Alone, Maybe

Along and without a care
Alone in the forest of time
Alone where all is bright and clear
Alone to contemplate the right
Alone to see what could be and what can be.

One might believe that they are all alone in this world, but their really not. Yes we’re alone with our thoughts. Maybe alone, that is to say, with no one else around to talk to or play with. But never alone as long as we understand that God and all our family and friends who are in the Spirit World are right here beside us. Yes, we think that we’re alone in this world but we never are.

I was thinking about Christmas and all the people in this world who are sick, dying, starving and really down in their luck. I think about how it may have happened and think about my own life. I could have chosen to be alone this year. Be by myself. Oh, I have a family. I have friends and I have you. You are the best friend a person can have. You never bother me. You never say anything that would make me unhappy. You never try to do anything that would make my life totally miserable. I do that well enough myself.

You maybe wondering what this is really all about. I will tell you now. It is about being alone with yourself on a day when you could be with others. The only reason your not with others is most likely pride, something that can be good at times, and a bad thing at others, like now.

Pride is something that creeps up on us unaware and hits us right between the eyes. It is so startling that it makes us wonder. How can this have happened? Maybe it was because we didn’t get enough sleep or we are coming down with a cold.

As you think about these things, I hope that you will understand that you are never alone. There is always someone close by to talk to. To bring you a little joy into your life and make life just a little better.

Being alone is something that can never happen. It is true that we all have an angel to take care of us. A personal friend to dance with, who tells the best jokes, tickles us and turns our sorrow into joy. You may not believe that this is true, but I assure you it is.

I even have to “kick” myself from time-to-time about this subject of loneliness. It is a farce that needs to be corrected and done away with forever. You and I can do this for ourselves. We can stop – take a look at the situation and say, OK, enough, I’m moving on in better way. I’m moving on to togetherness with others and with you when we meet. Life is too short to be alone in a world of more than six-billon people. Loneliness is something that we manufacture for ourself and it is wrong. We must now, do something, anything to change our life. Just do it…

The Image that We Present

Our personal image expresses our beliefs and how we regard life in general. As we look at other people, we are constantly reminded that we are only one of the billions that inhabit this world and that we are an important part of it. The very way we live as individuals shows others where we stand in society. All people have a set of beliefs that are reflected in their image and that are different from others. They believe that they are right and that’s all that is necessary. They don't need or want anyone else telling them they are wrong – they wouldn’t believe it anyhow.

A person’s personal image of themselves is one of the most important things that we have that expresses who we really are. We cannot hide who we are. Our personal image is what other people perceive. It is the image that we project to others that allows them to come to know us. We do try to make people believe that we are truly the person we are trying to present to them and not what others may believe.

The teachings of one’s parents and society forms ones personal image that stays with them throughout their life. For some, just the way they walk, the way they dress or the look on their face tells all. To others, it's only when they open their mouth that they can be known. And yet, everybody has, what is known as, "off days". For some reason they just keep saying and doing the wrong things or talking when they should be quiet, and because we are always changing, our image also changes from minute-to-minute and day-to-day.

We are told in the Bible and by our parents not to judge others "lest ye be judged" and yet, we can't help judging everyone we meet. It is part of our personal image and it is because we were taught to judge others from the time of our birth. For some, it became a survival mechanism in order for them to survive in a "hostile" world. This is seen in every walk of life from the poorest to the richest. We judge others and the question may come up, how can we change that image? Can going to church change our image? I believe that the answer is yes. Going to church and studying the Bible, their belief system and teachings can change a person’s image and their very outlook on life. I have known criminals who became “born again Christians” that have developed a new image for themselves; an image of humbleness, loving care and respect. These people have discovered within themselves their own true nature - the real person. It doesn’t matter how it happened the fact is it did. Did the church give this to them? The true image of a person is within. Church is only one place where one's image can be developed.

All churches teach personal responsibility. This teaching goes beyond anything that is taught in the school of life and produces an image of us that is reflected in our every action and thought. We are taught from an early age that “life is the pits" and "we are to do them before they can do us" - what ever that means. The church has its own image. The church represents God, a way of life and a way of looking at things that reflects our true beliefs.

Can the church help people develop a new image for themselves? I believe so. The church through its teaching of the "Principle of Personal Responsibility" provides the most effective means of changing one's personal image.

As a psychologist in Hawaii, Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., wrote in his book, “Miracle in Maui”, how he took personal responsibility to a new level. He took personal responsibility to mean that he was responsible for the criminally insane men that he worked with and through his understanding, brought sanity to those men. Through his work on himself, the men were rehabilitated and moved to prisons where they were no longer a threat to themselves and the lives of others. He understood that it was him that caused those men to be insane in the first place. So he simply worked on himself. He went within to correct the source of the insanity and cure the illness. As you can see, one man's personal image of himself and practicing personal responsibility made the difference. He changed the image that others had of themselves to become who they really were. A lesson we can all learn.

I had never thought about personal responsibility in the terms the Hawaiian psychologist did, and it made me think of just how important my own image is and how as a Spiritualist my image is reflected in my life. Having the truth about life through personal responsibility presents an image of our teachings and us. What a difference we could make in this world.

The Greatest Change

The greatest change came about when Mark began to express his independence. He wanted to make changes in the way people around him lived. He wanted the village people to live in harmony with one another as one people as though they all had the same parents. He talked to his parents and his brothers and sisters about what he had in mind. He talked to everyone in the village who would listen to him. But he learned that even though a family may have a dozen or a hundred members, it will never have more than a few who can actually get along with each other. Mark learned this but still wondered what he could do to make changes.

As I look at the story of Mark, I can’t help thinking about all of the people that I have known in my life. How many of them did I get along with as though they were family? Some of course, but far too many I didn’t. This reminded me of a play I read by Herb Gardner. The title comes from how the main character tries to help his young nephew understand the wonder of being alive. “He said to the boy, everyday is like going to the circus. You remember how a little car always drives into the middle of the ring, and it looks so tiny, and then all of a sudden, all the sides open up and out pops a thousand clowns? You never dreamed that all those people could fit into such a tiny vehicle, but somehow they did.”

“This is the shape of life, my boy. There is always so much more to any event than we humans can see on the surface. Do not ever assume you know everything about anything. Everyday is a little car filled with a thousand clowns – learn to be humble and a friend of mystery and who knows how you will be surprised?”

Life is a mystery and filled with surprises that change our outlook on life everyday. We think that we have figured out all of the various aspects of a situation and everything will be, as we believed. Then someone comes along and asks us “did you consider this or that?”

As we look at life in this physical world, we can’t help thinking about all of the things that have taken place. We were born, a miracle in itself, and started school where we learned so many things.

Some of us even went to college or university, learning all the time. Life in this world is for us to learn how to get along with others and make changes we believe will be good for all. Consider all the possibilities for changes that we can make and then go out and serve others in such a way that will advance humanity.

We all want the things that Mark wanted. We all want to live together as one big happy family. We want to understand that we all came from one God and that we are therefore all brothers and sisters. But how many of us really consider this to be true?

As we look at life we know that there are so many possibilities for us. We understand that there are people in this world who do not have as much as we do. We understand that the greatest changes in life come about when we take charge of our life and do something that will make changes in our society and for our highest good and the highest good of others. Life really is full of surprises and that when the clowns emerge from their little car, there will even be a greater mystery expressed and a greater number of life surprises for us all.

Christmas Greetings

Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year

To light our life and stir our soul

It brings great joy and peace within

To sing of Christmas all year long

This is a special time of year and one that is especially meaningful for me. I was born in December and enjoy the season a lot. Christmas has always been a special time for me with all the colored lights, the decorated houses with there Christmas trees all lit up and even the snow, all have they’re meaning special meaning for me. Yes, special because it is the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ. To sing of his birth and act out the story of his birth as described in the Bible.

A time when the shortest day of the year is celebrated by the billons of people on this earth. Celebrated for thousands of year as a “pagan” holiday with music, dancing, and drinking. A time to celebrates the fact that each day will become longer as we look forward to Spring. Spring, as the time the earth bring forth its abundance and fills us with hope.

As we look at this time of year, we can’t help thinking about all of the people who have so much and all those who have so little. We all share in this time. We all think about family, friends and giving. We give to those who are in need, and we give to each other as an expression of love that says, “your special to me”.

As you think about this time, I hope you will think about all the people in your life now and all those who where part of your life in time past. Send each one a special blessing and a prayer of love for the New Year.

May God bless you one and all.

Taking the Time

You have already read the article I wrote on “Listening” in this book. As I reviewed that article I could not help thinking about how busy we are in our lives. We seem to have something to do all the time that makes it almost impossible for us to take time for others and ourselves.

We seem to be going here and there and everywhere without thinking of whether or not we have time for our loved ones. We think that we are always there for them, but it seems that when they want to just talk to us or see us for a few minutes we always have something to do or we cancel the meeting for some reason.

Why, this can be attributed to the “pace of life” something we all know something about. We only have twenty-four hours to do forty-eight hours of work and then we are unable to complete the task, whatever that may be. Taking time for others is a must. We need to set aside sometime for others and ourselves – our family, our spouse or our mothers and fathers and especially for our children. Not waiting for holidays just to be together with them – as expected.

How often have you thought about visiting someone only to forget that you even had that thought? Maybe today, maybe yesterday you thought of them. Think of them now while you are reading this article, get in touch with them and see them in person if you can. How long has it been since you saw them? Don’t just say, “Let’s go for coffee”, only not to make the time in your schedule to do so – do it.

I know a person who has been writing a book for more than ten years. I asked her why she only works on it sporadically. She didn’t have a good reason for me. I then said, “Why don’t you take the time and work on it and complete it so you can have it published. I want to read what you wrote. From what you tell me it is a good book.” Time, a big word with so many strings attached to it.

It seems that if we are not paid to do something, we are not compelled to do it. One of the greatest “pays” we can have for our work is just completing it and seeing the expression on the face of another when we present it to them.

I always wanted to write a book, but didn’t think I really would until I helped another friend get her book published. Her book was published after ten years of just wanting the book to be published. Now it is available on Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, Barns&Noble, LuLu.com and others. The book is about elementary age children who have written poems, made drawings and written short sayings. The book really represents children from all over the world even though the children in the book are Cuban. The book is printed in three languages that are really great for children. It is printed as an on “demand” book.

So the jest of this article is – TAKE TIME to complete your special project(s), call, or email, write a letter or just take the time to go see your friends and loved ones; take some time for yourself. No matter how much time you think you “don’t have”, complete that special project(s) and talk to that friend - just do it.

My friend’s book is titled “Ninos de Habana”. A must buy.

A Walk Through The Earth

Wondering through a forest can be an enjoyable past time. The number of birds one may observe, the animals as small chipmunks to deers, and maybe even a bear.

How many times have you walked in a forest or wilderness area? Can you count the number of time you have done this on one hand, or maybe you have done it so often that you have lost count.

The forest is a place for a person to loose themselves in its beauty and quietness. Hear the many bird songs, smell the fresh air and just being out there.

When you talk to people about what they have learned while walking in a forest, they may scratch their head and look a little bewildered. How do you answer the question when you have never really thought about it? The forest is a place where a person can learn about vegetation and the wildlife. Observe the types of trees and undergrowth. Look for mushrooms and other eatable fungi. Observe the number and variety of insects.

There is no better place to just sit and mediate. When a person is quiet, they are able to hear and feel things that they just never feel or hear otherwise.

This earth was created by the source of all creation just for us, His children. We have been given the lifesaving vegetation, variety of animals and insects to maintain us in good health. We have been given all that we need in order to live with out worrying about anything. This earth rotates in order to produce gravity that keeps us from floating out into space. We have been given a brain that automatically controls every function of our bodies. We have a mind that allows us to use all that we have been given for whatever we desire and continually think of new things to produce. There is no end to what we can do in our life. We only need to recognize that we have the capability to do it.

We have even developed things that can destroy all that we have in an instant. Do things that will pollute this earth to such a degree that we can literally make the earth unlivable. Poison every thing within tens to thousands of miles around us.

When we walk in a forest do we really appreciate what we have and how much it gives us? Can a walk in a forest change our whole outlook on life to the place where we can really appreciate what we have? This question has been asked so many times that it is impossible to count, but what can we do?

We can start by looking at who we are and our relationship to our environment and to other people. We can tell others of the beauty of this world. Take and show photos that we have taken of forest and mountain areas, state and provincial parks. Write books about the variety of life that is in this world from the smallest microbe to the largest thing, natural or man made on this earth. Everything that man has made has its own beauty. Something, that appeals to our sense of sight, taste, smell and touch. It’s all there for us.

My Poems

She Walked

She walked into my life
With a smile and light
A light that shone in all directions
Pushing away the darkness

It was a beautiful sight that light
I’ll never forget it
It shown so bright

Its has dimmed a little
But it’s still there
Shinning in my heart forever

The Worker

He worked and worked and worked
Saw the path so clear
Took the way to life
That became a cause
Long ago he was called
To the life so true
To help the needy
And strengthen the lowly

Now his is ordained and on his way
In the right direction
Of love and faith and healing
For all who come his way

To be helped and send on their way
He is open and so dear
To make the way for others
And be all that tho can be as time goes by

Spring has come and gone
Summer is almost over and
Fall and Winter are on their way.

To No Avail

Its been a good life full of ups and downs
But with you its been nice

We met and clicked and went from there \
To new heights we sprang with out a care

Then came the woe and a look of despair
From the way we saw the fare
Out in the forest we ran for a while
To walk and talk to no avai
For the light had faded away
Leaving a dark turn in the way
What happened and where are we going
Is there still a chance for the uniting?
We walk and talk to no avail

Milestones

A milestone has been reached
We are on the right track
Tomorrow will bring anew
All that we can endure

Today is all we have
And tomorrow is just a dream
A dream that makes anew all that we have

So let get going, we are on the right path
See you in the light, but only if you like
Where is the light you say?
It’s only a smile away

Is their no end to this conflict

When we look at the world and all its problems, we are immediately drawn to the fact that men, women and children are dying at an alarming rate, through out the world.
Sickness and war has been a part of human life since man first set foot on this earth, and when they began to gather in groups and small communities, things got worst.

If seems that one group has been warring against one another since time began and for some, it has even become a way of life. Gathering in communities has contributed to the wide spread of war, disease and sickness of all kinds.
People and governments use almost any excuse to go to war. They mark out their countries borders; mark out territories for hunting and fishing. They started fighting and killing their neighbors if they intruded on their land. They make raids on their neighbors taking away their wives, children, personal belongings, stealing their tools, food, clothes and even their homes.

Because man has deemed it necessary, they have become quite possessive of what God has given them to use freely and share with each other. We think that because we have purchased a plot of ground or home that we own it. But what happens when we don’t pay our taxes?

Is their anything that can be done to stop, or at least minimize the destruction, killing, sickness and disease in this world? The 64000 dollar question! Ah.

What about sickness?

Sickness has becomes a way of life for some people and they believe that being sick will attract sympathy, a sense of being wanted, love and attention to them. While others, seem to attract sickness by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Medical doctors and their science, Shamans, Natural Paths, Spiritual Healers, Missionaries, you and me working together by praying and doing our best to avoid sickness and disease is of the utmost importance. We all do our best to help others and ourselves to be healthy.

In this world there are men and women who work constantly to personally try and stop war, famine, disease and sickness. They provide political and medical aid, food and clothing; raise money through television, radio, marathons and other means. They give all they have to established organizations that have the means to aid and distribute the goods and medicine to those in need. Are they effective? Sure, but it is never enough, it is a never-ending battle, and in most cases a monumental task.
WE are to work to provide service to others. It is our responsibility to help our fellow man. To do our best and keep working to stop wars and cures sickness and disease through out the world.


What about us?

Some of us are very sensitive to the tragedies that happen through out the world. One friend told me of having dreams about the young girl that disappeared from Three Rivers Quebec, Canada, last year, of volcanoes, earth quakes, storms and other tragedies. And what are we to think about what is happening through out the world? Is their anything that we can do?

I have tried to think of some way that I can have an affect on world events. And I have not been able to do much about it. I give of my finances, I pray. I plead, I cry, I even demand that God do something, anything about all the destruction, killing, sickness and disease in the world. But God has said – I gave you, my children and total freedom of choice. You have the freedom to make choices with out interference, do what you want, say what you want, and even believe what you want. It has been your choice to make war on each other. It has been your choice to commit crimes against each other. It has been your choice to suffer the consequences of your choices through war, sickness and disease. As your 6th principle says: “Personal responsibility, with compensation and retribution for all the good and evil deeds done here.” It is then our responsibility to correct our way of thinking and choices in life in whatever means we deem best. It is my responsibility, says God, to help you accomplish your goals. I hear your prayers, your pleading and your crying. I even hear your demands. But it is up to you to make the decisions to act. It is up to you to help each other find a cure for war, disease and sickness in the world by making good decisions.

How?

It is a service that we give each other. Without a means of service to others there would be nothing for us to do but sit around and contemplate our navel. We need some thing to keep them busy and in service to others. In the world of spirit, all of the people there are in service to each other and to their brothers and sisters on the earth plain. This is the way in which humanity grows spiritually. Service to others! Service to others produces happiness, joy, a sense of well being and a knowing that each one of us is making a difference in the life of others and the world.

Again, Infinite Intelligence, God, has said, I will help you in all of your endeavors, but you must take responsibility for your actions and do something yourself to be of service to others. Again, I will help you according to your efforts to making good choices and to try and minimize your errors that you call sins through your choices.

This then is an answer. Maybe not the answer you were looking for about how to end the never ending conflict, but an answer. We are all ultimately responsible for our actions. We must take the first step to correct our own errors and make choices for our highest good and then we can do something to help others. Again, we must start with ourselves so that we can then help others. And in doing so, war, disease and sickness will cease to exist.

Commitment To Self Healing & The Path Of The Spiritual Warrior

by Kaz Hanford (a universal Life Church minister)

The decision to embark on a path of self discovery and self healing is one which requires great courage, perseverance and single minded determination. It is not a decision that should be made on the spur of a whim or without an honest desire to search into our most hidden, darkest, secret corners.

Indeed, that is where the truth always lies - in places we have done our best to hide and forget about... places which hold our most frightening secrets...our largest most terrifying demons...

Places which many of us have become proficient at creating and then burying with the intent that they never be uncovered again because we didn't want to deal with them in the first place. The mark of a great warrior or master is that they are willing time and again to face their own darkness, their own demons, to have the courage to face their inner selves. This requires the stripping of layers that we have built up on false foundations with which we covered our true selves...our souls.

These layers warp our lives and distort our true potential. They send us off on wrong pathways, purposeless tangents and create disharmony. The process of stripping away that which does not serve us in a positive manner requires great courage and the knowledge that to be whole we have to live in truth not distortion. It is a process which takes as long as it takes and may require us to be naked and vulnerable for a long period of time. Only a true warrior is able to endure this and realize that this may take a lifetime/s of seeking the inner soul essence...the mark of a warrior is that they will return time and again often weary and a little battered to strip away yet another layer in order to come closer to their own truth.

The warrior knows that truth brings you closer to the source...the source which feeds us and makes us whole. The warrior knows that to live a lie dishonors both themselves and the source from which they came. To knowingly live a lie is like permanent death for only by living in truth can we truly exist and grow. There are many souls, including those who pretend to be warriors or masters, who are not prepared to do this. They build up the layers around them which stifle and suffocate their soul essence until nothing can be seen of their inner self - indeed even they themselves do not know who they truly are. They are like blind souls stumbling in the darkness of fear and untruth. The dead wood that surrounds them holds no life and only the sharpest tomahawk of truth can cut through these dead layers to reveal the tiny, inner soul huddled miserably in the core...unfed and dying slowly from neglect and a lack of love.

My heart cries out for these souls for it only needs the tiniest spark of love for self to begin the process of self healing...only a tiny mouthful will feed the tiny soul inside and sustain it till it can bathe in the light of self discovery, truth and healing. Many souls do not understand this and thus know no better. However, a professed spiritual warrior brings dishonor on themselves when they live in lies and untruths. They have no business shining a light for others when they live in darkness - for how can you radiate light when you have none to give? Self denial becomes the disease.

Whoever takes on the spiritual pathway and the road to self healing must be warned that this will bring inevitable change on all levels and scales. It may mean the coming of the tower which rips apart your life - but only because it is built on falsity and lies and needs to be torn down so that truth may rebuild a structure which will never fall no matter how big and wide it grows. It may be gentle and slow bringing gentle, slow changes. It may be a tidal wave after which rebuilding on a massive scale occurs - and we all know someone who has had to do this with their lives...someone who has made drastic changes but are more peaceful and balanced within themselves because of it.

When embarking on a course of healing either with yourself or with a healer, walk in with your eyes and heart open and there will be many (both in this life and in spirit) who will be there to help and support you. Also know that they cannot do it for you...they cannot carry you or give you all the answers. These are your layers and your lessons - they do not belong to anyone else. The warrior does not send another into battle in his place...he goes in and faces the battle himself - not behind the shield of others. However, at the same time you will never be alone. The healer and the healee need space between them in between each healing. The healee needs space to come to their own realizations for it is not the healer's job to give them answers. Part of the healing process is that the soul being healed discovers their own truth for themselves.

The healee also needs time in between sessions away from the healer because the healer brings painful issues and realizations to the surface. This can often make the healee angry and resentful, projecting these feelings and the blame on the person healing them. This is natural and a professional healer expects, knows this and is prepared for it. This is why many professional healers choose not to heal family and friends when they know deep issues are at hand. There are many too who live in their mouths and by that I mean they speak of their desire to heal but their heart is not in it. There are many who lie before a healer and will not accept the energy or who will turn it all in to a drama in order to create diversions away from the underlying issues. This way they do not have to truly look within and face what is there. A person committed to their own healing and growth will come no matter what...there will be no excuses and they will listen with their ears and their hearts and absorb all that they are given.

Often too, unless there is an exchange of energy (which in today's world means mostly a monetary exchange although it can be otherwise), the healing is not appreciated.... It is taken for granted or simply not valued. You may get someone telling you as the healer that they got nothing out of it. Many want a quick fix or a "Valium healing" and thus only take the required amount of energy. These people always get off the table smiling - these are surface dwellers or those who only wish to live on the surface of their lives for if they went deeper they would have to start scratching the surface of all they've buried and this is not what they truly want. The true intuitive healer knows all this. There are people who use their spirituality as a toy with which they play and as play does not involve heavy, nasty, soul rending things - these are not addressed or acknowledged. Play holds lots of role playing and drama queens, laying blame at the doors of others, and conditions. This just leads in circles and goes nowhere very fast. Unfortunately there are many of these 'players' and the great shame is that they claim to bring light yet are not capable of it. In this way the path of the spiritual warrior holds great responsibility for there are only a very few warriors and many, many souls who need and are asking for direction and light in their lives.

It is a commitment to help others by first helping yourself. Thus, we can see that the path of a true spiritual warrior or master is full of constant challenge and battle to allow the true essence self to grow and develop unrestricted by falsity. It requires constant attention for the path holds much that would distract us from our true purpose. Masters need to be especially aware as we have taken on the responsibility to help bring healing and light to others. This does not mean that we are or should be perfect. However, it does mean that we need to question ourselves, our lives, and our motives. We need to be ever seeking the truth both within and outside of ourselves and be mindful of helping others (who wish to be helped) to do the same.

This brings me to my next point which is that there are many who do not wish to seek and grow even though they wear the mask of good intent. These people may well seek out a master and show sincerity and interest but in reality are attracted to the energy and will seek to poach it. These people are takers and give nothing back. Those of you who are energy workers or are receptive and sensitive to energy will understand what I mean. In a healthy relationship that is devoted to growth and spiritual development there is always a give and take of energy. One which involves a "taker" quickly leaves one feeling drained and ill. Some openly take from your energy centers. Others take energy in quick attacks like an ambush. Still others wear a pleasant mask while they steal energy. As individuals we have to become aware of these kind of people - even if they are other healers and masters. Understand that we are all at our own levels of growth and spiritual development, however, if others keep failing to understand the same lesson we need to realize that they are not yet capable of that level of understanding. Often we must walk away for our own sakes - for these people will block us and drain us. There are too many souls who are ready to learn for us to spend time wasted on those who are unwilling or incapable of the next step.

So remember if you will, through courage, perseverance and love for self we make the commitment to self healing and then if we are called - to help others to do the same.

Laws of Nature in Action

When people takes into account personal responsibility and practice their free will in light of personal responsibility, pride is no longer a part of the equation.
The Law of Personal Responsibility is a primary natural law that can guide us on our spiritual path. Accepting the law of personal responsibility wipes out self-pity, resignation, passive endurance, smoldering resentments against the injustices of life, and the masochistic game of harping on one's case against life.

Yet this apparently hard law is the most hopeful, encouraging, liberating, and strengthening truth of all truths. It enables us to resolve whatever problem we may have. It opens up life with all its rich possibilities. It forces us to see things in their true light and, uncomfortable as this may first seem, it leaves us with a lot more self-respect, integrity, and hope than the helpless resignation to circumstances life is supposed to bring about. It makes defeat unnecessary because it also removes, among other things, our childish illusion of omnipotence, which is just as unrealistic as the illusion of being life's passive victim. Accepting our own limitations and the limitations of others increases our power to direct our life meaningfully.

Practicing personal responsibility automatically directs us to practice the Golden Rule, “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you”. The Law of Personal Responsibility changes our live in a way that will amaze us, and all who know us. We are no longer looking at the negative things in our lives that we have complained about for years. We understand that making decisions that are for our highest good are decisions that make things in our lives more positive. We are better able to cope with all kinds of problems because we no longer speak before “putting our month in gear”. Yes, we far too often speak before we do a proper thinking about exactly what it is we want to say. When we take time to think, we are taking personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions. And actions often speak louder than words.

We often think, “we got away with that.” But in reality we didn’t get away with anything for natural law tells us that no one gets away with anything. Whether it is a thought, an action or doing nothing at all – the Law of Cause and Effect, the Law of Karma and the Law of Thought tells us that everything in our life depends on our thoughts and actions.
This statement says to me that if a person says something, or does something that is taken by another person as being contentious, a problem will be generated, and the problem can mean the difference between getting along with people or being despised and rejected by them – a friendship lost. This may not have been what was intended, but it can happen.

If an apology is in order, then it must be made immediately in order to correct the problem before the friendship is totally destroyed. What does it take for a person to apologize even if they believe that they have done anything wrong? Just a few words! Just a few words that melt away the problem and sets things right. Taking personal responsibility for ones action will save a friendship and the friendship will continue.

However, some peoples pride is so strong that nothing can be done to correct the problem. They see other people’s actions as a personal attack on them and they must act – sometimes violently.

The Bible tells us not to judge others, but to always give others the benefit of the doubt – do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Prideful people have to eventually come to terms with their thoughts and actions and change their way so that they do not suffer the consequences. Remember the Laws of Nature are always working in our life and we will suffer the consequences of our thoughts and action here or here after.

The Law of Continuity tells us that life is continuous and we take with us to the next life all our wrong thinking and actions done here in this physical life. We WILL make restitution in one way or another for our wrong thought and actions. It would be better for us to take personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions now, do what is necessary to correct our wrongs so that we do not have to take responsibility for them in the next world. In this way, we will be able to continue to advance spiritually here and here after.

SELF Love:

I have been thinking a lot about how often we seem to use the word LOVE without even
knowing what true love means. “ They said they LOVE ME” or I REALLY LOVE THEM”
or THEY PROMISED TO LOVE ME FOREVER.” The word comes so easily. We believe
someone else will give us acceptance, security and stability, but that isn’t always the case.
The most important love is SELF LOVE. Only you can give yourself this greatest gift.
When you truly love yourself, there is no room for any other negative beliefs.
Once this love is awakened, we are able to enter into relationships without expectations.
By allowing love to express itself without judgment, you are giving yourself and others
unconditional love.
God Bless.....Rev. Carol Neumann

Who am I?

Rev. Margaret Neville wrote an article in the Universal Life Church’s weekly sermons quoting from the Bible book of Isaiah that says in Isaiah 29:13: and I quote: “The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

“My understanding of the above is that people who go to church and say the prayers and did so because that is what they are taught. They have faith but because they were taught the rules of mankind and never taught how to feel their belief in their hearts, they just recite the words without any true feelings. People have to learn what they believe in to truly feel the presence of God in their hearts and mind. I don’t think it is something that you can be taught like rules. I truly believe that you don’t have to be a member of any recognized church and follow any specific rules from any type of church or religious organization to believe in the God of your choice and to follow the rules that He has set forth. I believe that you can find the true meaning of the Lord by reading or listening to the Bible on your own. The most interesting thing is that when you figure out that your interpretation of the Bible is truly yours then you get the full meaning of what God is telling you. You get the gist of the rules that God wants you to live by. You understand that a belief in God is all you and Him and not what man has made for you.”

I agree 100% with what Rev. Neville has written. I have seen it a 1000 times in my 70+ years of life. There is at least one person you may know right now who is of the type described above. You may even be that person… I hope not.
When I read what Rev. Neville said I could no help thinking about the many Spiritualist I have met that are as hypocritical as any person in a Christian or other world religions. The question always comes up “Why?” It’s because of the way in which we have been raised, the community we lived/live in, the country we lived; in society in general. What I am saying is that we are taught from early childhood to defend ourselves even if it means lying, cheating, stealing or even outright robbery. And what do we think about all of this?

Most people are so used to lying and cheating and so on, that they are not even aware of the fact that they commit such wrong thinking and acting. All of us believe that we are OK and that we are the “most honest and forthright person in the world.” But are we?

How can our churches and society advance spiritually when we have so many people engaged in activities that are any thing but right?

I want you to know that you and I cannot get away with anything in this life. God has given us a set of Universal/Spiritual Laws that will always trip us up.

You have heard of the Law of Cause and Effect. And perhaps you have also heard of the Law of Karma. Both of these laws are active 24/7. They record our every thought, action. The law of Attraction is also in affect where we will draw to us people of like mind that will in their own way trip us up. Some of those people are a little smarter than we are and will do unto us what we have done to another person. This is a fact that if you take a look at your life, you will see it in many ways.

What I also want to tell you is that life doesn’t have to be this way. We CAN abide by the 10 commandments of the Bible. We can abide by the seven principles of Spiritualism. These laws and principle were given to us to help us avoid all the problems in this life and keep us on the straight and narrow path, one that leads to total enlightenment. To become the spiritual being that we pretend to be – we need to make it a fact of life that we really are spiritual beings living in a world of chaos. Tomorrow is another day and you have the opportunity now to make the right decisions and turn your life around and be all that you can be.

The Religion of Spiritualism can be No Greater than Those Who are in it

The Religion of Spiritualism can be no greater than those who are in it, and represent it. This is a very profound statement because it really gets down to the core of the beliefs and practices of individual Spiritualists. For the Spiritualists who have educated themselves in the Science, Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism is a person who knows how to live their life. Spiritualism gives them the tools to deal with everything that comes their way from problem solving in general to solving problems at work and with family and friends. Spiritualists are happy, on the most part, and they enjoy life; with a song in there heart that is uplifting to them and all who know them. They know that when they make their transition, the life continues on and that they are going to a beautiful and happy place. For a person to know that physical death is a new beginning is something that gives them peace of mind and makes everything in their life worthwhile.

For those in Spiritualism who have not taken the time to study and learn anything about its Science, Philosophy and Religion are people who have very little idea of what it truly represents, and they fall short of knowing just what Spiritualism can do for them. Far too often, these people attend the church only for the message that the churches medium(s) may give them. People in general, it seems, only exist in a world that demands their attention, and robs them of the knowledge of how to live life to its fullest.

The question might be asked, why attend a Spiritualist church, or any church for that matter? Attending a Spiritualist church is a good choice for the fact that its ministers don’t preach to their members like many of the ministers of denominational churches do. Many denominational church ministers have for centuries instilled fear in the hearts of their members. Fear that they must abide by the teachings of the church or suffer the consequences of being judged by a hostile God. The fear of judgment has had divesting results on the psychic of people. They don’t want to be told that they will be judged, or how to live in this world; they want to be told that they are OK, and that they are doing well in this life. Spiritualist churches do that and a lot more. But not all Spiritualists remember their teachings.

Far too many people who claim to be Spiritualists don’t have a clue as to what Spiritualism is all about and really believe that the churches’ mediums are their, just for them. Even Spiritualist ministers are guilty of practicing their religion with little knowledge of how they affect the psychic of church members. The minister/medium is one who is supposed to have studied Spiritualism and is truly practicing its principles. But far too often this is just not so.

It is a shame that so many Spiritualist ministers have forgotten the basic principles taught by the church. It seems that they have become so involved in their mediumship, and the money they make from it, that they have forgotten what Spiritualism is really all about. They forget that Spiritualism teaches one to love thy neighbor as thyself and to do unto others as they would have them do unto them. The Golden Rule seems to have been forgotten with the years. A minister must have respect for their congregants and their support for the churches well being.
I have seen far too many Spiritualist ministers/mediums that have such a great prejudice towards developing mediums that they look down their noses at their attempts to learn and develop. Why? Didn’t it take years for a developed medium and minister to get where they are now? Didn’t it take years for them to be respected as a gifted medium? Then why are they doing what they are doing to developing mediums? These are questions that I would really like to know the answers to. There may be a right way and a wrong way to develop mediumship according to some Spiritualist, but if a developing medium needs a crutch such as special cards to help them develop, why not? After a while the cards are discarded as they learn that true mediumship is communication between the medium and spirit only. I have seen this for myself. I know it happens. So you may ask, why have I included these remarks about older mediums? Older mediums represent Spiritualism and its teachings and if they cannot abide by those teachings, they are not serving Spiritualism as it should be served. It takes internal fortitude and patience to learn all that Spiritualism has to offer people, and if the older Spiritualists do not remember what it took for them to get where they are, maybe spirit should remind them in a more profound way than gentle persuasion. I think that some of them have given Spiritualism a bad name, especially to those of us who are learning and developing.

Spiritualism is the only church that teaches that it is a science and religion. What does that mean? It means that a Spiritualist investigates, analyzes and classifies facts and manifestations demonstrated from the spirit side of life. The science of Spiritualism contained in the demonstrated facts of Mediumship and Healing, and the study of such phenomena. These facts and demonstrated have long been established in past years by people of the scientific community. In the late 1800s there were many renowned scientists who studied spiritual phenomena demonstrated by some of the most gifted mediums of their time. The scientists braved the sarcasm of their peers and the potential loss of their careers and reputations to study (research) the phenomena that other scientists could not bring themselves to study. These scientists found that the mediums they worked with were able to perform repeatedly the phenomena of Spiritualism thus fulfilling the scientific requirement for repeatability that is required in order for science to accept research as fact.

Spiritualism is a philosophy because it studies the Laws of Nature both on the seen and unseen side of life and bases its conclusions upon present observed facts. It accepts statements of observed facts of past ages and conclusions drawn there from, when sustained by reason and by results of observed facts of the present day.

Through out the ages, we find philosophers who have made studies of human nature, human conduct and the laws that govern them. Ages ago, these philosophers had formed various theories for the harmonization of life, which we later find still prevalent in the teachings of the worlds great religions. A philosopher always starts with a theory and tests it, makes a study of it, and writes a record of the results which have been obtained. It is in these records that we find many of the facts that harmonized with the teachings of Spiritualism. All spiritualist are recommended to make a study of these philosophers from the past and the present because of their existing harmony with the natural laws, and because many of their teachings are found in our own religious beliefs (Rev. Sharon L. Snowman, NST). Spiritualists have been writing about the philosophy of Spiritualism for years and have not been able to provide all the information that it represents. Even like the Spiritualists investigators of old, the modern day Spiritualists, the Rev. Sharon L. Snowman, a Spiritualist who has studied and written numerous books and pamphlets for the National Association of Churches on Spiritualism has not even scratched the surface in her writings of the philosophy of Spiritualism. It takes years to study a philosophy in order to be able to understand it and tell others about it. Especially for Spiritualists who want to know.

Spiritualists are people who want to know that when they make a statement, that it is correct and backed up by observable facts and that they are scientifically proven by educated people

Practice and Application of Phenomena

[The following article was written when I was studying Modern Spiritualism with the Morris Pratt Institute.]

The responsibility of the sitter and the medium are really important for any successful reading or even the giving of short messages. It is one of our major principles of Spiritualism, in short, is “Personal Responsibility.” It places the responsibility of what happen in our life totally on our shoulders. It is not the responsibility of others to take care of us. If we go into a reading with a chip on our shoulders, we are for sure going to have no reading at all, or a very poor one. I can vouch for this in that I tried to give a reading to a woman in Florida. She had the type of personality that says, “it really doesn’t matter what you say or try to say to me, I will make sure its bad and WILL get my money back.” She did. This type of personality in a person is what gives Spiritualism a bad name among the friends of a person with that type of personality. The lesson really emphasizes the true responsibility of all individuals involved in mediumship. I am glad to be able to express what this lesson has to say to those I work with at the Church I attend here in Montreal. It seems to me that we just don’t take enough time to really understand what is involved in giving readings and messages and, often, get ourselves into trouble on a personal basis.

I was glad to read the section that expresses continuing need for education. I have been told that I read too much and practice what I preach too little. That may be so in the eyes of some, but I believe that the more I know about the beliefs and principles of Spiritualism and its teachings, the better. These lessons have been a real eye opener for me in many respects, especially this lesson twenty. I have thought about the things this lesson has to say, but I think that I really needed to see it in writing so that I am able to truly bring to the surface of my mind, daily, my responsibility towards Spiritualism and other people.

The real benefits of mediumship, when we are able to practice it properly bring to the sitter, and ourselves, a better understanding of our roll in life. Mediumship is for those who really need a little direction in their life and not for that person who is looking for some one to do their work for them. We are really just individuals in the greater scheme of life. It is quite satisfying to be able to help some one who really needs it, and for the person who is able to take advice and use it for their personal greater good. I think that it is a good to give to others and to reap the benefits of the work. It is also one of the goals of mediumship.

Becoming a Minister

Pastoral Skills and the new minister

All ministers whether they are the church’s pastor or one of the associate ministers will be called upon to visit the sick and dying in the hospital, comfort the widows, and orphans, and other love ones of the sick and dying. As such, the minister has to have some knowledge of what will be expected of him/her by a grieving person. The more the minister knows about how to approach a grieving person, the better he/she will be able to render assistance.

In most cases the minister has more knowledge and expertise than they may believe that they have. This being said, one must realize that they have a number of years of life experiences to call upon at all times. Our parents, friends and life situations taught us most of what we learn in life. However, in this course you will be given some tools to work with that will make your job a little easier. I have a friend that told me that he counsels people through the readings that he gives. Readings? My friend is a certified medium, and believes that when he encounters any kind of situation, he only has to call upon spirit to take over and counsel the person before him. What he is really saying is that he has never had to give counsel to any one in the hospital, a person who has lost a love one, or even a person who was dying. This may not be entirely true, because every minister of Spiritualism has been ask the question, “Why did God take my son, my daughter, cousin or friend at such a young age?” Ministers are expected to have the answer this very important question. It is not just a question of whether or not the person asking the question believes in life after the change called death, or not, the question is still not answered for them. You could tell them that their love one had full filled their purpose on earth and it was time for them to go. Or you could tell them that you just don’t know why God some times takes some people in the prime of their life. This of course will not answer the question and you could be looked upon as a minister who just doesn’t know any thing about life.

As you read through the various books assigned to you at this time, you will learn many possible ways in which you can help people. Not all answers, of course, to question from people in general can be gotten from a book. Some time the minister has to go to an older experienced minister and ask for help. NEVER feel that you cannot ask another for help. That is what they are there for. It is the well being of the patient that is of the greatest concern. Not yours, or mine.

Practice of Healing

Understanding the part that the healer plays in a healing session is as serious and important part of the process. The most important thing for a healer is to tune himself or herself to the divine within. The divine or Infinite Spirit within is the true source of all healing. When the healer attunes to Infinite Spirit, they become a channel for healing and healing can then be channeled to the recipient.

It is well known that for the healer to be effective they must be properly prepared for the healing session. This is accomplished when the healer takes time to go to their place of comfort--to quiet the body and mind for the healing energies to flow through them. The more that a healer is attuned to Infinite Spirit, the stronger the healing energy flows. However, the healer MUST believe that the healing will take place, according to God’s will, for the healing to be truly effective.

The healer should adhere to two basic rules of healing that are helpful and important to remember, especially in the case of any serious disorder, the healer should advise the one in recipient to see a physician in addition to receiving spiritual healing. And unless specifically qualified and certified to do so, the healer must refrain from giving medical opinions. In Quebec, there is a law that says that the healer is not permitted to give any kind of medical diagnoses. Even the professional healer like Oral Roberts, always told the recipient of his healing to see their doctor before claiming that they are healed. Good advice for all healers.

As the healer prepares himself or herself for the healing session, the recipients should also prepare themselves for the healing session as well. The recipients should be looking forward to the healing session. It is the responsibility of the recipient to sit with expectation entering into the session as calm and serene as possible. When a person is stressed or sitting just because a friend pushed them into the healing session, healing may not take place at all. However, even if the recipient enters into the healing session stressed and unprepared for the healing, the healing can take place. When the healing session is completed; the healer should washing their hands or performing some other form of cleansing after a healing session.

Many times, a friend or relative of a sick person will ask a healer to send healing to their friend or love one. The healer prepares to send healing to the needy in the same way that they prepare for touch healing when the needy are in their presents. Remote healing is a special healing process that works, and is performed more often than hands-on healing. The recipients of remote healing may not even be aware of the healer sending healing to them. It doesn’t matter whether the recipient is experiencing great distress or they are sleeping at the time that remotely healing is taking place; healing takes place. Again, it is Infinite Spirit who does the healing, not the healer.

Even before a person asks for healing, Infinite Spirit is already providing healing. Healing once started continues until the recipient is healed. However, one must be aware of the fact, that even if a person dies, the person has received healing… This is, of course, not always easy for a person’s family to accept…

To reiterate, those who provide healing must be properly trained and certified in order to work as a healer in a Spiritualist church, hospital or their neighborhood. It is the responsibility of the local church to provide training classes and assure that the healer is properly trained and competent before they are allowed to work.

Truth or Not

Truth is a subject in which every one has an opinion. Webster’s Dictionary says that truth is (1) the true or actual state of a matter. (2) Conformity with fact, or reality.

A person often expresses their truth in many ways. For example in a conversation, and even though the person is sincere doesn’t mean that it was taken that way by the recipient.

Far too often we are misunderstood and this causes problems that can end a friendship, or even break up families.

It is sometimes is big problem getting ones truth across to another person especially when that person has little or no respect for the person presenting their truth. It doesn’t matter whether the person presenting his/her truth has graduated from high school or even has a PhD. No amount of respect can be garnered. So what is a person to do?

There is no real answer to this question but to say – forget it. Don’t waste any more time or energy on trying to get your truth across to that person or persons.

I believe that a thing like this happens to countless million of people everyday. I wish that I had an easy answer for them, but I don’t.

As a minister, I am supposed to have all the answers – especially when it happens to me. I could quote the Bible, the Koran or some other spiritual book, but little will come from my quotations no matter what I do. You may say that I have a problem – between my left and right ear. I don’t thing so. I have dealt with people of all ages, personalities and faiths. I enjoy getting along with all of them. But sometime a person will come “out of the woodwork” that has taken something I may have said all wrong. We need to sit down and clear the air.

For example, when person (B) says to you that they don’t remember something that took place some time ago, doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. Some people will simply denigrate the truth and often start a campaign to discredit person (A). Just because a person forgets something, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. When a person tries to right a wrong, it is the responsibility of both parties to either let “bygones-be-bygones, or just walk away. Maybe that is the best thing to do… Some friendships are over and just cannot be reestablished no matter what.

All of us want to be understood and express ourselves so that others understand us, and that we are not misunderstood. We want to be understood and not lose a friendship over something that should have never happened in the first place.

I believe that we are all in the same boat. We just don’t ask enough questions and far too often we don’t try to understand the other person. Sometimes we have judged that other person and no matter what it just doesn’t matter. We MUST be ready to get to the truth by talking it over and be willing to give other the benefit of the doubt.

I hope that this short article will make you think a little and take the time to make calls, emails or even write a letter to the person you may have misunderstood in order that the truth can come out. Maybe a friendship can be saved because the individuals involved can come to an understanding and all will be well. The truth must always be expressed and understood.

The Religion of Spiritualism can be No Greater

The Religion of Spiritualism can be no greater than those who are in it, and represent it. This is a very profound statement because it really gets down to the core of the beliefs and practices of individual Spiritualists. For the Spiritualists who have educated themselves in the Science, Philosophy and Religion of Spiritualism is a person who knows how to live their life. Spiritualism gives them the tools to deal with everything that comes their way from problem solving in general to solving problems at work and with family and friends. Spiritualists are happy, on the most part, and they enjoy life; with a song in there heart that is uplifting to them and all who know them. They know that when they make their transition, the life continues on and that they are going to a beautiful and happy place. For a person to know that physical death is a new beginning is something that gives them peace of mind and makes everything in their life worthwhile.

For those in Spiritualism who have not taken the time to study and learn anything about its Science, Philosophy and Religion are people who have very little idea of what it truly represents, and they fall short of knowing just what Spiritualism can do for them. Far too often, these people attend church only for the message that the churches medium(s) may give them. People in general, it seems, only exist in a world that demands their attention, and robs them of the knowledge of how to live life to its fullest.

The question might be asked, why attend a Spiritualist church, or any church for that matter? Attending a Spiritualist church is a good choice for the fact that its ministers don’t preach to their members like many of the ministers of denominational churches do. Many denominational church ministers have for centuries instilled fear in the hearts of their members. Fear that they must abide by the teachings of the church or suffer the consequences of being judged by a hostile God. The fear of judgment has had divesting results on the psychic of people. They don’t want to be told that they will be judged, or how to live in this world; they want to be told that they are OK, and that they are doing well in this life. Spiritualist churches do that and a lot more. But not all Spiritualists remember their teachings.

Far too many people who claim to be Spiritualists don’t have a clue as to what Spiritualism is all about and really believe that the churches’ mediums are their, just for them. Even Spiritualist ministers are guilty of practicing their religion with little knowledge of how they affect the psychic of church members. The minister/medium is one who is supposed to have studied Spiritualism and is truly practicing its principles. But far too often this is just not so.

It is a shame that so many Spiritualist ministers have forgotten the basic principles taught by the church. It seems that they have become so involved in their mediumship, and the money they make from it, that they have forgotten what Spiritualism is really all about. They forget that Spiritualism teaches one to love thy neighbor as thyself and to do unto others as they would have them do unto them. The Golden Rule seems to have been forgotten with the years. A minister must have respect for their congregants and their support for the churches well being.

I have seen far too many Spiritualist ministers/mediums that have such a great prejudice towards developing mediums that they look down their noses at their attempts to learn and develop. Why? Didn’t it take years for a developed medium and minister to get where they are now? Didn’t it take years for them to be respected as a gifted medium? Then why are they doing what they are doing to developing mediums? These are questions that I would really like to know the answers to. There may be a right way and a wrong way to develop mediumship according to some Spiritualist, but if a developing medium needs a crutch such as special cards to help them develop, why not? After a while the cards are discarded as they learn that true mediumship is communication between the medium and spirit only. I have seen this for myself. I know it happens. So you may ask, why have I included these remarks about older mediums? Older mediums represent Spiritualism and its teachings and if they cannot abide by those teachings, they are not serving Spiritualism as it should be served. It takes internal fortitude and patience to learn all that Spiritualism has to offer people, and if the older Spiritualists do not remember what it took for them to get where they are, maybe spirit should remind them in a more profound way with gentle persuasion. I think that some of them have given Spiritualism a bad name, especially to those of us who are learning and developing.

Spiritualism is the only church that teaches that it is a science and a religion. What does that mean? It means that a Spiritualist investigates, analyzes and classifies facts and manifestations demonstrated from the spirit side of life. The science of Spiritualism contained in the demonstrated facts of Mediumship and Healing, and the study of such phenomena. People of the scientific community have long established these facts and demonstrations in past years. In the late 1800s there were many renowned scientists who studied spiritual phenomena demonstrated by some of the most gifted mediums of their time. The scientists braved the sarcasm of their peers and the potential loss of their careers and reputations to study (research) the phenomena that other scientists could not bring themselves to study. These scientists found that the mediums they worked with were able to perform repeatedly the phenomena of Spiritualism thus fulfilling the scientific requirement for repeatability that is required in order for science to accept research as fact.

Spiritualism is a philosophy because it studies the Laws of Nature both on the seen and unseen side of life and bases its conclusions upon present observed facts. It accepts statements of observed facts of past ages and conclusions drawn there from, when sustained by reason and by results of observed facts of the present day.
Through out the ages, we find philosophers who have made studies of human nature, human conduct and the laws that govern them. Ages ago, these philosophers had formed various theories for the harmonization of life, which we later find still prevalent in the teachings of the worlds great religions. A philosopher always starts with a theory and tests it, makes a study of it, and writes a record of the results, which have been obtained. It is in these records that we find many of the facts that harmonized with the teachings of Spiritualism. All spiritualist are recommended to make a study of these philosophers from the past and the present because of their existing harmony with the natural laws, and because many of their teachings are found in our own religious beliefs (Rev. Sharon L. Snowman, NST). Spiritualists have been writing about the philosophy of Spiritualism for years and have not been able to provide all the information that it represents. Even like the Spiritualists investigators of old, the modern day Spiritualists, (like the Rev. Sharon L. Snowman), a Spiritualist who has studied and written numerous books and pamphlets for the National Association of Churches on Spiritualism has not even scratched the surface in her writings of the philosophy of Spiritualism. It takes years to study a philosophy in order to be able to understand it and tell others about it. Especially for Spiritualists, who want to know.

Spiritualists are people who want to know that when they make a statement, that it is correct and backed up by observable facts and that they are scientifically proven by educated people.

Image that Spiritualism Presents to the Public

Image is one of the most important things of any religion. Even ones personal image can make the difference between the person who has just attends a church or to one who lives its teachings. It tells about our beliefs and how we regard life in general. As one looks at their life, they are reminded constantly that they are only one of the billions that inhabit this world and that they are an important part of it. The very way one lives is a constant reminder of what is expected of them and where they stand in society. If one has no religion and they have no real beliefs, they have no real concept of how they should live their lives. They think that they are OK; they don't need religion in their life, or do they?

The teachings of one's parents form their personal image that stays with them throughout their lives. For some, just the way they walk, the way they dress, and the look on their face tells all. To others, it's only when they open their mouth that they can be known. And yet, everybody has, what is known as, "off days." For some reason they just keep saying the wrong things or talking when they should be quiet, this can even happen for many days. And yet, one's image changes from day to day and minute to minute.

We are told in the Bible and by our parents not to judge others "lest ye be judged." And yet, we can't help judging everyone we meet. It seems that we are taught to judge others from the time of our birth in order to be able to survive in a "hostel" world. This is seen in every walk of life from the poorest to the richest. We judge others and the question may come up, "how can we change that image? "Can going to church change one's image?" I believe that the answer is yes. Going to church and studying their belief system and teachings can change a person's image and very outlook on life. I have known criminals who became "born again Christians" and developed an image that presents to everyone they meet an image of humbleness and loving care and respect. These people have discovered within themselves their true nature - the real person. It does not matter how it happened - the fact is it did. Did the church give this to them? The true image of a person is within. Church is only one place where one's image can be developed.

In the Spiritualist church, we teach personal responsibility. This teaching goes beyond anything that is taught in the school of life and produces an image of our teachings that is reflected in our very lives. We are taught from an early age that life is the "pits" and "we are to do them before they can do us" - what ever that means. The church has its own image. The church represents God, a way of life, a way of looking at things that reflect one's true beliefs.

Can the church help people develop a new image for themselves? I believe so. The Spiritualist church through their teaching of the "Principle of Personal Responsibility" provides the most effective means of changing one's personal image. It is the "Golden Rule" in action. One man wrote about his work as a psychologist in Hawaii and how he took personal responsibility to a new level. He took personal responsibility to mean that he was responsible for the criminally insane men that he worked with and through his understanding, brought sanity to those men. Through his work on himself, the men were rehabilitated and moved to prisons where they were no longer a threat to themselves and the lives of others. He understood that it was him that caused those men to be insane in the first place. So he simply worked on himself. He went within to correct the source of the insanity and cure the illness. As you can see, one man's personal image of himself and practicing personal responsibility made the difference. He changed the image that others had of themselves to become who they really were. A lesson we can all learn.

I had never thought about personal responsibility in the terms that this psychologists did, and it made me think of just how important my own image is and how as a Spiritualist my image is reflected in the lives of others. We have the truth about life through personal responsibility. A responsibility, that presents an image of our selves and our teachings. What a difference we could make in this world.