Metaphysical Healing

Master of Metaphysical Healing Essay

In taking this course in Master of Metaphysical Healing I quickly realized that it put my own faith, knowledge and beliefs to the test. This course has asked some very compelling questions and demands of me and although my answers may be only my perception, I will try and answer them in my final essay to the best of my honesty, belief and my own personal experiences.

As I have been blessed with my own successful practice for that past two years as a Spiritualist, conducting Angelic Readings, providing Spiritual Guidance, Past Life Regression as well as performing as a proven medium, I could have never dreamed there was so much more to learn. I became curious to the realms of Metaphysical Healing a few years ago when my daughter became violently ill due to a surgery she had replacing parts of her knee with a cadaver donor part. As I was sitting in on the consultation between her and her doctor I became extremely uncomfortable with the idea of her allowing them to place a stranger’s body part inside of her own body. As she was 18 and legally able to make her own decisions I pleaded my concerns to her but she didn’t want them to take her own parts from the back of her knee to replace what she needed as the healing process would be longer and more painful.

I asked the doctor if I could clear and bless the cadaver body parts. He could not allow this so I projected my healing and clearing light on the day of her surgery to the actual surgery room. As she lay there, waiting for them to come and get her, I had a sudden need to place my hands over my daughters head and as I did, I realized I was asking for permission and protection through the divine light of God. She became very relaxed and peaceful. She accredited this simply to a mother’s touch. I accredited this to - I had no clue what was going on but I felt a surge of love and strength flow through my hands as I thanked God for allowing my hands to be the conductor of this peace and serenity.

Two days after her surgery she became violently ill. She was vomiting and had a fever of 104. I rushed her to the hospital and they said she could possibly be trying to reject the cadaver parts or had contacted an infection. I was fear stricken. She was so very sick and incoherent. When the nurses left the room I walked behind the head of her bed and stood over her. I spoke in a whisper and told her if she could hear me to relax. I then told her I was going to ask God for his grace to heal her. I placed my hands over the crown of her head and then I moved my right hand down to her chest with my left hand on her head.

(I am right handed.) I somehow had a knowing of this infection. I asked for this infection to leave her body.

I asked for healing light to surge through her body taking the infection through my right hand and then allowing it to flow through me to my left hand and out through the crown of her head. I acknowledged that I was aware that I was simply a tool being used for this healing and that I would trust and accept whatever the outcome. I placed my trust completely within the divine and healing light of God.

Within about 15 minutes, she became wide awake and wanted to sit up. I told her to relax as I needed to clear myself of this infection. With her eyes still closed she asked,”Mom, what did you do?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, but I think I just conducted a healing. Her fever broke and she had no more nausea. When the nurses came in they said she probably just had a reaction to the anesthesia. They offered her juice but she was craving water. We went home an hour later. That was lesson one for me.

I ordered this course to learn what had happened to us that day. I wanted to learn what I had done that day and how I had done it. And then – during this course – another opportunity presented itself. This time it was my 30 year old son.

I was on Lesson 17 when we got a call from my daughter in law telling us that our son who is a bread man could not drive home and that he was experiencing terrible dizziness and numbness in his arms. She was going to pick him up from work and take him directly to the hospital as he was having symptoms of a heart attack. We met her at the hospital to pick up our grandchildren and went home. After they examined him they sent him home with a diagnosis of vertigo. He simply needed rest.

We took the kids home that night and I walked into my son’s bedroom and lay down next to him on the bed. I placed my right hand on his chest as he was sleeping and had a knowing instantly that they had missed something. I knew it wasn’t his heart. I trusted my reading capabilities but now needed to put my class knowledge to the test. I asked for permission to come into his space and as I received that permission I instantly felt a vibration from his stomach. I felt it looked like a yellow starburst, like a small sunshine in his stomach. I asked him if he had a stomach ache. He said no. and then – just as if someone had taken me by the face and screamed at me I knew he had a block in his stomach. I could see it. It made no sense to me at all as to why this would cause vertigo but I made him promise to ask our family doctor the next day to check his stomach. Our family doctor has known me for over twenty years and he is aware of what I do for a living. He doesn’t understand it - but I knew he would listen.

So, the next day, I was reading over my lessons beginning with lesson one making sure I of what I should be doing as my son was at the doctor and our doctor gave him the old once over and told him that vertigo was quite common and to take some time off. That is when my daughter in law told him that I wanted him to check my son’s stomach. Our doctor asked if I said this specifically and my daughter in law told him yes. Reluctantly, he asked my son to lie down on the table and my son was a bit embarrassed as he said you are kidding right? Our doctor simply told him that if he didn’t check his stomach that he would never hear the end of it from me.

So as he listened with a stethoscope for about three minutes, he then pressed on my sons stomach and he about came off of the table. Our doctor then turned and slammed his hand on the wall and exclaimed, “How does she do that?!!! He has a hernia!”

My daughter in law then whispered to him that I have a knowing. He exclaimed that I was a crack pot – but that I was a correct crackpot.

My son had a hernia that was about to burst and yes this will cause vertigo. And this was lesson two of many for me.

I have gone over my lessons in this class many times. I can not possibly retain all of the terms I need to remember as I use this wonderful class as a tool. I have conducted healing sessions in my session’s room and they have been successful although they have been very light healing such as a broken heart etc. Baby steps, but I don’t mind at all. I have printed out all of my lessons and I use it as my text book. And each and every time I read it I learn and retain something new.

This is a fascinating course and although I can not recite all I have learned verbatim, my hopes are that some day I will. However, my knowing of what and how to heal is there. I have learned how to identify and ground myself to listen.

It is my belief that terminal conditions do in fact exist and I think that we do have to acknowledge these diagnoses as the proof is in the pudding so to speak - however – we do not have to accept it. In other words, this diagnosis is true in that tests have revealed it is so and if this is our spiritual path out of this existence then so be it – but what if it isn’t? What if this is simply a plight or lesson for us at this time in our life - perhaps a test of faith if you will? If this is so, then I truly do believe this is where spiritual healing comes in. What do we have to lose?

Spiritual Healing in my opinion is all in the eyes of the beholder. Yes, I am aware that some do believe it is the work of the devil – whoever he is? I do all of my work within the divine light of God therefore – the devil as he is called – has no existence in my realm of healing. I have no space for him. He too – is in the perception of the beholder. I call upon God and my angels for healing, guidance and wisdom.

When I am asked if this treatment will cause pain and how does it work, I simply say, it has been my experience that spiritual healing causes no physical pain. As I am a practicing spiritualist I have only had the experience of observing emotional pain. Lots of tears flow in my session’s room and I believe that to be the body’s way of clearing emotional toxins from within one’s self. Not to worry, most healers have lots of hugs and tissues.

I do not believe that any one person has to believe in any thing or any one that you do not want to believe in, in order to be healed. However, it is more than obvious that they do believe that an illness exists inside of them, therefore, they do have a belief in some thing. That is key. It doesn’t matter what you yourself believe as much as it matters that you believe in something. I, myself believe in the divine light of healing and I can call upon my own belief to heal through my knowledge of my lessons learned through this course, faith, love and the divine light of God. I, myself allow my client to choose the ambiance they prefer to conduct our sessions, therefore, if they want candles and a darker setting - so it will be - and if they don’t – then we wont. I created my session’s room for the privacy and comfort of my clients. I can read and heal in a garage if need be. Confidentiality and complete serenity has been beautifully created for my clients comfort and privacy and they, themselves, choose what that environment will be.

As I believe that we are all here for a reason, the healers who have prescribed other treatments have done so for a reason. That reason is based upon past experience and history of possible recovery. Therefore, I am not one to criticize another healer whether they be a surgeon or doctor or???? A client’s treatment is a personal decision that only they can make. Sadly, I can not guarantee a cure, however, what I can offer is my gift of the belief that I can call upon a higher power to allow me to help and try to heal along with other healers and my fee is based upon what they can afford. It has been my experience that when we make this about money, then we take away from the true gift. Someone else who can afford it - will pay it forward. This has always been my belief and the way I conduct my sessions. Through the healing energy I have called upon based upon my faith.

The most precious gift we are given here in this place is time. That is our only risk.

Thank you for this most enlightening class that I will be studying for many years to come.

Many Blessings in Light and Love,

Marti Tote

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Wiccan Studies

I can't say I truly learned anything new during the Wiccan studies program but I did enjoy it. I have been a witch for 21 years and basically took the program to add to my reverend credentials.

As a Witch I feel its important to keep an open mind and continue learning/sharing on this path in life. The Wiccan Studies program was well put together and easy to understand. Its an excellent study program for the beginner and a great refresher for the more experienced. I did enjoy going through this course.

I also was glad to see the links and resources given during the lessons. Too many times, online, people do not give credit where credit is due. Its important when we do not write something to add the source. I was very happy to see the sources given. Bravo!

I really liked how the course was designed. It kept all the essentials of Wicca at the forefront and kept it interesting. Very well thought out and included great information.

As a Witch with a Coven I would definitely suggest this course to anyone. I'm glad I took the course because it gave me another class design to have in mind when teaching. Thank you for putting together a course well done!

Blessings,

Rev. Darlene Marie Meehan

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Four Gospels

First of all I would like to say that this course was very interesting and thought provoking. To be able to choose just one specific area is going to be difficult but I would like to talk about the book of Mathew.

It’s interesting to first note that the gospels are not placed in order in the bible, but rather in the order of what makes sense. I was looking at the estimated dates of when the gospels were written and discovered that the gospel of Mark was actually written first, followed by Luke, then Mathew and finally John.

However, having said this, I find Luke to be the least in depth of all the gospels and Mathew to be the most detailed. I seemed to be constantly drawn toward the book of Mathew for the main reason that it’s the first book in the New Testament and has often been unofficially declared the “New Genesis”, meaning that it is the book that sets the foundation for the New Covenant.

Upon reading the book of Mathew we see that it starts with the outline of Jesus’ lineage demonstrating that His return was indeed foretold from the very beginning, in fact it was talked about in the book of Genesis. In fact it is quickly understood that Jesus is God incarnate and that He is coming to live as man so that He can fulfill the promises for the new kingdom, Jesus has to become a human and live among men not as a rich man but as a man of humility, He is born of a virgin whose husband is a carpenter. This picture of humility is illustrated many times throughout the bible as it is the spirit that is more important, the body is just a temporary shell and as we know, God does many great works through those who are looked down upon by the world. Jesus was no different, He was disrespected by many in His time but He demonstrated great faith and continued to share His teachings to all who would listen. Despite what people thought and said, Jesus was to become the new Adam except this time to live a life that was sinless, in a sense, cleaning up Adam’s mess!

The first part of Mathew talks about the birth of Christ and the visitation of the 3 Magi or Priests. We see right from the get go that Jesus was threatened with death by Herod so He had to be taken to Egypt until it was safe to return to Nazareth.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin paves the way for Jesus saying to the people that the Messiah is coming and when He does come, Jesus is baptized by John. We see that in order for the new covenant to succeed, Jesus has to experience all that man has had to experience, including being tempted for 40 days and nights by the devil. What this demonstrates is that Jesus not only became human but it shows that with the faith that Jesus had in His father, man can overcome anything, this is important because in order for Jesus to truly understand what man is, He has to become what man is, including the experiences of man.

After Jesus calls His first disciples, he travels throughout the land performing miracles, which included healing the sick and raising the dead. This is also the time when Jesus lays down the law, so to speak, starting with the beatitudes and reaffirming that the law will indeed be upheld until the end of time and if any of the laws or commandments are broken, they will be called least in the kingdom, but for those who practice and teach the laws, will be great.

Jesus, for those who may have had a memory lapse, provided some refresher courses around the commandments so that all knew what had to be done. Jesus also taught about other things that must happen, from practicing humility, feeding the hungry, loving your enemies, fasting and prayer, just to name a few.

The book of Mathew is a book of great wisdom and is an instruction manual for eternal life and riches. Jesus had never ending wisdom and that wisdom He taught through parables, in fact the book of Mathew is the first we see of the parables and we see 14 of them, the other gospels talk about the parables but in less detail. The idea behind the parables is that if you have the “eyes and ears” needed, meaning the true faith of God, you will understand Jesus’ parables. I have found this in my personal life as I have grown in my faith. When I first started out reading the New Testament, I didn’t really understand, I saw Jesus’ parables as really confusing stories, but now, I have re read them and they make a lot of sense, the depth of such wisdom in them is unparalleled anywhere else, in fact many times in Mathew we see the disciples asking Jesus what He meant by His many stories. This has always been a surprise to me, even after they saw Jesus perform such wondrous miracles, they still questioned their faith and they still questioned Him, can you imagine!

As part of Jesus’ ministry, we see Him cast out demons and thus we have the first exorcisms recorded, and with His great teachings, the disciples learned to do the same thing. This demonstrates and foreshadows on a smaller scale, the predicted defeat of Satan, the defeat that will signal the beginning of the new kingdom.

Mathew is also the book where we see the great sermon on the mount, when Jesus knows that His end is near and He has gathered all in the land to pass on the things that must be done in order for the new kingdom to be successful. The sermon on the mount is what Christians should be abiding by today…He basically has said that we are the body of Christ and that it is important for us to go forth as the arms of Christ and reach out to all that need to be saved, helped and healed. This sermon is probably one of the most important ones in the entire bible and I would say that this is the “backbone” of Christianity.

Jesus demonstrates a couple of times in this book, the awesome power of faith and prayer, specifically demonstrated with Him feeding the five thousand and the four thousand; during these times, Jesus goes off on His own and prays to God demonstrating to the people that God is indeed their provider, as a result all of the people were fed with food left over.

As we approach the end of Mathew, Jesus predicts His death, a death that has to happen in order to fulfill the new covenant. He gives 3 of His disciples a “sneak preview” of what is to come at the resurrection, but He is sure to tell them not to say anything until He has risen. Jesus foretells who is going to betray Him and later as we see, is subsequently arrested, all for things He didn’t do. When looking at this, Jesus is also teaching that just by being a Christian, we will be unjustly persecuted as He was but if you have faith and do not deny Christ, you will enjoy glorification in Christ’s name and have eternal life.

In the final chapters of Mathew we see the fruition of Jesus’ prediction and He is put to death on the cross and 3 days later He rose from the dead in His entire splendor, fulfilling the predictions from Christ Himself.

The book of Mathew is a fantastic book, a book filled with such great wisdom that despite the number of times you read it, there are many treasures to be unearthed. It is a book of hope, of awe, of wonder and excitement, it is a book of things to come, and it is “the new beginning”.

Rev. Jason Carey

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The Universal Life Church Seminary is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, and Paganism.  We have two courses in Metaphysics, as well as courses in Mystical Christianity, Buddhism and Comparative Religion. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Metaphysical Healing

My name is Deborah Overfield. I am working towards a degree in Ministry and Natural Health. I know many modalities of healing and taking this class from an experienced person I felt I could broaden my knowledge. This is the most rewarding work and I look forward to getting up every day to a new adventure. I am also meeting amazing people.

Things I learned is that it always seems we may be looking for an answer or something and in reality we are already in the middle of it. It seems to be our awareness is that it makes us pay attention. Everybody’s healing is individual and personal. No matter what all info should always remain confidential. Always give thanks for the power within is given to us. I learned how to ask questions and test an individual.

I learned what not to do as to not be in any trouble with the government.

What I did not resonate with is how often people want to be healed and never feel it is real or worth paying for. I had had tons of people asking for healing and only a couple willing to pay. I pray things will change I intend it to be and all blocks removed. I do heal people for free but this was not my intention for a business when I can barely make it on my own with my other job and I have all these skills I studied hard for. Another thing I don’t like is I am always drilled about WHERE did you learn this. If it wasn’t from a collage or a place the government gives you the degree they seem to poo poo it. I have run into lots of People thinking I’m a kook. There are a few that come to me that believe in me and want to trade services for a plastic $1 store plate. I did not work on them because they found no value in it. I had people thinking it was evil. I was so amazed at how many people believe the devil and evil and never seem to even grasp that God is more powerful and can do far more. Jesus is the healer. So this is my most disliked thing of all.

What I’d like to hear more of is anything that can possible work for the seemingly impossible symptoms that are worked on for years. Isn’t there a way somehow that it could be fixed faster. Some things take some things instant, some a few days, weeks, months, years. My thing is why should it take a year for some things? Maybe we will never know. My thoughts are it is possible to heal sooner. How is the question? The modalities and things I’ve learned have not taught me those skills yet. Also any and all methods are welcome for me, I like to learn things related to healing, spiritual healing and health.

Also anything more about the vortexes of the body and the environment. I am interested also in portals and healing more with the angels.

What I like is being my own best physician! I love helping people and making the world a better place one person at a time. The endocrine glands, charkas, aura and meridians including positive attitudes in balance will bring about good health. I like how instantly the body will repair, and heal itself. Intent and having the body in a willingness for change is all that is needed for change to occur. I believe that as time goes on and medical field continues to fail more and more people are awakening to natural health as the answer. I am humbled by this work and welcome the new revolution of health. More and more as I go around town I see my natural health. Stores carry more natural product now. I’m thrilled to be apart of it and knowing everyday I do this I’m doing God’s work.

Sincerely,

Deborah Overfield

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Islamic Studies

Final Essay

I thought that a study of Islam would be appropriate at this time considering the attacks of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. I really didn’t have an understanding of the Islam and the Islamic terrorists and what could possibly be on their minds to attack the very soil of the United States.

Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God after Abraham, Jesus and others. Muhammad’s beginnings were simple and poor. He was born in 570 and was raised by his uncle Abu Talib who taught him to be a caravan trader. Muhammad was exposed to Jewish and Christian traditions on these caravan journeys. He eventually married his employer, Khadija, who would bare him many children one of which was a daughter, Fatima, who would marry Muhammad’s cousin Ali.

In the year 610, Muhammad began having visions from the angel Gabriel. These visions resulted in the Qur’an. The Qur’an is believed to be a correction of errors in scripture from the time of Abraham. Its message is that there is one true God; there is a Day of Doom coming; the wicked will perish and the Elect will live in paradise. Not much different from Christianity. Islam means “submission to God”. A Muslim is “one who submits”. They believe that the Qur’an is God in the form of words. It “is”, it is not “created”. Muslims believe in the Five Pillars of Islam: confession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage.

There are two main groups of Muslims that are in the news these days: the Shi’ites and the Sunnis. These are the groups that are at war with each other in the Middle East and the reason the US is there. The difference between these two groups is this: The Shi’ites believe that the successors to Muhammad should be from his family line through Ali and Fatima. They believe that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and Fatima’s husband, was appointed by Muhammad on his deathbed and should have been the first successor or Caliph. He eventually became the fourth Caliph. But the Sunni’s believe that there should be an elected Caliph. The Shi’ites believe that because of all this confusion the Caliph or Hidden Iman, has been removed from the earth to return in the future. That certainly seems like something to go to war over. To put this into perspective, the Shi’ites could be compared to Catholics, and the Sunnis could be compared to Protestants. We are familiar with how well they get along in some countries.

This brings me to Osama bin Laden, a Sunni. Osama studied the writings of one Ibn Taymiyyah who taught “not a voluntary jihad or holy war to propagate the faith but an involuntary jihad or just war to defend the faith. Under such conditions, all under attack must fight and all others must help them…Government and religion must be intertwined, for religion cannot prosper without the coercive power of government, while government must be subject to Revelation if it is not to fall into error and tyranny…Right religion must have in it the Guiding Hand and the Helping Sword”. Osama says “Islam ceases to exist where the ruler is an infidel”. Is he referring to the United States? He also quotes Ibn Taymiyyah out of context to suit his own jihad because Ibn Taymiyyah also said “The consensus of the community, not the decisions of a militant minority, must be paramount” and that jihad must be fair and without animosity. It seems to me that that statement should be considered by the Whole World.

I’m still not sure that I completely understand what the fighting is all about. Perhaps it’s the innate arrogance of the People of the Book because they were the ones that the Book was given to of all the others in the world.

Rev. Judith Wolf

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Christian Studies

Luke 7 

By Rev. Tabatha St. Louis

Jesus did many great works as he traveled. I was comforted by the attitude of the Roman captain because when he saw that Jesus was coming and he sent his servants to him to tell him that he was not worthy enough to have Jesus in his house. I could only imagine that it had to be a very humbling experience to have Jesus himself coming to your house. If, Jesus were to literally come over to someone’s house would you be ready for him to enter. I would think that it would take a lot of preparation to get ready to receive him because most of us would want our houses to be perfect. I know that I would want to make sure that I had the perfect meal prepared and of course everything in its place.

I have often used this analogy with my children stating that everyday is a day that we should be ready for Jesus to come into our house and it is not because we are so deserving but, because his grace and mercy is sufficient enough. I am often comforted just knowing that Jesus can heal any manner of disease; he can make the blind see, the lame walk only if we believe. Jesus is awesome because he looks at the heart of a person and not at the actions a person did in the past. If, people today really had the heart of Jesus this world would be so much different because there would be a lot more love shown towards others and people would be a lot more willing to help each other.

The woman in this chapter that had washed Jesus feet with her hair and anointed his feet with perfume really set a good example of how we are to serve others. We are to give of ourselves because that’s what Jesus did on a regular basis. The people that witnessed what she was doing thought it was wrong because she was not a clean woman but because Jesus looked at the heart of this woman her sins were forgiven. I am comforted even the more knowing that when you repent and show love to Jesus he will receive you and forgive your sins.

I enjoy reading about the many acts of kindness Jesus performed on everyone not just the rich but more importantly on the poor as well. We all must take on the attitude and disposition of helps praying for those in need and giving to those less fortunate.

Tabatha St. Louis

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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link.

Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program.

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A Course In Miracles

I Choose Love By Harriet Spradley-Thompkins

Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes~

After taking this course, the above quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes became alive to me. I learned that we are governed by our past and belief systems. Because we have no control of what cultural or family we are born into, we have no control of our early belief systems. For example, religion, when one is born into a Catholic family; they simple identify themselves as Catholic. The other day I was having lunch with a former co-worker. Beginning of the meal he said grace and then the “cross” thing. I looked at him with puzzlement. “I can not help that I am Catholic” he said. I thought to myself, he is doing this ritual not because he truly believes in it, he was doing it because what he was programmed to believe.

Your belief system is the actual set of precepts from which you live your daily life, those which govern your thoughts, words, and actions. It is difficult to change a person’s belief system. However, once the mind is stretched to a new belief, it can not go back to the original thought. This has happen to me in this course. I once believed that a miracle was some mammoth event like winning the lottery or being healed from a terminal illness. I believe now that a miracle is a correction in perception. It is a correction in how we perceive and how we think. There is no world outside us. It is only a projection of what is inside us; we are responsible for choosing to think from the ego or from the Love of God.

According to Reverend Loretta M. Siani, Ph.D. in Lesson #4, we can choose to be guided by the limited, self-absorbed thinking of ego that is always trying to get things from the world and projecting its judging, analyzing, and demanding thoughts onto it. Or, we can choose to be guided by the loving awareness of our true, spiritual selves that accepts life, offers peace and wants to extend, share and give to the world.

Ego is the cause of the "I" syndrome (I want), making us feel separate and alone, or telling us we can run things better our own way. Ego acts only for the self. Love helps you to realize that there is no self, that we cannot be separate, for as soon as one person affects another person for good or ill, they are joined by that experience. In witnessing or even hearing of their experience we are then joined to them, and that makes us a "we". If the experience was through Love and good we all benefit, if the experience was caused by the traits of ego, therefore bad, we all suffer, for we are all one.

The only thing that truly heals is undoing the belief that we are separate from God, which is where our fears come from. When your mind is really healed, it will not be a burning issue for you. It does not mean that the tumor will not disappear. It just means that your investment will not be in having it disappear. Your investment will be in having peace in your mind. Remember Love casts out fear. That is why I choose Love.

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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link.

Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program.

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Druidism

Universal Life Church Seminary

Master of Druidism

Thesis by

Rev. Marc D. Graham

Castle Rock, CO

THREE DRUIDS

While Druidism has been around for millennia, most of its adherents and practitioners are lost in the mists of time. Few of the ancient practices have been reliably transmitted, and our best records derive from invading forces and writers of folklore. Well‐meaning or otherwise, the tales, legends and histories that have survived to the present cast their subjects in the light of a Roman or Christianized culture, foreign to Druidic and Celtic society. Within the limitations of the available resources, this work will attempt to present an overview of the lives of three druids: one historical, one mythical and one speculative or apocryphal.

Taliesin

History records the works of the great bard, Taliesin, a British poet of the mid‐ to late 6th Century CE. Born near present‐day Caerleon, Wales, his home would have been near the Bristol Channel and the borders of Mercia and Wessex. Significantly, the period of his life corresponds with the time of consolidation of the Saxon conquest of Britain, when the Celtic Britons were pocketed in Wales (or Cymru) and Cornwall (Kernow) in the Southwest Peninsula.

Though belonging to the historical era, an account of Taliesin’s origins, recorded in the Mabinogion, places him in the company of the ancient gods, goddesses and heroes of Celtic mythology. In this version, the sage derives his wisdom from a magical concoction brewed by the witch Ceridwen, after which he embarks on a series of adventures similar to those of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the Welsh

Hercules. Outside of this fantastical account, little is known of the man called Taliesin.

The Book of Taliesin is a compilation of poems attributed to Taliesin, and dated to the 10th Century CE—three to four hundred years after the bard’s death. While there is some question as to the authorship of the poems (variations in style suggest multiple authors), historians agree that the bulk of the work could be that of one person. Taliesin may well have created the poems, which were handed down according to the oral tradition of the Britons, and finally compiled centuries after his death. Only slightly nearer in history to Taliesin, the History of the Britons is attributed to Nennius, the 9th Century Welsh monk. This pseudo‐historical work gives passing mention to Taliesin, along with several other British poets.

Beyond the legends, there is little to link Taliesin directly with Druidry. Indeed, by his time Rome (in the form of the recently‐departed Legions and the Church centered there) had effectively ended the age of the Druids. There are records as late as the 7th Century, however, that tell of the survival of some Druids in Ireland to that time. It is not a great stretch of imagination to suggest similar hold‐outs in remote Wales a hundred years earlier. What better position for a surviving Druid—in terms of both influence and protection—than as poet in the king’s court? Given the little that is known of the historical Taliesin, it is reasonable to place him among the Druidic class of Bards.

Merlin

Perhaps the best‐known Druid in the popular imagination is Merlin, famed magician and advisor to the mythical King Arthur. First popularized as Merlin Ambrosius in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, the wizard is considered by scholars to be a composite character based on Myrddin Wylit, a 6th Century Welsh hermit, prophet and acknowledged madman; and Ambrosius Aurelianus, a 5th Century Romano‐British warlord who successfully fought the invading Anglo‐Saxons. Each of these figures dates from after the period of Arthur—now reckoned by historians as being contemporaneous

with the Roman withdrawal from Britain in 410CE—which would preclude either as being the great Sage of Camelot. In Gildas’s work On the Ruin of Britain, however, Ambrosius is identified as the victorious leader of the Britons against the Saxons at the battle of Mons Badonicus (Badon Hill). This has led some scholars to believe that Ambrosius may have been a model for Arthur himself, rather than his court magician.

Mythical stories of Merlin abound. In one account (borrowed from Nennius), King Vortigern is advised to sprinkle the foundation of a tower with the blood of a “child born without a father”, to stop the on‐going collapse of the tower during construction. The child Merlin fits the bill but, before he can be sacrificed, he reveals to the king the true reason for the tower’s collapse: a lake of battling dragons located directly beneath the foundation. Other legends tell of Merlin’s great wisdom and of his powers of prophecy, shape‐shifting, remote viewing and projection—all abilities attributable to a master Druid.

The legendary accounts imbue Merlin with a preternatural wisdom, derived from his being sired by a demon or incubus, but sanctified by baptism immediately following his birth. His wisdom and knowledge range from the natural world of plants, herbs and animals; to the very human world of politics, war and diplomacy; to the other‐worldly pursuits of divination, spells and prophecy. Though mythical, the Merlin thus described fits within the highest class of Druidry, the Druid himself.

Yeshua bar Yusuf

Better known to the world as Jesus of Nazareth, Yeshua bar Yusuf has been identified by some as a member of the order of Druids. Though the religion attributed to him was largely responsible for the demise of the ancient Druids, there is much in the history, legend and teaching of the Great Master to suggest an affiliation with the Celtic wise men.

Tradition holds that Yeshua’s uncle (possibly, great‐uncle), Joseph of Arimathea, was a trader in tin who made frequent trips to Cornwall on Britain’s Southwest Peninsula. Though generally considered

a rather common element—think “tin cans” and “tin foil”—tin is actually a precious metal, being the fourth in common usage behind platinum, gold and silver. (For comparison, Tin comprises 2.3ppm of the earth’s crust, whereas Uranium is found at 2.7ppm and Lead makes up 14ppm.)

The alloying of tin with copper to form bronze has been known since about 3500BCE. Its discovery gave the name to the Bronze Age—mankind’s first venture into metallurgy—and gave any society with knowledge of its secrets a great advantage over neighbors with only wood, stone or copper tools and weapons. During the Roman Era, Cornwall had been mining tin for more than 2000 years, and its importance to the Roman military machine (for the production of weapons, armor and statuary) cannot be exaggerated. Any merchant with a hold over the importing of tin would be a person of great wealth and influence. The scriptures and tradition suggest that Joseph of Arimathea was such a man.

Scripturally, there are two great gaps in the life of Yeshua—from birth (or infancy) to roughly twelve years of age; and from that time to his mid‐ to late thirties, when his ministry began. Much speculation has gone into what occurred during these years. The less imaginative (though not necessarily less accurate) suggest that the years were spent humbly serving in his father’s carpentry shop. Others suggest that the time was spent learning the great Secrets at the Library of Alexandria or among the Buddhist monks ofIndia and Tibet. Still others have hinted at the Druidic connection, via Joseph of Arimathea’s journeys of trade.

As an apprentice, young Yeshua might have accompanied his uncle from the age of seven. From the age of fourteen, he might have been capable of distant travel on his own. Regardless of the time frame, tradition and local lore place Yeshua in Cornwall at some point prior to his ministry in Palestine. In Did Our Lord Visit Britain? CC Dobson suggests that Yeshua did travel with Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury in Cornwall as a youth, later returning on his own “for the purpose of quiet study, prayer and meditation.” He quotes Gildas (see Merlin, above) as stating that Yeshua’s “light and precepts [were] afforded...to this island during the...last year of the reign of Tiberius.” This could refer to 37CE,

the year of Tiberius’s death, or—more likely—26CE, when Tiberius retired from public life.

Legend and tradition aside, the most compelling link between Yeshua and the Druids is in his teaching. Yeshua’s teachings resonated (and echo yet today) with the common people, yet confounded contemporary scholars of the Torah. Those learned men who pored over every nuance, strained every gnat in their study of the Law, choked on the camels so obvious to those with eyes to see. While the scholars debated whether or not it was legal to clap one’s hands on the Sabbath, Yeshua summed up the entirety of the Law in two sentences: Love God with your whole being; and love others as you love yourself. The Druids said, “Lord, thou art everywhere”; Yeshua said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” The Druids said, “Thou hast no need of prayer and sacrifices”; Yeshua said, “The Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice.”

Highly significant is Yeshua’s association with the Tree. The very name, Druid, is derived from the word for “oak tree”, and trees of all kinds were sacred to the Druids. Yeshua’s most obvious connection with the Tree is that of his crucifixion, but does the association go deeper? Though Yeshua is commonly portrayed as the son of a carpenter, the word used to describe Yeshua’s father is tekton (τεκτον). The Greek word can be used to denote a builder, architect or even Master Mason. That wood has been specifically linked with this generic term is meaningful. Additional ties are the Garden, or Grove, of Gethsemane and the crown of thorns. The hawthorn is a plant of significant import to the Druids, representing the month of April (the time of Yeshua’s crucifixion) and the color purple (the same as the robe with which the Roman soldiers mocked him). The hawthorn is also considered to be among the class of “peasant” plants, so its use in fashioning a crown carries an even greater insult.

While the evidence is speculative, connections can be made between Yeshua, his teachings and ministry, and those of the Druids. While his political and mystical leanings may relate to the order of Druid, his role as teacher, healer and counselor link him at least to the order of Ovate.

Conclusion

The three Druids presented here represent a cross section of historicity and likely role within the Druidic orders. While historical references are taken from many sources, much of the speculation is that of the author. It is hoped, however, that—whatever the reader’s personal beliefs and opinions—the thoughts presented here may lead toward new avenues of thought relative to the role of Druidry in the past and yet today.

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Four Gospels

I just concluded the Four Gospels. I am now to write a paper on the course those that know me say it should be easy for me. Many moons ago I sat in a classroom for two years being taught this same course, only from the prospective of the founder of my religious denomination, one that I was not to question their teaching. This Four Gospels Course was all questioning, designed to make you question preconceived notion that you may or may not have. To bring away a personal prospective, it is well written and easy to understand. I took this course looking for some answers, I found some and I found some more questions to take a deeper look into.

Our Christian Bible is a Jewish book born out Judaism. At the time of Christ there was no such religion as Christianity; Jesus was a Jew, as were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Mary Magdalene, and Paul all twelve of the chosen were Jewish. Christianity accepts the fact of only one being a Jew Judas Iscariot.

Jesus was a Galilean Jew and lived his entire life within the boundaries of Judea, the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel an area now divided between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and, in a few geographical definitions of Judea , Jordan. Historians and Four Gospels generally describe Jesus as an itinerant preacher and leader of a religious movement within Judaism. The followers of Jesus composed an apocalyptic Jewish sect during the late Second Temple period of the 1st century. Some groups that followed Jesus were strictly Jewish, or those strongly attracted to Jewish practice, including the church leaders in Jerusalem. The Roman Centurion Cornelius is the first Gentile (non-Jewish) convert Paul of Tarsus, after his legendary incident on the Road to Damascus, he had success in proselytizing among the Gentiles.

According to biblical reconstruction, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, taught in parables and aphorisms, challenged pious traditions, legalism and social hierarchy. Is that what we who are Christians are doing in the Universal Life Church -- challenging the established church? Is that challenging pious traditions, legalism and social hierarchy the reason some say that we are not Christian enough? It is not until we throw of the chains of oppression of fundamentalism and legalisms of today’s church will we find the freedom in Christ.

What the Church does not tell you is during Jesus' time and for 20 years after his death; converts to the Christian sect of Judaism were required to convert to Judaism first to become Christians. The very fact then becomes Jesus was Christianity's greatest spokesman, but not its originator.

As such I study the course through Midrash a modifying adjective, Midrashic. For me the Four Gospel Course drove me deeper into the course than ever before. Do you know how delighted I was when my eyes were opened to a simple fact that I missed so many times. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is a midrashic creation! The name Zechariah stemmed from the fact John had been identified with prophet Malachi, whose immediate predecessor in the Bible was the prophet Zechariah!

The more I study the Four Gospels I personally question and I am challenged by the concept of the Trinity. I can not find it any where in the Four Gospels. Neither of the words "Trinity" nor "Triunity" appear any where in the Old Testament or New Testament. The Old Testament depicts God as the father of Israel and refers to divine figures such as Word, Spirit, and Wisdom. The Hebrew Scriptures tell us that God is one, and the Godhead a single being. "Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD" Deuteronomy 6:4. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Deuteronomy 5:7 “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel and his redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6

The New Testament does not use the word "Τριάς" (Trinity) nor explicitly teach it. Jesus and his followers I did not believe intend to contradict the Jewish Shema Yisrael: "Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord" Deuteronomy 6:4

I know some of you may or may not understand at this point of what I am talking about but this part of the course is troubling to me. I would love to get my hands on an out of print book written by Michael Goulder, Midrash and the Lection in Matthew. I now find myself questioning the existence of what some call the Q document because I now see Luke and Matthew are to be understood liturgical and lectionary books. I find some of the themes of Exodus in both Matthew and in Mark. I also see examples in Mark and Matthew of Genesis being a guide for these narratives.

The more I read the Four Gospels I find Christianity to be one way to God not the only way. I find words like ALL and NOTHING being used. Matthew 11:28”come to me all” said the Christ of God. That is an invitation for all to seek God through his or her faith even those of other faiths through their faith. I see infinite inclusiveness of the God whose invitation is not selective. I see the love of God “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:39. Nothing and all must mean nothing and all.

Rev Linda Miskimen

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program where you can earn the coveted title of Chaplain. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church materials to help you with your professionalism and confidence.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and an amazed by the frequent upgrades and new functions of the seminary.
 

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Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest Essay

This course, so far, is my favorite. Other than I couldn’t wait a week for the next lesson, there was nothing in this course which I didn’t like. The pace seemed slow at first, until I truly practiced the assignments.

Blowing up roses didn’t settle well since flowers are so fleeting in Wyoming, so I substituted that exercise with “taking out the trash”. Instead of creating roses with energy, thoughts or whatever I desired to be rid of, I would imagine full, tied garbage bags being lifted and taken out through the crown chakra, then blown up and taken away by the Wyoming wind, sort of scattering ashes.

One of the many benefits to me from this course was learning to take responsibility for everything that happens in my life; ok maybe not everything which happens, but my reactions and subsequent effect I allow situations to happen in my life. This and learning to direct/reflect energies were at first quite empowering. I changed jobs, was able to negotiate terms of my employment, received all that I wanted in a job.

As with everything, the more personal power one feels, the more attractive one is to those that want to suck it up. I was amazed and overwhelmed how far reaching one’s personal power can go. That old saying “the universe abhors a vacuum” became shockingly apparent as people from all over the state started calling and needing my attention. I had to withdraw into myself for quite some time to learn how to handle the power without abusing it. That might be a lesson in itself for this course, although thankfully, there were plenty of exercises to get me through. Visualization has been one of the greatest tools from this course.

On a more personal note, I was able to change a four year relationship to something more comfortable for me. I was able to admit I should have listened to my instincts and never gotten into this relationship, and didn’t have to blame him. I truly loved the lesson on getting rid of blame, not only my blaming others but being a recipient of blame. We are still friends and I pray he gets his hearts desire, which leads me to another discovery.

Getting my Hearts Desire. Woah…talk about an eye opener. By cleaning out the chakras, asking the right questions, or trying to, I found some ugly desires in my heart. Many were instilled throughout my life by upbringing, society etc., but most was my refusal to let go, to forgive. Forgiveness was one of the earliest lessons in this course, but the hardest for me to accomplish until long into the course.

Something I would like to learn more on is how the weathers affects those on a Spirit Quest. I believe the more one is in tuned with themselves and the Universe the more one is affected by the weather. Personally, the more “trash” I take out, the less acceptable the weather where I live is to me. Well, that’ll be for another day.

Thank you and Blessed Be,

Rev. Linda Spicer

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program where you can earn the coveted title of Chaplain. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church materials to help you with your professionalism and confidence.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and an amazed by the frequent upgrades and new functions of the seminary.
 

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Metaphysical Healing

Summation of the Metaphysical Healing Course

By Susan Wallace

Full Circle

The idea of coming “full circle” in strategies for creating health and balance within clients is growing daily.

Each culture in history has had its concept of healing powers and rituals used by the people of that culture. With modern medical models the more technically advanced societies have turned away from ancestral healing traditions.

While modern medical models provide dramatic results, they are still limited because there are many cases where a client full recovers against all odds while other cases where a client dies even though a procedure has been perfectly performed. Those who daily work in the modern medical setting see these situations of life and death. They also experience clients relating their interactions with the energetic or spiritual realms during the times the client is in the hospital.

Such experiences compiled over time are causing modern medical workers to consider “the more” that is at work in healing.

I am trained and certified in energetic healing and have for the past 25 years pursued the knowledge that is commonly regarded as non-traditional when compared to medical and spiritual contemporary ideas.

This acquisition of learning (fueled by a subtle knowing) increased when I became so ill I was unable to continue working. Nothing modern medicine could do changed or improved my condition. It wasn’t until I spent my time actively practicing alternative therapies that my health began to improve. I came to understand that my spirit/soul was so unbalanced that my health failed. This situation gave me the time to use the alternative healing skills I was learning. It also gave me the opportunity to grow spiritually, seek further understanding and skills in energetic healing.

Now on a path of seeking knowledge, applying it to myself and finally to others, I find myself engaged in things that suit my personality and can help others by direct application or through teaching and/or mere exposure to metaphysical ideas.

While on this newer path, I have been blessed to have a friend who is a nurse at a leading hospital. She also offers healing touch to her clients. She has first-hand experience having a foot on each side of the issues of health/illness, and life/death as she follows emergency patients from intake to release. Her strong belief in Christianity brings yet another aspect to her healing techniques.

This course in metaphysics brought me the knowledge of the strong movement of organization and validation of spiritual healers in South Africa. I was completely unaware of this activity and found it interesting and enlightening. The cooperation between seemingly opposite medical models is breathtaking. I am awed by the scope of work and efforts put forth to create such an alliance. The time for cooperation has truly arrived.

Reading about the hurdles and opposition Dr. Lee overcame through the years shows me that God/Universe can move everything aside and empower those struggling for positive change when the time is right.

Dr. Lee’s work and efforts, I believe, are a powerful beginning to meld regular and spiritual medicine in today’s world. When the standard approach to health is holistic we will all benefit greatly. When working for wellness rather than tamping down symptoms or surgically removing parts of our bodies becomes the norm I believe we will see dramatic miracles daily. The connectedness to our Source is necessary for true health.

The metaphysical joined with the traditional will create a world full of balanced beings in touch with their Creator. This synergistic approach will create the much needed health for all beings and our planet. This harmonious world is just a thought away!

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Comparative Religion

Universal Life Church Seminary

Master of Comparative Religion

Essay by Rev. Marc D. Graham

Castle Rock, CO

THE SIGNS OF GOD

Since the dawning of consciousness, when the first person realized that she was a distinct entity within the greater natural world, religion has been a part of the human endeavor. During the long, gradual awakening—before mankind was fully conscious—the ancient ones were very much a part of nature, a part of the One, albeit unconsciously. Following this awakening—represented by the genesis legends throughout the world—humanity’s greatest quest has been to return to that unity, to re‐ligare (reconnect) and find at‐one‐ment with the Divine from which we differentiated so long ago.

Throughout history, Religion and religions have tracked the developing consciousness and social structures of the parent cultures. Sometimes leading, sometimes lagging, a direct correlation can be made between the level of a civilization’s attainment, its chief values and the style of its dominant religion. From Animism to Zoroastrianism and every ‐ism in between, countless religions exist—and have existed—sufficient to stretch the holy ligatures from the Divine to the practitioner, however near or far the individual’s understanding to the Ultimate Truth.

As part of the Divine Plan for the development of humanity, mankind’s evolution and the corollary evolution of its religions can be tracked by the astrological ages. From time immemorial, the zodiacal sign in which the sun rises at the spring equinox has determined the Age of humanity. A Platonic Year (also called Great or Equinoctial Year) is the time required for the equinoctial sunrise to cycle through each sign of the zodiac, currently estimated at 25,800 years (2,160 years for each sign). With respect to religion, the import of each age can be traced back to the time of Gemini, approximately

9000 years ago. The conditions prior to that time may be speculated upon, but are beyond the scope of this essay.

(It should be noted, that the Ages represent the condition of the mass of humanity. There have always been those who are “ahead of the curve”, with a relationship to and understanding of the Divine that outpaces the general condition of mankind’s evolution. These individuals may become the founders of the religions of a new age, or may be dismissed as madmen or heretics. It must also be stated that the dates of each Age are open to interpretation, with as much as 600 years’ difference between varying schools of thought.)

During the time of Gemini (the Twin), the duality of man—body and spirit—was celebrated, with the spirit considered a twin to the physical. The time of Taurus (the Bull) corresponds with the growth of kingly rulers and priestly religions, with the common people relegated to the status of cattle in the care of their royal/sacral herders. The struggle in the transition between Gemini and Taurus is echoed in the ancient Twin Myths from around the world, where twins (or, generically, siblings) struggle together or against each other, with one becoming dominant. Examples include Cain and Abel (Semitic), Seth and Osiris (Egyptian), and Hunapuh and Xbalanque (Maya).

The rise of Aries ( the Ram) around 2000BCE—coupled with its opposite sign, Libra (the Scale)—represents the transition to religions of propitiatory sacrifice balanced on the scale of Law. This change is most prominently remembered in Abraham’s sacrificial substitution of a ram for Isaac (Torah) or Ishmael (Koran), and in the giving of the Law to Moses. The difficulty in adapting to this new mode of religion is remembered in the story of the Israelites and the golden calf.

Following Aries, the Age of Pisces (the Fishes) was initiated during the ministry of Jesus the Nazarean. Along with its corollary sign of Virgo (the Virgin or Young Woman), the polity of this Age has been mostly defined within and by Christianity. In this Age, sacrifice is no longer required, but mankind must still have an intercessor to facilitate communion with God. Such intercession may take the form of Baptism (pure, or virgin, rebirth), Communion (originally styled with loaves and fishes) or simply by the ministry or priesthood (the Pontificate, from the Latin for bridge‐builders). Whatever the outward symbols, during the Age of Pisces, humanity requires intercession between the individual and the Divine. The intercession may take the form of gods, priests, saints, angels, Sons or Mothers of God, holy writings or even narcotics; but to partake of the stream of wisdom and knowledge of the Divine, one must rely upon the fish that swims in that stream.

The Age of Aquarius (the Water Bearer) has been presented to the popular imagination in various ways since at least the 1960s. Frequently styled a touchstone of the Hippie Counterculture or New Age movements, astronomically speaking, the Aquarian Age has yet to begin. The author equates the beginning of Aquarius with 2012CE, while other philosophies place the start as late as 2638CE. Regardless, Aquarius, along with its countersign Leo ( the Lion), has already begun to influence humanity. During this Age, the individual will gain access to the Divine directly, without the need of instruction, sacrifice or intercession. In this continued evolution, each person will become his own water‐bearer, king (lion) of his own destiny as he drinks directly from the Stream.

The true religions of all ages and all cultures have at their core the aim of reconnecting mankind with the Divine. Since the Fall—the “descent” of humanity from the unconscious spiritual state to the state of spiritualized physical consciousness—we have struggled to find our way back to that original state, consciously and willfully to reunite with God. Every religion shares this aim, however different the parent societies may seem.

Sadly, our current condition makes it nearly impossible for religion to remain untainted by the cultural and political systems it is intended to illuminate. The religious differences and strife that have ever existed between peoples are simply the manifestation of mean political striving. Strip away the trappings, and all religions are—at their core—merely different faces of the same Truth. It may be hoped that, in the Age to come, unifying Truth may overcome divisive Error. 

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