucydides, iv. 118; vii, 10; and also in Acts 19:35). Three men are mentioned as holding the office of scribe under Kings David and Solomon (2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25; 1 Kings 4:3). These were the king's secretaries, writing his letters, drawing up orders and decrees, and managing royal finances. At a later period, the word "scribe" is connected with the numbering of the military forces of the country (Jer. 52:25; Isa. 33:18).

King Hezekiah brought together a group of men whose work it was to transcribe old records and to put in writing what had been handed down orally (Prov. 25:1). So the new significance of the title "Scribe" probably dates to this time, no longer referring only to an officer of the king's court, but to a class of students and interpreters of the law, boasting in their wisdom (Jer. 8:8).

The Law had been handed to Moses by God at Mt. Sinai, and the writings of Moses, the Pentateuch, was the chief body of Scripture for the Jews after the exile. Very quickly, however, the inspired writings of the prophets and historians were added to the authoritative canon of scripture. At a still later period, a third collection of writings was begun which over many generations became for the Jews just as authoritative as the inspired writings. This body of work was the writings of the Scribes of decisions and interpretations of the Pentateuch, prophetical, and historical writings.

As the law became more complicated and comprehensive, more scientific study and professional interpretation was required. The many details and applications to everyday life involved patient study. In the time of Ezra, and for several generations thereafter, this study and teaching was the job of the priesthood. But the higher the law rose in the estimation of the people, the more its study and exposition become an independent activity. Thus the scholar class, the Scribes, was formed.

The priests had somewhat abdicated their God-given position as teachers of the congregation of Israel because, under Greek influence, the higher strata of priests, applied themselves to the study of heathen cultures, and more or less neglected the law. The Scribes appeared as the zealous and single-minded guardians of the law, and became the real teachers of the people, over whose lives they had control.

The history of the Scribes is divided into five periods, indicated by the names given to Scribes during successive times:

•The Sopherim (see above): lasting from the return from Babylon and ending with the death of Simon the Just, from about 458 to 300 B.C.

•The Tanaim (repeaters, or teachers of the law): in New Testament times.

•The Amoraim (Heb. the expounders) "wise men" and "doctors" of the law, who alone constituted the authorized recorders and expositors of the Halachah (220A.D. to the completion of the Babylonian Talmud, About 500 A.D.) See below regarding the Halachah.

•The Saboraim (from Heb. to think or to discern): teachers of the law after the conclusion of the Talmud, 500 to 657 A.D., who determined the law from a careful examination of all the considerations urged by the Amoraim in their controversies on divine, legal, and ritual questions contained in the Talmud.

•The Gaonim, the last doctors of the law in the rabbinic succession, from 657 A.D. to 1034.

(This was Part 1 of 3 on the Jewish Religion)

Reading

Look into your hand

I have a freind who is an artist.  Before he left for Vietnam forty years ago, his mother held his hand and told him, "Whenever you miss me, look into your hand, and you will see me immediately."  How penetrating these simple, sincere words!

Over the years, my friend looked into his hand many times.  The presence of his mother is not just genetic.   Her Spirit, her hopes and her life are also in him.  When he looks into his hand, he can see thousands of generations before him and thousands of generations after him.  He can see that he exists not only in the evolutionary tree branching along the axis of time, but also in the network of interdependent relations.  He told me that he never feels lonely. 

When my niece came to visit me last summer, I offered her "Look into Your Hand" as a subject for her meditation.  I told her that every pebble, every leaf and every butterfly are present in her hand.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Reading

The great sea has set me in motion, set me adrift, moving me like a weed in the river. The sky and the strong wind have moved the Spirit inside me till I am carried away trembling with joy. - Inuit Shaman Uvavnuk

Reading

"the Charge to the God"

Listen to the words of the Great Father, who of old was called Osiris, Adonis, Zeus,Thor Pan, Cernunnos, Herne, Lugh, and by many other names.
   My law is harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life and mine is the dish of salt of the earth that is the body of Cernunnos that is the eternal circle of rebirth.
   I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and beyond death I give the promise of regeneration and renewal.  I am the sacrifice, the father of all things, and my protection blankets the earth.    
Hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the winds, whose voice calls the seasons.  The Hunt and the Power of Light, sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame.
I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me.  For I am the flesh of the earth and all its beings.  Thru me all things must die and with me are reborn.  Let my worship be in the body that sings, for behold all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals.  Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and
longing within you.  For these too are part of the mysteries found within yourself, within me, all beings have endings, and all endings have beginnings. 

author unknown (forwarded via guest book)

What's in a number

The year 2000 will be:
> 2753 according to the Old Roman calendar
> 2749 according to the ancient Babylonian calendar
> 6236 according to the first Egyptian calendar
> 5760 according to the Jewish calendar
> 1420 according to the Muslim calendar
> 1378 according to the Persian calendar
> 1716 according to the Coptic calendar
> 2544 according to the Buddhist calendar
> 5119 in the current Maya great cycle
> 208 according to the calendar of the French Revolution
> The year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar

What is this religion? 

It claims more than 400 million followers, numerically second to Christianity. Its founder was Mohammed (AD 570 to 632) who was born in Mecca, Arabia. Troubled by prevalent idolatry, he spent much time in lonely meditation. After repeated visions, he believed himself called to preach the religion of the one absolute God (Allah), the Creator, Ruler, and Judge of the universe.

Mohammed migrated to Medina when he experienced heavy opposition in Mecca. This migration, known as the Hegira, marks the beginning of the era. Mohammed's Rule of God expanded from Medina, and by 630 he was the rule of all Arabia. during the following century it became supreme is the Near East, North Africa, and Spain.

Essential Beliefs

A Muslim is literally "one who submits to the will of God." It demands Iman, or belief in the articles of faith, and Din, the practice of religious duties. The Iman consists of the following doctrines:

* There is no god but Allah. (Allah is Arabic for God). Greatest possible stress is laid on God's oneness. He is without an equal, absolutely sovereign, and omnipotent.

* Angels are Allah's messengers. They are sinless beings who were created out of light and have life, speech, and reason. Of four archangels, Gabriel is the medium of inspiration, the revealer of Allah's truth. The devil, called Shaitan or Iblis, is an angel who fell through pride. Other beings are the jinn, or genii. They are created out of fire, and may be good or evil. Demonic genii serve the devil.

* The books "sent down" from Allah numbered 104. Only four remain: Tauret (Pentateuch) given to Moses; Zabur (Psalms) given to David; Injil (Evangel) given to Jesus; and Koran (given to Mohammed). The first three have been corrupted and have been replaced by the Koran, which contains all the necessary

The Koran, uncreated and eternal, was brought to the lowest heaven on the Night of Power and Excellence and given piecemeal to Mohammed as occasion demanded.

* Major and minor prophets are innumerable. Twenty-eight are named in the Koran, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed.

* Resurrection and the day of judgment will be literal for all men. There are seven heavens and seven hells.

Predestination of good and evil is the keystone of this religion. Everything is by the decree of Allah. His will is certain, arbitrary, irresistible, and inevitable.

You have probably guessed Islam by now.

* The Five Pillars of Islam are obligatory duties.

1. Recitation of the Kalima, the creed, "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet."

2. Prayer: recitation of the five daily prayers (passages from the Koran) must be preceded by ceremonial washings, with face turned toward Mecca, with a specified posture, and Arabic language.

3. Fasting: especially during the month of Ramadan, ninth month of the lunar calendar. Abstinence is required from eating, drinking, bathing, smoking, smelling perfumes, etc., between sunrise and sunset. Feasting is permitted during the night.

4. Almsgiving: a compulsory percentage of property owned must be given to the poor, homeless, debtors, slaves, tax collectors, etc.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca: required once in a lifetime for those who are able.

Other Essentials of Islam

Traditions - Sunna, "custom or usage of the Prophet" - supplement or interpret the Koran. This is the oral law, the second foundation of Islam. Collections of traditions are the Hadith containing records of conduct and sayings of Mohammed or the Companions, the first generation of Muslims.

Circumcision - the rite of initiation among all Muslims. It is not mentioned in the Koran.

Kaaba - a cube-shaped building in the center of the mosque in Mecca. The black stone, a meteorite built into one corner, is said to have fallen from heaven in Adam's day.

Jihad, or holy war - religious war against infidels is plainly taught in the Koran.

Polygamy - Islam limits number of wives to four at one time. Divorce is easy to obtain (for men), and women have few rights in orthodox Islam.

Sins of ignorance and of childhood are not real sins. Great sins (such as murder, adultery, disobedience to Allah or to parents, drunkenness, etc.) must be repented of before forgiveness can be expected. Little sins (lying, anger, lust) are offset by prayer and good deeds. The unpardonable sin is associating any other divinity with Allah.

Major Islamic Sects

Mohammed is said to have predicted that his followers would be divided into 73 sects. A Muslim authority has been quoted as estimating the number at about 150.

The Sunnis are followers of the Sunna and are the orthodox. They comprise 50% of all Muslims.

The Shi'as, also called Imamiyyas, are the most important of the heretical groups. They reject the first three caliphs (successors to Mohammed) and follow Ali (cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed) and his successors, the twelve Imams. The last of the Imams disappeared in 940 and is to reappear as the Mahdi to restore Islam. Shiites are the majority in Iran where the Shi'a faith is the state religion.

The Sufis are the mystics of Islam and seek for truth by inward search leading to enlightenment. They have been accused of pantheism.

The Ahmadiyyas were founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839 to 1908) who claimed to be the Imam-Mahdi. This is the strong current missionary arm of Islam, although considered heretical.

Whew!

Reading

God never leaves you by yourself.  God has a way of allowing us to be in the right place at the right time. I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I heard muffled crying coming from the Bank parking lot across the street. Alarmed, I slowed down to listen, and panicked when I realized that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a man and a woman. Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being robbed at an ATM machine.

    Should I get involved? I was frightened for my own safety, and cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route home that night. What if I became another statistic? Shouldn't I just run to the nearest phone and call the police? Although it seemed an eternity, the deliberations in my head had taken only seconds, but already the girl was starting to cry. I knew I had to act fast. How could I walk away from this?

    No, I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life. I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic. I don't know where I found the moral
courage and physical strength - but once I had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely transformed. I ran over to the ATM machine and pulled the assailant away from the the woman. Grappling, we fell to the ground where we wrestled for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and
escaped.

    Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who was crouched near the corner of the building, sobbing. In the darkness, I could barely see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling shock. Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to her from a distance.
"It's OK," I said soothingly.  "The man ran away. You're safe now."  There was a long pause and then I heard the words, uttered in wonder, in amazement.  "Dad, is that you?" And then, from out of the darkness, stepped my youngest daughter, Katherine.
Source: unknown

Reading - You Too Are a Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer, a building contractor, of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended
family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

His employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but it was easy to see that his heart was no longer in his work. He had lost his enthusiasm and had resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and his boss came to inspect the new house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter.  "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us.We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look
at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built for ourselves. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of today's choices.

What is this religion? 

The first religion to become international. There are between 250 and 500 million followers today.  The founder was Siddhartha Gautama (560 to 480 BC), a prince of the Kshatriya caste of Hinduism. At age 29 he decided to seek the answer to the problem of sin and suffering. The way of philosophical speculation being unsuccessful, he took the path of extreme bodily asceticism. After five futile years he resorted to less rigorous practice. At 35, while seated under the bodhi tree in meditation, he experienced enlightenment and became the "enlightened one." During the remained of his life, he preached the Middle Path to Enlightenment, or nirvana, the place of freedom from rebirth. He died at 80, with about 500 disciples.    You may have guessed - Buddhism.

The middle path to salvation from rebirth demands true knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. These are:  1. Existence entails suffering,  2. Suffering is caused by inherently insatiable desires,  3. Desire must be suppressed in order to end suffering and existence,  4. The way to do this is to follow the Eightfold Path, which forms the heart of the teachings: right views (beliefs); aims (intentions); speech; action; livelihood (living); self-discipline; self-mastery; and concentration (contemplation).  Gautama's concern was conduct, not worship. He apparently acknowledged the possibility of gods and demons but said nothing about them.

The delusion of self and questions as to whether the soul exists has been a source of quarrel among the followers for centuries. The ego is composed of five constantly changing skandhas, or states of being. While there is no permanent ego-entity, what a person does has its effect upon his future. Karma and transmigration are accepted doctrines.

Two Main Schools of Buddhism

Hinayana, the Lesser Vehicle (Southern Buddhism), is generally closer to the original teachings. Salvation of the individual is emphasized, and only the original Pali scriptures are accepted. This school is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. Distinctive features are:

* The saffron-robed monk is conspicuous. He follows the Path as set in the early scriptures.

* A reverent attitude toward relics and images of the Buddha is maintained.

* Monasteries are frequented by monks and by laymen who periodically enter to live as did the Buddha.

* Another Buddha named Maitreya will come to enlighten the age as Gautama did his.

* Thousands of inferior deities have been added, depending on the religious background of each country.

Mahayana, the Greater Vehicle (Northern Buddhism), has as its goal the salvation of all things and is noted for its adaptability and radical departure from the original tenets. Found in Japan, Korea, China, Nepal, Tibet, and Indonesia. The following features are distinctive:

* Buddha is worshipped as the supreme Reality, the divine Being, or as an avatar, an incarnate savior.

* There is an innumerable company of bodhisattvas - men who have attained nirvana but postpone entrance in order to help mankind.

* Prayer is addressed to images of these bodhisattvas.

* Maitreya will be the next Buddha.

* Heavens and halls in the afterlife are vividly portrayed.

Reading #1

THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a
pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in
it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full
portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the
master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only
one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the
perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for
which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of
what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be
a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked
the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these
past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my
side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.

Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get
full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his
compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to
notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up
the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the
beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it
some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for
its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only
on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's
because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.
I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we
walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he
would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. So don't
be afraid of your flaws.

Reading #2

An Angel wrote:

Many people will walk in and out or your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head,
To handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it's their fault.
If they betray you twice, it becomes your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

God Gives every bird it's food, but the food is not thrown into the nest.

She/He who loses money, loses much;
She/He who loses a friend, loses more;
She/He who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are acts of nature,
but beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.

What is this religion? 

"Ours is a liberal religion.  We uphold the free search for truth.  We believe that personal experience, conscience and reason are the final authorities in religion.  We put religious insights to the test of our hearts and minds.  We believe revelation is continuous.  We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets and sages througout the ages.  We affirm the worth and dignity of all women and men.  We seek to act as a moral force in the world.  We believe right living is the supreme witness of any religion."

Reading

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.  Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.  Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.  I say love, it is a flower, and you its only seed. 

It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.  It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.  It's the one who won't be taken who cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long, and you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong, just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows, lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose.

Reading

If the people lived their lives, as if it were a song.  For the singing out of light, provides the music for the stars.  To be dancing circles in the night. Grace begins with an impossible need which transcends our ordinary capacity to respond.  We become channels for that Grace when we become participants in the giving.  As we give ourselves away, we find that no one is in need; in fact there are leftovers.  Would you like to live that way?  Are you willing?

Reading

Flying Lessons

To those who say I fly high for one so young, I tell them: My mother has gone before me. 

She has battled demons and cleared paths and I have followed in her wake. 

She has opened the doors of silence and let the questions flood her, and I have learned in her presence. 

She has unbent the lies of the past and I have listened to the unfolding of truth. 

To those who say I fly high for one so young, I tell them: My mother has gone before me.

By Valerie Joy S.

Base Community Questions

Even though we sometimes feel alone when going through difficult times, the Spirit of all Life journeys with us. 

In a story from Daniel 3: 19-25, three men are thrown into a furnace to die, but a fourth being, with the appearance of the Holy Spirit, is seen in the furnace with them.  They came through their ordeal unharmed.

In addition to this Spirit's presence in our lives, we also have special people who journey with us.  Think about those who have been there for you when you have needed support, guidance, a friendly deed (thanks for the firewood, Dave) , fellowship and love.  They may be people from your past or present, living or dead.  

What have these people done for you?  How has their support enabled you to be a better person?  How have you been able to help others be cause of that experience?

Base Community Questions

Esther 4: 10-14

During the time when Esther was Queen, the Jewish people were under attack by one of the king's advisors.  Esther was Jewish, but the king didn't know that.  She was faced with a decision between protecting herself by being silent about who she was, or speaking out to help her people.   Her uncle called her to account by telling her that being silent wouldn't necessarily protect her.  He suggested she may have even become the queen so that she would be in a position to take action to save her people.  "Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." (Esther 4: 14) 

For what purpose do we find ourselves where we are?  What is unique about your situation?  What is the Spirit urging you to do that will make life better for yourself and others?

Questions for December were sent in by M. Foster (Tucson, Az) Thanks!

My Final Thoughts!

1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 . . . . . . . . .

Small actions lead to larger results.  Making choices sets a series of events into motion.  Being open to what the Spirit of Life has to offer opens the way to abundance in our lives.   Positive actions and the attitude of giving allows the energy of giving and receiving to flow more freely.  We all have gifts in our lives and special relationships because we sometimes give, and allow ourselves to receive, beyond ourselves. (excerpted from "Gleaning Abundance" - S Mullins)

In what ways have you seen others open themselves to the energetic cycle of giving and receiving?  How do you practice the art of giving beyond yourself?  What actions will you try in the New Year and Beyond, in order to open yourself to the abundance of life? 

Be Open to the Spirit of Life. The abundance is out there for you, both to receive and to give!

Reading (Thanks Kay of Dover, NH

                                            Billy

A number of years ago (1983-1987), I had the opportunity to
play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's
Corporation. My marketplace covered most of Arizona and a portion
of Southern California.
One of our standard events was "Ronald Day." One day each
month, we visited as many of the community hospitals as possible,
bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks
forward to going. I was very proud to be able to make a
difference for children and adults who were experiencing some
"down time." The warmth and gratification I would receive stayed
with me for weeks. I loved the project, McDonald's loved the
project, the kids and adults loved it and so did the nursing and
hospital staffs.
There were two restrictions placed on me during a visit.
First I could not go anywhere in the hospital without McDonald's
personnel (my handlers) as well as hospital personnel. That way,
if I were to walk into a room and frighten a child, there was
someone there to address the issue immediately. And second, I
could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did
not want me transferring germs from one patient to another. I
understood why they had this "don't touch" rule, but I didn't
like it. I believe that touching is the most honest form of
communication we will ever know. Printed and spoken words can
lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug.
Breaking either of these rules, I was told, meant I could
lose my job.
Toward the end of my fourth year of "Ronald Days," as I was
heading down a hallway after a long day in grease paint and on my
way home, I heard a little voice. "Ronald, Ronald."
I stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half-
opened door. I pushed the door open and saw a young boy, about
five years old, lying in his dad's arms, hooked up to more
medical equipment than I had ever seen. Mom was on the other
side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the
equipment.
I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was
grave. I asked the little boy his name - he told me it was Billy
- and I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back
to say good-bye, I asked Billy if there was anything else I could
do for him.
"Ronald, would you hold me?"  Such a simple request. But what ran through my mind was that if I touched him, I could lose my job. So I told Billy I could not do that right now, but I suggested that he and I color a picture. Upon completing a wonderful piece of art that we were both very proud of, Billy again asked me to hold him. By this
time my heart was screaming "yes!" But my mind was screaming
louder. "No! You are going to lose your job!"
This second time that Billy asked me, I had to ponder why I
could not grant the simple request of a little boy who probably
would not be going home. I asked myself why was I being logically
and emotionally torn apart by someone I had never seen before and
probably would never see again.
"Hold me." It was such a simple request, and yet...
I searched for any reasonable response that would allow me
to leave. I could not come up with a single one. It took me a
moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not
be the disaster I feared.
Was losing my job the worst thing in the world?
Did I have enough self-belief that if I did lost my job, I
would be able to pick up and start again? The answer was a loud,
bold, affirming "yes!" I could pick up and start again.
So what was the risk?
Just that if I lost my job, it probably would not be long
before I would lost first my car, then my home...and to be honest
with you, I really liked those things. But I realized that at the
end of my life, the car would have no value and neither would the
house. The only things that had steadfast value were experiences.
Once I reminded myself that the real reason I was there was to
bring a little happiness to an unhappy environment, I realized
that I really faced no risk at all.
I sent Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa out of the room, and my
two McDonald's escorts out to the van. The nurse tending the
medical equipment stayed, but Billy asked her to stand and face
the corner. Then I picked up this little wonder of a human being.
He was so frail and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45
minutes, and talked about the things that worried him.
Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost
coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show
him the way. He worried that his dog wouldn't get another bone
because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going back
to the hospital, and now he couldn't remember where he put them.
These are problems to a little boy who knows he is not going
home.
On my way out of the room, with tear-streaked makeup running
down my neck, I gave Mom and Dad my real name and phone number
(another automatic dismissal for a Ronald McDonald, but I figured
that I was gone and had nothing to lose), and said if there was
anything the McDonald's Corporation or I could do, to give me a
call and consider it done. Less than 48 hours later, I received a
phone call from Billy's mom. She informed me that Billy had
passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for
making a difference in their little boy's life.
Billy's mom told me that shortly after I left the room,
Billy looked at her and said, "Momma, I don't care anymore if I
see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald."
Sometimes we must do what is right for the moment,
regardless of the perceived risk. Only experiences have value,
and the one biggest reason people limit their experiences is
because of the risk involved.
For the record, McDonald's did find out about Billy and me,
but given the circumstances, permitted me to retain my job. I
continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the
corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is
to take risks.

By Jeff McMullen
from Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida
Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss

A Prayer for the Departed

Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart, and with whom the Souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the charge of being Human, are in joy and enchantment. We give sincere thanks for thy grace bestowed upon thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith and life, do now rest from their labors. We petition, that with all who have departed in the true faith of the Holy Spirit, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and Soul, in thy eternal Glory.

Reading

It's in every one of us to be wise.  Find your heart, open up both your eyes.  We can all know everything without ever knowing why -- It's in every one of us, by and by. 

It's in every one of us to be free,  Find yourself open your eyes and see.  We can all have everything without ever knowing how --  It's in every one of us, here and now.  (St. Francis in the Foothills)

Reading

Come, Spirit come, our hearts control, Our Spirits long to be made whole, Let inward love guide every deed.   By this we worship and are freed.  (St. Francis in the Foothills)

Reading

How could anyone ever tell you, You are anything less than beautiful?  How could anyone ever tell you, You are less than whole?  How could anyone fail to notice, that your loving is a miracle?   How deeply you're connected to my soul.  (Libby Roderick)

Reading

And I will raise you up on eagle's wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of my hand.  (St. Francis in the Foothills)

Reading

This is a very sweet story.  It makes you think.  This was forwarded from F. Sias.  Thanks!

The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn-not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted
surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I
picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second
that's mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

~ Anonymous ~

Reading - "What it means to be a Parent"

Your children are not your children.  They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.   They come through you, but not from you.  And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.  You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.   For they have their own thoughts.  You may house their bodies, but not their souls.  For their souls shall be in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.  You may strive to be like them, but not to make them like you.  For life does not go backward nor tarries with yesterday.  You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.  The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and She/He bends you with His/Her might that Her/His arrows may go swift and far.  Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness;   For even as He/She loves the arrow that flies, so She/He loves also the bow that is stable.   (from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran)

Most people know of this reading, I enjoyed typing it in as it gave me time to re-process the words and I received more meaning, this time. - JL  Try it.

Reading - The Invitation - by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.  I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.  I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.  I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.  I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine and your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.  I want to know if you can be with joy, mine and your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.  I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.   I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.  I want to know if you can see beauty even if it is not pretty everyday, and if you can source your life from its presence.  I want to know if you can live without failure, yours or mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon.   " Yes! "

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.  I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here.  I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.  I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else fails away.  I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Questions:  Do you dare to dream?  Will you take the risk to try your dreams?  Have you held back from fear of further pain?  Can you sit with sorrow and accept it?   Can you Jump for Joy no matter how old or how wise you think you are?  Are all children, your number one priority?  Can you stand still when it's time to pay your debts?  Do you like yourself?  What can you do to improve?  Are you too easy on yourself?  Are you too hard on yourself? 

Reading

"It is up to you"
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
You see, it's up to YOU!
Don't ever forget how very important YOU are.
~ Anonymous ~