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fredburks's picture5 years ago
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fredburks posted a new Topic in Transformation Tools:
Hey beautiful friends, Below are some of my favorite quotes on the transformative power of love. Enjoy! With abundant love and joy, Fred Sacred Love: An open, timeless connection through which those involved feel naturally drawn to support and nurture each other's highest and deepest essence and intentions. Whenever I hug someone, I want to consciously focus on sending the energy of "Hey beautiful being! Thank you for being with me in this precious moment together." On the deepest levels every one of us is always held in sacred embrace by the collective love of all of us.
  • onesong's picture
    5 years ago

    Beautiful, Fred.

    Love is our greatest teacher. Each time our hearts break open wide, we have the ability to emerge stronger and ever more loving. As the cocoon moves from chrysalis to butterfly, so with our heart and soul growth. We strengthen our 'wings' and we learn to fly even higher.

    May love be what you are met with in each Holy instant.

    In connection, love and light. Peace be and so it is.


  • fredburks's picture
    5 years ago

    Thank you, Kristyne. I feel incredibly blessed to be so loved and supported in my life by so many, and to be able to return the love and radiate out to all. Much love and many blessings to you!


5 years ago
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nickmiller73 posted a new Topic in Personal/Spiritual Growth:

Hi,

 

So I've been struggling for a while to come up with a name to call my religion.  Everyone else has one picked out it seems and I'm still trying to figure mine out.  I never know quite what to call myself.  I usually say something like "I love all religions...but at the same time hate them all too..."

 

  • 5 years ago

    P.S. I am not starting a new religion or anything. I just reread my post.


    What I meant is in discussions with friends and such. I hope that clears it up a bit.


  • fredburks's picture
    5 years ago

    I can't think of a good name, Nick. But if someone asks you about your views on religion, you might respond by saying "Be careful or my carma will run over your dogma!" Enjoy!


  • Starmonkey's picture
    5 years ago

    Good for you, bro.

    Since it seems somewhat "fickle" (in a good way), you could refer to YOUR p.o.v. as Nickisms... Just first thing off my head.

    Robert Brezsny said something about our collective humanity eventually achieving 7+ billion different religions. And THEN we'll be free...

    Sort of hearkens back to your former post regarding spiritual evolution of humans.

    Words are particular. I prefer spiritual over religious. Uninstitutionalized. Less political.

    Old-fashioned but untraditional. Ritual over tradition. Subject to CHANGE, modification or adaptation.

    Maybe you can just scramble or mix up letters from your name. Shouldn't matter as there's no right or wrong. It's your thing.

    Unless you're trying to get others to join? Careful! Read Rogue Messiahs by Colin Wilson before starting your own cult!

    ;)


  • tscout's picture
    5 years ago

    Just keep looking,,,but don't name it! That's the point!


  • onesong's picture
    5 years ago

    So here's my go at it Nick...

    I am first and foremost a Spiritual being in a physical body. The physical body is the 'garment' I wear in this embodiment-it is not the "I" that I AM. In Spirit, I AM totally healed, healthy and whole.

    On the physical level I may or may not seem that to those I meet and that isn't the important part.

    That I understand the importance of my own Spiritual growth and self mastery while in this incarnation is the important part imo.

    I was raised in an Episcopal church, by parents that would leave it when it no longer resonated with their beliefs. My grandmother exposed me to every church and theology/theosophy she could find as a pre-teen and adolescent, as an adult I realize it was because her 'beliefs' were never adequately met by any of those 'religions'.

    One of my mentors talked about the word 'religion' as a way to Re-Legion the masses-and for centuries it seems religion has been that...but not as a means to affirm our Oneness, rather to separate, divide and conquer those who do not share the same 'beliefs'. That's still happening today.

    In the very center of the word belief you'll find the word 'lie'...not that our beliefs are all lies...but as you have said, as we change and grow it is natural that our 'beliefs' do as well.

    If I had to label what or how I believe, I'd have to say I most resonate with the Gnostic, the Essene and the Christian Mystics of old, but I also find Buddhism, the Tao and many Holy books to be of great value to my education in this lifetime.

    So I tell others, I believe in a Holistic Theology/Theosophy.

    God/Source/the energy of ALL CREATION, is bigger than we humans can even begin to fathom. No one religion is less or more important, many have the same basic tenents at the heart of them. Mine would be the religion of LOVE. Pretty simple: Love one another. Even when it seems difficult.

    For many years I looked outside myself thinking I was somehow separate from "God-ness" for the lack of a better word. What I find, is it isn't something found outside myself, Spirit lives and moves through the very center of my being, something that I acknowledge and accept as I move through daily practices, ritual and routines. When I honor that connection, no matter the circumstance, I am moving in faith with hope and beyond fear. It doesn't mean I always understand why the things in our lives happen the way they do, but at least in my life as I look back, I see how each experience has brought me to who I AM right now. Stronger, wiser, more loving, more patient and releasing fear.

    Love and LIght to you Nick.


  • fredburks's picture
    5 years ago

    Wow!!! Thanks for sharing those beautiful and inspiring thoughts, Kristyne!


Starmonkey's picture5 years ago
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Starmonkey posted a new Topic in General Discussion:

I'll start this by saying I watch TOO MUCH YouTube. It would probably be my spirit animal if it weren't for my dog, Georgia. Just kidding. Not.

Abby Martin, ancient civilisations, global cataclysms, Nibiru and ufo stuff, SHARKS... It's too easy and addictive. And there are a bunch of freaks constantly posting THEIR wacky perspectives on things. Some are entertaining. Some are downright misinformation.

Now I noticed these "doomsday ranches" and the stupid "doomsday clock" at two minutes til midnight. What the hell?!

  • fredburks's picture
    5 years ago

    Sounds like you are ready for a change, Christopher. So many people with so much paranoia, I can understand you wanting more solitude. And if California slides off into the ocean, I'm ready for the ride of my life. It would be a wild and exciting way to go. Good luck and many blessings in all you are planning to do.


    With love and joy,

    Fred


  • Starmonkey's picture
    5 years ago

    Thanks Fred! Change is inevitable! And picking up speed...

    Transformation as well. Lots of butterfly signs and portents lately.

    And yes, I agree it's quite a ride! For all!

    Wax those surfboards! Real or virtual...

    Love


  • Brian's picture
    5 years ago

    Star monkey. Maybe a general thought practice or prayer could be found to help you with your newly found sensitivity. I feel like you can create calm for your body in a few moments a day. An example: I say to myself in the morning, "this is a good day" or "this is going to be a good day". It usually is and it seems to make things less stressful for me. It's like a promise has been made so I can relax knowing things aren't going to go south.


fredburks's picture5 years ago
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fredburks posted a new Topic in Inspirations/Transformational Stories:

Hey beautiful Gathering Spot friends,

Below are a few quotes I've come up with about the co-creation of reality. Enjoy!

With abundant love and warm holiday wishes,
Fred

  • Bob07's picture
    6 years ago

    Thanks, Fred. Good thoughts, big and deep perspective. This seems true as far as words can express truth. Relating to one aspect of what you said: Sometimes I use the analogy of a mainstream computer and its many individual stations. Individually we're like these stations (monitor, keyboard, bells & whistles) and we tend to think of ourselves as having completely separate individual existences. But we forget that we're really conscious outposts of the central computer, which is the Consciousness in which we all take part. I think the new physics posits that there's only one Consciousness in the universe -- and it follows there's one Love. So our individual vantage point (focal point) is just a detail in the vast unborn, undying Awareness in which everything exists (or seems to; do hologram's actually exist?).


    Anyway, I love what you said near the beginning of your post: "The more I open to all of this, the more I realize it is silly to get so serious about it." ...and yet it seems natural to help wherever we can, since we all "inter-are" (using Thich Nhat Hahn's expression).


  • fredburks's picture
    6 years ago

    Cool, Bob. I like the computer analogy, even if it is a bit impersonal. Enjoy!


  • Bob07's picture
    6 years ago

    Of course, by "mainstream computer" I meant "mainframe computer." Yeah, it's a little impersonal. Analogies are always inadequate by their nature.


  • Starmonkey's picture
    5 years ago

    I dig, Fred!

    I'm switching tracks!

    I share sentiments with an analogy I recently watched again on Lost when Kate says to Jack "kind of unlike you, the whole glass half-full thing." And Jack replies "there's a glass?"

    ;)


  • Brian's picture
    5 years ago

    "The goal is not to merge back into oneness, but rather for each part of the whole to explore the richness and variety of being,"

    I heard a Hindu mystic say that the Buddha got it wrong about trying to get back to essential oneness and that Hindu faith or advanced ideas therein was superior because it was about the many...

    You said a lot and deep too. Man.

    " I know that this understanding exists on some deep level within others, but most have unconsciously chosen to block it off."

    That's me in spades. I'm like the poster child for that


  • fredburks's picture
    5 years ago

    Yes. When I hear people say "we are one," I find myself saying "and we are many." If we were truly all one, you wouldn't be reading this and we wouldn't have anyone to interact with. I love that you are there and I am here and we get to explore with each other the uniqueness of each of our beings. The way I like to express that sentiment is by saying we are all divine. We are all interconnected in the same cosmic dance. And we all come from the same divine source. Much love and warm wishes to you all!


Brian's picture5 years ago
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Brian posted a new Video in General Discussion:

  I have watched several fascinating videos by a woman who appears to know how to analyze peoples body language. Listening to her is addictive. The video below analyzes two people who are said to be victims of abuse-Fred, I wanted you to see this...I feel it is a validation of the victims and it helps me to understand the odd parts of their expressions. Something she said about world leaders being in on it rings freshly true and appalling. ADMISSION: I find it hard personally to hear their testimony because I don't want the world to have such evil in it.

fredburks's picture5 years ago
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fredburks posted a new Topic in Spiritual Activism:

For those who might be interested in my recent adventures at the spiritual community of Damanhur in Italy, here's a write-up I made for my friends. Enjoy, and much love, Fred
 

  • Bob07's picture
    6 years ago

    Thanks for getting to this, Fred. Amazing, truly. Please give us a report on the Sacred Activism gathering.


  • fredburks's picture
    6 years ago

    Hey Bob, I've added the post on Tamera. Both of these places are shining examples of what's possible in our world. Thanks for your interest. Much love to you and yours!


  • Starmonkey's picture
    5 years ago

    Exciting stuff! I've been intrigued by Damanhur for years. I occasionally use the Synchronicity method of divination he developed. Sometimes the language is a bit challenging. I guess English and Italian are a BIT different, eh? Curious about above mentioned history of humanity. I'll read of your adventures there next...


5 years ago
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nickmiller73 posted a new Topic in General Discussion:

Below is a short story I wrote on the inevitibility of enlightenment.  It's about a 10 minute read.  Let me know what you think.

 

The Four Minute Monkey

Chapter 1:  Evolution

  • fredburks's picture
    6 years ago

    Very cool stuff, Nick! Thanks for laying all of that out. Very few people take the time to explore these existential questions. We are certainly blessed to love in most fascinating times!


  • Trish's picture
    6 years ago

    Thanks for this Nick, it's nice to hear from you here! I haven't felt moved to post or comment here for a long while; it feels strange. :-)


    I challenge that our future hinges on someone becoming "the enlightened one", and that if there are any (and I suspect there are many currently alive), that they will appear to be any different than any other human being, save perhaps for an amused twinkle in their eyes. What determines that, of course, is what one's definition and criteria for enlightenment is.


    If you ask yourself, "what would it mean for me to be enlightened?", and you come up with a list of criteria of how you would feel differently on the inside, how you would behave, how you would look even, what kinds of special powers you would have, etc. - in my humble opinion, that is the extent of which you do not accept your current state as it is. What if the very imperfect, humble, and ordinary experience of being that has been with you always is what you have been seeking your whole life? How could someone tell you how to get it when you already have it, when you already ARE it?


    I was intrigued by Jim Carrey for a while, but I see that he has been playing with quite a lot of polarity in his artwork and seems to be fixated on anger and politics at the moment; just look at his Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/JimCarrey


    Take care Nick, I hope you are doing well. :-)


  • Starmonkey's picture
    5 years ago

    Nice spew of words there, Nick.

    100th monkey business was in there, thankfully...

    There's also the possibility it keeps happening individually, and there's not many options except to leave. Dominant paradigm and all that...

    Transit to another dimension to affect this one corporeally. Since you can't change others belief systems by force. Obviously.

    Blowing minds and realities...

    When enough people BELIEVE something else is not only possible, but PROBABLE, things will shift very quickly. As it stands now, there are way to many confusions and distractions and preoccupations for most to FOCUS on any one thing. Sadly, many more will have to die to their earthly forms to free up that energy.

    Another hindrance, and it recently (like yesterday when I saw Ready Player One) clicked with me, is that way too many people are paying too much attention to what's "wrong" or what doesn't work instead of what IS working. Myself included. I posted a content devoid mention of Abby Martin, and I love how she's peeling some caps back, but she's pretty much always focused on the negative business going on. Same energy, different angle. We all need to stop perpetuating that energy cause it just keeps that scrappy ball rolling.

    And most of the games are fixed. Hold all the cards, change the rules, can't win at those games.

    Politics, religion, science, even sociology because of the sexism, racism, ageism, or what have you.

    Spirituality however, is a different matter entirely. Because you can explore and experiment with whatever attracts you. Find your own relationship to it ALL.

    So, yes, it is inevitable, but we probably won't see it on this planet in our currently defined lifetimes.

    I've found it best, for myself, to stop worrying about other people and just focus on doing it for me and my Family. That includes EVERYONE, but not until they realize it.

    And it's not about right or wrong, true or false. Those are more like guidelines, not rules. It's about what inspires a person. It takes millions of tons of pressure to turn coal into a diamond!

    Can't be forced, though. Many will choose against it because they don't think they can change. Old dogs, old tricks...

    Luckily, this isn't the ONLY reality.

    I applaud that dream.

    Gonna be awhile.


Starmonkey's picture6 years ago
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Starmonkey posted a new Topic in Political Activism/Cover-ups:

Lovin it. Tell it like it is, sister!

Noa's picture6 years ago
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Noa posted a new Topic in Political Activism/Cover-ups:

Here's one way to stop supporting endless wars...

 

http://nowartax.org/People's Life Fund.html

War Tax Redirection A Positive Alternative to Federal War Taxes

What message do we send with our taxes?

  • fredburks's picture
    7 years ago

    Great stuff, Noa! I've been looking for something like this. I may do it. Thanks so much!!!


  • andrey's picture
    7 years ago

    Does this mean that we can pay our taxes to these funds INSTEAD of federal government or is that too much to hope for yet? I read the page, but the wording seemed a little confusing to me. Thanks!


  • Noa's picture
    7 years ago

    Yes, Andrey. That's the general idea. The People's Life fund has 3 different options. See A, B, and C above. Option B is a safe choice for people who think the IRS might come back and ask them for back taxes afterward.


    In any case, I'm glad to see people organize against this illegal system of taxation and forced funding of undeclared, illegal, and immoral wars.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySZrO_u7vY


    (Please help, Andrey; I don't see the buttons to embed this video or make a hyperlink. I'm currently using filtered HTML mode.)


  • andrey's picture
    7 years ago

    Cool. I'll definitely look into it. As far as videos/pictures/hyperlinks, click on the blue "Switch to Rich Text editor" button on the full node page. That'll give you the extra options. We're keeping them off by default so it looks cleaner on mobile devices. To embed a video, you can just copy/paste the embed code from youtube. The "add flash" button is taken off because the new embed code from YouTube works on all devices, whereas flash doesn't. I'll talk to Fred about writing some documentation.


    UPDATE: I just noticed that we did have it disabled on comments. It should work now. Cheers!


  • Wendy's picture
    7 years ago

    Thanks Noa, This is a great find. I knew about the war tax resistors movement a little but I had no idea anyone was actually suceeding with it enough to create a seperate fund. Here's the list of similar funds nationwide: http://nwtrcc.org/resist/redirection/


  • fredburks's picture
    6 years ago

    Hey Noa, I finally withheld my war taxes this year and am considering placing those funds with the People's Life Fund you reported on here. Thanks so much for you suggestion!


Noa's picture6 years ago
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Noa posted a new Video in Political Activism/Cover-ups:
 

Sponsored by The Nation Institute and The New School (http://www.newschool.edu), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and acclaimed author Chris Hedges sits down for a one-to-one interview with public intellectual, academic and activist Cornel West.

  • ChrisBowers's picture
    7 years ago

    exceptional testifying by Hedges!!!! makes me appreciate him all the more...


  • 6 years ago

    I have listened to a lot of good people over the last 60 years and I like Hedges very much. My comment is this world is going backwards we have a lot less freedoms now than when I was a young man in the 50`s and 40% of working class people are a lot worse off now than then. What I am really saying is how long will the poor majority have to wear the chains of the capitalist corporations minority before they completly destroy this planet and humanity with it.


  • tscout's picture
    6 years ago

    The answer is,,,,Until we realize, There are no chains!


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