LOVELIGHT magazine***Vol. 1, no. 1*** January 2004

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Editors: Richard and Maria Francis. Contributors to this issue (in alphabetical order): Mary Butler, Pat Fields, Kathy Oros, Mooncat Dancing (Susan Smith)

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Hi Richard,

I am really looking forward to this ezine. I hope it will be in a printable format so I can share copies with my computer-challenged friends :-)

 

I have a piece of art work I'd like to contribute if you would be interested. It is titled "Meditation".

Maybe Maria could help you decide.

 

Deep Peace and Many Blessings
Susan in Cincy - aka Mooncat Dancing
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All You Need Is Love
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Mooncat Creations
http://www.geocities.com/mooncat48/
Touching Little Lives of Ohio
http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/index.html

 

 

FENG SHUI CORNER

Hang a crystal from an exposed beam, or from a door frame if you have three doors in a row in a hallway. Crystals break up the negative energy created by visible beams and long hall ways.

 

Use red hearts and silk flowers [in appropriate areas] to enhance relationship, marriage, love, romance, motherhood, fame, fortune, long life, reputation, and prosperity.

 

Rabbits symbolize a wish for longevity or immortality, and are associated with fertility and the moon. While Westerners believe that they see a man in the moon, the Chinese see a rabbit...

 

Check the balance of yin and yang in your artwork. If you are a woman, are most of your paintings filled with feminine images? If you are a man, does most of your art reflect typically male interests? Substitute art that includes the opposite gender, especially if you seek romance or marriage.

 

Choose white, yellow, orange, pink or red candles to reinforce the areas representing love, marriage, relationships, motherhood, and romance.

 

PSYCHE AND LOGOS: NOTES ON PSYCHOLOGY:

SPIRITUALITY IS FUN!

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Religion is usually no fun. It is as dull as watching gray paint dry. It is far too often grumpy, picky, and condemnatory. It does not give energy and joy, but drains them.

Spirituality is just the opposite! Joy has always been recognized in the Enlightenment Tradition as a “fruit of the Spirit,” to use the popular term of the mystic Paul. Rainbows, birdsong, flowers, and puppies are designed by nature (the Goddess) to make us happy. So are a very wide spectrum and variety of sensual experiences. Nature has filled the body with sensitive nerves, and the brain contains many pleasure-centers. These factors demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that one of the important reasons that we were created and incarnated on earth is to experience delight and joy!

True, many factors can modify this joy. It seems that some can even neutralize or destroy it. But with spirituality, there is always the strong and fervent conviction that joy can overcome even these. And there is the delightful knowing that, in the end, joy will have its final victory! For the process of leaving this world-- which is always how this “play” comes to an end-- is one described as utterly joyful, totally ecstatic!

Joy is good, but it is not the only good. It is not the only reason that we were and are created. [This shallow idea is called “Hedonism,” and leads to greed and selfishness, not to Love (spirituality).] But every act of Love is an act of celebration, and hence, of joy! So, Love increases and amplifies all joys!

In a spiritual life, here is a valid goal: Have as much fun as possible without harming anyone else. This prevents joy from becoming radically selfcentered. It promises a joy that is a thousand times as bright, because it is conjoined with Love. For any “joy” outside of Love is artificial, temporary, and, ultimately, unsatisfying.

So, when life gives you the chance to have fun, go for it, as long as it harms none. Don’t go for the gold; go for the platinum! Grab the very best happiness that life has to give you! Expose yourself often to humor, silliness, and just plain fun. Incorporate the best of your “inner child” with your inner adult, Soul, and Spirit! Laugh often, and easily. For all positive laughter is healing. For every act of Love is an act of joy, and every act of true joy is an act of Love!

In view of the taciturnity and glumness that infect humorless religion, it might be difficult to believe, but the whole history of spirituality begins with pleasure! For the allegory of your spiritual growth begins in the Book of Genesis, in a state or condition called “Eden.” And “Eden” means “pleasure.” So, when we were first created or emanated as separate Souls from the divine Mind, and first experienced incarnation (symbolized by “Adam” and “eve”), we were created in a state of perfect oneness with the beautiful ecstatic Lovemind. Only with the rise of dualism-- the mother of all illusions-- did we “fall from grace.” We began, in this miserable illusion, to “judge,” to say that some things and conditions were “absolutely” bad or evil, separated from the One, the Creatormind. After that, it was a straight downhill slide down a steep slippery slope!

 

LOVE-LETTERS FROM OUR FRIENDS

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Hi Richard and Maria,

Thank you for inviting Randy and me to the Winter Solstice Celebration. We had a wonderful time and it was wonderful to finally meet you Richard and you Maria.

Maria, you did a wonderful job of decorating - everywhere I looked there were lights and candles and Christmas decorations and all kinds of wonderful things - what energy you must have!

Richard - you in your "donkey face" :-), your peaceful energy was felt all around you. It is a powerful attractor.

I also enjoyed meeting so many of your friends and especially your sister, Pat.

My only regret is that we do not live closer so visiting would be easier. Our van is old and not reliable.

 

Deep Peace and Many Blessings
Susan in Cincy

 

SELECT SACRED TEXTS: FROM OLD TAO-TEXT

Of all the elements, the Sage should
Take Water as his preceptor.
Water is yielding but all conquering.
Water extinguishes fire,
Or, finding itself likely to be defeated,
Escapes as steam and re-forms.
Water washes away soft Earth,
Or, when confronted by rocks,
Seeks a way around.
Water corrodes Iron till it
Crumbles to dust;
It saturates the atmosphere
So that Wind dies.
Water gives way to obstacles
With deceptive humility,
For no power can prevent it
Following its destined course to the sea.
Water conquers by yielding;
It never attacks but always wins
The last battle.
The Sage who makes himself as Water
Is distinguishable for his humility;
He embraces passivity,
Acts from non-action and conquers the world

 

--Contributed by Kathy Oros; thanks, Kathy!

PRACTICING PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY

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GRATITUDE

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Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude make sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

 

--Melody Beattie; contributed by Kathy Oros.

 

IDEAS TO INCREASE HAPPINESS

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TEN Steps to Emotional Health and Vitality

1. Practice forgiveness!

Let go of anger, guilt, recrimination, and blame. They all poison your bodymind!

2. Be grateful!

Life is a gift. Relish it. If you are reading this, you are better off than 90% of
the people on this planet. Each breath should be an expression of gratitude. Tell others how much you appreciate them!

3. Be loving!

Start with being kind, compassionate and loving to yourself. Offer your smile, your kind
words, your support, your friendship, your compassion and your love to others.

4. Build your self-esteem!

You are a miracle. You are a gift to the world. Who you are and what you do
matters. Remind yourself of that every single day.


5. Develop passion!

Get excited about your life! Seize the moment! Develop a burning desire for something, anything, that causes you to jump out of bed each new day with eager anticipation.

6. Choose your attitudes!

How you feel is up to you. You can choose to be happy. You can choose to be joyful. You can choose a positive mental attitude. You can choose to feel powerful. You
can choose victory over victimhood. Develop a winner’s mindset.

7. Spend time with you!

Become your own best friend. Spend a little quiet time with yourself each day reviewing your value, your values and your progress. Coach yourself in self-improvement.

8. Opt out of abusive relationships!

This is critical. Don’t let anyone abuse you physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually-- not your spouse, not your family, not your friends. Walk away. Get help if you need it. Surround yourself with people who uplift you; and get away from those that
denigrate you. Do it now.

9. Forego fear!

Fear is a killer. It also prevents you from thinking clearly. It stops you from self-actualization. Fear creates anger and hatred. Fear is often used to manipulate you. Whenever anyone attempts to use fear as a motivator, walk away.

10. Smile!

Today’s little problems will be tomorrow’s chuckles and adventure stories!

 

--contributed by Kathy Oros. Thanks again, Kathy!

RELIVING RELIGION

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SAI BABA:  EXAMPLE OF A DANGEROUS CULT

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Some of the data in the following article is taken from an article in "salon.com" by Michelle Goldberg.  Thanks to Mary "Maribee" Butler for providing it.  (Some of the words in quotation-marks are Goldberg's.)

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The Sai Baba cult has the world's biggest ashram in one of the most desperately poor villages in the world.  Greed is evident:  It has its own planetarium, a 15,000-seat auditorium, marble floors, and expensive chandeliers!  There are no meditation-sessions here.   At times, the place seems like a "madhouse," and students like "lunatics."  It possesses an "ambient spiritual hysteria."   This expensive, palatial building is for only darshan, a brief glimpse of Sai Baba-- a "rich blessing" to deluded followers.  A brand-new airport and lush apartment-buildings are nearby to accommodate rich cultists.

    These cultists actually worship Sai Baba!  And he eagerly laps up, like an orphan-puppy,  this ego-attention!

     But ex-devotees have exposed him as a sick pedophile, and they are too numerous to ignore.  Despite his demands for sexual "chastity," he has regularly and repeatedly sexually abused young boys!

     Victims say that they were terrified to "refuse God" when he demanded that they lower their pants, or suck his penis.  Accounts of his sexual misconduct are remarkably similar, indicating truth.  He massages their penises "for spiritual advancement," he says!  He pulls their heads between his legs for them to give him oral sex.  He dares to say that these rapes are "blessings," simply because his wonderful self is involved!

     Anyone who reports him gets excommunicated, losing all friends and even family, wife, or lover.  These victims were true believers, so Sai knew that he could get away with it!   At first, he tried simply lying.  But when the documentation mushroomed, he started his b.s. about "blessings" in the form of homosexual rape.

     This pervert is often more like Michael Jackson than like God.  Boys of fourteen are forced to live with him.  Their foolish parents okay this, as they have been lifelong followers.  So, even if the kids do report that "God" has raped them, no one will believe them!  In fact, they might lose their parents.

    These rapes go back to the 1970's! 

     Sai is shameless in another way: hyperegotism, the worst possible spiritual disease.  Everywhere the small town nearby is filled with statues of him (a la Saddam), and pictures of his egoface adorn everything from coffeemugs and hotelrooms to inkpens.  He has not complained even when they erected a Sai-statue in the temple right next to "other gods"!  His "praises" are piped into soundsystems of public places, and he does not object.  His ego is colossal and enormous!  He is a very spiritually sick man!

     Surrounded by the most ostentatious luxuries, he tells poor followers to "renounce worldly desire."  This great, overwhelming hypocrisy goes completely unnoticed by true believers.

    His followers are naive, and radically superstitious.  They believe that Sai comes to them in dreams.  He can be anyone or anything:  1) Even an animal can be Sai, and 2) their dreams are "Gospel."  So, if, in a dream, an ass tells you to kill your best friend, as a test of devotion, you are supposed to do it!

    One follower had a cheap-looking ring, from which one of the stones had fallen, and bought into the unprovable idea that Sai had "materialized" it out of thin air!  Such gullibility is amazingly common!

    Sai is untrustworthy.  He has been documented to have destroyed Love-relationships and families.  People regularly give up fine careers and beautiful marriages to join the cult.  And he recommends and supports this.

    True believers think that this little old man (he's 75) is more powerful than Jesus Christ or the Buddha!  Despite his abundance of all material things, he does not want followers fully to enjoy life.

    His mesmerized followers, caught in ignorance, point to the "good things that Sai has done."  But Sai might often take illegitimate credit for acts of charity performed by others.  An expensive, well-equipped hospital that is ascribed to Sai was actually built with another's funds.  It has done enormous good.  But very little has had anything to do with Sai.  Besides, too many of his "charitable" ventures have a reputation for dishonesty.

    What about his "miracles"?  These are simply dime-store tricks that can be duplicated by any twelve-year-old with half a brain.  He has been well-described as a "second-rate magician."  Even his followers have admitted that he fakes cheap tricks, but, of course, he has a "good reason" for his lying trickery.

    The movement against Sai snowballs.  Defectors are exploding, and so are exposes of this treacherous liar.  Many defectors include credible former high-station members of the cult, administrators.  Due to his rampant sexuality, his entire organization has been shut down in Sweden, a very liberal society.

     His followers locked in denial and defensiveness, he arrogantly denies and puts down his accusers, believing that he can get away with anything.  So, please share this article and/or message with anyone whom you feel might be endangered by this horrific cult.

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QUOTABLE SPIRITUAL QUOTES

 

Some people prefer a familiar hell to an unknown heaven.

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WORDS OF MASTERS AND SAGES

 

“The Tao that can be reduced to words is not the whole Tao.”-- Lao Tzu

 

“Be a lamp unto yourselves.”-- the Buddha

 

 

“As you forgive others, your Father will forgive you; but as you refuse to forgive others, your Father will refuse to forgive you.”-- Jesus

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SACRED TEXT SOUNDBITES

“To those who are pure, all things are pure.”-- Paul, Christian Scriptures

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SPIRITUAL ONE-LINERS

 

“Kindness is my religion.”-- Dalai Lama

“Love I shall choose as my religion.”-- al Arabi (sufi)

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STARMESSAGES: NOTES ON ASTROPSYCHOLOGY.

 

The sign “aries” gives lots of energy. It can make you impulsive or impetuous. But it can also unlock natural spontaneity. Beware of becoming too loud, or of speaking too quickly. Aries is bright, enthusiastic, energetic, adventuresome, and is usually doing ten things at once. Beware of double-booking. Beware of overestimating your time or abilities. If you think that a project is going to require an hour, set aside three. If you think that it will require a day, set aside three.

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MINDVISIONS: NOTES ON DREAMSYMBOLISM

 

A house always represents your self in inactivity, stasis, or stability. Rooms in the house symbolize various parts of your mind.

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“HAPPINESS IS...”

 

Happiness is sinking into sweet sleep after an active day of helping, sharing, and just being with good friends.

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LIVE WELL, LAUGH WELL: HUMORTHERAPY

 

Why do binladen and friends have to blow up their dates?

 

CONTACT US!

Please write to us with any comments, suggestions, or contributions re Lovelight. We’d be delighted to hear from you! Write: rmfrancis@juno.com

Please visit our website at: loveministries.org