Just A Thought

“Universality * Soulful Generosity

In Thought, Word And Deed”

 March 19, 2009

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

There seems to be a Universality of yearly renewal of Enthusiasm as the Beauty of Verde’ green becomes visible budding on the very tips of trees and appearing as fairy moss upon our lawns as we advance toward Spring Equinox. Common sense tells us a fourth of the year 2009 already lives inside our life’s history.

Before we move forward considering this months Agni Yoga Virtue putting pen to paper, were you surprised by your own inner wisdom shining through your thoughts, meditations and realizations relating to your newfound definition of Beauty? Here is just a little bit of what I discovered; “If Beauty is seen through the eyes of the beholder and I am the beholder my work then is to purify my sight to see clearly. Beauty is truth, simplicity and grace in thought, word and deed. Beauty is in all things. I heard, ‘Beauty is my name, Yahweh and in my name is contained all things.’” All things? All things, even what we conceive as unappealing, unpleasant and hideous? As Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder our work then is to birth Beauty from chaos. Surely the challenge is before us now in this juncture of economic hardship and societal fears. Beauty is in all things. The call is to go and make it so.

 We now move into Chapter Three in The Book Of You and the Agni Yoga Virtue of Universality, remembering Agni Yoga to be the everyday practice of ethical living, devotion, and purification of the physical, emotional and mental anatomy of the authentic spiritual self.

  Read the rest of this entry »

 Just A Thought

 What If Beauty Is

 In The Eyes of The Beholder

And You Are The Beholder

 February 19,  2009

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

We began in January using what is called a Seed Thought and the first of Twelve Agni Yoga Virtues of Ethical Living, Enthusiasm. Through your contemplation, the word is no longer merely a definition but rather an essence of being, which you have taken into yourself. You now have your first chapter of The Book Of You. I must tell you, I am thrilled about this concept of each of you writing your own book and truly that is what it is, your own book, called The Book Of You. Here is what I got through my meditations with the word born into virtue, Enthusiasm. “Enthuse is to bring up, to fill, to create; enthusiasm is to be a part of. As I walk in the excitement, the joy of truth, perhaps it will be contagious. Enthusiasm is belief in action through thought, word and deed elevated from the mind of the heart emitting joy and compassion.” What did you get? If you like email me at lightpaths@me.com and share.

Let’s touch on three concepts we learned about in January:

• the number 11 for 2009
• Agni Yoga
• Seed Thought.

 First, let’s continue the study of the Master Number 11, which is made up of the 2 + 9 = 11. Recently in Rev. Carol Parrish’s ExCEPtional Newsletter she said; “I have been asked more than once about the energy of 2009. Just think. It is an 11year, and that tells us a lot. It is a year of decision making for all of us. Double numbers (my life is a 22) means we walk the razor’s edge — we have to practice a lot of discernment and cannot stray too far from the middle road path. To me the 11 offers us a step toward a higher consciousness worldwide. It is a spiritual number so perhaps we can think of it this way: we need to put our efforts where our mouth is! Can we actualize the spiritual consciousness we speak of, the ethics, and the new vision of which we have dreamed?”(If you would like to receive Carol’s newsletter email her at cep@sanctasophia.org).

Read the rest of this entry »

Just A Thought

 “Begin The Quest To Be Your Best Through Agni Yoga

 The Path of Ethical Living”

 January 15, 2009

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

2009 is a Master Year but what does that mean? 2 plus 9 equals 11 and in the ancient wisdom of numerology a double digit same number is called a Master Number. “Wherever a master number appears, it represents a strong dedication to assist in the great conscious awakening of our times.” says the world-renowned numerologist Ruth A. Drayer in her revered “Numerology: The Power of Numbers”. Each master number holds a quality of understanding within its represented force. The master number 11 holds the light upon the path toward our higher consciousness, the numbers 1 and 1 act as a doorway, a gateway on either side into its entrance. There is a desire for balance of energies where great strength, integrity and gentleness are required. Here we find spiritual teachers, peacemakers, visionaries and humanitarians, us, assisting the way through illumination in harmony and cooperation.

This is the time of year many pay attention to the advice in every self-help book, magazine and television show. We start our journals with high expectations of adhering to resolutions most of the time set beyond our scope or desire in comparison to another usually bought on by a societal image. Personally I am so done with that. I want me, my personal best, my authentic self, my Soul’s desire in fulfilling who it is I already am if I am made in the image of the Divine. I want to know how I can make a difference “in the great conscious awakening of our times”. My thought is if we do our best then perhaps, as the ripple in the pond, we do make a difference in the manifestation of a better world. It is our small part that can make a big change. It is up to us to be the change we want to see. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Just A Thought

 

“Winter Solstice

Festival of Light and Love”

The Winter Solstice, December 21, 2008 at 6:05am, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. In ancient times it represented the Goddess awaking to find that she is pregnant with the Sun God. It is no mistake then that the early church Christianized this time designating it Christ Mass, to celebrate the pregnancy of a young mother named Mary birthing the Son of God.

Through astrology and natures cycles it is known that both the equinoxes and the solstices represent journeys of the soul. (Refer to my article dated September 19 regarding the Equinox). Our process of growth in consciousness is represented through the cycles of the sun and its daily increase and decrease of light. Allowing sunlight to represent soul illumination the Summer Solstice the longest day and shortest night when the sun moves from Gemini with its Virtue of Universality, to Cancer, Virtue of Leadership, illustrates our souls growth and blooming season. “At Winter Solstice, when the light is hidden, we go within and renew our commitment as the sun moves from Sagittarius (Virtue of Harmlessness) to Capricorn (Virtue of Fearlessness)” as stated in The New Dictionary of Spiritual Thought by Rev. Carol Parrish.

So it is that Winter Solstice represents our soul’s effort moving inward from the world of matter, into it’s evolutionary spiritual home through contemplation and inner expansion. Ritual and celebration surrounding Solstices are designed to assist ones understanding as we advance annually from outer to inner soul work.

Through the ancient wisdom teachings of Esoteric Christianity Winter Solstice is an enchanted time of the threefold birth celebrated between the Holy Days of December 21 through December 24.

First, is the birth of the Cosmic Christ Spirit. The Cosmic Christ Spirit quickens all of nature, our selves included, into a new cycle of awareness and enlightenment as it ignites new life deep within Mother Earth. We offer our devotion, renew our love and reverently acknowledge the glorious Cosmic Christ, the Light of God pressing into the heart of our planet ever regenerating, redeeming and restoring the Plan on Earth.

Secondly, we honor the birth of The Historic Christ, the Master Human Jesus, the bearer of the Christ Light. Our hearts fill with joyful reverence for Jesus the Christ Child of Bethlehem born into physical form the Great Teacher of Angels and Humanity.

Thirdly, The Mystical Christ is birthed within each disciple as The Christ Within. This metaphysical birth assist each personality maturing toward and affirming soul infusion, as well as all of humanity, to align with the purpose of life. Here we are stimulated toward illumination of the unfolding Christ Within. We give gratitude and celebrate the opportunity of growing into the awakening Christ Within ourselves as daily we grasp glimpses of consciousness expanding the power and vibration of the Christ Light radiating out into the world around us.

As the Winter Solstice spiritual power culminates on Christmas Eve, December 24, the world goes into a profound inner stillness, the silent soul devotion of Oh, Holy Night in preparation for the birthing of the long awaited initiate Jesus The Christ.

In joyful surrender to this wondrous Christmas season including the awe of Winter Solstice celebration I offer you this prayer, The Great Invocation, spoken daily around the world in monasteries, sanctuaries, chapels and private meditation rooms and always at Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Art. Individual as well as group soul work calls us to remember what is ours to do this day in celebration of the Christ Mass and the threefold birth of The Cosmic Christ, The Historical Christ and, as we take up the luminous responsibility, living the Mystical Christ Within.

 The Great Invocation

“From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let Light stream forth into human minds,
Let Light descend on Earth.
(Think: “through me”)

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let Love stream forth into human hearts,
May the Coming One return to Earth.
(Think: “through me”)

 From the Centre where the Will of God is known
Let Purpose guide all little human wills,
The Purpose, which the Masters know and serve.
(Think: “through me”)

 From the Centre which we call the human race
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out,
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
(Think: “through me”)

As we find ourselves caught in the outer overflow stressful commotion running errands, wrapping presents and decorating our homes during this Christmas season It’s Just A Thought that perhaps the intentional and purposeful commemoration of Winter Solstice, The Festival of Light and Love, may encourage a new dedication to the reason for the season and a quieting of spirit within.

This December 21, as the heavens are almost still, share with us rejoicing in the threefold Christ as we celebrate Winter Solstice, The Festival of Love and Light at Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts at 7:00pm.

Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts, a Spiritual Enlightenment Centre and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary are nestled in beautiful woodland only 3 miles from downtown Centreville. Know you are welcome and we abundantly enriched by your presence. For more information concerning upcoming events, workshops, classes or monthly gatherings call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@me.com.

(Beautiful photo from DeviantArt)

 

 

It’s Just A Thought

“The Law of Abundance 

What’s Money Got To Do With It?”

November 20, 2007

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

Many of us are running, if not literally, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, chaotically in fear due to the worldly and therefore personal financial situation. We are asking questions we never thought we’d have to. Questions like; will my retirement be there when I am, will I be able to send my children to college, will I be able to pay my next car payment, do I have enough to add the cream to the grocery cart, can I afford to drive to work next week, will I have work to drive to next week?

We are holding our breath in pain and fear of circumstance knowing in some way we do have a responsibility in it. We are holding our breath, as if we do long enough, something, someone will come save us as if we deserve saving.

WWell,we do deserve and we already are, saved that is. Exhale. We need only wrap our minds, hearts and spirits around the very concept that there is a Universal Law of Abundance in existence given by the Universal Source of All, the Great I Am, God, Yahweh, what ever name you may be comfortable calling the All Inclusive Energy.

What is a Universal Law, you may ask?  As quoted from The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought by Rev. Carol Parrish “Universal Law – A way of designating the sustaining axioms of spiritual reality as we can understand them within the human experience.” And as quoted from The Emancipated Person by Brenda Cutrell, Ph.D., “These are unvarying, and therefore universal, no matter what the belief system of the experiencer.” (Both books are available at The Sparrow Hawk Village Bookstore by calling 800-386-7161 or www.sanctasopohia.org)

Keeping in mind we are Spiritual Beings having a human experience there are several Universal Laws we live our life through on a daily basis whether we are conscious of them or not. Being conscious just makes life a whole lot more pleasurable most of the time. The rest of the time through the lesson, life becomes more fulfilling as it knocks our enlightenment up a notch or two.

One of the Universal Laws that exist for our benefit is the Law of Abundance. Again quoting from Rev. Parrish, the “Law of Abundance – A concept of prosperity that acknowledges richness of supply on each level: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Operating in harmony with giving and receiving brings much to us. ‘the abundant life’ conveys ample challenge and opportunity and the growth that results.”

Stop for just a moment. Really, for just a moment and look around you wherever you are. What do you see? Unless you are reading this from a cardboard box under an overpass you are living well. That is not to say that the one living in the cardboard box is not. There is a man that stands on New York Avenue just past the underpass across from the old Hecht Company warehouse. He stands there with a branch in his hand (I believe it to be olive) and as each car passes he gently waves the branch in the air as if blessing each soul. For years now as I leave his presence ever so brief I do feel blessed. I call him my New York Avenue Jesus Man because on some level he is conscious and loving and good enough to bless my existence. That is abundance. He fills me up and I bet he goes home to a cardboard box under the bridge when his day’s work is done.

Now, look to your right and look to your left. What do you see? Walls either at work or home, furniture, collectables, bills, (OK, we’ll deal with those in a moment), a refrigerator with food in it (you have food!). Look outside the window (you have windows!) and what do you see? Color, glorious color in the leaves, the sky, the grass, in the clothes people wear (clothes, we have clothes!). You can see! What Abundance! Perhaps in view there are children of your own. Yes, they as you, mean more money output in the physical scheme of things yet I do hope you realize how blessed you are to have been given charge of each incarnate soul that has come through you. They, as you, are an affluent gift on earth. Read the rest of this entry »

(Picture from Ericgurdau.com)

 

It’s Just A Thought

 

“What Is It To Die

But To Stand Naked In The Wind…”

 

October 16, 2007

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

There is no other month more devoted to the subject of death and dying than October with its ghouls, spooky costumes and newly released scary movies. So, after the children are safely home from an evening of Trick or Treat and tucked into bed. After the blue screen fades, lights are up and popcorn filled nerves are somewhat reconnected from the horrific scenes played before your eyes. Or in the silence of real life sitting by the bedside of a loved one ready to pass over, stop just for a moment, breathe, breathe again and touch into your deepest thoughts regarding a subject so many of us would rather leave alone until the moment of its arrival.

“So Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of Death. And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?”

On October 19, 1989 I received the first diagnosis of a brain tumor. On November 16, 1989 I woke from surgery with “less than a 20% chance of making it off the table”. In an instant one of my greatest and most joyful assignments of life became learning how to die well. Dying well is more than receiving a physician’s bill of health upon death. It is in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual consciousness of being aware, of “seeking the heart of life” from the first breath waking each morn until the last pillow sigh each night. It is in the choosing of how to live, where to live, how to treat my body, who to spend time with, who not to spend time with and how to spend that precious time we do have in this earthly experience we call life. Dying well means knowing I am living my purpose of being having birthed it through its wants, needs and desires in communication with my Higher Power as I nurture it’s fulfillment in my part of the Plan. Every day is a new day, every day is a gift (“that’s why they call it the present”), and every day may be the last day you live on earth, brain tumor or not. Live in the heart of now as now truly is the only time we have, the only time in existence, as the past is gone and the future becomes the present now. Just do it!

“The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”

For those who are ready, (i.e. those who push themselves beyond the fear of the unknown) the mystery is unveiled. As you seek, belief becomes knowledge, knowledge through experience brings with it the inception of wisdom and love/wisdom shines the Light upon the mystery called Death. Death is only a change, a change of energy from physical to non-physical, that part of us we already are. Sometimes we just forget.  It is the flow from the small incarnate life to the eternal soul life, from the river of shorelines to the unending horizons of the sea. As Carly Simon sings, “Life is eternal, Love is immortal and Death is only a horizon.”

“In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.”

We will all die as we have all been born. As we live, our spirit either waits for that which will be or soars as integrated enlightenment within our soul. As grade school nears its end, we anticipate new halls, new rooms, new smells, new lockers, new friends, being the bigger in high school. As high school draws to a close our hearts beat with the excitement of moving away to the new freer life called college, its late nights, intimate group discussions with a favorite professor and stimulation of our wisdom being heard. Then as college ends we hold a momentary breath growing into adulthood, first steps into our professional career, our first apartment, yes, even our first bills and the thought of scheduling our calendar as we please. Each new chapter the seed grows within the present living. We trust the dreams as we water and nurture their existence. As the thrill of each fantasy is the beginning into the spring of new horizons and the old passes away, we are still the one, physically and spiritually, moving through the gates of change, as that is all it is, from one form to another as we mature. In each choice, we are choosing not only the living of our biography but the memory of its passing

“Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepard when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepard not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?”

In the shift of a moment even though there has been great effort moving toward its aim we fear that which we do not know. Michael Phelps trained physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for the moment that he may joyfully take the gold, the symbolic king of his achievement thus far. Even as he trained, knew his desires, earned the gold, standing in the moment of the moment, he may have felt the inward trembling as his toes gripped the edge of the pool before his push off into the water toward the race to be won. Each leap is the last before the first, the death of what was before the birth of what is. This is the moment of transition. It is our own twinkling of truth as we prepare to wear the mark of the king. Did we do what we came here to do? Did we get the gold? Did we seek the king in the heart of life? Did we live vivaciously? On October 19, this Sunday, I celebrate the fifth anniversary of my Ordination. All of my being silently sings as I recall the breath filled moment, the joy beneath my trembling as I professed the Vows and received the Blessing in Sacrament while my life as I knew it died of the old being born anew unto “Not my will but Thy Will by done”. Death, exist in the everyday of living and with every death there is a rebirth. Through the extinction of night comes the origin of an infant day. One of those reborn days we shall stand on the edge, toes gripping, as our fearful tremble gives to the joyful sigh of passing through the gates of death. A simple exhalation of what was becomes the inhalation of mystery unveiled.

“For what is it to die, but to stand naked in the wind and melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?”

From what I have seen (as you won’t find me on one) there is an unencumbered tingle as one embarks on the roller coaster, the fast ride totally out of one’s own control. I’ve heard it is the freeness of wind upon the face, the letting go of responsibility and just the fun of it all. Well, little ole’ me can get that by sticking my head out the car window. In the flash of life facing fear we stand stronger, freer, more than who we imagined ourselves to be. Just before the coaster takes off on its ride our breath seems to have stopped its cycle in our throat yet once the ride glides into the other side destination the exhale we experience is one of total liberation. The truth of our courage is known. Courage is standing naked in the wind as we melt into the sun. There is a scene in the movie City Of Angels where the character Maggie is riding her bike, eyes closed, arms outstretched into the wind. Naked with clothes on she embraces all that is. She inhales melting into the sun. At that point I knew she was going to die. She had to. It’s the way we humans write stories. Maggie had let loose all her apprehensions and trepidations. Literally and symbolically Maggie had to die to the lesser to become the greater. Maggie’s breath ceased as her purpose, the seeking, was fulfilled. As we overcome any struggle, restless tide, be it genuine or monkey mind chatter, standing on the shoreline of reality the exhale is granted. On the other side of letting go we inhale, rise, rejoicing into our souls expanded enlightenment, the bliss, of God unencumbered. We may have taken our last breath literally or we may have created an opportunity to practice the moment by dying to the lesser of who we have been becoming the greater of our intention by again discerning that which our inner core knows about our spirit living as our most authentic self.

“Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountaintop, than you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”

No one can explain, describe or explore for you what your soul already knows through your silent song. It’s Just A Thought but as the songs go may we each “Climb Every Mountain” seeking our heart in life and when done “I hope you/we dance.” standing naked in the wind with God unencumbered.

The quoted masterful teaching “On Death”, written by the poet, philosopher, artist and mystic Kahil Gibran is from The Prophet published in 1923. Kahil Gibran shares beautiful and majestic philosophy through his book gratifyingly suitable for meditation and prayer while seeking one’s own understanding in all substance between birth and death.

 This month, on October 25 from 10am – 12:30pm, at Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts we are honored to present Rev. Katherine James Klemstine, Director of Spiritual Care of The Chesapeake Hospice as she shares her workshop “Spiritual Insights to Death – A Comparison of the Physical and Spiritual Dying Process”.  Please do make the time to come, listen and understand as you seek your heart in life.

 Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts, a Spiritual Enlightenment Centre and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary are nestled in beautiful woodland only 3 miles from downtown Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching. Know you are welcome and we are enriched by your presence. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@me.com.

 “The Equinox

 If We Pay Attention With Intention We Just May Make The Connection”

September 19, 2008
Rev. Regina Maria Cross

What is an Equinox?

“Either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic intersects with the celestial equator. The two times during each year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the lengths of day and night are equal”, so it is described in both The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought & Webster. Rev. Parrish continues in The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought; “The Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox denote the changing of the seasons to spring and fall, respectively. At spring or Vernal Equinox the sun enters Aires (the first sign of the zodiac) approximately March 21 annually. Autumn, or fall equinox occurs approximately Sept. 21 as the sun enters Libra.”

In other words, there are two days out of the whole of the year when both the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight and the length of day and night are the same hence the name Equinox meaning “equal night”. If you were to stand at the equator there would be exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

The invitation into the spring season, Vernal Equinox, is the time when life seems to birth itself (Aires) renewing the earth and all it’s inhabitants where as the Autumnal Equinox shows us the earth’s shedding and what was once young in spring has grown to maturity in the fall season. Energy seems to speed up in spring and slow down in fall. There is a lifting in spring toward the sun as we enjoy the appearance of flowers from seedlings and a falling to earth in the autumn as we feel and hear the crunch of leaves under foot and once again see what was hidden behind the tall corn stalks now harvested. The Equinoxes are a time of intense change while we, the earth and the universe come into a renewal of balance (Libra) physically, emotionally, mentally and yes, spiritually.

Each seasonal change if we watch our pet companions and the outside animal kingdom we get a hint as to what our authentic self yearns for if we stop long enough to take note. In the autumn often there is a desire to hibernate to go within. We have a desire to know better what it is we have learned over the ever coming ending year, where it is we shall harvest through our seedlings of growth, along with the Cosmic Hierarchy of the Christ Consciousness, The Supreme Being, the Universal Life Force Energy. In the fall we draw our attention back to ourselves wherein spring we go outward. In the spring we open the doors, push open the windows, go barefoot in the grass while in the fall we, reluctantly as it may be, close the doors, pull down the windows and when outdoors even our feet hibernate inside now a closed shoe or boot. Spring brings us out of that which we learned the year before while fall prompts us to reflect, go inward, toward that which we have yet to realize.

Which seedlings did you drop into the soil of your heart and soul this past spring? Depending on the quality of seed will be the harvest of the lesson. If the seeds were clear, organic shall we say, the teachings will be easier to understand in our inward school. If the seeds were full of pesticides, negative thought forms, the teachings can still be aroused but the reaping of the harvest will be that much more challenging to achieve. Our thoughts, reflections, ideas, attitudes are the farmers of our soul. Go natural; go organic in the spring of life and the harvest will be a healthier authentic self. Prepare your seedlings with pesticides and chemicals if not now, later there is a possibility of having to clarify through the quagmire of existence. Each Equinox is a gift of prompting the self for preparation and reflection as we newly prepare and come to review our lives yearly.

This is why our intention in spring is of the utmost importance as we create the atmosphere, the attitude, and the medium by which we wish to manifest growing our soul toward its successful harvest. As the farmer of our soul we must remember too that our ideas, thoughts and lives in general need watering, weeding, sunlight and self care as we create a receptive environment for growth toward a healthy harvest outwardly and inwardly. Last weekend Kenny, my husband and I ventured into a new antique store (Is that possible?). There on it’s wall and now ours was the most perfect sampler:

“He who sows courtesy reaps friendship;
And he who plants kindness gathers love.”

Why wait until the New Year for resolution? As we begin our inward journey coming into the home, literally and spiritually, why not look around now for excess or clutter ridding ourselves of that which no longer serves us and giving away to those to whom it would? Have a recycle your life party in celebration of this moment’s turning point in season and self while blessing those things and their symbology, which will continue blessing others in it’s benefits.Late winter in the dark we plan and plant our seedlings in tiny pots. In spring they peak their tiny sprouts up blessing our efforts. Through summer’s activity they raise to the adoring sun maturing in growth and in the fall we harvest that which we clearly intended for growth. We give a deep sigh for that which we have co-created and after a time of rest begin anew in planning the next crop. Personally I start my “What shall you have me do next year?” prayers in October. This gives me time to prepare myself for the upcoming season of “What is mine to do” and believe me sometimes with the unexpected answers I receive I need that time to work on myself and “Thy will not my will be done.”In Japan there is great reverence for the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. Six days of observance called Higan-e, meaning “other shore”, are celebrated, three before and three after each equal night. Six because of the six spiritual perfections they are based upon – giving, observance of precepts, perseverance, effort, meditation and wisdom – moving the soul from the shore of this life (samsara) to the shore of heaven (nirvana). Rituals include repentance and forgiveness of sins (“Self-Inflicted Nonsense = Belief held in the Non-Self that draw personality into false identities; challenges that provide learning experiences” as quoted from The New Dictionary of Spiritual Thought by Rev. Carol Parrish) and prayers for enlightenment in this lifetime and the next. During the six days there is time for remembrance of loved ones who have passed on and visits to family burial sites.Nature and the Celestial Universe have given us a most wondrous gift called Equinox, the most temperate seasons of the year ideally existing for our own reflection on the meaning of our life and our soul’s growth through it. It’s Just A Thought but if we pay attention with intention I believe we will make the connection with our own inner and outer natures as taught to us by this gifting called the Equinox.

This year Autumnal Equinox is September 22 at 3:44pm. Light Paths – Center For the Healing Arts, will hold its second Reiki Prayer Circle at 7:00pm that evening.

Please know everyone is invited and welcome to join the Circle. Please call 410-758-2579 or email lightpaths@me.com by September 21 to let us know you will be there so that we may prepare a seat for you.

Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary are nestled in the woods only 3 miles from downtown Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching as all are welcome in the Light of the classroom adjoining Rev. Cross’ home. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@me.com

It’s Just A Thought

 

“Prayer…For The Good Of All Concerned,
You Have Got To Be Kidding!”

August 14, 2008
Rev. Regina Maria Cross

When you hear the word prayer what does it conjure up for you? Is there an immediate feeling of unworthiness or does your heart sing with the thought of devotions? Do your eyes squint and your body pull back or do you stand in the essence of peace and the very breath of life itself? Do you ask, “Do I have to” or do you hear yourself saying, “Yes”?

Prayer is that thoughtful place in heart, mind and soul of intentional request in relationship with your Higher Being, The Universal Life Force Energy, God or deity of choice. It is living in the moment of believing or knowing your discussion; your petition is being accepted by One of greater compassion than oneself. It is the letting go with no expectation of how it should be answered just that it will be. It is in the answering that our human being is acknowledged as soul. This is the essence of prayer, the acknowledgement, the validation that we are more than what is in the moment. We do have a relationship with the greater good, the “All things and No things” as is spoken of in Kabbalah.

Rev. Carol Parrish defines Prayer in her book, The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought as “Coming from the same root word as Prana (breath), prayer reminds us to breathe the Source in to ourselves, thereby accessing the energy field of God, in whom we live and move and have our being.” The last of her sentence is itself from a soulfully moving prayer we say often in Chapel at Sancta Sophia Seminary.

What is beautiful about prayer is that it holds no limitation as to the how of it. There are ancient prayers that when spoken today take you to a sacred place within bringing together yesterday and this moment, prayers such as the Nicene Creed (remembering that catholic is defined as Universal as there was no Catholic Church at the time of it’s inception). There is monologistic prayer of one word, thought or symbol used in the calling such as the OM, the sound of God, in Hinduism. Prayerful voices raise the vibration of spiritual energy in Gregorian and Benedictine Chant. Tibetan Prayer Wheels concentrate the prayerfully mindful as their intention is activated through the motion of spinning. The Sufi Dance is prayer in motion as is the energy medicine of Reiki. The Native American Prayer Ties hang as a continuing reminder of specific invocation as the Buddhist Prayer Flags blow one’s supplications to the heavens. The quiet and often soft-spoken prayers of children, be it of age or humility, if I were God, would be the most powerfully conscious of all as they hold within them the nature of truth. Read the rest of this entry »

Just A Thought

Record Observer

When Searching For My Center Of Being, I Find Denial Works Best For Me

 

July 17, 2008

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

 

Recently I have found myself in a place of asking, “How do I find my center when all else around me seems anything but there?” I can’t help but remember a moment during the visitation hours of my father’s wake in our home when standing with friends saying the Rosary. A life long friend, Linda, whose father had passed years earlier, leaned toward my baby sister and me and whispered her words of wisdom: “I find denial works best for me.”

 This past year has been a challenging one what with Gamma Knife surgery for two brain tumors, the diagnosis of partial epilepsy, the surrender of beginning seizure medication (all that alone will throw you for a loop), spiritually guided changes in my own work for humanity, the very intense and intimate death and dying journey of one of Light Paths, Centre For the Healing Arts longest studied students, election to the Board of Directors of my family’s business (did I mention family?), our Little Asti puppy, my sweet soul companion, passing from this physical world and the daily struggle to remember to take care of myself through it all. Certainly all this and less could tend to push one out of one’s center of being as any one point in changes in health, transitions of loved ones and involvement with a business run with differing value systems could do.

 So, the question is, how does one remain centered, get back to one’s center, or possibly even realize they have a center anymore? There have been times this year I have actually thought as the neophyte I am, “Wait a minute, aren’t I suppose to be able to handle all this and more? After all, I am a graduate of Sancta Sophia Seminary, I am an Ordained Minister, I am a Reiki Master having studied and worked in the healing field for almost 30 years, and I am a certified counselor? Shouldn’t I just be all that all the time?” In the quiet I hear the answer, “You are.”

In the past my answer has been eat it up. No seriously, that was my answer. Eat it up, eat it all up and deal with it later. Well, what with the beginning of seizure medication I have already blown up like a tick and having developed love, care and respect for this Temple of God, my human body, the surrender into the arms of Little Debbie just doesn’t do it for me anymore. In fact, I have found a need of double counsel, both for co-dependency as well as resentment toward Little Debbie costly insurance co-pay. So, let’s not go there.

So, where do I go? One reservoir is the silence, meditation. I carve out a time, two, five, ten, twenty minutes daily just for myself often either with a pad and pencil or my computer on stand by as the flow of language healing through the thoughts, the tears and the flow of hope arises. Even though there have been days that for what ever imagined reason I could conjure, I did not meditate or pray, I have always, always found a quieter heart, a wiser mind and a higher spirit when I do, therefore a healthier physical body sitting and breathing than when I sat down to start.

Prayer is different than meditation. Prayer is the asking for healing, the asking for guidance and direction back to the center of being. Until recent years I had a very hard time with prayer. I was raised on memorization of prayer, although some very beautiful indeed, for the most part obligatory and needy. Even as a child, I shivered watching and listening to the blah, blah, blah of prayer being said in church as those speaking them paid little attention to their intention and more to the time of getting out. As a child I just talked. I talked to Jesus. I talked to my Guardian Angel. I talked to Mother Mary. I talked to God. I never questioned whether they heard me; I just always knew they did. In the last few years I have come to a very peaceful place somewhere between the discipline and the knowing.

Now, my joy is finding and using the very most perfect words from the mind of my heart to express the truth of my intention in my prayful request. I find it calms my beating heart, quiets my rapid breath, stills my hurting head, and allows the tears to flow into this place of comfort and possibly even the soulful memory of joy. In healing life after death of a beloved for me, it is easier (I didn’t say easy), to be in the joy of consciousness than happiness. As happiness is in the moment and that’s a real good thing, joy is, just is, always is whether we are there or not, even when life sucks, the consciousness of joy exist.

Being family raised (versus wolf) in the 1950’s and 60’s female very Roman Italian Catholic with southern and Irish motherly influences do you think it easy for me to ask for help? That very concept took years of Rebirthing. Well, now it is one of my centering maneuvers. Long ago in agreement with another we contracted each other as each other’s “Go To Person”. Your Go To Person is a most trusted friend, one you share life with, the good, the bad and the ugly, not someone you are just going to call when in need and dump upon. A Go To Person relationship is not one -way. Here’s the deal; Go To Persons have to tell you the truth even when you are crying your guts out and if the truth is already known all we do is be with each other and in that being, there is a healing. I am wholly and holy blessed in that my first Go To Person is my husband, Ken. He knows me as no one else walking this earth does, as I him. When I feel I am in need of another ear, (possibly because Kenny’s have curled inward from the sound of my dumping) maybe further validation or another opinion, shoulder to cry on, I do have another dearly loved soul sister I share my deepest and possibly most shallow self. In allowance with my Go To Persons after a good cry, a truth session, a loving hand held or voice of compassion, in this blessing, I do begin making my way back to center.

 If I need to get away giving my tears away, I go to the ocean. I stand in the midst of its shoreline and shed my tears into its waiting pool. There I find centering with every wave of healing energy as if I were the only being on earth that this massive love of God knows exist. It pays attention to only me in the moment while doing the same for thousand around the world. I find inspiration centering.

 Ya’ know all in all we all (I bet even the Pope, maybe even the Dali Lama) get off center sometimes. In fact, I’m thinking if one didn’t they would have no need of being here as they would have reached Nirvana, Heaven, the Great Beyond and would have no more need of these earthy human lessons.

One really big thing I have done for myself when off center and doing my very best (as I believe we all do no matter what it looks like in the moment) to get back is, let go of the guilt, the shame, the perfection of what I am suppose to look like for someone else.

Honey, I do cry in public now. Prior to my own forgiveness work, I would hold on to what someone else’s’ belief in my persona was. Guilt, shame, fear only exist for our own recognition that something needs our attention. Once that is acknowledged let go with a flow of tears (they cleanse the soul as well as the body), keep a tablet with you at all times just incase your very own inner wisdom shoots through with understandable language, sometimes joyfully rest in the need to be alone and always try to remember to retrain your self to be cared for by The Self.

It’s Just A Thought but doing our very best in the moment is the map quest toward the refinding of our center, our breath, the prana, which keeps us alive until we are not afraid to smile, to love, to laugh again and after this long journey in healing we find ourselves back home Self Centered, but remember in the meantime a little short term denial may be  just as centering as the long term understanding.

Light Paths – Center For the Healing Arts and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary, are nestled amongst 32 acres of woods only 3 miles from the town of Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching as all are welcome in the Light of the classroom adjoining Rev. Cross’ home. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@mac.com.

It’s Just A Thought

Intuitive Development * A Lifetime of Adventure

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

We all have it, that gift of either seeing the unseen, hearing the message or just knowing from another source other than ourselves. Certainly my Mom had a “mother’s intuition” and thank God for it being she was Mother of seven very active children. It might be you took the other road home from work the other night just because “you had a hunch” later to find while watching the evening news there was a deadly accident on the road you usually take at the time you would normally be passing through. It may be “that wee little voice” told you to wait an extra day prior to flying out for spring break only to find that every plane at your connecting airport was grounded for that entire day due to weather. You know you are not crazy and you also know you keep seeing little flashes of movement quickly darting in your peripheral vision.

The study of Intuitive Development is a lifetime adventure beginning with its definition. Webster’s says Intuition is: “The direct knowledge or awareness of something without conscious attention or reasoning; knowledge that is acquired in this way.” Rev. Carol Parrish describes it this way in The New Dictionary of Spiritual Thought: “Literally inner teachings. Wisdom of the heart. Direct or spiritual perception, a subjective sense belonging to the soul. Spiritual intellect; insight provided by the intellect of the soul from the mind of Reality itself, beyond the domain of pure reason. A knowing or awareness existing at a level of mind or consciousness beyond mental reasoning or normal intellectual comprehension.” Carol explains what Webster’s attempts in reasoning mind.

Intuition is listening to the soul. Prayer and meditation are two ways to awaken your spirit enough to listen to the soul. Setting aside time daily dedicated to growing the development of our intuition is a necessary step in spiritual training. We as humans become so overwhelmed with multitasking that we cannot hear the voice of God, Inner Wisdom due to emotions, anger or pain known in the Intuitive world as scar tissue. Most of our blocks are in that place in us called The Basic Self, the Subconscious. As we clear the scar tissue through prayer, meditation, Reiki, Breathwork and other healing modalities, our Higher Mind works not from an emotional place but rather from love caring. We now have the ability and clarity with which to think with the heart and act with the mind.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience. An Intuitive is one who is sensitive to higher realities and has the ability to receive information through one or more extrasensory gifts beyond our physical world and personalities. We are six sensory spirit beings in a five sensory egoic world. Our five physical senses; audio, sight, olfactory, touch and taste have extended senses. Clairvoyance / Clear Seeing is the ability of extrasensory sight or visualization that provides an awareness with the spiritual eye without limitation of matter, time or space. Those gifted in this manner are called Clairvoyants. Clairaudience / Clear Hearing is the ability of extrasensory hearing, data perceived as sound, without limitation of matter, time or space. Clairsentience / Clear Feeling or Knowing is the ability of extrasensory spiritual feeling or sensing perceived as heightened feeling or inner awareness without limitation of matter, time or space. Those gifted are called Clairsentiences.

As stated earlier, I believe we all have it. The “it” being gifts given at birth from Spirit to remind us who we really are. Some may have shut down to them as they grew older becoming ever more busy in the “real” world. Others may have been shut down being told, “Honey, you are too old to believe that any more.” Some of us may have reentered the world as an adult remembering what we use to know as a child realizing Intuition truly is a gift from God and using it wisely, ethically and purposefully fulfills that for which we came. Read the rest of this entry »