Archive for February, 2007
Source Energy, Right On Track
February 20th, 2007
What just happened
I was standing in the kitchen and realized that my daughter, in the bedroom above the kitchen, can hear what goes on in the kitchen. I don’t want to wake her up once she’s asleep so I decided that in the next house I want the bedrooms to be insulated from the noise of the living areas. It made me appreciate the time lag from when I started launching "rockets of desire" about my next house (months ago) to when the house manifests (coming soon).
It "Dawned" on me
And suddenly I realized what Abraham meant when they said in one of their workshops, "When you stand in a place of wanting something and you are appreciating the evolution of your desire you are Source energy, right on track"! (I’m paraphrasing, but it’s something like that.) Cool! I’ve made it to the place of appreciating the evolution of my desire and wow, is that a great place to be!
Extra help on your path
I strongly recommend getting and listening to the CDs or tapes of the workshops that Esther and Jerry Hicks, teachers of the Law of Attraction, do around the country. By keeping my head in it all the time it’s so much easier to put deliberate creation into practice and now I realize that I’ve gone from "conscious incompetence" to "conscious competence" in a relatively short time. Hurray for me!
Read my review of Ask & It Is Given
Read my review of The Law of Attraction
View the available CDs and tapes at Abraham-Hicks.com
The Artist’s Way
February 19th, 2007
What this book is about
Julia Cameron has written Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity to help us find the creative artist in ourselves. Whether you are trying to find your creative expression in life or have a block to your continued creativity, this book takes a spiritual perspective to provide guidance and exercises to light your creative fire and get you moving in the direction of your creative expression once again.
My experience
This book was very transformational for me. Once I started reading it and doing the exercises a whole new world opened up for me. It was right after I found out about raw foods and I started creating recipes every day. A lot of the recipes in the Dawn of a New Day Raw Desserts e-book were developed at this time. Most of the recipes never needed any reworking either, so perfect was my connection to Source and my creative power.
The Workbook
The Artist’s Way Workbook is a tool to help with the exercises in The Artist’s Way. It’s a nice book to have, if it feels right to you. Not having it doesn’t detract from the experience of the original book itself though.
Conclusions
I think this book is great for everyone, whether you feel you have a creative calling or not. It helps heal old programming and bring you into freedom to pursue the life you want, in its full expression.
View book details at Amazon: Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Agape International Spiritual Center
February 8th, 2007
What it is
Agape is "a trans-denominational spiritual community whose doors are open to all seekers in search of authentic spirituality, personal transformation and selfless service to humankind." It is based in Los Angeles, California and just celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. There are about 9,000 members and the sanctuary, which is in a corporate park in Culver City, holds approximately 1,200 to 1,500 for each service. There are four services per week, one Wednesday evening and three on Sunday morning to make sure everyone gets to attend a service each week. There is a music ministry and a 200 voice choir which performs the last Sunday of each month. The whole service is translated into sign language for the hearing impaired. Large TV screens hang from the ceiling heralding upcoming events, the words to the songs so you can sing along and the projection of those on stage as filmed from the cameras around the room. The service is also projected to those sitting outside in the "over-flow area" under a tent in the parking lot. Speaking of the parking lot, after the service you can peruse the tents conveniently situated in the parking lot to the side of the building where vendors sell food, Goddess clothing, shawls, paintings and other items of interest to the community. There is also a vendor who sells Agape approved T-shirts and apparel.
My experience
When I was in Los Angeles I visited Agape and went to two services: Wednesday evening and the third service on Sunday. Since it was the last Sunday of the month the choir performed and man were they good. They were all decked out in fancy outfits from many different cultures and backgrounds and it made one of the most beautiful, musical pictures you can possibly imagine. The music 
was lead by Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith and was absolutely amazing! Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith spoke on the "Seven Pillars of Fire", which I’m expecting a copy of any day now. It was an absolutely AMAZING message providing everything we need to make our lives work. The energy in the room was of the highest vibration and transported me to another place, closer to my higher self. I felt connected to Source on many levels. At each service the opportunity is given to those at Agape for the first time to stand and be recognized by all those assembled. Everyone is then lead in a recognition of all the new comers stating that they are recognized for who they are: extensions of Source energy. It was moving to be recognized in this way by 1,200 members of Agape. I was touched so deeply that I still get misty eyed when I recall the experience and the energy that came with it.
Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith
Rev. Michael, affectionately called, "The Rev", started Agape in 1986 from a vision for "a trans-denominational spiritual community" and he "teaches universal truth principles found in the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality". It has grown over the years to its current level and has been growing exponentially since Rev. Michael’s appearance in The Secret. Since then he’s bee interviewed on Larry King and for an upcoming segment of Oprah. He’s been the recipient of many humanitarian awards and is an amazing person. I wish I had gotten to meet him but I know I’ll get the chance another time. As it was I got to sit in the front row (after unfilled, reserved seats were released) so I was up close for the message. He and his wife, Rickie Byars-Beckwith, have written most of the songs performed at Agape. Michael has also written several books including: Living From the Overflow, A Manifesto of Peace and Inspirations of the Heart.
Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith
Rickie is an intuit, channeling healing music which has helped many heal. I mean, just read the lyrics for some of her songs. She and Michael compliment each other in a beautiful way. At the service Rickie performed one of the songs from her album I Found a Deeper Love. It was just beautiful. I met her at the end of the service and we took a picture together. She was very sweet and kind to meet everyone who wants to meet her. Her talent is amazing and she is a true light to the world.
Possible evolutions
At this time, since the service is already being recorded, it could be shown live on television or streaming over the web for those who want to view it. This could increase the number of members and allow those of us who don’t live in the Los Angeles area to experience the love!
Conclusions
Michael and Rickie are igniting the light of God in everyone they meet and Agape is their love of God in beautiful expression. I consider it a great honor to have been to one of the services and to have met Rickie. Next time I’ll meet Rev. Michael, too. If you are in the LA area make it a point to get to one of the early Sunday services and get there early so you get a seat in the sanctuary and can join the meditation. I definitely recommend becoming an online member, if you feel called, even if you don’t get out to LA.
Raw food
I heard a rumor, from a good friend of Rickie and Michael’s, that they are also eating raw now. I’ll bet they also eat at Euphoria Loves Rawvolution.
Read about the movie Rev. Michael is in: The Secret
Visit the website and become an online member
Donate to Agape International Spiritual Center
Read about Rev. Michael’s (and other experts) show with Oprah
Posted in Healthy Spirit
Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
February 5th, 2007
Los Angeles raw restaurant
Vegan and raw, at Euphoria Loves Rawvolution, a hip raw restaurant in Los Angeles, you’ll be making a difference in the impact your dining has on the environment. It’s not only a raw restaurant but all the plates, cups and utensils are compostable. When you’re done eating in the Indian inspired dining room just throw your dishes in the bin marked for the compost before perusing the selection of raw foods, supplements, drinks, desserts, crackers, ingredients and books before walking down to the beach to have a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
Food
The food was also fabulous. The menu has items on it like the Big Matt (it’s a raw version of a big mac), raw pizza, almond milk, soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches and so much more. They also have a raw drink bar with such delights as wheatgrass juice, fresh juices and coconut milk. Everything was really top shelf, tasty, raw and filling.
Service
It’s counter service where you order at the counter and it’s brought out to your table, whether you’re sitting inside or outside. The people who work there are very nice and while it may take a little while to order, the food comes out relatively quickly.
You were in California?
Right, I was in Los Angeles, California last week to visit with a friend and check out Agape. While I was there she took me around to a couple of the raw restaurants in town. There are so many but we only went to three of them!
If you’re not in Los Angeles
So, you love raw foods but there isn’t a raw restaurant near you, huh? Well, there are several raw books that I like: 12 Steps to Raw Foods, Raw Family, Eating without Heating and The Raw Gourmet. If you are especially fond of dessert you can make some of my creations from the Dawn of a New Day Raw Desserts e-book (it’s free when you sign-up for our newsletter).
Conclusion
So, if you have reason to visit LA you definitely have to experience an Agape service with Michael Beckwith and visit a raw restaurant or two in addition to going to the beach and doing what you go there for.
Visit Euphoria Loves RAWvolution on the web
Order a box of raw food from RAWvolution
or live 2301 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90495 (310) 392-9501
Posted in Healthy Body
Dumbing Us Down
February 1st, 2007
What this book is about
The information in this book came from John Taylor Gatto‘s insider view as a school teacher for many years. Named the New York State teacher of the year for several years, he realized that the school systems were not healthy for children. He had the courage to say so and is making a difference. This book is a compilation of several of his lectures including the seven lessons learned in school, one of which is learning not to trust your own internal sense of accomplishment (what an awful thing to teach someone). The current school systems were set up to make good factory workers. You probably remember, "Sit down and shut up". I want more than that for my children.
Homeschooling and unschooling
Gatto is a proponent of homeschooling. With all his expertise, experience and insight he has found that homeschooling is the best option for all children. You can search for homeschooling online. You can even get homeschooling materials, curriculum and support for Waldorf homeschooling, religious-based homeschooling and many other methodologies. There are homeschooling support groups where the children participate in extracurricular activities with other homeschoolers. Rarely have I seen children as happy as most homeschooled children. In our area we have a school that is supplemental to homeschooling, where they "create an environment for life-long learning", offering classes in art, dance, theater, sports, math, science, farm, kinesthetics, cooking, foreign cultures, and much more. It’s called Open Connections and the children I see there have the biggest smiles that go all the way to their eyes. If it feels right to you there are many resources and support to help you make it happen. And hey, you’ll save hundreds of thousands of dollars on private school. You’ll also have a closer bond with your children.
Waldorf Schools
When asked about Waldorf education John Gatto says that it’s better than public school but it’s still not as good as homeschooling.
Alternative Schools
Still a school but there are many alternatives to public school and conventional education. You can search for them in your area, visit them, talk to the high school students and alumni and see how happy and successful they are. Find out which colleges graduates went to (if that’s important to you) and what the colleges and universities think of graduates from those schools. The colleges and universities love the Waldorf graduates because they love to learn and are well-balanced, in addition to other desirable qualities.
History of education
On John Gattos’s website I found it interesting to go through the pages he has about the history of education in the United States. He actually wrote another book, The Underground History of American Education which you might also find interesting. I’ll let you know what I think when I read it.
Conclusions
You owe it to yourself and your children to read this book. There are alternatives to compulsory schooling, depending on how far you want to go, and you can find them.
View book details at Amazon: Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling