Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Hello, I need lots of prayers for my boyfriend who is only 52 and had a stroke. One of the atriums of the heart has a large blood clot that caused the stroke. Now they are giving him Coumadin and another blood thinner. His speech was most affected but I am grateful to God that he is still alive. Thanks, Rose What Dreams May Come...Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act 3 Scene I  Shelton's Massage Co. http://www.creativejournaling.com/BodyWork.html eBay for fun! http://www.creativejournaling.com/Auction.html http://www.ebay.com/rose101massage Texas2SF [Texas2SF] Friday, November 14, 2003 11:27 PM spirit_quest_wisdom ; Rainbow-Brothers Cc: conversationswithgod3 ; kundaliniheat ; Four_Agreements [innerDialoguing] Interesting email from Rainbow-Brothers , NewAge or old lies belamigo2002 writes: New Age or Old Lies? by Michele Wong " Married female, 33 years old with loving husband and beautiful son seeks meaning in life, acceptance, purpose, belonging and understanding. Will respond well to loving comments, lots of praise, and near constant " atta boys " . Does not like criticism or varying belief systems…Please do not ask me to question my insecurities! " From childhood, some of us seem to always be seeking acceptance and love. Why? Well, as I am working through it myself, I'm not quite sure I fully understand it but I think I have a pretty good idea. What I do know is that I've tried some of the darndest things to try to feel that I belong - at least somewhere. Need I say none of these trials worked? So what's missing? Why does it seem that society has ostracized me? Why doesn't anyone ever seem to understand me, when I understand them?! So goes the search. Every time I think I've found a group of people that think the way I do or are at least left out as much as I am - I find myself getting closer and closer to the truth of it all. So, what is this truth, so many of us seek? Well, let me explain my idea. My latest adventure was with a quote New Age end quote chat group. Wow, when I read through their website I thought they seemed to know exactly how I felt. And, boy that was such a comfort. After I d to their chat group, but before I jumped into the " fire " , I watched some of the other discussion topics progress. Then, when I felt the time was right I sent in my personal introduction. What a let down - for those of us looking for acceptance only 4 welcomes out of several thousand rs???? After two more weeks of reading these " Spiritually Evolved " people's ideas, I couldn't take it any more and I d. Why? It just seemed like too much " we are the be all - end all " , we have finally " found It " . Well, out of a professed two thousand (or so) r base all of the correspondences were coming from about the same 12 people. And a good many of these seemed to be using this " New Age " label as an excuse for the way they chose to live their life. They made comments like " they are not as advanced as we are " or " they're riding on our coat tails. " Get real! Yes, some of the " New Age " communities have people with abilities/gifts and they feel like they are here to make a difference. But being a " New Ager " is not the be all - end all. Does it answer questions for folks? Maybe. But let's not get caught up in the moment. Life is about living. Being in a New Age community does not tell us WHO we are, it merely tells us WHERE we are in our path of life. It is nice to talk to others who can relate on some level to what we are experiencing. Eventually, we should be comfortable with the information we have shared and be ready to move on to another phase in our life. We shouldn't be using our gifts as an excuse to not fit in or belong. If we feel like we are here to make a difference somehow, then how in the heck are we going to do that by withdrawing from society and separating " Us from Them " ? How are we supposed to get our message out if no one is listening? How are we going to change the way the masses think if we cannot understand how or why they think the way they do? And, why should they listen to us anyway if we don't listen to them? Have you ever tried to change the mind of someone when you don't have a clue why or even what they are thinking? Good luck. We can't change the world if we don't even know what it is like or why. Being a part of the " New Age " is not the end result. It is merely a phase - or as I like to say " a piece to the puzzle " . But certainly not the entire puzzle. Maybe it helps some people to understand themselves better but that knowledge should be a stepping-stone to bigger and better things not a crutch to make it through the day. Personal Enlightenment should be just about every person's end goal - teaching along the way to help others is a part of every person's responsibility. I just feel like so many of the " New Age " folks and new " born again Christian's " have gotten caught up in how " special " they are because they are " New Agers " when they should be taking that information and striving to reach the next level. So, what does all of this mean to me? There are lots of different " New Age " groups out there and they are all going by different names and professing to be the " next level in evolution " , but underneath it all most of them say the same things. And, honestly, they seem to be avenues people use so they can " pretend " to be joining the Spiritual Evolution. Is it new? Nope, just the same old societal beliefs hiding under different names. Does it make us feel better to be involved in these groups? If we are a true seeker " on the path of knowledge and growth " it might for a short time, while we are living the delusion that we are at the end of our search. But, then one day, we wake up with that same ache and realize it's time to look for something new again. And so goes the search, the seemingly never ending quest for something so elusive that as soon as we think we've found it, it seems to slip away once again. So, when does the search end? When do we find love and acceptance? I don't know. Ten years ago, a psychologist told me I wouldn't find love or acceptance until I first learned to love and accept myself. But, I don't believe that's entirely true because I have a wonderfully loving and accepting husband. Maybe the search ends when we realize the truth behind the search is merely an emptiness or longing for something some of us didn't receive as infants or young children: true love and acceptance by one or both of our parents. I know lots of people who have come to this realization and they too have spent their lives looking for some indefinable " thing " to help their lives feel complete and fulfilled while always coming up short. When they realized it was an emptiness stemming from an unfulfilled childhood it helped them realize why it couldn't be satiated but it didn't help the feeling go away. It seems that there may be some things that cannot be healed or covered up. Perhaps a more direct question we can ask ourselves is: How much or what are we willing to sacrifice for something that pretends to be love and/or acceptance? Some of us may always feel like we are missing some part of ourselves and that realization may eventually help us to stop looking for something that cannot be found because it is not lost. My husband tells me that this emptiness comes from having seen " The Face of God " and then because I cannot be in that " Grace " all the time it causes a longing or yearning (emptiness) that cannot be filled by any earthly means. If that's the case, then as soon as I know that all things are at " One with God " , then the emptiness will be filled and I will have reached Enlightenment. Which explanation is truth? Maybe they all are, depending of course, on what phase of life we are in. Maybe we need to realize at some point that we all inherently love and accept ourselves and while nothing on this earthly plane can make up for the lost or unknown love and acceptance of parents, the knowledge that we are at one with God dissolves any other losses we may have because it fulfills us on a Spiritual level that surpasses any and all levels. At this point, all I know is that each and every day, I live my life, I take care of business, my family, my home and I grow and change. Every day that I determine not to hide from life but to live it as fully as I can I become a better person and I get one step closer to God and Enlightenment. _________________________________ Texas2SF says: My note on this is, we're all on the path of God, because well, that's all there is, let me tell you, I'm having a tough time at the moment, and my will to live seems really pushed to limit, But I'm glad a have family member to vent to. I hope with some advice she gave me, I will grow from this experience, but I'm well kinda scared and stuck in some negative self chatter, which I know is JUST WHAT I NEED to stop doing! The email above I think is true of any and all of us, Pagans, Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, Wiccan, Christians (especially the born again), New Agers, Or like myself new thought, etc., whatever we want to label our path, like naming a Freeway or Boulevard, it doesn't change the road, whatever you call it, it's still our own path unique to each and every one of us I believe, all headed for the same destination (God or Creator or fill in the blank). Many times, I have seen folks in spiritually related groups bashing one another, or thinking they have a better path than another, much like that good 'ole American custom of keeping up with Jones, do you know what I mean? I got some bad news at the Doctor today, actually started yesterday at the Dental University I was going for some dental work, But on top of HIV, at the moment I have high blood pressure, which has been high one time before, most of the time in the high range of normal, I'm freaked! I honestly feel, God I am doing all this spiritual work, all the books I read, and now this, one more chronic ailment, Damn it! I'm not out of shape, I slender with the ability to run up San Francisco's hills. Of course, I understand spiritual work doesn't guarantee anyone health or prosperity, it helps, I expect. So, I'm gonna join the gym, cut down on salt, and red meat, and cheese, but I feel put upon. I turned down the Doctor putting me on medication, at the moment. I would like to see how much I change this with behavior change. My good sister reminded me tonight to ask my higher soul, or higher power, again, whatever you want to call it, to help me release my fear and negative chatter. Which is great advice, thanks sister! I will pray as usual when I go to bed, and have some gratitude for my life in this moment, and to attempt to stay in the moment, rather than worry about the future. Ironic, I have returned to reading, Beyond Fear, A Toltec guide to freedom and joy. So, my head loves to read this kind of spirituality, just hope that I get my heart to put this all into action. Or, like my sister suggests, I will ask my higher power to help me. Actually, this past summer, I had a week of revelations, in which I found a good way for me to meditate, and easily follow the electric current of my path, I guess I miss the spiritual high I had during that week. I was able to do and go places in my inward journey, while on holiday in Provincetown that I haven't been able but once to reproduce back in the city, here in San Francisco. Does anyone relate? I have all this knowledge of all the spiritual principles, but damn I forget ever so often. Oh, and in my thrust into fear, I wasn't exactly the nicest guy to my partner tonight, so M. I'm sorry for letting fear and my negative chatter of my ego (Course in Miracle speak), or my parasite victim (4 agreements speak) get the best of me. love to all, Bill - San Francisco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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