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.

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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.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

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.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

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.