Make forgiveness a way of life, and you will experience a transformation far beyond your imagination.

By Emil Nazaryan

If you were to describe in one sentence our most basic and profound desire in life, what would you say it is? What do we all crave? How do we want to feel all the time? The answer starts to emerge from the depths of your being. We just want to be happy, don’t we? Happiness is just an amazing feeling that we enjoy when we experience it. It gives us energy, makes our outlook on life bright, warms our faces with smiles and laughter. When we feel happy, we also feel peaceful because nothing is bothering us at those moments. What a wonderful innate human desire worth living for!

Now, let’s switch the topic for a second. Think about the people you most resent in your life. I don’t want to use the word “hate”—although many of us do carry some hate towards others—but you know the feeling I’m talking about. Maybe they have hurt you in the past, maybe they hurt you every day, physically or emotionally, maybe they have caused you distress, misery, sadness and anger, maybe they have offended you, disrespected you, undermined you…The list of the reasons we don’t like others can go on and on. Do you already have a person in mind, a person you hold grudges against? Hold that person in your mind for a couple of minutes.

How do you feel now? What happened to the happiness and peace you were just feeling a minute ago? Where did it go? You guessed it! Feeling resentment towards people whom you hold grudges against just swept it away from under you. It happens all the time when we encounter these people or even think of them. Oh man, if we could only fix them, make them the way we want, make them act in the way we act, make them stop acting like jerks… Wouldn’t that be wonderful? We would feel so much happier.

Here is the bummer: That is an almost impossible task! It’s a full-time job changing ourselves—let alone changing others. No matter how hard we try, or how many times we point out their wrongdoings, they just don’t get it. In fact, sometimes the more we try, the worse they get. So, what do we do? Let these people affect our happiness? Let them, in essence, run our lives in a negative way? That just doesn’t sound reassuring. Do we just accept that we can’t live in peace and total happiness as long as there are people we don’t like? That’s one way of looking at it, but there is another, a far better and infinitely more powerful one.

Learn to Forgive

It’s called forgiveness. I know, I know, it may sound like a lame solution that’s only for the weaklings. If you think so, then try it! It’s much harder than you think, and therefore it’s not a solution for weaklings—but a weapon of the most courageous and powerful. For only they can forgive and forget. On the way to doing this, they must conquer their No. 1 enemy—their ego. Easier said than done, but trust me, when it’s done you will not regret it for the rest of your life!

Forgiveness, including and especially self-forgiveness, is an all-encompassing vaccine against the emotional diseases of life. It heals, it cures, it enormously lightens the weight of guilt and resentment we carry. It opens a new chapter in our lives where we are not dragged down by the heavy chains of the past. It is liberating beyond the limited horizon of what our ego can expect.

Forgiving equals taking your happiness from the hands of others into your own hands. Forever! What more incentive are you looking for? It is not an accident that forgiveness has such a dominating place in all the major world religions and spiritual traditions.

So, drop the burden of resentment from your soul today. Forgive those who have hurt you, wish them well, pray for them, accept them as they are—with all their faults. Remember, that you are not doing this for them, but for yourself. Make this into a way of life, and you will experience a transformation far beyond your imagination. Let go of all your grudges. Afterall, no grudge is ever worth your happiness and peace of mind.

Emil Nazaryan is a motivational writer and a contributor to the monthly Motivational Corner column of HR Realtor Magazine. He has undergone a spiritual transformation which has led the way to sharing the insights he has experienced with the others. He is well acquainted with all major spiritual traditions of the world, but it is the direct experience of the essence of these teachings that is responsible for the altered life outlook and the motivational articles that stem this. In his daily life Emil is a successful REALTOR and he resides in Norfolk, VA, with his wife and two children. Contact him by email at emil.rw@gmail.com.

Your toxic relationships are a reflection of something inside of you that needs to be seen and understood.

By Lisa Hawkins

Someone recently asked me, “What do you do if the toxic person you need to get out of a relationship with is yourself?” What an awesome question—and one I am very familiar with!

First, let’s address the nature of toxic relationships with others. You attract others who are toxic—not because you are unworthy of a better relationship—but because somehow (not always) some part of you has accepted toxic traits as normal responses, behaviors or energy. In other words, your brain didn’t recognize a trait as toxic; it actually perceived it as familiar.

How we treat ourselves is how others will treat us!

Most of us have a certain amount of negative self-talk. Some of us, through our conditioning, have developed a toxic relationship with ourselves—and that negative self-talk can govern our lives. It can also ruin our lives. It feels like we are on a runaway train with no brakes.

In many cases throughout my own life, that toxic relationship was hidden. I consciously could not see it when I turned inward. I was diligently working on myself, and, yet, even with the guidance of a therapist, it remained unknown. Each time I got involved with someone, it showed up—no matter how much inner work I did. It was beyond frustrating. At times, I wanted to give up. I left the person, and I also realized it was a recurring pattern. Why couldn’t I choose better partners? What was going on? It was maddening.

The person I wanted to leave was me, and that was impossible. I had to stay and deal with myself. However, I was completely committed to finding the cause of this cycle, and it took over a decade to identify this toxic relationship with myself. This is one of the processes in my life that has drawn me to conscious relationships and fueled my passion for helping others.

It takes practice, patience and curiosity to uncover some of these traits. When I say practice, I truly mean practice. I had to become nonjudgmental with myself, creating space within to allow and be open to hearing the internal dialogue—even when it was nonverbal—to reach some of these wounded, unheard, confused parts of myself.

Your toxic relationships are a reflection of something inside of you that needs to be seen and understood. This sounds simple, but it was one of the hardest things I have done in all my years of healing and personal development. The toxic people in my life were triggering and reminding me of aspects of myself that had been hurt by toxic people. Those toxic people from my youth formed a foundation of conditioning. It was so confusing to feel as if something was comfortable because it was familiar and toxic and triggering at the same time.

The realization hit me hardest one day in therapy when I had an epiphany while speaking about the narcissistic ex that continued to evoke feelings of “having no choice” and “being controlled.” Upon further investigation, tears welled up, and I sobbed: “I’m treating myself just like he was treating me!”

I had a toxic version of me inside of me! I just didn’t know it.

This is why my ex was constantly triggering my painful feelings of disempowerment. I grew up with this inner person, and my brain absorbed it all and normalized it. She was a subconscious fragment and not very old. Upon exploring her, I discovered a very wounded little girl, scared and trembling in a dark corner. She needed to be acknowledged, heard and embraced.

What happened in that moment changed my life forever. I, too, had been treating myself poorly—my beliefs about myself, my self-judgment, my failure to listen to myself—it was all there!

I was also reminded not to judge myself for not recognizing it sooner. The toxic, wounded little girl inside was the issue that kept attracting what I didn’t want. Now that I had found her, I needed to be mindful not to be harsh or disappointed in myself. That is what would trigger the cycle all over again.

I breathed through the moment of acceptance, holding onto the beauty of the realization and being present with that wounded part that needed to know I had her back. I still loved her!

Now I notice when I’m being toxic with myself. The voices saying, “I should have known” or “You didn’t do it right” are still there, but I calmly converse with myself, reassuring that it isn’t true. I stood by my commitment to maintain a healthy relationship with myself. That meant refraining from yelling at myself, belittling myself or punishing myself.

My life shifted that day, as did the external world I was in. Toxic people began drifting out of my life or became frustrated with me because there were no longer any “hooks” that aligned with their perceptions of me. My subconscious no longer held the same narrative they had about me. The toxic bond was broken. Letting go was painful, but now I am much happier and healthier.

To this day, I am eternally grateful for that moment. I am pleased to say that I am in a much healthier relationship with myself. My self-love has grown profoundly deeper, and I eagerly anticipate discovering new aspects of myself each day. This is radical self-love!

Developing a loving, conscious relationship with yourself that is not toxic is the most vital relationship you can nurture—setting the stage for all your relationships in your life.

Lisa Hawkins is a coach with 26 years of experience in personal growth and development, psychology and human behavior with an emphasis on relationships, which includes the most important one, with yourself. She helps those who want to have a more fulfilling relationship and life. When one works on one aspect of life that is holding them back, it trickles down to other areas of life. Love is the one thing we all crave at a deep level: We crave our true nature, our self-love, and to express that love to others. Lisa works with men and women to awaken the conscious part of themselves that knows how to love deeply. Find our more at http://www.ConsciouslyAwakeCounseling.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ConsciouslyAwakeCoun/

When faced with an immediate danger, all the hype about picking sides and us versus them becomes irrelevant because we are, in essence, ALL the same.

By Mary Boutieller

I was in an “off” mood for weeks, struggling to contain my frustration and worries about politics, climate change, trees in our neighborhood, etc. I thought there just wasn’t anything I could write that would inspire anyone.

And then Hurricane Idalia decided to come up the Gulf of Mexico. My attention shifted, as did everyone else’s in southwest Florida. Suddenly, political news seemed irrelevant; details of neighborhood squabbles diminished. All I could think about was wanting the people I love to be safe. And more than that, once I realized that the immediate danger was over for us, I felt a heart-wrenching sadness for those along the coast who would be facing a Category 3 hurricane at their shores.

I didn’t care which side of the political spectrum they were on. I didn’t care that they seemed to view life so differently than me. I cared that they and their families would be safe. I thought about what it would be like to have my home destroyed, my town devastated, my world shifted on its axis for the foreseeable future. And I breathed both a sigh of relief for those I know and a held breath for those in the path.

And it reminded me, once again, that underneath all this nonsense—all the hype about picking sides and us versus them, that we are, in essence, ALL the same. We bleed the same; our hearts break the same; we live and laugh and suffer like everybody else. Why can’t we get this through our thick heads?

Then today, I received an email from StoryPeople. These daily emails contain a short, sweet saying with which to start your day. Today’s message was this:

“A day is coming where we will stand together on the top of the hill and declare that from now on we are going to be good to each other.”

It’s just not that hard, is it? To be good to each other. I’m confident that, as people gather together to help those affected by the storm, they aren’t concerned about anything except helping mend the wounds as best they can.

While watching a show recently, a scientist said that our emotions are contagious. When one person in a room laughs, others tend to join in. When someone is angry, it can shift the energy of others in the room. Apparently, it is an evolutionary effort to stay tuned in with what is happening around us so that we can identify safety or threats.

What I realized, yet again, is that there are things we can control in our lives and things we cannot. I may not be able to control what others do, but I can control how I think and what I say. I can choose how I take care of my body and what I feed my mind. I can decide on actions to take instead of reactions that make me feel helpless.

I’m not saying that a shift in attitude or a reminder of our frailty changes or fixes everything, but it just might change something.

It might help me remember that the world is a good place; that people are amazing and beautiful and doing the best they can. It might remind me that I’m okay too, and that this too shall pass.

Thanks to a hurricane, I feel like I am back where I need to be. I never thought I’d ever say that!

Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.

My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.—Anonymous

By Linda Commito

Have you noticed that dogs have been filling a void in our lives—and in our hearts? At a time when loneliness has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting our health and well-being, it is more important than ever to form close connections. Perhaps that is why there has been an increase in dog adoptions. Where can we find that loving commitment and consistency in our lives, perhaps once filled by spouses, children or parents? For many, dogs can provide that comfort, companionship and love that we may be missing.

Anyone who has loved their canine companions can talk to you about unconditional love. They listen with total attention, give affection liberally, love us no matter what we do or don’t do, and comfort us when we experience sadness or loss. By nature, dogs are quick to forgive, live in the moment, and inspire us to open our hearts.

My almost 95-year-old mom has a terrier, who is totally devoted to her, makes her laugh, gets her out walking and is great company. She says: “My dog loves me and I love him. Jakson gives me a purpose.” They are so tuned in to each other, that when my mom sits in her chair for prayer time, Jakson is right there to vociferously lend his voice to her “Alleluias!”

It is amazing what we will do for our dogs that we may not do for ourselves. For someone who was squeamish about needles, I found myself lovingly giving my German shepherd three shots every day, along with eye drops, to prolong his quality of life. And when it was “time” for my loveto depart, 12 friends and I gathered in a circle around him by the river, to say our last goodbyes.

Years have passed, and someday I hope to adopt again, but for now I’m focused on my human friends, community and family, and how I can share my love, kindness, and friendship, and help to create a special bond that lets us know we are not alone.

And I can really appreciate other people’s dogs. I just met a woman who was enjoying a beautiful sunset with her dog at Sarasota’s popular Bay Park. And I also came across something I’d never seen: A water fountain for dogs . . . a perfect opportunity to meet and sniff!

What if we could be the kind of person that dogs believe us to be and share the same qualities of loyalty, acceptance, love and friendship with our human friends and companions? Well, I’m willing to learn. Woof! Woof!

Linda Commito, author, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant and teacher, is passionate about her vision to leave this world a kinder, more loving, and interconnected place. Linda’s award-winning book of inspirational stories, Love Is the New Currency, demonstrates how we can each make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others through simple acts of love and kindness. Her latest project, the card game Just Ask 1 2 3, was inspired by a desire to connect people of all different ages, beliefs and lifestyles to share our individuality and find commonality. Linda also created “Kindness Starts with Me,” a program, book and website for children. For more information visit http://www.LoveistheNewCurrency.com or visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Justask123game.

What purpose looks like to different people, and how you can discover yours.

By Gillian McMichael

Purpose defines who you are; it reflects your passions and values. It provides clarity as you set goals and take action. Your sense of purpose steers how you live your life and how you lead yourself and others.

If we really want something, we can have it—we can achieve whatever we want to. By now, you will have realized that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Like everything you have done so far, all you need to do is keep your focus and belief in yourself. Trust that you can do it.

The most authentic brands are always built from the inside out. They’re genuine and real. When you embrace personal purpose to identify and capture who you really are, what you stand for, and live this every day, you will inspire, motivate and make an impact in your life.

Another way of looking at finding your purpose is finding your calling. Call it faith, mindfulness, or whatever it is you wish to align yourself with. This anchoring makes it possible to navigate through life. You are able to visualize your existence for a specific reason.

Finding your purpose in life feels huge and difficult, but it’s not as hard as you think. All you have to do is know where to look. Some know from a very early age what they are here for: a surgeon, a scientist, a musician. But most of us search for it, longing to articulate exactly what it is. We question, “Who am I, and what am I here for?”

Yet, we are all born with a soul purpose, and we are all on a journey to follow our path. Purpose in life is known as dharma, and the law of dharma states that everyone has a purpose in life. We all have our own unique gifts and talents, and if we use these unique attributes in all aspects of our life and these are expressed and then shared with those who need it or with those who will benefit from it, then your dharma, your purpose, can be realized.

Living our life or soul’s purpose does not mean we have to conquer the world, find a cure for cancer or live like a saint. But what it does mean is that we should embrace what feels right to us.

Once we open ourselves up to this optimal life experience, we open the door of possibility in our own lives. You can achieve your dreams and make a positive impact on those around you. Remember, to live a life on purpose and self-actualize, it does not mean you have to be a rocket scientist; all you need to do is be you.

Your purpose is who you are and what makes you, YOU. Purpose defines who you are. It reflects your strengths, passions and values. It will provide you with the clarity you need to set your inner compass to navigate you to your true path. Your sense of purpose steers how you want your story to go and how you lead your life.

You could find joy in achieving mastery in a niche hobby. You could be a parent who gets purpose from raising their children to be a positive force in the world. Or an employee who uses their ever-increasing skills to improve the lives of others.

When you wake up and realize there is something more for you in life, something more you can offer the world, something more purposeful, that is good for you but also will be good for others. You start to pay attention, in a way you’ve never been able to do before. The fog lifts, and for the first time in your life, you can see clearly. Everything is more vibrant and has more meaning. This is when the universe offers a helping hand—synchronicity and all that we want falls into place. You will be guided gently to your true path, and opportunities will present themselves for you to live your purpose.

How can you find your purpose?

1. Start with your strengths

What’s my story?

What am I good at?

When am I at my best?

What are the strengths others acknowledge in me?

2. Tap into your values

What are my top five values?

What do I stand for?

What helps me make choices?

What are my passions?.

What do I love?

What excites me?

What am I drawn to?

Once you have these down you can start to pull them together and write your purpose statement. Living your dharma is the single most important thing you can do in your life. It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it and why—the strengths and passions that define you. It will feel like coming home.

Gillian McMichael is a transformational coach, founder of Full Circle Global, and author of Coming Home: A Guide to Being Your True Self. Her credentials include ICF Master Certified Coach; ICF Coach Educator, Mentor and Coach Supervisor; Chopra Centre Meditation & Wellness Certified Teacher; and Chopra Centre Perfect Health & Ayurveda Certified Teacher. Visit her website at http://www.fullcircleglobal.com.

When we can still the mind and work with the energetic system of the Universe, we begin to open ourselves to so much more beneficial information.

By Spencer Rouse

At the very core of our being, we are light. This light is pure love, pure joy, pure compassion, pure peace—and its essence is creativity. Every. One. Of. Us. We radiate. We glow. We shimmer.

Give yourself a moment to feel this. Relax. Breathe slowly and gently through the Tan Tien (sacral chakra). Now focus: Core of your being. Glow. Radiate that glow. Now shimmer it. Repeat. You may just feel your aura expanding all around you. It feels good. This aura feeds and interacts with the physical body, and it is felt by others.

While we live on Earth, we have a physical body so we can navigate the density here. In addition, there are several layers of energy that usually extend beyond the physical body. They are called light bodies or subtle bodies and are affected by sound, color, thoughts (ours and others), fears and emotions. They can expand when we are glowing and retract when we are feeling fearful or depressed.

We also have a nonphysical mind. This part of us enables us to think, to feel, to be aware of the world around us. Its primary function is to sort and analyze our earthly experiences to keep us safe in the world.  We absorb information from experiences through taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing. This feeds into the energy field. Concepts, opinions and a belief system are formed and become part of the ego, the force behind the personality. All of this together forms our reality. We tend to reject thoughts, opinions and other information that does not match our self-constructed reality.

Every day we have thousands of bits of new data to process through these concepts, opinions, and beliefs. One benefit is that we can quickly process new data that feels familiar. This sounds wonderful, and it is. However, unless we objectively analyze new data, we tend to sort it into categories that we have already established. “Good. Bad. Like me. Not Like me. Right. Wrong.” This creates an efficiency in mind-to-body reactions that is especially valuable in emergencies. We can act quickly with little processing.

There is a but…The mind and ego are limited. They do not have direct access to information from a higher level. More complete wisdom comes from our souls and from guides, angels and the field of energy we call the “Universe.” It is ever-present, but the reality that we have constructed is often at odds with this information. We tend to block that which does not fit our construct of reality. We do not receive the full benefit. Higher wisdom is easy to reject when it differs from our belief system, our reality. This affects the complex energetic system. When the energy does not flow as it is meant to, blockages can form that create difficulties with our thoughts and emotions. Unbalanced choices for eating, drinking, sleeping and exercise also interfere with that flow. Eventually, this can create illness in the physical body.

The good news is that when we can still the mind and work with the energetic system of the Universe, we begin to open ourselves to so much more beneficial information. It travels through the subtle bodies to the physical body and to the mind in complex pathways. When there is a change in the subtle bodies, there is a change in the physical body and in the mind. When these changes are positive, we tend to automatically make wiser choices with our daily activities. Stuck energy can become unblocked.

To encourage a more beneficial flow of energy, there are many different techniques that can be combined to create the balance. Counseling. Breathwork. Meditation. Yoga. Qi Gong. Sound and color therapy. Reiki and other healing arts. Each of these works in different ways to correct the flow of energy and potentially remove blockages of stuck energy. As the flow becomes better regulated, physical health improves, emotions become more stable, mental faculties are sharper, and we automatically become more intuitive.

Why does this happen? The energy, also called Prana or Chi, is Light. Pure Light. It finds its way through the complexities necessary for us, as “Light Beings,” to exist on Earth. When the pathways are clear, and the mind and body are in harmony, we draw in more of the universal Light that nourishes our own Light. We free ourselves to BE. To be our own unique combination of love, joy, compassion, peace and creativity. We shine for ourselves, and we shine for others.

We are One.

Spencer Rouse has been a professional psychic and intuitive reader, energy healer, life coach, and lecture/workshop facilitator for more than 20 years, working one-on-one in counseling sessions, in groups, and at psychic fairs and other events. She works primarily through the gifts of claircognizance—an inner knowing—and clairsentience—the ability to sense information through feelings and emotions. Spencer also connects with the different layers of the human energy field (the aura) using color and sound to help balance and invigorate life force energy. Visit her online at http://www.SpencerRouse.com or email PsychicSpencer.com.

A look at the nine density layers within the ultimate state of consciousness from which the universe sprang into existence.

By Owen Waters

There is a stairway to heaven. It leads through the heavenly realms of the afterlife and continues even further, all the way to the ultimate state of consciousness from which the universe sprang into existence.

Infinite Being, the ultimate source of all things, created a universe of infinite diversity, of infinite parts of the whole. As humanity, we are the adventurers who projected ourselves into physical experience in order to bring deeper focus into our experience. Our purpose in the physical realm of consciousness is to gain a sharply-defined sense of identity and to grow from there.

The long-term mission of each and every one of us is to gain expanded awareness through life’s experiences until we eventually return to the one God, no longer as curious seekers, but as self-realized, conscious gods.

The steps of the stairway are formed by nine density layers within the consciousness of the Creator. Each density layer is composed of a different degree of compression of Creator consciousness. The higher steps are more ethereal, or less compressed, than the lower ones. The lower steps are more compressed, more sharply focused, and more clearly defined than the ones above.

Every density layer (or “dimension” as some people call them) is composed of consciousness. Even the physical world, with its apparently physical objects, is really composed of 100 percent consciousness, compressed in a way that appears to be solid.

The Nine Densities of Creation

The Nine Densities of Creation are divided into three groups of three densities. These three groups contain the material, spiritual and cosmic layers of existence.

The Material Group of Densities:

The three most dense layers are the material group. These relate to basic physical existence.

First Density—Matter: First density consciousness is the realm of the atoms and molecules of physical matter as well as the basic sense of survival. This is the natural frequency of the consciousness of the elements which form the basis of physical matter, including the physical bodies employed by plants, animals and humans.

Second Density—Biology: Second density supports the consciousness of plant and animal life as well as the urge to grow. Plant life, for example, reproduces and spreads until it reaches the limits provided by its environment. Second density is also the frequency of the basic emotions, such as anger and fear.

While plants and animal life resonate to a second-density frequency and consist of first-density atomic particles, they are located in our world in third density existence. There is no first or second density planet Earth. The lowest frequency manifested by planet Earth is third density.

Third Density—Individuality: Third density is the current realm of existence for the combined consciousness of physical humanity. It is where the consciousness of individuality and self-awareness is developed. Humanity’s experience of separation from its inner source is a deliberate experiment whereby the illusion of physical existence becomes very real.

The game of human physicality began long ago. As curious spirits, we progressed into a desire for maximum effect and then went on to discover how to create total immersion within the game. It is this total immersion within physicality which makes life on earth seem so real, so full of passion, so disconnected from our spiritual source and, yet, full of so much potential for self-discovery.

The experience of humanity’s separation from its inner source is achieved through using a physical brain which focuses on the five senses. These senses feed information to the brain from a universe which appears to be external. Our brains are wired to perceive space and to experience time. The turning of our attention away from inner, spiritually-connected information provides a sharply-defined sense of individuality, one which would not have been possible were our brains designed differently.

Third-density consciousness also supports other qualities for an evolving consciousness, such as the discovery of courage and optimism, and the development of intellect and reason.

The Spiritual Group of Densities

The next layers of density are the spiritual group. The gateway to spiritual consciousness is through the level of consciousness to which mankind is currently awakening—that of heart-centered consciousness. For humanity, this is where the adventure really begins!

Fourth Density—Integration: In fourth-density consciousness, the heart awakens to a natural unrestricted flow of unconditional love. In third-density consciousness, humans develop themes of separation from each other. In fourth density, they develop integration, or the healing of separation.

Fourth density is where the spirit realm, or afterlife, is located. Here, people resolve and integrate the emotional experiences that they gained during their physical lives. When today’s massive Shift in consciousness has played through sufficiently, fourth density will also become the new location for physical human beings. In this density, the qualities of balance and unconditional love are developed, which lead to the development of inner joy.

Fifth Density—Soul Consciousness: Fifth density brings with it the ability to create powerful realities and to transcend space and time. Once spirits in the afterlife have integrated their emotions and resolved their conflicts, they can pass on into fifth density. Fifth density is a nonphysical realm of the soul, of the “higher self” or inner being. Your inner being is your complete consciousness, and therefore includes the subconscious and superconscious aspects of mind.

Your inner being has a clear connection to the higher densities and to Infinite Being. Therefore, developing a clear connection to your inner being provides you with a direct source of spiritual empowerment.

While your immediate soul mates may number, typically, seven other souls, your soul family is much larger. It is closer to two thousand individuals, grouped together in a huge family of people with common likes and interests. You share a similar energetic background, history and many preferences as to the kinds of experiences that you enjoy. These are the people with whom you share the most empathy. To your inner being, they are the essence of “Home.”

Of the other members of your soul family, less than half will typically be in physical incarnation at any given time. Many will live in other countries and in other parts of your country. When you meet them, you recognize them as people whom you feel are special in some way. There is a resonance within your own consciousness that is quite different to how you would react to a total stranger.

Sixth Density—The Angelic Realms: Sixth density is home to some of the greatest beings who have ever graced the Earth with their presence. The field of consciousness of a world spiritual teacher, for example, is enormous in comparison to the field of consciousness of one typical human. It is because of this great capacity of consciousness, along with their ability to divide their attention into many parts at one time, which allows world teachers to service the needs of all those who call upon them in their times of need.

Archangels and world teachers are based in the upper reaches of sixth density so that their awareness can encompass the entire planet in all its manifestations in fifth, fourth, and third densities. In this way, these global spirits are capable of detecting and responding to multiple calls for assistance all at once.

The Cosmic Group of Densities

When the ladder of human evolution has been climbed to its ultimate, spiritual heights, there is only one place to go next in the grand scheme of Creation. That next step is to become a part of the intelligence of a planetary being.

Seventh Density—Planetary Consciousness: There is much more to Gaia, the planet Earth, than meets the eye. Seventh density is home to planet-size fields of consciousness. In the third-density physical realm, she provides a home for humanity. Her spiritual heart, however, resides in this nonphysical, seventh-density realm of spiritual light.

It is not by chance that seventh density is where cosmic consciousness occurs. This is the entry-level density layer devoted to the cosmic scale of consciousness. A human being can visit seventh density during a period of cosmic consciousness, but they cannot reside there permanently, as it is designed to be a realm which is home to fields of planet-sized consciousness.

Eighth Density—Solar Consciousness: The spiritual heart of the Sun is in eighth-density consciousness. What we see in third density is its physical body, which is a faint reflection of its eighth-density, spiritual radiance.

An insight into the true scale of the magnetic body of the Sun can be gained from the heliosphere. This is a magnetized sphere of energy which stretches, from the Sun, four times further than the outermost planet of Pluto in every direction. That’s a 22 billion-mile-wide magnetic body which contains, sustains and cares for the planets and all life forms within its sphere.

As well as living within the Sun’s third-density heliosphere, we are connected, at the eighth-density level of consciousness, with the spiritual being we call the Sun. You cannot be born within its sphere without first becoming a part of it energetically. We are, as stated correctly by ancient cultures, Children of the Sun.

Likewise, before you were first physically born on earth, your soul passed through an initiation of birth through the holy flame of the Logos of the Mother Earth. On a cosmic scale of consciousness, she is your spiritual mother, just as the Sun is your spiritual father. In the grand scheme of Creation, the Earth contains the closest consciousness to God within your reach, and the Sun contains the closest consciousness to God within your sight. Sending your love and gratitude to the Sun and the Earth not only makes perfect sense, it is the oldest spiritual practice on earth, and one of the most potent.

Ninth Density—The Galaxies and their Central Suns: A galaxy is a living cell within the consciousness of the universe. Like the Sun, which later gave birth to its planets, each galaxy gave birth to the suns within its massive body.

Although the central sun of each galaxy distributes a constant supply of higher energy from the Creator to the manifest universe, the central suns do not radiate physical light and are therefore invisible to the human eye.

To appreciate the scale of Creation, radio astronomy has given us some idea of the total count of galaxies in existence. Currently, there are believed to be between 100 and 125 billion galaxies in existence in the universe.

Owen Waters is author of the Indie award-winning book, Spirituality Made Simple and a cofounder of the Spiritual Dynamics Academy and InfiniteBeing.com, where a where a free spiritual growth newsletter awaits you at https://www.InfiniteBeing.com. He is an international spiritual teacher who has helped hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers to understand better the nature of their spiritual potential. Owen’s life has been focused upon gaining spiritual insights through extensive research and the development of his inner vision. He has written a spiritual metaphysics newsletter since 2004 which empowers people to discover their own new vistas of inspiration, love and creativity. Spiritual seekers enjoy his writings for their clarity and deep insights. Contact Owen via email News@InfiniteBeing.com.

An ode honoring those who are gone but not forgotten.

By Jo Mooy

I used to hold a “spiritual sophistication” about death. When a person, a pet, a tree or plant died, that sophistication kicked in whispering, they’re gone. It’s over. That’s just a body. The real essence is gone on to another realm or dimension. That attitude held firm for years. I didn’t want a grave marker because I wasn’t there. I wanted my ashes spread at sea or off a mountain top. The location depended on my mood of the day. Though I’m leaning to the mountains more and more.

I’ve always explored cemeteries, especially the old ones—to read the tombstones, think about the ones interred in family plots and intuit their lives, and to be saddened by young lives of toddlers cut short. While searching an old graveyard in college, I was surprised to find a tombstone for Prince Murat, the nephew of Napoleon in a Tallahassee, FL, cemetery. In another old graveyard, it sunk in that other countries, and cultures, and individuals, honored their dead in a very personal way. It was a huge thought-provoking learning experience.

These people didn’t have the same views as me about whether or not a body was in the grave or somewhere else. They visited the cemeteries and graveyards with ease, taking fresh flowers or wreaths and cleaning up the old plants. They knelt at the stone markers with tears in their eyes even though the dates were many years ago. Some brought teddy bears for the toddlers in the family plots. Visitors to Doc Holiday’s grave in Colorado left decks of cards or bottles of whiskey.

One day at another cemetery an elderly man pulled up in his car to a gravesite. He wandered through the rows carrying a lawn chair that he placed next to his wife’s grave marker. Then he sat down and began to have a lengthy conversation with her. That scene triggered something and has stayed with me ever since. It drained away the spiritual sophistication (or was it arrogance) that I’d created around death and how I interpreted it.

Once a year I go to St. Augustine, FL, the oldest city in the United States. It’s my favorite place in Florida, which I’ve visited since high school. I wander around the old historic area, the Fort, the Mission, and experience the history of centuries gone by. My parents bought a home in the historic section, planning to retire there until a five-alarm fire at the Jacksonville Shipyards took my father’s life one year from his retirement from the Fire Department. St. Augustine is also home to the smallest National Cemetery, one hundred yards from my parent’s intended home. They often walked to the cemetery telling the family of their desire to be buried there. Both of them were!

On my annual visit to St. Augustine, I always walk past their house on Marine St. It’s now occupied by another family. My mother’s 1800s fire alarm box that she turned into a mailbox is still holding vigil on the side of the driveway, waiting for an alarm that will never come. Her stone pineapple, symbol of welcome (because that’s how they do it in Antigua, she once told me) is still on the new owners steps. If I soften my gaze I can see or imagine them sitting on the front porch.

Then I stroll over to the National Cemetery to say, “Hi, it’s me!” and leave a token flower or rock on top of their grave marker. I know that only their ashes are interred there. And, both of them are decades gone to another realm. Even so, the visit to their home and then to their grave site is weirdly comforting. Maybe it’s the familiarity of their home with the things my mother called sacred. Or the lingering memories of them living in St. Augustine and walking those narrow streets in the late afternoon then sitting by the benches at the bay. Maybe it’s more like remembering the old man sitting in the lawn chair and chatting with his wife in the cemetery.

Whatever the impetus to visit the cemetery, I go. My mother was pleased to know the National Cemetery was once a Spanish Franciscan monastery in 1763. She considered it a holy site. There are three large Pyramids about 10 yards from my parent’s grave that mark the remains of 1,400 soldiers killed in the Seminole Indian Wars. Of course, there’s no mention of what happened to the bodies of the 400 Seminoles who died. Nor is there a monument to them. All they got was a generalized statement on the bronze plaque.

Without a lawn chair to set up and have a discussion, I stand in prayer in honor of them and let them know they’re remembered. In October, when people all over the world remember the Day of the Dead, I too will light a candle for them, and for all my friends and family who died. I’ll remember that all those lives were well lived and they’re not forgotten—wherever they are now.

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to http://www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com.