After a few weeks of Metaphysical Theology classes, I've noticed how much my beliefs have changed in the past few years. I certainly am a work of Process Theology! I was most interested in the conversation about afterlife, specifically identifying the four main beliefs or destinations that exist. Do you believe in extinction, judgment, reincarnation, or universalism?
It is only in the past few years that I have really embraced the concept of reincarnation...although don't try to start a dinner party conversation around this! People are certainly funny about this concept. They either love it or hate it. I love it, perhaps because it supports the developmental models in transpersonal and integral spirituality. My new teachers....Ken Wilber and Alan Cohen...support the concept of reincarnation, but admittedly don't teach a lot about it. I listened to a talk they gave recently and I did like one idea that supports a belief in reincarnation. How can people be born with advanced stages of knowledge? For instance, I understand Beethoven wrote a complete symphony at the age of four. How can I possibly explain that level of skill without seriously looking at the possibility of reincarnation? I believe that we grow in consciousness at the soul or subtle level and when we die, that consciousness then goes with us. Beethoven must have been a composer in another life and then brought that skill with him into his new life...and for that I am very grateful! That is what I believe for now....but I know that may also change with time.
Surprisingly enough, I am also considering the extinction category. I think it is possible that nothing happens at death...consciousness may end. But if I REALLY believed that, I'd be atheist, wouldn't I? I just can't do that...yet. The energy of God exists...of that I am positive!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I'D RATHER MEDITATE
I feel a bit like I'm in vocabulary hell. After several weeks of theological terms, I'd really rather just sit and meditate. Don't get me wrong. I am really learning a lot in this class and think Dr. Tom has incredible knowledge to share...I just wonder what I am going to do with this glossary of terms. I do have a better understanding of Unity and how it fits into this theological discussion (very important for ministers), but do I really need to know all of this?
It does seem that the spiritual journey takes people in different directions. A few weeks ago, I heard one of the students ask a similar question in the Integral Spirituality class. She wasn't sure the class was an essential part of her education. For me, Integral and Transpersonal Psychology are a HUGE part of my journey. I wouldn't even be the same person today without having taken Brumet's Trans Psych class over a year ago. And just having a working knowledge of ILP (Integral Life Practice) brings me to an entire new dimension of spiritual and personal growth potentialities. It is the practice that attracts me, not necessarily the theological discussion....although I could probably talk about transpersonal psychology for hours...hummm...
So if your wondering how I feel about the Trinity...the whole mind, idea, expression thing...I don't have a whole bunch to say. I am very glad that the Fillmore's created a metaphysical interpretation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This helped me understand the Bible in an entirely new way many years ago and for that I will always be grateful. I love that I am expression in action! There is always a creative process going on in the world and in me. That is about as deep as I want to go with the discussion of the Trinity right now. As I mentioned earlier, I'd really rather clear my mind and meditate. I signed up for Brumet's retreat next weekend. I hope to see you there!
It does seem that the spiritual journey takes people in different directions. A few weeks ago, I heard one of the students ask a similar question in the Integral Spirituality class. She wasn't sure the class was an essential part of her education. For me, Integral and Transpersonal Psychology are a HUGE part of my journey. I wouldn't even be the same person today without having taken Brumet's Trans Psych class over a year ago. And just having a working knowledge of ILP (Integral Life Practice) brings me to an entire new dimension of spiritual and personal growth potentialities. It is the practice that attracts me, not necessarily the theological discussion....although I could probably talk about transpersonal psychology for hours...hummm...
So if your wondering how I feel about the Trinity...the whole mind, idea, expression thing...I don't have a whole bunch to say. I am very glad that the Fillmore's created a metaphysical interpretation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This helped me understand the Bible in an entirely new way many years ago and for that I will always be grateful. I love that I am expression in action! There is always a creative process going on in the world and in me. That is about as deep as I want to go with the discussion of the Trinity right now. As I mentioned earlier, I'd really rather clear my mind and meditate. I signed up for Brumet's retreat next weekend. I hope to see you there!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Spiritual Spiral
I was somewhat surprised to hear so many people in class this week share their beliefs that the spiritual path is a linear process. I understand that thinking. That is how I used to live my life. Today, at least for me, the spiritual journey has become a spiral. Here is how I look at it...
In the premodern world, indigenous cultures like the Native American Indians lived seasonal lives that flowed in a circle. From Fall, to Spring, to Summer, to Winter, these people lived as one with nature. Native American's call this pattern "The Hoop" and as a circle it represents feminine receptive energy. The circle also represents a pattern of birth and death. Natives were cycling through life for survival, but may not have been evolving.
With the introduction of the industrial revolution in America, the modern world moved away from this circle pattern. Instead of the circle, people began honoring the penetrating energy of straight line growth. Imagine an arrow shooting off in a diagonal into the sky! I believe it was at that time that America more fully embraced the male leadership model. This linear model exemplifies masculine action energy. True growth abounds as people strive to reach a target.
I believe the post-modern world combines the best of both of these feminine and masculine energies and creates a spiral. Like the slinky toy I used to play with as a child, the spiral brings the circle into a three dimensional world. Here, circular birth and death patterns are constant...but so is the ascension to a new way of being. This is the best of both worlds...receptivity and action unite!!! At this level of maturity, I believe the feminine and masculine energies in each individual come together, bringing a new level of wholeness to the community and to the world.
A few months ago I graduated as a Shamanic Breathwork Minister & Facilitator. I find it interesting that I attracted this practice just at the time I was uniting my own male and female energies. The spiral reigns in the breathwork world and I am so grateful for this shift in perception. I feel it is a huge leap to something new. I can't wait to see what it will manifest for me and for others!
In the premodern world, indigenous cultures like the Native American Indians lived seasonal lives that flowed in a circle. From Fall, to Spring, to Summer, to Winter, these people lived as one with nature. Native American's call this pattern "The Hoop" and as a circle it represents feminine receptive energy. The circle also represents a pattern of birth and death. Natives were cycling through life for survival, but may not have been evolving.
With the introduction of the industrial revolution in America, the modern world moved away from this circle pattern. Instead of the circle, people began honoring the penetrating energy of straight line growth. Imagine an arrow shooting off in a diagonal into the sky! I believe it was at that time that America more fully embraced the male leadership model. This linear model exemplifies masculine action energy. True growth abounds as people strive to reach a target.
I believe the post-modern world combines the best of both of these feminine and masculine energies and creates a spiral. Like the slinky toy I used to play with as a child, the spiral brings the circle into a three dimensional world. Here, circular birth and death patterns are constant...but so is the ascension to a new way of being. This is the best of both worlds...receptivity and action unite!!! At this level of maturity, I believe the feminine and masculine energies in each individual come together, bringing a new level of wholeness to the community and to the world.
A few months ago I graduated as a Shamanic Breathwork Minister & Facilitator. I find it interesting that I attracted this practice just at the time I was uniting my own male and female energies. The spiral reigns in the breathwork world and I am so grateful for this shift in perception. I feel it is a huge leap to something new. I can't wait to see what it will manifest for me and for others!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A Culture of Happy People...or are they?
The vast majority of my experience with Unity has been incredibly positive. The culture of positive uplifting spiritual messages fed me for years, as I experienced success and prosperity in so many areas in life. How sad that when the market crashed and life wasn't working....the entire Unity message just didn't seem to work anymore. It even started to sound a bit, well, fake. Those few people that knew of my situation seemed fairly confident that I was creating every circumstance in my life. After all, aren't we all co-creators? And I do believe they wanted it to be about me, because if it is not...then couldn't they experience the same kind of loss? Could they? Anyway, I'm still wrestling with my experience and wonder what it has to offer others. It certainly is a lesson in cultural conditioning. Of that, I can be certain.
I do know that my efforts to seek spiritual counseling in my own church were a dismal failure. I was in spiritual crisis and I just don't think the enormity of what I was experiencing was recognized....perhaps because I was recognized as a very prosperous leader? While I started telling my story....the minister kept trying to move me on to a more positive way of being...really even denying what was going on. Now, I haven't taken Brumet's counseling classes yet, but I do know from my own experience that the ministers role is NOT to change anyone. If people come in the door and ask for help, I'd better have an ability to hear it...perhaps even speak it back...and then find out what the person needs. I'm pretty convinced that the role of spiritual counseling is NOT to jump into a metaphysical discussion of how our thoughts create our world. People in pain do not need to hear that.
I think what surprised me the most about this experience was the unwillingness of a lead Unity minister to hear anything that was not positive. I was actually beginning a rather lengthy process of grieving my losses, and that was not supported. In fact, I was encouraged to move away from any "negative" feelings, so that I wouldn't attract more negative in my life...as if that was going to fix the situation. No, that is not the answer. That is metaphysical malpractice. Fortunately I was smart enough to move on from this attempt at spiritual counseling to find someone that was more qualified. I began talking with Rev. Robert Brumet probably two and a half years ago and have experienced really incredible healing and growth as a result. Without him, I probably would have left Unity a long time ago.
Today, I'm fairly certain I'm one of the best qualified Unity people to counsel someone dealing with pain and loss (minister or not.) I've lived it. Brumet taught me to fully enter my pain, instead of move away from it...and grieve...no matter how long it takes!
As I continue this journey with Unity, I do wonder where I'll end up. Can I teach the prosperity and positivity lessons that served me for so long in my 20's and 30's, or do I need to do something else? Since Unity has been a major part of my life, I seem to live with that polarity on a daily basis now. I need to make a decision about ministerial school...and I just don't know. I am certainly not a pessimist, nor am I an idealistic optimist anymore. Perhaps there is a middle ground for Unity today. I think a more balanced version of Unity is needed to bring these teachings into the 21st century. No more magical thinking and no more metaphysical malpractice! I continue to support the idea of creating an Integral Unity church. That would work for me...I think.
I do know that my efforts to seek spiritual counseling in my own church were a dismal failure. I was in spiritual crisis and I just don't think the enormity of what I was experiencing was recognized....perhaps because I was recognized as a very prosperous leader? While I started telling my story....the minister kept trying to move me on to a more positive way of being...really even denying what was going on. Now, I haven't taken Brumet's counseling classes yet, but I do know from my own experience that the ministers role is NOT to change anyone. If people come in the door and ask for help, I'd better have an ability to hear it...perhaps even speak it back...and then find out what the person needs. I'm pretty convinced that the role of spiritual counseling is NOT to jump into a metaphysical discussion of how our thoughts create our world. People in pain do not need to hear that.
I think what surprised me the most about this experience was the unwillingness of a lead Unity minister to hear anything that was not positive. I was actually beginning a rather lengthy process of grieving my losses, and that was not supported. In fact, I was encouraged to move away from any "negative" feelings, so that I wouldn't attract more negative in my life...as if that was going to fix the situation. No, that is not the answer. That is metaphysical malpractice. Fortunately I was smart enough to move on from this attempt at spiritual counseling to find someone that was more qualified. I began talking with Rev. Robert Brumet probably two and a half years ago and have experienced really incredible healing and growth as a result. Without him, I probably would have left Unity a long time ago.
Today, I'm fairly certain I'm one of the best qualified Unity people to counsel someone dealing with pain and loss (minister or not.) I've lived it. Brumet taught me to fully enter my pain, instead of move away from it...and grieve...no matter how long it takes!
As I continue this journey with Unity, I do wonder where I'll end up. Can I teach the prosperity and positivity lessons that served me for so long in my 20's and 30's, or do I need to do something else? Since Unity has been a major part of my life, I seem to live with that polarity on a daily basis now. I need to make a decision about ministerial school...and I just don't know. I am certainly not a pessimist, nor am I an idealistic optimist anymore. Perhaps there is a middle ground for Unity today. I think a more balanced version of Unity is needed to bring these teachings into the 21st century. No more magical thinking and no more metaphysical malpractice! I continue to support the idea of creating an Integral Unity church. That would work for me...I think.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Lens of Spiral Dynamics
I've spent a great deal of time looking at life through many different lenses lately. I took a class in spiral dynamics a few years ago and its opened me up to how people can have different life values. What those values are, creates a lens on how they see and interpret the world. Spiral Dynamics creator Clare Graves color coded the values, so that they are easier to understand. I am seeing a lot of Blue, Orange, and Green these days...and right in my own neighborhood!
Briefly...a person at Blue will sacrifice self for the group, see things in "black and white" terms, and strive for salvation through obedience and faith. People at "blue" are likely to follow dogma in religion, like bureaucracy in government and work, and may have more traditional role marriages. The Orange people like to create better standards of living and social positions. They strive the achieve wealth and status. I spent many years in this category myself, climbing the corporate ladder...achieving honors and making all kinds of money. The Green people fascinate me the most today, probably because I am one. Suddenly, I'm not so concerned about money. What about Mother Earth? Have you noticed the environmental issues facing the world today? Green people also don't like bureaucracy and thrive on consensus voting. Those people at the green level celebrate the feminine, multiculturalism, and spiritual diversity. Do you have any friends at Green? I'd probably like to meet them!
There are higher spiral dynamics levels now, too, but these three seem to be most present in my world...and I have to admit...this sometime frustrates me! For instance, my husband and children are incredibly dedicated to Boy Scouts. Now, this is a fabulous organization, don't get me wrong, but if you have children in scouting...have you noticed how "blue" this is? There are uniforms to wear, a pledge to recite, and badges to earn. I think the boys even march in for every "Court of Honor" and post the American Flag. This is civic duty at its finest! While I celebrate the life skills my boys continue to learn (and am grateful to my husband for teaching this), I can't help but notice my...well, yawn...boredom with the whole program. OK, I am a women and that could be part of this, but did you know that Green people really don't appreciate much of anything that is Blue? There ARE mothers actively involved in scouting and guess what, they see the world as spiral Blue!
Since I started studying spiral dynamics, I understand how important this tool can be! Suddenly, I can "read" people in my community like never before. Any judgement I may start to have just falls away. I can now see the world through their lens. In my upper middle class neighborhood, there is a lot of Blue religion and Orange work ethic people. And, I am starting to see how best to interact with others through their value view of the world! Oh my...I'm excited now...that means I have a hit of Yellow in me, too!
Briefly...a person at Blue will sacrifice self for the group, see things in "black and white" terms, and strive for salvation through obedience and faith. People at "blue" are likely to follow dogma in religion, like bureaucracy in government and work, and may have more traditional role marriages. The Orange people like to create better standards of living and social positions. They strive the achieve wealth and status. I spent many years in this category myself, climbing the corporate ladder...achieving honors and making all kinds of money. The Green people fascinate me the most today, probably because I am one. Suddenly, I'm not so concerned about money. What about Mother Earth? Have you noticed the environmental issues facing the world today? Green people also don't like bureaucracy and thrive on consensus voting. Those people at the green level celebrate the feminine, multiculturalism, and spiritual diversity. Do you have any friends at Green? I'd probably like to meet them!
There are higher spiral dynamics levels now, too, but these three seem to be most present in my world...and I have to admit...this sometime frustrates me! For instance, my husband and children are incredibly dedicated to Boy Scouts. Now, this is a fabulous organization, don't get me wrong, but if you have children in scouting...have you noticed how "blue" this is? There are uniforms to wear, a pledge to recite, and badges to earn. I think the boys even march in for every "Court of Honor" and post the American Flag. This is civic duty at its finest! While I celebrate the life skills my boys continue to learn (and am grateful to my husband for teaching this), I can't help but notice my...well, yawn...boredom with the whole program. OK, I am a women and that could be part of this, but did you know that Green people really don't appreciate much of anything that is Blue? There ARE mothers actively involved in scouting and guess what, they see the world as spiral Blue!
Since I started studying spiral dynamics, I understand how important this tool can be! Suddenly, I can "read" people in my community like never before. Any judgement I may start to have just falls away. I can now see the world through their lens. In my upper middle class neighborhood, there is a lot of Blue religion and Orange work ethic people. And, I am starting to see how best to interact with others through their value view of the world! Oh my...I'm excited now...that means I have a hit of Yellow in me, too!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Theological Snapshot
I believe that there is an energetic presence that unites the world. Many people may refer to this energy as God. That word doesn't really resonate with me, so I will all this masculine and feminine energy Spirit. Spirit has been here since the beginning of time and wishes to create through each of us. Teachers like Jesus, Mohammad, and Buddha have all been human examples of what it means to connect with Spirit in all aspects of life. These teachers come from different religions, but the diversity doesn't really matter. There seems to be a common thread of love and compassion woven through all the highest spiritual teachings...it is all one Spirit or one God.
In Unity, we are also aware that our thoughts have the power to create. I know that when my thinking is aligned wit high spiritual principles, my life seems to flow from one moment to the next. The Fillmore's metaphysical interpretation of the Bible certainly brings this way of thinking to life. In the Bible...people, places, and things represent states of consciousness, providing a rather simple map of sense consciousness or Christ consciousness to study.
What a miracle birth is! I believe we are all brought into this world innocent, whole, and complete. Babies all shine with the spark of divinity and love. It would seem that those babies fortunate enough to grow up in a loving environment would have the greatest chance of becoming like Jesus or Buddha. But it doesn't always work that way. With free will, humans have the ability to choose a life devoted to Spirit, or to do something else. Sometimes humans "miss the mark" in their own growth process. This error or "sin", then usually leads to a life correction, perhaps putting the person back on the path to Spirit. Spirit wants each of us to grow and evolve and become the best version of ourselves we can be. In some strange way, Spirit always seems to know what each individual needs to grow.
Knowledge of transpersonal psychology has certainly changed my understanding of what it means to truly be one with Spirit. I now believe that each human being has their own psycho-spiritual process of evolution that begins with life in the womb. At the moment of conception new life begins. From birth, the child has many developmental steps it must go through to become a healthy adult. If any of those steps are missed, then the adult will have to go back and reclaim that aspect of self. This process of transcending the last stage of development and including it in to the new stage, must continue throughout life...to reach the highest stages of development and the transpersonal realms. Studies now show that the practice of daily mediation actually helps us in this "transcend and include" initiative, speeding up the process! At times, Jesus lived from the transpersonal and role-modeled that behavior. By following his example, each of us have an opportunity to evolve to our own highest level of Self...our God Self...and share that divinity with the world.
In Unity, we are also aware that our thoughts have the power to create. I know that when my thinking is aligned wit high spiritual principles, my life seems to flow from one moment to the next. The Fillmore's metaphysical interpretation of the Bible certainly brings this way of thinking to life. In the Bible...people, places, and things represent states of consciousness, providing a rather simple map of sense consciousness or Christ consciousness to study.
What a miracle birth is! I believe we are all brought into this world innocent, whole, and complete. Babies all shine with the spark of divinity and love. It would seem that those babies fortunate enough to grow up in a loving environment would have the greatest chance of becoming like Jesus or Buddha. But it doesn't always work that way. With free will, humans have the ability to choose a life devoted to Spirit, or to do something else. Sometimes humans "miss the mark" in their own growth process. This error or "sin", then usually leads to a life correction, perhaps putting the person back on the path to Spirit. Spirit wants each of us to grow and evolve and become the best version of ourselves we can be. In some strange way, Spirit always seems to know what each individual needs to grow.
Knowledge of transpersonal psychology has certainly changed my understanding of what it means to truly be one with Spirit. I now believe that each human being has their own psycho-spiritual process of evolution that begins with life in the womb. At the moment of conception new life begins. From birth, the child has many developmental steps it must go through to become a healthy adult. If any of those steps are missed, then the adult will have to go back and reclaim that aspect of self. This process of transcending the last stage of development and including it in to the new stage, must continue throughout life...to reach the highest stages of development and the transpersonal realms. Studies now show that the practice of daily mediation actually helps us in this "transcend and include" initiative, speeding up the process! At times, Jesus lived from the transpersonal and role-modeled that behavior. By following his example, each of us have an opportunity to evolve to our own highest level of Self...our God Self...and share that divinity with the world.
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