Living Consciously February 13, 2009

Dear friends,

Here comes another Valentine’s Day.  Predictably there will be the so-called news stories about the health benefits of chocolate, advice on what to give your sweetie and Oprah might do a segment on how to stay married.  But the one that always makes me laugh is How to be Happy Single; as if that were unnatural; as if it were difficult to be alone; as if there were special talents involved or a learning curve. 

Truth is, we are always alone.  We interact with others in what is called relationship but we only experience ourselves.  It is impossible to completely know another person, to absolutely become one with them or to find everything about them wonderful.  .

If relationships could make us happy, no one would be alone.  We would be lining up for new partners as fast as we could.  But we all know the dangers of expecting someone else to complete us. It is not possible.  Being alone for some time in adulthood is good training for relationship; we get to know ourselves on a deeper level and we have the opportunity to get clearer about how we relate to others.   However, being alone is also a preferred lifestyle for some of us and we need not defend it or apologize for it.

Yet in this two-together oriented culture we can feel left out or that we have failed in some way if we choose to be single.  It all depends on your internal dialogue, your spiritual practice, your delight in being alive.

Either way, alone or coupled, it is all about self love. It is all about compassion and caring.  It is all about being able to express our wholeness and give our attention to the moment.  Celebrate yourself and be fully present with whomever happens to be in your presence.  This is the way to feel complete, loved and happy, on any given day.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes

Living Consciously February 17, 2009

There are three basic questions underlying all philosophy and religion.  They are; What am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?  How we answer them dictates almost everything we do.

Modern spirituality teaches that we are: 1.fully endowed creating beings 2. here to express our natural attributes; 3.we are always conscious in the ever present Now and there is nowhere to go.

In a life challenge we ask ourselves, who am I in the midst of this?  The answer has to be, I am a creating intelligence fully capable of seeing through this effect and setting up a new Cause. I can circulate more of whatever it is that seems lacking and generate new supply, whether it be love, money, joy, peace, or energy.  I stand in my power and get conscious of the possibilities inherent in the field of Mind in which I am immersed.

By our actions we describe our view of the universe.  We are a walking, talking advertisement for the content of our consciousness.  We arrive on the other side of a problem fully intact and ready to create again.  This is the constant presence in us of the Original Cause of all awareness, that Great I AM that resounds throughout the universe.

There is no need to construct elaborate hierarchies of our ascent into another reality.  We are already there.  This is as real as it gets and as real as it needs to be. Let’s take our self awareness into action today.  Make your heaven right here.  Dispel notions of lack and fear that create a living Hell.  Cause your life to reflect your deepest beliefs.  There is an unseen power available to all of us and we are the visble answer to its own question:  What can I make out of Myself?

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes