The Owl Magazine | Summer 2017

Su m m er 2017

Are You In

Resonance or

Di ssonance?

An In t er view w it h Soul Archaeologist Ken St on e

PAST LIFE REGRESSION Filling in t he Pieces of Your Soul Puzzle

How To For give

Religion

WELCOME A blend of religious and spiritual wisdom from traditional and non-traditional teachings.

Dissonance, un-forgiveness, and disconnection seem to be the prevailing energies in our world today. We are not separate from each other and the collective Consciousness. In fact, we are part of an ongoing co-creation with each other and All That Is. Many times, on many days, from many sides this can feel overwhelming and out of balance. Do not despair. The good news is we are each a microcosm of the greater macrocosm and how we personally connect within and shine our Light out has a profound impact. Dive deep with us into the beautiful wisdom shared within these pages. Find your personal resonance, forgiveness, and connection.

We welcome everyone to the table to share in the rich feast of Life and Living.

MEET US

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy.

Pat r icia Caggan ello Editor Patricia is an interfaith interspiritual minister and CEO and Founder of Sacred Stories Media, which includes book publishing, a telesummit, podcasting, The Owl, and an online learning division Sacred U.

Fr an n e Dem et r ician Associate Editor and Creative Coordinator Franne is an interfaith interspiritual minister, spiritual counselor and relationship mentor, holistic health practitioner, teacher, writer, photographer, and artist.

M egan Br ook s Assistant Editor Megan is a senior in college majoring in Advertising and Public Relations. She shares her editorial and design skills across many of the Sacred Stories Media platforms.

Come On In & See What 's Inside feat ur es Ar e You In Reson an ce?| 6 Hear in g Th e Call | 10 M an if est In Th e Ph ysical Wor ld | 12 11 Way To Con n ect Wit h You r Gu ides | 20 Past Lif e Regr ession | 28 Con n ect in g To Sacr ed En er gies | 34 How To For give Religion | 36

in ever y issue A Sacr ed St or y | 4 Ar m s Ar ou n d You | 16 Wisdom Keeper s | 24 Ran dom Act s of AWESOM E | 40 An Excer pt f r om The Key To LIFE| 42 Sacr ed St or ies Book s | 46

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 4

A Sacr ed St or y Every story starts at the beginning.

In my beginning, I wasn?t alone. I shared the womb and a chaotic childhood with my twin brother. Our alcoholic biological father left before we were two years old and never returned. He was our mom?s third of six dysfunctional marriages. My twin brother and I spent our childhood protecting each other from our alcoholic parents and all the craziness that ensued. He was my playmate and best friend.

Bu t t h en h e ch an ged.

My twin brother became what we used to hide from? an abusive addict and rage-aholic.

As a young girl, I expected that he would be my lifelong best friend. But as an adult, most of my friends didn?t even know that I had a twin brother.

The sad truth is that we barely spoke in our later years, and I was embarrassed he was my twin.

Until the day he was gone.

I was stunned when I received the call. Even though the ambulance was on the way, it was too late. He was dead. Later I would find out that he died by overdose. Did he want to kill

himself? The death certificate says he did. My gut says no, he didn?t want to die. What he wanted was to end his lifelong suffering and pain.

He gave me a lifetime of horrible moments I could easily hold against him? drunken rages, physical abuse, and pages of lies. He was gone now.

So what did that mean for me? Was I supposed to only remember the good side of his difficult personality?

Would all the damaging and destructive memories disappear because he was gone? I waited. No. The memories were still stuck in my head and my heart. How was I going to forgive my brother without him acknowledging he was wrong?

Af t er all, h e didn?t live u p t o m y expect at ion s of w h at a br ot h er sh ou ld be.

One day, I was traveling. As the plane took off, I looked out the window and thought about my family. My thoughts bounced from my alcoholic mother who died of Alzheimer ?s a few months prior? to my abusive twin brother. I could feel the familiar anger and pain rise in my belly. I wanted to be free of the

anger, grief, and sadness I carried. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to let it go, but how? I sent up a silent prayer. I needed help.

neighbors, bosses, and situations like death, cancer, and accidents.

And most people struggle with how to forgive.

Soon the flight attendant came around with a napkin and a tiny bag of pretzels. I pushed the pretzels out of the way and gazed down at the napkin. I grabbed a pen and started to draw lines, like a map. At the top of the napkin I wrote, ?My Story,? and at the bottom, I wrote ?Forgiveness.?

I looked down, and in an instant, I knew I had the answer to my prayer.

I just needed to find the stops on the map. I shoved the napkin into my bag and my plane landed.

I lear n ed t h at love, n o m at t er h ow m u ch w e w an t it t o solve ever yt h in g, doesn?t f ix ever yt h in g.

I knew I had to begin the journey to forgiveness and heal. And I was desperate to uncover how to forgive.

Armed with piles of books on forgiveness and a stack of sacred scriptures from every major religion, I started my journey. What I quickly discovered in my research is that society and religion agree that letting go and forgiving is a good idea, but they both left out the ?how.?

So, that little map on the airplane napkin morphed and grew? and turned into my how. As I mapped out my journey and talked about forgiveness to anyone who would listen, I discovered that most people have someone or some situation to forgive: ex?s, parents, friends,

I loved my brother and my mother, and I still wanted them to change and to fix all the wrongs that were done to me.

After my ministerial ordination, I thought my work would primarily be with hospice patients and speaking to audiences about death and dying.

Little did I know at the time that forgiveness would one day become the theme in my life and my work.

That little map on a napkin grew to become Rev. Misty?s Forgiveness Algorithm? . Then came workshops, talks, and my book The Forgiveness Solution: A Step by Step Process to Let It Go. My life?s work is to save other people time on their forgiveness journey with a lifelong tool for leading a healthier, happier life.

Forgiveness truly is the link between love and healing.

Rev. M ist y Tym e is a forgiveness expert, author, speaker, and creator of The Forgiveness Algorithm (TM).

Read Rev. Misty's article How t o For give Religion on page 34.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 6

Ar e You in

Resonance or in Di ssonance?

A resonant experience with Soul Archaeologist Ken Stone.

Ken you r ef er t o you r self as a sou l ar ch aeologist . Wh at do you m ean by t h at ?

There is this idea in spirituality and metaphysics that we're trying to reach beyond what we really are. That we have to get to a higher vibration or become more than that which we are right now. My perception is that it's actually the opposite. We're already everything that we are right now. And when we have an opportunity to uncover or excavate what's already within us, that's when we begin to have experiences that we traditionally associated with being a higher vibration. We're actually uncovering and allowing the wholeness that is within us to express in each part of our being and our lives. And that's what I mean by soul archeology; we get to uncover the soul, uncover the vehicle through which we encounter and experience God.

How does t h e en cou n t er an d exper ien ce w it h God f eel?

It?s this elusive thing you know. And to make it even more elusive, we read about or we study people called mystics who have these direct experiences of God. And for me at least that always made it seem more remote and inaccessible. And then the first time I sat down with somebody to just put my hands on them, my hands and feet started buzzing and then my whole body started buzzing. And something extraordinary began to happen in that person as well. And their pain went away and I felt like a door was opening within me to something deep inside of me and at the same time a door was opening within the person I was with.

And we were beginning to have a deeper experience of ourselves and of the Divine within each of us.

Let 's t alk m or e abou t w h at t h is f eelin g or exper ien ce is.

Everything in our experience we can identify in a place of polarity. It's either in resonance or dissonance, or some of it's in resonance and some of it is in dissonance. We're all looking for deeper experiences of resonance; whatever that means to you or to me or to anyone. And when we have a deeper experience of resonance especially if it's in our body or in our mind or in a relationship or with money or on any level that's important, we realize that experience of resonance is a byproduct of something much deeper, a deeper experience. It's a byproduct of the experience and the integration of that encounter and embodiment of the divine.

And so, if we can individually begin to open to that experience to actually have the experience and to integrate it into our lives, that is a turning point or maybe more appropriately the tipping point within our experience of ourselves and our experience of the Divine within our lives.

"Ever yt hing is f low ing f r om t he deeper exper ience of your inner wholeness."

If we look at our lives and we think okay, these things I'm experiencing in resonance and these things are in dissonance and I want to fix these things then generally, we try to figure out what's wrong and then fix them.

What can I do to fix it? But simply take the approach that everything is flowing from the deeper experience of your inner wholeness and the more you integrate and embody that, the more you feel that, the more your life is transformed.

So, let's have this deeper experience of who we really are and then begin noticing how that experience of flow that sometimes is a little elusive becomes a more consistent and predictable part of our lives.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 8

"... t o t hat dir ect exper ience of t he peace t hat is beyond language, beyond wor ds."

Is t h e dir ect exper ien ce w it h God also im por t an t f or t h e Collect ive?

If collectively we're all tapping into and having this experience of who we really are then the collective experience of dissonance which may be quite dominant right now for a lot of people begins to be a collective experience of resonance. And what would that mean?

Well, let's go find out together.

You r w or k is t h e Reson an ce Exper im en t . Tell u s abou t t h at .

The premise of the Resonance Experiment is that everyone has a direct connection with Source which is a pretty common perception. But the theory of the Resonance Experiment is that everyone can actually have an experience of that connection, a direct experience in their body viscerally.

The experiment seeks to invite a large number of people from around the world; different backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives, and states of consciousness to individually open to that experience within themselves and have an experience of that and then

notice how that influences and impacts in their day to day life, in the circle of the experiment, and then in the world.

Wh at can people h ope t o ach ieve per son ally in t h e Reson an ce Exper im en t ?

Well, I think that's the thing that's so compelling about the word resonance to me. It's not that. Resonance is one thing. You know today for me resonance might mean a deeper experience of my whole soul or a deeper sense of peace. But if I'm hungry, a deeper experience of resonance might mean food or if I'm sad, a deeper resonance might mean a sense of joy. We all bring our own perspectives to the experiment. So the opportunity, the invitation of the experiment is to actually shift the experience of our lives of who we really are to have a fundamental change in our perspective. But we're going to change our perspective not intellectually but experientially. We?re going to do it by having a different feeling in our being. The invitation of the experiment is to be with whatever unfolds within you in a way that's meaningful to you.

How t h is w ill h elp u s Collect ively t o r each t h is t ippin g poin t ?

The ever elusive tipping point. Rather than trying to explore that intellectually, I?m interested in exploring that experientially. In other words, let?s see

what happens within you, then let's see what happens within the circle, and then let's see if there are any noticeable shifts in the world.

And this is one of the reasons why I'm excited and very enthusiastic about the experiment in September. And I'm also excited for the experiment in 2018 and 2019 and beyond because this is a cumulative and not a linear experience meaning the more we dip into who we really are, the greater the frequency, the more profound and sustaining the transformation.

Can ever yon e join t h e Reson an ce Exper im en t ?

Sure everyone, it doesn't matter what you believe, how extraordinary or how awful your life has been, how wonderful the things that have been done to you or you've done to others are. It just doesn?t matter. You know my experiences in witnessing people all around the world is the Divine within is equally accessible no matter who we are, no matter our background, no matter our beliefs. So join us and let's have our own experiment, let's see what unfolds. And most importantly, let?s find out what the answers to these questions are for you. I love sharing my perspective but the thing I'm really inspired to do is share my gifts with others so that they can begin having that kind of profound transformation within themselves, for themselves in a way that's most meaningful to them.

Wh at st r ik es m e as I'm list en in g t o you speak is t h e idea of t h e peace t h at su r passes all u n der st an din g.

Oh yeah. Yeah it makes me cry it's?

God is unknowable but Divine is a mystery. And the way that that mystery reveals itself through Him as each of us is as unique as all of us on the planet are from each other. And yet, there is this single unifying presence in all of us.

And it's from the encounter and the integration and embodiment of that presence that we all come to that direct experience of the peace that is beyond language, beyond words.

Th e Reson an ce Exper im en t is a free, online event happening on Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th! Click Her e to join Ken and thousands of others to create a lasting pathway for peace and groundedness so you can live the rest of your life with the highest confidence possible!

Ken W Stone, ?The Soul Archaeologist? is an internationally recognized Spiritual Teacher and Creator of The Resonance Experiment. With his ability to energetically re-tune a person's body, mind, and spirit Ken has helped thousands of people all over the world remember and experience their Divine nature .

Ken has spoken along-side such luminaries as Neale Donald Walsh, Marianne Williamson, Don Miguel Ruiz, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and many other powerful spiritual leaders.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 10

Hear ing t he Call

by M in di Yeger I?ve come a long way in my fifty years, especially having been raised in an ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community in Boro Park, Brooklyn NY. My life, as for all girls born into that community in that era, was scripted for me. I was to learn the rules of the Torah (Bible), follow the laws of modesty and other strict rules for girls, get through school, get married and have children.

The wedding ceremony and subsequent children to raise was the pinnacle that any young religious Jewish girl could hope to reach along with continuing the traditions and the teachings for the next generations; to be stewards for the way of life to continue. My life took a sharp detour when I left an abusive marriage with my three children. In the process of my divorce I found the confines of the community unbearable. I left the community, and the community left me.

Fourteen years later and there have been many changes. Perhaps most important is finding a progressive, inclusive way of being Jewish. I was welcomed into a community focused on the ?being? of Judaism rather than the doing of it. One Friday night in May of 2017 at a Shabbat service the Rabbi, a

brilliant woman and a new friend, was talking about an experience in Israel during Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day where the country honors the fallen military men and women and those lost to terror attacks or to the various wars that have been fought in that seemingly endless conflict between brothers/cousins. She spoke about attending and being truly moved by ceremonies to honor the fallen, listening to the somber music and the stories of family members speaking their grief and their losses. As she spoke I listened deeply. My children live in Israel and I am ever grateful that my sons and daughter are still here for me to hug and hold. She then spoke of an event organized by peace activists called ?Combatants for Peace? along with a group of people from both the Israeli side and the Palestinian side who had lost loved ones and have joined together to cross that divide and

support one another in healing from their losses. This was a ceremony that would include music and testimony from the Israeli and the Muslim communities and there would be a coming together in peaceful remembering and honoring those lost loved ones.

The Rabbi then described the waves of protesters that were amassed on the route to the stadium and how she needed a security escort to get through the crowd that were yelling and calling them horrid names for choosing this path. For the protesters, acknowledging the pain and loss of the enemy was to diminish and disrespect their own losses. On one hand, I understand that position since the day was dedicated to remembering Israel?s fallen and those who have sacrificed. But the bigger goal, the wider bridge that was being created was far too compelling to NOT keep going forward. After what she described as an extraordinary evening of prayers, music, sharing and grieving, the Rabbi made her way out of the stadium a changed woman. She was filled with the experience of mutual respect and the care that was shown to those that shared of their loved ones.

She was met on the outside by a mob of protesters that had grown in size and vitriol. Worse names, louder yelling, it was an awful re-awakening to the realities on the ground in Israel.

Looking back, however, she would not

have changed her mind about attending. As she put it, ?It was just something I was called to do and it changed me forever.?

As I listened tearfully, I realized that this story is a metaphor for my life. I was in what seemed a comfortable bubble of community where there was one and only one way to be. But when I was called forth to find my own journey ? to follow my soul?s purpose - I was met with a great deal of anger and resentment. It was not an easy journey to embark upon ? certainly not a popular one. But along my journey my heart has been opened, my connection to the divine secured, my vision of the world widened to recognize the divine brotherhood of each human being. I am forever changed. I know that those who make the same choice will face even greater challenges and I hold them in my heart. Hearing the call and then heeding the call to follow our soul?s purpose may not be easy and it may not be popular, but for me it is a call I hope to continue to answer all the days of my life.

M in di Yeger lives in Teaneck, NJ and is currently pursuing a degree in social work.

She works as a legal research analyst for a global information services company and volunteers in a variety of organizations.

Mindi also performs standup comedy in NY and NJ.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 12

How Does t he Spir it ual Wor ld Manifest Int o t he Physical Wor ld?

By: Gene Ang, Ph. D. A major question in esoteric spiritual science is how does the spiritual world manifest into the physical world? We will seek to understand this question and possible answers and ramifications in this article. We start out with two models of reality which will shape our discussion.

The first model is the Four Body Model. In this model, we start out with the physical domain. This means the physical body. The model also suggests a dimension such as the physical dimension or physical reality in which that physical body functions within. The next dimension is the etheric. This would include the pranic, chi, or bioenergy level. When we talk about acupuncture meridians, chakras, or the energy body we are referring to processes in the etheric dimension. The next level is the astral dimension. The astral dimension or astral body is composed of the emotional body and mental body. The final dimension after the astral is called the Ego spelled with a capital E. This does not refer to the well-known Freudian ego which refers

more to the personality. The astral dimension fits more with the ego which Freud described. The Ego in the Four Body Model corresponds more to the Higher Self. The word in German for this dimension translates into Ego, or I AM. The Seven Planes of Nature model expands certain bodies or dimensions in the Four Body model into other dimensions. The Seven Planes of Nature model keeps the physical dimension and etheric dimension but expands the astral and Ego dimensions.

The astral dimension is split into the emotional and mental dimension. The Ego is split into three dimensions: causal, spiritual, and divine. The causal dimension is also known as the karmic dimension and holds the blueprint level of causes and effects accumulated by our actions and intentions over lifetimes. The spiritual dimension is the information field from our soul. The divine dimension is the highest dimension where our consciousness is unified with Source or the Godhead.

The divine is non-dual consciousness.

Every dimension below the divine is in duality where there is light and dark.

To directly answer our question of how the spiritual world manifests into the physical world we use the idea called the Doctrine of Emanation. This states that from the divine or unity state of consciousness we and all of creation manifested into more exvoluted and denser dimensions of space and consciousness. Our consciousness and energy went from the divine dimension and slowed down in its rate and vibration as it descended into the spiritual dimension, the causal dimension, the mental dimension, the emotional dimension, the etheric dimension, and finally into the physical dimension. As this process occurred, consciousness became more exvoluted or outward and separated in orientation and energy or vibrations become denser. Also, in an interesting twist, meditation reverses this process and allows our consciousness to return to the divine by becoming more involuted or unified in our consciousness and energy.

There is a teaching in Rosicrucianism or esoteric Christianity particularly from Rudolf Steiner which specifically goes over the etheric physics of how vibrations from the astral dimension (mental/emotional dimension) manifest into the physical dimension. The process goes through 4 specific steps of densification. As the astral plane is densifying, it first manifests into the Warmth Ether. The Warmth Ether is

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 14

taking on a heat signature and can be visualized with infra-red equipment.

This is typically what is captured in orb photos (see attached photo). The Warmth Ether is symbolized by the element of fire.

The next densification from the Warmth Ether is into the Light Ether.

At this point, the Light Ether can be seen by physical eyes as sparks of light and color. The Light Ether is symbolized by the element of Air. The Light Ether then manifests into the denser Chemical Ether. The Chemical Ether takes on a liquid or chemical form and is symbolized by the element of water. The final etheric form is the Life Ether. This is the point right before the etheric plane manifests into the physical plane and is symbolized by the element of earth.

The bones, in particular, can hold and store the Life Ether.

There is also a unique fifth ether which is still being created specifically by humanity. It is formed when a person acts with selfless service for others. Hence it is also known as the Fifth Moral Ether. The process involves the creation of a gold vibration in the etheric or energy body. When a person acts selflessly, this gold vibration is released from the heart chakra into her etheric body. It accumulates in the person's etheric body throughout her life. At the time of death, certain angelic beings will

"Ther e is also a unique f if t h et her which is st ill being cr eat ed specif ically by humanit y". collect this gold ether, the Fifth Moral Ether, and it will be used to create the next cycle of evolution. Humanity's task is to fully create this unique ether. The creation of the Fifth Moral Ether requires a fully developed heart center. When the heart is open, it sends a rose colored etheric energy to the head center and pineal gland. This further opens up the head center and the pineal gland. Rudolf Steiner called this process the etherization of the blood. To more fully develop a person's sensing of subtle vibrations and clairvoyance, the heart center needs to be fully open and coordinated with the head center. By studying the science of energy, information, and vibrations; you can understand in a more in-depth manner the role of consciousness in forming matter. Gene teaches Th e Qu an t u m Appr oach es t o Healin g On -lin e Cou r se at Sacred U which goes into the role of vibrations and consciousness in healing and intention work.

Gen e An g, Ph .D. received his BA from Stanford University in Human Biology and Philosophy/ Religious Studies, and his Ph.D from Yale University in Neurobiology.

Gene's work centers around the use of subtle energy to restore balance and harmony to the body and mind.

Ther e is anot her me.

I k now it .

I feel it . an excer pt f r om Scanning For Signal

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 16

By Fr anne Demet r ician Recently I spent some time in Florida with a friend who is a Feng Shui practitioner and master teacher. She hosts a special series via Facebook Live and asked me to participate with her in a discussion about ritual and ceremony. We spoke about how we usually associate ceremonies and rituals with weddings, funerals, religious surroundings, and pomp and circumstance. And that?s all well and good. I personally love all the pomp and circumstance of big ceremonies, especially weddings. I also love creating these ceremonies for our clients. For some the idea of rituals and ceremonies is exciting and they enter the space with delight, anticipation and reverence. For others, not so much. Some regard ritual and ceremony with dread and resistance as it may bring up wounding or distasteful experiences from childhood. Quite understandable.

What I have found is that ritual and ceremony can be comforting, life-affirming, gentle, and easy, rather than anxiety-provoking, scary, and complicated. It can also be about the parts of our day and our lives that have personal meaning or significance for us. It can be for mundane aspects of our day that we choose to make sacred. For instance, in the orthodox Jewish tradition every moment of the day is made sacred by blessing. There is a blessing for turning on lights, lighting candles, washing hands, even using the bathroom. All of life is sacred and worthy of blessing, and that blessing is ritual. We can make anything a sacred ritual.

Personally, I have a morning ritual of saying ?thank you? when I awaken. I do this because every day is a blessing and I am grateful for the opportunity have yet another one in which to create. So, I make it a point each morning to consciously express my

gratitude as the day begins. Then I go downstairs and make coffee. This is also a ritual of sorts. I love my morning coffee. And every day I follow the same steps to make it - rinse the pot, place the grounds, fill the tank, press the button, take my dog Sophie out for her morning walk, come back to a house filled with the aroma I love so much.

Then the next ritual - pour that gorgeous rich aromatic brown liquid into the cup of choice , breathe in the delicious trail of coffee-mist that arises as I pour, add a little half and half and watch it swirl into my cup making beautiful designs within the liquid, raise the cup to my lips and take that first delightful sip. Ahhh - sacred ritual. The Ritual of Coffee. Sound a little crazy?

Think about the things you do in your day. Do you brush your teeth, shower, apply makeup or shave? Do you have routines that you follow every day?

Believe it or not, these are rituals. They give structure to your day. They keep you on track.

Cambridge dictionary defines ritual as ?any act done regularly, usually without thinking about it?. Making coffee. Now simply add consciousness to the ritual.

Add meaning to the ritual that is unique to you. Now you have ceremony as well.

Cambridge defines ceremony this way: ?a set of acts, often traditional or religious, performed at a formal occasion esp. to recognize an important event, or the performing of such acts?.

Can brushing your teeth be recognized as an important event? I think so. You have teeth to eat with. You have good health because you eat nourishing food. You have food for nourishment.

See how this goes? We can make anything ritual and create ceremony around anything if we attach meaning to it.

This is not to say that we MUST create ritual and/or ceremony about everything we do. Yet we can make anything sacred if it has direct meaning for us. And we can acknowledge that sacredness by simply noticing it and saying, ?Thank You?.

Imagine having your evening meal by first lighting a candle, expressing gratitude for the moment and the food you are about to consume. It can be that simple. Or as you get into your car to head to work or the gym or whatever you do, take a breath and simply be there with consciousness. When you do this every day it becomes your ritual or ceremony for starting the car or inviting safety as you drive. Simple.

Easy. No anxiety or drama. Just meaning.

Un t il n ext t im e.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 18

?When summer opens, I see how fast it mat ur es, and fear it w ill be shor t ; but af t er t he heat s of July and August , I am r econciled, like one who has had his sw ing, t o t he cool of aut umn.?

-Ralph Waldo Emer son, Amer ican essayist and scholar

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 20

11 St eps t o Communicat e w it h Your Guides Do you struggle with seeing, hearing and sensing your Guides?

Have you tried again and again to connect with your Guides but you feel like nothing happens?

Do you worry that they aren?t there because you aren?t directly communicating them?

Well, I?m here to show you that they are and I can help you get in touch with them!

Using my quick and easy 11 step exercise, you can finally access all the answers that are stored in the seat of your soul.

I wholeheartedly believe we are all gifted and that we all have Guides. It?s been my mission to show people how to co-create a life with their Guides so they can experience joy,

By: Mar ilyn Alaur ia

peace, love, and abundance beyond their imagination. We are all capable of making the dreams in our hearts a reality. Your Guides can show you exactly how to do it!

Why am I so passionate about this?

Many years ago, I was extremely depressed and lost. I knew I had gifts, yet I wasn?t sure what they were or how I was supposed to work with them. I was working so hard on myself through therapy and classes that I would gain momentum for a short time then hit a wall. It was a never-ending cycle of start, go, stop, start, go stop. Frankly, it was frustrating the heck out of me!

During my quest to find the answers, I stumbled across a Medium who

recommended that I focus on learning how to use my gifts so I could transform my life. When I started working directly with my gifts and my Guides, my life shifted exponentially. I began living my truth. It was a giant sigh of relief. The truth is better than you think!

I?m here to tell you that when you lean into this incredible Council of Guides and start telling them your secrets, they work with you to create a life worth living ? a life where you spring out of your bed, inspired to start your day, a life where you feel joy and experience clarity around the choices you need to make. When you stumble and fall, Your Guides are there to pick you up, brush you off and reveal a new truth that will lead you down an even better

road. They love you unconditionally and remind you of why you are here. They take you by the hand and work with you to co-create the life that you are meant to live.

Today, I want to give you a glimpse into this world and teach you how to contact your Guides.

I am going to outline a simple, effective step by step process that you can do every day to work with your Guides. The beauty is that you can't get stuck if you use your imagination!

Envision they are there.

You have nothing to lose by just letting yourself picture them in your mind?s eye. I know so many of you are hesitant to use your imagination because then you think it isn?t real. But the key is realizing that your access to your Guides is actually through your creative soul, so imagination is essential to get there!

Over the past decade working with my Guides, I have discovered that

there is always an answer to whatever question you have. We just tend to miss it or not trust what our Guides give us as answers.

Could that butterfly that landed on the yellow flower I?ve been staring at really be my Guide?

It sure can!

Just like learning a new language or getting a six pack in the gym, daily practice is necessary for reaching any goal. In this

case, speaking to and reading signs from your Guides is your goal. This requires regular effort to hone your abilities.

But how can you practice if you don't know where to begin?

This 11 step exercise, including a fun game to play with your Guide, is a method you can use daily. It will teach you how to trust the signals and understand the answers.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 22

So put your imagination hat on, have fun, and let?s meet your Guides!

your scenarios. Then, let it go. Let go and let Spirit.

St ep 1: Br eat h e w it h you r Gu ides.

When you sit down to have your breakfast each morning, acknowledge the presence of your Guides. See if you can feel them around you. If you can?t, then just imagine them sitting in the empty chair next to you or standing over your right shoulder then simply say hello.

Acknowledgment is the best way to open a dialogue with them and to build certainty in your communication.

Every morning, right after you wake up but before you even get out of bed, take 3-5 deep breaths.

St ep 2: Tr u st you r Gu ides.

Make a commitment to your Guides that you trust them, especially when life throws you curveballs and you desperately need answers to your biggest questions. Offering up your unconditional trust is a sign of readiness and a willingness to more forward in clarity.

St ep 3: Ask . Let Go, Let Gu ide!

You may want to know whether you should ask for a raise, break up with your significant other, or buy that car. I want you to ask them where to go, what to do, who you need to see, and what you need to say in all

St ep 4: Ack n ow ledge an d im agin e.

St ep 5: En gage w it h t h e h elp of you r Gu ides.

Before you open emails, pick up the phone, or talk to your child?s teacher, breathe with your Guides again, then breathe in with them, inviting them into communication with you.

St ep 6: Pau se an d ask a qu est ion .

Later in the day, take a break from what you?re doing and close your

eyes, and take 3-5 deep breaths with your Guides then ask them a question. Open your eyes and scan the room as you count to ten.

When you reach ten, STOP and notice what happens next. What did you see? Where did your eyes land? How does it make you feel? This is the symbol.

St ep 7: An alyze t h e sym bol.

Do you like that symbol?

How does it make you feel? What color is it? Do you like that color? What does that color mean to you? If it had a smell what would it smell like?

Where did the symbol come from - even if it?s something as basic as a tree, answer the question.

St ep 8: Gam e Tim e!

Give t h e sym bol a voice.

If your symbol could talk, what would it want to say to you? Even if it?s one word, even if you think you are making this up, even if you think this

is crazy, play along and let the symbol give you a word. You?ll be pleasantly surprised by the reply.

St ep 9: Th an k you r Gu ides.

Take a moment to thank your Guides and write down what your symbol said, even if it didn?t provide an answer that you fully understand at that moment. Don?t worry if you still aren?t clear.

You?re going to try again tomorrow.

St ep 10: Ack n ow ledge you r Gu ides.

Before bed, light a candle, say a prayer, or say thank you to your Guides. They are there for you every step of the way, and they want to help. Show your appreciated for having them on your team!

St ep 11: Expect you r Gu ides again t om or r ow.

Go to sleep and rest assured that tomorrow you will be with them and that you can talk to them again. Feel it get easier to say goodnight.

You did it! Woo hoo!

Whether you had a profound insight or experienced nothing, know that you have set the wheels in motion, and your life is going to change for the better.

Now before I leave you, look up and blow a kiss to your Guides. Aaah, just doing that makes everyone feel better.

Much love to all of you!

An internationally renowned psychic medium and creator of the The 28 Day Challenge and Membership for Your Soul, M ar ilyn Alau r ia, is passionate about teaching you how to engage your gifts, meet your Guides, and live an awe-inspired life.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 24

WisdomKeeper s A r ecur r ing visit w it h one of t he wor ld's w isdom t r adit ions.

Explor e w isdom f r om Judaism.

The Shofar 's Cr y

By Chani Get t er For some Jewish people, Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, is about renewal and reflection on the year that has passed and setting goals for the year ahead. For others it is about family time, coming together to renew our ties and be with those we love. Still others it

is about attending services and/or doing rituals such as casting our misdeeds into the water and listening to the shofar ?s cry. I refer to the shofar ?s cry, rather than simply the shofar because in the Talmud the Rabbi?s discuss that the sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah echo?s the wailing of Sisera?s mother who cried for her son when he did not return from battle. The Talmud (Hebrew for ?study?)

is one of the central works of the Jewish people. It is the record of rabbinic teachings that spans a period of about six hundred years, beginning in the first century C.E. and continuing through the sixth and seventh centuries C.E. The rabbinic teachings of the Talmud explain in great detail how the commandments of the Torah (The five books of Moses in The Bible) are to be carried out. Sisera was a commander of a Canaanite army, who oppressed the Israelite People and was killed by Yael, an Israelite woman.

If the Rabbi?s wanted to find a connection to crying there are many other references in Tanach (The Hebrew Bible). For example, when Jacob is overcome when he meets Rachel for the first time he sheds tears (Genesis 29:11); Chana sobs because she is barren (Samuel I 1:10), and Hagar weeps when she thinks that her son will die of thirst (Genesis 21:16). But our Rabbi?s chose not to use these references; instead they tell us that the 100 sounds we hear on Rosh Hashanah represent the 100 cries of Sisera?s mother. What does the cry of the mother of the Israelite?s enemy have to do with Rosh Hashanah? We live in a world where personal gain often comes at the expense of others. We turn a blind eye to the way our actions impact those around us and the Earth. Our intention is not to be mean or vindictive. More often it is oblivion.

Sometimes it takes too much effort to be mindful of how our words, actions, and purchases impact our environment. In order to remain unconscious, we create divisions; us and them. This way when things happen we can remain ignorant and tell ourselves that this happened to them, not us. That they did this to themselves, rather than acknowledging that we are all interconnected and every action has a ripple effect and causes a reaction.

Rosh Hashanah is about taking a step back and taking inventory. How have we behaved this past year? What would we like to do more? Less? How are our interactions with each other? Our families? Our colleagues? Our friends?

Our acquaintances and yes, even our enemies? It is a time that the Rabbi?s ask us to notice how our own actions effect those around us. We do not know the name of Sisera?s mother. Only that she is a mother; that she has a son, and she stands by the window awaiting his return from battle. Rosh Hashanah tell us to take a moment and notice that even if we felt threatened by Sisera or someone like him ? even if we want to rejoice in his downfall, we must remember that his mother is crying. We need to allow her pain to touch us, to feel it, to experience it. This is compassion.

Many of us have cried. We sob out of desperation, relief, despair, pain and loss. We weep because our loved ones

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 26

are in pain. We whimper when we feel guilty or ashamed. How many of us have cried because the ones who hurt us are hurting?

The cry of the shofar asks us to do just that. It invites us to come out of our usual bubble. It pushes us to interact with those we have labeled as ?other ?. It requires us to sit with them, and allow their cry to penetrate our hearts. Even more than that, it asks us to remember that they all have mothers.

This year, as we gather to celebrate the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Jewish day of atonement), may we be blessed to let go of our own defenses, to celebrate with the ones we love, and make room for those we have labeled other, and to

remember that every action we take impacts everything around us.

Ch an i Get t er is an ordained interfaith minister, spiritual leader, teacher, coach and counselor, who combines personal development, spiritual learning, and age-old wisdom to create courses and ceremonies that are welcoming and meaningful to all people. She blends the discoveries of her personal growth with the ancient teachings from the Jewish tradition that were a meaningful part of her youth. She is uniquely qualified to provide support services for Footsteps, an organization providing support to people transitioning from Jewish orthodoxy. As an openly gay parent she facilitates M a'agal, Kesh et 's monthly support group for LGBTQIA women in New York.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 28

PAST LIFE REGRESSION: Filling in t he Pieces of your Soul Puzzle

By M ich ele Gr an ber g, M A, Cer t if ied Past Lif e Regr ession Th er apist Past Life Regression is based on one truth - you are a Soul - an immortal being of advanced wisdom and infinite potential. As such, you have journeyed through more lifetimes than you can possibly imagine or measure with your Human Mind. As a Soul you approached this Earth Experience with eyes wide open, fully aware of the possibilities, probabilities and potential in front of you. You embarked on every Physical

Life journey with excitement for the new adventure. Careful pre-birth planning, energy and love went into designing a life that is ripe for maximum Soul Development. Each life is an invitation to explore, expand and grow. And you enthusiastically and willingly dove in. So how do we remember our past lives and access our Soul?s Plan? Past Life Regression Therapy is a process of safe memory recall which includes tapping into your Soul?s broader life purpose. A session can employ simple techniques like breath work, progressive relaxation, guided meditation/visualization and hypnotherapy. Past Life Regression is intuitive by nature yet it requires no psychic skills. Essentially, it is a powerful form of therapy similar to

psychotherapy in that we explore the past to better understand the present.

Among many benefits, I have witnessed PLR help my clients : · Experience true cathartic release of suppressed emotions · Understand the origins of unexplained physical pain or illness · Discover the roots of fears and phobias including fear of death · Recognize Souls from this life with whom they have Soul Agreements · Identify and break cognitive and behavioral patterns that started in past lives · Reclaim talents, skills, passions and abilities that have been dormant · Discern Life Purpose and learn Life Lessons . Shift to a positive spiritual perspective toward this life and past lives REAL CLIENT STORIES Here are three brief highlights from actual PLR clients. Details and client names have been left out to honor confidentiality. Each of these exemplifies the healing power of Past Life Regression Therapy.

Clien t #1: This client remembered a past life where she drowned from a capsized ship. The PLR recall helped her understand why she is drawn to the water but has a healthy respect for the power of ocean waves. She is a

competitive surfer and feels she can now overcome fears and feelings of being "trapped" (as she was trapped inside the ship when she drowned).

Another great example of the lessons that are gained and the strengths that are reclaimed through PLR therapy Clien t #2: This client regressed to a lifetime in what seemed to be biblical times, B.C. During this time as a young mother, my client remembered being swept away and drowning in a flash flood while holding her infant in her arms. My client recalled the sense of sheer panic and guilt as she left that life. My client related this memory to recurring nightmares of trying to swim in rushing water as well as the sense of dread he experiences when storms are approaching. Together we worked to help him release the imprint of this trauma. Now that it has returned to his conscious awareness it should no longer cause internal struggle.

Clien t #3: This client recalled a lifetime where he lived as a nun in a monastery.

As a devout nun he took a vow of poverty as well as a vow of silence.

From reviewing the past life he realized that his struggles with earning enough money in this life are because he is still habitually holding true to his previous serious vow. He also recognized that he tends to be shy, socially awkward and quiet. This too relates to the solitary environment of the monastery and the lingering vow of silence. With these new

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 30

insights, my client left "vowing" to release the old patterns and looks forward to positive changes. PLR therapy reveals longstanding habits, patterns and beliefs so we have the awareness to change them YOUR LIFE IS A GIFT TO BE SAVORED Each lifetime is truly an assignment we lovingly accept. Life is not forced upon us; it is a gift we give to ourselves. With our free will choices, we add depth and dimension to our true nature as the individual Soul and as a result, we expand the collective Universe. Every lifetime, every single experience, every

breath we take in every nano-second of existence causes a ripple effect of positive change for Ever y Sou l. Rest easy knowing that there are no mistakes, you can?t get it wrong, you?re never being punished and you have eternity to continue to explore and evolve.

M ich ele Gr an ber g holds a Masters in Psychology & Counseling. She is a Certified Hypnotherapist and host of Positive Energy TV. She trained with Dr Brian Weiss and has been offering private PLR sessions for over 17 years.

I look up far Up t o t he st ar s So far t hat t ime Can?t quit e cat ch up.

And even if t hey?ve long died out Their essence dances w it h us All t he same. an excer pt f r om Scanning For Signal

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 32

For t hose who have never had t he space t o simply be.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 34

Connecting With The Sacr ed Ener gies of Natur e The sacred energies of nature are gifts from God and the Universe that help us along our journey here on Earth. They consist of, but are not limited to, the animals, ocean, flowers, trees, river, mountains, streams, meadows, clouds, faeries, gnomes, elves, water sprites, mermaids, mermen, along with the elements of wind, water, fire, and earth. Some are visible to the naked eye while others can only be heard or felt.

Children come into this world with an innate connection with animals, nature, and the spiritual beings behind the scenes of nature, working with us to create a joyful life. Some believe children have imaginary friends and animals, but those imaginary beings are actually part of nature?s sacred energies. A child?s innate connection comes from natural intuition skills

we are all born with. As we become adults, that natural intuition develops subconsciously to focus on serving the earthly responsibilities and stresses of adulthood so that we lose or forget our ability to connect to nature?s sacred energies.

connections on an intuitive level, and it will become clearer how animals, nature, and all its elements are communicating to you.

The best way to create a bond with the sacred energies of nature is to actually get out in nature.

Take a hike, walk in the To connect with animals, park, stroll by the ocean, sit in your back yard and spiritual beings, and other energies, you need to admire the flowers in your garden. Hang a picture of understand and practice nature you can gaze at using your intuition consciously. Intuition is a every day in your work space. Surround yourself muscle you can develop through exercise, much like with nature wherever and any other muscle of the whenever possible, and this influence will mind or body. Through contribute to the work practice, you can you?re doing on developing strengthen this muscle to serve all of your needs. You your natural intuitions. may have a stronger Animals play a large role tendency towards one of in our lives? pay attention your intuitive senses, like to what animals show up in hearing, seeing, smelling, your life. If you see an feeling, or knowing. Use animal during a strange that stronger area to gain a situation, rare opportunity, better understanding of or everyday experience, it how you receive and is communicating with you. process information and Take some deep breaths,

go within and ask your higher self: What does this animal want to share with me? You have the answer. The answer may come in a thought, picture in your mind, or a feeling.

Trust the answer. Trust your intuition.

Today while I was taking my morning hike on a trail where cows are summer pasturing, I saw some manure directly in my path. A bit irritated, I attempted to dodge the piles. I did not understand why they have to walk on the trail instead of grazing in the high grass pasture, leaving an unpleasant interruption to my peaceful hike. Why this trail?

Intuitively, the answer came in a thought. They take the path of least resistance. I need to evaluate all my paths and determine which one is the path of least resistance. As soon as that thought arose, a butterfly landed on the trail. And then I realized that taking the path of least resistance will lead to a positive change. This is an example of the sacred energies of nature at work in my life, and it can be the same, or even better, for you.

Take the time to venture into nature. Go by yourself or bring family and friends. The sacred energies are waiting to guide and support you in this adventure we call life.

Jen n if er M u r ph y-M or r ical is an accomplished author, an intuitive, and mother of two children. Her recent children's book What Do The Animals Say is available at Sacred Stories Publishing and booksellers worldwide.

Photo Credit: J. Murphy - Morrical

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 36

How To For give

Religion A few years ago I was booked on a radio show to talk about forgiveness.

Just that morning, a bomb had been detonated in Europe, and ISIS was claiming responsibility.

When I sat down in the chair, the radio host introduced me and then asked me why Islam is causing so much terror. My simple response: ?Religion is not God. Religion is the practice of dogma, and dogma is a point of view and a human interpretation of Holy Scripture. When dogma is used to serve and further the needs of personal agendas, it?s no longer serving the original intent of God. Simply, when people twist scripture to justify their wrongful actions, religion becomes something detested and to be feared.?

People?s animosity toward religion is because people ruined it. God is certainly not the problem. Religion and some of its leaders have messed up their PR campaign. Extremists have

overloaded religion with hate-filled messages and put evildoers disguised as leaders in positions of power.

Again, God is not the problem, people are.

When you meet someone in a casual conversation, you often ask them ?What do you do?? When I get that question, I give my usual answer, ?I?m an interfaith reverend.? Then I wait, hoping I get a casual, ?Wow, that?s interesting.? But most often I hear, ?Oh, well, I?m not religious.?

At first, I thought their response came from the fear that I was going to go into a long, unsolicited televangelist rant, and they were just trying to shut an imaginary door in my face.

However, after getting this response so many times and in so many places? from cocktail parties to the tire shop? I?ve concluded that the ?I?m not religious? response holds a much deeper concern.

When I probe deeper, most of the I-am-not-religious-folks follow up with, ?But I do believe in God.? And they

often share they?ve had a faith tradition passed down from their family.

physical needs. When we work together in harmony for a common goal, we can solve many problems.

So, what?s the problem here? Is there a problem? Do you have to be religious to know God? Do you have to go to church to know God? Heck, no!

Many people are currently afraid of religion, and for good reason. A lot of extremists have done very bad things in the name of their religion. Religious wars have been waged, and religious judgment shows up everywhere. Past religious trauma is valid, and it?s important not to repeat it. Healing any past trauma and making healing decisions about how religion can help you is important.

So then why do we have churches, synagogues, and temples? To put it bluntly: people need people! We need to be together to support each other, to love each other, and to learn more about God. You can only go so far alone, and you benefit greatly from learning from others and others from you.

Plus, the feeling of being with others while learning and worshiping God is very different than doing it alone. It?s like the difference between singing in the car to your favorite song or seeing the band live in concert with a crowd.

The energy is very different.

Also, one bad apple does not need to spoil the bunch. Religion can be a beautiful and supportive practice in your life. When disasters strike in the world, our communities or our personal lives, the best of religious organizations tend to come out, bringing comfort and support to the community members, and fulfilling

So, how do you forgive religion so you can find the true intent of religion and have it benefit your life?

1. Realize that people make religion.

The old saying, ?Absolute power corrupts absolutely? could not apply more. If you had a traumatic event or feel that a religious group has been less than loving, you first need to remember that a person or a group of people are the ones you need to forgive.

2. Do not blame the sacred texts of the world for what people do. All major religions have some form of the golden rule in them. Treat each other as you would want to be treated. If people are unloving, hateful and

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 38

hurtful in the name of their religion, it doesn?t mean you have to, too.

3. Find the beauty in religion and ritual. Practicing rituals solidifies your feelings about what you believe and what you do. If you?re at a sporting event, you wear your team colors and cheer your team on. Just like you mark moments in your life with weddings, funerals, graduations and holidays, religion can help you mark and grow your spiritual journey.

4. Find ways to participate in religion because it makes our communities stronger and infuses you with spirit.

Work at finding a church, synagogue or temple that shares your beliefs and worships in a way you are comfortable. If you believe strongly in helping others, find a church that has a strong outreach. We are never better than when we are helping others.

5. Adjust your expectations. Know that it?s rare to find a group that you agree with 100%. Remember that Holy Scripture is given to us by God, but interpreted by flawed human beings, even with the best intentions. Use your heart and mind to decide on what you believe and what feels right in your heart.

6. Be the change. If you are not OK with the leaders or teachers in your religion, then do what you can to change it. Change the conversation from hate to love, and choose to walk in love and forgiveness.

Rev. M ist y Tym e is a forgiveness expert, author, speaker, and creator of The Forgiveness Algorithm (TM).

Rev. Misty's new book is The Forgiveness Solution: A Step by Step Process to Let It Go. Meet Rev. Misty, and find out more about her book, and her greater work with forgiveness on her lu m in ar y page at Sacred Stories Media.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 40

Random Act s of AWESOME

I f or got abou t t h e r u les on liqu ids in car r y-on lu ggage, so w h en I h it secu r it y at t h e air por t , I h ad t o give u p all m y pain t in g su pplies. Wh en I r et u r n ed a w eek lat er , an at t en dan t w as at t h e baggage ar ea w it h m y pain t s. Not on ly h ad h e k ept t h em f or m e, bu t h e?d look ed u p m y r et u r n dat e an d t im e in or der t o m eet m e.

Marilyn Kinsella, Canmore, Canada Fr om Reader 's Digest . w w w.r d.com

Of f icer s r espon din g t o a n oise com plain t en ded u p h avin g a blast as t h ey su dden ly f ou n d t h em selves h u r t lin g dow n a Slip N' Slide. Police in Ash eville, NC cr ash ed a n eigh bor h ood block par t y af t er n eigh bor s com plain ed of lou d n oises an d t h at t h e slide w as block in g t h e r oadw ay. " We look ed at it an d det er m in ed it w asn't r eally an issu e," Of f icer Kat len Joyce Sm it h said." So t h e f ir st t h in g I said, 'I'm n ot h er e t o com e br eak u p you r f u n !' " Th e cops t ook t u r n s m ak in g t h eir w ay dow n t h e gian t plast ic sh eet , t ak in g a splash in t h e cr isp, cool w at er .

?Thr ee t hings in human life ar e impor t ant : t he f ir st is t o be k ind; t he second is t o be k ind; and t he t hir d is t o be k ind.? ? Henr y James

Fr om ABC Eye Wit n ess New s in Hou st on , TX

A gr ievin g w om an w h o h ad ju st lost h er h u sban d f ou n d solace in an u n expect ed place: t h e you n g em ployees of a local dr ive-t h r u cof f ee st an d.

Th e Oregonian r epor t s em ployees at Du t ch Br os. Cof f ee in Van cou ver , Wash in gt on , n ot iced on e of t h eir cu st om er s seem ed u pset w h ile w ait in g in h er car Sat u r day. It t u r n s ou t h er 37-year -old h u sban d died t h e n igh t bef or e.

Wh en 19-year -old em ployee Pier ce Du n n f ou n d ou t , h e gave t h e w om an a f r ee cof f ee an d ask ed if h e cou ld pr ay f or h er . Th e n ext t h in g you k n ow , Du n n an d t w o ot h er em ployees w er e lean in g ou t t h e dr ive-t h r u w in dow , h oldin g t h e w om an's h an d, an d pr ayin g. " We ju st love people," Du n n t ells KATU. "An yt im e w e see som eon e sad or m ou r n f u l, it t ak es f ive m in u t es t o Fr om w w w.n ew ser .com

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 42

An Excerpt from

The Key t o LIFE: Living In Full Expr ession At some point in my life I developed the belief that consciously walking a spiritual path meant I was to lead a perfect life, or at the very least, I was to be working toward this perfect life. The more aware I became of this belief the more I questioned where it came from. I don?t recall being told or reading somewhere that I had to live life a certain way or be a certain way to consciously be on my spiritual path. I am not speaking of what one might have been told or believe through the teachings of their accepted religion. I am speaking from a pure spiritual perspective of how I believed one must live to be spiritual, especially when sharing spiritual concepts. Further contemplation led me to a

question, the answer to emotions or feelings that which gave me peace with those not consciously on the life I am living. What is their path experienced. a perfect life?

What I realized was that I have to admit I subconsciously I was struggled with this idea working hard to remove when I first started my the human experience conscious inner work. I from life. I had taken on thought I had to speak the belief that to be and behave in certain spiritual meant one didn?t ways; otherwise I wouldn?t act or think as a human. be living in full expression; The funny thing is that the I wouldn?t be living the harder I worked to live spiritual life. This caused this so-called spiritual life me stress because I felt as the more the human side though I couldn?t just flow appeared. It finally with life. I felt constricted dawned on me that living and concerned about how a spiritual life and others might view me. I following one?s perceived would get annoyed, chosen path is not about frustrated or angry and being a perfect human: it question why I was feeling is being perfectly human. this way. After all I was What I now know is that it living my life as I believed is the integration and someone consciously expression of our spiritual walking a spiritual path aspect with our human should. I was not aspect that provides for supposed to express or the fullest life experience, experience the same and ultimately, the

grandest experience and expression of Self.

?Lif e is n ot abou t bein g a per f ect h u m an ; it is bein g per f ect ly h u m an .?

We all incarnate the human body with the same fallibilities and vulnerabilities. The fact that the physical body is at all times subject to the possibility of pain and suffering is both the greatest challenge and greatest benefit to anyone who incarnates the physical body. There is the innate knowing that at any time any one of us can suffer physically and emotionally and that in some ways life on the Earth plane is never secure. And yet, it is in rising above this that we learn to claim our spiritual heritage and spiritual beingness.

to experience our Self within the vagaries of life.

What I realized as I struggled to lead a spiritual life was that I am living my perfect life. In Truth, the life every Soul lives is the perfect life for the grandest experience and expression of that Soul during that souljourn, otherwise it wouldn?t be living it. Our human experiences are perfectly created for the expansion, experience and expression of Self.

?Lif e alw ays pr esen t s exact ly w h at is n eeded w h en it is n eeded.?

We have all heard that what we resist persists.

The more I resisted what was being presented to me the more intense certain situations became.

It finally got to the point when I almost had to accept what was being Being perfectly human is presented because of the intensity of the situation. about allowing and experiencing all that life is Notice I said almost had in every form it takes. It is to accept. There is always being curious about life, in a choice in what we want to experience. We can awe of life, respectful of choose to accept and life and knowing that have the experience of every one of us are here

whatever is being presented or we can choose to resist and have the experience that resistance will bring.

Neither choice is right or wrong; however, each choice brings with it a different experience of Self.

Resistance stems from a reluctance or unwillingness to accept change (life) as it is presented. Even though change is constant it is the uncertainty of what that change looks like that elicits fear. When looking through the eyes of fear we are unable to see the benefit behind the change and therefore only see that which might be challenging or difficult.

When we see challenge and difficulty our first response is usually resistance. We don?t want to go there. We think to ourselves, life is hard enough as it is, and now this. When is it going to end? When will life finally give me a break?

Suffering is a choice.

Suffering is our

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 44

attachment to feelings, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that no longer serve us. The truth is, we can easily choose to end suffering by releasing our Self from the attachment.

Life consistently offers the opportunity to do so; however, it requires a letting go of that which we have held as true about our Self. When the conscious decision to no longer accept suffering is made we free our Self to embrace and experience life fully as it is presented in the current moment.

Pay particular attention to any patterns that develop where you are presented similar life circumstances time and time again. When this occurs it is most likely your Soul saying this is an experience it desires to have and regardless of any resistance you might put forth you will have this experience. I (your soul) will continue to create opportunities for this experience until the conscious choice is made to allow the experience.

Engaging your awareness at all times is vital. Being consciously aware of what is happening around and within you frees you to make choices that provide for the grandest experience and expression of Self.

Here are a few questions to consider that can change your perspective on life and therefore your experience of life.

1. What if instead of resisting life you are in flow with life?

2. What if you accepted that everything life presented, in whatever form it took, was for your benefit?

3. What if you viewed change through the eyes of potential ? the greater expression and experience of Self? instead of through eyes of challenge, difficulty or instance of victimhood?

4. What if you accepted change as the natural process for your continuous experience and expression of Self, your very purpose for

being here on the Earth plane?

5. What if you consciously created change for the grandest experience and expression of Self possible instead of waiting for change to take place?

6. How might knowing you are the creator of your life experiences bring peace to your life?

As you consider change and perhaps your resistance to or fear of change, what would you say if you were asked how you would like to experience life in three, five, or ten years? Would you like it be as it is now or do you desire it to be different? Most people say they want and expect life to be different from the way it is now. In fact, they would like it to be different. Perhaps better stated, they would like their experience of life and their experience of Self to be different from the way it is today.

Life moving forward is going to be different. Life is fluid. Life flows whether

we are in flow with it or not just as water continues to flow over and around a boulder that would resist it. In the end however, it is the boulder that surrenders to the persistence of the water that would wear it away and reshape it. And so it is with us. We eventually surrender to the persistence of life and come to accept all it offers as it wears away all that would deny the experience and expression of our true Self. Surrender is not about giving up; it is giving in. It is giving in to the magnificence of what can be, the magnificence of all that we are, the magnificence of Self. Our boulders in life are the limiting thoughts and beliefs we hold about our Self.

Regardless of how much we resist what life is offering life will eventually wear down our limiting beliefs, not causing us to throw our hands in the air in surrender but to raise our hands in victory as we

accept that life always has and always will offer what we need for the grandest experience and expression of Self.

Change makes life dynamic, exciting and worth experiencing.

Change brings benefit to life. Change brings energy to life; it brings life to life.

Change is creation therefore we are here to experience creation. As the creator of our own life experiences creation places the power of what can be within us.

?Ch an ge is n ot a ch oice; w h et h er you em br ace it or you r esist it is.?

Change will occur.

However, if the change is as a result of our creation, our intention, then our life experiences will be those we desire and not those that show up by default.

Change/creation is the opportunity to experience and express ourselves under ever evolving circumstances that deepen our knowledge, experience, and

relationship with Self. ?When we are in concert with the song of life, even though the melody changes, we still sing our song, only now with grander expression.?

Jim Ph illips is an author, speaker, and certified L.I.F.E. and business coach. For the better part of 30 years, he has been an entrepreneur and business leader inspiring others to higher levels of achievement through his presentations throughout the United States and parts of Europe.

His new book The Key to LIFE: Living In Full Expression is available through Sacred Stories Publishing and booksellers worldwide.

Th e Ow l | Su m m er 2017 | Page 46

Patricia has had some unusual encounters with different animals. Some scary, some awe-inspiring, almost all of them startling, and none of them invited. As the number of animals Patricia came across increased, she was forced to reassess the phenomenon.

These could not be chance occurrences; these animals were visiting her instead.

Upon reflection and self-discovery, Patricia realized that the animals had been sent by God and were laden with His lessons and meanings. Through the animals and His messages, God has guided Patricia through a personal and emotional journey she could not have endured alone.

God is in the Little Things: Messages from the Golden Angels is a riveting true story which reveals Patricia?s struggle to reclaim her connection to her Higher Self and discover the meaning of her life.

Travel with Patricia through her past lives and cry with Patricia as she shares the intimate details of her struggles and how she learns to heal her broken heart.

Spiritual revelations unfold before your eyes as Patricia discovers the true meaning of life and begins living her new life with clarity and purpose. Watch as Patricia moves from wounded and weak to a powerful and empowered spiritual being.

In Empathic Sensitivity, you will discover that your ability to feel so much is truly a gift that you can use to your advantage in your life to help yourself and others, if you so choose.

Uniquely addressed by this empathic author, discover the following: An authentic meaning of what it is to be an empath. What you need to know about how energy works in order to live with health and peace. How being an empath differs from being empathetic or compassionate. How to effectively clear toxic energies away from you. Tools for healing and balance. How to use your empathic gifts for good, and how to use your empathic intuition.

Animals are a very special part of our world ? . there are so many to love and admire!

What do they say to you?

Explore our natural world and discover what the animals can teach us about health, love and listening to our spirit. Listen closely and you will hear the special messages meant just for you.

30 Days to Me is your work-ing book and guide to help you reconnect with you!

Feel more balance and ease in your life. Commit to this process for 30 days or longer and learn valuable information about yourself while allowing space and opportunity to treat yourself in the loving way you treat others.

With 30 Days to Me, create your internal support system and your personal how-to guide.

Coming Soon!

"We lose ourselves in books, we find ourselves there too."

Available f r om Sacr ed St or ies Publishing and all major book seller s!