Support System Sunday

-->According to the Bible, it is our responsibility to console, support and protect others during hard times.

Gal. 6:2 tells us: Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfill the law of the (Divine Light/) Christ. 

Each of us can contribute to the well-being and growth of those around us, and beyond.  How do we do accomplish this responsibility?  We do this by striving to be, at all times, a source of encouragement and spiritual refreshment to others.

So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another. Rom. 14:19   Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  In proportion as each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness expressed in various ways.  1 Peter 4: 8-10

Let us always be ready and willing to assist others.  Let us share as much as we can, as circumstances allow.   Let us be cheerful givers.  

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 reminds us: But as to this, he that sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and he that sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

It is up to each us to do the work to connect with others; no one can do it for us.  Sometimes this responsibility to our brothers and sisters can feel overwhelming, especially when fulfilling this responsibility interferes with our own wants and/or needs.  When this happens, let us remember that we are never really alone; the Creator/God, the Divine Light/Jesus and other Spirits are with us.  

Let us take our problems to the Creator/God.  Just as it is up to each us to do the work to connect with others, it is up to each of us to make the connection with the Creator/God.  Sometimes we allow ourselves to get so disconnected and frazzled that we can not reconnect.  The Creator/God knows this and recommends having a support system; it is vital to our success.   Success in most endeavors is a team effort, not a solo performance.      

Proverbs 15:22 states: There is a frustrating of plans where there is no confidential talk, but in the multitude of counselors there is accomplishment. 

A support system is a network of people who interact and remain in informal communication for mutual assistance; members of the network provide practical, emotional and/or spiritual support which sustains other members in their survival and growth, on an as needed basis. 

Successful support systems typically consist of a minimum of 3 people.   There are 2 main, beneficial, reasons for this:

1.     No one is available 24/7; the more people in our support system, the better chance we have of receiving the assistance we perceive we need. We will not always be there to shield others from life’s challenges. 

2.     When we stay focused on the goal of teaching another to stand on his/her own two feet, we are given the opportunity to help empower them.   

To help us stay focused on this goal, we can ask ourselves the following questions:

1.     What can the person asking for help reasonably do on their own? 

2.     Are there things we (the support system) are doing for this person, that they could do for themselves?   If yes, work with the person until sure that they can handle the responsibility on their own. 

3.     How much can each of us reasonably assist this person?

4.     What are our own personal boundaries?

5.     What are our support system group boundaries?

6.     What are the consequences to individual group members, the group at large and to the other person if the boundaries are not respected? Outline potential consequences of actions: good and bad.  In a very covert way, accepting the consequences of our actions helps us learn to rely on support only when necessary.  A good support person will not support a brother or sister in staying stuck.

For each one will carry his own load. Galatians 6:5

At times, we all need support. Let us never hesitate to accept help when struggling to cope.  Keep in mind, however, that if we do not trust a person, they really have no place in our support system.  People in our support system are the people, who, over time, get to know us; the real us.  In an effort to receive assistance, we often find ourselves sharing dis-harmonious/dis-eased thoughts and/or gut-wrenching emotions.  We must be able to trust those with whom we open up to and share our real “earthly” selves with. 

If a support person offers suggestions or options to assist us, we may choose to ignore them … If 2 support people tell us the same thing, it is usually in our best interest to listen … If 3 or more support people tell us the same thing, it is in our best interest to quit whining and take action by following or trying any suggestions or options given. 

Not all options or suggestions given, will work.  This does not mean that we should not do the footwork and try to implement them though.  When we shoot them down automatically, we disrespect and thereby abuse one or more members of our support system.   Let us be willing to do whatever it takes to move forward. 

Let us always accept any support we receive, with appreciation.  Let us never be demanding when asking others to help us handle our problems. Let us be reasonable in how much of their time and attention we expect them to give us.  Let us remember that our brothers and/or sisters may be unable to meet our needs.    

When this happens, let us continue to take our problems to the Creator/God and have faith that the Creator/God will sustain us in whatever trials we may face.

Whether we are giving or receiving help, let us do so in the right spirit.

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

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Stewardship: Part 3 of 3

This is the 3rd of 3 Discourses on Stewardship.  Part 1 was a brief attempt to Inform the Public.  Part 2 discussed The Spiritual Aspects of Stewardship, and Part 3 will provide some action steps we can take to be better Earth Stewards.

Part 3:  Actions Steps to be Better Earth Stewards

From the state of our environment, it would be easy for an outsider to conclude that humans, here on Mother Earth, tend to give a whole lot of lip service about doing the will of the Creator/God; we go to church; we pray; we meditate …

As we discussed last week, all who serve the Creator/God are Earth Stewards.  To tend and take care of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants is a great honor and privilege, as well as a great responsibility. As a whole, humans are not living up to our spiritual responsibility.  Instead, we tend to blame others.  We blame our government; we blame our neighbors; we blame big business; we blame everyone but ourselves. 

We may or may not vote at the polls; we still vote though.  Every time we make a purchase, we cast a very important vote.  You see, we vote with our dollars.  When we purchase, oh say, Styrofoam cups, we unconsciously cast a vote against the Creator/God and Mother Earth.  

As we grow personally and develop spiritually, we consciously take better care of ourselves.  As we take care of ourselves better, we come to be aware of our votes and strive to cast votes in harmony with our inner state of being.  There is no more blame, only harmony. 

 

“… it is who we become that changes the world and our environment not what we do.  Harmony within will create harmony without.  So the true work is learning how to change our thoughts, attitudes and belief systems … We actually have to work with “the alchemy of the soul” to really be able to change our inner environment as our inner state of being is reflected back to us in the outer world. The literal definition of alchemy is “working within and through the dense darkness inside.” This is big work and involves committing to spiritual practices that we must engage in daily and throughout the day.”  Sandra Ingerman

There are many things that we can physically do to help ourselves and the environment.  The following information is not meant to be exhaustive.  If you have a favorite tip or DIY recipe, please share it on our Facebook Page.   Thank You!

 

Personal: Avoid wearing harsh synthetic fabrics, like polyester. Avoid artificial fabric dyes; instead, make your own.  Use organic, renewable agricultural products, like Bamboo and Hemp.  Purchase or make your own natural Health & Beauty products (soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, cosmetics, perfume/cologne, etc.).   Avoid processed foods; instead make your own.  Shop at Farmer’s Markets and get to know the vendors. When leaving a room, turn off lights and appliances. Unplug electronics, and turn down your thermostat, before leaving the house or going to bed.   Pick up your pet's poop and dispose of it properly. Pick up and throw away litter/trash. When it’s hot, gas up vehicle(s) and other gas powered equipment (like lawnmowers) early in the morning or later in the evening, and don't top off the gas tank.   Replace toxic household cleaners with products that have a Design for the Environment (DfE) label.  Better yet, learn to make natural cleansers.  

Practice the three R's:

1.     Reduce how much you buy and use: Buy permanent items instead of disposables.  Buy and use only what you need.  Buy products in bulk.  Buy products with minimal packaging.  Buy products that use less toxic chemicals. Use durable (real) plates, cups, silverware, etc. Use cloth napkins or towels. Mend torn fabric. Repair broken items. Reduce Carbon Footprint (Walk, Cycle, Carpool, Use Public Transit, Work from Home, Shop Online, Consolidate Trips.)

2.      Reuse/Repurpose: Be Creative.  Make crafts and homemade craft supplies using household or recycled materials Use empty jars for leftovers/storage containers. Give Away/Donate useable items.

3.      Recycle:  Aluminum Cans, Batteries, Cardboard, Electronics (cell phones, computers, DVD players, and other electronics),Glass, Paper (newspapers, catalogs, junk mail, etc.), Metal (Aluminum, Scrap Steel, Copper, Gold, Silver, etc.); Plastic (food containers, dry cleaning, newspaper & bread bags; plastic around toilet paper/paper towels, etc.).  Tires, Used motor oil.  

Perform a home audit: Replace conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. Repair leaky faucets.  Insulate water heater and pipes. Install a water-efficient showerhead.  Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures.   When replacing fixtures and/or  other products, look for Energy Star or WaterSense labels.

 

Conserve Water: When using a dishwasher, scrape plates instead of  pre-rinsing them.  When using a dishwasher or washing machine, wash a full load.  Wash clothes in cold water.  When hand-washing dishes or clothes, turn the water off between rinses.  Instead of using a clothes dryer, hang clothes on a line or drying rack. Take Showers instead of baths.   The toilet does not need to be flushed, every time it’s used.   “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.  If it’s brown, flush it down.” Turn the water off while shaving or brushing teeth. Refrigerate drinking water.
 

Lawn & Garden:  Invest in, or make your own compost bin, and compost as much as you can.  When mowing, do not bag grass clippings; leave them on the lawn. Fertilize after, not before it rains. Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, weed by hand, purchase or make your own natural pest control products, attract and utilize beneficial insects in your garden(s). Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best).  Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk. Use a soaker hose or trickle irrigation system to water trees. Install gutters and rain barrels. 

Let us continue to grow personally and develop spiritually; let us consciously take better care of ourselves; let us be aware of our votes; let us cast votes in harmony with our inner state of being;  let us pray: 

Dear Mother, our human species, thanks to the precious gift of awareness, has been able to learn to recognize its own presence and has found its true place in you and in the Universe. We know that we are tiny and insignificant, yet our minds are capable of encompassing three thousand worlds. We now know that our beautiful planet Earth is not the center of the Universe but we can still see that it is one of the Universe’s most wondrous manifestations. We have developed science and technology, discovered reality’s true nature of no-birth and no-death, neither being nor non- being, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither the same nor different. We realize that the one contains the all, the greatest is in the smallest, and each particle of dust contains the whole Cosmos. We are learning to love you and our Father more and to love one another in the light of such insight. We know that this non-dualistic way of seeing things and the teaching of inter-being help us to transcend all discrimination, all fear, jealousy, hatred, and despair. We aspire to transmit this insight to future generations.

We are no longer naive in thinking that humans are the masters of the Universe. Many of us have gone beyond dualistic views of right and wrong and are no longer puzzled about what we used to call the Will of Heaven and Earth.  We have transcended the concept of a creator in human form– we are no longer able to believe that God is an old man with a white beard, sitting in the sky, controlling everything on Earth, or that there is a Goddess on a cloud, finding and helping us every time we are in danger. God, for us, is the Ultimate Reality, the true nature of no-birth, no- death, no-coming, no-going, of all phenomenal manifestations. But some of us, when going through suffering, believe absolutely that whatever brings suffering is evil and whatever brings happiness is good; not knowing that suffering and happiness are just perceptions. All our perceptions are based on our sense organs, which are inherently limited. If our sense organs were differently formed, then our perceptions would be correspondingly different. Thus we see that happiness or suffering, the Pure Land or the mundane world depend very much on our way of perceiving. (Thich Nhat Hanh, Intimate Conversations with Mother Earth)

 So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

Stewardship: Part 2 of 3

This is the 2nd of 3 Discourses on Stewardship.  Part 1 was a brief attempt to Inform the Public.  Part 2 discusses The Spiritual Aspects of Stewardship, and Part 3 will provide some action steps we can take to be better Earth Stewards.

Part 2: The Spiritual Aspects of Stewardship

The Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was asked
what we need to do to save our world.
“What we most need to do,” he replied,
“is to hear within us the sound of the earth crying.”

Around the world, leaders of the great religious/spiritual traditions respect and care for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.  These spiritual leaders have been taught that, despite diversity in teachings and traditions, it IS our spiritual duty to care for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. 

The Scriptures very clearly state our human responsibility to the Creator/God for the care of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.  Over and over throughout the bible, starting at the beginning of Genesis through the end of Revelation, mandates regarding our role and responsibility as Earth Stewards are clear.

Despite the clearness of these scriptures, Earth-based spirituality was banned by the early Christian Church in Rome.  As a result, many modern-day Christian and Jewish spiritual leaders have not heard or read this teaching; just as often, those that have heard or read it, have dismissed and/or forgotten the teaching.

“… the ox knows his duty, but humans have forgotten their Lord.” Isaiah 1:3

The Bible tells us that Mother Earth was created with humans in mind. We were created from the dust of the earth. 

”The first man is out of the earth and made of dust …” Corinthians 15:47

“And Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.”  Genesis 2:7

“In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken.  For dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3: 19  

“For he himself well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust.”  Psalm 103:14  

“All are going to one place.  They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.”  Ecclesiastic 3:20

Being but a speck of dust, in the cosmos, at large, connects us to the earth. 

“God . . . did not create it (Mother Earth) simply for nothing [but] formed it even to be inhabited.”  Isaiah 45:18 

The Creator/God endowed Mother Earth with everything that her inhabitants needed, not just to exist, but to joyfully flourish.  Many micro-ecosystems enable life to flourish.  

 Early on in the bible, humans were given stewardship of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.  To tend and keep the garden is one of the first mandates in the bible regarding the care of Mother Earth and her inhabitants.  

“And Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of E′den to cultivate it and to take care of it.” Genesis 2:15

We were also given dominion over creation and charged with stewardship of its bounty.

“Further, God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28

“For every species of wild beast as well as bird and creeping thing and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humankind.” James 3:7  

All who serve the Creator/God are Earth Stewards.  To tend and take care of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants is a great honor and privilege.  To be entrusted to tend and take care of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants is also a great responsibility. 

 As Earth Stewards for the Creator/God, we are allowed to utilize Mother Earth and her inhabitants.  We are not, however, given a license, or free reign to abuse, rape, ravage, pollute or ruin in any other manner, any part of her or her inhabitants. 

“We … do not destroy the harmony of nature … We care for and nurture our environment, trying to be all-forbearing like Mother Earth.  This gives us union with all existence, all the creatures which live in the world: wild animals, little crawling things, even men.” (San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico)

As a whole, humans are not living up to the spiritual responsibility we were mandated to fulfill.  Rather than cultivating Mother Earth and taking care of her, and all her inhabitants, we abuse and desecrate our environment to such a degree, that sacred substance has all but disappeared. 

The way that we treat Mother Earth and her inhabitants, reflect our individual and collective values.  The second mandate given by the Creator/God, to humans, is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Ignoring and/or neglecting our spiritual responsibility to care for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants, directly contributes to the suffering of our human and non-human brothers and sisters. 

Around the world, more than 50% of all of the problems humans currently face can be directly and/or indirectly linked to environmental issues. Polluted drinking water, genetically modified seeds and food, toxic chemicals via agricultural herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth hormones, etc., are all major causes of death and disease. Barren soil and poor crops play a significant role in urbanization, poverty and hunger. The list goes on and on.

When we act as good Earth Stewards, we care about Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.  This includes, but is not limited to:  the trees, the fields, the plants, the air, the rivers and oceans, the hills and mountains, the wild animals, the livestock, the domestic animals, the birds, the fish, the reptiles, the insects, etc.  We recognize that each has an intrinsic value which does not include being a resource/raw material to be exploited for human consumption and/or commerce. 

Mother Earth and her inhabitants exist for all of us, as well as for future generations. We must not destroy it to meet our immediate wants.  We each have a spiritual duty to leave the world in a better state.  When our actions show respect for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants, we are exhibiting love for the Creator/God, which is the first mandate given to us. 

“Let all creation rejoice before the Lord.”  Psalm 96:13 

Let us fulfill the mandates to love the Creator/ God, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to care for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.

Let us Pray:

The manifestation of each of your children is beautiful and each contributes to your beauty. A clear lake, a green pine, a pink cloud, a snow-capped mountain top, a fragrant forest, a white crane, a golden deer... these miraculous manifestations of life are all your children and each one of them enhances and magnifies your beauty. Your children include millions of species, each with its own language. Since you are our Mother, you understand all these languages, including the languages of humans. You are a planet, Mother of all beings, not just of humans, therefore we feel very at ease every time we talk to you and offer you our prayer. We are all your children, and at the same time, we are you, for you are fully present in each one of us.

There are those of us lacking right thinking, who consider this place on which we live to be separate from the Pure Land. They advise us to reject this land and to aspire to be reborn in a faraway Pure Land. They do not know that if their minds are calm and pure, filled with love, if they have the capacity to transform compost into flowers, to use mud to grow lotuses, then they will see that their afflictions are in fact realizations and that this very land is already the Pure Land. They do not know that their way of perceiving has a lot to do with whether or not this is the Pure Land. Each physical manifestation on your body, such as a floating cloud or a falling leaf is sufficient for us to see the no-birth and no-death, no being and no non-being nature of reality. We then can appreciate and enjoy life fully, without being fearful or worrying about being or non-being, having or not having, increasing or decreasing, being the same or being different.  (Thich Nhat Hanh, Intimate Conversations with Mother Earth: The Earth is Not the Environment—the Earth is Us)

 

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

Please join us next week as we outline some action steps we can take to be better Earth Stewards.

Please leave comments to this post on our Facebook Page.  Thank You!

Stewardship: Part 1 of 3

This is the 1^st of 3 Discourses on Stewardship.  Part 1 is a brief attempt to Inform the Public.  Part 2 will discuss The Spiritual Aspects of Stewardship, and Part 3 will provide some action steps we can take to be better Earth Stewards.

Part 1: Here on Planet Earth, Our Best Defense is Being Informed! 

At the time of this writing, many/most have come to realize that separation between Church and State is a one-sided farce.  It is one-sided because Churches are not permitted to engage in any political activity, yet the Government, via the IRS, sets the standards which dictate to churches what they can and can not do.  If the IRS does not think a church is a church, it is not.  

So, what actually constitutes a church?  It is not a building; it is not a Pastor, Minister, Rabbi, etc.  The answer to this question lies in the wording.  According to the IRS, a church is basically a congregation (group of people) who worship God together, possess a shared ideology, administer Sacraments, and share some type of Sacred Text.  Any group of people that does not meet the IRS standards may apply for an exception.  To ensure control the IRS periodically changes its requirements.

Having said that, our same government, under the guise of multiple agencies/departments, support the current exploitation, mismanagement, carelessness and greed perpetrated against us and our world.  The results have been and continue to be devastating.

The greedy overuse of our earth’s natural resources leaves little for future generations.  The list of endangered/extinct plants continues to grow; monoculture further puts our plants (and our food and medicine supply) at risk. 

 “As many as 100,000 of the estimated total 300,000 species may be gone or on the way to extinction by the middle of the [21st] century.”  Dr. Peter H. Raven, XVI International Botanical Congress.

Monoculture increases a crops susceptibility to a single disease or pest.  Currently more than half of the global energy intake comes from only three major crops: rice, wheat, and maize.  The loss of diversity in our food crops already

“… has been substantial.  The chief contemporary cause of the loss of genetic diversity has been the spread of modern, commercial agriculture. The largely unintended consequence of the introduction of new varieties of crops has been the replacement—and loss—of traditional, highly variable farmer varieties.”    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The most famous example of this is the 1840’s Great Potato Famine; the potato crops in Ireland were wiped out by potato blight (a fungus), which led to the death of 750,000 people.

 In 1949, there were almost 10,000 varieties of wheat, which were utilized on a regular basis, in China; today there are less than 1,000.  In the United States, in just 100 years, almost 6,000 varieties of apple trees, 95 percent of the varieties of cabbage, and 81 percent of the varieties of tomatoes seem to have up and disappeared.

Our present worldwide ecological crisis is the greatest man-made disaster this planet has ever faced.  Our drinking water is unsafe; our soils are barren; the food we eat and the air we breathe are slowly killing us.

To mention just a few of the problems:

• ·        Deforestation is affecting the absorption of carbon dioxide by the earth. 

• ·        Pollution of our Air, Land, and Water.  Pollution (along with overfishing) is greatly decreasing our fish populations.  Many textile manufacturers use dyes, softeners, and other chemicals which pose health consequences.

• ·        Toxic pesticides, herbicides, and growth regulators are not safe for humans; they can end up in the air, and in our food and water supply, and have been linked to asthma and cancer.   At the turn of the century, 7 of the top 15 pesticides sprayed on cotton were identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens.

• ·        Genetically Modified Food (GMO’s) has been linked to the development of cancerous tumors, infertility and birth defects.   GMO Seeds have been linked to the destruction of the world's bee population; bees not only pollinate crops, they perform other vital ecological roles, as well.

We, as a species are starting to “AWAKEN.”  Yesterday, May 25, activists around the world united to March Against Monsanto.  According to Tami Canal, protests were held in 436 cities in 52 countries ... "If I had gotten 3,000 people to join me, I would have considered that a success," she said Saturday. Instead, she said two million responded to her message ... She called the turnout "incredible," and credited social media for being a vehicle for furthering opportunities for activism. Despite the size of the gatherings, Canal said she was grateful that the marches were uniformly peaceful and no arrests have been reported.

Photo: Occupy Monsanto

www.facebook.com/OccupyMonsanto

Our global consciousness is rising.  More and more people are coming together peacefully, as One.  Here on Planet Earth, Our Best Defense is Being Informed.  So what does all of this have to do with churches?  To find out, please join us next week for Part 2: The Spiritual Aspects of Stewardship.

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

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Religious Use of Crystals and Other Stones: Part 2 of 2

As we learned last week, most cultures have used crystals and/or other stones religiously/spiritually for a very long time. This week we will seek to answer the question:  Is crystal healing spiritually acceptable? 

 

The use of crystals and/or other stones in spiritual healing, is an ancient Spiritually-based modality which utilizes Vibratory Spiritual Energy (Universal Life Energy, Prana, Chi, Ki, Holy Spirit, etc.).

 In 1150, Saint Hildegard documented how the vibrational energy in crystals works; crystals store energy in their molecules and magnify/radiate electromagnetic energy which vibrates to one, or more, of seven specific light ray frequencies found in the universe.  Each of the seven different colors of light rays (blue, yellow, pink, white, green, red, and purple), vibrate at a different energy frequency in the universe.  

Angels, like crystals and/or other stones, also vibrate to the different color/light ray frequencies in the universe.   

Many people use crystals and/or other stones, to invoke help from the spirit world.  Throughout history, people have used crystals and/or other stones, to help them connect to the Spirit Realm; e.g., angels.  Most people use crystals and/or other stones that correspond to the energy frequencies of a specific angelic being and prayerfully invoke the assistance of this angelic being, to help heal another. 

"Crystals, like angels, are a thread that unites all cultures across the planet throughout time. If angels are the golden thread that pulls all religions together, then crystals are the silver one that, if we hold onto it tightly, will pull every person and culture on mother Earth together as God intended it to be. ... Each soul on this Earth has an ancient crystal knowledge buried within them that enables them to communicate with the elemental kingdom and re-connect themselves with the powerful rhythm of life that pulses around us in cosmic and divine alignment."  (Claire Robertson, The Angel Within.)

The Bible, the Torah, and the Qur’an warn us to be very careful though, as we might connect with dark, fallen angels, instead of holy angels of light. They are not alone in their warning to us.

“The Shadows are out there: They exist, in the invisible world that parallels our own, living creatures. . . . The terms ‘Imp’, ‘Evil Spirit’ and ‘Demon’ are fairly accurate. They are very strong. . . . The most intelligent variety . . . are capable (if someone is helpful enough to open a doorway for them) of entering our world. . . . They can enter your body . . . , even asserting a degree of control over you. Yes, this is exactly like the old stories of Demon possession.” (Anonymous promoter of witchcraft).

In an effort to reduce our light, the dark does it's best to slip through the smallest of pinholes.  Its’ goal is to distract and mislead us from developing a personal relationship with the Creator/God.

When using crystals and/or other stones for healing purposes, there is no need for us to be afraid of the dark; we simply need to be aware enough to notice it, if it shows up, and stop it from succeeding in its' mission. 

A small percentage of crystal healers are involved in what is known as the occult; the occult refers to what is hidden from the physical senses, and is usually viewed as being outside of the realm of traditional scientific observation. 

Some people, hoping to gain knowledge, especially about the future, have gazed into crystal balls, hoping to find divine answers to their questions.  This is a form of divination, and is often viewed as being spiritually dangerous, and something to be avoided.  

"Many legends and tales speak of its use. Its practice is found in Greece, Rome, and throughout Mesopotamia. The Druids of England utilized gazing, as did people in Scotland, France, Germany, and elsewhere throughout Europe. Egypt, India, Babylon, and Persia also had their crystal-gazing practitioners."  (Ted Andrews.  Crystal Balls & Crystal Bowls: Tools for Ancient Scrying & Modern Seership.)

In the bible, divination is not forbidden for those who were anointed by the Creator/God; e.g., the priests.  They were exempt and performed divination rituals inside the temple, during times of sacrifice and to divine the Creator’s/God’s will. 

As noted last week, Aaron’s breastplate contained the crystals known as the Urim (lights) and the Thummim (perfections), and were used to help him discern answers, from the Creator/God, for the people.  Exodus 28:30

In Tibetan Buddhism, “the motivation for performing divinations must always be pure - done solely to bring relief for the suffering of all beings and not for one's own personal gain or fame.”  Lama Dawa Rinpoche

In the Bible and Torah, those not of the priestly class, are cautioned to never try to learn about anything in the future, as this is a form of divination.

"Let no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to God."  Deuteronomy 18:10-12

The Qur’an also cautions us to avoid divination practices.

"O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination; of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper."  Qur’an: Surah V. 90

The power of the Creator/God is far greater than the power of the Occult.  Developing and maintaining a direct connection with the Divine Light/Christ Consciousness, and a personal relationship with the Creator/God, is our greatest protection from the influences of the dark forces. 

“Subject yourselves, therefore, to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you ….”  James 4:7-8

Crystals and other stones are created by the Creator itself. There is nothing dark or evil about crystals and/or other stones, themselves. When they are used to bring glory to the Creator/God by helping and healing other people, they can, with the Creator's/God’s help, stimulate spiritual growth, bring about positive personal transformation and lead to a healthier state of being. 
  

Let us develop and/or maintain a direct connection with the Divine Light/Christ Consciousness.  Let us develop and/or maintain a personal relationship with the Creator/God, and if we are guided to use crystals and/or other stones, let us glorify the Creator/God by prayerfully invoking the assistance of the holy angels of light, on behalf of others, not ourselves.

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

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Religious Use of Crystals and Other Stones: Part 1 of 2

Throughout recorded history, in nearly every culture, stones have been used for religious purposes.

There is a long history of the use of crystals for spiritual purposes amongst indigenous peoples, including, but not limited to the Incans, the Mayans, and the Native Americans.  The 5,000+ year old sacred Hindu text, known as the Vedas, contains lengthy discussions regarding the power of crystals and their use.  The Islam religion strongly recommended it's adherents to wear different stones, especially during prayer, as a way to increase their faith, piety, and endurance.

 

Muslims believe that a black stone fell from heaven to Earth; they call this the Black Stone of Kaaba.

The Kaaba "is believed to be a replica of the house of God in the seventh heaven, where God’s throne is located." (Malcolm Clark, Islam For Dummies)

"Regarded by some as a meteorite, the black stone symbolizes God’s right hand, thus touching or pointing to it reenacts the covenant between God and man, that is, man’s acknowledgement of God’s lordship."  (Lloyd V. J. Ridgeon, Major World Religions: From Their Origins to the Present)

“the remains of what Muslims believe is the altar that Abraham built. Popular legends say that the black stone is a meteorite worshiped by pre-Muslims. Some believe that the ancient stone was brought from a nearby mountain by the archangel Gabriel and that it was originally white; its black color comes from it having absorbed people’s sins. In a rite called tawaf, which they perform three times during the hajj, they circumambulate the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times. ... Each time pilgrims pass the black stone they recite a prayer from the Qur’an. 'In the name of God, and God is supreme.' If they can, pilgrims approach the Kaaba and kiss it ... or they make a gesture of kissing the Ka’ba each time if they cannot reach it.” (Davidson and Gitlitz, Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1)

The Bible alone has over 200 references to uses of crystals and stones. The Book of Exodus recorded the stones to be used for the breastplate of the high priest, Aaron.  The purpose of the breastplate was to help Aaron “spiritually discern answers to the people's questions that he asked God while praying in the tabernacle.”  (Whitney Hopler, Sacred Stones: The High Priest’s Breastplate Gems in the Bible and Torah) 

"They fashioned the breastplate -- the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It was square -- a span long and a span wide -- and folded double. Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was ruby, chrysolite and beryl; the second row was turquoise, sapphire and emerald; the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes." Exodus 39:8-14

"Also put the Urim (lights) and the Thummim (perfections) in the breastplate, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord." Exodus 28:30

“Urim and Thummim of the old desert religion of the present day Jews, are actually crystals. Through its light, they know what their God, YHWH, wants to say.” (Noel Sales Barcelona)

The book of Revelation recorded the stones that were to be found in the celestial New Jerusalem (Heaven). 
 
"It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Revelation 21:11, 18-20

Jasper: Jasper is mentioned several times in the book of Revelation, has been identified as the 1st foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven). In the Greek and Latin texts it is the 6^th foundation stone. Regardless of which position it is in, it is, without a doubt, the yshphh spoken of in the Hebrew text. It represents one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel and have been associated with the tribe of Benjamin.

Sapphire/Lapis Luzuli: The term “Sapphire” (sapphiros) is mentioned many times in the Bible. Having said that, it is important to note that the sapphire we are familiar with is most likely not, the same sapphire. Historical descriptions of the biblical stone sound much more like lapis luzuli, than sapphire. It has been identified as the 2nd foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven). It represents one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel and have been associated with the tribe of Dan. In Buddhism, Buddha has been called the "Healing Master of Lapis Lazuli Radiance,” as he meditated on Lapis Lazuli.  Ancient Sumarians also valued Lapis.

"He who carries with him into battle an amulet of Lapis carries with him the presence of God".  (This was a popular saying amongst ancient Sumarian Priests.) 

Chalcedony/Carbuncle/Chodchod/Ruby: In the Old Testament, the terms Chalcedony, Carbuncle, Chodchod and Ruby are used interchangeably to describe a stone which sounds very much like the Oriental ruby or Spinel Ruby. Chalcedony has been identified as the 3th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It represents one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel and have been associated with the tribe of Juda.  

Emerald: Emerald has been identified as the 4th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It represents one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel and have been associated with the tribe of Levi.

 Sardonyx/Sard/Onyx:  Historical descriptions of the biblical stone Chrysolite have identified it as modern day Onyx.  It has been identified as the 5th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It represents one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel and have been associated with the tribe of Joseph. 
 
Carnelian: Carnelian has been identified as the 6th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Ruben. Many Muslim’s follow Muhammad’s lead and wear Carnelian, to guarantee Allah’s fulfillment of desires.

Chrysolite/Peridot: Historical descriptions of the biblical stone Chrysolite have identified it as modern day Peridot. It has been identified as the 7th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Zabulon.

Beryl: Beryl is generally identified as the 8th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Nephtali.

Topaz: In the Greek language, Topaz comes from the term chrusolithos, which literally means ” gold stone.” Although consensus has yet to be reached, it most likely refers to present day golden topaz. Topaz is the 9th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven);

Chrysoprase/Chrysoprasus/Agate: Chrysoprase/Chrysoprasus have been identified as the 10^th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven). Chrysoprasus was not well known among the ancients; it may very well be the same stone as we know as modern day Agate.  Agate is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Aser.

Jacinth/Hyacinth: Jacinth/Hyacinth has been identified as the 10^th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven). This stone was most likely also called Ligurus, which is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Gad.

Amethyst: Amethyst is the 12th foundation stone of the celestial New Jerusalem (heaven).  It is one of the ten stones, on the breastplate, which were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. It has been associated with the tribe of Issachar.

PEARL: The King James Version of the Bible was the first time the term pearl was used; prior to that it was known as “Margarite.”  Pearls were considered among the most precious stones in the ancient world.  Both the Incas and the Aztecs held pearls in high esteem.

CRYSTAL: Crystal/Ice has been placed in the same category as gold, onyx, sapphire, glass, coral, topaz, etc. Job 28:17  Tibetan Monks viewed Quartz Crystals as powerful holy objects.  Taoists referred to Quartz Crystals as the "Gem of Enlightenment." 

As we have just learned, most cultures have used crystals and/or other stones religiously for a very long time. Many believe that it is spiritually wrong to work with crystals and/or other stones. Is crystal healing spiritually acceptable?  Please join us next week to learn the answer to this question, and more. 

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light/Jesus. Amen.

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