Spiritual Awareness

Awareness Final Essay

Rev. Anna M Pohl

As I studied this course it became very personal to me. Not surprisingly my life began reflecting the lessons and the discourses became indicators for what was going on in my life.

It's ironic that the course tends treats the World View a bit like a task that is very difficult to accomplish, or at least out of the norm for our human sensibilities. The truth for me is quite different.

I find that the totality of our spiritual life and the World View is easy for many of us to include in our practice and service but when it gets personal? Whew! then it becomes a bigger issue. Then any Hollywood drama pails in comparison to the mess we can allow our spiritual life can become.

I've always been a person who followed my intuitions, not because I was any Intuit guru, oh no, but because I was always excited to see where they would lead me. Never being really attached to the outcome I was kind of on a adventure more then a human five sensory life you could say. Except of course in my personal relationships, now that was quite a different story. When I tried to use that in personal relationships well let's just say it was interesting.  And even now with all my life work, study and practice it is really not so different, (I'm shaking my head here)

So for this essay I will tell you a story, while I answer the question at hand.  Just what did I get out of this Awareness course?

We met at a coffee shop. I was sitting in a nice comfy chair by the window having come in just to use the wifi. I was wondering to myself "Who would leave that just laying around in a chair life that?" The black brief case was sitting across from me kind of tossed there without much care.  As the battery slowly died on my laptop I soon found out the answer to my question. He said "Hi" and I said "Hello" it was kind of a strange moment actually as we both donned looks that said more "what the…who's that?"

We didn't speak again till I was leaving and as I passed him on the way out there literally was a clap and a white flash of light. Our eyes connected in a solid rock like gaze and in that second time stopped, literally the rest of the world seemed to be in slow motion, and I said "Good bye" and nodded. He said the same turning in the chair to keep the connection. As I watched myself like an out of body experience my feet slowed and I found myself wondering if he was going to follow me as I walked out the door.  He didn't. And I got in my car and drove away.

Of course though I had never been in that coffee shop before that in my life, I ended up back there the next morning and so did he. Synchronicity? Coincidence? That is a Not so Coincidence. This was a meant to be.  We found common ground immediately and began a relationship that would take me through the rest of my course.

We began exploring, attempting to make our lives together consciously. We were opening up our personal journeys and we talked constantly about the shift that was happening and how we were to be an interracial part of that in our area. We watched as the world around us began to change by our presence and consciousness. We could walk into a room and the entire tone of the people changed. This couple stopped bickering and began holding hands. That one began to relax and a man actually stopped breathing problems right in front of us. It was so rare.

We discussed what brought us to this point and found more coincidences every day. I had had a vision the morning of the day we met and he had prayed to God for 10 things the day before. His real soul mate was #9.  Other things started to happen and the numbers 3, 9 and 11 were showing up for us everywhere. He read the Celestine Prophecy. I had read it before and now was taking this course. What a glorious time of discovery.

It was during the time when I was studying more on how to stay tapped into the universal energy and sharing that our control dramas reared their heads. Fear of rejection took him over and for him it became a violent time, not physically but emotionally and the fall out became the bullets I was dodging more and more. He was the changes as meaning there was something wrong with him and that, that is what I was telling him.

The more intense it got the more it became the same terrorism our instructor talks about in lesson 19 on print page 8. Though she was referring to the world on the whole, fear acts like terrorism. These personal attacks trigger our deepest fears and we are vulnerable. I responded with fight or flight and he reacted through suppression and denial. We did revert back to dualistic thinking and chaos ensued. The whole beautiful vision began to fall apart. I'd forgotten to tap into the greater source and my person was being drained like a tub whose plug has been abruptly pulled. We both began to manipulate our circumstances. Competitions was thick. By the time a few days had passed and I was able to remember myself, I found out later, we had already created a new trigger point in me. This was hit later and compounded the now certain deterioration of our relationship.

Even though we prayed, meditated and tried I was not the same. And he had not yet come to terms with what his responsibility in the situation was. He was cruel and oppressive and I was weekend and fought back.

Trying to become light, happy, buoyant and at peace became more and more a conscious effort instead of reality for me. And each time I attempted a fix or to make peach with the issues it blew up even bigger. I began to be swallowed up by it all and found I needed an escape. Now our personal dramas were the norm and our visions for the work we were going to do faded as our lives became a mess.

Toward the end of our time together we realized how much we Loved each other, here and in the Spiritual plain but we couldn't save us. Upon our parting we held each other consciously filling each other with light on a conscious level and then accepting the thing we feared most, separation.

The habit of control dramas can be devastating. We came to an understanding of these dramas too late it seems. We both believe their will come a day when we will see each other again. And this time we will be prepared to extend the World Vision through ourselves as individuals and with each other.  This was a spectacular learning experience. A living drama of the course.

If I could offer something to our students it would be; know yourself, accept where you are in your evolution graciously, and with forgiveness. Recognizing that is paramount. Grow in that knowledge first, so that you can begin healing. This is of the highest importance. Too often we see our level as something wrong with us. Too often we judge ourselves lacking before we even analyze who we are and why.

Take some time to learn yourself. Accept who you are, light and shadow alike. Use your spiritual tools. Send your Love and light out to yourself and all around you. Look at your own beauty. You are a wonderful creation and should be admired just for existing. Yes attempt to find your birth vision, attempt to find your center. But more importantly be joyous and replace fear with Love and contentment whenever and however you can. Then we can begin our work in the World Vision. Only then we become part of the whole.

I have enjoyed this course. I did feel there was a lot stuffed into it and it did veer off subject a bit much sometimes. However it is an invaluable recourse and I appreciate the instructor and the Seminary for creating it. Mother Father God Bless you.  My thanks.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality Course

I must admit when I first started on this course I wasn’t really sure where it would take me. I have always had a deep faith and have regularly attended a very traditional church all my life taking my place most Sundays in the choir for the past 36 years. However although I have found great solace and a connectives to God I have never really questioned my beliefs. Well actually that’s not strictly true. At the age of 21 years I did a Bishops Course which moved me into thinking I had a calling towards ministry. However I had recently lost my Mum from cancer, was having to look after the family and wanted to get married, all of which pushed my feelings into ministry well and truly into the background.

I suppose I re-entered my spiritual journey about 2 years ago at a time I was feeling particularly detached from God. I attended a prayer meeting which, although I didn’t realize it at the time, was to become particularly significant. Our priest prayed a very moving prayer for me which left me with a wonderful sense of peace. About a year after this I was inspired to write a song. Now although I can sing and play the violin, I have never attempted to write music before. A friend of mine told me there was a song in me to which I replied don’t be daft. However a few weeks later “The light at the end of the Tunnel” was written. It relates to a moving experience I had while visiting a waterfall where I felt the presence of God coming through in nature. My 2nd song” Holy Spirit come down from above” was written a few weeks later and relates directly to the prayer which was prayed for me a year earlier.

I mentioned the above as I feel these events were a huge influence on the rebirth of my spiritual journey .As I worked my way through the course I began to appreciate that life is filled with co-incidences and I gradually became aware of different situations occurring at appropriate times and to trust my intuition. I have always had dreams but never paid much attention to their content. However I have come to realize that our dreams have meaning and together with our intuition can guide us to our destinies. When I kept a record of co-incidences for a week I was amazed at how they linked up to my dreams and intuition.

I had always found meditation difficult but was able to create my own scared space and I now retreat to it often when I need “time out”. I became aware of the energy present all around us and often take time out to reconnect with the energy field. I find this particularly helpful when I need to face stressful situations which would leave me shaking and quivering as I realized how other people can drain our energy from us and instill in us feelings of fear and negativity: feelings such as hate greed anxiety, jealously. I overcame these feelings by learning to analyze situations by using the parent, child, adult theory and can now face up to these situations which I would have previously run away from. An example of this is how two years ago I was asked to set up and run a music group in the church. There was a lot of opposition to this from the rather aging congregation and the very traditional church choir. I have to admit to quaking in my boots at the time. However after a year or more of opposition, by using the material I’ve learned on this course I managed, much to my own surprise, to deal with the conflict and move this project on. Now the music group is very much a part of worship in the church playing at 2 services a months bringing in more contemporary, spiritual feel to our worship.

I gradually began to realize that by replacing negative emotions with positive emotions you replace the feelings of fear hate greed etc with feelings of love empathy joy admiration etc. This guides us to a place of love and healing in our hearts and makes us one with the universe. I feel spiritually is not connected to any one religion but is a way of life that brings us to a feeling of wholeness and peace within oneself thus enabling us to live a fulfilling life of love ,compassion, and being non-judgmental towards others.

I still have along way to go on my journey and my prayer is that God will guide and protect me along the way continuing to fill me with spiritual awareness to enable me to reach my destiny.

Rev. Julia Clark

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

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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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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Spirit-Quest

Final Exam for Spirit-Quest by Dr.Elizabeth King

Where shall I start? This course has been beyond enjoyable, as well as holding a lot of great information, much of which I have been and will continue to put to use in my life.  I also look forward to using the  tools for aiding those who come to me for assistance either as a Hypnotherapist-counselor, Reiki Practitioner, or Minister.

Some of the discourses that were of the most interest and use to me discussed the use of picture (D. 22), roses, and using them to create a healthier, happier, and more joyful reality for me. The discourses on pain and forgiveness gave me some very important tools that I needed to deal with anger and pain from painful occurrences in my early life, as well as dealing with bleed-over from past lives that I had not yet fully dealt with. The ideas and suggestions, especially concerning holding the anger and the resentment in the liver and the spleen were not only fascinating to learn, but I began tapping those regions, and was amazed at what came out.

I particularly enjoyed the explanations of the souls, and how they behave in everyday life so we can recognize them and more importantly, decide where we are so we can work on growing into maturity. This, of course, along with the discourses on past lives (D.26) gave a lot of good information (Ds, 7 and 14). Most of these things I were already aware of, but the fresh material and ideas helped to open me to deeper understanding, and an ability to not only help myself, (D 22) which is, of course, very important for me as a healer and a minister, but also to help others.

Learning to ask the right questions (D. 24), too, I found invaluable, as I have always had a bad habit of either asking the wrong ones, or not asking enough to get to the root cause of a problem. Kinesiology has always been an important part of my own work with myself and others, as well, and I was interested in the techniques offered in this discourse for getting to the right answers. I’ve used it mostly to locate cellular and past life pain that has no physical basis, such as psychosomatic pain, so this was particularly interesting to me, and one that I shall practice so I can use in my work.

Money has also been a prime issue with me, and I tend to be more like you, Amy, reluctant to spend it because for so much of my life we lived in very real and severe poverty, so when my life dramatically changed in that area upon my marriage 18 years ago, rather than become a spendthrift, I remained the same often denying myself things that we could actually afford. I still find myself going to the store to purchase things for others and putting back everything I put into the basket for myself (don’t really need that attitude) while pushing down the reluctance to spend money even on those for whom I bought, which was not as severe as what I put on myself, but nevertheless there. I read this discourse more than several times, because it has actually caused problems in my marriage my squeezing every coin until the buffalo squeals, as my husband complains and I am working very hard to realize that money is a good thing, and that we do deserve to have it in our lives, and to work towards attracting it into my life.

In other words, this course has been very interesting, and very helpful to me in a multitude of ways. I could go on and on, but the best thing I can say is that I have truly learned from this course, and I would and do most highly recommend it to anyone who wants to gain the many tools offered in the pages of these lessons to help them to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Learning how to heal oneself is the greatest gift we can give to our families, our friends, those who come to us for help in our ministries and classes we teach, as well as to our co-workers in our workplaces.

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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.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirit Quest Course

Final Essay from the Spirit Quest Course
By Rev. Robert L. Robinson

So the course is finished and the quest is just begun. In this one course I have found the answers to several questions that have plagued me for ages. The first being, how big of a spirit am I? The answer is, that I am boundless. The only limits imposed on me come from the agreements that I make. The decisions that I make as a being have only to do with what I have learned as a spirit. I as spirit, am not bound by the laws of the physical world. This is not just a platitude. I have investigated many "isms" in my life and nowhere have I found the keys that have been given me on this course. Just by practicing a few of the precepts, I have seen things that have been blocking me for my entire life just blown away. Instead of barriers, I am finding opportunities every day.

These include, Financial Opportunities as well as personal. I have found that my friendships are deeper and communication is much easier. My ability to see another's point of view has grown exponentially. As a matter of fact, friends at work call me "the defender" because I am always able to see the good in almost everyone. This is because I always look for the spirit instead of just looking at the physical person. This way, I also know who I can trust. I have been able to open myself to being loved and to be able to love others. This is a problem that has truly been with me my entire life. I have been able to root out the decisions that caused them and been able to banish them. Using the Roses to bring in the good and destroy the bad is nothing less than inspired. Amy, I have no idea how you discovered this but I am here to tell you that it works!

Thanks to Rev. Amy Long and the Universal Life Church Seminary my life is on a whole new track. If anyone has not taken this course I would urge them to do it right away. Finally, I would like to say that through this course, I have discovered that God truly created me in His image. I am on to the next course.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers and lots of free online sermons for your use. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

Michael S Barth

Doctor of Spirituality Final Essay

            Working on this course was really fascinating to me.  I really enjoyed the time working on it and learned quite a bit.  Before taking this class, I had never heard of the course or book called A Course in Miracles.  While taking this class, I ended up buying the book/course at a bookstore to read and even signed up for the newsletter from Foundation for Inner Peace.

            This course is about prayer which is a tool that I realize now that I need to utilize more often to communicate with my Heavenly Father.  I realize now that through prayer, I can be one with my Father.  When I was a kid, I would attend church and I was told to pray.  I did not pray much as a kid because I felt that God was not listen or not answering my prayers.  I would also gripe at God about all the problems that my family or I were having and would tell God what should be done or what I wanted.  This course really got rid of that view which had been diminishing over the years.

            Over the years, I always had thought that God was a completely separate entity but learned in this course that God is in each and every one of us and that God is waiting for us to come back to him.  The section on free will also really changed how I viewed free will.  I had always thought that I would be happy in whatever choices I made but that turned out to be wrong.  I stopped going to church and did things my own way.  I ended up in a lot of pain.  This is when I realized that things would be a lot better if I did them God's way.

            This course really changed my view on God too.  A little piece of me always believed in God and I always feared God, but realize now that God is all encompassing and is all love.  Growing up, I was taught that if I did something wrong or bad God was going to condemn me and judge me to an eternity in Hell but realize that this is not what God is since God is all love.

            I also was taught about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with less emphasis put on the resurrection.  After taking this course, I realize that the lesson was the resurrection of Jesus Christ because he was one with his Heavenly Father.  I have felt a lot better since taking this course which clarified a lot of mis-perceptions that I had held about Jesus Christ.

            The material mentioned above is just a little of what I learned from this course.  This course has also been very helpful to me.  I have suffered from mental/emotional disorders for the last 10 years.  This course has given me hope by teaching me about miracles and prayer.  Since the start of this course, I have had fewer symptoms because I have been able to take things from this course and apply them to real life.  The biggest change that this course got me to do is to listen to God and let God into my life.  I am currently reading the course/book that this course is based on.  By taking this course first, I am understanding the course/book a lot better and getting a lot out of it.

            This course is easy to follow and presented very well.  The instructor does a wonderful job in this course.  I loved all of the lessons and the prayer visualizations that came with it.  I would definitely recommend that people take this course.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church  materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

Michael S Barth

Masters of Metaphysical Healing

       Metaphysical healing is a term and subject that I had heard people mentioned as they past by, but I did not know what metaphysical healing was.  There were some topics in this course that I had never considered in the past to be metaphysical healing such as past life regressions and soul retrieval.  I did enjoy reading about the instructors past in how she ended up being a metaphysical healer in South Africa.  I found it very interesting how metaphysical healers are used there.

            I learned that there is an association in South Africa for metaphysical healers.  I did not know beforehand that such associations existed anywhere.  I also did not know that metaphysical healing dealt with the human energy field.  I did know that humans gave off some type of energy because I could tell sometimes if someone was mad/angry or happy or sad.

            Chakras and auric fibers was something totally new to me.  I did not know that chakras and auric fibers existed or even how many someone had.  While taking this course, I had purchased some Buddhist peace flags and hung them in my bedroom.  During this course, I realized that each flag was a color of a chakra which was an amazing moment since I was just learning about chakra.

            Some of the other things that I learned during this course were how to center yourself before doing the actually healing and asking the person permission to enter into their energy field.  I like how the instructor mentioned that in the West, healers usually get centered by meditating or praying while in the East, healers usually use the beat of a drum.  I did not know that metaphysical healers worked with medical doctors.  I thought metaphysical healers would be competing against medical doctors for business instead of working alongside the doctors.  I did not know before that healing was balancing the energy field between body, mind, and spirit.

        This course also showed taught things I would never have guessed that a healer would have to do to heal.  Things that healers do that surprised me at first is asking a lot of background questions and medical history questions.  Other things like signing waivers was something I did not think about before taking this class.  This class also introduced me to a new way of thinking about how people can use metaphysical healing along with medicine to be healed from ailments that people suffer from.  I think this course was also one of the harder courses I have taken.  I took this course to learn more about metaphysical healing which I did, but after taking this class I learned something about myself and that is I do not think becoming a metaphysical healer is in the near future for me.  This class still was worth taking because I learned new things about metaphysical healing and know a little bit about it now.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity two courses in , Wicca, several in  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 Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training. 
 

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest Essay

Spirit Quest is a program that invites you to take a good look at yourself on many levels. It provides tools to help overcome obstacles for a more fulfilling life. I was raised Roman Catholic and educated through the Catholic School. system I ate, slept and lived Catholicism until I left home at 18. The question I would ask myself was "Did it make me a better person?" I did find a lot of benefit from it, but found it inhibiting in others. While I have a solid foundation of a Christian upbringing through my long Catholic education, I later came to understand the vulnerability of living one's life within the strict confines of a structured religion. I do have a deep love of God and an understanding of the complexity of how everything in life in connected. I am generous and compassionate. I am also saddled with the "guilt "complex that needs constant work. I learned early in my life that religion and religious practices are molded to fit the needs and causes of man. As man changes so does religion. In some cases religion has a tendency to divide, promote intolerance and narrow ones focus away from the world. In my high school years, I was introduced to the art of Judo and the study of eastern spiritual philosophy. I found practices and beliefs that helped to cultivate the spiritual aspects of life. I learned how one understands oneself through meditation and self-reflection, how to achieve inner peace and become more tolerant and understanding of others. I came to understand that spirituality is less about following the rules of a religion and more a way of living. It is about traveling through life in a spiritual and harmonious way. I came to understand that all things are connected, how one tug on the web of life can be felt by all creatures. I came to understand that animals feel just as humans do. I came to understand how my actions affect others. Say a cross word to your spouse or a friend and they feel it. Say a cross word to your dog and the reaction is the same. Spiritual understanding enhances ones ability to understand ones self, get along with others and to greater experience the moment. In my early 20's I came across a poster of the Deserata written in 1692. Its advice has been my guide for a lifetime and a mainstay for living spiritually. It starts "Go placidly in the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence". In today's busy world of dead lines and pressure silence is the pathway to mediation. God has made us in his image and likeness and I believe we were put on this earth to enjoy ourselves and to nurture all we come in contact with. A life of conflict and desperation was not in Gods design for us. Moments of quiet reflection are needed to recharge our battery. In the world today we are continually challenged. Our day can be filled with stress, of the unexpected and the expected. We balance our lives against the wants and needs of others as well as what we expect of ourselves……and there are moments when we began to feel enough is enough. Within ourselves each of us has the desire and the need to feel inner peace. It is the time when we need to sit back, take a deep breath, close our eyes and just let go. Many of us choose our own mediums, such as mediation, yoga or music. However, we choose to get there the ultimate reward is worth it. As a young man I was plagued with migraine headaches. At that time doctors knew very little about curing them. The method was a strong dose of pain killers and rest. I realized if I was to rid myself of them I would have to do it myself. I found the way through deep meditation, relaxation and biofeedback. I was finally able to beat the headaches back and have not suffered for many years. As I struggled with my cure I found myself in a quiet place close to God and away from the outside world. It was there that I met myself and began to understand the working of me. I was able to begin to shed the skin of negative thoughts and behaviors. I was able to develop tolerance and have that greater understanding of those around me. Living is a full time job. It can and does wear you down, if you let it. If you seek to find that quiet place you will truly find the heart of peace, you will find you. Spirit Quest has been a restatement and reminder of those precepts I learned and practiced throughout my life. It has been an enjoyable experience. Rev. Stephen J. LaJoice ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

By the Reverend John Powell

My body, my mind and my spirit

Spiritualism is a very hard term to define. What I think of the course is a lot easier. This course was put together with a lot of heart, research, tears and love. When we live in a world of materialism, we tend to put the things of the spirit on the back burner. Those who do so, Do so at their own peril.

As we study the thought processes that have influenced ourselves and mankind, we are struck with the overwhelming depth of mans search to define himself and his reason for being. Socrates looked at the world and wondered if what he was seeing was the reality or if the reality was something that was not or could not be understood. As a side note he began to believe that which he could not see and called it faith. Sigmund, on the other hand, looked within himself and searched for the forces that drive or what he felt drove the behavior of himself and man. Hitler looked at the world around him and felt he could cure the evils of the world by changing the world to an image he believed was perfect. Newton, Einstein, and other scientist of the world take the world apart in an effort to learn what makes it tick and to see if they can improve it by tinkering with its parts. Priest, ministers and instructors in faith believe that the spirit of man can be found through rules or faith in a belief system.

Are these things, and people involved, part of a spiritual world? I believe so. Passion for the ideas that make us believe in who we are and why we exist, to me, define the spirit of the human being.

Now last, what does it mean to me? As a frail human in the temple of my frail body, I have learned that my existence is spiritual. I am fully aware of the frailty of my worldly temple. Realizing, even with the best of intentions, that I have hurt people And I have lived a life that far under-exceeded my and others expectation of me, I have needed something to calm my mind and body. In my opinion, the spirit that I share with the universe is the only glue that holds my temple and that of the totality of souls together in harmony.

Thank you for an interesting course.

John Powell.

Ordained: April 13, 2000

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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 Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

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Spirituality Course

Defining Spirituality by Rev. Robert Nelson Essay for Defining Spirituality            Much of the course was focused on a review of the major philosophies of the Western world.  It presents Quantum Mechanics, especially Werner Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, the idea that physical forms can only be predicted with probability, is used as an argument for a spiritual worldview.  The course argues that atoms exist everywhere at once in both time and space and that God is in every atom of the Universe.  It also extrapolates from Quantum Mechanics the idea that science requires both faith and imagination.                 The course mentions far too many philosophical approaches to be addressed in this short essay but it is useful as a tool for bridging the world views between the spiritually minded and the more secular or scientific approaches.  Unfortunately much of the course is presented as an argument between those two world views: e.g. Plato versus Aristotle.  This opposition is neither natural nor inevitable.  The Muslim theologians, for example, did not fall into this dichotomy.                 The other problem with presenting these issues as an argument between two world views is that ministry is seldom, if ever, an issue of a logical argument as in a scientific presentation or a court room.  This points to the clear omissions of the course.  The course focuses mostly on epistemology (with a few comments on theodicy) but ignores the areas of logic and rhetoric.  Logic is the branch of philosophy which deals with proof (originally as in a courtroom).  Rhetoric is the branch of philosophy which deals with persuading people to take action and so focuses much more on emotions.  The latter type of communication is of course much more important in ministry.  Nevertheless the information is useful in bridging worldviews, especially if we remind ourselves that ministry is not an intellectual exercise. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spiritual Development

The Doctor of Spiritual Development Course by Dr. David Crouch has provided me with many tools and insights to further my personal growth. I feel that personal growth is an on-going process and I look forward to applying what I have learned from the course into my personal and professional life. I learned a good deal about how to manifest reality. I thought it was useful that understandable language was used to provide information on how to live life from a place of Intent, Mindfulness, and Purpose. Crouch was able to tie together many modalities which all express the reality that energy follows thought. The lessons on clarity and getting rid of the internal clutter were especially beneficial for me as these are areas where I have struggled with in the past. 

Having been involved in a body-oriented personal growth psychotherapy practice for the last three years, I appreciate the mention of the sub-modalities which help to provide awareness of how the mind communicates with itself in the form of images, sounds, and sensations. I have experienced this many times before. I liked how Crouch broke down the different sub-modalities and provided questions to focus awareness for each.

 I also found it useful that guidelines are provided for how to write out a specific plan for creating positive changes – manifesting change – in my life. I have been able to learn how to envision a future in which my desired objective is a present reality for me. One of my desired objectives included having a space to practice Reiki and to have a healing center and I am happy to say that I am now starting a business with another person. Right now I can see that this business is successful and feel in my heart that the universe will provide what it takes to make it so if I hold in clarity my vision for the success as already happening. I am excited to see how it all enfolds and to be part of the journey with the destination in mind.

I have also been able to apply what I have learned about changing my personal history. The lessons provided me with further validation of the benefits of this. I worked for years to find the seed, and am currently changing the seed, getting to watch a new plant grow from the seed. I have been releasing all that has been stored in the body and gaining access to the unconscious to change my past, present, and future. I found this lesson particularly helpful for what I have been working through for the last 6 months. I also believe this knowledge will be helpful in my profession as a counselor. So much of life can get tied up in the past and there is so much freedom in changing our perceptions and in being released from those patterns.

Overall, I feel this course is very informational, easy to read, and provides a great understanding of how to successfully manifest change and continue developing spiritually. That is what it is all about as far as I am concerned.

Jamie Downs

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers and lots of free online sermons for your use. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

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