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My working life was one of performance, seeking excellence, achieving consistent high standards, solving problems and never permitting mistakes to be made.
Retirement gave me the time to find poetry. My work-shaped ‘being’ slowly opened up to the beauty of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins who found God in nature and whose poems exude the power of his belief in God’s presence in the natural world around us. Retirement led me and my wife to North East Hampshire and the beautiful heathland, commons and woods that surround our home.
Cycling the bridleways on my mountain bike, I was overwhelmed by the ever-changing magnificence of this quietly stunning environment. I began inwardly to sense what Hopkins experienced. As I looked towards the South Downs on the horizon I thought of his words from various poems:
’…and the azurous hung hills are his world-wielding shoulder/ Majestic – as a stallion stalwart, very-violet-sweet !... High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing/ In his ecstasy! Then off, off forth on swing,/ As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding...All things counter, original, spare, strange;/ Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how ?)/ With swift, slow; sweet, sour, adazzle, dim;/ He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him.’
My very personal feeling is that nature can and does provide healing, protection and regeneration to those who (to quote Hopkins again) ‘have trod, have trod, have trod’ for most of their lives'
Originally posted by: Fred Robins
Posted on August 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM
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Throughout my life I have always been interested in the concept or faith, religion and spirituality. In my 'early' days I chose to follow my Mum's Christian faith and after deciding to get confirmed at the age 12 I became a server. However after a while I didn't feel enthused about this 'faith' thing and moved on with my life leaving thoughts of religion and spirituality behind for a while. When I started to travel Australia in my late teens I met many people of different backgrounds, faiths and religions and once again started to ask my own questions. Then on my return I started to discuss various religions and spiritual view points with friends of different religions from Anglicans and Quakers to Buddhists, Muslins and Krishnas and perhaps more importantly my Mum, who's genuine and devoted faith in Jesus was inspiring.
One thing for me however became apparent that despite knowing about these religions none of them appeared to inspire me, I didn't feel any of them could hold sway and actually be 'real'. I started to read books and much of my early to mid twenties revolved around a more 'spiritual' than religious search, taking on board much of what had been written by various authors. Then in 2007 I moved to Surrey and through a certain chain of events that trough work I got involve with Rezurgence (http://www.rezurgence.com) - for those who don't know, Rezurgence is a Christian based charity that travels around supporting riders and mechanics at Downhill Mountain Biking events, both in the UK and Europe. In Rezurgence I met some great people who have become very close friends and over the course of the following 18 months I developed a close friendship with Will, who's honest testimony after many straightforward and open discussions lead to think that maybe just maybe Christianity did actually have possibilities and it was after this that I decided (spurred on by my mum's testimony of her alpha course many years previously) that I would enroll on an alpha.
By chance looking for an Alpha I came upon Jubilee Church Farnham (http://www.jubileechurchfarnham.org) and the friendly response to my enquiry and invite to a BBQ which incidentally I didn't attend gave me assurance that at least they were nice people I was to spend 10 Thursday evenings of my life with! So I arrived. And dinner was nice, the first couple of weeks passed smoothly, I didn't have to speak much and spent most of the time listening, some questions were being answered and some not and so over the following weeks I also spent a few lunches with Sean (while I ate healthy salads and he have the Cheese and bacon Burgers - honestly it was that way round, well once). All of a sudden as questions that had been floating around my head started to become answered, others became less important and some even irrelevant while new ones sprang from ideas I’d never contemplated. I came to realise that Christian's weren't all stereotypical sandal wearing evangelists (that was how I was introduced to Will) but normal genuine folk like me, lol
Over the course of my Alpha there were two key points and as I'm not Nicky Gumble (the Guy that invented it) I'm not going to even try to explain the complexities of it all, but safe to say I was shown enough irrefutable evidence in my eyes to believe that Jesus actually existed AND more importantly that he Is the Son of God. So now with the theoretical point out of the way and I was well on my way to believing that the whole concept of Christianity was true! The next major point for me was on November the 17th two days after what is known as the Alpha w/e where we take a w/e away to discuss the Holy spirit. That w/e I had been a little caught up in it all but on the way to work on that Monday morning I came to the conclusion that Christianity was the bag for me and I asked Christ to come into my life. And after this happened... well the first thing I noticed was a pure elation in feeling settled, I was no longer looking but had found, a bit like that relief you get when you think you've lost your wallet but you find it in the fridge, well maybe that’s just me, but oh so much greater. I had been looking for an answer so long and suddenly the comfort and settledness I felt confirmed it all for me. I started to see the path that Jesus had laid down for me, and how his Spirit had guided me along the way through the places I’d been and the people I'd met.
Since coming to faith in November I have not I must had any visions of angels dancing or witnessed miracle healings, but I'm only starting out! What I have noticed is my attitude to life, I have started to approach life with a much more relaxed approach, obstacles I perhaps made for myself seem to no longer be present and my relationships with people have become much more honest and open. God still has a lot of work to do with me as no ones perfect but I can see the way his spirit is working within me, and the people around me, and I'm so excited about what is still to come in my life. However on February the 15th this year I did feel God touch me and while at church that Sunday morning I was overcome with an unstoppable urge to speak out and bring a word to the Church, as if God himself was spilling out through me, and on that note I feel I shall conclude and just thank the Lord, Christ Jesus for coming into my life and what he has done and is yet to show to me.
Originally posted by: Wyndham
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:48 PM
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I have always been fascinated by tarot cards. Many people of course do not agree with tarot cards but if we look at them at a very basic level we can see that they are simply just tools that help us connect with who we are and where we are at. (To a point). There is something ever so refreshing about seeing a medium or a tarot card reader for me. I feel it’s the fact that you are actually going to see someone with a problem and “Putting all your cards on the table”. It confirms everything and to me the tarot is like a little map, a life journey, a path way of where you are.
The beauty is some of the tarot cards are simply amazing. The art work always gets me. I can mediate on the art work and receive messages through these, just like many people do with music or perhaps even the bible. I like to look at different types of tarot cards and wonder what the artist’s interpretation of the situation was at the time. The 78 cards in the tarot deck are about different stages of life that we all reach at some point. They can offer enlightenment, support, deeper meanings and reassurance. I think they are a magnificent tool and rather exciting too!
Originally posted by: Star81
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:36 PM
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In the corporeal world we work on fulfillment, while in the spiritual world we work on desire. This confuses us as we are not used to it. Therefore, without feeling the desire, we leave the spiritual work, thinking, “If I don’t want it, why go ahead with it?”
We don’t understand that the only thing we need to attain is the prayer that precedes the prayer, the desire to acquire the desire. This is the most important thing. We should never be concerned with fulfillment. The fulfillments are our future degrees and they always exist. They are already there, waiting for us to desire them and to become ready to attain them.
We reveal The Book of Zohar by understanding that we only need the desire. As soon as we acquire the desire through our studies, it will be fulfilled immediately.
Approaching a Kabbalah book, study, and any spiritual action without a desire is normal; this is how everyone starts. The awakening a person receives at the very beginning is given to him in order to bring him to the right place so he has the opportunity to clarify everything for himself. However, after this he is left alone and is no longer awakened from Above, because our whole work is only to develop the desire, the vessel (Kli).
Thanks
Originally posted by: Yonex83
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:35 PM
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Hello, I have honestly read more than 50 spiritual related books, but the book "Wisdom of the Heart" by Flora Rocha, it is the best, the one that made me see life from a different angle, and it is so interesting, so well explained and so deep, that you feel you can easily read it more than once, I actually read it more than 3 times already, which is a rare action by my side, I never do that, only with special books... Flora Rocha, which is now my favorite writer, manages themes like the ancient civilizations and their spiritual influence and connection with us, The Four Elements, The Masters, and many more deep themes that just are amazing!!!
Thank You for your time...
Originally posted by: infinitelove
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:34 PM
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Hi Gloria - Thank you for sharing about your interests and journey so far! Awesome!!! I am just reading a brilliant book ' Do Christians Know How to be Spiritual?' by Professor John Drane. He talks about the rise of what he has called 'New Spirituality'...and gives lots of background and context. He sees 'New Spirituality' as coming on after 'New Age'. He says that the interests represented by what has been called 'New Age' are part of what he describes as 'New Spirituality' but that not all 'New Spirituality' would qualify as 'New Age'. ..
In the book, John Drane talks about why he prefers the term 'New Spirituality' to 'New Age'... To quote from his book: 'Not only does this have the advantage of being a more neutral, descriptive term, but it also affirms the element of serious search for meaning and purpose that has always been at the heart of this mystical strand of Western culture. Its use is also intended to imply that what is now happening is no longer a minority interest of unrepresentative groups of oddballs on the fringes of mainstream culture, but it is in important respects central to the self-understanding of Western society today.' John Drane also likes the term 'New Spirituality' because the way that the notion of the spiritual is now used is very diverse and eclectic and in significant ways has moved away from the arcane topics associated with 'New Age' ideas and practices.
Food for Thought! Bye for now, 'Archbishop'xxx
Originally posted by: Archbishop
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:33 PM
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My Inspiration from !
Well I have been spiritual all my life I guess from childhood. Then I studied comparative religions, then Metaphysics which gave me an academic understanding of what I was experiencing then Quantum Physics which gave the understanding of the science behind it all. Once Quantum Physics came into my life a door opened, I found the relevence of sacred Geometry and Phythagorus (I hate Maths by the way! ).
Then I encountered what is called "The New Age " to me though it's not new, it's been around a very, very long time, though what is happening - people are coming in their thousands searching for spirituality so a label has been given "New Age" .
Though I guess the definition is correct
Thats about it really.
Peace and Blessings
Gloria
__________________
Nothing Can Be Created Without First Becoming A Conceptual Construct Of Consciousness
Originally posted by: Gloria
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:32 PM
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Good to have you on the Forum - lets get it buzzing! I've been busy with an upcoming conference on children and spirituality. But am also reading some interesting books...there's never enough time to read! Where do you get your inspiraion from for your spirituality? Anna
Originally posted by: anna
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:32 PM
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Hi everyone Im new here
I have noticed no one has has posted in a while.....with the acceleration of consciousness and spirituality,it would be a great time to meet and discuss this.on the forum
Hope to hear from you soon
Peace and Blessings
Gloria
__________________
Nothing Can Be Created Without First Becoming A Conceptual Construct Of Consciousness
Originally posted by: Gloria
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:31 PM
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I first read a book called Alchemist (which i'm sure many of you will know) 6 years ago, and in that time I have read all of his other works, all of which I have found inspiring.
His vision and faith in 'the path' holds a candle for faith, some of his books are more 'spiritual' than others are 'religious'. Along with other authors my eyes to the possibilities of spirituality have been opened, but a way forward I have yet to accept.
Other books that I feel are a must read by Paulo Cohelo include: The Devil and Miss Prym, The Pilgrimage & By the River Piedra I sat down and wept.
Enjoy!
Originally posted by: Wyndham
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:30 PM
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James Redfield's Celestine Prophecy and it's sequels were to me tremendously inspiring novels, as to the level of truth held within the pages, i'm not too sure... however as I said they really got me thinking.
With the release of the film I thought what a great epic this was going to be, and to be honest I couldn't have been more disappointed. It was a bit of a challenging topic, but I just don't think the crossover between the spiritual, magical and real was quite captured as it is in the books.
On that... read the books, they will most certainly provide an new take on the 'theory' of organised religion....
Originally posted by: Wyndham
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:29 PM
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I completely believe that the personality/soul survives death but what happens next? Maybe a form of reincarnation - it's been believed in for centuries and that seems to be the way that nature is - death and renewal and death and renewal, year in year out, year in year out. It's beautiful and awesome. Frightening and reassuring all at the same time. Faith or belief in the hereafter can simply be a matter of choice if it can't to something that is evidenced. And it's an empowering choice to make, in my opinion because it gtives us so much home - that one day we will be with our deraly beloved departed ones..and one day the suffering will have peace and the lame shall walk and run. Shalom.cool:
Originally posted by: anna
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:27 PM
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I guess it is pretty scary to think that everything you have built yourself up to be could diminish all of a sudden. I think the thing that bugs us the most is simply that we get no choice. We have to die whether we like it or not. And it almost makes life seem like some kind of set up. So many people tend to go with the belief that the human body is merely a shell and the soul does in fact live on.
It’s the mystery of not actually knowing where one goes to after the heart stops. I do believe we were all put on earth for a purpose and that each and every one of us has a unique and valuable lesson to learn in life. Much of it of course is how we deal with those lessons.
I often picture the great above analysing every step I take in this life and checking to see whether or not I do it right. Did I take the right path? Should I have gone left , rather than right? Perhaps the great above has a huge box of my memories, including photographs or some bizarre technology that they use up there to show me how I have progressed in this life time. Who knows!
I think the key is to cherish as much as you can with life and make the most out of who you are because there will never be a living body as unique as yourself again (at least as far we know). Maybe your soul will go on for centuries and centuries or maybe it will go off to another planet? I have never believed that this is the only universe anyway. There has to be other forms of life beyond the whole of the entire place!
Sometimes I feel it may be just a test and other times I am not too sure. It would be nice to think we come back as angels. One thing I know for sure, and that is that there is no fear when the soul departs the body…
Originally posted by: Star81
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:26 PM
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I suppose if one does not believe in Heaven (and Hell as well, I suppose) the 'experience' of death is something that almost all of us have actually experienced, i.e. when we have been anaethasized (sorry - never could spell that word!) or perhaps simply fainted. We experienced nothing and were unaware of the state we were in. Our human experience has to prepare us for dying and that, I would suggest, means leading a life that means we have no regrets, angers of feeling of disillusionment when we learn of our impending death - this, of course, might entails years, months,days, or a matter of a few moments. So to conclude, it seems we have to prepare ourselves for this period without, for most of us not knowing when it will commence. it will be a good investment of time, I'm sure.
Originally posted by: genuinelyme
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:25 PM
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I was very inspired by a friend of mine who died of cancer - she was 51 - and seemed to deal with her impending death very courageously. How did she manage to do that? I'm petrified of dying and becoming nothing for ever and ever - though I realise that I won't know that's what's happening! I'm looking forward to being a park bench but not the eternity of emptiness. I know that's why people believe in heaven and the life here after - but isn't that basically just a load of old cobblers. After all - if there is a life hereafter surely someone like the last Pope, for example, after he died would have at least given us a little message from beyond the grave that it exists? ! Or am I just being too sensible? Help!
Originally posted by: Sam Motley
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:25 PM
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Dear infinite love - thank you for sharing the information about this book which I shall have to read. I do feel that the concept of karma is a difficult one especially when it is used in relation to things like disabled children. The parents of children with disabilities often feel dreadfully guilty though it's in no way their fault. The concept of karma in such situations is just so unhelpful.
Having recently experienced the death of someone very close to me through suicide I am feeling very aware of life and death, thinking about strange resonances of stuff within our family and have felt very much that we are not in control of what happens despite the illusion that we are. It's certainly challenging me to open my mind to all sorts of things that I would have dismissed before...we know so little...but a grain of sand. I am very drawn to the spiritual teachings about eternal life, life after death...that's why I have called this post 'and death shall have no dominion'.
It's autumn and as I walk around beneath the beautiful trees sheddings their autumn leaves I just keep coming back to the cycle of life and the centrality of death or dying....which doesn't help you with the question of karma!
At the end of the day i think the maxim 'do as you would be done by' is the best way to live and the karma should look after itself! Love and light, Anna
Originally posted by: anna
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:24 PM
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Many of us believe in karma, the law of cause and effect, usually related to the negative actions that one makes, this is accurate, also there are some that do not believe in other lives, they believe that we only have one life and that is it, so they feel we have karma for this life only... others believe in reincarnation so they believe that karma is dragged from one life to another, this is a common belief in India and many other places, they actually believe that if they are poor, if they are sick, that it is a past life karma that they have to pay, and they do not want to stop their suffering because they feel they are going to interrupt the paying of their karma... So is this true?
Not for me, I read in the best book of all "Wisdom of the Heart" by Flora Rocha, by the way if you do not have it you are missing the best book you can have with a deep interesting revealing information, she says that we only pay karma from our current life, we pay all our debts in this life, would it be fair to pay for something that we do not even remember, from a life and a personality that we do not even know how it developed? Of course not, at least not from my perspective, she explains which and how are the exceptions to this, only with very few cases, she also explains how wrong the theory that when someone is born with a physical discapacity it is not because of karma, and she explains in her book why is this... well I can write a whole lot more but well if you are interested in these kind of topics I recommend the book "Wisdom of the Heart" by Flora Rocha, my favorite writer by the way, I know it is easy to infer…
Thanx for your time...
Originally posted by: infinitelove
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:23 PM
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I love that - heaven in our hearts - that's SO revolutionary - it means that we just have to go within ourselves, to access the power to transform the world!
Originally posted by: anna
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:22 PM
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I think heaven is in our hearts ......When our hearts are pure and full of unconditional love.....
Originally posted by: Yashoda
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:22 PM
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Just been to the launch of the Seeds of Hope Garden on Stag Hill just behind Guildford Cathedral. The celebrity person there was the wonderful children's author Jacqueline Wilson (I am now reading one of her books for teenagers called 'Girls don't Cry) it's brilliant. Anyway the spiritual garden is a very inspiring place set up for children who have suffered some kind of loss or bereavement. I was fascinated when the Dean of the Cathedral, who did the blessing of the new garden, made a little speech about heaven not being 'up there' in the sky but within! The more I find out about Christianity the more confused I get!!! But I don't mind! I think that's probably the way it's supposed to be - easy and difficult all at the same time, like the best of things in life! Have you any thoughts about heaven, gardens or good children's authors?
Originally posted by: Archbishop
Posted on August 10, 2010 at 3:21 PM
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