JAN/ FEB 2006
Issue #24
Archives
In this edition:
"Have you not learned the most in your life from those with whom you
disagreed - those who saw it differently than you?"
--Walt Whitman
Recommended Film of the Month:
ONE:
A Contemporary Journey towards a Timeless Destiny
Featuring Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass,
Thich Nhat Hanh, Riane Eisler, Robert Thurman and spiritual teachers
from many traditions--Christian to Hindu--this inspirational,
independent film shows the oneness behind the seeming diversity of
approaches to Spirit. It’s getting great reviews and playing in many
places around the country. (Go to
www.onethemovie.org for cities and showings)
CD Sets & Workbooks
Professionally recorded from live seminars by Corinne McLaughlin and/or
Gordon Davidson
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Dear Friends,
With greater spiritual light penetrating the earth in
current times, all the dark places in our world (as well as within each of
us) are being revealed. There is no hiding. The truth eventually
comes out—whether lies and cover-ups in the White House, Congress, major
corporations, scientific circles or even churches. This is a time to
purify ourselves, to let go of old negative patterns and become more
transparent to the light pouring into the world today. This is also the
time to learn how to become more effective—and joyful--about the part each
of us can play in helping to create a better world. And remember,
one courageous person can make a difference: think of the impact
that Cindy Sheehan has had—one mother making a personal statement about
her son’s death in Iraq.
In this issue we explore how we can
Bring
Heaven Down to Earth in our daily lives and how we can see the
Divine in each other in
A
New Year’s Blessing. A
Meditation on the Mystery of the Divine Mother, the mystery of
matter itself, is offered to help you feel more supported when working in
the material world.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to this
newsletter and especially to our generous supporters who offered a matching
grant. If you haven’t yet contributed—it’s not too late, and we really
appreciate your support. Call (202)237-2800,
email us or send in a donation with your check or credit card
information. (See info at the bottom of this newsletter).
With love and best wishes,
Corinne McLaughlin, Gordon Davidson and Ginger Young
NOTE:
Your feedback is very important to us! Please
send us your comments.
“Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon.”
--Elizabeth Cady Stanton
© 2006 Sander
Feinberg
sanderf@mac.com
Bringing Heaven
Down to Earth
© 2006 Corinne McLaughlin
“Matter is Spirit moving slowly enough to be
seen.” –Teilhard de Chardin
In a wonderful scene from one of my favorite films (for children of all ages)
called The Dark Crystal, a group of monks meditating on the mountaintop
suddenly, simultaneously hear a powerful sound-- the chanting of the sacred OM.
They recognize it as a signal from the Divine that now is the time. They have to
leave their protected place in the high mountains and journey back down to the
city below that’s been taken over by mean, dark creatures. They know they have a
mission to bring their light into the world and help transform it.
Well folks, this inner, sacred word is being sounded loudly
now in our world as we begin 2006. Now is the time.
It’s time to bring heaven down to earth—into all the dark
places. It’s time to reveal the hidden light of Spirit in the material world--
to reveal the beauty, goodness and higher purpose within physical forms.
It’s time for spiritual people to pay closer attention to what’s going on in the
material world today. It’s time to recognize the inner Divinity within all
life and to draw it forth. It’s time to honor the Divine Mother, the sacred
feminine principle within our world.
The Mother of the World is the matrix of matter, the root
substance of all existence, the form-building force. The Mother veils the
inner light, nurturing, protecting and guarding the soul within each form, until
the soul outgrows the form and shatters it. In this lies hid the secret of
all evolution.
Let the heavens be reflected in the earth, that the earth
may turn into heaven.
“Your heart knows in silence
the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the
sound of your heart’s knowledge.” --Kahlil Gibran
 SPIRITUAL
PRACTICE OF THE MONTH:
Meditation on the Mystery of the Divine Mother
by
Corinne McLaughlin
Begin by
taking a few deep breaths, breathing in peace and stillness, and exhaling
any tensions or worries…. Align with your soul, your highest self,
and ask your soul to be your guide on this inner journey.
....Now imagine that you are carrying a torch or some
type of light, and you are standing in front of vast cave, which looks
very intriguing and inviting…. Enter the cave, and follow the
passage that leads ever downward, deep into the womb of the earth….Notice
how it feels warm and nurturing…. Go deeper still, until you find
yourself in the very core, the heart of the earth…. Become aware
that you are expected, that a powerful being awaits you here in the center
of the earth.
....Now you enter into the veiled and mysterious
presence of the Divine Mother/Goddess, known by many names in many
spiritual traditions…. A sense of awe fills you…. Notice how she appears
to you…. Allow yourself to be embraced by the beautiful, loving energy
radiating from her heart….Feel your own heart open and expand as your
consciousness blends with hers, releasing any barriers or blockages.
“Everything in
the past died yesterday; everything in the future was born today.”
--Chinese proverb
A New Year's Blessing
© 2005 Sharon Rose
As a new year begins, I give thanks for all the
blessings this past year has brought and the opportunity to create anew
an even more wonderful year.
At this sacred time of year, we are reminded of who we
are--sons and daughters of the most high, made in the image and likeness of our
Creator. In every person, in every atom is the Divine Presence. We have
come to earth to manifest in flesh the glory of God. For our very presence in
the earthly realm brings a bit of heaven to this earth, so in need of God’s
heavenly grace. As we focus on that Divine Presence within ourselves and our
neighbor, we create peace on earth, starting within our own hearts and minds.
Just as the Judeo-Christian Bible tells us that Blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called sons and daughters of God, being a bringer of peace
not only changes our lives for the better, it transforms everyone around us.
What if we lived from the Divine Presence within us, being a source of
love and joy, and recognizing the Divine Presence in others? What a glorious
world we would create! Everything would change in an instant. We would create
peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, and peace in the world.
As the wise ones have taught, we each hold the key to our own life and to the
piece of the divine plan that we have agreed to build into form. We came with
such joy and excitement to bring the very highest of the heavenly and angelic
realms to earth for the glory of all humankind. For when we saw the extreme pain
and suffering upon this planet, we knew there was a better way. We have come to
show this better way not only for ourselves, but for all around us as well. And
it is the same with all others.
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Light
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especially to our generous supporters who offered a matching grant. If
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Letters to the Editor:
Last month’s newsletter is a treasure. Love the
reminder to bless money – what fun! I also deeply appreciated your note
on how your father’s situation seem to trigger amazing synchronicities.
My former husband was on the line between life and death several times
and I have had similar experiences. I have talked with many others who
have been present during an intense time when a loved one’s life was
hanging in the balance as you describe and they too report this.
Although I don’t think of it as hanging in the balance. I think of it as
a time of choice - as a window of opportunity to pass over. I truly
believe that as the soul seeks guidance for this most important life
choice, an energy field is activated that one has to experience
themselves to understand. It encompasses the one facing the choice
(sometimes they are aware of it which is truly wonderful) and those who
are tuned into them in an intensely loving and giving way. Clearly this
is what you have been experiencing. I remember the most intense of my
own experience with this field was actually life altering for me and I
felt I was literally walking in light for about ten to fourteen days. It
is when I began to “see systems” and interconnections and my life work
became clear to me. I have spent the last twenty years trying to bring a
small fraction of those insights and experiences into my work with
organizational systems and transformation. It is a great gift to have
such an experience and I want to thank you for reminding me again how we
are so supported in our lives if we only open to it. Your reminder is
itself one of those synchronicities as one of my very closest friends
just learned she has extensive cancer and is now awakening that field.
Truly beautiful – the kind of experience that one part of us
acknowledges as extraordinary and another part of us shrugs and says,
“but of course.” --Verna Allee, Martinez, CA
Spent tonight
searching for various bits of info regarding the end of the Mayan
Calendar ... had a great time and found exactly what I was looking for
.... and was amazed how all my answers were given to me without any
effort. And then I found your site ... with my name ... should I say our
name and I found the synchronicity amazing ... then to top it all the
first article I read was your article 'Being guided by signs and
symbols' wow, wow, wow. Are we being guided or what. Life is wondrous.
Life is a blessing. Thank you for that. Love your site. --Corinne
Lewis, South Coast, South Africa.
Just wanted to say that your article about reading signs touched me.
Especially moving was the woman who said we're all family here—it both
gave me goosebumps and was heartwarming. Hope your immediate family is
well and that the whole human family heals toward a more unified
identity soon. --Konnie Fox, Amherst, MA
While I do
agree, for the most part, that emotions and the weather are synonymous,
I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that they are quite so
literal. The terms negative and positive I think are over-used by lots
of people to describe their take on things, and I guess I have been
guilty of that too.
Like for
instance, do tornados and hurricanes necessarily have to indicate
negative forces? I have been wondering about the possibility that they
are simply manifestations of a greater principle that for the most part
works somewhat like a machine. Its like there is a grand plan that
somehow got started inwardly, within the microcosm, let us say, and that
it ran according to a pattern that continued on indefinitely, without
any intent, or will behind it.
I have trouble with the
idea of divine will, or will at all, because it seems we are so
mechanistic, and the control we think we assert over our realities
appears to be neuro-physiological primarily, and only secondarily do we
appear to have any choice. Certainly, we are there at a deeper level,
one with that principle which guides us unerringly toward manifestation
of its template, but does that imply any real control? I wonder. --Nahu
Dini,, Eugene, OR
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