Living Alone

A short article “ A World Living Alone,” in the March-April issue of Spirituality & Health, reported that the number of people living on their own could double in the next 25 years. The problem with that is that humans are “designed to feel secure when they are with others and to feel threatened when they are alone.”

Since women tend to live longer than men, living alone is more of a reality for us. Rather than finding these predictions scary, I find it a challenge for us to create a community of family and friends. Even if we’re not living alone now, close ties with others is important. We tend to forget that in our busy world. Taking time to work on relationships with family and friends is crucial; in fact, it may be one of the most important activities for today and our future. A feeling of security makes our life better. We have some control creating that security.

Something To Think About As Memorial Day Approaches

As Memorial Day draws near, rather than just enjoying the day off, which I hope you will do, let's also remember its purpose. Here is an article I wrote: http://tinyurl.com/p8bnvm. Just something to think about.

Love versus Fear

Shirley MacLaine, in Sage-ing While Age-ing claims that the main lesson for many people is love versus fear. I agree. Too many of us let fear dominate our lives, a fear that runs from worry about relationships to money to global warming. We need to make good decisions that impact our lives. Fear interferes with those choices.

An aspect of this fear, as explained by MacLaine, is that we decide “let’s not talk of problems.”

“It’s as though conditions in our world have deteriorated so completely that no one wants to engage in its alarming meaning for fear that they won’t be able to erase it from their minds.”

MacLaine believes, as do many, that time is moving more rapidly, and we are or will begin feeling an increase in energy around us. With all of this, however, she is optimistic about our future. Yes, we need to make changes and be more aware in our lives. But she does not see an end of the world coming.

We don’t need to be frightened of the future, causing us to dismiss it from our minds. We can, in small ways, impact our lives, the world and the universe. That is how it works. We don’t need to do big things; we just need to do small things with good intention. That is what will allow us to evolve to a better world.

Do You Believe in Extraterrestrials?

In my last two posts, I mentioned Barbara Hand Clow and Shirley MacLaine. Both of these writers believe in other beings who have visited or watch Earth. Clow believes that Earth is quarantined by Universal forces. MacLaine has a strong belief in extraterrestrials who want to help us but need our acknowledgement and permission to do that.

Perhaps it is time to ask questions of our own:

• Can we continue to ignore that other beings visit Earth?
• Can we continue to insist we are alone in this universe, either physically or spiritually?I

I find these fascinating, not frightening questions.

Our challenge is to trust ourselves to discern the answers. Recognize you inner knowing about such subjects. Remember, as many writers tell us, we may never actually see such beings, which doesn't mean they don't exist. Their existence on other dimensions may be known to us only when we begin to "look" and "listen" differently. We may surprised at what we find.

A survey in EnlightenNext magazine ( May-June 2008, 18) shows that in 2007, 35% of us believed in UFOs, up one percent from the previous year. While that is a relatively small number, take heart if you find yourself in that group. You are not alone.

What do you believe?

An Evolutionary Shift and Beings from Other Star Systems

Many writers discuss the year 2012 and the impact of other beings on our planet. Barbara Hand Clow in The Mayan Code: Time Acceleration and Awakening the World Mind (2007) states that humans were quarantined from the rest of the Universe. She claims that “Earth is an isolated planet in the midst of an evolving and highly organized interplanetary, intergalactic, and multidimensional universe…a member of a collective Universe that functions by universal law, and life was planted here and cultivated under the stewardship of more advanced societies."

She believes the end date of The Mayan Calendar, which traditionally is 2012, is actually between 2008 and 2011. But Clow is not forecasting a destructive end; she predicts a spiritual or evolutionary shift, a change of consciousness. Clow sees this event as the end of Earth’s quarantine from the Universe and the decline of our aggressive and destructive ways. This new era will provide more opportunity for contact with beings from other star systems.

Is her information accurate? Perhaps not, but she may cause us to think about the world in a different way, and that is a good thing.

Do You Have a Soul Mate? Perhaps You Shouldn't Even Want One.

Shirley MacLaine, in Sage-ing While Age-ing, defines soul mate as the one person that is exactly like us. There is only one soul mate for each of us, but this person is often too intense to be around. Twin souls have been together before and find it easier to relate. Companion souls have not been together in many lifetimes but recognize one another immediately. How often do we meet a “soul mate” and find the relationship too hard? Perhaps her definition will help us understand that a “soul mate” may not be the right partner. Perhaps a “twin” or “companion” soul might be more compatible in this lifetime. Sometimes the person we initially believe is the "right" choice may not be the best choice.

Five Wisdoms about Praise and Criticism

These ideas are taken from Caroline Myss’ Entering the Castle: An Inner Essential Path to God and Your Soul (Free Press, 2007).

Her book is strongly recommended for anyone wanting to look inward and assess. I have read the book twice, and each time I was forced to look some aspect of my life I had been ignoring. No matter how many such books you have read, you will find some benefit from following her guidance. She is a harsh teacher, at times, but we may all need that, at times.

She includes "Five Wisdoms about Praise and Criticism:"

1. Do not be judgmental.
2. Never envy experiences of others. Envy is lack of humility.
3. Everything good comes from God. Never take credit.
4. Remain humble. Do not look for praise.
5. Develop an appreciation of those that criticize you. What lesson is there for you?