Is Your New Year one of Hope or Fear?

As the Christmas holiday draws to a close and we contemplate the New Year many of us find ourselves reflecting on what lies ahead. It’s also time to look back on the year just past, gaining satisfaction from our achievements and trying to make sense, and learn from, the things we didn’t get completely right.

It's also a good time for taking stock of our lives. We need to look both outwards and inwards. At our place in the material world, our work, public roles, relationships and material assets. And at our levels of happiness, satisfaction, contentment and sense of purpose and fulfillment. As human beings we are privileged to occupy two worlds (the physical and the Spiritual) but obliged to give our best in both. (more…)

What Does Spiritual Mean?

There's a lot of interest these days in Spirituality, and a lot of time, effort, and dollars are spent in the attempt to be Spiritual? And I suspect as the recession begins to bite this interest may increase significantly. But what does Spiritual really mean, and what behaviors will actually make you more Spiritual?

Well, surprising as it may seem, you already are Spiritual. Be you saint or sinner, capitalist or communist, all-round good guy or local weirdo, you can't help be anything but. The entire physical universe, and everything that's in it, including all humanity, is a manifestation of Spirit, a tiny part of a great adventure. Born into this condition that we might get the chance to co-exist as an individual alongside other individuals, facing the kind of challenges that life presents. (more…)

The Corruption of Christmas

The Holiday season is fast approaching. That time of year when we remember the birth of Jesus, a worthwhile celebration indeed. For Christians Jesus is God incarnate, but for others this truly enlightened teacher shared a message of love and peace that still has the power to promote a better world if only it were practiced a little more. The first step to that is awareness, and in that sense Christmas remains valuable.

Yet the origins of this season go back way before the birth of Christ, to an era when mankind was far closer to nature. December 21st marks the winter solstice, the shortest day. A day to be in front of a warm fire, with loved ones, looking forward to the lengthening days that immediately followed. (more…)

To Thy Own Self Be True

How to be yourself

Many years ago the English bard William Shakespeare wisely penned the words: "This above all: to thine own self be true." In these days of celebrity culture and reality TV their relevance has never been greater. (more…)

Candles of Love

Candles are often used as a metaphor for love. We each carry a candle (love) within us, but it's no use unless we allow it to shine outwards. Here are three such metaphors I've heard over the years from those much wiser than myself.

I. There's a large room with many people. Each carries a candle, but each shields his/her candle with their hands, keeping its light to themselves. Then these individuals remove their hands and the light from each candle is able to illuminate the entire room. Immediately, everyone benefits from the increased light. (more…)

Rememberance

Today, Remembrance Sunday, has seen England and other countries remember their fallen soldiers of two wars and other mass conflicts. This coming Tuesday will see further commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the armistice that ended the "great" war in 1918.

As a kid my father explained the importance of remembering, highlighting the human cost of war and explaining that by remembering the fallen we hopefully ensure it never happens again. Fortunately I have never has direct experience of war in either my countries of citizenship or residence. But sadly I am only too aware that despite the peace I have enjoyed conflicts continue to rage around the globe. (more…)

What the Bleep Do We Know!?

Discovering the Endless Possibilities for Altering Your Everyday Reality

What the Bleep Do We Know? is a movie and book exploring the nature of reality and showing that the apparent schism between science and religion might be disappearing.

Often humans are comfortable in the realm of the known. We avoid asking questions that might disturb that comfort, or confront us with answers we'd rather not hear. What the Bleep suggests that asking questions is good because it challenges and expands our worldview. It discusses a range of life's most fundamental questions in an accessible and entertaining way. (more…)

Earth vs Spirit

There is a paradox. We are Spiritual, but while on earth our Spiritual essence is hidden so we can fulfill our purpose of exploring what it means to be an individual and to interact with others.

So should we focus on our earthly affairs, or seek to rediscover our Spiritual essence? (more…)

Avoid Negativity - Turn Off the News!

An alien that landed on Earth and turned on the TV news could be forgiven for jumping straight back into his UFO and going home. Our news paints a grim picture. But is it a true reflection of the human condition?

Sure, a lot of negative stuff goes on in the world. A lot of stuff goes on in the world. But most of that stuff is positive. (more…)

Winning Isn't Everything

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster; And treat those two impostors just the same - Kipling.

There's a current McDonald's TV ad about a kid's soccer game. At the end the winning team are ecstatic as they parade their trophy. Meanwhile the losers are terribly dejected. Until someone gives each of them a McDonald's meal. How suddenly happiness and sadness are reversed, as it's the winners' turn to look on in envy. (more…)