Listening

To listen at the level of the Soul is a spiritual practice that scares many of us. Soul listening brings to us revelations that we don't want to hear, so we turn away.

Last week cruising the Western Caribbean I listened and took in the advice of Master teachers such as Yogi Amrit Desai (founder of Kripalu Yoga) and Michio Kushi (who brought Macrobiotics to the West). But the most inspiring people were those who sat on a recovery panel and shared their stories of returning to health through following the practices of a Macrobiotic or a Vegan diet.

Macrobiotics focuses on the vibrational energy of food, and it helps people reclaim the visceral energy connection between ourselves and the magical qualities that are innate in our food.

One woman on the panel shared her story of recovery with a friend whose daughter had been diagnosed. She created a basket full of information regarding the Macrobiotic diet but the friend refused to accept the basket and denied his daughter the opportunity to choose for herself.

What is it in us that stops us from listening or hearing?

I am reminded of Jesus who as he came near the city of Jerusalem wept over it, saying "if you had only recognized the things that make for peace..."

Cultural conditioning gets in the way of us slowing down and seeing eating as a spiritual practice. If we take this challenge and listen as we eat, we will feel the energy and wisdom of our bodies as they show us what foods balance our body/mind so we can live in harmony and peace as spiritual human beings.

Listen & Be Well,
Rev Janice

Let your Light Shine

"You are the Light of the World...let your light shine)
Many religious and spiritual traditions, self help, psychological and spiritual books, including the Bible, A Course in Miracles and many others all say words to the effect that we become lost when we identify with the roles in our life, for we lose our soul, which causes much suffering.

One way we know that we've forgotten our true Soul nature is when we take things literally or personally and our emotions surge causing in us a diminished or elevated sense of self or me which needs protecting or defending.

A friend shared with me that while at work, a gentleman came in and handed her a card which read something to the effect: "Repent and be saved." My friend said there would have been a time when this would have caused feelings of guilt or resentment to surface, but since she has been on the spiritual path and practicing the four agreements, one of them being, "Don't take anything personally," she noticed she became aware that she was able to take a breath and say to him, "Thank you,"

This is a beautiful story of regaining awareness, for awareness creates in us a spaciousness that ushers in a sense of dynamic serenity and freedom, allowing the beingness to rise up in human being;

Before the light of awareness dawns, we are strictly being human.

Let your Light Shine

"Be Impeccable with your word"

"Be Impeccable with your word."

One morning in Mrs. Thomas' third grade class, she asked the children to state what they wanted to be when they grew up. As they went around the room, each child responded to the question with answers such as: "I want to be a policeman, a fireman, an astronaut, a chef... until they came to Melissa who said, "I want to be possible." Mrs. Thomas asked Melissa to say again what she wished to be, and again she replied: "Possible, I want to be possible. My mother is always telling me 'I am impossible,' so when I grow up, I want to be Possible."

When we practice being impeccable with our word this spiritual practice plants seeds of encouragement, kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love.

Just what we all need to live in a world that is Possible.