RIP David Lynch, filmmaker and meditator

RIP David Lynch

Overcoming Two Millenium of Silence

Historically marginalized and often misrepresented by mainstream Church teachings, Mary Magdalene is now recognized as a central figure in Christianity's origins. Traditionally portrayed as a repentant sinner rather than an influential disciple, she is undergoing a profound reevaluation in modern theological studies and spiritual movements. This shift depicts her not just as a follower of Jesus but as a vital leader within his inner circle, who may have profoundly understood and disseminated his teachings.

What made Pema Chodron's Tibetan Buddhist master angry

More Pema Chodron, from Start Where You Are

Be grateful for everyone

Pema Chodron is an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun whose books are both inspiring and comforting. Here's an excerpt from Pema Chodron's book, Start Where You Are

Masaru Emoto: the Healing Power of Water

The Healing Powers of Water is a continuation of Masaru Emoto’s work with the effects of consciousness on water, which he made visible by freezing the water and photographing the crystals.

Spinal Breathing

Spinal breathing is a centering exercise and is said to reduce stress and energize the nervous system. Focusing on the spine is believed to help the flow of your qi or life force. It’s meant to prepare you for deep meditation, but it really is a meditation in itself.

Psychic Readings

Psychic readings create a connection to spirits, angels, guides, and energies beyond our physical realm, offering impartial spiritual guidance centered on your well-being. By providing insights into your life, they may help you view your experiences from a fresh perspective, encouraging spiritual growth.

Tonglen Meditation

Often guided meditations have you breathe in positivity: love, joy, kindness, and then breathe out negativity. Tonglen meditation, a Tibetan Buddhist practice, does the opposite. You breathe in pain, your own or the pain of others. You breathe in anger. You breathe in sadness. You breathe out relief, love, happiness. This helps you develop kinship with others. It opens your bodhichitta: your awakened heart.

Valarie Kaur: See No Stranger

We’ve talked about Valarie Kaur and her Revolutionary Love tour, a much-needed call and plan of action to heal our fractured society. Here are a couple of excerpts from her book, See No Stranger.

Creativity, Spirituality and Science

You are allowed to be sad

You are allowed to be sad.

A Spiritual Person

A spiritual person embarks on a journey of continuous personal evolution, embracing mindfulness, compassion, and a deep sense of interconnectedness with all of life. This path involves cultivating an awareness that transcends ordinary perceptions, seeking profound insights into their true nature and the greater meaning of existence. Through meditation, contemplation, and acts of kindness, they strive to nurture their inner growth, develop a compassionate heart, and foster a harmonious relationship with the world around them. Their quest is not just for personal enlightenment but also for contributing to the collective well-being, understanding that every action reverberates through the web of life, impacting the whole.

Daruma dolls: Goal getters

Daruma dolls are symbols of good luck and fortune and tenacity and perseverance. They are modelled after the Bodhidharma, who in lore is said to have meditated for nine years straight until his arms and legs and eyelids fell off. (Yikes! This explains the round shape of the dolls.)

9,000 Needles: one man's acupuncture journey

Devin Dearth was a 40-year-old bodybuilder when he suffered a massive stroke that left him bedridden. 9,000 Needles is a documentary about him traveling to China for an immersive stroke rehabilitation program, combining both Western medicine and acupuncture.

Let fun by your guide

I think our lives are supposed to be fun. If lion cubs and other baby animals learn by playing, maybe our own path is found that way, too. Maybe fun is nature’s way of teaching: Spirit/Universe/God guiding.

Maybe skip the New Year's resolutions

Maybe skip the New Year’s resolutions this year. Or make them in a way that’s nice to you.

Was Jesus Born on December 25th? Part 5

Did you know some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate the Birth of Christ on January 7th?

So when was Jesus actually born? An Alternative Approach!

Edgar Cayce, the American mystic, provided specific insights about the birth of Jesus in his readings. According to Cayce, Jesus was born on March 19, 4 BCE.

Was Jesus born on December 25th? Part 3

The exact year of Jesus’s birth is uncertain, but scholars estimate it likely occurred between 6 BCE and 4 BCE. This estimation is based on historical, biblical, and astronomical evidence, as well as early records. Here's an overview of why these years are considered the most probable:

Was Jesus born on December 25th? Part 2

It's not Biblical!

Was Jesus born on December 25?

The Winter Solstice has deep connections to Roman pagan holy days, particularly in how it aligns with the celebration of Saturnalia and later the worship of Sol Invictus. These festivals reflect themes of renewal, light, and the cycles of nature, which resonate with the astrological significance of the solstice. Here's how they relate:

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice holds profound astrological and spiritual significance, marking a pivotal moment in the Earth's annual cycle. Occurring around December 21-22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20-21 in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Here are its astrological meanings:

Heaven and Hell: an uninformed opinion not based on any teachings

There is something good in everything.

Mirror neurons: insight into our behavior

There was a relatively recent (1990s) discovery in our brains, a type of neuron now known as mirror neurons. In a nutshell, these neurons fire when you watch someone do something, but then they also fire when you do the action yourself.