The Spiritual Forum

Possibility thinking happens when we become aware of what might be possible in a situation, versus just seeing what is or likely to be. Life shifts from being a set of problems to overcome, to an exciting array of challenges and opportunities. To do this, we have to learn to see beyond our expectations and worldviews. Most of our minds don’t think this way unless we make a conscious effort. Our unconscious tendency is to think in terms of what is not possible or is most probable, which keeps new possibilities from ever emerging. In this episode we share how possibility thinking can be applied to our personal lives and also to the world at large.

Prayer is an act of love, of elevating consciousness, and finding that place inside where the Divine (Source energy) is being you. When we pray with intention with two or three (or more), something mystical and magical happens. Minds, hearts and spirits unite as one, and the Presence arises within. It becomes easier to shed the ego's hold and more fully experience Oneness. It can also help us move away from our own problem. because by ourselves, we can so easily stay embroiled in what is wrong or missing. For anyone new to this, we provide a live demonstration of praying with another person in this episode, then share our own experiences of group prayer.

Most of us experience frustration in the world of people, places and things. We want things to be different than they are! We also may fear what the future may hold. Even though we don’t have control over conditions outside us, we can use the practice of prayer to raise our consciousness so we can see things rightly. We center ourselves in love, and stand in the intersection of acceptance and change. In this episode Rev. Carol lays out a process for praying when things aren't the way we want, and we share our own experiences.

Prayer is an act of love. It is also a creative and connecting activity. In prayer, we unite with the Divine. There are many ways to pray – supplication, thanksgiving, and affirmative, to name just a few. Affirmative prayer is noticeably different from other forms of prayer because it comes from a completely different place. It is prayer from a conscious awareness of God, versus prayer to God. In this episode, Rev. Carol presents a step-by-step affirmative prayer process and we share our experiences with holding intentions for ourselves through personal prayer.

There are deep divisions occurring between us that manifest in multiple ways. The media feeds on fear and division and keeps us stirred up. This is the time to be in spiritual practice and do deep integrative spiritual work. In this episode, we discuss the ideal of "One Nation, Under God (divine guidance/protection), Indivisible," and ultimately "One Self, Under God, Indivisible." Our work is to do what we can: avoid ‘us versus them’ thinking/conversations, act in alignment with our inner Truth, heal trauma and integrate our hidden shadow – the parts of us we keep hidden from ourselves and others. When we do this important work, we will be able to hold differing subjective realities and refrain from hurtful projection. Ultimately this leads us to deeper, authentic connection.

Within each of us are feminine and masculine archetypes. On the spiritual path, we seek to balance these energies and allow their sacred forms to emerge in us. The Sacred Masculine manifests as informed action, protection, discipline, order and strength through healthy boundaries. He stands firmly in Truth, and will lay down his life for it. The energies of the Sacred Masculine are greatly needed today to bring about planetary balance, protect freedom, protect the Earth, step fearlessly through change, speak Truth, and establish Order. In this episode we share how the Sacred Masculine expresses in us and where we see opportunities for its emergence.

Fear is part of being human. We all experience it. But it is useful to know that it is one of the lower energetic expressions. Fear, guilt and shame are some of the most effective ways to manipulate people. And if you are awake, you are seeing these three energies being used in our current world. Whatever is causing us to experience fear, it is important to remember that its presence is a call to Faith, Strength and Courage. In this episode we share the spiritual practices we use to support us in moving from fear to Faith.

Listening is an act of the heart. It takes time and patience to listen and be a container for another person. It also takes a certain level of inner surrender and openness. We all have someone in our lives who talks a lot or even rambles, making it challenging to want to listen. We also have difficulty listening to people with different views or opinions. Sometimes we are distracted or in a hurry and don't take the time to pause and listen. But everyone wants to be heard. In this episode we share our blocks to listening and our experiences of ‘having ears to hear’ another, especially the still, small voice within.

With protests and riots erupting in cities across our nation over the death of George Floyd, we are all stunned, disoriented, angry and feeling despair. As the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr said, "we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Our nation seems plunged into a state of chaos and out of it, we have the power to shape a better world in closer alignment with the Truth of our being - Love and justice for all. In this episode we share our thoughts and feelings about what is happening in our nation and also what we see in ourselves regarding division.

Life is ecstatically beautiful. A new baby is awake to it. But somewhere along the way, most of us stopped paying attention to the beauty of the world and got entrenched in another one. We became conditioned to think that beauty is subjective, something we decide. But what if we could see beauty in everything – as God’s handwriting? What if beauty spawned our feelings of love? When we slow down, pause, become present and behold beauty in all its magnificence, we can fall in love with life and see everything in a new way. In this episode we share our relationship with and experience of beauty, and how we can make it a centerpiece of our lives.