Metaphysics Course

This blog is a collection of essays and lesson comments from several of the Universal Life Church courses on Metaphysics. We have a Spirit Quest Course and one on A Course In Miracles.

Friday, October 31, 2008

The Miracle of Prayer

Dr. of Spirituality

What did I learn from this course.
(Looking for the truth in the spiritual world)
My father once said to me: Son, always remember that learning never ends - regardless of age.
Now I am 54 and I have to admit that my father was right.
We live in a cruel world, lies at every corner and most of them blend-in perfectly with what we like to hear and how we like to look at things.
For 2,000 years we are being told that there is only one savior `Jesus Christ`.
Wars are being fought because we need to defend our countries.
Religious wars are being fought because we all have different Gods, given or assigned to us by our churches
who like to domain us just like the politicians of governments for their wars.
Who can you actually trust ?
We are all the same humans, brothers and sisters indeed. And there is only one God in Heaven and this God`s name we do not need to know and neither do we need to kill each other in His name. We are the ones who have given this God different names, beside the other Gods who visited Earth, self-proclaimed Gods, Gods made by humans, Holy messengers and Prophets. Who is the real God ? There can be only one real God in Heaven and that is the almighty God and His name is God (in English) and in another language you might call him differently.
How much do we know about Jesus Christ (New testament) and (Old testament) Joseph in fact / ? What about all the other Gods (whose names I will not mention now), are they fake Gods or fake Sons of Gods ? Certainly not !
What about the great (Genesis) flood / And, what about the Epic of Gilgamesh (around 2,600 BC) ?
What about Moses (Sargon), and all the other `moses-like-human prophets before;
in Babylon it was Nemo (10 tablets)
in India it was Manou (10 tablets)
in Crete it was Minos (10 tablets)
in Egypt it was Mises (10 tablets)
... and have you ever sought about the ending in our prayers: AMEN ? Where does it come from and what does it actually mean ? Are we worshiping Amen-Ra / Sun-God ?
Are we really knowing the truth about Earth and Humans and their Gods, or are we just living in a great Disney Land ?
Is everything just developed for political reasons so that religion can be used for slavery ?
Religion is a myth indeed, it is not debatable nor questionable, it is divine authority.
At young age I quit religion and I found it again through the ULC, especially the Spiritual course they offered.
In the end that is all I had left, a broken-view regarding religion and belief. All there was left in me was the Spiritual belief.
It is rather difficult to build-up that belief without some help of an spiritual advisor. Then the praying, we all pray for so much, but then is it right to pray that much ? And what kind of prayer is correct ? To whom should we pray ?
Beside weddings I do counseling of all kinds and children support, visit hospitals and prisons were I meet all kind of different nationals and human characters. I do not use the cross, of course when I am forced to use it then inside my heart I think of Jesus Christ but still fighting with my inner-self then. I rather wear a pair of praying hands instead of a cross.
Spiritual belief in the (Nameless) Almighty God is my belief and I consider myself an International Christian who welcomes all Gods and all other Religions for the purpose of uniting all humans together again.
The Free-Will being given of being able to choose an religion (Universal religious belief) and practicing it as granted to me by the ULC means a lot to me and the most-high in heaven will certainly agree to that. Arguing about religion is a waste of time, since all religious books are either partially incorrect, misinterpreted and anyway are not fully proven to be correct. Better be spiritual and study about Astronomy, Astrology and Archeology and really help-out others and then you will be on the right track.
Most of the people say they are spiritual, because they do not know anything about religion, neither won`t have anything to do with it for personal or other reasons. The question is just `Do They Understand Spirituality` ? Maybe 90% does not. Rev. Dr. Loretta Siani has been a helping hand to me with her lessons, Spiritual prayers and the deeper meaning of it. Of course not everything is according my spiritual belief, what she has taught me, but she awakened inside me the deeper free-spiritual thinking and in the end that is all I hoped to happen. Reading, learning, processing and sorting-out with a clear and free-thinking and feeling mind is important in order to evolve to the next spiritual step (per aspera ad astra). No human is perfect, no book is correct but we can correct our current dependent mind (s) and thinking as long as we keep ourselves open and uninfluenced to choose a new or different way of thinking according our heart and independent open mind. Whatever we read or study does not mean that we have to accept everything what is written or being said, but without studying and freely considering a learning process is not possible.
Spirituality is something you can not touch, not buy, not be given to but only slowly learn through study and life experiences and an open mind and an clean heart, otherwise the spiritual picture will not be visible and the guideline is not there.
I like to thank the ULC and Dr. Siani for their kind support till now and I like to encourage my other Pastor-Reverend brothers here on Earth to keep an open mind and always consider the cost of misusing the most powerful weapon `Religion` in the name of our most high GOD.
Blessed are those who spiritually support their brothers and sisters.
Brother Georg - Japan
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The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


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A Course in Miracles

"As a Student of A Course In Miracles (after starting this course), I was very resistant to separating form from non-form or the flesh from spirit.  I had much experience with Catholicism, Paganism, Druidism, Taoism, Shamanism, Hinduism, Kriya Yoga, Kabbalah, Judaism, Sufism and several forms of Buddhism but none of them came close to understanding reality as ACIM did.  I started researching the Vedanta because ACIM has been known to be the Christian Vedanta and I wanted to understand the roots of that connection.

I tried applying my beliefs to convince others that their beliefs weren't correct and that they should start looking at the world as unreal and having no effect on anyone who is living or experiencing it.

Alas, I learned that you can not change anyone's beliefs unless they are ready to and even then, they will change them regardless of you or anything else that happens – it will happen when that person or that event is supposed to happen or when the time is right.

Love is the only thing that's real.  Everything in this reality is made of Love even when it's manifesting as something else (which doesn't make it real at all).  Once you see past the non-love or illusion, then you can see that you don't have to react to the non-loving or illusion and you can just forgive it and take away any belief, feelings, thoughts or emotions connected to that illusion or unreal manifestation of our collective mind.

Even the notion of individuality is an illusion since God and I and everyone else are One and feeling separate is an illusion.  The identity self of Ego or Fear wants each of us to stand our ground and reinforce our individual rights to exist when the very existence of this Unreal Universe isn't real at all but a manifestation within the Decision Maker's Mind. 
Forgiveness helps undo Judgment.  Judgment reinforces the illusion.  Forgiveness undoes the Ego and everything associated with it.  Once you undo the Ego, all that's left is Love and Reality of being One with God.  One Mind, One Will, One Love, One Spirit, One Being is the reality of ACIM.

I will continue to believe in love, emanating this belief from my heart center and help heal the world by undoing the belief that it needs any healing at all.

Thank you for helping me see the light, the truth and accepting Love as the Only Reality."

Rev. Michael Allan Navarro


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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


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A Course in Miracles

I have just completed the course on Metaphysics and Miracles. I have found this course to be extremely valuable to me in assessing my own life issues. I think I will start this paper on the quote in the very
last lesson: " And the big lie that the ego still sells today is the belief that we need something outside of us to make us feel happy and complete." I think this sums up the entire experience for me designated in this course. I also quote: "Desire and belief gave birth to choice[the Decision Maker]." and I add that the statement " all beliefs are real to the believer".

When taking this course I had many past recollections of the wrongs done to me as it was my beliefs of such. I was frustrated that I was holding grudges and anxieties that could never find home in me and no resolution seemed possible. I found that I had anger and animosity towards to others, who some of were passed on to the Almighty. I could not let go of the wrongs within me and therefore suffered with anguish. If nothing else, I took this serious and found it detrimental to my well being. I could not let go and could not find happiness when those issues came to me in topic of thought or discussion.

Early on in the course I read of giving these thoughts up to let the
love and the holy spirit into me to shine and remove this. I have found
that by doing so that I was able to forgive and more importantly find my
role in the responsibility for such issues within me. I had been
estranged from one of my children for a number of years and felt huge
regrets about such. So I decided based on this course that was not in my
interest. I asked the God within me to rid me of this and to take hold
of me and guide me out of this course of thoughts. I was able to forget
and forgive and be responsible too. I fought to assure that I did not
carry this anymore. I found the thoughts of ego and the negative issues
to be ones I had within. I decided to cast them out and to live in the
now and found that I was actually able to do so. I let it be known to my
source of such feelings and have found that there is relief and release
of the negative from me. What the future holds I am open to, but I am
not going to blame that which comes on the other person nor anyone. I
have committed to be free of guilt and to be open to the present and not
live with such negatives. Their is a glimmer of hope where none was
evident in the past. I renounced all of my issues of blame and placed
myself in God's hands to find peace and have since found such. I opened
this door to a much broader base then to that of the work which I used
to do and have forgiven and accepted what was and now find in discussion
with colleagues that I have no remorse for my practices and find I am
proud of my accomplishments.


I guess in evaluating this course the thing that one must contend with
is the Awareness of others to have such feelings. I have looked at the
issues of boss and worker and found that the bosses ego would not allow
such events. I subconsciously reflected that without knowing I did so, I
did not use ego to approach the difficult boss. I did what I did with
truth and integrity to me without knowing so. In discussion with a
friend and colleague on this very day, he confirmed that we each dealt
with ourselves in the most positive of conducts and for the good of the
organization, in spite of the negatives.

I suppose the biggest issue I have is adjusting to the fact that others
may not be enlightened by such knowledge of truth and sincerity. Thus,
in dealing with a person all one can do is their best to try to practice
the principles for themselves and trying to show through actions they
are one who is without such hangups. Even when another may not
understand this element of action from within. For many are not
fortunate to have the security of self and love within to be able to
accept that others can be fortunate and positive impacts on their course
of actions. All one can do is attempt to assure they are uniform in
their principles themselves and hope that others will see and respect
that. And if the others do not see this, it isn't a matter of
superiority, it is a matter of keeping true to ones self and letting
what goes on be as it is.

I have a very close friend with cancer and I found that chapter
illuminating. I even have shared some of the information with the
person[s]+[ as there are actually several folk whom I correspond with
right now who have cancer]. I have given to them the wisdom [not mine,
but that of which I have learned about] of letting God be within them
and asked of them to accept such to help them in their journeys through
their treatments and asked and prayed for them to accept God and enjoy
every moment. And you know what? They do! My own parents, who are quite
elderly and severely ill, have rejected my assistance to them. I put my
values on them and instead of accepting their lifestyles- since I wanted
to help and make their lives easier in my opinion- they have chosen not
to discuss their issues with me. So I asked God for help and I have come
to the realization that they are happy in their world and I should
accept what their wishes are. I cannot be let in without their
permission and they will not allow help, thus I search with my heart to
accept their beliefs of what is best for them and I can adjust to that
now with love in my heart.

So it is asked of me, to answer what I have found in this course and I
have found a newer version of me. I have let more goodness enter me with
God's help and I have accept what I can not change. I am accepting what
people want in their judgments and I am living a better life with my own
illness and pains. I ask of God to help me in my struggles with health
issues and give me guidance. I do not dwell upon what was. It is over
and history and I cannot change it.

I would not live my life over. I have accepted those things that were
and move forward to accept the present and look for a bright future and
attempt to give to others who ask. As a member of a civic organizations,
the issues of giving and then receiving were especially home hitting. I
have found that to give unconditionally, is the brightest spot for the
soul to be replenished and rewarded. I ask for nothing but God's love
within and whenever I have doubts I ask for guidance and love and things
just happen. There is no need to relieve the past nor fret upon the future.

In the very first few pages of this course, it talks about Fear based
thinking. I heard a soldier who was on many tours talk about fear. He was asked if he feared on his missions and his response was Fear is "false expectations appearing real". His answer stuck with me and it was before being involved with this course. When I opened the first chapter and read about fear based thinking those words came back to me. We have untold freedoms and we are free to chose if we so deem it to be. This course gives us guidance to learn how to choose and that choices can be made through our Almighty Great Spirit that is within all of us to discover. We have power and it is for us to harness it to archive well being and not let the monsters of ego and separation from our God give us that ego. Our God gives us our strength to achieve those " Miracles" for each of us.

I suspect if I have any issue with what is within the course it is one more of a political nature. I am not at one with those who wish to inflict harm unto others. I am not sure how one person can alter the course of others with other agendas. I know I can do what one person can do, but to alter the course of world events is beyond that of my comprehension at this time. I suppose I will dwell upon that and still do my best to assure God's being. However, it is an issue of which I
have yet to come to terms with. I pray for such persons and ask that they be shown a light that God's power has, but I have difficulty reconciling hatred and death being wished upon others who are different. I Pray for them and I pray for me to accept with reason.

It is however, one issue that needs to be addressed in a whole world view. To pray, gives me solace, but it may not be followed by others. I ask for that, but I am not sure of the results for mankind? Yet I pray!

Thank you for this very enlightening course.


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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the , is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.


 
The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Spirit Quest

I found Spirit Quest to be one of the most helpful of my courses to date. The exercises were delightful to read and easy to follow. The tools I found to be most helpful were the grounding and meditation exercises. When I first created a grounding cord, I could hardly rise from my chair. I felt very heavy and attached to the earth. When I released it, I felt lighter, as if I might be able to float. I have incorporated these techniques in a class I’m teaching and have received rave reviews on it. It has actually helped one of my students learn to visualize.

This course has actually helped heal my spirit and solar plexis chakra which became damaged about a year ago. I had been working on it for almost a year without getting too far, and this course has really sped up the healing process. The blowing up of roses has been a tremendous benefit when ever I’m feeling angry, lonely, sorrowful, or depressed. I can now pour that negative energy into a few roses and blow them up and feel better and behave better.

The discourses on reincarnation and the different life cycles of the spirit were a tremendous help in understanding who I am and where I am in this incarnation. I have always known I was an old soul and reading the definitions and characterizations of each cycle was a true revelation. I recognized quite a few people in each of the cycle descriptions. It has also helped me become more tolerant and understanding towards others of younger life cycles, and confirmed what, I personally, have been teaching. That some people are not yet ready to evolve spiritually, yet, and attain a higher form of enlightenment.

I have also learned that I’m a person worthy of good things and respect and that I don’t have to be around those who are negative and abusive. I can still love someone without having to be around them when they are being nasty.

Over all, this course was wonderfully enlightening and enjoyable. Rev. Amy Long did a fantastic job putting this course together and making me feel worthwhile. I loved her anecdotes on her personal experiences. It’s always nice, in a class, to hear of the teacher’s pitfalls and triumphs. These are great tools for anyone to use.

Blessings,
Rev. Kathy Bailey

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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Friday, October 24, 2008

Psychic Training


This course, so far, is my favorite. Other than I couldn’t wait a week for the next lesson, there was nothing in this course which I didn’t like. The pace seemed slow at first, until I truly practiced the assignments.

Blowing up roses didn’t settle well since flowers are so fleeting in Wyoming, so I substituted that exercise with “taking out the trash”. Instead of creating roses with energy, thoughts or whatever I desired to be rid of, I would imagine full, tied garbage bags being lifted and taken out through the crown chakra, then blown up and taken away by the Wyoming wind, sort of scattering ashes.

One of the many benefits to me from this course was learning to take responsibility for everything that happens in my life; ok maybe not everything which happens, but my reactions and subsequent effect I allow situations to happen in my life. This and learning to direct/reflect energies were at first quite empowering. I changed jobs, was able to negotiate terms of my employment, received all that I wanted in a job.

As with everything, the more personal power one feels, the more attractive one is to those that want to suck it up. I was amazed and overwhelmed how far reaching one’s personal power can go. That old saying “the universe abhors a vacuum” became shockingly apparent as people from all over the state started calling and needing my attention. I had to withdraw into myself for quite some time to learn how to handle the power without abusing it. That might be a lesson in itself for this course, although thankfully, there were plenty of exercises to get me through. Visualization has been one of the greatest tools from this course.

On a more personal note, I was able to change a four year relationship to something more comfortable for me. I was able to admit I should have listened to my instincts and never gotten into this relationship, and didn’t have to blame him. I truly loved the lesson on getting rid of blame, not only my blaming others but being a recipient of blame. We are still friends and I pray he gets his hearts desire, which leads me to another discovery.

Getting my Hearts Desire. Woah…talk about an eye opener. By cleaning out the chakras, asking the right questions, or trying to, I found some ugly desires in my heart. Many were instilled throughout my life by upbringing, society etc., but most was my refusal to let go, to forgive. Forgiveness was one of the earliest lessons in this course, but the hardest for me to accomplish until long into the course.

Something I would like to learn more on is how the weathers affects those on a Spirit Quest. I believe the more one is in tuned with themselves and the Universe the more one is affected by the weather. Personally, the more “trash” I take out, the less acceptable the weather where I live is to me. Well, that’ll be for another day.

Thank you and Blessed Be,

Rev. Linda Spicer

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest Metaphysics
Spirit Quest Course Essay

The first notable thing about the course is its down-to-earth and light tone. This was a welcome change from my law studies! Moreover, as each lesson is not too long, it makes for an easy and enjoyable read and leaves sufficient time for practice.

The course pointed to a number of good and pragmatic life principles, such as the need to take charge of one’s own life, the necessity to forgive, that creating and destroying are only two sides of the same coin and that none of the two is inherently bad, the power of letting go, the risks of spiritual competition, the power of affirmations and speaking in the positive, and asking the right questions, just to name a few.

I particularly appreciated the strong affirmatives of some of the lessons. You always have a choice. Trying is not enough to bring true achievements. You can’t change what you don’t own, but you should own what’s yours. The passages on the spiritual path and the law of karma closely matched my personal beliefs.

When I read the life principles explained in the course, I felt either in total agreement, or that I knew them deep within and just did not realize it up to then. These principles are easy to apply in one’s daily life and can improve quickly relationships and the way one sees himself.

One point for which I disagreed with the course was that the author seems to consider that the true nature of humans is their spirit, and that they merely inhabit a body. Although I do agree that the spirit is what survives death and later reincarnates, I think that the body is more than a temporary housing. While in the body, we are both spirit and body, mind and matter, both imbued with a divine spark.

The meditation techniques taught in the course are simple to use, especially when you are good at visualization. They are very relaxing and empowering, and also fun to use. The center of my head, grounding cords, golden suns, working with energy, creating and destroying rose, chakras… are now well-known. I initially had a few questions about the reason why we should use roses and not something else, but I quickly realized that I had come to be accustomed to the image and that it was effective.

I personally found running my energies slightly more difficult, but by coincidence I had been practicing breathing techniques that used a similar imagery with my fitness coach at about the same time, and the combination of both helped improve results.

These were enjoyable eight months, and I am pretty sure that the rest of my life will be likewise.


by Rev. Baudouin Heuninckx

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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest
Coming into the ULC Seminary course, I was full of self-pity and felt very disillusioned by life. I was really empty. There were no answers to choose from. This was the last house on the street for me. Although I have always felt that I have had a strong connection to God, I have always had a difficult time figuring out how he worked. This course has started me on the right path in figuring it out.

I began using the tools right away. Every suggestion in every lesson I tried. For me, these saved my life. From creating roses, to clearing chakras, to creating my own reality. I have tried sending energy to myself and others, and have actually seen results.

Seeing in writing how Spirit Communicates was especially helpful to me. When I was younger, I always felt that the universe was speaking to me through music and color; especially music. But over the years, my ego has changed my mind. And, although I still listen for clues though music, my ego is still winning the battle at this point. I pray regularly for God to restore me to the innocence I had when I was young. The faith I had. This section of the course helped me to do that.

Learning about Karma is something every human being should know about. Being a Catholic, and studying the bible awhile with the Jehovah's witnesses; I have always been acutely aware that NO ONE seems to be able to just not sin to save their lives. Literally. From what I have seen of human behavior, the theory of Karma is the only solution to sin in this world. The only way I won't do something bad to someone else is to stop that same bad thing from happening to me.

But, the most important concept I am taking from this course is the concept that I am made in perfection, for perfection. And that I create my own reality...as long as I have faith. I even did create my own reality. For a little while I had everything I ever wanted. But soon, fear crept in, and everything changed in an instant. Maybe its an underlying belief that I don't deserve it. Or maybe I just let it go because I thought I could do better. I haven't quite figured that out yet. Time will tell.

Thank you very much for the course.


Jennifer Hagar


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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the , is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.


 
The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
 

Friday, October 17, 2008

Spirit-Quest

This is a short essay from a minister who has completed the Spirit-Quest:

Wow!!! What have I learned? Let me start from my beginning:

Well, there is so much that I have learned. So much practice and so
much growth in the last six months. I feel that I am in a constant mode of change
and evolution.


My own personal experience may explain what I mean by changes. After
taking my discourses, I realized that I was receiving information about people
and their need for healing. Names of people would come to my head. When I would
contact them, they indeed needed some type of physical or emotional healing. I
also saw colors, and was directed through colors to where I should work on
someone or myself.

I started working with people by facilitating sessions for them, the
changes that occurred in some of these people was amazing, however I want to
make sure that you the reader understand that these people were the ones wanting
this healing and I was just a channel that facilitated that healing, it was
not me doing the work it was the Source, the Creator of all things.

I found that I could no longer eat certain types of foods. My body
only wanted those things that were good for me, this please me immensely. It also
provided me with more energy than I had ever had before. Meats were no longer
appealing to me, where before I enjoyed meats like everyone else. Wine had
always been a problem for me. I found it better to stay away from wine all together.
My allergies were a year round happening. I lived on allergy pills. This
new lifestyle really helped as I no longer had to take allergy pills, or
ibuprofen for headaches as these went away as well. I now only take allergy
pills every once in a while when allergy season is at its highest.



The most wonderful and beneficial thing for me was to be able to make a
connection with the Divine. This is something that was so special for
me that I would never regret having gone through this course; on the contrary
it made me whole. Once undergoing the process, if you are committed to your
spiritual enfoldment, it will rock your world. Nothing will ever be the same.
Life will be much richer and fuller, you will be happy within yourself. You will
no longer look at external means for happiness. Your husband will become
a companion, yet not your source of happiness. You will love your
children, family, friends, yet they are no longer your only source of happiness.
Happiness will lie within you, and that is what I found. I will not
tell you that I have no challenges, I find that now I can cope with them much
easier. I see them in a different light. To be able to take the tools that I
have learned in the last year and apply them to life is what has made a huge difference.

I came to the realization that I am the best chocolate cake out there.
There is no chocolate cake better than me. Everything else is frosting added to
the cake as one of the ladies I know stated.

My life continues to evolve and I find that I see life through
different eyes. My evolution started over seven years ago, however I know that I have been connected all my life. This discourse has fine tuned all that I have
learned throughout the years. The practice of mastery is what has made the
difference. Being able to take a concept and practice it for a week or however
long is necessary is what I have found makes the difference


Life is a wonderful thing and to understand your role in life you need
to look within yourself, understand your soul purpose and search within for
answers. No one can do this for you, only you can do this for you. Everyone is
born with a purpose, something you are here to learn during this lifetime,
or you are meant to do. Have you thought of what your purpose is? Have you
looked within to figure out how you can be happy within yourself? (This is a
challenge that only you can figure out for yourself.



No matter what your religion or set of beliefs are, Spirit-Quest may
enrich your life and experience, if you are willing to look within yourself to
discover your life purpose. First of all, you will need quiet time for
yourself. To look within yourself, you will need time to meditate.



There are many ways of accomplishing this; spirit quest may not be for
everyone, however it was for me. It did enrich my life. I was able to experience
something very rich, how it is related to every aspect of our being,
from emotional happiness to emotional difficulty, physical illnesses,
relationships,programming and more.



This is what this experience has done for me. It has made me more
aware of my body, my mind, my soul and it has connected me to the Divine Source,
the creator of all things. I now find life to be richer, fuller and
something that I truly can enjoy on a moment-by-moment basis.

By staying in the now I can ensure forward movement of my life. I can
co-create with the Universe. I can plan my day every morning and work with the
Universal life force to manifest those things that I need in my life.

That is the power of the work we have down and I would recommend it to
anyone that is looking to practice mastery.

Maria Herrera

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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Spirit-Quest

By John Peterson


First, let me mention, I have been enlightened by this course. The topics are genuine and always cause me to ponder, wonder and apply to this lifetime. Essay – Changes in my Life.I have been though many changes over the last several years, study of theology, alternative medicine practices and self-awareness. All of which have formed a new perspective of looking at issues that I have, that others have. Looking out from this body from the Spirit and Soul, I see the need in others, to have a Path to follow.

To understand that there is a choice they can make to heal themselves, to manifest the need that this life requires. Through this course, I have identified myself, my Spirit. I once had a huge void inside, in my heart. I did not understand the void, only to know that I felt I was missing something in my life. Purpose? Why am I (we) here? What was causing the weight in my heart?Coincidence? Things happen for a reason. My hip required an adjustment. I asked around, who had a great chiropractor. I was lead to an office that was on my drive home. Upon arriving, the new patient paperwork, I was sent to a room to wait.

When the door opened and the Doctor came in, all she could say was, “Wow, you’ve got a huge Aura!" I quickly responded by, “My name is John, my color is blue!” “I’m Dr. Lisa, and my color is Green. I’m a healer” she piped back. “You can do anything you need to for my health”, I offered. From then on, Dr. Lisa introduced me to energy working people, self-healing classes, meditation, crystal energy and more. I have pursued energy work very passionately. I am a study of Reiki, and the Chakras and other modalities. During a self-healing exercise years ago, Soul Fragmentation Retrieval, I became incredibly aware. I have become very empathic, Clairsentient and have become a Medical Intuitive. I provide Spiritual Healing services and body scans. I see Auras around people and have regarded this as a measure of one’s Spirituality, and is very accurate. I have no fear when it comes to the Spirit.

When I see an Aura, I immediately comment to that person how gorgeous it is, then go into the meaning their Aura. Often, I sense the level of energy their chakras carry, connect to their Spirit and scan their physical body to identify problems they carry by the imbalance in the Aura field. People need to be aware of the great experiences that can be available to them, just by asking.I continue to have great experiences.

My Soul is at peace with my Path. I am continually amazed at the information provided to us and am recognizing more ways the messages come to us. We all need to listen with our Heart. This is where I carry my Spirit. Filling the void I once had. Lighting my Path.When you look at issues from the Soul’s perspective, the real ‘Why’ comes out. Only Truth. Letting go of the Ego is the healing we all need. My roses are in bloom!If only all could see their Spirit.

Thank you Spirit Quest. For opening up new possibilities.

John E. Peterson

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have multiple classes in Christianity, Wicca, Religious Philosophy, three courses in Metaphysics. a course in Buddhism, a re-vamped course on Shamanism, and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spirit Quest

Grounding with the Master of Metaphysics CourseI took the Spirit-Quest Master of Metaphysics Home Study Course. I greatly enjoyed it. Every week I looked forward to the new course email and the thought-provoking ideas it contained.

Over all, the course was very good. There were some things I learned that, although I have read many books on metaphysics and similar subjects, I had never seen presented in such an elegant and simple way.

There was, however, an idea or set of ideas, that I did not agree with. I will discuss this and then go forward into a few of the many things that I did agree with.

Summarized in Lesson 8, ‘Getting What You Want’, is the series of ideas I most disagreed with in the course. These ideas are similar to what I found in a book I read in high school, called ‘Think and Grow Rich’, by Napolean Hill. I was captivated by the idea that I could make things happen by my thoughts and actions.

It is true. As stated in the course and many other books and schools of thought, we can ‘make things happen’ with our thoughts and behavior. There are few times, however, when I have ever seen the drawbacks of this philosophy of life discussed.

It is quite simply the truth that we often don’t know what is good for us. What we often want is usually not what we need, and focusing narrowly only on our own wants and needs can lead to selfishness, narcissism and arrogance.

There was a period in my life when I concentrated on ‘making’ things happen (usually through visualization), and they often came about. But such shallow goals as we think we desire often fall short once achieved, like ripened fruit that rots in our hand once we have grasped it.

On the positive side were several things in the course that are absolutely life-changing. The first thing was something I had already spent years learning, and that was about ‘forgiveness’. Had I seen the subject matter discussed in Lesson Two earlier in my life, it may have saved me a lot of pain. I had often been told that it is ‘good to forgive’, but never why. I did not know that forgiveness is for the one who forgives, for the freedom that forgiveness brings. That is one of the single most important things, I believe, that any person can learn in life. It was well-presented in this course.

One of the other great ideas presented in the course, that really did change my life, was the idea of the ‘Grounding Cord’ presented in Lesson Three. I had also seen similar visualization techniques presented in other places, but I rejected them with a simple thought: ‘Am I really connecting to the center of the Earth…?’ I thought, ‘No, that’s a ridiculous idea’.

I tried the visualization, however, and I have to admit that it completely changed my meditation practices ever since.

For some reason, when I did the visualization, I felt more ‘grounded’. Now, how could that be, unless it was some kind of illusion or self-hypnosis? Yet, I could not argue with the fact that the technique worked and the effects lasted, in most cases, for the rest of the day.

This led me to a long thought process, through which I could interpret the experience. I think that (and note, this is only my own interpretation), that when I visualize the ‘center of the Earth’, I actually am making contact with the unconscious center of me. That idea makes so much sense and seems to tie in with many systems of philosophy and mythology. Although I would like to explore this idea at length, due to time and space constraints, I don’t think that would be practical here.

I did notice, however, that the experience of meditative depth occurred whether I visualized a cord or cable connecting me to the center of the Earth, a stone dropping to the deepest level of the ocean floor, or myself going down an infinitely deep spiral staircase. Please note again, this is only my interpretation, and my own private experience.

I also noticed, based on ideas I found in the metaphysics course, that if I visualized (realistically, with touch, sight, smell and sound) releasing and watching a helium balloon rise, I come in touch with, in a sense, my ‘higher’ self. After holding this image in my mind, I felt buoyant, happy, and free.

So I incorporated these two simple visualizations into my daily meditation routine. It is my way to connect with and acknowledge my higher and lower self. My way, if you will, to ‘integrate’ myself on all levels. As the first part of my meditation each day, I take deep breaths while dropping a cord or coming into contact with my ‘deeper’ self, and then I take a few more deep breaths and acknowledge and greet my ‘higher’ self. I do not use words, since I think these parts of myself are beyond words. The visualizations work perfectly, every time.

For that gift of insight and the many ideas and concepts presented in the metaphysics course, I give sincere thanks to Amy and ULC.

Rev. Chuck Rackers
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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Universal Life Church

Humanity - A Lifestyle, A choice
Hello Friends.

I wish to speak about my path in life. The path I choose is humanity.

I am what others refer to as a Humanist or a Free thinker. Some who are into judging others call me an Atheist. That is a label that may suite me on the exterior but not my interior.

I have been involved with many Christian-Judeo paths while I was growing up. I have developed a mind that challenges the answers that others give with more questions. I keep questioning until I am out of questions. I also quit questioning when I get answers that are supported by physical evidence. That usually appeases me.

Rather than going into all the information that brought me to this life philosophy, I'll just get to a few of my main beliefs that I hold as truth.

1. God is a Myth. I do not believe in a being called "God". I believe that "God" was created as a way to control others and give power to a select few over the many.

2. When man wages war in the name of God, it does not mean that this violence has been condoned by "God". It means man is using the idea of "God" to justify violence. War does not bring peace. Peace is what happens after the violence of war has run out of things to consume.

3. "God" to me is the Earth and the Sky. Everything I need to survive is given to me freely by both the Earth and the Sky. Air, Water, Earth, Wisdom, Energy, Shelter, Food. All of these things that are part of our daily lives is given to each of us by the Earth and the Sky.

4. Cannabis is the tree of life. Cannabis supplies everything that is needed to survive. You can build almost everything from the cannabis plant. It enriches soil and controls erosion. The seed is the most nutritious grain know to man. It can be used to make clothing, as well as build houses and other types of shelters. It has been used in the past for almost everything. It should be free in the world, and not suppressed by governments.

5. Greed is the biggest flaw of mankind. Greed is at the underlying cause of every single thing that is wrong in our societies.

6. Humility is the greatest asset of mankind. Humility opens up the way to resolution for all the problems that man perpetuates.

7. Man is the biggest problem for the environment as well as the biggest solution to all the problems mankind faces today. We can rebuild this planet. We need to get out of our superstitious ideas and embrace all that the planet can give us. If we are respectful of this planet, then we will be sustained by this planet.

These are my a few philosophical points to living. I study the Tao and practice being a better human being. Mankind forgets that it is not spiritual things that keep us alive, but it is nature that keeps us alive. We can not survive off this planet. To survive, we must have the planet Earth. We also need the environment that surrounds Earth to survive and exist. Mankind may continue to dominate the planet. The planet does not need mankind to survive. Mankind needs the planet Earth to survive.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Frank D.D.
Albuquerque, NM



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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar