Spirituality That Works

Q: We’ve talked about oneness at different times. How is it possible to see through the illusion of the separate self when the illusion is so persistent and so convincing?

As long as you are looking outward, you cannot find the true self. You can only watch the movie of life playing on the screen. So, the focus needs to shift from “it is happening out there” to this present moment of being. Only in this present moment of being … Read More

Q: What are we to make of these troubling times we’re living in?

If the current time is seen as a woven fabric, many are using the perspective of staying focused on the fabric and not the holes in between the woven threads, which represent the darkness in the world.

The reason why the darkness feels scary is it can’t be quantified. The fabric can be quantified. The threads can be counted. The woven pattern can be discerned. But the … Read More

Q: I’m interested in child prodigies like Mozart, and I’ve always thought that this is a past life that has bled into this life. Is that so? And, if so, why does it happen so rarely?
It is often a past life that was extremely intense in one discipline and unexpectedly cut short, leaving an intense imprint of the unfinished expression of talent, causing the soul to desire to quickly reincarnate to finish the expression.

So, it is an energy … Read More

“As you should know, we are all energetically influenced both physically and spiritually. Is spiritual influence the sin that is forgiven because we commit it unconsciously?”

This question landed in my inbox recently, and it touches on something I’m often asked about: the complex relationship between spiritual influence and personal responsibility. Let’s take a look at this from a few different perspectives to help us gain greater clarity and self-awareness.

Distinguishing Influence from Intentional Sin

First, I’d like to speak … Read More

Understanding the Territory

The intersection of mental health experiences and spiritual awakening can be both profound and challenging. What some traditions call “spiritual emergence” can sometimes look similar to what Western medicine labels as psychosis. This overlap requires us to hold both perspectives with care and respect, recognizing that the journey of awakening is deeply personal and can often be accompanied by intense emotions, including fear.

Acknowledge the Fear and Its Roots

When we experience profound shifts in our sense … Read More

Have you ever noticed how one person’s mood can shift the atmosphere of an entire room?  Or experienced the calming effect of ocean waves? Or felt energized by the rustling of leaves in a forest? These everyday experiences hint at something scientists are beginning to understand—we’re all part of an interconnected web of energy fields that constantly communicate and influence each other. Like tuning forks that naturally sync up when placed near each other or the way your phone automatically … Read More

Do all people have the experience of trying to remember the connection of awareness that they’ve forgotten something, but they don’t remember what it is they’ve forgotten?

All people on a spiritual path do. The way they experience it is as a kind of deep-set loneliness that can live well below consciousness. Somebody may not be thinking every day, “Gosh, I’m so lonely” but there’s a feeling of being disconnected from everything that’s common to a lot of people. 

So … Read More

Q: I was reading today that one of the stages along the way to awakening is becoming silent. As someone who has a pretty powerful need to share what I’m thinking, am I in particular need of working on becoming a quieter person, listening more, and keeping to myself?

It’s true that once a regular sustained practice of meditation is established, silence is a natural outgrowth. That’s because once we are able to quiet our minds, the constant chatter and … Read More