Gregg Braden posted a quote from Paolo Coelho (below) on Facebook that was very synchronistic and inspired the comment that follows.
“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.” Paulo Coelho
This quote inspired me to write the following comment on his post:
This quote is soooo appropriate and timely for me this morning. I was just listening to someone who had an awakening experience and is now telling everyone how it happened and her way is “THE” WAY (as in the ONLY way) to achieve an awakening. And, I see myself in her, because whenever I experience something so fantastic I want everyone to experience it, too. For me, it was only in hindsight that I realized, no matter how good intentioned I may have been, my evangelism was misguided by a masked egoistic desire.
Instead of trying to pull everyone onto MY “train to awakening,” I would have served people much better by visiting the platform of every train headed to the “Awakening Mountain,” and used my excitement to wish everyone who jumped aboard their chosen trains, a heartfelt, “Bon Voyage.”
As many times as I have watched this movie, it only occurred to me this year that this movie is about the supernatural. Yes, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a movie about the experience of a religious apparition, and the impact and aftereffect of the experience. It goes to show, even with someone who has a trained eye for such things, the everyday and “always there” aspects of our lives to which we grow accustomed become the least noticed. The 10 minute clip below shows the time the main character meets an angel and what ensues.
Another interesting aspect in this clip is that others are able to see the angel as well. Of course, the angel looks like a regular man, and so his other-worldly qualities are missed. An interesting phenomenon that I believe illustrates how so many of us live our lives—the magic is overlooked or forgotten. How sad. Enjoy the clip from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
What will the massive global addition to petroleum cause next? The pushers, Big Oil, see a new route to transport the oily smack; over the sacred ground of the Spirit Bear. But, how safe is sacred ground in light of billions blinded by the ease of obtaining their next fix; the plastic bags at the grocery store, the plastic bottles of water and “convenience” beverages, and, of course, the gasoline to power our vehicles to take us two blocks down the street to purchase said beverages sweetened with substances made of Genetically Modified sources. In the name of providing the petro junkies with what they want, no, what they demand, what will big oil threaten next? This, my friends, is when we sell our souls . . . again.
In the last 3 days I have read a couple of posts on Facebook with a tone about them that reminded me of a schoolmate who had a conversion experience and became a hard core Christian. She separated herself from her metaphysical friends, particularly channels and psychics. She felt that Satan was at hand.
To me, she began to propagate a feeling of hatred brought on by fear. From that came a tone of hate mongering in her speech. Naturally, she separated herself from me. Even so, I was happy that she felt so blessed and safe to be closer to Jesus. I was, however, concerned about the negativity she radiated. It was this type of negativity I noticed in the Facebook posts.
Spreading negativity helps absolutely nothing when the goal is to spread love, because when we truly spread love, we are spreading it even to those who have done what we interpret as wrong. It is not always easy, because of how so many of us were mentored growing up, but we can make conscious decisions to be more positive.
This woman and her family feel blessed with a little gift from God—a sign of a blessing. These little images can have such a profound impact on the percipient. I find it fascinating how different people may see the images in different ways. Some people may not see the image as Mary, while it is clear as can be to others. Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter, except to the person (or people) who do see a spiritual image that they experience as a special blessing.
I’d say that these experiences are definitely mood and attitude changers, but for how long? In this case, that remains to be determined, But, for now, as Catholics, I have no doubt they are counting their blessings this Easter day.
A man cut an orange in half and lo and behold he witnesses a religious image that has impacted him. The percipient of the images is interviewed on video, and you can watch it by following the link below.
A young man in Indiana found a sign that to him was very real. His life was affected by his discovery of a food item resembling Our Lady of Guadalupe. The food item was a Cheetos cheese snack. Many of the comments on the reporting blog site made fun of the whole notion of a visitation or message from a religious figure.
I was relieved to see that some of the comments were encouraging of the fact that this young man was able to receive a sign that piqued his spiritual beliefs—regardless if anyone else shared those beliefs.
Perhaps, the whole notion of messages and signs showing up in food may be a sign in itself—a metaphor—of a growing hunger for spiritual connection. Perhaps, people need to have some affirming nod that there is something beyond this world of recessions, war, and growing unrest. And, perhaps, having that sign show up in junk food (which is also a “comfort” food) shows us that sustenance may be grounded in our spiritual beliefs. At least, this has been the case for the young man who saw the Lady of Guadalupe in his Cheetos snack.
On a personal note, if I were to give my impression, I would have to say that I see Kuan Yin. But, that is just me seeing yet another form of the “Divine Feminine”. Life is interesting, is it not?
As I type at my keyboard this very cold morning in Prescott, I am thinking back on the last year and all that has occurred in my life. The turning of the wheel of the year is the turning of the wheel of my life. Since my early childhood I have seen time as a circle (well, not an exact circle, but it’s the best way to describe it), and the movement of “time” was counter clockwise (see graphic). How people see time fascinates me. It would make a very interesting research project, but that will have to be put on the back burner for a while. I’ve already plenty on my plate at the moment.
This year has been a year of change, and sometimes abrupt change. A friend on Facebook posted a piece about wanting something and taking action to obtain it, and it made me think about my own life. I thought about a couple of situations in my own life and responded back to her post:
For those of us who want something specific, but get “stuck in comfortable”, (usually because it’s easy) the Universe will conspire to make our inner wishes come true. This is usually accomplished by rocking our world in a BIG way and FORCING us to take “action” of some kind—committed action! Yes, it has happened to me…more than once! BUT, I now have that dearly wanted Ph.D. and a book in the works!
And, now I am looking at the action I can take today in order to stay the course of my desire. It is a much smoother ride when I keep the energy flowing towards my goals than to have the Universe show up and abruptly pull the proverbial rug out from under me!
As I stay my course. I wish all of you smooth sailing into and throughout the coming New Year.
And, perhaps, having that sign show up in junk food (which is also a “comfort” food) shows us that sustenance may be grounded in our spiritual beliefs. At least, this has been the case for the young man who saw the Lady of Guadalupe in his Cheetos snack. 
As I type at my keyboard this very cold morning in Prescott, I am thinking back on the last year and all that has occurred in my life. The turning of the wheel of the year is the turning of the wheel of my life. Since my early childhood I have seen time as a circle (well, not an exact circle, but it’s the best way to describe it), and the movement of “time” was counter clockwise (see graphic). How people see time fascinates me. It would make a very interesting research project, but that will have to be put on the back burner for a while. I’ve already plenty on my plate at the moment.