The Finer View

To really address the concept and practice of detachment, we must fist honestly identify our attachments. Detachment has almost become a cliché, or type of catch phrase from Buddhism in new age circles. There seems to be a fundamental understanding of it, but it is rarely taken to the level needed to experience personal freedom from the world and life, as we know it.

It’s said that compassion is the gateway to forgiveness, and forgiveness is the key to inner pace. But what does it really mean to forgive? And more importantly, how do we go about truly forgiving others, as well as ourselves. We spend most of our lives hardly aware of the mental and emotional weight that we carry due to a lack of forgiveness. How many seemingly forgotten events have damaged our spirit due to the unforgiving aspects left behind?  How much regret do we carry towards others and ourselves as we move through our daily lives? Understandably, some may carry less than others, but it is our mission this month to deliver some of the absolute best ways of finding forgiveness and achieving a higher level of inner peace in your life.

We use the word creativity so often that we sometimes forget to recognize just how powerful this gift of the mind really is. To be human, to live here in the physical world, is to be creation itself. We understand that biologically our parents created us; we understand that spiritually we are created in the image of the Divine, but we rarely recognize that creativity exists within us as the very substance of our being.

            Look around you right now, and observe every object. Then see each object as an image in the imagination of the person who first envisioned it, and then created it. Now observe how even your thoughts serve to create your day, and your entire reality. Every last thought vibration that resonates through the matrix of existence creates the framework of your reality.

            We often feel that some people are more creative than others. Indeed, some people are far more tuned into their creative forces, but in reality, each and every human being is equipped with the same set of creative tools.

How deeply is the human being really connected to the natural world? Why do we instinctively gravitate to the great outdoors when we seek clarity and inspiration? What forces are actually present within the vast oceans, and unspoiled lands on this earth? It could be said, that many human beings spend a lifetime, never quite realizing their connection with the energies of mother earth, and the cosmic influences of the greater Universe.

            As we enter the month of August 2016, we wanted to take this opportunity to share just how nature shapes not only our thought patterns, but also how it’s energies can actually influence our entire existence. Why is it that the closer we become to the natural world, the more connected we feel with our spirituality? Countless examples of great thinkers throughout our history demonstrate that the natural world has a way of clearing the mind, and nourishing the soul.

What does inner peace mean to you? How do you feel that balancing your inner and outer existence can bring peace to your being? The human being has sought to achieve inner peace for centuries, as a means of avoiding pain and frustration. We all see the examples of Buddhist monks who renounce worldly possessions, appearing to be in a perfect state on inner peace. But what separates us from this experience? How has our perception of the world, somehow impaired our natural state of inner peace? Why are we still outraged by worldly events? Why are we sometimes unable to control thoughts and words of anger, even towards the ones we love at times?

Are you aware of just how much popular culture affects your living patterns? Whether we acknowledge it or not, social trends delivered through pop culture are as present as the daily Sun. Author and SIM Editor William L. May delivers an amazingly insightful video feature today that demonstrates just how deep these social phenomena really are. There is a wealth of information in this short video that is sure to bring a new perspective to you as a modern spiritual seeker.

     William brings his wisdom and charm as he casually speaks with Dr. Joseph Kenneth about everything from fashion, social psychology, the occult, modern film, music, and more! Please enjoy this special feature from Spiritualists International Magazine today, and be sure to leave your comments directly below with William. 

It’s not always realized, because it’s embedded so deeply into the fabric of everyday life. But the truth is, your plugged in, your tapped into a vast network of pop culture. Immersed in a constant field of global trends and collective thought patterns, channeled through television, music, fashion, foods, internet, sports, technology, language, currencies, markets, time, and every thing in between.

Death, it’s the greatest of all taboos, and the underlying fear that plagues the human psyche throughout its physical existence. It’s the one thing that we all share as the finale to a great human drama. And birth, by contrast, is the same commonality that marks the first act of this same story. So what exactly happens between these two points of transition? Where do we reside in our true essence within the non-physical void that connects this eternal cycle of death and rebirth? And how do we spend the years within the physical realms, which also, serve to connect these two transitional points of death and rebirth?

Happy New Year form all of us at Spiritualists International Magazine!!

There are few ways to reflect the true essence of our soul into the physical world, and Art, is one of them. Self-expression, though the arts, has been intimately entwined with the human experience throughout time. It’s no mistake or coincidence that art is so heavily present within all religious and spiritual structures. And it’s certainly a fact, that humanity has used art, to express its inner world in a way that has endured through the centuries. In many ways, the visual and musical arts have had an equal or greater impact on human history than written word.

            Art is literally the creation of the spirit, and when it’s expressed with awareness, it can actually become a physical reflection of our inner divinity. This month, we kick off 2016 in an exciting and inspirational way, looking at Art, and its revered presence within the human experience. We want to be sure that art, in it’s many forms of self-expression, is recognized as nothing less than a miracle, and a divine gift bestowed upon humanity. 

There's a general conversation rule that most modern day cultures share. When at the table, avoid discussing politics, and religion. The obvious reasons for this underlying conversation taboo, is that it's not polite to express your views in a neutral situation or gathering. But the real questions is, why these subjects still bring the average person to a point of self defense, and even rage? Weather we are aware of it or not, our religious believes have been so deeply imbedded into us, that we feel the need to promote them, and even defend them at times.

 It is often said that the only true constant in life is change: we all go through lifetimes full of new beginnings, changing relationships and social circles, new living situations and geographical locales, losing and gaining family members, and on and on.  The list of changes is infinite.  Yet change itself, the very processes of transformation, adjustment, acceptance, and even personal evolution, are not often enough addressed as fundamental to our spiritual and mental health.

            This entire month at Spiritualists International, we are dedicating our message to address issues that are often overlooked regarding change.  In an existence of constant flux, we can easily become confused by the many alterations in the course of our lives, but our goal in this issue is to look beyond this superficial tumult, to peer at the bigger picture, so we might gain a deeper perspective on change, both positive and negative, asking why we go through changes, how they affect us, and what they mean at the deepest levels of our spiritual journey. 

Since the dawn of time, humankind has used music as a fundamental form of expression. Through the most primitive forms of tribal rhythm to drive the dance, to the elaborate explosions in composition recognized in the Baroque and the Romantic periods, the use of tone and rhythm have remained as close and necessary to the human spirit, as air to it’s body.

            And why is this, we may ask? Why has this vital aspect of our existence called music remained such an integral aspect of our existence throughout time? We might begin to answer this question by looking at the original works of the man still called the father of music, Pythagoras, who was the first man to ever prescribe music, and it healing aspects of frequency, as actual medicine. We may also discover the absolute fundamentals of music when reviewing such spiritual traditions as the Kabbalah, in which music, with its tonal qualities is said to manifest the entirety of creation through “the word” of God.

What we want for the world:

The following are some of our author’s wishes and goals for humanity. Please do share your comments, and express your own ideas. Be certain, that through the interaction of ideas, the world evolves in a positive direction.

For more than a century, man has been experiencing a proliferation, not only of technology, but also of information.  It is not merely that we have so much more information today than we did in the past (though, we certainly do: it is estimated that every few days the amount of information human beings generate increases the total by as much as the total amount of information all of humanity had created up until the year 2003), but also in terms of how that information is shared.  We have gone from a society with only a few outlets for expression (written works, live events, and physical objects like art and historical artifacts) to one with many (radio, television, video games, podcasts, internet forums and videos, and on and on).  We have developed the ability to transfer information across the world almost instantly, created new forms of entertainment, and have, in so doing, changed the world.

We’ve geared up for an exciting month here as Spiritualists International.  In this coming issue, we will be focused on health. Indeed, health is a massive word, full of various aspects from the mental, physical, and of course, spiritual. In the weeks to come, we will be hearing remarkable information from our authors, regarding the balance and importance of health on all levels. The need for healing remains one of the strongest in the human mind, and throughout time, humankind has searched for the antidotes that created healthier states of being through the gateway of health. Weather we are looking to better our physical health through natural diets and exercise, or seeking to elevate our spiritual health through meditation and spiritual practice, we must realize that the interconnection of our physical and spiritual aspects are simply two sides of one coin.

Several months ago, when Joseph and I sat down together to discuss the idea of creating a topical theme for Spiritualists International Magazine, many of the ideas that came up we recognized the potential of immediately.  Last month, for example, we had great responses from our authors in discussing the concepts related to living to make a difference, and we know this was a topic that touched many of you in our audience.  We were moved and touched by the many responses and comments, and we were especially inspired to learn how some of our readers take action to improve the world in their own lives.  The concept of working towards a better world is, of course, an important consideration on any spiritual quest, and we knew that this theme would resonate deeply. 

As we come to a close in this months issue of living to make a difference, we observe a certain institution that has directly made a difference in the lives of many thousands, and indirectly spread light to millions. The University of Metaphysics, located in Sedona Arizona, has spread into one hundred and twenty countries worldwide through its student’s and graduates, all of whom maintain the highest level of spiritual practices within their communities. In fact, this very magazine can trace its roots back to the foundations of the University of Metaphysics.

SIM authors: Living to make a difference

Select authors from SIM wanted to share what they do on a daily basis to make a difference in their own lives. Throughout the month, this particular column will be added to as authors tell their own special way of changing the world for the better. It is a vital part of the process here; that each reader shares a comment to also describe what they do to make a difference in their world. As you may have guessed, this is a wonderful way to make a small ripple of positive change around the world, as each of us inspires others who come across this page.

SIM

What do you do to make a difference? How does your life affect others in a positive way? These are possibly some of the most meaningful questions that we can ask ourselves, once we’ve gotten past the obstacles of our own needs and desires. It is for this very reason, that Spiritualists International Magazine is dedicating the month of May to the topic of “Living to Make a Difference.” 

     Living to make a difference, means serving humanity in a valuable way with your presence here on earth. How do you spend the time in your day, and when it ends, how did your actions directly effect your world? What differences do your actions make? It matters not the size of the task: each day we should remain aware of just how we are making a difference. 

This April at Spiritualists International Magazine, we are happy to be presenting our Money issue. You may ask, why “Money” in a spirituality based publication?  This is certainly a valid question , and, to be honest, when we began discussing this topic, there was initial a bit of resistance.  After all, money seems to be at the root of materialism, and we are often taught that money is the exact opposite of spirituality.  Compare a monk who has taken a vow of poverty to the multibillionaire who is adamant that the minimum wage should not be raised.  But, in looking at the issues that surround money, it became apparent that the very reasons for our hesitation in covering this topic were actually the reasons that make it so important, especially within this context.