Category Archives: Spirit

Opening to Deep Spiritual Experiences and Insight

This world that we live in is accelerating at the level of intellectual information. We seek to understand and many of us believe that intellectual understanding is the highest level of understanding. The truth is that intellectual understanding is a very shallow level of understanding. It only requires the understanding of some concepts and ideas and then it is finished. No further action is required. On the other hand physical understanding is very deep. It requires action at the physical and cellular level of the body.

The reason that spiritual development has received such bad publicity over the years in mainstream circles is because it has a reputation for existing only at the intellectual level of understanding. In short, without seeing any tangible benefits people have been quick to dismiss it as lacking practicality in the ‘real world.’ This is simply a result of only receiving a small piece of the picture.

Spirit is part of the consciousness, just as the physical and the mind is part of the consciousness. If any of these elements is left out of the practice, then the practice is incomplete and therefore on any of the respective planes of existence it will lack “practicality.”

What this means is that spirit must have a real practical connection to the physical world, the mind must have a real and logical understanding and connection to the spirit and the mind must have a real and practical connection to the body. This is how we can use our complete consciousness.

Scientists have speculated for some time that human beings only use 10% or less of their brains and the reason for this is the separation of these mind, body and spirit connections. When they are in place then access to the remaining 90% becomes readily available. This expansion opens up the dormant faculties of human mind, but it is in truth only the beginning of a vast journey of consciousness evolution.

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The Ancient Ones

The Ancient Ones are so called by the ascended masters who have and still inhabit our galaxy. It is the legacy of the ancient ones to have left behind the knowledge and understanding necessary to follow them beyond time and space. The knowledge that they have left us indicates that all paths truly do lead to the one path and that in the end both dark and light are realized as one.

Throughout the planes the interpretation of the teachings of the Ancient Ones is applied differently, sometimes drastically so. There seems to be an understanding however by the higher plane beings that all sentience eventually returns to the one path. This eventuality however can take millennia or it can take the direct route and these are the ideals that are being struggled over within the astral and higher planes.

This planet also is being offered the opportunity to ascend through the connection and practice of deep purification, light work and self-mastery. While the dark feeds off apathy, ignorance and fear, the light works through focus, courage and love. The activations of each take place when we set our intention to action.

Those who are the Ancient Ones were once from all sides, the dark, the light and the neutral. Their legacy however provides knowledge that indicates that all sentient beings must move through the spectrum and return to full light. Even those from the dark have left consciousness and energy which has in the transformation of compassion spoken of the importance of shifting to love and the transcending of the dark.

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The Adepts of Fiola

The Adepts of Fiola are a specialist guild of sorts which deals with their own brand of Astral sorcery. They are secretive to the extent that they will not allow admission to anyone that cannot prove a certain degree of ability in energetic manipulation. Fiola has since moved beyond the plane of the Astral where the tower, resides yet the adepts regularly channel his consciousness through the use of dimensional portals.

The path of Fiola is one of pure dedication to the art of sorcery. They place the understanding of energy above and beyond all other concerns even enlightenment. Interestingly however, their dedication to their path brings them closer and closer to full awakening. It has been observed that where many disciplines of the Fiola became dedicated because of a lack of ability to feel emotion, their exceptionally high level of development brings in expanded opportunities to access the emotional planes.

Considering the politics that exists within the Astral the services of the Fiola would be in high demand if they would have anything to do with anyone. The pure dedication of their path however is such that nothing can buy them. Their energy bodies are so strong that they survive directly from the astral plane in which they live and their ability to create and support Astral structures is amongst the highest in their particular plane.

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Defining Spirituality – Clarity and Insight

It is important to define spirituality for ourselves in order to define a direction of consciousness. It is all very well to say that spirituality can be different things for different people and is not any one thing, but if we integrate this philosophy directly into our lives then we will limit our own perceptions and understanding of it.

Getting deep into anything requires commitment. What this actually means is putting off other things, at least for a while to focus on what is important. In this case we are focusing on spirituality and the “other things” are what we are not included within our spiritual practice.

Developing spiritual understanding requires a very closed mind. We must be closed to all that would stop us from progressing, at the very least until we have developed the strength and ability to overcome them at will. If we are too open, then we go nowhere. Being closed to all except those things which are of value to us is what commitment really is. It is dedication. If we are so open that we cannot even focus on one thing then we are not committed, or perhaps we are committed to being non-committed.

The problem with philosophies that are basically just one line slogans such as “be in the moment,” “go with the flow” or “just let go,” are that they often don’t come along with a biography of why they are of use.

What will I get out of “letting go,” “being in the moment” or “going with the flow?” It is the reason that is most important and it is the reason that defines direction, commitment and deep understanding.

This is the very reason why defining spirituality requires a closed mind.

It is only through this closed mind that the definition can be deepened. It is this commitment and dedication that brings the experience of understanding and it is this understanding that defines spirit. When spirit is actually experienced clearly then the belief that the closed mind is required can and will be transformed because at this point that mind has already changed. It has changed because spirit has been defined. It has been defined through experience.

Attempting to hold multiple definitions before achieving the experiences necessary to facilitate understanding will only limit and hinder development.

It is like deciding to take disciplined daily walks, but also holding to a belief that one should not have schedules or plans. The two will conflict and perhaps neither will evolve very far.

Spiritual defining requires critical and honest evaluations of what is and what is not included. As long as these ideas are implemented into practice they will not become dogma, because experience will crumble those that don’t stand the test and strengthen those that do. Interestingly there is far more blind dogma in believing that we should be open to everything and everyone, but never really testing if this is true, than to have committed directions that we test and test in the reality of real life practice and experience.

Experience brings beliefs, experience breaks beliefs. Real open mindedness comes as a result of having our beliefs broken. False open mindedness is to pretend that we are open and never test our true feelings, desires and ideas. One brings truth, the other maintains illusion. In truth, beliefs, ideas and concepts are broken from moment to moment.

One day we think “letting go” is all the rage. The next day we fall in love and couldn’t think of anything worse than letting go of this person. One moment we talk about “being in the moment” the next moment someone cuts us off in our car and we can’t let go of the past for the next 4 hours. These incongruent states show up a lot when we cling to beliefs. If on the other hand we “let go” of our clinging of beliefs then they are able to be tested in the light of reality. Here we gain real wisdom. We look at our skill level and realize that our ability to “let go” of these emotional attachments are on a scale of 1 to 10 at about a 2 – and that what is required is about a 7. Then we realize that to “let go” perhaps we need to accept that we can’t let go and so let go of needing to let go – and then perhaps just let ourselves hold on like jackals.

It is experiencing these incongruent states and misalignments that allow us to understand the different faces of a concept, theory or idea. Without experiencing these we become very rigid all the while thinking that we are being open. Practice, action, experience and critical observation allow us to see that even in rigidity we may be learning to flow, that even when not “in the moment” we may be learning to “be” and that even when holding on like there is no tomorrow, we may be learning to “let go.” All does not need to be as it appears on the surface. It is the reason beneath it all, the reason why we are doing what we do that makes our action and practice valuable and powerful.

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Where Spirit Exists

What is the purpose of spirituality? What are the reasons for it? Why have we created it? Why do we seek spirit? Why is it important to some and irrelevant to others? What has it done for us lately?

Spirituality like anything, only holds power because of the value and meaning that we perceive in it.

This is the reason why real ability and skill is important. Without the ability to perceive and connect with spirit, spirituality is simply a set of blind beliefs. These beliefs remain blind until the ability to see is developed. As long as we are blind or partially blind to spirituality we will not understand the opportunities or benefits available to us. So in a very literal sense, the purpose and reasons for us seeking it will continue to elude us. We may hear stories of spiritual knowledge and power and think “Gee that sounds alright!”, but these will just be thoughts and words without actual experience.

Defining spirituality from experience is important because it separates and distills what holds meaning and value for us from what does not. We need to be clear on what it is that we are seeking and this requires blunt and direct honesty. If we rely on theory and concept over actual experience then we are compromising real understanding. Theories no matter how good are simply ideas. Real understanding comes from taking these ideas and integrating them into a course of action. For example we may have an idea that expressing our emotions is of some use. We may gather all the evidence to support this idea and in our mind it may seem like God’s have gifted us with their wisdom. However without putting this idea into action, without actually expressing our emotions, we will never know the truth of this wisdom.

Spirituality is a big word. It essentially means to connect with spirit, but this in itself holds many unknowns, one of which is “where is this spirit thing?” Interesting then that many aspects of spiritual society choose to hold onto the known and shy from the unknown. Spiritual logic or logic of any kind would suggest that if spirit has unknown qualities, that delving into the unknown would then be a valuable course of action. This is where faith comes into it once more. Faith is a concept and as a concept it becomes refined when it is tested. There are so many untouchable qualities about “spirituality.” Keep pushing and digging in our consciousness and we find a point that wants to cling to dogma, faith and concept. Dig a little deeper and we find fear. It is essentially the good old God fearing persona, the one that does not want to question or investigate its betters for fear of punishment. It is no wonder that with this type of fear that mastery, enlightenment and real power elude us. Again, these fears and beliefs are simply concepts that require testing.

The battlefield where all our beliefs, ideas and concepts are tested is within our own practice. It is through aligning our inner values into our actions. Things can get sticky at times. Sometimes our most cherished ideas get trampled on mercilessly by experiences that reject them. We may for instance have the idea that “spirituality is everywhere and in all things”. It is experience that will either reflect this – or not. Our findings here give us something tangible to work with. If this idea holds under the steady and rigorous criticism of actual experience, not just intellectual argument, then it contains true value. If it does not hold this does not necessarily mean that the idea is invalid, it may simply require that our abilities and skills require further development. Of course sometimes we need to admit that what once seemed like a novel idea just doesn’t cut it in the real world.

This is how we evolve our spiritual understanding and as our understanding evolves, so too does our understanding of where spirit exits. This is essentially what is happening – we are understanding connection, but connection can only be understood by experiencing where the object of connection exists. Spiritual connection or existence then is a process of looking and finding, as well as looking and not finding. The places where spirit exists then provide a connection – places with which to develop paths to our consciousness. The places which do not connect are not discarded, but rather we refine the method of connection within ourselves.

An interesting thing happens when we test our ideas, concepts and beliefs. The destruction of these makes the mind more fluid. Through this flexible flow, we regain the ability to connect where once we could not. Once again our understanding changes, as the places that we knew with+ certainty that spirit was not, open up and show us that it is in fact there. This opening does not occur through wishful thinking, holding onto ideas, concepts or beliefs. It occurs through practice, critical thinking, developing ability and understanding.

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Logical Spirituality – Practical and Effective Spiritual Practice

Faith becomes truly strong when it is tested. Untested faith makes way for corruption, deceit and illusion. Blind faith is the kind that fears criticism because the bearer lacks real understanding or perception. Ironically, what will bring understanding is to shake that faith to its core and see what comes out.

Real inner strength comes from absorbing what remains after illusion has been broken. This is the reason why protecting illusions is so detrimental to real personal development. We need to let go of what is essentially useless, not hold on to it like there is no tomorrow. All it requires is that one moment of being critical and then to observe the outcome. What do we feel when we are critical of faith? Do we feel lost? Do we feel despair? Anguish? Hurt? There needs to be a little rejoicing also, because all these emotions are signs that we have found flaws in our faith. Here in lies the opportunity to discard what is useless and refine what is true.

Testing faith like this may seem like a very unstable course of existence, but in truth it is the most stable way of being possible. Not only does testing faith develop inner strength and fortitude, it also creates the perception that allows us to become increasingly sensitive to what is of value and what is not. This cultivation moves our being in the direction of understanding real strength, mastery, meaning and purpose.

Spirituality is all about action. This statement was never meant as a metaphor. It is a reality. If we do not integrate what is important into our actions then they never really become important. It is ludicrous to then complain why spirituality does not make sense, and why life purpose is not more clear. Confusion, lack of purpose and meaning will always exist as long as we do not make our actions congruent with our values. It means being critical, it means looking deeply at what we are doing, how we are acting, thinking and feeling. Then we must bring our actions, thoughts and feeling into alignment. This is what mind, body and spirit as one means -again, not a metaphor, but the reality of action.

Spirituality becomes extremely logical when we observe ourselves critically. Sure, there may be areas that haven’t been accounted for yet, but on the whole, it will be clear that the vast majority of our consciousness, mind and body is simply not aligned with what holds meaning and value. This awareness clears up a lot of confusion. Instead of lamenting: “What is going on?” we will be able to state clearly: “All this is happening because these actions and thoughts aren’t in the appropriate places.” There is a massive difference between these two ways of perceiving. The first way takes the role of the denying knowledge and understanding, but saves the ego from needing to acknowledge weakness. The second way embraces and receives the knowledge and understanding and allows the ego to feel whatever it believes it needs to feel.

Logical spirituality just comes down to being open to knowledge and awareness. We must guard this principle from being blind dogma or a New Age slogan. “Being open” does not mean just welcoming in the light and love and pretending that nothing else exists. “Being open” means seeing reality as it is, whatever this awareness may bring. This is the most tangible and concrete way of ensuring that spiritual development and growth is real.

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Destroying Dogma – Freedom of the Mind

Dogma is belief that is not subject to self-criticism. It is for this reason that dogma must be continually tested and bombarded. Dogma would have us believe that it stands above criticism, that the very thought of criticism is blasphemy or blasphemy’s modern day cousin, politically incorrect. This is the nature of what occurs when we allow power to corrupt us. We seek to keep this power safe, and the safest place is a place that is untouchable.

When we create untouchables we create objects within our minds that are exempt from criticism or observation. These untouchables become so perfect that we skew our own intuition in order to justify what we see. We literally and willingly pull the wool over our eyes. The solution is to actively and consciously test everything.

Real power comes from making our deepest values completely congruent with our actions. Simple in principle, but rapidly degenerates in practice when we actively deny and ignore our growing awareness and perception. This is what happens when we hold on to dogma. It is an active process and the solution must also be active. It is through being alert and critical that dogma is destroyed. We ignore nothing, we let nothing get away. What ability is trained here? The ability of sensitive and aware perception. This is the tool that is required for self-mastery. Many speak of it and yet when it comes to using and developing it they shy away because of what it truly means.

It takes inner strength and courage to realize that illusion and dogma exists everywhere. Each time awareness destroys a piece of it, it feels like part of our dream has perished. In truth, what is really occurring is that we are creating evolution and development that is aligned to our own realization of truth and empowerment.

Destruction is a necessary part of evolution and growth. It transforms what is not useful and expands what is. Dogma when freed from its prison of our perceptions becomes alive and useful information. It then has the ability to adapt, to grow and to fit our own purpose and meaning. Instead of a separation between our own value and that of the untouchable, the untouchable simply becomes touchable and we recognize unity.

The only reason that dogma exists is to protect the investment of power. This itself is a lie also, because what it is really protecting is an illusion of power. Any power that needs protection is just an affirmation of an inner weakness and so is not true power at all. This is dogma, made untouchable because to touch it would make it crumble. Tearing away this perception brings us to the true cause of fear. Facing this fear, not running, hiding or pretending that its flaw does not exist allows us to create the strength, peace and wisdom that becomes in itself true power.

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Real Mastery – What is Self Mastery and How to Achieve It

Mastery needs to be recognized for what it is if it is to be reached. Many terms and concepts such as empowerment, enlightenment and mastery are bandied about these days and it seems almost popular not to define them at all, but to simply use them as romantic concepts. This is fine if we are to remain passive listeners to stories of spirituality. If on the other hand we wish to develop and experience spiritual understanding for ourselves, then we need to exercise our brains and refine and analyze exactly what these goals mean.

Real Mastery is about skill and ability. This statement encompasses the necessity that strength and discipline are also part of the skill set. Part of the romance of the later parts of the last century were that mastery has nothing to do with skill, but has more to do with being alright with being where we are. This mindset implies that whether we are growing or not, “it’s all good.” This is not real mastery. This is just passive acceptance and a reluctance to engage with perceptions of struggle, work and fear.

Real mastery is about control of the self. It is through skill and ability that we gain the opportunities to control the self. Without skill and ability we have no choice. We are like puppets. It is like a car with a broken steering wheel hurtling along the highway. The passengers have no choice, they must go where the car goes. Ability and skill, is development of choices. It is directly linked to control. When we have control we can move and act as we will. Control in itself is a subject in itself, but suffice to say for now, that what many of us mistake for control, is not control at all. Control is not repression or “keeping a stiff upper lip” this is just a reflection of inability or lack of skill. Control is not rehashing the same emotional patterns or personality traits over and over again. Control is choice. It is the ability and skill to choose this action or that action. With control, the higher consciousness actually gets a choice. Without control there is only the choice that seeks to avoid or repress fear.

It has been said that all babies are masters, but while this is certainly a romantic notion, it holds no logic in universal law. Babies for sure have an ability to learn and adapt at a fast rate, but they do not have control over their environment or survival. If they were left alone for a few days without food or water they would almost certainly die. If they were left without physical contact for too long then they fall apart emotionally. Babies are not masters, if they were we would not need to be so protective of them. If anything, babies are masters in the making. They are developing the abilities and skills necessary to have choices and control.

The path of mastery ends when we decide that what we have is “good enough”. This is the reason why many people do not fully develop their abilities and skills. They simply believe that they are “good enough.” Mastery requires the cultivation of an extremely critical mind. This is not a mind that simply denigrates everything, rather, it is a mind that tests all things and searches for flaws. It does not stop here however, simply seeking flaws without also seeking solutions is what a pessimist really is. The true critical mind seeks flaws in order to seek solutions. It destroys in order to create something better. It is transformation with purpose and meaning. This is how ability and skill progresses, by seeing what is lacking or could be improved and making it better.

The mindset of mastery does not fit with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. The mindset of mastery fits more with the “let’s see if it breaks when I do this…and if it does, lets see if we can make it stronger.” Painful? More for the ego, than anything else, but it needs be understood that having regular scuffles with the ego keeps it in check. The ego needs to become accustomed to pain and bruising if it is to join the journey to mastery. The development of ability, skill and control will always be a thorn in the side of the ego, because it is only through being critical that conscious growth will take place. Denial makes many friends, truth is only interested in one. Luckily at the end of the day, this is the one friend that we will be able to count on to get the job done: our self. This is what mastery is about. It is about getting the “self” under control.

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Real Manifestation – How to Create Your Reality

Manifestation is creation. It encompasses all that we create, from a single thought, to a breath, footstep or dollar. For each creation there is a transformation of energy, there is expenditure, destruction and creation of form. These days in metaphysical circles it is becoming popular to think of manifestation as existing without needing to expend any effort at all. There has become such a separation between body and mind, that people believe that if any physical effort or action is implemented at all, that this is not real manifestation. This way of thinking simply limits the potential and reality of manifestation.

Manifestation is not about creating things without lifting a finger. Manifestation is just about creation – period. Mental, physical, spiritual – it’s all the same to a consciousness that is intent on getting real and tangible results in life. The belief that says that all manifestation has to happen without any effort is simply limiting all the other ways that creation could happen.

It is our definitions and beliefs about work and effort that are getting in the way here. How can manifestation be working if I need to labor for 40 hours to get it done? The real question is: why is 40 hours for a manifestation wrong? Ah! Because I should be sitting on my couch waiting for enlightenment, a new car, fame and fortune to come knocking my door down!

The guiding principle of manifestation is to imprint the pattern of achievement into our consciousness. This pattern then communicates with our world with the language of achievement. If this language is saying: “I am master of my destiny, but only if I don’t need to do a thing,” then what is being broadcast loud and clear is that this goal really isn’t worth it. True intent is not about “I don’t want to lift to finger or get my hands dirty.” True intent is about “there’s my goal, let nothing not even heaven or hell stand in my way.” With an intention like that the language being communicated is entirely different. The world understands that we are serious about our goals, that sensations, emotions and feelings aren’t going to hold us back. More importantly, our own consciousness understands that we are serious. It is this kind of mindset that makes providence move mountains for us. It is also a mindset that cannot be faked. Denial is one thing – continual lack of results is hard to ignore.

We need to shift our minds from being attached to concepts and slogans, to looking at results. Legions of philosophy, spirituality and theory die in their very first steps when asked to provide results.

All manifestation, whether spiritual, financial, emotional, physical or otherwise has a logical process and practice that delivers it. If results are lacking, it is because the process is missing something. It may be something on the mental level, it may be something on the physical, it may be information and knowledge, it may be action and discipline. Real manifestation occurs when we recognize the process and structures that need to be linked and in place and then respond appropriately. The real reason that manifestation fails or is only partially realized is because limiting beliefs prevent us from seeing the opportunities and understanding that we can enter into them. This is all. Manifestation is simple. It becomes more complicated with each and every condition that we place on it. Being open to all the ways that creation may come, means that we need to destroy all the beliefs that would stand in creation’s way.

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True Purpose – The Real Reason You Are Here

Evolution is the journey of discovering purpose and meaning. This path is one of self-exploration and it moves us to create experiences that we believe would connect us to meaning and purpose. Through observation and reflection we come to understand the true nature of an experience and the true beginning of meaning and purpose. We come to see that it is not external circumstances, people or places that bring us the deepest meaning, but the way that we find, react and understand those circumstances, people and places.

A journey may go through periods where we seek great material wealth and glory, feeling for a time that this is where we can find real satisfaction. We may also seek knowledge, information and building up our intelligence and wit, believing that this is where we will find meaning. We create these experiences because it is exactly what we require in order to see the truth. It is only through time and experience that we gain the opportunity to observe. Through observation we learn to recognize, and through recognition we learn to understand.

Observation, recognition and understanding only occur when the mind is allowed to immerse itself within experience. By embracing and accepting experience, living and being open to what is available, we give the senses the opportunity to see.

What is it that we see?

What is it that we may measure our experiences up to?

What would make them fall short?

What would make us seek deeper and further?

Why would we risk losing all this for the chance that something else better exists out there?

It is the fact that we see and the fact that we see something of importance, feel something of purpose and meaning, that spurs us to move onwards. It is as if each experience is but a respite, a momentary refreshment for the body and personality, but that before long we remember a feeling or a memory of our purpose and we must move on.

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