Facilitated by Kim Tribbitt

Reiki Program Coordinator

 Friday * November 21 * 7:00 – 9:00pm

Join our Reiki Community of familiar and new friends

Share in the Reiki energy

Practice your skills in giving

Feel the warmth of healing as you receive

Spend a peaceful evening in healing companionship

Students and Practitioners from all schools

and lineages of Reiki are welcome

Call 410-758-2579 or email lightpaths@me.com

Let us know you are coming by November 19

Love Offering Gratefully Accepted

(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.

Reiki Q & A

Reiki and Angelic Healing

Friday * October 17 * 7–9pm

  Angel from the Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger”

Healing from the Greek word sozo, meaning “to make whole”

Reiki from the Japanese word for “Universal Life Energy”

  Through This Experiential Reiki Q & A Explore How To:

* Invoke the presence of Angels accelerating healing during a Reiki Treatment

 * Call upon your Angels bringing to life greater balance, harmony and well-being

 * Incorporate Angelic Light Weaving and Angel Therapy during a Healing Session

* Connect & Teamwork with the Archangel’s Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel

 * Recognize and Acknowledge the Angels in your life as Guides, Helpers & Protectors

Facilitated by

Rev. Regina Maria Cross, Traditional Reiki Master-Teacher

Students and Practitioners from all schools and lineages of Reiki are invited to participate

Advanced Registration required by October 14, 2008

Call Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts

410-758-2579 or e-mail lightpaths@me.com

* Love Offering Gratefully Accepted *

Several of you came to the Reiki Q & A in August about Reiki and Crystal Healing.

One of the subjects was how to clear your crystals before and after use.

Well, I tried something last week and have had a few of the Reiki Student-Practitioners check it out here at Light Paths - Centre For The Healing Arts and I want to pass on this information for your use should you so choose to do so.

I just wondered to myself as I was preparing my daily water and Miracle II Neutralizer what it would do for crystals.

So I put crystals I had worked with the day before in a bowl of water and Miracle II for a few hours.

When I came back to them I could hardly believe the difference in energy.

They were so clear, absolutely clear!

When a few Students came over later that day I had them hold them without telling them why.

They connected immediately to their clarity.

Should you be so inclined here is the information for purchasing Miracle II products through Light Paths - Centre For The Healing Arts as you will receive a discount with the information.

No need to go through me - just call or email or go to their website.

I truly believe you will be ever so pleased with the clarity of energy for both personal and professional crystal Reiki work.

Blessed Day,

Regina

Miracle II Information

Phone

888-422-5833

Address

P.O. Box 80273

Lafayette, LA 70598

E-Mail

standingorders@miracle2network.com

Website

www.miracle2network.com

Distributor Name & Number

Light Paths – Centre For the Healing Arts

10025253

Please know everyone is invited and welcome to join the Circle.

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.

 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:

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

The Sophia School of Wisdom

Sophia * Holy Spirit Of Wisdom

Esoteric Christianity and It’s Hidden Mysteries

October 1 – December 10, 2008

Wednesday Evenings * 7:00-9:00pm

Each world tradition has an outer form (exoteric) by which the world recognizes it 

and an inner practice (esoteric) that transforms the spiritual disciple.

Esoteric Christianity understands the transformational power of Wisdom.

 Judaism has Kabalah * Islam has Sufism

Christianity has its esoteric side, often called Sophianic.

Understanding Esoteric Christianity changes your perception of the world. 

It deepens your understanding of your inner life.

 In this exploration of the wisdom teachings receive spiritual exercises as you discover and discuss hidden concepts of Christianity and the significance for each individual, for humanity and the planet itself.

 Where are the directions for me as an awakened one to find the inner process?

How am I to transform when the materialism of the outer world is not enough?

Where can I turn when I sense there must be more?

When the students are ready the lessons are unveiled

Are you ready?

 Advanced Registration is required by September 10, 2008

 Call 410-758-2579, e-mail lightpaths@me.com

Send $125.00 or $62.50 reservation deposit (balance due first class) to:

Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts

110 Wilson Clark Lane, Centreville, Maryland 21617

For Credit Students $225.00 ($100 Mentoring Fee to Sancta Sophia Seminary)

 Reiki Q & A

*Reiki Crystal Healing*

 Friday * August 29 * 7:00 - 9:00pm

The more we open to receive guidance from the Universal Life Force Energy, God,

the more we will learn ways of applying the heart and mind of Reiki healing.

A unique form of Vibrational Medicine is created when combining Reiki and Crystal Energy.

God gave us the crystals of the earth. God gave us the healing modality of Reiki.

Through this experiential Reiki Q & A explore how to:

• Create Sacred Space both Inner and Outer
• Activate Soul Level Chakras bringing about balance
• Give a transformational Crystal Energy Reiki Session
• The Importance of Grounding so as to connect with Earth’s energies
• Cleanse, Charge and Program the Crystals through proper techniques
• Crystals are alive; learn of the importance of respect and gratitude for their assistance
• Employ the use of healing with color, light and sacred shapes of crystals in Reiki sessions

Facilitated by Rev. Regina Maria Cross, Traditional Reiki Master-Teacher

Students and Practitioners from all schools and lineages of Reiki are invited to participate

Advanced Registration required by August 26, 2008

Call Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts

410-758-2579 or e-mail lightpaths@mac.com

*Love Offering Gratefully Accepted*

Reiki Prayer Circle

August 22, 2008 * 7:00 pm

Often I am asked about Reiki, prayer and purposeful intentions

Because of this asking Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts
Invite all to come celebrate prayer in action at our first Reiki Prayer Circle

August 22 every year is Angel Day

Angels are messengers
They carry our prayers Universally
They also carry the answers back to us

Bring your intention for Reiki Prayer
Bring your light heart
Your open hands

Celebrate the power of Reiki and Prayer

August 22, 2008 * 7:00 pm

“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. (more…)