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John Pavlovitz
Photograph(s) by Helen Hill Photography
John Pavlovitz
Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible!
Interview By Victor Fuhrman
John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of A Bigger Table, Hope and Other Superpowers, Low, and Stuff That Needs to Be Said.
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Victor Fuhrman: John, you opened your book by referring to yourself as a long-time Christian by aspiration. If not, always by practice, please share your early path, how it led to your calling, and your unique definition of your spirituality. John Pavlovitz: I grew up in the Roman Catholic faith, which was a huge part of my life growing up. And as many people do, I began to sort of stretch my spiritual muscles as I entered college and wanted to have faith that I could claim for my own and went through the searching process and kind of meander in and out of organized religion during that time.
My story was, really, one of being surprised by a calling into ministry. I was doing some volunteer work for a church where I was married. I just had found that I had this Love for working with teenagers. And as I began to teach them about a faith that I didn't really have at the time, my faith began to grow. So that set me down a path of ministry life for the past two and a half decades in various forms. Victor Fuhrman: So, what do you say Christian by aspiration, if not always in practice? John Pavlovitz: Well, I think it's presumptuous to call myself a Christian because that means that I am replicating Christ or emulating Christ. That's always the goal. The teachings of Jesus are still central to my life. So those are things that I hope to live into, but I realize it's a matter of getting as much right as you can that every day and then getting up the next day and doing it all over again. And so, realizing that we are all works in progress. So, I embrace that and don't shy away from it.
Victor Fuhrman: It's our humanity that makes us that way John Pavlovitz: It is. I think part of it was the expectation that I had when I was younger, that there was this, this standard that I could never reach. And it left a trail of guilt. I think for many people, religion at its worst does that. But then, when I embraced the best part about spirituality, recognizing my belovedness changed everything for me. So, my failures and my missteps are all perfectly understandable. They're just part of the learning process. Victor Fuhrman: If Jesus walked among us today, what would he think of his flock? John Pavlovitz: I think he would be mystified at the mission drift of the church, the way that so many people have taken this message that 2000 years ago was this movement of empathy. It was really a movement of the street, of people living in community together, an interdependent community, and then how it became something that leverages power so often. OMTIMES
I think it would be largely unrecognizable that large church. I think what Jesus would be looking for would be the small and close relationships where people are still trying to live in their communities with compassion leading Victor Fuhrman: You've shared that he might say, what didn't you understand, or what didn't you get? John Pavlovitz: Yeah. The greatest commandment to love God, and love your neighbor as yourself, and the idea that that's the one job you have and if you miss Love, you've missed the elemental part of what I was trying to ask you to do, uh, at this, you know, during, during your life here. And that is the main thing I try to make sure I get up every day and that I am an agent of generosity, kindness, and empathy. And if not, the book that I've written really states that if your faith doesn't make you more compassionate, then what's the point of it? That it's really of no use to you or to people who encounter you. Victor Fuhrman: This is the fifth book you've written about religion and politics, race and grief, and all sorts of social justice issues. What fueled the creation of this particular book at this specific time? John Pavlovitz: Well, Victor, I was writing a very different book. It dealt with some of the same issues, but it diagnosed this toxic religion. And as I began writing, I started writing in March of 2020. And of course, you, what started to happen with this, this news story off in the distance about this little public health issue, and it got larger and larger, and I couldn't avoid it any longer.
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So as 2020 kind of wound on, I was looking around at people's response to the pandemic and looking at the strife over the Black Lives Matter protests and counter-protests and the coming election. I was seeing so much Enmity, and it was coming from so many people who claim the same Christian faith that I claim. So, there was grieving in there, and I felt I needed to respond in real-time to it. So that shaped a very different book. It is a book that I think is much more visceral and intimate than it would've been any other way. And it became a journal, a travel diary of living through this time, through the lens of my spirituality. Victor Fuhrman: Why did you choose the title? So, if God is Love, don't be a jerk instead of if God is Love, Love people?
John Pavlovitz: Yeah. I think my aspirations for humanity had become really pedestrian. I think I was. I was looking around, looking at a group of people that I thought were so far from the original plot of Jesus that I said, well, if I can't get them to love, maybe I can get them not to harm if we could start there, at that really elemental place of not wanting to injure people—having people examine the ways that their blind spots and their prejudices and phobias have leaked into their religion and are doing damage. If we can do some of that work, we can move to a place of understanding and then of Love. So part of it was a little bit of tongue in cheek, a take on that message, but also just saying, let's start there, let's start. And then we'll work our way toward that deeper Love.
John Pavlovitz: I think it's important because the work that I do and the themes that I write are often very heavy, and people may have the misconception that I am a heavy human being that I'm always frowning and carrying this sort of dread. I'm really not. There's a joy to life. I make love living, and I love people. So I wanted to make sure that that was part of this story and a part of this book that people could laugh amid really important conversations. Victor Fuhrman: I attended interfaith seminary in the 1990s. And in my interfaith studies, I found that virtually every faith has some form of the golden rule. Have some Christians forgotten this, and how may it be remembered and embraced? John Pavlovitz: I think we have to be people of stories. We have to remember that whenever we encounter a human being, whether they're religious or not, whether they share anything that we think is in common with us or not, they are a once in history, never to be repeated story. So if we can honor that and respect the uniqueness of their journey, that they are unprecedented, then I think we can begin to live and have a posture of Love toward them. I think what religion does at its worst, but also what we do culturally, is we want to have a shorthand for people we want to characterize them. And some rise them quickly because that's easier than getting to know people. So, I think the golden rule comes when we respect the story in front of us. And don't assume that we know anything about that story until we ask.
Victor Fuhrman: You have a wonderful sense of humor. So don't be a jerk as part of that. And just to give the listeners an idea, some of your chapters have headings: The church of not being horrible, God fund me and love your damn neighbor. I love your Titles!
.
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Victor Fuhrman: And you're touching upon this idea of "Othering." Why do you think so many folks do that? John Pavlovitz: I think there are two primary motives. First, I think to push us through life often, and there are grief and fear, which can motivate us to do all sorts of things. Second, I think fear tends to be something that we become almost addicted to that we, that we have many people have a religion that needs an enemy, that needs an adversary. It forces people to walk around in a battle posture. I always remind myself that I better not go through life with two clenched fists. I need at least one hand open to give and receive and show kindness. I can fight for what I believe in, and we all should, but I can't constantly live in battle. But, unfortunately, that's what too many people, I think, do, and it makes it difficult to show empathy to someone if we feel like we compete with them. Victor Fuhrman: What does that also say about our respective self-worth? OMTIMES
John Pavlovitz: I think it says that we are all people who have a deep need to be loved, and that gets manifested in so many different forms, usually in some comparison sickness. I have run into so many people whose religion has told them a story that someone else's gain is their loss. It's such a sad way for people to go through life. So, I think the best of humanity and the best of religion say we are interdependent here. We succeed when the others succeed. For me, in the Old Testament, the idea of Shalom is not just looking at someone and saying, I, I want the absence of bad for you, but I also want the abundance of good for you. And I want to be an instrument of that. Victor Fuhrman: I had a wonderful teacher who once asked the class what the great sin of Sodom and Gomora was, which brought a few chuckles to the class. He then explained that the great sin was inhospitality, turning away the stranger who needed food and shelter. Is that a lesson that a good part of humanity needs to remember?
John Pavlovitz: It's, it's one that I know that the Christian Church needs to because I run into that, obviously, that argument all the time, people will drop the Sodom and Gomorra story. And then, I will share that verse and let them know that the crime was a callousness of heart. We are so quick to miss how hardened we've become. It's almost impossible for us to see. And that's what I constantly do with the writing is trying to get people to stop and pause long enough to say: what is my motive? What do I intend to do today? I may hurt people inadvertently, but I better not be hurting them intentionally and still say I'm a person of a God of Love. There's a wonderful word that comes out of certain parts of Africa. The word is Ubuntu, and it literally translates as I am, because we are. It Stresses the importance of embracing community. That's beautiful. And it's just the better path. Victor, I think people who do interfaith work or do work I justice or trying to find a way to bring communities together. It's just, there's an exhale that happens when you're in a place where you're not striving to be better than someone, and you're not trying to compare yourself, and you want the best for them. It's, it's really just an elevated place to live. I think people resist it. And if, if they only could step into it for a little while, they'd understand why people like you and me advocate for loving others. Victor Fuhrman: When I attended seminary, my mentor shared that the word sin derived from the Hebrew word hit, meaning an Archer, drawing the bow, releasing the arrow, and missing the target. Does that resonate with you? John Pavlovitz: It does. And it is a lesson that I have learned over time. That was a shift for me because the idea of sin when I was a younger Christian was loaded with a sense of moral judgment and the threat of damnation. . When I could see it as simply missing the mark of failure, a misstep, and I was doing this all in the eyes of a God who loved me, not one who wanted to squash me. It became a very different idea. So, for me, sin became just a chance to start again and try again. And that's all it is. There's nothing to fear in that. It's, it's simply what that is.
You say that you love the sinner hate the sin is one of the single most "unloving" expressions there has ever been. How does that thought go astray? I think it's. It's one of the ways, one of the examples of us weaponizing religion or the scriptures. Those words were never in the Bible, yet we use them. It's usually used by someone who is saying. I feel morally superior to you. I'm going to let you know that, but I will let you know. I love you, even though you're morally inferior to me. The minute you do that, you have declared yourself having won this with God and the other as separate. I think there's just such a danger in that message because what it says to someone is not only do I disapprove of you, but God does. The existential weight of that is so damaging.
" It is time to un-Box God!" John Pavlovitz
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Victor Fuhrman: What is your definition of tomorrow? If any of us left this world, what's your definition of that next step would be like? John Pavlovitz: I would hope that it's a place where the striving is over the striving to be perfect or to earn affection or approval. I think so many of us, myself included, never quite feel like we're worth it that a sense that imposter syndrome, that streak runs through all of us. So, what I imagine the good place would be is a place where you can just stop and breathe, to be, and know that that's good enough. Victor Fuhrman: I've had this vision that for me, heaven would be a place where everyone that I've ever known and ever loved would be there. And that we'd also important take care of each other. And I think that could be on earth. But unfortunately, I couldn't do it. John Pavlovitz: That is the prayer that Jesus taught: let earth reflect heaven, let them be similar. And that's a different mindset for many people raised in a very orthodox conservative Christianity, which is focused more on the afterlife. But I embrace a theology. If Jesus Teachings were just about the afterlife, the gospels would've been short, it would've been just a simple altar call message, and that would've been it, but we have all these images of stories from Jesus’ life. I think that shows that the way we live and the relationships we have, they really matter. They are extremely spiritual. That could be what we do. We could have those things that we dream of having one day. We could make those happen here. Victor Fuhrman: How do we go about Detoxifying Theology?
John Pavlovitz: I think we have to be willing to let go of some of our old stories. The change in me happened when life began to argue with my theology, and I had to ask some hard questions, was I going to allow myself to be informed by new experiences? Or was I going to double down and plant my flag in something that maybe I didn't believe anymore? So, I think the more we're fearless in asking questions, the better we're going to be. And my feeling has always been that if God is God, then God can handle my doubts and my change of heart and my vacillation, and God is not taken back by any of that. And I am free to do that. People will get offended by our doubts and our change of hearts, but God would never, Victor Fuhrman: How has conservative Christianity fixation on abortion and lack of consistent pro-life ethics affected the church? John Pavlovitz: I think it's allowed people to consider themselves religious and aspire to be decent people. It's allowed them to tell themselves a story that if they oppose abortion, they are pro-life. And I try to expand the definition of pro-life and use the words for humanity. In so much of religion and politics, I see contempt and aggression towards so much of diverse humanity, whether it's Muslim or LGBTQ or people of color or uninsured people, or immigrants, that allows people easy activism. They can feel like they're advocates for life and yet really not love people who are different from them; who make them uncomfortable.
O M Ti m es M ag azi ne
Being simply against abortion doesn't require anyone to have real introspection and ask themselves, how am I harming people? And how can I move in the world in such a way that I alleviate pain and suffering? It doesn't require any selfexamination, self-awareness, or understanding of privilege. And so, the more you do that work, the more you see. There are so many ways that life is assailed right now that we should be, paying attention to those things. Victor Fuhrman: What would you like readers to take away from if God is Love, don't be a jerk. John Pavlovitz: I don't need them to agree with me theologically or politically at the end of the book. I just want the book to move them from wherever they are. When they begin into a place of greater empathy, they begin asking themselves deeper questions that they wrestle with, the tensions they find there. And then they move in response in whatever way they feel called to. I just love the idea that someone reading this book will begin with a feeling that we don't have a lot in common yet realize that that's quite the opposite and that we are. The interdependence is the point.
O M T i m e s M ag az in e
Health & Wellness Innovative new approaches to Healing as well as holistic methods for dealing with health issues and personal growth
Treating a Spiritual Illness
W
By Carl Greer
hatever our state
spiritual well-being. We may need
of health and well-
to treat a spiritual illness.
being, however hard we strive
Not long ago, I received a strong
for greater wellness, we might
message in a dream: Death can be
not realize we are neglecting our
a spiritual illness. I understood that
OM TIMES | February 2022
what my unconscious was telling
Choose to find the beauty in some
me was to explore the relationship
aspect of your life today. You
between spiritual illness and the
might focus on the health you have
type of death we experience when
instead of any ailments that reduce
we feel drained of joy, vitality, and
your mobility or cause you pain. You
enthusiasm for life.
might draw your attention to an area of your life that is going well
The death most of us worry about
instead of an area of your life that
is physical death—an end to our
you tend to obsess about. Why are
mortal existence and the body’s loss
you successful in that area of your
of the life force. Yet there’s another
life? What can you learn from your
death we should be concerned with,
successes that can be applied to
a slow death we experience when
other “chapters” in your story?
we don’t fully embrace our lives today. Yearning for the past, wishing
Spend some time in nature and
for a better future, and being unable
tap into its wisdom. Nature offers
to recognize the gift of today is a sort
spiritual lessons if we are willing
of spiritual illness. If we feel we can’t
to slow down and observe what it
transform our lives, we might feel so
is communicating to us. A scarred
frustrated and melancholy that we
tree with a few dead or dying
fall into despair and hopelessness.
branches doesn’t give up creating nourishment from the sun and
Accept this moment, whatever
sending it through its trunk and
it holds. Doing so can help you
surviving branches. It keeps the life
to shift your perception of your
force moving through it, through
situation and appreciate what you
every cell and every leaf and twig.
have instead of what you don’t have.
As you think about a tree that
You can free up the energy you
may have suffered some damage
are currently spending in longing
but continues to grow and thrive,
for a quick and easy cure to your
can you identify any areas in your
unhappiness—or in distracting
life that are growing and thriving
yourself from it. Distractions only
despite your having suffered or been
keep emotional discomfort at bay
hurt in some way? Do you need to
temporarily.
prune something away? Can you let OM TIMES | February 2022
something “die” and not give it any
thriving if I remember to accept what
more attention? Is it time to focus
is, shift my focus to where my life is
instead on some aspect of your life
satisfying, and spend time in nature
that is working for you and giving you
absorbing her wisdom. I reconnect
nourishment?
with nature in any way I can. Time in nature can be a spiritual tonic,
As I grow older and have to deal
strengthening your spiritual immune
with physical challenges, I’m much
system that you can draw strength
more aware of my mortality than I
from when life is particularly stressful.
was years ago. It’s easier for me to
I also relate to death differently from
focus on my vitality and the potential
how I would have years ago. I see that
for continued growth, healing, and
ending—things dying—are a part of
OM TIMES | February 2022
the cycle of life. I let go of anything
I believe that where we put our
that reduces my enthusiasm
attention in the river of life will
and vitality, such as focusing too
determine what we experience. If
much on medical problems or the
you want to feel a sense of vitality,
limitations I have right now as one
optimism, and enthusiasm for
of billions of people dealing with
your life, lay the foundation for all
a pandemic. Consequently, I feel
of that by consciously choosing to
a sense of vitality despite having
focus on what gives you spiritual
health challenges and being
nourishment. Are there practices
aware that while we can do our
that help you feel connected to your
best to delay physical death, it will
spiritual self and to the cosmos and
eventually claim us.
the love and wisdom of Spirit? What OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
are they, and why aren’t you using
You have control over the meaning
them more often?
you make of the experiences you have had and are having right now. If
What if you were to make the time
cynicism and moroseness seem like
to engage in those practices instead
they’re your birthright given what
of doing what you know drains you
happened in your past and the family
of vitality?
in which you were raised, question that. Maybe you have inherited a
What if you were to spend more
spiritual illness that is robbing you
time in nature, observing it as it
of the energy to be adventurous and
observes you? What if you were to
explore the possibilities before you
ask it to share its wisdom with you?
and that are as yet unseen.
What if instead of struggling
Every time you wake up to another
to distract yourself from your
new day, you have the potential to
sadness, and feeling that your life
transform how you perceive your life.
should be different, you looked
Make a conscious choice to focus your
at how you frame what you have
awareness on what gives you vitality
experienced and are experiencing
and see if the circumstances of your
and consciously chose to change
life don’t shift. In doing so, you may be
the story of your life?
remedying a spiritual illness that has kept you from living fully for too long.
There are some things we have little or no influence over, but we don’t
About the Author: Carl Greer,
have to be mired in hopelessness,
PhD, PsyD, is a retired clinical
helplessness, and inner turmoil.
psychologist and Jungian
We can reclaim our vibrancy by
analyst, a businessman, and a
appreciating what we have and
shamanic practitioner, author, and
the potential to transform our
philanthropist. He is the best-selling,
lives if we’re willing to let go of
award-winning author of Change
some things—resentments and
Your Story, Change Your Life and
attachments, for example, or rigid
Change the Story of Your Health.
ideas about what we have to have in
For more information, go to www.
order to be happy.
carlgreer.com OM TIMES | February 2022
Simply Spiritual To perceive reality from a different perspective is to open oneself to the wonders and unlimited wealth of creation. Simply Spiritual offers the opportunity to visit new places, new methods, and different ways to perceive the vast human knowledge of our Universe.
The Power of The Krishna Mantra By Omtimes
A
Evocação de Krishna: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
lot is said about
There are different types of Mantras,
mantras. These
but usually, a Mantra is a "hymn"
phrases are chanted
linked to Hinduism and Buddhism,
over and over and
and that is said repeatedly.
are extremely powerful. They are used to relax and reach But what do they actually
the state of meditation in singing or
represent?
listening to the sound. OM TIMES | February 2022
Some definitions consider the
Mantras are Powerful Instrument
Mantra as an instrument of thought.
of Self -Transformation
What are the Mantras"?
This is a great twelve syllable mantra and widely practiced by different
Mantras are written in the Vedas, the
Hindu sects in India, and that is
Indian holy books first compiled in
known as Mukti, or liberation mantra.
3000 BC, and are metric hymns and
Even though some issues may differ,
praises to the gods and considered a
everyone who uses this Mantra
prayer.
recognizes the power of its spiritual formula.
Hymns gave rise to mantras that spanned the Brahmanical period and
This short and powerful spiritual
were introduced into Buddhism and
formula connects with the Supreme,
later Tibetan Buddhism.
which can be different things to different people: You can recognize it
Written thousands of years ago
as Truth, Love, Consciousness, Christ,
by Indian gurus and masters, it
Allah, Krishna, Shiva, Divine Mother, or
is impressive how mantras can
some other names.
positively influence a person's life, whether in finance, health, or
The word Mantra is composed of the
relationships.
syllables MAN, which means "mind," and TRA, which means "delivery"
Repetition is the key to interrupting
in Sanskrit, the ancient language
the mind's natural process that takes
of India, and means "that which,
us from one idea to another without
as an object of meditation, brings
control.
liberation."
When we chant the Mantra, we stop
The Power of Chanting to
this mental flow, bringing our body
Vasudevaya
to total relaxation, when body and mind become quiet, opening to the
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA,
subtle vibrations that broaden our
do sânscrito, é um dos mantras de
awareness.
evocação de Krishna. OM TIMES | February 2022
• OM é a vibração interdimensional que penetra em tudo e a todos. • NAMO é a saudação ou reverência
and consequences and the surrender of the lower ego into the hands of Krishna, the Supreme Lord of the Universe. It is said to be a powerful
ao poder divino. • BHAGAVATE é o respeito ao
Mantra for Karmic Liberation.
Senhor. • VASUDEVA é o nome da família
In this act of surrender, your Divine Power works to collect, smooth, and
carnal que criou Krishna. • YA, quando acrescentado no final
transform the results of the negative
significa a característica ativa
actions of those who practice the
(masculina) do mantra.
Mantra daily.
The Mantra Om Namo Bhagavate
Krishna promises to support those
Vasudevaya encourages the surrender
who suffer because of the karmic
of negative karmas, their bad results,
results generated by the wrong
OM TIMES | February 2022
actions that the lower ego has
Earth. A Human being that knew the
manifested.
difficulties of all of us.
Furthermore, the Mantra encourages
Many people think that Mantra is
recognizing Krishna's Divine Power
only related to Eastern religions, but
over all things, all beings, and all
it connects to all faiths. There are
situations, filling with Divine justice.
specific mantras for the paths of
Invoking the action of Krishna, who
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism.
also lived on Earth as a man and knew the pains, sufferings, and difficulties of
This is because the primary function
life manifested in physical life.
is to calm, focus, silence, and purify the mind. When these sacred sounds
So, when someone chants this Mantra
are repeated (Seed sounds-bija)
in its entirety, he will be invoking
consciously or unconsciously, our
Krishna as a man who also lived on
emotions, thoughts, desires, that is,
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
our whole being, automatically turn to
The Benefits of Practicing Mantras
the search for the Divine. • Helps to control worries, fears, Practicing Mantras as a Spiritual Sadhana
and anxieties. • Increases concentration and attention.
Mantra is defined as a thought instrument that aims to relax and
• Improves mental and physical health.
induce practitioners into a meditative
• Increases vital energy.
state through speaking or listening.
• Creates more harmony in living with other people.
The Hindu and Buddhist hymn is said
• Accelerates spiritual revelation.
over and over to have a positive effect.
• Revitalize the heart. • Breathing becomes continuous
The Mantras evoke a specific
• Expels all residual air from the
frequency that, with the repetition,
lungs. As a result, the inhalation
will automatically be weaved into your
becomes deeper. • Relaxation of respiratory
energetic system.
muscles. The number 108 is considered
• Activates the production of
reasonable for mantra repetitions.
substances such as "serotonin"
In addition, when it is monosyllabic,
and "endorphins," which
it can be practiced for 20 minutes.
continuously increase the
There are also practices like the
feeling of existential satisfaction.
purashcharana, in which one
• Remarkable increase in
thousand repetitions are done daily
concentration and memory
until reaching 2,400,000 after seven
capacity.
years. Totaling 100,000 repetitions for
• Induces emotional stability.
each of the 24 syllables of the Mantra.
• Increases immunity. • Relieves syndromes.
There are three ways to do the Mantra: mentally, muttering, or out loud. It is advisable if you do not lose concentration during the process.
• Speeds up the brain's processing capacity. • Reduces the risk of heart disease.
OM TIMES | February 2022
The Power of the Angels Cherubs
T
By Cathedral of the soul
he cherubim are an
for protecting the gates of the
important Angelic choir to
Garden of Eden.
the divine world, ranking second in the hierarchy of
When we think of Cherubs, we
angels. According to biblical texts,
immediately imagine images of
the Cherubim Angels are responsible
chubby and fluffy children with
OM TIMES | February 2022
wings that are normally printed on
They are often presented with
Valentine's Day cards. However, it is
winged entities.
not known exactly how this image was created. In the Bible, these
One of the most traditional images
angels appear with some different
of cherubs, widespread during the
descriptions, but never as a child. In
Renaissance period, is cherubs
some places, they are described as
having babies' bodies, often chubby.
beings similar to men but with wings.
This representation has become
In others, they appear as animal
quite popular around the world.
forms or even stranger looking, with It is believed, however, that the
four faces.
representation of cherubim may The Cherubs are Celestial beings
be quite different. Reports indicate
that are just below the Seraphs in
that Cherub Angels are hybrid
the Hierarchy of Angels and are also
creatures with human parts and
linked to the glorification of God's
animal parts. They would have four
greatness and His throne protection.
heads altogether: one of a man,
Hence, they are called Throne Angels.
one of a lion, one of an ox, and one of an eagle.
In the sacred texts, they still appear as being the guardians of the Garden of
This representation of the Cherubs is
Eden, with the function of preventing
taken from the reading of Ezekiel 1.
Adam and Eve from returning after
5-8, which says:
the Fall. Because of this protection, in the past, images of Angels Cherubs
"Each had four faces – that of a man,
were placed on the doors of temples
a lion, an ox, and an eagle – and each
and churches to protect them from
had four wings. In their appearance,
evil spirits.
the cherubim had the likeness of a man […]. These cherubs used two
Representation of the Cherubim
of their wings to fly and the other
Angels
two to cover their bodies […]. Under their wings, the cherubim appeared
There is controversy about the
to have the shape, or likeness, of a
representation of the Cherubs.
man's hand".
OM TIMES | February 2022
The big difference between the
"kherub," which conveys the idea of
commonsense view and the biblical
Benediction or of being blessed.
view of the Cherubs can be explained
Cherub is an angel considered to
by an attempt to make these beings
be God's messenger and symbol
more popular.
of divine justice. According to the angelic order, the Cherubs are part
Therefore, to be represented by the
of the first hierarchy, classified below
image of cute children and not by
the seraphs.
creatures with more than one head. Many texts point to the Celestial Origin of the word "cherub."
Cherubs as mysterious beings. This association is largely made because
Like many of the names of angels and
of the Prince Regent of the Cherubs –
other spirit beings in the Bible, the
Raziel, the angel of mysteries. Raziel's
origin of the word cherub is uncertain.
very name dictates his character.
However, research indicates that
Raziel means "The Secret of God" in
the explanation may lie in the word
Hebrew. He is a Cherub who protects
OM TIMES | February 2022
humanity so that everyone feels
They are loyal people, good
positive and prosperous.
confidants, affectionate, generous, and sometimes shy. They have
PEOPLE PROTECTED
a strong gift of forgiveness and
BY CHERUB ANGELS
understand the world in their own way, giving great value to the family.
In addition to Raziel, the Cherub angels are also Haziel, Aladiah, Laoviah,
Some studies indicate that Cherubs
Hahahiah, Yeslael, Mebabel, Hariel and
are related to the concept of guarding.
Hekamiah. People ruled by these angels
For example, cherubs must protect the
often share certain characteristics, such
entrance to the Garden of Eden. This
as people who always hope to achieve
is perhaps the most accurate origin
something positive. In addition, they are
of the name, given the information
very emotional, with deep and stable
extracted from biblical texts.
feelings, so they are the ones who have long and sincere friendships and
Recorders in the Celestial Archive
relationships.
of the Universe OM TIMES | February 2022
Cherubs sometimes work with
decisions but celebrate when they
guardian angels, under the
record good choices.
supervision of Archangel Metatron, recording every thought, word, and
Cherub angels are magnificent
deed of history in the universe's
beings, far more powerful than the
heavenly archive.
beautiful, winged babies sometimes called cherubs in art.
Nothing that has happened in the past is happening in the present or will
People associate the two because
happen in the future goes unnoticed
Cherubs are known for their purity, as
by the angelic working teams that
are children. Both can be messengers
record the choices of each living being.
of God's pure love in people's lives.
Cherub angels, like other angels,
There are several Cherubs, each with
suffer when they need to record bad
its own characteristics. Let's talk a
OM TIMES | February 2022
little about each of them and how
The Cherub Haziel – God of Mercy
they act on their protégés. It governs people born on March Who are the Cherub Angels?
28, June 9, August 21, November 2, and January 14 and helps bring
The Cherub Hekamiah – God who
reconciliation and God's love. Whoever
builds the universe
has his protection is usually protected by God. He doesn't like judgments and
It protects those born on April 4,
appreciates small day-to-day victories.
June 16, August 28, November 9, January 21 and stands beside
The Cherub Aladiah – A propitious God
leaders. These people are honest, have good character and
Accompany those born on March
leadership spirit. As a result, they
29, June 10, August 22, November 3,
quickly gain the trust of others.
and January 15, and protect against
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
diseases and evil spirits. They are
Ruler of the natives from April 1,
friendly people who are always
June 13, August 25, November 6,
surrounded by friends. They have a
January 18 possesses the power
good heart and are willing to help
to unite couples and friendships.
those in need.
Whoever is governed by him has a good memory and above-average
The Cherub Leoviah – God Praised
intelligence. Moreover, he has a
and Exalted
logical mind, making it easy to understand both the concrete and
It rules those born on March 30,
the spiritual worlds.
June 11, August 23, November 4, and January 16. It can be
Cherub Mebahel – Deus is My
evoked whenever you are feeling
Guardian
distressed, anxious, or sleeping poorly. Those who have your
Accompany those born on April 2,
protection are very sensitive,
June 14, August 26, November 7,
receive messages, and are able to
and January 19, bringing justice,
see the world differently.
freedom, and truth to everyone. People under his influence enjoy
The Cherub Hahaiah: Deus is my
volunteering and understand the
refuge.
laws of the universe. Their actions are often noble and truthful.
It accompanies those born on March 31, June 12, August 24,
Cherub Hariel: God is my creator.
November 5, and January 17. It is a messenger of mysteries and
Ruler of those born on April 3,
revelations, appearing in dreams.
June 15, August 27, November
Those who are protected by
8, and January 20 brings faith
him have a strong personality,
to people. Whoever has its
sensitivity, and power to
protection has a simple soul but a
understand the world and people.
refined taste for material things. It has a solid esoteric side and may
The Cherub Iezalel – God Is
even delve into some Spiritual
glorified
knowledge. OM TIMES | February 2022
Tough Decision? Turn to Your Intuition
D
By John Holland
o decisions come easy to
determination in your life, turn to
you, or would you rather
the inner guidance of your soul!
get someone else to make them? Whenever
Whenever we make decisions based
you’re facing a tough choice
on intuition, we trust our feelings.
or need to make an important
The more we use our inner guidance
OM TIMES | February 2022
to lead us, the more our confidence
pulling you in the opposite direction.
builds and the better we get at it.
But fear will hold you prisoner if you let it. Your intuition isn’t meant to
Try to acknowledge, honor and
replace reason, it’s there to enhance
act upon feelings and signs
your logic, thereby giving you a far
that will nudge you in the right
better chance to succeed.
direction. That’s your soul talking! I remember a time when I was
Practice listening to your body’s
about to give a talk for a sold-out
signals and interpreting your
event. Several days before, I kept
feelings when making decisions.
getting a nagging feeling to call
Some people may feel a flutter when
the organizers and check on the
something feels wrong or a tingling
equipment for the evening. Instead,
sensation if they’re on the right
my rational mind kicked in: “No,
path; while others may feel nothing,
John, they’re professionals who
signaling them not to move forward.
have done this hundreds of times before. Let it go.” (I may be a psychic
JOHN'S MESSAGE
medium, but I don’t always pay attention to everything I feel.)
Try this exercise that a friend shared with me. The next time you want
When I arrived at the venue,
to use your intuition, take a few
I found a broken microphone, a
moments and imagine a simple
tiny footstool to sit on, a lack of
streetlight in front of you. Now, ask
air-conditioning and a spotlight
a question about a decision you
shining on me that had enough
need to make this week. Then see
juice to light up New York City! If
if the light changes. Red means
I had trusted my soul and called the
stop, yellow means wait, and green
organizers beforehand, I could have
means proceed.
saved a lot of stress for myself as well as the staff who rushed around
Of course, you’re not really getting
to fix everything.
answers from a traffic light. This is just a personal symbol you can
I know it can be scary to listen to
use to help you tap into your inner
your intuition when your logic is
guidance.
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
You don’t always have to turn over
You can find more techniques
your power to someone else when
to help you tap further into your
it comes to making decisions.
intuitive abilities in my book, Psychic
With practice, you’ll learn how to
Navigator. Click here if you'd like to
interpret your own specific signs.
purchase a copy.
Begin with small choices so you can gradually build up your trust and
If you know someone who may like
confidence. Have faith in your inner
to get this message, feel free to share
guidance. It wants nothing more
this Soul Inspirations or recommend
than the best for you.
they join my newsletter list. OM TIMES | February 2022
Heaven is a Hologram
OM TIMES | February 2022
O
ccasionally we read
the information that informs the
that our universe is a
universe? I believe the answer is the
holographic projection.
heavens. Heaven is the hologram
One’s first encounter
which informs the holographic
with the idea that our universe is a
projection we know as the physical
holographic projection can engender
universe.
bemused disbelief or outright My suggestion is based on theories of
skepticism.
science, such as string theory (and its We also read various takes as to the
most accepted branch, M-theory, in
origin of the holographic projection.
particular), but also religious tradition
String theorists, who popularized the
and, especially, the testimony of
notion, tell us, somewhat confusingly,
the saints, sages, and near-death
that the holographic information
experiencers who have had direct
that determines the behavior of the
transcendent experience of heaven.
three-dimensional volume of space we call the universe is “pasted on”
“In a word, absolutely everything
the “boundary” between our three-
in nature, from the smallest to the
dimensional universe and a two-
greatest, is a correspondence.
dimensional energy realm.
The reason correspondences occur is that the natural world, including
Two-dimensional holographic
everything in it, arises and is
information pasted on the boundary
sustained from the spiritual world,
with our three-dimensional universe
and both worlds come from the
is almost impossible to visualize. The
Divine.” — Emanuel Swedenborg,
key thing to grasp, however, is that
Christian mystic
M-theorists are positing that the information that informs the physical
“The blueprints of everything in
universe does not exist in the physical
the physical universe have been
universe itself but exists outside the
astrally conceived—all the forms
universe altogether.
and forces in nature, including the complex human body, have been
So what could be outside the physical
first produced in that realm where
universe? What could contain
God's causal ideations are made
OM TIMES | February 2022
visible in forms of heavenly light
prints; the spirit creation would be
and vibratory energy.”
like a sharp, brilliant print, and the
— Paramhansa Yogananda, yoga
Earth would be like its dark negative.
master
This Earth is only a shadow of the beauty and glory of its spirit creation.”
“Everything was created of spirit
— Betty J. Eadie, near-death
matter before it was created
experiencer
physically—solar systems, suns, moons, stars, planets, life upon the
Until the advent of string theory
planets, mountains, rivers, seas,
and the holographic principle in the
etc. I saw this process, and then, to
1960s, there had been no persuasive
further understand it, I was told . .
scientific framework to support
. that the spirit creation could be
how such transcendent testimony,
compared to one of our photographic
describing the ancient principle, as
OM TIMES | February 2022
above, so below, could possibly be
be described as being like a saturated
reconciled with science.
sponge submerged in an ocean of high-frequency energy. The string-
M-theory posits that vast amounts
theorist’s name for this vast ocean of
of pure energy exists in what they
energy is the “bulk,” as in, “the bulk
refer to as branes, vast zones in our
of the cosmos.” I prefer to call it the
greater reality that are filled with super
energy-verse as the word bulk is so
high-frequency energy. In M-theory,
poorly descriptive of the reality to
our almost incomprehensibly large
which it refers.
physical universe is tiny in comparison Counterintuitively, the energy-verse,
to a brane.
as posited by M-theory, is twoFrom the point of view of M-theory,
dimensional. The energy-verse is
our three-dimensional universe could
completely nonmaterial, that is to
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
say it contains no three-dimensional
beauty.”— Nora Spurgin, near-
space in which there could be three-
death experiencer and researcher
dimensional material. It is composed of pure energy that only needs two-
Not only did M-theorists unknowingly
dimensions in which to vibrate.
provide a location for heaven, but, by making the mathematics of
The energy-verse is, I believe, the
holography an integral piece of their
location of the heavens or astral
theory, they also provide the key
regions of all religious traditions. The
mechanism by which heaven can
essential qualities of the energy-
be understood to function as the
verse—that it is nearly infinite, that it
template, or hologram, for the physical
exists “beyond” the physical universe,
universe.
and that it contains only nonmaterial, two-dimensional, high-frequency
In our physical world, a hologram
vibrating energy, matches uncannily
is a flat, two-dimensional film with
well the descriptions of the heavens,
which light can be made to interact
or luminous astral regions, given by
to project a three-dimensional image.
hundreds of saints, sages, and near-
Using today’s technology, the creation
death experiencers.
of the two-dimensional hologram requires starting with digitized
“Just as persons on the cinema
images of either an actual three-
screen appear to move and act
dimensional object or one generated
through a series of light pictures..
by a computer. Then the information
so the astral beings walk and
in those digitalized images of three-
work as intelligently guided and
dimensional objects is encoded into
coordinated images of light.”
a two-dimensional hologram. Thus
— Sri Yukteswar, yoga master
in our physical world the information for the hologram comes either from
“Heaven is a world much like
copying an existing form or from the
our own except there is no time
creative mind of a designer.
nor space as we think of them here. Heaven exists in a higher
Where, then, in the vast ocean of high-
dimension of energy. The higher
frequency energy in the energy-verse,
realms are a world of inexpressible
do the original forms, the original
OM TIMES | February 2022
templates, the original intelligently
started and left to evolve on its own.
and creatively ordered information
The holographic principle suggests
that encodes the universe come from?
that our universe is being continuously
I think you know my answer: It has
projected in dynamically and rapidly
“been first produced in that realm
evolving detail down to the tiniest sub-
where God's causal ideations are made
atomic particle.
visible in forms of heavenly light and You may also be surprised to learn that
vibratory energy.”
saints and scientists alike concur on One implication of the universe being
this point:
a holographic projection may surprise you. Inherent in the very principle
“God is creating the entire
of holography is that the physical
universe, fully and totally, in this
universe can’t simply have been
present now. Everything God
OM TIMES | February 2022
created . . . God creates now all at
“We are not stuff that abides,
once.”— Meister Eckhart, Christian
but patterns that perpetuate
mystic
themselves; whirlpools of water in an ever-flowing river.” — Norbert
“The universe emerges out of
Wiener, physicist
an all-nourishing abyss not only twelve billion years ago but in
“The Tao is the sustaining Life-force
every moment.”— Brian Swimme,
and the mother of all things; from
physicist
it, all things rise and fall without cease.”— Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
“My solemn proclamation is that a new universe is created every
A continuously and dynamically
moment.”— D. T. Suzuki, Zen
evolving holographically projected
teacher
creation requires a continuous and OM TIMES | February 2022
dynamically evolving source of
holographically projected bodies,
holographic information. The saints,
projected from our own personal
sages, and near-death experiencers
luminous “spirit body” hologram.
tell us that the information source
Living through both our bodies,
is a luminous, heavenly counterpart
physical and spirit bodies, we interact
to our universe—the “sharp, brilliant
with the complex reality that is the
print,” as was described by near-death
cosmos on many levels. We are both
experiencer Betty Eadie.
actors and directors in an Intelligently created cosmic movie.
Another implication of the universe being a holographic projection may
“We are beginning to see the entire
you surprise even further. Not only is
[cosmos] as a holographically
the universe around us a holographic
interlinked network of energy and
projection, we, ourselves, inhabit
information, organically whole and
OM TIMES | February 2022
self-referential at all scales of its
excited or inspired and drags us down
existence. We, and all things in the
when we are fatigued or depressed. It
universe, are non-locally connected
keeps the heart pumping, the lungs
with each other and with all other
breathing, the digestion working,
things in ways that are unfettered
and it animates the myriad processes
by the hitherto known limitations
taking place in our trillions of cells.
of space and time.” — Ervin Laszlo
Without knowing precisely how we know, we are all aware of the presence
Our spirit hologram, the perfect
of life force within us—and thus we are
luminous counterpart to our physical
aware of our spirit body.
body, is not distant from us, rather it interpenetrates our physical body
In fact, according to the healers,
at every point. Just as the physical
psychics, seers, mystics, and saints
universe is like a saturated sponge
who have highly developed intuitive
submerged in an ocean of high-
perception, most of what we
frequency energy so, too, is our
experience, most of what fills our
physical body.
awareness, most of what matters to us—our vitality and life force,
Despite not being able to perceive our
our feelings, our creative will, our
interpenetrating spirit body with our
personality and character, and our
five senses, to one degree or another
experience of happiness, love, or
we are all aware of it. The experiential
joy—actually originates from our
religious traditions of the world—
interpenetrating spirit body, and does
from yoga, to Sufism, to charismatic
not exist in the physical body at all.
Christianity, to tai chi—call the subtle energies of our spirit body life force. An
More significantly yet, the mystics tell
abundance of life force puts a bounce
us that when we die these essential
in our step and a smile on our face. It
aspects of who we are continue to
tingles through our being when we
exist where they have always existed—
feel delight and knots our stomach
in our non-physical, interpenetrating,
when we’re stressed. It warms our
spirit body. The person we are today is
hearts when we feel love and tenses
very much the person we will be after
the body when we feel fear. It gives
death—only we will find ourselves
us an upward “rush” when we feel
existing, sans the physic body, solely
OM TIMES | February 2022
in our more perfect spirit body in the
— Dr. Hans-Peter Dürr, former
heavenly freedom of an unconstrained
head of the Max Planck Institute
and more perfect energy world.
for Physics, Munich
It is fair to say, then, since our spirit
“You don't die when you die. You
body is always within us, that we are
shift your consciousness and speed
already in heaven.
of vibration. That's all death is . . . a shift.” — P. M. H. Atwater, near-
“In this way, our lives in this plane
death experiencer, NDE researcher,
of existence are encompassed,
and author of Beyond the Light
surrounded, by the afterworld already. . . . The body dies but the
But we don’t need to wait for the
spiritual quantum field continues.
hereafter to fully experience our spirit
In this way, I am immortal.”
body—we can meditate or practice OM TIMES | February 2022
intensive prayer and tap into it in the
Expand your awareness of your spirit
here and now.
body. It’s the secret to health and happiness. Breathe in energy from
“Since my return [from my
your spirit body, then relax and feel.
near death experience] I
Concentrate on your calm, still, center.
have experienced the light spontaneously, and I have learned
Be in heaven now.
how to get to that space almost any time in my meditation. Each
Joseph Selbie makes the
one of you can do this. You do not
complex and obscure simple
have to die to do this. It is within
and clear. On a personal mission
your equipment; you are wired
to make esoteric spiritual
for it already.” — Mellen-Thomas
teachings understandable and
Benedict, near-death experiencer
attractive to everyone, he is adept at translating science
Meditation and intensive prayer are
fact into spiritual experience
supremely effective tools for tapping
and spiritual experience into
into our spirit body because—through
scientific fact. Joseph is a
relaxation, concentration, and
Christian yogi, meditator,
stillness—they methodically turn our
author of The Physics of God,
attention away from the physical body
blogger, entrepreneur, buyer of
and allow us to become aware of our
too many books, proud father
spirit body more and more fully.
of four, and lucky husband. His life path has been informed by
Meditation and intensive prayer don’t
Paramhansa Yogananda (author
create calmness and joy: they allow us
of Autobiography of a Yogi)
to experience the calmness and joy
who came to America to show
natural to our spirit body. When Jesus
the unity between original yoga
said, “the kingdom of God is within
and original Christianity. Over
you,” he meant it literally. The more our
forty years a resident of Ananda
awareness becomes centered in our
Village in northern California,
spirit body, the more happy, fulfilled,
Joseph tries to live the change
loving, compassionate, energetic, and
he wants to see in the world.
calm we feel.
www.PhysicsandGod.com OM TIMES | February 2022
OMTimes Magazine
Relax… Let your worries drift away into the moment… OMTimes is a free publication and can be delivered right to your inbox… Subscribe at: Free OMTimes Subscription Visit our website at: www.omtimes.com
OM Living For those living a more Conscious Lifestyle
Feng Shui: How to Deal With the Pain of Separation The 10 Energy Steps to reboot your Life with Confidence!
W
By OMTimes
hile some
They may have encountered painful
couples are
crises that made love come to an end.
getting to know each other,
Not all relationships last forever, in
starting to date, planning a future
reality, eternal loves are rare, and it is
together, or getting married, others
necessary to accept this reality to hurt
have gone through hard times.
less. See how Feng Shui deals with
OM TIMES | February 2022
relationship crises and how to appease
The world will not be touched by
your heart and move on to a new life.
your pain forever. So you need to know how to separate your personal,
HOW TO DEAL WITH SEPARATION
professional, and emotional life. Your
WITH FENG SHUI
kids need you; your job won't wait for you to recover; your friends will
These tips are for people who have
eventually try to see you. Did you cry
just broken up or broken a stable
all you had to cry on?
relationship and find themselves Now it's time to get on with your
alone and aimless.
life and set a new direction for your Feng Shui deals firmly and securely
destiny.
with this moment. For some, it may even seem too severe. However,
Follow the tips below that will help
Chinese wisdom teaches that strength
you put an end to this pain.
and grit are the best remedies for getting out of sadness, away from
2 - Put an end to the relationship.
pain, and going single, with joy, grace,
I mean, seriously!
and ease. Was there anything left to say? 1 - The World will not stop because you are suffering!
Have any issues been unclear with your ex?
Some people abandon their lives after separation: they miss work, fail
Look for it and make it clear. We know
to attend important appointments,
that this is not easy, it often takes us to
ignore children and friends, close
overcome our pride in looking for the
themselves in their own world and
person, but this is necessary.
stay there, oozing the pain. It takes an endpoint so that after Of course, we all need a moment
an unresolved issue, it doesn't keep
alone to think, reflect and even cry if
tormenting you and making you want
we feel the need to. But don't let your
to look for your ex when it's time to
life pass while you are suffering.
recover.
OM TIMES | February 2022
It may hurt, but it's better to make
You don't need to think about
everything clear. Without fights or
what to do with them now, collect
judgments, just ask what you want
everything and put them in a place
and say what you think is necessary,
where you won't see them very
ending the romance with respect for
often. You think about whether to
the good times they lived together.
keep them or throw them away, at this first moment, the important
3 - Remove All Photographs
thing is to get them out of your eyes.
Do you have pictures of your ex at
4 - Return and get rid of Your
home? Take them all out of your sight.
Ex' stuff
That includes those from the
Anything that reminds you of your
computer, from the picture frame,
ex should be returned to them or
from the wallet, from wherever they
thrown away if it's an item of no
may be.
emotional or financial value. OM TIMES | February 2022
Having objects that remind you of
It's time for a change, so take
them will only hurt you. Remember:
the opportunity to move the
the house is all yours, it must have
furniture, change decoration
your things, important to you, that
items, change the wall color,
shows your personality. They are
change the layout of your home.
no longer part of your life, and
Bring new energy into your home,
therefore there shouldn't be any of
fix everything that's broken, add
them around.
more lighting, more items that bring joy and peace to your new
5 - Change the Energy frequencies
environment.
of your home 6 - Change your Mattress After a breakup, it is necessary to change the house's energy, or every
We often know that this is not an
corner of your home will remember
easy measure for several factors: a
moments of the old relationship.
mattress is expensive, the couple's
OM TIMES | February 2022
bed may be recent, you don't know
If not, change all bedding urgently,
where to put the old mattress, etc.
don't use the old ones. Start anew!
It's best to change it! Letting go of
7 - Bring new Images into your Life
all the energy of the couple that is trapped in that mattress. If possible,
It's time to center on you and your new
Feng Shui recommends changing.
Life. Post photos of yourself with your
OM TIMES | February 2022
friends and family around the house,
cleanse it and blessedly begin your
on your computer, on your cell phone.
new life.
Be careful with images where you are alone. One of the others is fine, but
If you are not religious, you can purify
don't use too many photos alone. You
the energies of your home with
can close yourself off and become a
lavender oil, spreading this aroma
lonely person when the idea is to open
throughout your house with incense,
up to the world and contact everyone
flavorings, or essential oils. Another
around you. Give priority to photos
good energy purifier is Camphor
where you are smiling and having fun!
incense.
8 - Get closer to Friends and
10 - Practice Gratefulness - Always
Families: Open your circle to accept
say "Thank you."
new people The energy of gratitude is the best When we're in a relationship, it's
pain medicine.
natural for us to move away from our As difficult as it is, thank the Universe
social circle a little bit.
for all the good times you had with your ex-partner, all the learning they
Reactivate it immediately.
had together, everything you were Get in touch with friends and family,
able to achieve with them, and how
organize meetings, dinners at home,
you grew as a person during that
go to places you haven't been for a
relationship.
long time (to the cinema, concerts, theatre, bars, etc.), and get moving!
Even the most complex
Meet new people, it will make you a
relationships can leave a positive
world of good.
balance, even if that balance is just for you to learn not to be like it was
9 - Purify your home with Holy
with your past relationship. Give
water, Camphor, and Lavender
thanks for the good things. Try not to remember only the bad things
If you are religious, sprinkle holy
(they are water under the bridge).
water in every corner of your home to
Your heart will be grateful!
OM TIMES | February 2022
Synchronize Your Yoga Practice with The Cosmic Flow YOGA POSES ACCORDING TO MOON PHASES By OMTimes
OM TIMES | February 2022
Y
oga is an ancient practice
therefore, they are affected by the
that can go far beyond
moon's phases.
the physical exercise. One way to go deeper during
the time on the mat is to synchronize
But what can moon phase energies influence in yoga practice?
with the moon's phases. Just as lunar cycles strongly influence the tides,
According to the Ashtanga Yoga
they also influence our physical body
tradition, on the new moon and
and, consequently, our behavior.
full moon days, we rest from the practices of asana (postures).
The yoga tradition is replete with practices, teachings, and
On full moon and new moon days,
knowledge related to the Sun and
these gravitational effects are more
the Moon. The sun and moon exert
pronounced.
gravitational effects on the planet earth. In their different positions,
Full moon days correspond to a more
they create different energy
pronounced prana force (inspiration/
potentials that affect our bodies and
energy inflow). This expansive energy
mind. Therefore, many yoga asanas,
makes us feel more energetic and
or postures, align with the lunar
sensitive but less centered.
phases. The energy of the new moon, on the Through Yoga, we keep ourselves
other hand, corresponds to the most
more attentive and connected
pronounced Apana force (exhalation/
with the cycles of nature. We easily
elimination of toxins).
notice the agitation caused by the
This energy of contraction makes us
full moon and the calm of the new
feel calmer and more centered but
moon, so it is important to observe
less inclined to exert physical effort.
and especially respect these energy peaks caused by the moon change.
When the practice is done daily, we become more connected with
Like all things watery in nature (like
these natural cycles. Therefore,
the tides), we humans are made
these rest days are important to
approximately 70% water. Naturally,
regenerate energy and a time to
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
recognize and honor these natural
Anjaneyasana pose. Remember
rhythms. In addition, on moon days, it is
that the crescent moon can be
recommended to take time to read and
either crescent or waning, rising
study Spirituality and yoga philosophy.
to a full moon or decreasing to a
NEW MOON - CHILD POSE
new moon. In this pose, decide whether you would like to focus on building your strength or
The new moon brings the darkest
calm down and take a chance to
nights of the lunar cycle and is a great
reflect on life with your inner self.
time to rest and reflect. The posture that most identifies with this period is the Child Pose. There is no need for additional action, just allow your body to rest, ground, and reflect.
FULL MOON - ARCH OR BRIDGE POSE (DHANURASANA) The Full Moon represents a time
CRESCENT MOON – ANJANEYASANA
to reap the fruits of the seeds you
It's good to visualize and think of
It can also illuminate hidden
a crescent moon when you do the
emotions. There's a reason
have planted.
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
why strange occurrences are historically associated with the full moon: our repressed nature can bubble up and surface during this time. The bow (or bridge) pose opens the chest and throat, encouraging anything stuck to
108 SALUTATIONS You've probably heard of people giving 108 sun salutations at the time of the new year. But what is the meaning of this?
come loose.
Why 108? The number 108 has a lot
WAXING MOON – PYRAMID POSE (PARSVOTTANASANA)
Hinduism. Astrologers have determined
of meaning in Yoga, Buddhism, and
When doing the pyramid pose, focus on building strength in your legs. Feel the strength of your core supporting your upper body as you keep your torso parallel to the floor.
OTHER MOON INFLUENCES ON YOGA HA-THA – THE BALANCE WITHIN EACH OF US
that the average distance between the Sun, Moon, and Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. It is therefore seen as an existential number. The numbers 1, 0, and 8 represent one thing, nothing, and everything (infinity), representing the belief in the reality of the universe as being simultaneously one, empty and infinite.
EKADASI Ekadasi, meaning "eleven," is the eleventh day after the full moon and
Translated from Sanskrit, ha means
the new moon of each lunar month in
"sun," and tha means "moon."
the Hindu calendar.
This is about balancing the
It is considered to be a special day with
masculine and feminine aspects
spiritual significance.
within each of us. The male part of us is the sun – hot and active. The
According to the Vedic scriptures,
feminine is the moon – cold and
one who observes fasting on Ekadasi
receptive. It is intended to create
is freed from all kinds of reactions to
balance within the body and unite
sinful activities and is able to advance
the Yin Yang opposites.
in spiritual life. OM TIMES | February 2022
Are Cats Naturally Jealous Animals?
D
By Ministry Earth
o Cats Feel Jealous?
detached and unsentimental animals, unlike puppies.
Cats are unique, independent, self-
There are even several memes on the
confident, self-possessed animals.
web making comparisons between
Those who have these felines in life
dogs and cats, focusing on the
often say that they are the ones who
temperament of each species.
choose their "owners," and they are sincere animals. Anyone who doesn't
But whoever loves kitties can
know can even say that cats are
guarantee, with all certainty, that they
OM TIMES | February 2022
are kind and affectionate, yes. And
tutor-pet relationship creates more
we demonstrate their feelings.
bonds than in the past.
Incidentally, they ensure that cats feel jealous, yes, whether with other
OUR PETS ARE OUR CHILDREN
humans or even with other cats. Considering the way, we treat our
THE NORMAL FELINE BEHAVIOR
"furry children," it is to be expected that cats will see us as "their humans," contrasting that relationship with
First, we need to keep in mind
some other individual (human or
that Jealousy is a typically
not) who represents their social rival,
human emotion, so we may be
with behaviors such as rejection and
misusing the term to define an
aggressiveness) that may lead us to
animal's behavior that has other
think that this is Jealousy. But is it?
explanations.
IS IT REALLY JEALOUSY?
Studies relating Jealousy (or a more appropriate term) to dogs, but it
Well, there is no way to analyze the
does not apply to cats. Still, some
aggressive cat's behavior and say that
behaviors can lead us to think that
it is Jealousy, so there are possible
this is a feeling.
attitudes typical of "jealous cats."
This is due to the fact that, although
Demonstrating aggression with the
domestic cats are solitary animals,
"rival," seeking frequent attention
domestication itself meant that
from your "favorite human," showing
they chose a person (or even
exacerbated interest, or negatively
another animal) as a reference.
interfering with the socialization between the human and the "rival"
They tend to elect their humans
may be signs that there is a problem.
as their favorite individuals for obvious reasons: we feed, care for,
However, this could be true if we
protect, socially interact with them,
were talking about puppies since,
especially these days, in which the
like cats, these actions can suggest
OM TIMES | February 2022
various behavioral problems, and
It can make the cat associate this bad
territoriality is one of the main ones.
experience with the baby.
There are several causes for
In that case, it is interesting to include
behavioral changes (for the worse)
your "feline child" in the routine. Just
of cats concerning the person
redouble your attention so that your
they have as a reference, such as
cat does not scratch your baby or
the arrival of a new baby, which,
manage to materialize the aggression
in addition to representing a
somehow.
significant loss of attention. It can be worse if parents struggle with
But never - never even! - be aggressive
the animal to protect the newborn.
with the kitty cat
OM TIMES | February 2022
TERRITORIALITY MIGHT BE THE ISSUE
This happens mostly with older cats or with those who did not have good socialization when young
If your cat exhibits aggressive
kitties. It would be best if you
behavior with another cat, be
prepared the cat, the environment,
aware that the cause may be
and even yourself for the arrival of a
territoriality.
new animal.
Anyone who has ever witnessed a
Try to maintain and respect the
catfight during the early hours of
individuality of each one. A good
the morning knows precisely what
way out is training if common
that means.
measures are not taking effect. OM TIMES | February 2022
If the problem is with a puppy, know
Ideally, it would be best to respect
that it can happen (especially if it's cats
differences in sizes and temperaments
that weren't socialized with puppies
and never expect them to look similar.
when they were little), but it's good to
Older puppies usually stress the cats
know that it's not the nature of cats to
and arouse fear, but more hair their
hate puppies and vice versa.
size than because they are puppies. OM TIMES | February 2022
These compounds help a lot to
And How to Act?
control aggression, especially if cats First of all, concerning rivalries with
feel "jealous."
other cats, puppies, or humans, try to take safety measures to avoid more serious problems. Also,
THE BEST REMEDY IS PREVENTION
try to validate the importance of your pet, and even as a routine
A reasonably suitable natural
change, try not to alter it much, as
pheromone is catnip (or catnip).
cats generally do not like sudden
It is an excellent relaxant and also
changes.
acts as a repellent for insect bites. Keeping your cat's health up to date
Also, try to create the idea of
is also important, with quality food,
positivity in the relationship
regular veterinary consultations,
with possible "rivals," making, for
vaccinations, and other measures.
example, their presence a positive
Often, their behavior may change
experience. Finally, try to respect
due to health issues, so the
the space of the animal. If he is not
veterinarian should be visited
comfortable with a situation, never
frequently.
force him to have any interaction, do not put on your lap, or fiddle
Be that as it may, having an animal
too much with him, for all this may
is like having a child. It takes work,
irritate them.
it requires care, it takes a lot of patience, and, above all, a lot of love
If you need to invest in more robust
and respect. If your cats feel jealous,
attitudes, look for a coach or an
we should consider their feelings,
animal trainer to harmonize the
even if they don't have the same
relationship between animals and
dynamics as ours. Remember that
humans within the same space.
because they are "irrational," they do not calculate or premeditate their
It is also a good idea to seek out
attitudes. It is up to us, their human
your veterinarian, as substances
guardians, to ensure that they have
influence animals' social and
the proper treatment to feel good,
reproductive behavior: pheromones.
happy, free, and calm.
OM TIMES | February 2022
Relationships
The interconnectiveness among all human beings and, consequently, the relationships among us are the focus of this section. The dynamics of the web of connections we make is one of the most prominent aspects of human existence: how we interlace with each other’s existence in a meaningful way.
Twin Flames: The Obstacles We May Face
OM TIMES | February 2022
O
ne of people's greatest
Besides, all that can be accomplished
desires is to find their
through a Twin Flame encounter can
twin flame, but some
be ruined if infidelity is one of the
obstacles can be faced
elements of this equation.
even when you finally find it. When faced with stumbling blocks,
It may be challenging, but we need
you may have difficulty knowing
to understand that sometimes the
how to act. You may even despair
karmic situations can alter the story
a little, thinking you can never be
of this "cosmic event."
with your twin flame. So let's talk
In this case, you have two options.
about some common obstacles that
One hopes that the universe
can arise and how you should view
will either conspire to one day
them as opportunities rather than
be together or have a platonic
problems.
relationship.
IS YOUR TWIN FLAME MARRIED
A friendship is worth no less than a
OR IN A RELATIONSHIP?
romantic relationship. But it would be best if you did not start the
One of the most common obstacles
relationship with ulterior motives.
in meeting twin flames is one of
This is selfish and can bring dire
them being in a relationship. This
consequences. Just accept that your
situation is very delicate and can
relationship with the twin flame
be painful for those involved, so we
will be in a different way than you
must be very careful.
expected. At least on this Realm stuff. The relationship of souls can be very
There is no easy solution to this
different, deep, and rewarding.
obstacle. There is a Great Age Difference It would be best if you did not insist
Between you and your Twin Flame.
when a person is married, especially when children are involved.
The age difference is a much less
Infidelity has low vibration energy
challenging obstacle. However, there
and generates pain and heartbreak,
are often age differences in karmic
no matter which side you're on.
relationships. It is believed that this
OM TIMES | February 2022
is because the karmic partners tend
Be prepared for judgment should
to create a master and apprentice
you decide to move forward with
dynamic, where one of them is more
this relationship. Unfortunately, not
experienced.
everyone will be understanding.
However, this difference can often
But, at the same time, it will be an
be problematic, especially when
excellent opportunity for practicing
it is substantial. Many modern
self-knowledge, especially if the
cultures and societies disapprove of
partner is younger. Learning about
relationships between people of very
oneself and advancing in personal
different ages, making it difficult for
development is more recurrent when
friends and family to approve.
there is an age difference.
OM TIMES | February 2022
YOUR TWIN FLAME LIVES AWAY
spiritual exercises like telepathy and distance communication.
Distance is becoming a common obstacle to twin flames today. With
The most considerable difficulty is
a connected world, it is possible
when this distance has no end date.
to unite people far away, but the
This situation requires a lot of serenity
physical distance has not yet been
to resolve, and you must ask yourself
overcome.
if you are willing to change your life to be close to your spiritual Twin.
You can ease your homesickness with teleconferencing tools like
For some people, long-distance
Zoom, Facetime, Skype, and
relationships work well, and for OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
others, it doesn't. If in your case, it
concerns to demonstrate that you
brings suffering, it is necessary to
value these people, but ultimately,
have a plan for it to end.
your judgment is to be considered as important here.
WHEN PEOPLE DISAPPROVE HOW TO DEAL WITH OBSTACLES
OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP
RELATED TO THE TWIN FLAME In many cases, there are pressure from social or friends, cultural or
It is not possible for us to list all
family expectations that generate
the obstacles you may experience
disapproval of your Spiritual
in a relationship with the twin
relationship. And that may bring a
flame, let alone how to deal with
lot of pain and discomfort.
them all.
There are many reasons why
Our tip is: don't see them as
people might disapprove of your
obstacles but as an opportunity
relationship. But if your partner
for growth. You will need to be
is your twin flame, the other's
very flexible, adaptable, and
disapproval is not well-founded,
creative. These are challenges that
even if there are well-intentioned
can become steppingstones, not
concerns.
necessarily boulders on your path.
That doesn't mean your family or
Use these challenges to learn
friends are wrong. It may seem
more about your strengths and
unwise to them to enter into a
weaknesses, getting closer and
relationship with someone much
closer to your partner as you
older or who lives far away from
grow through these together.
you. Therefore, warnings are always valid. Take this a demonstration of
Don't let problems slow you down
love on their part.
and weaken your faith in yourself and your spiritual partner. Instead,
The fact is, they may not
trust that it will work out, and
understand what journey you are
the universe will conspire in your
taking. So listen and accept these
favor.
OM TIMES | February 2022
Twin Souls and Energy Cleansing
T
By Ascending Hearts
he negative energies
put it into practice, you will feel more
absorbed by your aura can
awake, energized, and connected.
affect you in different ways
Any blockages in your chakras will
that you may not even
clear, making you feel the full benefit
realize or even notice. When you
of an energetic and subtle body. Any
decide to do an energy cleanse and
fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression,
OM TIMES | February 2022
and other symptoms of metaphysical
life changes. In addition, talking
origin will diminish and disappear in
about traumas from your past will
the short term.
help you deal with the emotional side effects caused by them, as long as
Energetic cleansing for the twin flame
you trust the person you are opening
is an essential step in achieving union
up to.
with your spiritual soul. Negative energy attaches to us and is absorbed
Hidden in your past are events that
by our auras, affecting everything we
may still haunt you, putting obstacles
do. Many of these low vibrations come
in your relationships in general with
from old childhood wounds, obsolete
the twin flame.
Vows and relationship contracts, or There is a preventive force that keeps
even past lives.
you from experiencing the same Energetic cleansing aims to remove
damage again. The problem is when
those mental and emotional, and
your subconscious issues are not
energetic blocks that keep you
discussed or dealt with but pushed to
away from your twin flame, whether
the bottom until you forget about the
physically, spiritually, or emotionally.
pain. But this pain is not forgotten, and it can still affect you.
Some techniques can help you clear the negative energies from your
By engaging with the twin flame
relationship and allow you to stay
energy, healing these old wounds,
together. Of course, you can hire a
you address these feelings and take
professional for this, but you can also
steps to heal yourself.
do many inner works with your flame. Without exposing yourself, healing Twin Flame Emotional Work
will be a challenge because you will be trying a treatment in the dark.
Although there is a lot of trial and error
You need to discuss these issues with
in this cleansing process, working on
your partner.
your spirituality can help you feel more comfortable opening up to become
You'll be surprised how much
more flexible and adaptable for future
this sharing resonates with them,
OM TIMES | February 2022
regardless of whether they've
BENEFITS OF TWIN FLAME ENERGY
experienced something similar or not.
BALANCE
In doing so, you draw negative power
The benefits of clearing the twin flame
from the past wounds, cleansing your
relationship blockages are many. The
aura and your entire energy system.
most obvious is that you can overcome
OM TIMES | February 2022
the challenges that stand in the way of
All the benefits are enough for you
union and enjoy the greatness of this
to embark on the idea of energetic
karmic relationship.
cleansing. In addition to allowing your union with the twin flame,
You are going out of your way because
this job will also provide you with
of the mental blocks present, and
many personal benefits and energy
clearing them, you will no longer feel
upgrades.
fear or apprehension about the idea of THE PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES
being together.
OF ENERGY CLEANING THE TWIN Other obstacles will also be overcome.
FLAME
Age difference, physical distance, social
However, it would help if you did not
pressure – all these factors can hinder
underestimate the emotional impact
your union. But from when you proceed
that energetic cleansing can have in
with energy cleansing, these issues
your life, personally.
seem much easier to deal with. By facing your own inner demons, Distance is no longer so problematic, and
you will demonstrate some
you find a way to be closer, even when you
important things like self-confidence
are physically apart. Age is just a number.
and self-empowerment. In addition,
As long as you have enough experience to
the courage to face these inner
make your decisions, it doesn't matter if
challenges strengthens the spirit and
you are an indifferent generation.
raises vibrations as you gain more control of your conscience and begin
You understand that peer pressure
to act more mindfully.
from other people about your choice of a partner shouldn't be something to
In short, the benefits of eliminating
worry about.
mental blocks and negative energies are crucial and should not be
Disapproval of your relationship comes
overlooked, especially if you intend
from a place of fear and ignorance and
to perform the supreme spiritual
may be a consequence of your own
energy that may be unveiled through
mental blocks.
the union of the Twin Flames. OM TIMES | February 2022
Metaphysics
Tennin: The Japanese Celestial Beings
T
ennin is a terminology
Many legends about these winged
that means "Heavenly
creatures originated in India, having
Beings" or "People of
their belief spread throughout
Heaven." These beings
much of Asia, and incorporated into
are considered servants of the
some religions, including Japanese
Devas in Japanese mythology.
Buddhism.
OM TIMES | February 2022
The same type of beings exists in
influenced by the concepts of celestial
Greek mythology as nymphs.
beings found in Taoism and Indian Buddhism.
These celestials inhabit the Buddhist sky as Buddha companions and
Tennin is mentioned in Buddhist
enlightened beings; however, some
sutras, and their descriptions form the
legends portray the Tennins as solitary
basis for performances in Japanese
creatures living in mountain peaks.
art, paintings, sculptures, and plays.
Many pilgrims have already climbed
According to belief, Tennin is a
high mountains in an attempt to find
more powerful creature with more
these sacred beings.
extended longevity than humans and other celestial beings, such as
According to myth, the Tennin is
the "Yaksha" (class of spirits of nature
divided into several classes: "Tenshi"
responsible for maintaining the roots
(Angels), "Ten no tsukai" (Heavenly
of trees and natural treasures hidden
Messengers) and the "Tennyo"
in the earth).
(Heavenly Maidens). The Tennin and their many myths These spiritual beings found in Japanese culture are very similar to
The "Tennyo" (heavenly maidens)
what we know as Western angels,
are portrayed as beautiful women
nymphs, or fairies.
wearing colorful kimonos perfectly adorned with exquisite jewelry and
Tales about the "people of heaven" are
scarves fluttering around their bodies.
part of the ancient popular narratives
In addition, they usually carry lotus
of Japan, known as "Mukashi banashi"
flowers symbolizing spiritual purity
(Ancient Japanese Narratives).
or musical instruments, such as the "Biwa" (traditional Japanese string
Tennin: Origins of the Legend
instrument) and the flute. Although all Tennin is able to fly, in the case of
According to ancient records, these
tennyo, many legends say that this
beautiful, winged creatures were
ability is due to their clothing; they
imported from Chinese Buddhism,
cannot fly without their kimonos
OM TIMES | February 2022
called "Hagoromo" (a suit made of
No one could believe that such a
sacred feathers).
beautiful person belonged to this world. The girl had a purity of angelic
Many legends about celestial beings
face, unmatched in the whole
remain to this day.
world. Her presence illuminated the house with an intense light that left
The most famous is Kaguya Hime,
no corner in the dim light. Finally,
"The Princess of the Moon," dating
however, Kaguya one day, wearing
from the tenth century.
a Hagoromo (sacred mantle of feathers), returned to her kingdom
The old tale tells the story of an old
of the Moon.
bamboo cutter, who one day finds a little girl inside a bud without
Hagoromo: The sacred Mantle
knowing that she was, in fact, a This is an ancient legend about
princess of the Moon.
"Hagoromo," the mantle of feathers Kaguya Hime grew very fast, and
of the heavenly maidens, the
every day looked more beautiful.
"Tennyos."
OM TIMES | February 2022
Once upon a time, in a bygone
The perfume called Hakuryō in the
era, a young fisherman from the
direction of the trees, and next to
village of Miho named Hakuryō.
one of the Matsu pines, tapping softly in the breeze, a mantle hung,
Young Hakuryō always went out
different from anything he had
to try his luck in sand fishing near
ever seen.
the Miho-no-Matsubara pine forests.
"How beautiful," said the fisherman
There he was very accustomed
to himself. "I'll take it home."
to the dazzling scenery of the
As he picked up the mantle, he
white sandy beach surrounded by
heard a sweet and melodious voice.
magnificent pine forest.
"That mantle belongs to me."
But that morning, the view of the
The Beauty of the Sky people
Fujisan (Mount Fuji) rising above the bay's waters was especially
Hakuryō, surprised, turned and came
beautiful. Coming out of nowhere,
across a beautiful woman coming
an exquisite perfume filled the air.
out of the shade of the tree.
OM TIMES | February 2022
"I am a maiden of heaven; I am one of
of suffering in the maiden, he decided
the Sky People. My mantle of feathers
to return the precious mantle.
is of no use to you. Please return him to me, for I cannot return to heaven
"I'm going to give it back, but first,
without him."
dance for me the Dance of Heaven."
Hakuryō was shocked to think that he
The heavenly maiden felt great relief
had one of the Divine mantles in his
and agreed with the fisherman's
hands, but once he saw the expression
terms but said, "I cannot dance
OM TIMES | February 2022
without my mantle. Give it back to
waters, around the Fujisan, she was
me first."
finally ascending to heaven.
Hakuryo was nervous. "If I give the
The Tennins and the Apsaras
Mantle of Feathers first, you will Apsarās are known as vidhya dhari or
return to Heaven!"
tep apsar (ទេពអប្សរ) in Khmer, acharā The young woman looked at the
(pāli) or bố sa la tư (Vietnamese),
man sharply and said, "Lies and
bidadari (Indonesian and Malay),
deceptions are human creations.
biraddali (tausug), hapsari / apsari
They do not exist in the World
or widadari / widyadari ( javanese)
Above.
and aapson (Thai: อัปสร). English translations of the word "Apsara"
Hakuryō felt ashamed of those
include "nymph," "celestial nymph,"
words and spread his cloak with
and "celestial maiden."
trembling hands. In Indian mythology, apsaras are The heavenly maiden wrapped
beautiful and supernatural female
herself in her cloak of feathers,
beings. They are young and elegant,
and her sleeves began to flutter,
and superb in the art of dancing.
vibrating, then she began a soft,
They are frequently wives of the
elegant dance. But once more, the
Gandharvas, the court musicians of
scent of the perfume of roses filled
the God Indra. Thus, they are also
the air, and with it, I saw the sound
known as sky dancers.
of whistles and drums. They dance to music made by the Stunned with such Beauty, Hakuryō
Gandharvas, usually in the gods'
watched in admiration as the
palaces, entertain, and sometimes
maiden spun and spun. Finally, her
seduce gods and men.
delicate feet stopped touching the sand, rising in the air, more and
As ethereal beings who inhabit the
more, the white feathers of her
heavens and are frequently portrayed
cloak gleaming until she finally
in flight, or the service of a god, they
disappeared into the mists of the
can be compared to angels.
OM TIMES | February 2022
The Archetypes of the Goddesses and the Phases of the Moon By OMTimes
P
eople watched the moon
their darkest times can lead them to
decrease in light every
their brightest.
night until it could no longer be seen from the
The ancients understood Selene's
earth. Then after three nights of
gift in the lunar phases. So, each
darkness, a crescent sliver returned,
night when they gazed at the
and the Moon increased in light until
Moon, they knew Selene was telling
it was fully illuminated as before.
them never to give up hope."
Selene did this to remind people that
― Lynne Ewing, The Secret Scroll
OM TIMES | February 2022
The Moon is much more than a
It is an ideal phase to start new
romantic light in the sky. All nature,
projects and experiences. Physical
the tides, the growth season, the
and mental vitality strengthens
animals, and even our menstrual
independence and courage.
cycle are influenced by the phases of That phase corresponds to the
the Moon.
active part of our being, the sowing Each lunar phase draws on
phase. The action is what moves
strengthening and challenging
the maiden in her pursuit of new
aspects of our own personality,
adventures.
mood swings, energy, libido, and
FULL MOON IS THE MOTHER GODDESS
productivity. We are cyclical beings, alternating between periods of shadows
In this aspect, the Moon reaches
and light, just like the Moon, and
its apex. The phase corresponds
knowledge about these influences in
to our ovulation period. Therefore,
the traits of self-knowledge.
the great mother archetype, fertile, caring, protective, and welcoming, is
The Moon, as we know, has four
intense in this phase.
phases: growing, full, waning, and new. These phases are associated
It is time to nurture a child, a
with the four stages of the Goddess:
project, a dream, a garden, or a rich
Maiden, Mother, The Witch, and the
meal.
Crone. It is the phase that brings us
CRESCENT MOON AND THE MAIDEN GODDESS
the satisfaction of the harvest. It corresponds to the Summer Season. Sexual energy is at its peak, as well
This phase corresponds to our pre-
as femininity.
ovulation phase and is associated with spring, as, like the Moon, energy
This is less active than in the maiden
is increasing, as is libido, creativity,
phase, where we spread energy and
and femininity.
light to the world and the full Moon. OM TIMES | February 2022
Nourishing is fundamental to the
becomes smaller. It also allows us
archetype of the mature mother.
to bring to light our darkness and,
WANING MOON AND THE WITCH GODDESS This is the most challenging lunar phase for most women, corresponding to the premenstrual tension phase. At this stage, it is common for us to begin to gather a little more, to be more introspective, and to face our shadows from the front so that, in the same way, they are transformed into the next Moon. In this period, the distance between the conscious and the unconscious
in this way, to heal and welcome our dark side. The Witch Goddess phase is associated with the Fall Season. Learning to let go is one of the most important lessons we can learn. Like nature, it is important to let go of the leaves that have already fallen, a time of great evolution and self-knowledge. In this phase, we are more connected with nature, with magic,
OM TIMES | February 2022
and with the hidden. Therefore, for
It is the lunar phase of
the Witch Goddess, the gathering
detachment, in which everything
is essential.
that does not fit us needs to be cleaned and transformed. It is our
NEW MOON IS THE OLD GODDESS
cyclical chrysalis. Then, just like in nature, in winter, the animals
At this stage, the Old Goddess is seen as a witch, mistress of mysteries and wisdom, and Goddess of Life, Death, and Healing. It corresponds to our menstrual period. This lunar phase is related to the Winter Season, in which isolation and shelter are necessary for major internal transformations to occur.
gather, and the silence is deep. It is also necessary for us to delve deeper into our being to renew our energy for the next dreams, projects, and accomplishments that will grow with the next Moon. Transforming is what governs the moon phase of the Ancient Goddess.
OM TIMES | February 2022
Astrology
The Spiritual Meaning of the 8 Lunar Phases By OMTimes
OM TIMES | February 2022
T
he Moon, the natural
with each of these phases – some
satellite of planet
explained by science, others by faith,
Earth, carries countless
and by different sets of beliefs.
meanings for different
cultures. However, interpreted in
8 PHASES OF THE MOON
relation to its position with the
AND ITS SPIRITUAL MEANINGS
Sun, the Moon almost universally represents femininity, passivity, fertility, periodicity, and renewal.
NEW MOON - STARTING AGAIN
From this, it can be seen that the
The New Moon occurs when the Sun
affinity women have with the Moon
and Moon are on the same side of the
dates back to cultures and times
Earth. Since the Sun is not facing the
immemorial.
Moon, from our perspective on Earth, it appears that the dark side of the
In an eternal cycle of growth, the
Moon is facing us.
Moon mirrors the sunlight and crosses four main visible phases of
Spiritually speaking, this is the time to
the Earth – New moon, Crescent, Full
start over.
and Last Quarter. Only, the Moon's influence on men has already been
The beginning of a new cycle. It is
thought of even by philosophers
time to take advantage of renewed
such as Aristotle and continues to
energies, like the Moon, to move
be investigated by researchers who
forward with projects that had been
associate its phases with the capacity
stalled due to the lack of capacity to
for human reproduction, emotional
carry them forward.
states, and mental illnesses. Renewing, on the other hand, also Effectively the Moon takes about
means the practice of letting go.
29.5 days to travel around the Earth.
Getting rid of old things that don't
It is during this rotation that we see
support growth is critical.
its various phases. Each main phase occurs about 7.4 days apart. There
At this moment, time should be used
are spiritual meanings associated
for introspection and consequent
OM TIMES | February 2022
evaluation of what you want to do with
The crescent moon is the time to set
your life.
the intention for change. Spiritually, it is the period when all the fruit of the
Honestly, acknowledging your
reflection of the new Moon must be
feelings and working out how to
placed as the focus of action.
experience them is recommended. A beneficial exercise is to make a wish
CRESCENT MOON PROJECTING AND PLANNING
list and associate images with them, maybe even a mind map. The crescent moon allows us to
When the Sun starts to approach the
harness energies in order to solidify
New Moon, it starts to light up again.
the bases for the realization of our
The Crescent Moon then appears, but
desires in concrete material bases.
it is still less than half-lit.
It is at this stage that new projects OM TIMES | February 2022
start. But, first, design everything you want for yourself.
CRESCENT WAXING MOON – ACTION
MOON WAXING GIBBOUS – REVALUATION TIME A Gibbous Crescent Moon is a short distance away from becoming a Full Moon. This Moon is easily seen
The Moon reaches the Crescent
during the day, as a large part of it is
Quarter one week after the New Moon.
illuminated.
Therefore, the first half Moon after the New Moon is called the Crescent
The energies of this phase of the
Quarter because, at that point, the
Moon are conducive to re-evaluating
Moon is a quarter of the way through
previously proposed goals. It is time
its monthly cycle of phases.
to analyze the steps taken so far, observing whether the path meets
Faced with the desire to start
your goals. It is necessary to realize
projects, obstacles will not be rare
that the chosen path does not always
between your objective and the path
lead to the point we need to reach.
to be followed until then. So, this is
The most important thing is not to
the time to act. The energies of this
feel defeated if something is out of
period are favorable for action. It's
the blueprint.
time to make decisions. The hardest part of a project is taking the first
The way to deal with this period is to
step, and the Crescent Moon is
see clearly and sincerely whether the
spiritually the most favorable phase.
effort so far has kept you on track. If the path is too far, re-route. If the
Remember that you took time to
feeling is to change, listen to your
reflect on who you are and what you
intuition and follow a new path.
want. He focused on desires and visualized where he wanted to go. Still, it is necessary to overcome inertia
FULL MOON – RECOGNIZE YOUR VALUE
by deciding, acting. Take advantage of this period to make it viable but
A Full Moon occurs when the Sun
remember flexibility and resilience can
and Moon are on opposite sides of
be the key to carrying out projects.
the Earth. Since the Sun is directly
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
in front of the Moon, the light
Given the spiritual moment
illuminates it completely, making
surrounding this lunar phase, the best
the Moon look completely full on
thing to do is give thanks. Thank you
Earth.
for learning opportunities in the face of challenges, changes along the way,
Known as the Harvest Moon, it is at
and results obtained. The energies
this stage of the Moon that farmers
during this period are all focused on
traditionally harvest their produce. It
gratitude, not just for the good things
is a time of opposites, according to
but also for the bad things that could
astrology. In this period, Moon and
be overcome.
Sun occupy opposite zodiacal signs. Therefore, tensions are highlighted,
The success of a project is not
increasing imbalances.
individual, even if your idea was conceived in this way. The results
At this stage, it is very important to
obtained result from a sum of factors
recognize the fruits of all the work
that, when combined in the best way,
developed so far from self-analysis.
lead to the expected results. It is an ideal time to express your gratitude to
It is here that the individual will
everyone around you, especially those
be able to clearly observe the
who have committed to your projects
results of its planning. It's a time of
and given you emotional support.
opportunity. Embrace the positive
Promote dinners, give away gifts, but
energies of results, even bad ones,
try not to overdo it.
because they will unequivocally enhance the journey.
MOON WANING GIBBOUS – PRACTICE GRATITUDE
MOON WANING HALF – LEARNING HOW TO RELEASE The last quarter of the Moon is the inverse process of the first quarter,
After a Full Moon, the Moon starts
going back to another New Moon.
to become dim again, decreasing
After a Full Moon, the Moon fades to a
towards the last quarter of the Moon to
waning gibbous and passes to its last
become the New Moon again.
quarter.
OM TIMES | February 2022
The action verb of this phase is to
Clean out your closet, donate old clothes,
release. We cling to certain habits
exercise generosity because letting go of
and people throughout the growth
old habits and objects is also a gesture of
process, but we don't need to be
generosity, but with oneself.
that way. Be vigilant with your eating habits and It's time to let go. Do a mental clean.
seek balance in all areas of your life. So
Purify yourself spiritually, try to take
often, the weight we carry is emotional
a vacation, visit places of abundant
and is intimately connected with routines
nature and use the energies of this
that we create based on the needs we
moment to get rid of accumulated
suffer. Unfortunately, these patterns are
energies that tend to become harmful.
immediately reflected in what we eat.
OM TIMES | February 2022
WANING CRESCENT MOON – ENDINGS FOR NEW BEGINNINGS
learning. Evaluate your trajectory and be ready for a new stage. Prepare body and soul for new projects.
The fraction of the Moon that is lit is
A good tip is to assess which
decreasing on its way to becoming a
relationships and projects need to
New Moon.
end. One is not prepared to start again without certain situations
A new cycle is approaching, and
being fully overcome. Relax and
there is nothing to fear. Men are
trust the magic of the new. Soon it
beings in constant movement, with
will be time to start over. Spring of
changing energy and in constant
the soul!
OM TIMES | February 2022
We grow as individuals as we face challenges and overcome life’s obstacles. This section is dedicated to helping you chart your course
Personal Growth & Development
Attachment, Loss, and the Liberation of Nonattachment
I
by Clare Goldsberry
once read that all fear is rooted
sad, lonely, and often fearful of what
in the fear of loss. We all feel a
life holds now that the person is gone.
sense of loss when someone or
Natural disasters often cause the loss
something we love disappears
of our material possessions, which can
from our life. The loss of a loved one—
also leave us feeling empty and afraid
especially in death—leaves us feeling
as we ponder how to pick up the
OM TIMES | February 2022
pieces and take the next step. Our
we believe that the things we see,
material existence is often grounded
hear, and touch are inherently real.
in the things and people we are
Attachment to the things we see
attached to, and the loss we feel
brings on feelings of desire that
is a very human characteristic. How
bind us to samsara. Nonattachment
can we overcome this fear and all
liberates us from these mistaken
the emotions that grip us when loss
appearances.
occurs, especially to death? Many of us feel trapped in our From a Buddhist standpoint, the
lives; we feel as if we have no
practice of nonattachment is key to
freedom or that we are controlled
the acceptance of loss and dealing
by external circumstances.
with emotions that come with it.
Attachment permeates our lives.
Nonattachment is perhaps the
Many believe that people who
least understood of all the Eastern
practice nonattachment are cold,
spiritual concepts. Some confuse it
remote, distant, unemotional, and
with unattachment or detachment,
uncaring. Nothing could be farther
but they are not quite the same
from the truth. Nonattachment
thing. To be unattached or detached
creates a greater sense of caring,
is to have had no connection at all,
a greater compassion, by removing
to break away from completely, or
the emotions of the ego from the
to have something broken away. By
equation. We become attached
contrast, nonattachment indicates
to people and things because
that a connection exists, but that
there is an element of the “I” or
one has made a choice to not attach
self-grasping in the attachment.
oneself to the people or things
When “I” or “me” or “my” enters the
involved.
picture, we are attached, because it is suddenly about “me.” That
According to Mahayana Buddhism,
attachment creates the delusion
nonattachment is a mental
that there is some inherent, solid
factor that opposes attachment;
reality or permanence to the person
it remedies a state of mind that
or thing, or that we can control
has been brought on by mistaken
the outcome of an event. That
appearances. These happen when
attachment is the root of suffering.
OM TIMES | February 2022
Nonattachment provides us with
at various stages and in various
the freedom to be loving, caring,
lifetimes.
and compassionate without regard to the “I,” “me,” or “my” feelings,
That is why, while I feel compassion
wants, desires, hopes, or outcomes.
toward all sentient beings and try
We can be entirely compassionate
my best to help them—to feed the
without being pulled into the drama.
hungry, to help the sick, visit the
We must realize that each person is
lonely, and lift the sad—I cannot save
operating within the framework of
them from the implications of their
his or her own karma. Karmic seeds
karma. Therefore, I must not become
planted in the mental continuum,
attached to happiness or to sadness.
or the monad, over many lifetimes
We must be in control of our mind
since beginningless time, ripen
and train it so that we do what we do
OM TIMES | February 2022
with the right intention. If we enter into
experiences failure. But as long as
action with an eye on results, or with
we are not focused on results, we
wrong intention, we will not be free
can act with equanimity.
to act in the best interest of others— and that is the ultimate reason to act.
Nonattachment does not excuse us
Attachment to results distracts us from
from our duty or from performing
acting in the optimum manner to act
right action. We can perform right
on behalf of all sentient beings.
action, but if we do not understand why we are performing that action,
Nonattachment also allows us to be
our action might be of no avail.
“open to success or failure.” Not all of our actions will be successful, and
Understanding this truth brings us
everyone in this samsaric existence
freedom. Attachment to outcomes
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
limits us to the outcome we have
can even allow them to die at their
defined as acceptable. Any outcome
appointed time without inserting
beyond what we have determined to
our own wants and needs into the
be the only acceptable one leaves us
picture.
unhappy, disappointed, and unable to experience spiritual growth from the situation.
* * * Excerpted from The Illusion of Life
Nonattachment is love.
and Death: Mind, Consciousness,
Love and attachment are often
Goldsberry (November 2021). Used
and Eternal Being by Clare
confused which is why we suffer so deeply with the loss of someone we love. We feel it so deeply because of our attachment to the person and the feelings we have about the person. Death causes us to experience deep sorrow because we are now denied the feelings that gave us so much pleasure and satisfaction.
with permission from Monkfish Book Publishing Company. * * * Phoenix-based author and practicing Buddhist, Clare Goldsberry wrote The Illusion of Life and Death: Mind, Consciousness, and Eternal Being after her partner Brent’s
Pure love—unconditional love – is unmixed with attachment and stems entirely from a concern for others’ happiness. This pure love, or unconditional love, which is really a true compassion, results in peace and happiness for both us and others. When we love without attachment, we truly love. We can then give our loved ones the space to be who they are and walk the path they are meant to walk. We
illness and death, and share the beautiful way he embraced his cancer as an “adventure” —with the hope of helping people understand what having a good death means: a death without fear of the unknown – to trust the path of passing – that makes living so much more enjoyable. For more information on Clare Goldsberry and her work, visit: ClareGoldsberry.com
OM TIMES | February 2022
Meet Every Moment Awake to a Limitless Life by Guy Finley
OM TIMES | February 2022
I
t’s safe to say that most of us
choices is put to the test. And if these
wrestle with some frustration
self-limiting states partly produce
daily. This kind of dissatisfaction
our choices in such moments, how
can be with ourselves, over
can we limit our help to free us of
what we can or can’t get done—
anything? It’s obvious: it cannot. So
or with others, who may deny us
what are we to do?
our wish or otherwise disappoint our expectations. Accordingly, we
We need a full new and true
can feel as though we are blocked,
understanding of what “living
incapable, unable, not strong, or wise
without limits” really means. It does
enough to move ahead as we would.
not mean the power to manifest endless possessions or to access
The more we feel the unwanted
instant pleasures on demand. Even
presence of this limitation—
if we could achieve such ends, our
accompanied as it always is by a
lives would still be fearfully empty
host of painful dark thoughts and
for having to refill them continually.
emotions—the more our attention is
What is limitless in life—without end
diverted to wrestle with them.
within us—is our God-given potential to transcend limitations. Let’s take a
Without seeing it, our struggle is no
simple example:
longer with wanting to understand the actual cause of our situation, but
Those of us who have ever done any
it is now with these negative states
work on strengthening our physical
that we don’t want. For example,
body know that at one point or
feeling resentment over what we
another, it will tell us, “Enough! No
regret about ourselves only makes
more! I can’t go any further!” So we
sense to the mind that believes
know, by this pain or discomfort, we
soaking in a mud bath is the best
feel—especially when it comes to
way to get clean!
conditioning workouts—that our body is saying it has reached a certain limit
To some extent, we know that
beyond which it does not want to go.
negative states limit our freedom because, in their dark presence, even
But, in the same moment, our
our natural power of making proper
experience knows the body always
OM TIMES | February 2022
“complains” when it doesn’t want
whatever “body” it is in which we
to go further than it’s used to
encounter such limitation—be it
going. So, knowing this pain is
physical, psychological, or spiritual?
just part of what must be paid
When we reach the point where
to grow stronger, we ignore the
parts of us start to feel some pain,
“warning” and push on to achieve
some discomfort, it’s not that there
the higher result we seek. Why do
isn’t more we could do; no, what
we make this choice? Because we
limits us here is what we are afraid
understand, ahead of time, that
to go through in that moment.
this limit we have reached is only a temporary one; it is not the end of
What is it about this kind of fear
what is possible for us to do.
that makes it so powerful? The answer may be hard to believe:
Now, can we see that this same
fear’s power over us is nothing
reality must hold regardless of
more than the way it causes us
OM TIMES | February 2022
to forget the truth of ourselves,
Actualizing our spiritual right to
which is this: we are created to
live without the f rustration of
eternally transcending the limits
fearful limitations is not a question
of our present nature, to transform
of achieving something new;
who and what we have been in the
it begins with choosing to end
very moment it ceases to serve the
a relationship with that which
good of us.
has never been true. So, it isn’t a question of “What do I do?” but
But, because we have forgotten
“What must I bring an end to?”
this or—more accurately—because we are asleep to its power in us,
Whenever we consider striking
we are compelled to search for,
a long-overdue blow for our
find, and then believe in “powers”
f reedom—whether it’s to walk
outside of ourselves that always
away from an abusive relationship,
betray us in our hour of need.
start a new career, or maybe
OM TIMES | February 2022
OM TIMES | February 2022
spend more time by ourselves—
Guy Finley is an internationally
these fears only grant us their
renowned spiritual teacher and
consent to move ahead after
bestselling self-help author. He is
they’ve considered our proposed
the Founder and Director of Life of
action in the light of what may
Learning Foundation, a nonprofit
become of us should we take it.
center for spiritual self-study located in Merlin, Oregon. He is the best-selling
But the truth is, the more we
author of The Secret of Letting Go and
prepare to be fearless, the more
45 other books and audio programs
afraid we become! So here’s the
that have sold over 2 million copies
new action to find the fearless
in 30 languages. Guy holds regular
life: Meet every moment awake to
in-person classes at Life of Learning
what it wants to give to us: a life
Foundation, including two free talks
essentially limitless in its newness.
each week live-streamed www.
At the same time, detect and reject
guyfinley.org/online. These classes
any fearful imagining about what
are open to all. For more information
might be lost should we step into
about Guy Finley and Life of Learning
the unknown moment before us.
Foundation, visit www.guyfinley.org
OM TIMES | February 2022
Books
In "If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk," John Pavlovitz invites you to unbox God, reexamine your faith, and love your damn neighbor!
For many people, their former religious doctrines have begun to feel like an old pair of tight pants–you can hop, shimmy, and try to cram yourself in, but you can’t deny that they no longer fit. Healthy spirituality shouldn’t be kept in a space too small or narrow. It’s natural for it to grow and evolve along with us. That journey can be initially terrifying but ultimately liberating. In "If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk", John Pavlovitz invites us to look at organized Christianity with fresh eyes and to ask whether or not many modern expressions of it are actually loving. Pushing readers to be agents of empathy, he asks us to imagine a world in which all people of faith, morality, and conscience aspire to a mantra of compassion and interdependence. John encourages the creation of wide open, fearless communities, where there are no “religious experts,” simply good neighbors. Belief systems should be reflected in how we treat one another. The most important question of any dogma shouldn’t be “Is it true?” but rather “Is it helpful?” Join the “Church of Not Being Horrible” and find a world where spiritual community provides a sense of belonging. Take a new look at the existence of hell, the utility of prayer, the treatment of LGBTQ+ communities, and the value of anger. Reshape your relationship with God and your neighbors and remind yourself that love has the last and loudest word. Because above all else, faith shouldn’t make you jerk.
For more information, or to purchase the book, click the cover or visit:
Amazon.com
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