Sacred Sexuality With A Divine Consort

by Rabbi Allen S. Maller

Solomon’s Song of Songs begins with: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is more delightful than wine.” (1:1-2) Who is this bold, assertive female? What does she desire from her lover? How and why is this book of love song poems, so unlike the Book of Psalms, in our Sacred Scriptures? (more…)

How does nature communicate with us?

By Sara Wiseman

We all know that the animal world communicates with us: we have either experienced this directly in our own lives, or seen it happening with others.

Sometimes, this level of communication is astounding: we have all heard the tale of a school of dolphins saving a person struggling in rough surf; the elephant that cries upon being rescued from chains; the dog who welcomes a family member home.

These are beautiful, heartwarming methods of communication with other mammals: our species, part of our extended family.

Sometimes, the way we communicate with animals is mystic: the wild deer or cougar or eagle who appears seemingly out of nowhere as totem, sent by the Universe to provide a clear and direct sign. Even the reptilian world shows up to give us Universal direction: the snake on the path in a region where there are no snakes.

But does the non-animal, non-reptilian world—by this I mean the sentient plant world—communicate directly with us? (more…)

Do you have a daily spiritual practice? Why it does—and doesn’t—matter

By Sara Wiseman

One of my favorite questions to ask people is this: Do you have a spiritual belief system?

Most people are happy to talk very clearly about their relationship to God/One/All/Divine/Universe, or whatever name they might use for the infinite ineffable.

It is lovely to hear profound, well-considered manifestos from people all over the globe.

 “I used to be this religion, now I follow my own path.”

“I believe in God, but not the way I learned it as a kid.”

“I know there are Divine being who help us.”

“I believe I am fully supported by the Universe.”

“I don’t know what I know, but I know there is more than me.”

“Everything is one infinite soul.”

And on and on. I love these statements of belief!

But my next question: Do you have a spiritual practice? often meets with a sort of head-hung, I’m-so-ashamed kind of response. (more…)

Eve at your side

Eve Is Beside Not A Side Of Adam

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Spiritual Writing & The World of Pond Stories

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

The following is a discussion generated by a letter from a reader of my new book: The World of Pond Stories; this recent inquiry offers an opportunity to have a discussion about the dynamics of spiritual writing and my experience while writing. Hope you enjoy this interchange.

Inquiry Letter About Spiritual Writing

Hi Stewart:

As I was reading your latest book, I was wondering what your experience was like as you write them. The influence of the Idries Shah books is obvious in many places. I was particularly affected by the story of the Three Sisters which seemed to have a very similar impact to The Tale of the Sands.

As an amateur composer of music, every so often I get into a mode where new music seems to be coming into my head from somewhere and all I need to do is to capture it. Other times, it feels like a more labored experience requiring a lot of trial and effort.

So when you write your books, particularly the last one, is your everyday consciousness pretty much just acting as a receiver? A lot of the material feels like it was generated this way.

Also, how aware are you of the multiple levels present of which every now and then I get a small glimpse? I suspect that some of your writing and things like the overall plot of the Turtle prophesy cannot be contrived by ordinary consciousness and refer to deep transformational processes. (more…)

How High We Can Climb?

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Yesterday as I was waiting in line at the grocery store, it occurred to me that life has a way of coming full circle.  As I struggled with physical pain and growing impatience waiting, compounded by persistent aches, I remembered back to when I was a community worker helping severely disabled mentally ill people.  Often we would take small groups on outings; at the time, their favorite place was a local fast food restaurant.  Many times, a worker would order and bring it back to the table for a group member; the higher goal was to have a person order themselves; plan and place their order by waiting in line, count the change, make sure they got the right food and bring it back to the table to eat.

For many this was a difficult task because of the steps involved, potential for error and inherent anxiety of looking foolish in front of others. Some people couldn’t easily count change or figure out what they wanted in relation to the amount of money they had available. (more…)

Spiritual Traveler: The Grand Bazaar

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Traveler:   What is the purpose of life?  From your perspective, why do we come here to live, work, experience, enjoy our self and then journey to another place?

Master:       The great cycle of life is an opportunity to experience who we are on many different levels and join in partnership with the Creator.  Within each of us is a spark that is most like the Light.  We are sons and daughters of a King who have come here to create our own reality, daily.  Once we understand this, we can consciously use our many abilities and spiritual capacity to fully enjoy and participate in this multi-level experience called life.

Life is the grand bazaar; an opportunity to do many things and have all kinds of adventures. (more…)

Self-Development: Variability & Singularity

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

I Wonder Why?

Sometimes I wonder why
There are so many people,
And why
There are thousands of birds,
And why
The earth is filled with insects,
And why
The ocean has all those fish,
And why
The land nourishes plants,
And why
There are so many things
I can’t name them all.

O Lord, is this endless variety
To convince us You exist?

-SB

Introduction

When we were beginners on the spiritual path, there were many things we had to learn and experience.  One day while sitting in our teacher’s office, he offered the following words, which are expanded below and help frame this present discussion.  “Looking at the earth from the moon, all worry and care is lost in the majesty of the earth’s Oneness.”  Often we came looking for answers to life problems and this view- this mystical view of Oneness -was always the answer to life’s infinite variability and vulnerability.  While this view of Oneness was transitory- it would come and go- it was the antidote and when we were in this state we knew Infinite love and peace.

Multiplicity of form and seemingly endless variability is a wonder and joy of creation and exists, in part, so we might question, why? It is part of the journey and part of the answer. (more…)

Going Inward

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Q: How to shut off the ramblings of the everyday mind and hear the whisperings of the heart?

Several weeks ago, independent of each other, 2 people mentioned they wished they could learn how to go inward; they were having a difficult time of it.  Since much of the spiritual journey involves going inward- listening to inner perceptions- they wondered how this inner learning/awareness might be facilitated.  They wanted to be instructed/shown how to do this.

For well over 3 weeks, I have been thinking about their request.  During this period several thoughts occurred to me. (more…)

Is being overwhelmed actually hurting you?

by Debra Meehl

As spiritual beings having a human experience, how do we reconcile our spiritual essence with human existence? How do we cope with the everyday in light of our divine heritage?

In the era of new age spirituality, we have developed a pervading but misguided notion that enlightenment only appears as and through continual, unshifting peace, harmony, and contentment. We have come to cling to the erroneous idea that by distancing oneself from the negatively perceived side of humanity we evolve beyond our humanness, becoming something higher or better.  But if you are occupying a human body, it is impossible to experience only one side of existence.

The point of our existence in these flesh suits is the experience itself. Our spirits are a reflection and manifestation of the divine, seeking to learn and to know itself; all of itself, in the perfect timing and unfolding of divine flow. This means that there is a time for everything – “…  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (more…)