Firenze's Light:Choosing what crowd to fund

A children's book filled with Light reveals a Spiritual connection.

Making a choice to contribute your monetary holdings to back a campaign is a choice we are all becoming familiar with in the latest popular phase of life known as crowd-funding.  Kickstarter has a great marketing slogan in the words: "projects we love."

Upon reviewing some of the Kickstarter projects, I decided to contribute my first funding to a project by Jessica Collaco.  She was embarking on an adventure to bring a children's book to the world.  This particular book was to bring an understanding of the importance of shining your light for all to see and not be embarrassed of your light.  Jessica has a wonderful blog www.childunplugged.blogspot.com/ where she writes of her experiences growing as a mother in this Spiritual existence.  In one blog post she mentions the website Do As One, which was co-created by her husband, Jaime.  This a Universal breathing website, where people from all over the world come together to collectively breathe as One.  I mention this particular information because the connection with this Kickstarter project first occurred in Spirit.   You see, I too, wrote a blogpost about the Do As One website last August, knowing it was connected to Agape International Spiritual Center, where I serve as a Practitioner.  Not realizing the connection with Jessica until recent, I again remind myself of no-coincidences.

Making the decision to back this campaign was very personal.  I saw a place for good to be spread in the world and I felt compelled to agree with it.  I wanted this woman to spread her word, to shine her light.  I am happy to be able to support her contribution to our children.

I am drawn to children's book that have a great purpose.  When my children were little, I loved picking out the books with great messages.  I would head to the bookstore read the books in their entirety and make my decision.  The books of choice became really good friends, they were a catalyst to build a connection, a reference for life's lessons, a visual guide to help with choices or childhood fears.  My children still remember the inflection in my voice when reading, giving the characters accents or personality.  I inserted sound effects whenever deemed necessary.  I loved reading these children's book to them just as much as they loved hearing them from me.  Of course, now that they have grown to 11 & 14, I can not part with some of the beloved books.  I will add Firenze's Light to my addition, holding it near and dear to my heart, knowing that I choose to assist Jessica in shining her Light for all to see.

The Powerful Minister: Dr. Clara "Ma" Mosley

A Powerful Minister who speaks straight to Truth. 

On Saturday, July 19, 2014, I attended the Agape International Spiritual Center Practitioner Reunion.  This was a time where current Licensed Practitioners and previously Licensed Practitioners could come together and celebrate our place in this world.  It was a wonderful time seeing Soul Sisters and Brothers that I hadn't seen in a long time.  A beautiful guided meditation was facilitated by Suzi Kesler Lula, where she posed the question about where is our Yes! taking us now.  Being at the union flooded my senses with a remembrance of the unfoldment my life took by being a part of this magnificent center.  Though I do not physically visit the center as much as once did, my Soul was filled right back up by being in the presence of these powerful Practitioners.

One such powerful Practitioner, Dr. Clara "Ma" Mosley, was a mentor and, previously, my personal Practitioner.  She currently is the Senior Minister at the June Cobb Church in Los Angeles. Seeing her for the first time in many years brought tears to my eyes, for in her presence is a reminder that Magnificence is already within.   Dr. Clara is no-nonsense; she speaks straight to the Truth.  She doesn't sugar coat any attachments to reasons for one believing in their small self.  She says it like it is, and somehow she exudes a gentle, nurturing space while stating her claims, hence the "Ma."

Way back in the day, I had taken several classes with Dr. Clara.  I vividly remember listening to her speak in the den of her home in Silver Lake.  She spoke such deep and profound words of Wisdom; I had no idea what she was saying.  All I knew was that whatever she was saying, it was Good.  Somehow, I believed, through process of Osmosis, I would become just as deeply enlightened as she.  I realized that no amount of intellectual knowledge will ever get one to a space of Spiritual Wisdom without having a Soul Revelation. Our Souls must be communicated to in order to shift in levels of enlightenment.  In Dr. Clara's teaching, there are no levels, you are Truth right here and now, no doubting, no question, it just Is.  If we are thinking we have to peel back layers, we are thinking too small.  We are all we need to Be, Right Now. We don't have to wait for some day; we are It, Right Now!

When I proclaim Love for this wonderful woman, it is deeper than our typical definition of love.  The Love I feel for her is a Soul-to-Soul connection.  She has touched my life in such a profound way, and I am grateful for her Presence in this world.  The embrace I experienced with Dr. Clara at the Reunion was flooded with emotions.  For in that one, simple, prolonged embrace was a sense of being cared for, a sense of being Loved in a Soul-Filled, Truth-Filled way.  In that instance I couldn't help but be over-filled with emotion so much that I was proud to call her "my Ma."   I also am grateful for Agape International Spiritual Center, for without It, I would have not been introduced to Dr. Clara "Ma" Mosley.

Thank you Clara for Being a significant part of my life.

The Gayatri Mantra: Sacred Chants

Mantra Meditation Journey

I was first introduced to the music of Deva Premal and Miten at Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, California. The melodic sounds were so sacred and inviting, the music definitely had the presence of Spirit. 

http://www.devapremalmiten.com

Recently, Deval Premal and Miten have taken to social media to introduce 21 day mantra meditation journeys. After the first journey was was so successful in April 2013, they introduced another in September 2013. The mantra chants are sanskrit chants that are steeped in such a devotion, just speaking the chants aloud, without knowing the meaning shifts Consciousness. Once the understanding of the meanings of the words are revealed, an even deeper shift can occur. 

The Gayatri Mantra is a devotional Hindu prayer. According to sanskrit.org, "If you are new to Hinduism and want to know at least one prayer, this is the prayer you should learn."

http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/gayatri.html

Om Bhur Buvaha Suvaha

Thath Savithur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayath

"The Gayatri mantra (Vedic prayer to illuminate the intelligence) is a sacred mantra that demonstrates the unity that underlies manifoldness in creation. It is through the recognition of this unity that we can understand the multiplicity".
http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/gayatri.html

"The Gayatri Mantra is said to be the oldest and most powerful of mantras, being thousands of years old. It purifies the person chanting it as well as the listener as it creates a tangible sense of well being in whoever comes across it. Translated, it means "May all beings on earth reach enlightenment," but as with all mantras, the meaning of the Sanskrit words isn't as important as the effect the vibrations of the words have on the body and energy centers."

http://www.devapremalmiten.com/deva-premal-and-miten-information/articles/my-journey-with-the-gayatri-mantra. 

Deva states, "My father has been on the spiritual path since the 50's, studying Yoga, spiritual scriptures and whatever books were available then, making it his daily discipline to meditate every morning between 3 and 5 a.m. He taught himself Sanskrit and began chanting mantras. When my mother was pregnant with me, their welcome was to sing the Gayatri Mantra throughout the pregnancy.

As I grew up we continued to chant the Gayatri Mantra together regularly before sleep. I didn't really know what I was singing... and why. I just did it because I was told to. It wasn't until much later that I came to appreciate these precious times."

In 2005, Deva's father made his transition at the age of 83, and accompanied by the Gayatri Mantra. 

Deva writes:"I feel so grateful that I could be there until the moment of his death. We were singing the Gayatri Mantra to him until the end and so the circle is complete: He accompanied the beginning of my life with it and I the ending of his. I am also very touched by my family...how they were all joining Miten and I with the singing for him and how we are totally in tune with each other about how to deal with everything now..."
http://www.devapremalmiten.com/deva-premal-and-miten-information/articles/my-journey-with-the-gayatri-mantra

Enjoy your meditation today accompanied by the Gayatri Mantra. 

Namaste

Are you ready for some football? Can competition be Spiritual?

A season of winning and losing- the connection between the two.

Steeler Nation is happening in our house for the next 17 weeks.  This is a time where screams of heartache and jubilation occur, while my children and I look in bewilderment as this man in our house has been taken over by the terrible towel.  To be clear, this is something I knew prior to marriage.  I fully entered into this relationship knowing that a diehard Steeler fan would be living in my house.  So why Pittsburgh?  As a Native Californian, I remember, as a young child, my family rooting for the Rams.  The Raiders never really stuck with us, and then, since 1994, no team in the Los Angeles area.  Basketball & Baseball was a different story, but Football, no emotional attachment.  The frenzy about the Steelers all has to do with my husband.

The interesting thing about this attachment to the Steelers was that it all happened by a visit to an elementary school.  While a young, impressionable child, my husband's school was visited by a, then current, Steeler player.  After that meeting, the bond was formed.  His life was never the same.  Fast forward to adulthood, the conversations I have with my husband, during the games, are very much one-sided.  I have become his play-by-play recipient, while my interest is usually thinking about the personalities of parties involved.  I would think, "I wonder what the players think when Coach Cowher spits all over their face?" or my mind begins to repeat Black Eyed Peas songs because the current coach, Mike Tomlin, looks so much like Will.I.Am, the lead singer of the band.   I'm there for moral support, to be the neutral, the practitioner of his rollercoaster of emotions during this season of courtship.

So what does this all have to do with Spirituality?  In this current realm of life, we hear about healthy competition.  Telling that to a fan of a professional football league may be a hard sell.  The Truth is, competition is only healthy when the realization comes to be, that each one of us are here in this human realm to be who and what we are meant to Be.  As each one of comes to the realization of who we are individually, the understanding of peaceful coexistence become the reality.  This leads to an understanding that losing and winning are interconnected, just like positive and negative, yin and yang, light and dark.  They are all connected, and success is just as important to understand in a loss, as in a win.

On August 25, 2013, at Agape International Spiritual Center, Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith spoke about competition.
http://agapelive.com/streaming-archives/sunday-08-25-2013/#.UidIEdzn_cd

"We're all one in the Spirit, but we're all unique. You are significant and important to the overall scheme of things, because only you can be you. You can't be anyone else, because that spot is already taken. You are absolutely assigned to be you. You have an assignment to let your life so shine as you.  As you progress, you uplift the world. Every time you have an insight or a revelation. Every time that revelation becomes in souled and embodied, every time that revelation or insight becomes action, you uplift all of humanity, because you are inseparably connected to all of humanity on subjective invisible side of life, as a living hologram of the all that Is. Your success, your progress, does not hinder in anyone. This allows you to revel in the glorious nature of the Spirit, and the glorious nature of your progress, and not buy into the turbulent thought forms that: As you succeed, as you become more healthy, as you become brilliant, as you become more loving, and sharing, and kind, and those qualities begin to move through you in ways beyond your wildest imaginings, that you are not robbing anyone of their good as you shine more and more"...."You do not rob anyone of the God's presence, of the Love Presence, the prosperity presence. As you glow, as you shine as you become more yourself, as you progress, as you become more available to the Yes that is within you, you uplift humanity."

If you are a football fan, use these 17 weeks to solidify your understanding of coexistence. Give these players room to shine their own Light, including any "botched" plays. Lend your energetic to uplift all involved in this sport. Know this too is Spirit moving through.

I AM FREEDOM!

Declaration of Independence.

Upon graduation of Practitioner training at Agape International Spiritual Center in 1999, I received a bookmark with a declaration.  Each graduate received one intentionally for them.  I AM FREEDOM!  Right there all in capital letters, as if shouting at me, was in my hand.  This made perfect sense to me as I knew my journey was all about Freedom.

Many years later, after not visiting Agape for some time, I made my way back to the center to attend Sunday service.  In passing, Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith asked, “Are you Free yet?”  My response, “I’m working on it.”  Of course I was in awe, but not surprised, that he asked me the question.  Of the hundreds of people he encounters every Sunday, did he really know the quality that I was working on?

Since then, more demonstrations of connection, when my mind is completely free and clear, came to fruition.  With every example of Spirit working, I became more and more convinced of the power of Mind.  This being said, the attachment to the human self and the old beliefs still clamored for attention.  Silencing these thoughts is a journey of interesting perspective.  Looking outside myself, I found the ability to witness my life as if in a third person view.  Watching my life unfold through the removal of self allows Freedom to have way with less effort.

Immersing myself in total surrender through prayer is where I find the greatest sense of Freedom.  Allowing Spirit to move through me creates a physical shift in my body.  This in turn is followed by a mental shift.  In this practice the road to Freedom is within grasp.  Being bound by thoughts of unworthiness, regret, and unforgiveness, can create feelings of captivity.  To open up my mind to Freedom is to understand the boundless Self.  Thoughts create reality; reality is the out picturing of belief.  The spoken word of I AM FREEDOM resonates in my body to produce a powerful wave of release.

I declare my independence from thoughts that do not serve me.

I AM FREEDOM and live in the attitude of gratitude.

I breathe easy with a light heart, knowing the words that I speak are boundless expressions of Spirit.

Freedom feels good and I celebrate this day and every day the united states of being.

 

Stop "shoulding" all over yourself

Learning to honor where you are in your spiritual development is an important part of the process.  Do you find a way to add extra pressure unto yourself for not being at the place of enlightenment as you “should” be?

Many make plans at an early age for their lives only to change these plans, several times over, during the course of life.  Sometimes they reflect back and question how they got to this place.  Sometimes they have a belief that they should be doing this, making this amount of money, living here, etc. When these plans do not come to fruition, some can have a sense of guilt, anxiety or fear. Releasing themselves of that limited perspective is spiritual growth.

Stop “shoulding” all over yourself, is a phrase learned while developing my spiritual muscle at Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City.  Agape is my heart however, as I know Spirit, my heart was open to more.

The decision to remain in Orange County, CA while building a family always seemed a natural choice.  Thoughts & discussions of living in Los Angeles, near Agape, were topics with my husband & me.  Instead of moving closer to Culver City, our lives continued to move further south in Orange County.  Choosing a spiritual center for my children near home was important. Visiting the Center for Spiritual Living, Capistrano Valley in San Juan Capistrano for the first time was an investigative quest.  Meeting Reverend Pattie Mercado and Juli Isola’s children on that day reeked of Love.  The decision to attend with my children was already made in Spirit prior to me attending.

Now, as the center has moved to San Clemente, the path of my spiritual development is also on the move, thanks to this Spiritual center.   When I ask myself, “How did I get here?” it is with a smile, knowing that Divine Right Order is in place. The space in Consciousness was set for me long before I was given the directions how to get here.  I wonder what would have happened if I had done what I “should” have.

Ladera Ranch to San Clemente by way of Culver City

Let go and Let God.

Do you feel as if you are doing it all yourself?  Are you the one responsible for making it all happen? When those "doing it all" feelings arise, take it as a clue or signal.  At this moment in time, stop and recognize what it really is.  It's time to release, to let go. 

Sometimes we get caught up in our day-to-day living, time goes by and we wonder how a day, week, month or even a year just flew by.  We reflect on what has transpired in that timeframe, only to realize that it's hard to remember what happened.

If this is happening, you are truly doing it all.  If this is the case, there is no room for anyone else to contribute.  What if you let it all go?

Some may feel scared to let it all go and Let God.  Do you really want to give all your power away? What would happen if you do?  You may ask, "Where will God take me? What will God make me?"

If a true Spiritual journey is your desire, your heart may be pulling you to change.  As Reverend Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith of Agape International Spiritual Center states, "This is not a feel good religion."  Sometimes your journey can have grit and sometimes can be smooth as silk.  It really depends on how much change is required to get you to the next level.  If your Soul is pulling to stretch, pain may be a necessary physical byproduct.

Are you ready to level up?

Let go and Let God.



I Feel Like Letting Go
by
Rickie Byars Beckwith