Welcome. This is Level I, the basics. With this lesson, you are embarking on a new journey. Depending on you, it may last only a few weeks or it may last a lifetime. And no matter how much that you may learn, there is always more to learn. So in a way, it is a never ending journey.
During this journey, you will surely be presented with things that you have never heard of before. You will encounter ideas that may seem strange at first. Old concepts that you have will be looked at in a different light. Some ideas may be totally unacceptable to you at first but will come to make perfect sense as time goes by. Other ideas you may never be able to accept. And that is all right. For each of us is on a different path toward enlightenment and at a different place on our path. So we suggest that anything that does not ring true to you, put it on a shelf to be re-examined later, it may make sense then.
Some of the topics that we will be discussing include reincarnation, karma, chakras, unconditional love, energy manipulation and use, healing, life after death, light bodies and much more. The full list is too long to include here.
To some of you taking this course, the material in this first lesson will be old hat, but we suggest that you read it all anyway. There may be one single sentence that will resonate something new for you. For some few of you, much of this first lesson may be new material. This course will be divided into “levels.” As you complete each level successfully, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.
It was Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce that said, “We are not humans having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” As you study and learn, you will come to realize that what he said is very true.
A wise man once told me, human life is a game that we are playing, but it is a very serious game, it is a joke that we as spirits are playing on ourselves, but again, it is a very serious joke. Others have said that human life is an illusion, that the entire physical reality is all an illusion. And in a very real sense this is true. But it is a very important illusion. For it is during our physical lives that we can learn life’s lessons and can grow and develop as spirits the fastest. We could learn everything that we as spirits need to learn, and we could achieve the required growth and development without ever living a physical life, but we can do it much, much faster by entering the physical and going through the trials and tribulations that the physical reality presents us.
Our human bodies may be thought of as the tools that we use while we are in this physical lifetime. Or we may think of them as a suit of clothing that we are wearing. And like any other suit of clothing, they will eventually wear out or be damaged beyond repair. When that happens, we treat them just as we would a suit of clothing that we had bought at a store, we cast them aside in favor of a better suit.
So our time here is limited by the duration of our physical bodies, but our real self, our awareness, our spirit, is eternal and will still be alive and well long after our physical bodies are no more. Some of us are born and live a very brief time before passing into the spirit realm again, others may live well over a century. As I write this I think of a woman in Japan who passed recently, she was 114. We often cry for those who have passed, and feel sorry for them that they did not live longer, but in the vast majority of cases, they lived for the time that they had planned upon before their births and had accomplished what they had planned. There is an old Native American saying, “When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world will cry while you rejoice.”
In this course, I will present many concepts. Some of them, I believe firmly. Some of them I am not sure of and some of them I firmly disbelieve. Still they are spiritual concepts held by many and it makes no difference if I believe them or not. Each of us must decide for ourselves what is truth and what is not truth. So just because you read it here does not make it right.
One of the very first concepts that you must have is that we are not physical beings, even though we do have physical bodies. But these bodies are not the real us. They are merely shells that we are temporarily inhabiting. The real you is an immortal spirit, intelligent energy.
If we are really immortal spirits, why would we bother with physical bodies at all? That is very simple. The spiritual realm tends to be very peaceful and harmonious, loving. While in that realm, could we really learn to understand anything else? Could we really learn what hatred is? Or anger? Or jealousy? Or overweening pride? Or any of a hundred other emotions that are not pure love? We could learn about them, but could we really understand them?
It is only in the physical realm that we can experience any of the negative aspects. And then we must learn to love unconditionally despite the negative aspects. So we come into physical incarnation in order to learn life’s lessons. And there are a very many life lessons to learn.
What is spirit? First, lets turn to the dictionary definition. The following is from the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary:
Main Entry: 1spirit
Pronunciation: 'spir-&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French or Latin; Old French, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe
1: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms
2: a supernatural being or essence: as acapitalized: HOLY SPIRITb: SOUL 2a c: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible; specifically: GHOST 2 d: a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being
4: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
For our purposes, we can say that a spirit is that immortal, intelligent energy. And we can say that spirit is the collective term used to refer to all spirits, high or low. Each of us is really a spirit. When we are in a human body, that spirit is normally referred to as our soul.
Sometimes you may hear people speak of “using spirit.” They are actually talking of using spiritual energy. We will get into more of that later.
Just as people are at various levels of enlightenment, so are spirits. And just as there are good people and bad people, so it is in the spirit realm.
As a spirit goes through lifetime after lifetime through a great many incarnations, it learns more and more of life’s lessons. As it learns, it moves closer and closer toward enlightenment. Eventually, that spirit learns all of life’s lessons and there is no longer any need for it to reincarnate again, it ascends and becomes an ascended master. Now are you ready for this? You are on that same path.
The concept of reincarnation is not new, it actually goes back many, many centuries. Even though the word itself is not used, the concept is mentioned in the bible, and that was 2000 years ago.
We will discus more about spirits in future lessons. Because much of being able to sense spirit and communicate with spirit depends on developing and using your innate psychic abilities, we will also cover that.
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There have been many things said in regard to developing one's psychic abilities. Over the course of the last year, I have heard over and over again, "What am I doing wrong?" " I am not getting this?" "Is there something wrong with me?"
The answer to all of these questions when it comes to developing one's abilities, is simple, There is nothing wrong with you and there are no set ways so just relax and let it come to you and it will.
Think of your Spiritual and Psychic Development as a jar you hold tightly in your hands, the lid is tightly screwed on and you must open the jar without breaking it. Caution must be used, a relaxed mind, and patience. Impatience being one's worst enemy.
Not all of us are meant to develop into a John Edward or a Master teacher, not that we all do not have the inborn ability to do so. There are many factors as to why and why not. Simply we all have the same inner abilities, but it is OUR choice as to what we develop and what is needed.
Developing one's psychic abilities or increasing ones spiritual self, either way you choose to think, makes one happier, relaxed and able to deal with life and it's lessons. When we think of life's obstacles as a lesson, we can use it as an opportunity for inner growth and development.
If we are faced with various life problems and if we meet the challenges of those problems head on, "How do you feel?" "What have you learned?" "Are you a better person for the experience?"
My answer would be most definitely!
You may not think so at the time, but if you review moments in your life, and look at them in an analytical approach, you will see that you are better off for the experience. And most importantly, you have grown and are never again to be the person you once were.
Most of us, feel if we read a book on spiritualism, wicca, shamanism, or other spiritual paths and follow the exercises and the examples given, that will make us what we read, that isn't the case, it will validate what you believe, will give you steps, but it will not give you total success.
The beginning of each spiritual path, begins in readying the mind, the body, the complete being. Simply put, if you wanted to be a champion you don't just jump to the top, you must prepare yourself, first the body, to be able to complete the task, the mind, and so forth.
Please don't mistake what I am saying that only those who are physically fit will obtain spiritual enlightenment or develop psychic skills. That is not the case, but you must be free and open, well rested and relaxed. And you must believe in yourself.
You must study as much as you can on where you are being pulled. Learn the
pros and the cons of it. You must condition your mind, your body, and your
spirit, and foremost, you must believe in what you are doing. For if you doubt it, it will not happen for you, no matter what you do or what you try.
You must remember, it will take years to develop to a point where you will reach "peak" ability. So if you are fairly new to the "new age" thought and are concerned that some of the exercises and "things" just aren't happening for you,
think again for they are!
You may not see the progress but it is there, slowly and steadily you are developing and growing. This you just must trust and have faith in.
We as humans, have this feeling that if we can't see it, feel it, or sense it, it isn't happening. Trust me, for that is far from the truth.
One point that comes to my mind, is that we have this preconceived notion of
what we intend to happen, again things don't always work the way we wish or
think or hope for, for that matter.
Personal experience has taught me that. I had thought when Michael passed
away that I would hear him, see him, some grand display would happen for me,
because simply, I believed it would. I only set myself up for frustration and disappointment.
This is the case for most people, we feel if we believe certain things, it will happen just because we do.
For the most part, the concepts of spirituality are simple, not easy in the sense that just because I know them and can recite them, doesn't make them happen it takes WORK. But then again, if it came easy to you, would you appreciate it as much. I personally doubt you would.
Those who study the teachings of the Ascended Masters know that they were
just like us, with our doubts, our fears. They too learn that the lessons of Life are simple, yet they take work and patience, you can't just follow the teachings on weekends, or when you wish too, You must incorporate the teaching into daily, day to day life. Simply put, YOU must LIVE them.
Each must be willing to commit oneself to the principles; I tend to think one should consider them as a Master in training, for in part we all are.
Life is built on the foundation that all is recyclable, and that most definitely includes us as well.
We have all read about the evolution of mankind, and in many ways, I tend to look at life in those terms.
We are evolving, we are evolving as human beings and we are evolving each on their own individual basis.
The goal that we all are looking at is in Ascension to become Masters of Life, and the concept of reincarnation, as a tool to achieve mastery, we find a way to deal with what obstacles are in our way.
We have the opportunity to deal successfully with or the opportunity to keep trying till we reach that "Higher Level" of consciousness.
Each lifetime, puts us closer to the higher realms that we all are pulled to.
But I am getting ahead of myself here. Basic spiritual and psychic development begins with taking care of you.
Eating, sleeping, nurturing yourself, not only physically, but spiritually as well. It is living life to it's fullest. And in the process of living life to it's fullest, and in doing daily what one believes, comes further enlightenment and inner peace and development.
If you are not properly cared for, exercises for meditation, and other exercises will be difficult to do. In all areas of enrichment, the key is that they be done when well rested. The connection between mind and body is the main key to many things.
Self doubt is a contributing factor to ones inability to advance. The slightest “I can't” is a sure sign of failure. The key phrase one should use is “I can.”
A Daily affirmation of:
"I will"
"I can"
"I am"
Are very important in spiritual growth and in developing psychic abilities.
To keep an open mind and an open flow of energies will help for success in one's journey.
How do I know?
As in all things, faith is an issue; many things are not based and built upon facts, much of life and what we believe is based strictly on faith and faith alone.
When you are asking for guidance from your spirit guides or an ascended master, just know that the answer you will need, notice I said, "need" will come.
We don't always receive the answers we want or hope for, but we do always
receive the answers we NEED.
You may say, I don't hear them when I ask. We always hear from our Masters or guides, my question is: are we always listening?
We may or may not hear them with our physical ear, but they will send us in the form of a thought, an idea, or somehow something comes up at the right time, just when we need it.
If you are faced with a decision and are listening to what advice you may wish from your guide or master teacher, do you not at times get thoughts that pertain to what you are seeking answers for. You may rule them out, because you don't like the solution, or you feel it isn't some grand answer you are searching for. But the answer you "heard" is from the source that you asked.
I was once told years ago, from my parents that I should always trust my first impression for it was the correct one. We may as humans talk ourselves out of the easier and most beneficial answer to life's dilemmas only because we are searching for a more complex answer, and that isn't always the case.
Spiritual and psychic development go hand in hand, the more you learn and the more you grow, the more advanced you will become in both areas . The more relaxed you are with life and the more patience in areas that trouble you the more you grow. Each day that you awaken to a new day, you are growing. Each act of love or kindness you give another is watering the seeds of your spiritual and psychic growth.
You must not only study spiritualism and psychic development, you must live it on a daily, minute to minute basis, you must believe that each of us, no matter what path we are on, no matter what our background is, is vital to each of us. The success or failure of another is my own, my success is theirs. This is the true philosophy of love, to be unselfish to give and to receive in return the blessings of that love. And we must give freely without expectation of anything in return.
If we are all created in "God's Image", then we are all Godlike. We must look for that higher quality in each person we meet, and in all people. We must relate to that essence of each person. We must realize and encourage not only our own growth, but also the growth of those around us. In doing this, we will soon realize that we are developing at a rapid pace. We are learning at a rapid pace and we are on our way to become Masters of Life.
By: Joyce Chandler-May 1, 2002
Some important notes for beginners here. Over the years, many TV programs and movies have come out that portray magic, wicca, witchcraft, etc. in different lights. Some of these have made them frightening, some have made them attractive. One of the current ones is “Charmed.” These can all be considered to be “Hollywood.” They may be entertaining but things don’t work like that in real life. Is there such a thing as evil? Yes, but evil agents do not show up throwing fireballs around. Although I have had to do it on occasions, fighting evil is not cool. It can also get you hurt. And shooting fireballs from your eyes is very easy, if you are a Saturday morning cartoon character, but as a human, forget it.
