Spiritual Psychology
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Questions

1.  Overload
      I often feel scattered and stressed. How can I be more at peace within myself?

2.  "Aquarian Love Conqueror"
      When I turn on the news and see all the natural disasters and conflict around the world, I wonder how I can be better prepared spiritually and psychologically to handle whatever comes?

3.  Drugs and Alcohol
      I have a family member who is falling back into drugs and alcohol. What can I do?

4.  Act As If
      There seem to be so many problems in my life right now that it’s hard for me to keep my faith. What’s the best way to get through difficult times?

5.  Feelings of Abandonment
      In your last column you talked about feelings of abandonment. That struck a chord with me. Sometimes I feel abandoned, even by God. Could you help me understand how this relates to my spiritual health?

6.  Rock Music
      My family and I disagree about rock music. Personally the rock beat jangles my nerves and gives me a headache. Our teenage son and daughter tell me rock is "cool," and our ten-year-old son is beginning to follow their lead. My husband says, "So what's the problem?" Any counsel for a frazzled mom?

7.  Working Parents
      How can my husband and I give our children what they need when we both work long hours and the children are either in school or with a baby-sitter much of the time?

8.  Change
      It seems like major change and turmoil is a constant these days. Sometimes I do okay with it, sometimes not. I seem to be able to handle only so much before I get confused, upset and angry. I end up alienating my friends and self-destructing on the job. Ideas?

9.  The Christmas Spirit
      Christmas is coming and I am having difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit. I have actually been feeling kind of depressed and lonely. Do you have any suggestions to help me lift my mood?

10. A Mother-to-Be
      My husband and I are expecting our first child. We're excited and happy, but I'm kind of emotional and nervous, too. Is this normal?

11. The Path of Divine Love
      I am really trying to walk the path of the ruby ray (the path of divine love), but I get confused about how to be true to myself without being selfish. How can I know if I'm being selfish?

12. Closeness to God
      I'm missing something in my life, and I know it's about not feeling close to God. I try to pray, but I don't see change. I feel stuck. Then I get angry with God for not helping me out. I end up feeling scared, lonely and guilty. What can I do?

13. How to Stop Criticism and CCJ
      I know it is not good to criticize, condemn or judge other people, but I get frustrated when someone is being inconsiderate or hurtful. In spite of my best intentions, out pops a critical comment. Then I get upset and criticize myself. It is as if criticism, condemnation and judgment have a life of their own. How do I stop it?

14. To Speak Up or Not
      My friend and I were having dinner, and my friend’s escort was critical and rude to her. I debated whether I should say something like “what you’re saying is really unkind!” but I decided it was not my business. Do you think I should have told him he was being rude?

15. Reaction Control
      I am an Aquarian and I know I am called to be loving but my parents are very good at pushing my buttons. I love them and I do my best not to react, but they continually find fault with me. I am of age and not even living with them. Do you have any suggestions to help me stay loving instead of reacting?

16. A Safe Haven
      I would like to know what to do with people I love who are closed up and have built barriers around them?

17. Self-Hypnosis
      What do you think about self-hypnosis?

18. Open the Heart
      What is the difference between opening ourselves to pain and letting down our guard?

19. Carl Jung's Theory Today
      I have heard that Carl Jung’s theory is outdated and many therapists are using transactional analysis in its place. What are your thoughts on different kinds of therapy?

20. Tears of Joy and Sorrow
      When I am invoking the light, I become choked up and my eyes water. If I am alone at home, I just let it flow and sometimes it’s sorrow and sometimes it’s joy. Should I be concerned that sorrow might keep me from making my ascension?

21. Past-Life Remembrance?
      Can you tell me whether a situation I remembered during a therapy session was really a past life or a figment of my imagination?

22. "Good People Must Do Better"
      Many people today do not seem to respect the values I was brought up with. What do you think is happening to our culture?

23. "Dreams and Past Lives "
      Sometimes I wake up from a dream that feels like a past-life experience. How can I know if I am really remembering a past life or if it’s just a figment of my imagination?

24. "Spiritual Mission"
      How can I know what my spiritual mission is all about?

25. "Soul"
      How can I get to know my soul?


Questions and Answers

1.  Overload

Question:
      I often feel scattered and stressed. How can I be more at peace within myself?

Answer:
      When you feel scattered and stressed your mind and emotions are signaling overload. An overload can come from the whirl of outside responsibilities and/or the pain of inner conflict.
      Ask yourself some questions. Are you spread out in too many different directions? Do you procrastinate tasks that later come back to haunt you? Do you have conflicting goals or responsibilities—such as career demands and family commitments?
      If you answered yes, remember you can only do one thing at a time. That may sound obvious, but many times we ignore the obvious, especially when we are on overload.
      When you address multiple tasks and conflicting demands for your time and attention, ask yourself, “Which is the most important?” If everything seems important, make a list, close your eyes and point to one. Focus on getting that one done and congratulate yourself before going for the next one. Don’t worry about the others. They’re on your list so you won’t forget them.
      The next step is to practice saying no with a smile. Whether it’s your co-workers, boss, friends, spouse or children, you may need to say a gentle but firm no at times to avoid overextending yourself. You will feel less stressed because you have set boundaries.
      Let’s explore the inner causes of your stress. Has your behavior been in conflict with your personal values? If so, you are out of sync with yourself. If you match your behavior to your personal values, you will feel much better about yourself.
      Are you so busy in your mind that you are neglecting your feeling world? Consider giving your mind and feelings equal time.
      Are you always at your desk when you need to exercise? Try walking during lunch or bicycling to and from work.
      Are you torn between your public image and your personal needs? It’s true that your public image may be important during a business meeting—but there is nothing stopping you from dancing once the meeting is over!
      When you are true to your ideals and take good care of yourself, you bring peace, harmony and integrity to yourself, your home, your workplace and your community.
Questions


2.  "Aquarian Love Conqueror"

Question:
      When I turn on the news and see all the natural disasters and conflict around the world, I wonder how I can be better prepared spiritually and psychologically to handle whatever comes?

Answer:
      I believe that we will handle whatever comes as we learn to be Aquarian love conquerors. What do I mean? I’m talking about becoming the living, walking embodiment of God’s love—the water bearer of divine love that quenches the thirst of all whom we meet. The world is thirsty for love, and we heal so many hurts of the soul when express love in all we think, feel, say and do. This may seem like a tall order, but I believe it is our destiny in the Aquarian Age.
      The world's great Lights have walked before us to show us the way. All in their own way embodied the eternal law of Love. I believe each one of us is meant to do the same. When we honor the eternal law of love, we discern right from wrong witnin our hearts, we dissolve discord and hatred and bless our families, friends and those we meet along the way. As we strive to love and serve, we gain a new reverence for our soul's spiritual destiny as a living, breathing outpost of the Divine.
      I believe that each of us is meant to claim our soul's mastery of the emotional waters of Pisces and to prepare our heart to receive the initiations of divine love in Aquarius. As we put the law of love into daily practice, our soul bonds more and more with Spirit and we find ourselves greeting difficult circumstances with the grace of inner understanding and outer benevolence.
      How do you go about it? Set the sail of your consciousness by communing daily with your God through prayer, mantras, meditation, poetry or song. Draw from the truths of the world's saints and sages. Put on the mind of Christ by internalizing the teachings and parables of Jesus. Seek the peace and non-attachment of the Buddha. Practice the mercy of Kuan Yin, the wisdom of Confucius, the joy of Krishna.
      Cultivate loving feelings by recognizing and appreciating God's beauty in people, nature, music, literature and the arts. Choose to be true to yourself and to your God and to behave lovingly even when you feel burdened. Joyfully share your inner gifts with kindred spirits. Forgive and learn from those with whom you disagree. Speak the truth with kindness, give an encouraging word and offer a helping hand to family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances and people in the workplace.
      Gradually, through daily practice and help from your angels, you can learn to be a walking express of love, illumination and inner strength. You can greet life's challenges with a little chuckle, a sense of inner peace and conscious acts of loving-kindness. Ultimately, as you open your consciousness more and more to the sacredness of love that permeates all life, you may claim the mantle of the "Aquarian love conqueror." Best of all, you will fulfill a most wonderful mission to God's family on earth—to bless each one you meet with the love that God instilled within your heart.
Questions

3. Drugs and Alcohol

Question:
      I have a family member who is falling back into drugs and alcohol. What can I do?

Answer:
      People who are alcohol or drug dependent are usually trying to get some kind of an inner boost through chemically inducing an extra surge of energy, an altered state of consciousness or the relaxing of inhibitions. Most young people do alcohol to "fit in" with friends or to be popular with an "in crowd." Others drink to loosen up in social situations.
      When it comes to street drugs, some young people foolishly try to expand or alter their state of consciousness that way. They think they will discover a higher meaning to life when in actuality they are on their way to addiction. And that takes years of painful resolution, if it ever gets resolved.
      One of the most serious street drugs today is Ecstasy, which surpasses the use of marijuana, cocaine and heroin. It is particularly popular among young adults at the huge, all-night "raves." They say it heightens their awareness, intensifies their emotions and makes them feel good. Research indicates that Ecstasy can damage brains cells. It appears to destroy the axons, which transmit nerve signals. Ask your kids, is it worth the risk?
      Sometimes young people who get into drugs are indirectly asking for help. It works, to their detriment, because it gets the family's attention, but drug use is now in place. Psychologically, most people dependent on drugs or alcohol are seeking something outside of themselves to help them feel good, to function better socially or to get through difficult times.
      Some years ago the Canadian government put out a little pamphlet, Dependent Man and His Crutches. I've always remembered it because it spelled out the psychological problem. Whether it is alcohol, drugs, nicotine, sex addiction, gambling or overeating (and you can probably add to the list), the underlying problem is resorting to a false high or false calm as a crutch to function in life.
      Instead of depending on God-given talents and practical know-how to solve life's dilemmas, the person with an addictive disorder subconsciously depends on a so-called quick fix, a chemical altering of his or her perception of those dilemmas. The fact remains that the dilemma, whatever it is, still sits there waiting to be resolved.
      The individual momentarily escapes by way of the false calm of alcohol or the false high of drugs. But once the high wears off, he's back in the bog. And looking for another fix.
      How can you and your family and friends help? First, ask God and the angels to help your loved one mobilize the courage, strength and endurance to stand, face and conquer this dilemma. Next, do whatever it takes to get that person to a professional counselor skilled in treating chemical dependency and the accompanying emotional turmoil and physical impact of the addiction.
      Once your loved one commits to treatment, suggest situations that provide a natural high: healthy exercise, the beauty of nature, uplifting music, art or literature, kind words, loving appreciation and heartfelt hugs. Such moments give emotional comfort and create relief from pain by stimulating the person's endorphins-our own inner analgesic found primarily in the pituitary and the brain.

Dos and Don'ts
      Do give your prayers, dweller calls and violet-flame decrees for the alcohol and drug entities to be removed, the dweller to be bound and your family member to be cut free. Do call to Archangel Michael to help your loved one to conquer the addiction. Do be loving, kind and firm about getting professional help from a drug- or alcohol-addiction counselor and a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
     Don't put up with unacceptable behavior. Don't protect your loved one from the consequences of negative actions, e.g., don't run after, bail out, give a place to crash or cover up, protect or rescue your family member. Don't give up—God loves both of you and is championing your victory!

Questions

4.  Act As If

Question:
      There seem to be so many problems in my life right now that it’s hard for me to keep my faith. What’s the best way to get through difficult times?

Answer:
      Times when we have so many problems we don’t know which way to turn definitely try our faith. Yet this is often when we reach the greatest heights of self-mastery.
      Remember that wonderful painting of George Washington kneeling beside his horse at Valley Forge. The artist captured the posture of the soul who is committed to action and demonstrates his trust in God by bending his knee in prayer. Thus, saints and heroes made it through rough times by keeping their vision, mind and heart stayed on God while they took decisive action. So have the ascended masters won their victory.
      If you want to strengthen your faith, “acting as if” will give you a good start. “Act as if” your faith was intact and God were at your side. The truth is God is right here with you and will bless you with what you really need anytime you sincerely ask for it.
      What’s next? Pray as if everything depends upon God and take action as if everything depends on you. Here is a six-step formula:
  1. Make a list of your problems. Write them down in order of importance.
  2. Decide which problems you can do something about and which ones you can’t. As you are sorting this out, it’s helpful to give the serenity prayer, “Please God, grant me the courage to change the things I can, to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference.”
  3. Next, give the problems you can’t change to God, and make a list of the ones you can do something about. (Put the problems you are giving to God on a prayer list that you keep handy.
  4. Now ask your Higher Self and the angels to help you solve problem number one on your new list.
  5. Center in your heart, calm any disturbed emotions through deep, slow breathing and let your heart tell you how to approach the problem.
  6. Set up a specific positive action plan and take action.
      Of course, this doesn’t mean difficult situations are always going to “come up roses,” but every time you pray and take positive action, you learn and grow. Your victories strengthen your faith, and defeats bring lessons your soul needs to learn. Either way, when you strive to do your best, you and God win!

Questions

5.  Feelings of Abandonment

Question:
      In your last column you talked about feelings of abandonment. That struck a chord with me. Sometimes I feel abandoned, even by God. Could you help me understand how this relates to my spiritual health?

Answer:
      God gives us initiations as a way of helping us garner light in our chakras so that we can accelerate our vibration, pass our tests and ultimately return Home in the ritual of the ascension. As the ascended master Maitreya says, "God has a right to test and try the soul. And the soul has a right to pass her tests." Yet God does not test us beyond what we can handle, and we can prepare by aligning our consciousness with the will of God and by practicing the spiritual precepts we have been taught.
      We have been moving through a process of initiation ever since we originally came into embodiment, and we have had feelings of abandonment from the first time we separated out from Father-Mother God. These feelings were quickened in this life when we first separated from our mother at birth and when we had upsetting experiences with parents, teachers and friends. Often it had to do with some way we were behaving or with our academic progress. When we did well and others were pleased with us, we felt loved and accepted. When we didn't do so well and others were upset with us, we felt rejected and abandoned. Sometimes we even abandoned ourselves in a vain attempt to please others.
      Today when we feel lost, abandoned, helpless, or that "nobody cares," it is usually because someone has disappointed or hurt us or we face a situation that seems impossible to resolve. These are karmic lessons-and tests! We feel the prick of conscience adding to our discomfort when our motives, thoughts, desires, words, actions or reactions are out of alignment with God's will. On other hand, when we bring ourselves into alignment, we have a sense of inner rightness and peace no matter what is happening.
      Job taught us a lot about how to handle initiations and abandonment. He was a godly man, a wealthy man, with a large family and many friends, and God deemed Job worthy of advanced initiations. He was asked to prove his faithfulness to God in the midst of material loss, death of family members, personal illness and suffering and the sympathetic commiseration and false teachings of his friends. He chose to believe that God had not abandoned him, and he did not abandon God. He walked the path of initiation with his hand in the unseen hand of God. He proved himself a faithful servant under most adverse circumstances and passed his tests with flying colors. We can, too!
      Try this practice, daily, to pass your tests and overcome feelings of abandonment:
  1. Center in your heart, invoke your Tube of Light and ask God to be your guide.
    Beloved I Am Presence bright,
    Round me seal your Tube of Light
    From Ascended Master Flame
    Called forth now in God's own name.
    Let it keep my temple free
    From all discord sent to me.

    I AM calling forth Violet Fire
    To blaze and transmute all desire.
    Keeping on in Freedoms name
    Till I AM one with the Violet Flame.
  2. Ask your Higher Self, "What is my lesson and my test today?" Listen.
  3. Pray for right motive, right thought, right desire and right action.
  4. Do your best, keep your hand in God's hand, practice the art of forgiveness.
  5. Keep on praying and trusting that God loves you, no matter what happens.
  6. Praise God and give yourself and others a pat on the back when victorious!
Questions

6. Rock Music

Question:
      My family and I disagree about rock music. Personally the rock beat jangles my nerves and gives me a headache. Our teenage son and daughter tell me rock is "cool," and our ten-year-old son is beginning to follow their lead. My husband says, "So what's the problem?" Any counsel for a frazzled mom?

Answer:
      Your teenagers are doing what teens do, separating out to become their own person, testing the limits, spreading their wings, and trying to fit in with friends. I'd take your husband's response as a challenge and get your information together. Your personal reaction actually squares with a lot of scientific research on the subject. You may wish to review Your Body Doesn't Lie, by John Diamond, M.D., and The Secret Power of Music, by David Tame.
      Research shows that gentle sounds of nature and good music (classical music, especially music with the waltz rhythm, the best of folk music and ethnic music of various cultures) strengthen the body's energy and uplift one's emotional mood. On the other hand, detrimental music (rap music, heavy metal, techno rock, basically any music with the anapestic beat, the opposite of waltz rhythm) weakens the body's energy, agitates the heart and the emotions and may create frenzied passion or depressed, even suicidal, moods.
      Energy-depleting music is frequently accompanied by lyrics that are violent, depressing, sexually explicit or encouraging of drug and alcohol use. This is not the message you want your youth to hear.
      I suggest you keep the family communication lines open. A good opener might be to rent the excellent movie Mr. Holland's Opus, view it as a family and discuss it afterwards. Talk about different types of music and the thoughts, emotions and values they express and what kind of music stirs and strengthens you. Encourage your children to share their thoughts and feelings.
      Ask each member of the family what their favorite songs mean to them? What do they think might be the effect of negative lyrics and jagged rhythms on one's thoughts, feelings, values or spirituality? What do they believe writers and musicians hope to accomplish by writing, playing and singing that kind of music?
      Listen respectfully, nonjudgmentally, and openheartedly to your children's point of view. Listen to the music your children listen to, watch the media presentations your youngsters watch, discuss the content, and initiate a process of selective listening as a result of family discussions. Your goal is to teach your children to think actively and creatively instead of watching or listening passively.
      The bottom line here is to tune into your children. Their choice of music is a clue to their inner world, their joys and hopes fears and anxieties. Share their joy and hope. Take notice if they dwell on lyrics dealing with anger, hatred, violence or death. Encourage them to talk about it so they may resolve their worries in the safety of home and family. Give them love, respect, encouragement, appreciation —and viable choices.
      As you and your husband express your ideas and values and encourage your children to do likewise, you foster youths' positive growth and development. Remember you have a parental right and responsibility to set limits. Just do so with a lot of love and understanding.
Questions


7.   Working Parents

Question:
      How can we make sure we are giving our children what they need when both my husband and I work long hours and the children are either in school or with a baby-sitter much of the time during the week?

Answer:
      Many families today find it necessary for both husband and wife to work. Yet parents can still give their children the love and support they need. Parenting is a labor of love, and it is the quality of the time you do spend with your children that makes the difference. Let me ask you some questions that suggest the more important dimensions of nurturing and meeting the needs of children.
      Do you make it a point to take the time to listen with your heart and respond lovingly to your children when you are home? Do you spend family time together on the weekends? Do you and your husband show your love for your children physically—a touch on the shoulder, a loving hug, a kiss goodnight? Do you support your children when they make mistakes by letting them know you love them, hearing them out and helping them to find a way to rectify the situation? Do you pray with your children and tuck them into bed?
      If so, it's very likely that your children know you love them and are feeling nurtured. Attentive listening, kind words, physical expressions of love, family fun times, loving discipline, helpfulness when children need it—all of these seemingly small actions show your children that you care.
      In one study where 1,500 school-age children were asked what they thought made a happy family, the answer most often given was "doing things together." Even such simple things as going for walks together, riding bikes together, popping corn and watching a good movie together, reading a book together. Note that the key word is "together."
      Children need to express themselves and to be heard. They want to share their ideas, their feelings, their hopes and dreams, their accomplishments with their parents. Sometimes simply turning off the TV and spending time talking about the day will be exactly what you and your children need. If dinner is a harmonious time in your home, it's a great time to share. Whatever time you choose, make sure everyone gets a turn and that each one receives a loving and appreciative response.
Questions


8.   Change

Question:
      It seems like major change and turmoil is a constant these days. Sometimes I do okay with it, sometimes not. I seem to be able to handle only so much before I get confused, upset and angry. I end up alienating my friends and self-destructing on the job. Ideas?

Answer:
     The whirl of change can be very disconcerting. I believe that the most important step we can take is to center ourselves and stay balanced in the midst of it. Easier said than done, right? Granted. Yet change can be positive. Today's misfortune often turns out to be tomorrow's blessing. It's all in how we envision and approach the process of growth and renewal that is going on for all of us as we strive for adeptship in the Aquarian Age.
      Faith and hope are primary ingredients. Perhaps you remember the story Mother Elizabeth told many years ago about a baby boy who fell through the railing onto the railroad track as a train was approaching. As everyone was screaming in horror, his five-year-old sister was jumping up and down with excitement. The train bore down, but at the last minute a scoop at the front of the engine miraculously scooped up the infant and he was unharmed. Once the frantic mother had her baby safely in her arms, she intended to scold her little daughter. She asked, "Why were you laughing and jumping up and down when your little brother fell onto the railroad tracks?" The child replied, "Oh mama, I was so excited to see how God was going to save him!"
      Now, of course, I am not suggesting that you simply jump up and down and wait for a miracle. The deeper soul lesson Mother Elizabeth was teaching is the consciousness of innocence that rests in perfect faith and hope. When we place our faith and hope in God, we allow the vast Mind of God to reconfigure our vision, our perspective and our thinking. When we add the ingredient of compassion, we claim our soul's capacity for divine love and metamorphosis in the very midst of tumultuous happenings.
      Try doing HeartMath* to discover your soul's lesson: First center your attention on your physical heartbeat. Second, pretend that your breath is moving through your heart. Focus totally on your breathing and the gentle beating of your heart. Third, envision a beautiful scene or heartwarming memory that is uplifting and joyful. Stay with your heartbeat, breathing and happy experience for a few moments. Now, ask your Higher Self, "What is my soul trying to learn in this situation?"
      Every challenging situation involves a spiritual lesson for our soul. Once we understand the lesson, we can find a creative way to handle whatever is happening. When we choose to meet change as a new friend, an opportunity, a blessing in disguise, we claim partnership with God. We exchange human confusion, upset and anger for faith, hope and compassion for everyone involved. We become as Kuan Yin riding the dragon, surfing the waves of change with equanimity and greeting each new challenge as an opportunity for personal growth and regeneration.
*Adapted from the HeartMath exercise developed by Doc Lew Childre and the Institute of HeartMath, Boulder Creek, California.

Questions

9.  The Christmas Spirit

Question:
      Christmas is coming and I am having difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit. I have actually been feeling kind of depressed and lonely. Do you have any suggestions to help me lift my mood?

Answer:
     I understand how you feel. Curiously enough, many people have this kind of problem during the Christmas season. Often depression is around unresolved spiritual, family or work-related issues. Or people may feel lonely because friends or family are far away. It's like inwardly the sun is hidden behind the clouds. The SAD syndrome (seasonal affective disorder) is another kind of depression that comes upon some people when days are shorter and we actually have less sunlight outside. Whether it's less sunlight outside or inside, the remedy is to create more sunshine inside ourselves. How? By surrendering our burdens to our God and shifting our attention to our highest hopes and dreams.
      Ask yourself, "Do I have an unresolved spiritual, family or work-related issue that is burdening me?" If so, know that God loves you very much. Take the issue to your altar. Open your heart and soul and allow the love of Father-Mother God to uplift, comfort and guide you. Often a sense of relief and peace comes when we simply surrender a situation to our God and send love and forgiveness to people who have misunderstood or hurt us.
      Give the fiat, "Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world!" As you do so, you are also affirming hope for your soul's reunion with your Higher Self and for the fulfillment of your highest hopes and dreams-and your spiritual destiny.
      Jesus came to help all of us make our hopes and dreams come true, especially when it seems very dark and gloomy. Perhaps you know that although we celebrate his birth at Christmas, Jesus was actually born in the spring. The ascended masters have told us that his birthday celebration was moved to winter to counteract the world's momentum of spiritual darkness at this time of the year. Thus, even as Jesus came as the Hope of the world, we sing Christmas carols, we give gifts of love and hope to one another, we share our abundance with the needy.
      What are your special hopes and dreams? How will you make them happen? How about kneeling before your altar, sharing them with your Father-Mother God, opening your heart and breathing a prayer of hope and gratitude as you ask for divine guidance. Ask your Higher Self and the angels for inspiration, allow that seed of inspiration to sprout into a vision or an idea and set about making it happen. Adopt a hopeful attitude, do your best, expect a magnificent result—and often it will be! Even when it's not immediately apparent, you have set spiritual energy in motion to make it happen.
      Here's my personal spiritual tip: When I need an emotional or spiritual "pick-up," I give Kuthumi's I AM Light decree as a fiat as I envision brilliant, glowing white Light flowing in, through, and all around me. In a prayer or decree, the words "I AM," are the name of God spoken to Moses from the burning bush. So when we give the fiat, "I AM Light," we are affirming, "God in me is Light." The more I give this decree, the more the Light expands and the higher my spirits are uplifted. TRY IT!
I AM Light, glowing Light,
Radiating Light, intensified Light.
God consumes my darkness,
Transmuting it into Light.

This day I AM a focus of the Central Sun.
Flowing through me is a crystal river,
A living fountain of Light
That can never be qualified
By human thought and feeling.
I AM an outpost of the Divine.
Such darkness as has used me is swallowed up
By the mighty river of Light which I AM.

I AM, I AM, I AM Light;
I live, I live, I live in Light.
I AM Light's fullest dimension;
I AM Light's purest intention.
I AM Light, Light, Light
Flooding the world everywhere I move,
Blessing, strengthening, and conveying
The purpose of the kingdom of heaven.

Questions

10.   A Mother-to-Be

Question:
      My husband and I are expecting our first child. We're excited and happy, but I'm emotional and nervous too. Is this normal?

Answer:
      Congratulations! Yes, it is normal to be emotional when you are pregnant, and most women are kind of nervous about having a baby for the first time. After all, you haven't ever done this before-at least in this life. First of all, I highly recommend that you and your husband read Nurturing Your Baby's Soul: A Spiritual Guide for Expectant Parents. This beautiful book by Elizabeth Clare Prophet, edited by Nancy Hearn and Dr. Joye Bennett, will inspire, comfort and reassure you that you are embarking upon the greatest adventure of your life—motherhood and fatherhood.
      Just think, you are welcoming a soul who has specially chosen you and your husband to be mother and father. You may very well have been together in previous lives, and all of you have special gifts to exchange. I'll tell you a little secret: whether boy or girl, this incoming bundle of light is also looking forward with a mixture of joy and jumpiness to what is to come. As a family, you are about to celebrate the journey of life in a whole new way.
      Both moms- and dads-to-be have their work cut out for them. Lots of books have been written on the subject, and everyone you know will have a great piece of advice for you. I'd like to take another tact. It's okay to trust your inner guidance and intuition. Let your baby guide you as well. Remember the only words the baby has at first are his cooing and crying, but those are pretty good guides. When a baby cries, he or she is usually either hungry or in need of a diaper change. If you rule out these two items, the baby may simply want to feel cuddled and loved. And that's a good thing to do!
      Most couples worry about repeating their parents' mistakes. Actually, you probably will, and you will make some of your own. However, you and your baby will learn a lesson from every mistake as well as from every right action. You can always apologize when you slip up and make a mistake. Even with a small baby, the soul is listening.
      I suggest you sit down with your husband and tell him your concerns. Agree to help each other along. And ask your guardian angels to help you to be your best selves with your child. If either of you is aware that you have a tendency to behave in a way that's hurtful or threatening, ask each other, the ascended masters and the angels to help you change that behavior. Invoke the violet flame to transmute the old behavior, and choose a specific positive behavior to replace it. And remember, taking no action is better than taking a hurtful one. It's okay to walk out of the room and do nothing until you get yourself together.
      My recipe for parenthood: One large measure of trust in the guidance of your guardian angels (who need to be asked to help!). Three cups of loving kindness, gentle touches and love hugs. Add a firm dash of limits and common sense. Mix and serve. Bon appétit!
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you
cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to
make them like you.
You are the bows from which your children as living
arrows are sent forth.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness.
                           —Kahil Gibran
Questions

11.  The Path of Divine Love

Question:
      I am really trying to walk the path of the ruby ray (the path of divine love), but I get confused about how to be true to myself without being selfish. How can I know if I'm being selfish?

Answer:
     The more we walk the path of the ruby ray, the more we realize that sacrifice, surrender, selflessness and service are all about being true to ourselves. It's being true to our self at the same time that we are true to our God. Which isn't always that easy!
      The question is, "Which self am I going to be true to?" We teach our children about the Big Me and the Little Me: the Big Me who wants the best for everyone and the Little Me who is very self-preoccupied. It's just as apt for us adults. When we behave selfishly, we have the myopic view of our Little Me. We don't see that what we are doing affects other people, and our own heart and soul. We are at the mercy of our unfulfilled desires.
      I remember a colleague of many years ago who gave a client who was doing this a very important key. She was going on and on about "I want this, I want that, nobody cares what I want, et cetera." He listened for awhile and then said to her, "I hear you saying, I want what I want when I want it, and nobody will give it to me. It seems to me that you'll get what you get when you get it depending on what you really want and what you do about getting it." She puzzled over that one for awhile. He was challenging her to get into the driver's seat of her life, to decide what she really wanted and to make it happen.
      It's really okay to have positive desires and to take good care of yourself as you walk the ruby ray path. The fine line between selflessness and selfishness has more to do with intention. When our primary intention is to serve the God Flame in everyone, including ourselves, and to meet the need of the hour as God shows it to us, we are unlikely to slip into selfishness. If, on the other hand, our prime motive is to meet our own needs, we can slip and slide right down the slippery slope of selfishness into the bog of human desires.
      Try thinking of the path of the ruby ray as enlightened self-interest. The word "enlightened" means to shed light, or a higher perspective, on a situation. Enlightened self-interest serves the best interests of yourself, your God and the Higher Self of others. As you grow in selflessness (meaning freedom from the yoke of the lesser self), you are filled with the light of God that extricates you from the quagmire of unruly desires.
      Your Higher Self (Christ Self or Buddha Self) understands your everyday needs as well as your soul's yearning to walk the path of divine love. Ask your Higher Self to show you how to meet your needs and the needs of others in a way that is acceptable to God. How about embracing sacrifice by laying on the altar all that is in the way of your soul's oneness with the God Flame? Ask Mother Mary to help you. Surrender old habits that do not serve your highest hopes and dreams. Selflessness comes naturally as you express more of your higher nature. Loving service from the heart brings a sense of blissful oneness with the angels of love. God loves you and wants you to be happy. As you rejoice in giving and receiving God's love—great is the rejoicing in heaven!

Questions


12.   Closeness to God

Question:
      I'm missing something in my life, and I know it's about not feeling close to God. I try to pray, but I don't see change. I feel stuck. Then I get angry with God for not helping me out. I end up feeling scared, lonely and guilty. What can I do?

Answer:
      Many people who seek counseling get angry at God for not solving their problems. I tell them it reminds me of a sign I saw once in an AA meeting room: "If you don't feel close to God, guess who moved?" God's love is like the sunshine, always beaming down upon us. Yet, when we are at odds with ourselves or surrounded by clouds of doubt and despair, we may not feel it. God loves you, dear one, and that love doesn't change when you make mistakes or get stuck. Surely there are tears in the eyes of the Divine Mother when one of her children is hurting.
      Do you know that there is nearly always pain hidden under anger? Anger itself is often a feeble attempt at a show of strength, a protective shield to protect us from hurt. Real comfort comes from healing the underlying pain. How? Feel the pain, love yourself through it and ask God to help you understand its purpose. Love and forgive everyone concerned. As your heart opens, you begin to feel inner resolution and comfort.
      As the Aquarian age is moving on, many people on the spiritual path are seriously pursuing the bonding of their soul with their Holy Christ Self. They earnestly desire to fulfill their divine destiny on Earth and experience their mystical reunion with God. In this alchemical process they often contact painful memories surfacing from deep in the unconscious.
      They become aware of the pain of their original separation from God when they left the heaven-world or the ancient mystery schools. They come to realize that this is the deeper underlying cause of their sense of separation from God and feelings of loneliness, fear, anger and guilt. As they seek to understand the lessons their soul is trying to learn, they restore their loving communion with Father-Mother God.
      Perhaps Jesus offered the story of the prodigal son to comfort us in these times. He knows that God is everlastingly loving and forgiving when we genuinely desire to return Home. How about talking to Father-Mother God as though they were your best friends?
      Tell God your troubles, how scared, lonely and guilty you feel. Share your burdens, call for the violet flame to transmute them, and ask your Divine Parents to forgive your mistakes. Tell them how much you love them and want them to be an integral part of your life. Step out into the sun and feel their love shining down upon you. Look up at the stars in the sky and imagine the twinkling presence of the angels.
      As you share your burdens with Father-Mother God, remember to stay on the line to hear their counsel. Don't hang up! Listen with your heart and soul. Accept God's understanding and forgiveness, and forgive yourself. Let the warmth of the sun of God's Presence melt away any sense of separation. Allow comfort and hope to enter your heart and soul. Claim a new beginning and a close walk with God. Choose to win your ascension as an adept of love. Your soul will rejoice with God and the angels!
Questions


13.   How to Stop Criticism and CCJ

Question:
      I know it is not good to criticize, condemn or judge other people, but I get frustrated when someone is being inconsiderate or hurtful. In spite of my best intentions, out pops a critical comment. Then I get upset and criticize myself. It is as if criticism, condemnation and judgment have a life of their own. How do I stop it?

Answer:
      Most people feel upset when another person is inconsiderate or hurtful, particularly if the hurtful drama involves someone we love or respect. Yet, a critical comeback on our part can be equally hurtful. We add fuel to the fire when we then get upset with ourselves, typically followed by a surge of resentment toward the person who ignited the fire in the first place. It’s no wonder that criticism, condemnation and judgment (ccj) take on a life of their own.
      We can outwit our tendency to be critical or to react with a critical comeback if we remind ourselves that ccj is instigated and propelled by the forces of darkness, who take great delight in getting us to criticize, condemn and judge one another. Why do they go to so much trouble? One major reason. They want to steal our energy and entice us into making karma, which ties us to the earth plane—until at least 51 percent of the karma is balanced.
      God is calling his sons and daughters to come Home and the fallen angels and their tools are angry. They know that they have defied God and will no longer exist once they have no light to keep them going. That is the reason they devil the lightbearers, to steal the light.
      Why do they have to steal it? Because they have cut themselves off from God’s light by misusing it. Tricking the lightbearers into misqualifying the light and then stealing that energy is the way the fallen ones continue to exist. When we fall for the tricks of the fallen angels, we lose some of our light, we have less energy and we feel vulnerable, inadequate and distant from God—and this is how we feel when we criticize and condemn others.
      So, if all of this is a “trick of the force” as Mark Prophet put it, how can we outwit it? First, we remind ourselves that if someone else is inconsiderate or hurtful, it is natural to feel vulnerable, hurt or frustrated. Secondly, we ask ourselves, “What do I want to do about these feelings?” And it is at that strategic moment that Mr. CCJ will likely come riding in from the unconscious or subconscious to do the right job in a wrong way.       The right way is to stand up for the soul—our soul or anyone else’s. The wrong way is to tear someone down in the process of trying to stand up for the soul. And that is exactly what ccj does. It rips the fabric of the soul, eats away at the criticizer’s self-worth and erodes our sense of honor and compassion.
      When we get our hackles up, Mr. CCJ becomes convinced that he is being properly protective. Using our voice, he will explain that this is a natural reaction—like a porcupine that shoots its quills when someone comes too close to the soft underbelly. And, after all, Mr. CCJ is doing an even more important job, protecting our vulnerable self and our soul.
      In order to counter this move, we remind ourselves that when we are critical, condemning and judgmental, we give light to the forces of darkness. These forces continue to exist only by the light we release when we are in a discordant vibration. We affirm that we will no longer be “a tool of the force,” as Mark Prophet used to describe it.
      So, with God’s help we begin the redemption of Mr. CCJ. We take a leap of faith! We toss the bristly cloak of ccj into the sacred fire (through fiery ruby ray or violet flame decrees), and we put on the full armor of inner strength, allegiance to truth and obedience to harmony. And we teach the recalcitrant Mr. CCJ, step by step, to stop reacting and to adopt the demeanor of a knight in shining armor who serves God and protects the soul.
      We claim the motto, “I will be true to myself and to my God.” We choose forbearance in the face of turmoil. And we practice forgiveness and self-correction whenever we make a mistake. We also ask the angels in the outfield to remind us to keep our mouths shut when we don’t feel harmonious.
      Each time we feel tempted to criticize someone we remind ourselves that Father-Mother God made us of the love stuff. We determine to behave lovingly and to stop returning evil for evil. We decide to view hurtful happenings as a lesson about the importance of harmony. And we practice harmony over and over again in order to form a habit of harmonious behavior.
      Step by step, we build a momentum of harmony, grace and Christly aplomb. And we send our gratitude to Father- Mother God for the opportunity to correct our flaws, to strengthen our virtues and ultimately to return Home in the victory of the ascension.
Questions


14.   To Speak Up or Not

Question:
      My friend and I were having dinner, and my friend’s escort was critical and rude to her. I debated whether I should say something like “what you’re saying is really unkind!” but I decided it was not my business. Do you think I should have told him he was being rude?

Answer:
      That is a difficult one, but I think you were wise to refrain from saying what you were thinking! This reminds me of the saying, “Don’t step in where angels fear to tread.”
      If you had corrected your friend’s escort, you might have ignited a scene your friend would not appreciate. Unless you were able to be in perfect balance and as diplomatic as Saint Germain and as loving as Jesus, you likely would have stirred a pot that was already brewing and made it boil over.
      Since the man was your friend’s escort and they obviously have a relationship, I would be inclined to offer a silent prayer, let it go and talk with your friend privately if she opens the door to a conversation about it. I would also suggest that you keep your friend in your prayers and pray for the highest resolution possible for her.
Questions


15.   Reaction Control

Question:
      I am an Aquarian and I know I am called to be loving but my parents are very good at pushing my buttons. I love them and I do my best not to react, but they continually find fault with me. I am of age and not even living with them. Do you have any suggestions to help me stay loving instead of reacting?

Answer:
      None of us can keep people from finding fault with us, especially our parents, who are used to telling us what to do because they raised us. I suggest that you give yourself a big hug and tell yourself:
      “Okay, this is the way they are and I’m not going to change them, but what I can control is my reaction. I choose not to let my parents’ adverse reactions ruin my day. I choose to remain centered. I choose to remain unattached. I choose to sit under my Bodhi tree as a Buddha. I choose to be loving and kind—and I choose to walk out the door if it gets to be too much!”
      According to spiritual astrology, Aquarians are intended to express divine love. You might ask yourself, “What would the masters of great love, like Jesus, Mother Mary or the ascended lady master Nada do in a situation like this?”
      Write down what comes to mind when you contemplate these exemplars of divine love. Then open the floodgates of your heart’s love and send love to your parents. You can send your love silently when they are upset, and you will feel much better doing that than reacting to their comments.
      I suggest that you pray for the love of God to sustain you, keep your heart open, let the love flow—and trust God’s love to heal the relationship between you and your parents.
Questions


16.   A Safe Haven

Question:
      I would like to know what to do with people I love who are closed up and have built barriers around them?

Answer:
      Pray for them and be kind in your interactions with them. Kindness lets your loved ones know it is safe to come out from behind the barriers, at least when they are with you.
      And remember it is their decision as to whether they do that or not. Maybe they need their barriers at the moment.
      Most people who erect barriers do so because they have been hurt and are trying to protect themselves. If we continue to behave lovingly, eventually they tend to lower the barriers.
      So be a safe haven when they are with you, pray for their well-being and ask God to help them through whatever is troubling them.
Questions


17.   Self-Hynosis

Question:
      What do you think about self-hypnosis?

Answer:
      The only difference between self-hypnosis and hypnosis is that in self-hypnosis you are putting yourself into the trance state. The ascended masters teach that it is not a good idea because you are in a completely receptive state and not in conscious control of your environment.
      Hypnosis is not the same as meditation, in which you connect with your Higher Self and the etheric plane. Whether it is self-hypnosis or hypnotism by someone else, the chances are the person who is hypnotized is a sitting duck for any astral forces that happen to be around.
      Some people have also asked me whether it is wise to use a tape made by a hypnotist. And my response is that using someone’s tape connects you with that person’s consciousness, as well as with your own unconscious. Bad dreams, even nightmares, can result from probing the depths of the unconscious without the assistance of a qualified therapist—the depths of the unconscious realm can overwhelm any of us.
      This is why we pray before we go to sleep. We invoke our tube of light and ask to be overshadowed by the ascended masters. Yet, all of us have occasional bad dreams, which are typically triggered by difficulties in our lives and lessons we need to learn. When you wake up from a bad dream, I suggest writing it down to gain a conscious understanding of what you and your soul are trying to resolve in the dream state.
      The state of being awake, whether in the light of day or the darkness of night, is mindful of the words of Gautama Buddha when he won his victory under the Bo tree. He said, “I am awake!” And that is what we are called to be—awake to who we are as sons and daughters of God.
Questions


18.   Open the Heart

Question:
      What is the difference between opening ourselves to pain and letting down our guard?

Answer:
      It could be at times one and the same. I think the difference is the way it is usually spoken of, the connotation of it, the underlying meaning of it.
      When you open your heart, the connotation is opening oneself, allowing the flow of light, of love, wisdom and power and the tenderness of your being to flow out. Letting down your guard has the connotation of being off guard, opened up without conscious intent—and therefore, without conscious protection.
      Our protection is the flow of God’s light, having that flow of light moving through us like a waterfall that will not allow any negativity to flow in. In contrast, when we have not invoked the light, energy can penetrate our aura and become a part of us without our consent. So letting down our guard is risky—it’s like playing football without a helmet!
Questions


19.   Carl Jung's Theory Today

Question:
      I have heard that Carl Jung’s theory is outdated and many therapists are using transactional analysis in its place. What are your thoughts on different kinds of therapy?

Answer:
      Jung’s theory, known as analytical psychology, is not at all outdated. It is a beautiful way of working and connects with what the ascended masters teach. I would add that any therapy is as good as the consciousness of the practitioner.
      Transactional analysis, developed by Eric Burn, has roots in Jungian thinking. This is the therapy where one works with the parent, child and adult parts of one’s self—it was one of the precursors of inner child work.
      Psychosynthesis, developed by Roberto Assagioli, is another therapy that derives from Jungian psychology. In psychosynthesis, the therapist includes the sub-personalities, which are similar to working with the inner child. Assagioli also introduced the concept of the superconscious, the inner arena of our hopes, dreams and aspirations. In psychosynthesis, the client partners with the Higher Self.
      I use elements of all of these theories that connect with the healing of the soul and spirit, which is my major focus. In my practice I focus on the issues the client wishes to resolve. And I firmly believe that a positive rapport between therapist and client is essential to healing.
Questions


20.   Tears of Joy and Sorrow

Question:
      When I am invoking the light, I become choked up and my eyes water. If I am alone at home, I just let it flow and sometimes it’s sorrow and sometimes it’s joy. Should I be concerned that sorrow might keep me from making my ascension?

Answer:
      Tears of joy and bliss are very different from tears of sadness and grief. When we have tears of joy and bliss we are raised to higher consciousness. And when we have tears of sadness and grief we are focused on some aspect of our humanness that needs to be redeemed.
      When you have this experience, you have a marvelous opportunity to praise God in the bliss and to pray for God’s guidance to correct the human condition that is creating the sorrow. I suggest that on a daily basis you give violet flame decrees to transmute the sorrow, and make it a point to thank God for the blessing of life and opportunity.
Questions


21.   Past-Life Remembrance?

Question:
     Sometimes I wake up from a dream that feels like a past-life experience. How can I know if I am really remembering a past life or if it’s just a figment of my imagination?

Answer:
      Only the soul and God know the reality of whether or not a memory is actually a past-life remembrance or a figment of our imagination. We also need to be mindful that memories are subject to our mental interpretation. Thus, a recall may or may not be completely accurate in the details of what actually occurred.
      I do believe there is a lesson to be learned from whatever comes to mind because it is an aspect of our consciousness.
      In my therapeutic work I simply accept the remembrance of the client. And we work together to understand the lesson and how the individual might apply it in his or her life today.
      With respect to the situation being a figment of your imagination, it would still reflect your thoughts and feelings. So it might be useful to ask yourself, “What might be my purpose in imagining this? What am I trying to heal within myself? What lesson am I trying to learn? How might I apply it in my life today?”
Questions


22.   "Good People Must Do Better"

Question:
      Many people today do not seem to respect the values I was brought up with. What do you think is happening to our culture?

Answer:
      I too believe we are experiencing a decline in traditional morality and values throughout the world. It has been precipitated by a number of factors: worldwide violence, terrorist activities, hate-mongering, the addictive use of drugs and alcohol, sexual promiscuity and the ignoring of traditional values in the service of expediency.
      Add to the mix the influence of atheism, the trappings of Satanism and the degrading and blasphemous lyrics in pop culture and we begin to understand the roots of cultural decline. In addition, we have the negative influence of good people tending to turn a blind eye toward cultural degradation because they do not know what to do about it.
      What is the solution? I believe it is to open our eyes and do our part to change our small portion of the world. Archangel Jophiel gave a simple key to students of the ascended masters. He told them in a dictation delivered through Mrs. Prophet, “Good people must do better.” If all the good people in the world united to do better, we would see swift and major change because the vibration of the world would be raised up.
      In other words, we can choose to be the loving, compassionate people we really are and dedicate ourselves to fulfilling the mission of our Higher Self. We can pay attention to the prick of conscience and join with good people everywhere to confront personal and planetary problems from an enlightened and practical point of view. When we do this, we shift the energy in our small corner of the world. And when enough of us do it worldwide, the world will become a better place.
Questions


23.   "Dreams and Past Lives"

Question:
     Sometimes I wake up from a dream that feels like a past-life experience. How can I know if I am really remembering a past life or if it’s just a figment of my imagination?

Answer:
     You will most likely not know for sure until you have your meeting with the Lords of Karma at the conclusion of this life. However, whether or not it is actually a past-life memory, you can benefit by analyzing the dream. A dream can help you understand subconscious thoughts and feelings and how they may be impacting your waking life.
     I suggest that as soon as you wake up, even if it’s in the middle of the night, you record the dream—either on a tape recorder you keep by your bed or by writing it out if you are awake enough to do that. Ask yourself what each element of the dream means to you. And write down whatever comes to mind. Whatever comes to you is in some way related to the dream since that is what you are focused on.
     After you do this, you will have a feel for what you are trying to tell yourself through the dream, regardless of whether or not it is a past-life experience! And remember, whatever kind of dreams we have, there is always a message we need to heed. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be having the dream!
Questions


24.   "Spiritual Mission"

Question:
     How can I know what my spiritual mission is all about?

Answer:
     The best way I know is to pay attention to your spiritual life, which can include praying, meditating, reading the Bible, and asking God for guidance on a daily basis. I believe our mission unfolds as we move through life, and I know that it has to do with being faithful to our highest values and kind and charitable to those we meet along the way.
     Often we begin to understand our spiritual mission through serving the needs of others. By helping other people, we also make good karma and balance our not-so-good karma. I believe that when we are kind and thoughtful in our interactions with others, we are in the process of fulfilling our spiritual mission even though we may not have defined it as such.
Questions


25.   "Soul"

Question:
     How can I get to know my soul?

Answer:
     I believe that our mystical dreams reveal the secrets of our soul. And I also know that we come to understand the depths of our soul by trying our best to fulfill our highest aspirations.
     To get to know your soul, ask yourself, particularly in perplexing situations, “What would my soul want me to do”? And do it! As you do this on an ongoing basis, you will become much better acquainted with your soul.
     For the person on the spiritual path, the soul wants to do whatever will help her to come home to God at the end of this lifetime and achieve the ascension in the light.
Questions


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