Gaia Community: Mathew's Blog

Where in your life are you happiest?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:50:32 GMT

Most of the time, I am happy -- that is, if I allow myself to be happy. At other times, when I am not happy, it is because I am in the throws of an emotional response -- however -- and this is the fascinating thing that I realized a few months ago (and posted about here) -- emotional responses mostly run their natural course in a matter of minutes; anything longer is likely the result of a choice we make (consciously or subconsciously) to hang on to the emotion, whatever emotion it may be. Having realized this, I now do my best to allow emotional responses to pass through me, and then, once they have run their course, I choose to return to my natural state of happiness.

Tags: QaR, happiness, life, fulfillment, joy

Who should I thank for my delicious orange?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:46:21 GMT

Just a random thought, but I do not see evolution and creation as mutually exclusive. To my heart and mind, they work hand in hand. In other words, I believe life is seeded by co-creative-beings in stages, and in between those stages, co-creative-beings tend the garden while natural growth (evolution) occurs. (By the way, I consider human beings to be co-creative-beings too!)

Furthermore, it seems like a gross oversimplification (or omission perhaps) to credit God as the sole creator-being. Yes, I believe God is the Prime Creator and care-giving force behind all of creation, however, in my opinion, if that were the entire truth, one would have to credit God alone for the creations of things such as the personal computer, the internal combustion engine and -- just to give at least one example closer to topic -- the clementine variety of mandarin orange! And well, we all know that God did not act alone in the creation of those three creations (and many others, of course).

Therefore, following this line of thought, I would very much like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the unknown party or parties who co-created the delicious orange I ate this morning. Because clearly (to me anyway), somewhere way way back in pre-history, a highly skilled and inspired biologist (or team of biologists) must have had a hand in the design and engineering of the very first orange.

And, while we're on the subject...

Scientists tell us our physical universe is somewhere between ten and fourteen billion years old. They also tell us our universe expanded (and continues to expand) from an infinitely small point or black hole (the void), and eventually will contract back to the same infinitely small point. Thus, if one wishes to accept this as true, it would seem rather narrow-minded (not to mention egocentric) to believe that our universe is the very first and only to have expanded and contracted out of the void, especially when one measures fourteen billion years against eternity.

Therefore, not only does it seem conceivable to me that a sentient being (or beings) had a hand in the co-creation of the very first orange, but it also seems conceivable that such a creation might just as likely have happened in an entirely different universe. And, since I am willing to consider that the first orange might even be older than our universe, I would also like to suggest that the team of biologists who designed and engineered it must have spiritually evolved all these years later (under the ever watchful care and guidance of their "co-creators") to the point that from my perspective, if it were actually possible for me to meet them, their abilities and their level of awareness might come across as rather God-like.

Anyway, as to whom I should thank for my delicious orange, perhaps one day I'll be lucky enough to know. However, in the meantime it seems I have little alternative but to thank my orange's nameless co-creator(s) and the Prime Creator, God. And while I'm at it, I think I'll express similar appreciation to the many many biologists, farmers, pickers, truckers, wholesalers, grocers and others whose modern day contributions have been essential (and continue to be essential) to the existence of delicious oranges!

Tags: creation, evolution, God

How Far is Too Far?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:30:56 GMT

When the going gets tough, when should we throw in the towel? Does belief in a benevolent universe mean that good things are supposed to flow effortlessly to us, or are we to anticipate that some goals require the expenditure of good old fashioned blood, sweat and tears?

When I was a young man, in the face of some form of setback, scrape, or apparent defeat my mother used to often say to me, "It's meant to be". Of course, she was trying to offer me solace, however, I took it as if I she was telling me I should give up and fail, when what I really wanted to hear in those moments was, "If you fall off your horse, get back up and try again," or "You can do it, I believe in you," or, "The reward isn't in the end result, it's in the doing." Not that I didn't sometimes get that too, and not that my mother didn't mean well, but damn if that expression didn't aggravate me - though at the time, I had no idea why.

That said, when we are dealing with our desires and our goals, how far is too far? Is there such a thing as too far? Is there such a thing as meant to be? Or should we simply persist at anything and everything so long as there is an ember of passion burning in our hearts?

For the record, I believe that we live in a benevolent universe, however, I believe that the signs and synchronicities we experience don't always reflect that benevolence. I believe that sometimes we are challenged for reasons beyond our understanding, and that in the face of such challenges, the only true measure of reliability is our passion. In other words, what we feel inside will always trump what we see outside. Therefore, "meant to be" is whatever we choose it to be.

Then "what of fate" you may ask. Is there such a thing? And if so, won't some of our struggles be in vain. Well, to that I say, "Absolutely. And who cares?" If fate exists or even if it doesn't, we have no control over it , so why bother worrying. Our passions are our compass and until they die or change, my rule is, "It's never over 'til we say it's over!"

Tags: QaR, rules, life, guidelines, fate, passion

What are you unaware of?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:57:51 GMT

Undoubtedly, I am more unaware than I am aware! This universe is vast, and relatively speaking, I am but a small grain of sand. But I am loved. And I am essential to the whole. And everything is in divine perfect order. Thus, if there's something I need to be aware of, I'm absolutely certain it will make itself known to me when the time is right.

Tags: QaR, awareness, noticing, unconscious

Is Happiness a Choice?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:42:01 GMT

I haven't always felt this way, but I have come to understand that happiness is a choice that can be made at any time, independent of anything that is happening in our lives -- good, bad, internal, external -- happiness is not conditional.

I have also come to understand that happiness is good for us -- that there are benefits to choosing happiness all the time, and that those benefits greatly outweigh the effects of not making the choice to be happy.

How about you?

Do you believe it is possible to choose to be happy at any time or do you believe that happiness arises solely as a result of good circumstances unfolding in your life? Or perhaps you believe that you can choose to be happy under certain conditions but not under others.

Whatever your take on this, I would love to hear it.

[March 30, 2009]: Oh, silly me -- this was a Q&R Question back on September 27, 2007. Didn't think to check until now, LOL.

Tags: happiness, choice, QaR

What do you trust most in the world?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:23:13 GMT

I trust in the transcendent, transformative and transmutational power of Love. Is there anything else? (Yes -- I know I am a bit of a broken record, LOL -- I guess it is on my mind right now!)

Tags: QaR, trust, world, reliance, faith, love

What have you learned from the world?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:50:13 GMT

For many years, I have been a witness to the sad and disturbiing imbalance between technological progress and spiritual understanding. As such, it was often a challenge not to look upon humankind as far from kind, as it was not to look upon civilization as far from civilized. That said, living in this world has taught me time and time again about the transformational, transmutational and transcendent power of love. Thus, with all my being I know that in spite of appearances, there is much to be hopeful and thankful for. In fact, although I can't see the day to day changes, I can sense that the gap between technological progress and spiritual understanding is narrowing day by day! In fact, in recent years it seems to me that this narrowing is accelerating! How exciting! Perhaps I might live to see the day after all when humankind embraces its kindness, and when civilization can truly claim to be civilized!

Tags: QaR, learning, teaching, lessons, world, earth

How do you keep your heart open?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:29:01 GMT

By listening to it. And by doing my best to follow its loving advice. e.g. to be forgiving, accepting, compassionate, patient and kind.

Tags: QaR, heart, love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, patience

Fire the Grid 2 -- Official News Release!

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:08:59 GMT

The Fire the Grid website will be updated with new information about FTG2 on March 28, 2009. This news was made official today in a letter written by Samoiya Shelley Yates that was distributed by the FTG2 team. Here follows a copy of the letter:

"The messenger continued onward, driven solely by a deeper understanding that upon the scroll in his hand were words more precious to mankind than his own very life..." - Bradfield

Dearest Friends of Fire the Grid,

Since the beginning of time we have had messengers that brought messages from Divine Source to the ears of humanity. I was instructed to be that messenger for the Fire the Grid event on July 17, 2007. I followed the instructions to the letter and we as a group of humans were successful in firing our earth grid. It re-energized the field around our planet and catapulted humanity in a different direction. Together, we have accomplished a tremendous feat in our unity.

Since that momentous day, I have been quite silent, and I am now ready to share with you what I have been doing this past year and a half. Always know that I am but the messenger, and often times, much as in times of old, carrying a message takes a tole on the human body and on our own energy field.

I have been walking the long journey back to me. I have been healing and becoming strong so that I may pick up this directive where I left off. During the last 18 months I have struggled with the mind, body, spirit connection. That has proven to be well worth the effort. I am in peak physical health I have lost 90 pounds and have gained much needed confidence. I have shed layers of doubt and disbelief. I am strong in this new place of physical health and spiritual connection. My life is full and wonderful. I have wonderful friends and a supportive family. I am happy. I am most blessed.

I now bring a new message. I come to you humble and ready to proceed. I have many instructions left to share with the world, instructions to raise and maintain your personal vibratory frequency field, instructions to assist us with this great time of transition, a way to ease the way.

There will follow a series of messages for the people of earth. They come from a collective energy source whose only desire is to see us all as abundantly blessed as I. They have given me the instructions and on March 28, we will post the next series of instructions on the Fire the Grid website.

Annie and Bradfield have supported my return with unwavering faith. They have stood tall through my most difficult journey and I love and thank them both publically here because without them there would be no Fire the Grid in any capacity. So thank you both from the bottom of my soul. I love you. I would also like to mention that both Annie and Bradfield suffered from not being able to reach out to all of you in my time of absence, as from day one, Bradfield was steadfast that the Fire the Grid website was only to contain my words and the instructions which I have directly received from my Light friends. And thus, in their silence, they were honoring this same integrity, as difficult as it was. Both of them want you all to know that they treasure greatly your wonderful support of their music as well as the relationships they have built with so many of you.

I am ready, but asking those I have hurt or let down is a most humbling place to find myself. Yet that is exactly what I am doing. I am asking for your support, support of the messages of love, support of sharing the physical instructions to assist us with the lifting of our individual fields. This in essence will lift the field of the entire planet.

Why do this you ask?
The answer is to help ease this transition into a new time.

In humbly asking for your support of Fire the Grid and its spin off projects, I promise with my best and purest intention to walk always in the light and present truth the best way I can regardless of what form that may take. I am a fervid servant to Fire the Grid and all other endeavours that have been placed in my knowing.

I remember now who I am and why I have come this time. I am willing and open to be led. I surrender to the guidance and the role I play in its delivery.

I cannot say what the future will look like, nor can I become mired in the details of "how" I or any one of us will make something happen. I choose simply to show up and make myself available. I know that I will be led.

Thank you, thank you, thank you my dear friends for all your past support. Whatever paths we choose to walk I will honour them. I love you all dearly and I am sorry I disappeared from your lives. It was necessary for me to retreat so I could become who I am today.

So once again, I say if my message resonates with your knowing of truth (as with the directions of the original Fire the Grid) please join us on March 28 at the updated Fire the Grid site where I will share the details about the next major energy date and what is coming next. http://www.firethegrid.com

We will be also sharing with you many of the thousands upon thousands of testimonials we received from July 17, 2007 onwards. These are precious words to me indeed as they are your words, your own accounts and experiences describing how you lived the Fire the Grid meditation.

We have a lot to do to make up for lost time, but with Divine Source so benevolently directing, all is in Divine right order.

Big hugs,
Samoiya Shelley Yates

Tags: Fire the Grid, Shelley Yates, Samoiya, FTG2

What's the best thing about numbers?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:09:16 GMT

To the incredible 20-something autistic savant, Daniel Tammet, numbers have unique texture, color, size, and shape, and perfect sequences of numbers like Pi actually affect him emotionally. Among many other amazing feats and abilities, Daniel has calculated Pi in his head with 100% accuracy to 20,000 digits, and can similarly perform multi-digit multiplication and division beyond the capacity of most calculators. In honor of Pi day, I have posted this wonderful 48 minute documentary on the amazing arithmetic and linguistic genius, Daniel Tammet. Enjoy!

Tags: QaR, numbers, math, counting, Daniel Tammet, autistic savant

What motivates you most?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:12:01 GMT

For many years my primary motivation was money. Unfortunately, though, after a while, the satisfaction I derived from living a life with this prime motive began to dwindle more and more to the point that I was finally forced to stop and reassess. I had a good career with a good salary and a wonderful family, but I wasn't fulfilled, and I felt like I was living a lie because my heart was screaming at me that my spiritual understanding and my career path were moving in divergent directions.

Ever since that reassessment, my primary motivation has been to stand in my truth and to follow my heart (and to believe that I will be led to find ways to merge my career and my understanding, or in the least, to find a new career that does). Three years later, I'm still not there yet. But I haven't lost hope. And I am most thankful that my family is still by my side. And I'm also grateful for the abundance of time I've been able to spend with my family these past three years!

Tags: QaR, motivation, passion, excitement, purpose

Share the story of your life, using only six words.

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:00:59 GMT

Waiting for Godot Magical Mystery Tour.

Tags: QaR, biography, life, living, writing

What have you been carrying the longest?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:24:26 GMT

When I was ten years old, my family moved from Los Angeles to Toronto. Not only was I angry about leaving the only life I knew, but being a sensitive child, I was ill-prepared for the emotional repercussions of moving away from my best friend, Lindsay. Nevertheless, soon after my family arrived in Toronto I attempted to correspond by mail, and I did okay for the first three or four letters. But after that, each time I received a new letter, I began to find it more and more difficult to write a reply. One week would pass, then two, then a few months. Evenutally, I stoppped writing altogether, while undeterred, Lindsay continued to send me letters -- at least, for a little while -- each new letter appealing more and more in a pleading tone -- please write back -- are you angry with me -- do you hate me -- are you even getting my letters? Of course, his letters weren't the problem. The problem was, I couldn't respond and I had no idea why. Several letters later, Lindsay finally gave up and our friendship died.

So -- what have I been carrying the longest?

Lindsay's letters. In total, there must be about twelve of them -- and they are all saved in their original envelopes -- some of them even with the little stickers that Lindsay included as gifts. Up until five years ago, I had no idea why I had gone to the trouble. I had only ever read them once -- on the day I received them. And then, at the age of 43, I had a cathartic experience that left me knowing, among other things, why I still had those letters after thirty-something years and ten moves. If you are interested in knowing why, please read the post It's Never Too Late to Apologize.

Tags: QaR, carrying, weight, life, friendship, story

Living from the Heart Outward

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:55:46 GMT

I came across this channeled message today, and although I am not familiar with Circle of Light, I decided to share it because of the peaceful and loving vibe and because living from the heart is something that is very important to me. I hope you enjoy it.

Through Yael and Doug Powell at Circle of Light

2-17-09

Beloved ones, I Am here with you, and I reach for you, this day, this hour. I come to knock upon the doorway of your heart that you might open it fully to Me. Please realize that I Am lighting your heart flame so you may become a living candle for this world - that you may go forth living from the heart outward.

I am asking you to be the living doorway to God and to reach out with My hand in compassion. Together we are planting the seeds of new life in every consciousness. At this moment humanity is being called to live, at last, from the heart shining forth into the world, rather than living focused outward on the world of the mind and the senses.

What is happening on Earth right now is that the old, interlocking consensual dream is succumbing to the power of Love awakening. Beloved ones, it is unraveling. This is a most magnificent thing. As the old world structures begin to crumble, the heart can make itself known.

People are beginning to search for answers when their comfortable perspective no longer serves them. It feels as though the Earth is rocking beneath them. They don't know where to reach for their answers. You, beloved ones, are those answers.

You are My heart, My consciousness, My Love, ready now to blaze forth like the living comet. You write the truth of God into the world for every precious person. This is why I call you to rise up quickly above any personal concerns and to understand that you are fueled by the living Spirit.

I Am whispering in the voice of Love to your heart's inner ear. I place before your feet the golden walkway of a life lived from the heart outward, that the world might reflect to you My bounty, the glorious potential that comes from the amplification of the truth of Love within you. You then gift this to humanity, to every precious person, to every life stream, to every ball of energy.

All the tangled web of the little mind's reversal dissolves like mist before the sun. You stand, My beloved ones, hand-in-hand, linked from the heart to all people, weaving a unified heart of living Love and a consciousness of pure and endless Light. This consciousness will bring forth the spirit's golden energy, the heart's eternal expression of life that moves forth with Love as the only answer. Love brings forth a world of beauty and the passionate expression of the life I Am in each of you together, lived from the deep within, outward in grace.

It is only by turning to the inner eye, the heart's true vision, that you can see current events for what they really are. Only this way can you recognize the beauty of Love you are weaving as it shifts the world back to the heart of God and brings humanity into alignment with the law of giving, the truth of open- hearted Love. It is the voice of the living God I Am, unified and singing a new song of life.

So, to the eyes of the ego, it may look like lack and suffering. It may look like confusion and despair. It may look like many unanswered questions, as people bend their knees at last to Me in prayer. They are seeking answers not only for themselves but asking, truly asking, for the blessing of others. This shall be the key turning in the lock of the Ages - to awaken the world of joy.

Heaven on Earth filled with Light and nourishment is ever being received from above, the pure nourishment that is the very highest vibration. It comes to you directly from Me continually. Please remember that you can live on Light easily. I Am the nourishment that you need. As you choose to release the world focused outward, you shall become completely spirit-led, and every moment will be abundant blessings with synchronicity as the order of every day.

Doorways will open before you effortlessly because your heart, beloved ones, is the key that turns the lock on the door to your glorious abundance, to the life beyond your farthest dreams. Every step that you take will be in the Light, in the guidance of that flame of God you are in Me.

As you turn and open and feel My presence, let the cares of the world fall away. Let Me bathe you in the upliftment of the living glory, of the great and endless Love I Am. Feel the Twin Flame heart that you are, shining to become My beacon for humankind.

Let this be a call for each one of you to the deepest compassion, that I might be truly embodied in you. Go forth as the heart of Love as beloved Jesus did, and show forth the truth of God in every way. This may occur sometimes through taking the time to listen and sometimes through bending with others to pray. Often times you will become My voice speaking and open to the instant manifestation of the Light. As you walk with Me and you live in My name and you open your heart, your voice, your consciousness, everything, you will find yourself becoming the manifestation of every good and abundant thing provided for all of My glorious children through My open heart, always.

And so it was that Jesus held the loaves and the fishes. Through his open heart, the cornucopia of Love poured itself forth in the world of symbols as food, as nourishment for the multitudes. Just so will it be with your hearts, beloved ones, whether that food be of the physical kind or the nourishment of the living spirit -- which I promise you is needed so much more than support of the physical kind. If you change a person's heart by bringing My presence and letting them feel the expansion of hope and joy; when you touch their heart with the surety of My abundance, then you change their life from that moment onward. There is no greater gift.

Rather than serving in old ways, or tithing in physical ways in the world, I Am calling you to take this living spirit outward. Let it, dearest ones, live through you, that every person might light his/her heart from your heart's candle flame. Help them to understand that grace is endless and that through the open heart of Love I Am the gift given to every person in the world. Thus shall I always be the true provider of Real nourishment.

As old world thinking falls away, this is when you will hear My call. I send you forth to be the bridge I Am building that the Light I Am might shine into the world from the heart outward. Every life becomes the symbol of unity, joining every other heart on Earth, bringing at last that long awaited awakening - the New World at last.

It comes, beloved ones, through you. It comes through your Love and your giving. It comes through your humility in service. It comes from your willingness to stand forth in a world seemingly unraveling, and say, "We are perfectly on Love's course. Let me show you."

Does this mean there is no longer work in the world that is valid? Does it mean that money no longer exists? It means that all of these things are what is changing to be funded from the true life and the true Light within you, rather than accepted as the world presents it from outside of you. Then, when your heart is engaged in My presence and with you, I will move you easily in the world, shining the Light of your hearts effortlessly on the pathway of your greatest service, yes, but also your greatest blessing.

The abundance of life will be reflected to you in everything that you see and experience around you. You are My heart's Light shining. Your open heart alone can light the world. Come, beloved ones, into the inner sanctuary that you might feel Me, feel My presence as alive in you as your very heart beating, as Real as your every breath, that you might be the Light I Am, lighting everything before you.

As you bathe in this Light, feel this assurance in your every electron. Recognize this shining Light as your true body. Feel the consciousness of the living, giving unity of Love. All That I Am is alive within you and bursting forth through your heart to amplify My truth and My good. The truth is that every life is pure and perfect, and joined in a majestic totality that is giving birth to the Real world of Love, unity and joy. It is happening instantly now and easily through you.

What does it mean to be the compassionate heart of God I Am? It means to reach out and see with My eyes, to see the pure Light and life I Am in everyone and to hold that truth without wavering. Each precious person who feels your blessing can reach forth and take that torch from you and hold it high enough that it becomes the Light by which they see - the Light of God illuminating their world. In that Light they will easily see whatever has been limiting them, allowing the Light to transform it, that each beloved heart might step free at last, affirming that they are the unlimited source of abundance, the heart within Me.

As the Light speaks in the dancing voice of energy, you will find yourself moving through this ecstasy of pure Light with open-hearted Love and joy, until life at last becomes awake and fluid again. You will find it easily shifting to the heart's expression.

The era of perfect Love and eternal grace will wrap all humankind as I reach forth and turn every beautiful and precious face back facing Home, homeward to me, releasing every form of limitation, every bit of human baggage and setting everyone free, together to be the living heart of God I Am, creating the world abundantly by living from the heart outward.

The world you see will be your Love expressed. Every bit of it will be the perfect dance of joy and unity -- humankind as a brotherhood and sisterhood, and every heart saying "Yes" to being the expression of My Love.

Dearest ones, with all the tales of woe and fear that are spreading, take care not to spread the lies of fear, not to place your glorious and powerful consciousness on those patterns of life that are unraveling. Rather, hold your vision firm on the Light and on the Love I Am.

Hold fast to the feelings of joy. Become the creator of the world that is being born, transformer of the old that is leaving, so that every life on Earth lives in this glory of dancing Light and waves of ecstasy. Help everyone to see everything with the heart's vision, the vision of unity, rather than the two eyes of the ego's dualistic world.

Please start today reaching within and finding Me, so that the movement of My Love from within you moving outward becomes the way you live. You are a co-creator of a world of unity and blessing.

******************************************************

Want to connect more deeply from the heart? Perhaps you may wish to consider a simple exercise that I found indispensible. Please see this post for information.

Tags: channeling, Circle of Light, heart flame, New Earth, Yael and Doug Powell

The Rescue of Joseph Kony's Child Soldiers

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:00:39 GMT

I highly recommend thirty minutes of your time to watch this incredible, inspiring and shockingly brutal documentary about the Ugandan civil war, made by three young friends from Southern California who have selflessly and courageously devoted themselves to freeing the 3000 invisible abducted child soldiers of Uganda, and to the cause of peace in Uganda, Congo, and Central Africa.

Invisible Children: Who We Are Video

Please watch the two minute video (above) to learn about the three young men and their inspiring mission.

Then, please follow this link to watch the documentary, to register your support, and to view the video update regarding a global action plan that culminates this April 25, 2009.

Thank you and Namaste

Tags: Joseph Kony, child soldiers, Uganda, Congo, Central Africa, peace movement, invisible children

Another Setback for Middle East Peace

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:10:26 GMT

(From Avaaz.org)

Dear Friends,

It's a dark day in the Middle East: the right-wing has won the most seats in Israel's elections, and racist extremist Avigdor Lieberman is now the kingmaker in forming the next government. Lieberman and his fellow leaders are promising to bomb Iran, re-invade Gaza and abandon any ceasefire, stop negotiations and crack down on Israel's large Arab minority. This could kill all we've worked for in the Middle East. But many progressives in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) share our feelings -- and they desperately need our solidarity today.

Wherever extremists have triumphed, we have to organise to beat them. Many thought all hope was lost in the USA after the neo-conservatives' victory -- then progressives used the internet to come back from the wilderness, and achieved the unthinkable by putting Barack Obama in the White House. In Israel today, the despair of the old peace camp opens up a powerful moment to build a fresh new voice against hatred and for peace.

"The Jewish majority should be afraid of this Lieberman phenomena

Tags: Avigdor Lieberman, Middle East Peace, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

How do you know when you're on the right path?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:23:21 GMT

Our lives unfold because of the choices we make. And the choices we make carve out the unique paths that we walk. So when we speak about "the right path", we must be speaking about right choices, right? Well, I have come to understand that there are no right or wrong choices, only choices. Not that we don't make immoral or unethical choices, because we are certainly more than capable. The point is, even immoral and unethical choices can be objectively perceived as not "wrong" if one views them from the (higher) perspective that sees all choices as inherently guiding us in the direction of understanding, in the direction of perfect Unity and Oneness with the Source of life and with each other (same thing, of course!).

That said, might there perhaps be another way to define "the right path"? For instance, what if "the right path" has nothing to do with right and wrong, but simply refers to the shortest path between the point at which we stand today and the perfect Unity I have spoken of (or at least, as perfect a Unity as a human being can possibly attain). Rather than calling this path "the right path", how about we call it the path of the Highest Good -- because as I understand it, such a path does indeed exist for each and every one of us.

Okay, so, assuming there really is such a path, how does one know that one is walking it?

Well, if you are walking around in a state of inner peace, joy and contentment at all times, regardless of what is happening in your life or in the world around you -- congratulations -- you are walking that path. Then again, you might be delusional, LOL.

So, for those of us who are not delusional, and for those of us who are not yet walking around in a permanent state of bliss, here's my best attempt to outline the five sure-fire steps to the path of the Highest Good:

Step One: You have to truly and sincerely know your heart. Because if you are prone to lying to yourself and/or to others, each layer of deception you create adds layers of complexity to the choices you will ultimately have to make to walk the path of the Highest Good. So, for starters, stop lying and start facing your truths -- warts and all. And I guarantee you, even though these choices to be truthful might be some of the most difficult ones you will ever make, the end result (once the dust settles, naturally) will be very rewarding. And then you will be ready for --

Step Two: Approaching the path that emerges as a result of your honesty and sincerity with openness. I say "openness" because once you commit yourself to walking the path of the Highest Good, anything is possible for you. This is because your honestly and sincerity quite naturally create the most direct path to the life of your dreams -- or more likely, the path that surpasses your dreams. Your job is to stay out of your way by remaining open enough at all times to know when to say "yes" and when to say "no" -- and you will know because the process of practicing sincerity and honesty trains your heart to recognise and discern the difference. And as you remain open, you will find in time that you will embrace --

Step Three: Fearlessness. Because, an integral part of walking the path of the Highest Good is overcoming your fears. And not because someone tells you to, but because you want to. And you will. And by fears, I'm not talking about fears that are rightfully in place to protect you from real dangers. I mean fears that are irrational -- fears that stop you from doing those things that you could and probably should be doing, but you don't do because you have fears -- fears of failure, fears of success, fears of making a fool of yourself, fears of public speaking -- you get the idea. Well, the more you practice being truthful to yourself and others, and the more you remain open to the path that unfolds before you, the more that life will give you opportunities to face your irrational fears -- the lies -- and overcome them -- not by fighting against them, but by acknowledging their un-truth, and in so doing, taking back the power you once gave them (even though you probably never realized you did). Nevertheless, the more you practice fearlessness, the more you will be led to --

Step Four: Shadow work. Shadow work is where you allow your buried negative conditioning to come to the surface where you can forgive it and release it. We all have these shadows. They develop as a result of our pain and suffering, and they take many forms. And often, because these shadows first develop in our formative years, they have been long buried and hidden in our subconscious minds. Thus, facing these "holes in our souls" as I like to call them is not without feeling some of the pain and suffering that created them in the first place -- but oh so worth it in the end! Because by fixing your holes you make yourself whole! And when you are whole, you will be ready and able to embrace --

Step Five: Being loving at all times. And by this I mean, kind, compassionate, forgiving, accepting, and patient. And by being so, I don't mean you allow everyone to trample all over you. Knowing when to say "no" is something that comes in time, the more we speak our truths, the more we follow our hearts, the more we face our fears and the more we allow shadow work to unfold. And there you have it -- how to know you are on the "right" path. Easy huh? Many blessings to you all!

Tags: QaR, flow, path, calling, life, love, shadow, fearless, truth

If you wrote a Valentine to the world, what would it say?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:43:32 GMT

I would share a little story -- because everyone loves a good story -- and I would preface it with the following:

Dear World,

Hang in there. Your happy ending is coming. Because regardless of your beliefs, your circumstances, your race, color and creed, or even your thoughts, words and actions, love never ceases to be active in transforming the world for the better. Furthermore, if you wish to accelerate this transformation, do your best to be like love -- to be compassionate, kind, patient, forgiving, and accepting -- and prepare yourself for miracles!

And now the story --

The Wallet

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost
in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification
so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and
a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years. The
envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return
address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw
the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery
with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter
that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer
could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote
that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name
Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called
information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the
envelope.

"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the
owner of a wallet that I found. Is there any way you can tell me if there
is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then
said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you
the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain
my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a
few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will
speak with you."

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the
name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who
had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"

"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.

"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years
ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be
able to track down the daughter."

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told
me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone
number for where they thought the daughter might be living.

I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah
herself was now living in a nursing home.

This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a
big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and
a letter that was almost 60 years old?

Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be
living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying
with us."

Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her.

Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in
the day room watching television."

I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a
guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large
building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah. She was a
sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye.

I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second
she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she
took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I
ever had with Michael."

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, "I loved
him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too
young.   Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."

"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you
should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a
moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she
said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I
guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."

I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor
and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able
to help you?"

I told him she had given me a lead "At least I have a last name. But I
think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to
find the owner of this wallet."

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red
lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute!
That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red
lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls
at least three times."

"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.

"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's
wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks." I thanked the
guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard
had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr.
Goldstein would be up.

On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day
room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man." We went to the
only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The
nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein
looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it
is missing!"

"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with
relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket
this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."

"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the
letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."

The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"

"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is." He suddenly grew
pale. "Hannah? You know where she is?   How is she? Is she still as pretty
as she was?   Please, please tell me," he begged.

"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.

The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she
is?   I want to call her tomorrow."   He grabbed my hand and said, "You know
something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter
came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved
her. "

"Michael," I said, "Come with me."

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened
and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where
Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to
her.

"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in
the doorway. "Do you know this man?"

She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.

Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you
remember me?"

She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My
Michael!" He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I
left with tears streaming down our faces.

"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will
be."

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home.
"Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding?   Michael and Hannah are
going to tie the knot!"

It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed
up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked
beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me
their best man.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a
76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had
to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

Story by Arnold Fine

(A note about the author : Arnold Fine has been the Senior News Editor of The Jewish Press for over 50 years. At the same time, he was Coordinator of Special Education at Samuel Tilden High School in Brooklyn, caring for handicapped and brain-injured children. Since retiring from the City School System, Mr. Fine has worked as an Adjunct Professor in the Behavioral Science Department at Kingsborough College. He has been honored by the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education and the Jewish Teachers Association of New York State. He was also twice nominated as the "Teacher of the Year" in New York State. Arnold's stories have been published in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, and have been translated into several languages. This story was first published in Reader's Digest in 1985. It has been circulating the web for many years and has been reported on many sites to be based on a true event that happened in Mr. Fine's life. I have contacted Mr. Fine to confirm or deny this -- but have yet to receive a response.)

I am grateful to my dear Gaian friend, Sharon Littledove, for bringing this story to my attention.

Tags: QaR, valentine, love, loving, life, The Wallet, Arnold Fine, love story

What have you learned about love?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:23:06 GMT

I have learned that LOVE is an energy -- a highly active and pervasive energy that benevolently influences everything in the Universe in the direction of alignment and harmony. At the same time, LOVE, by its very nature, being unconditionally accepting, forgiving and kind, allows free-will creatures such as ourselves the possibility of choosing anything we so desire, including misalignment. Thus, given many types of misalignment, LOVE may be experienced in many different ways ranging from blissful to painful. Nevertheless, (borrowing generously from the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards LOVE.

For more about LOVE and alignment, please see this post.

Tags: QaR, valentines, love, life, loving

What do you search for within yourself?

http://thelifeintended.gaia.com — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:51:01 GMT

Questions and Answers.

Tags: QaR, seek, searching, self, interior, inside