AlcyoneMagi ®

The Institute of Spiritual Climate

Is proud to present

Its Newsletter of

Spiritual Commentaries, Views & Opinions:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®

Monday, December 24, 2007

“It’s not a mindless, indifferent, blind universe.

It never was, get used to it!

In the end, there’s still the WORD;

Everywhere, in Heaven and its Angels, The Earth and the stars

– Even in the Darkest Dark of the HUMAN SOUL:

It was there the WORD burned brightest and for a moment,

I was blinded.”

~ Archangel Gabriel ~

(as played & spoken by Chrisopher Walken from the Movie: PROPHECY 3,)

___________

PREFACE

We are not a rich corporation, so this publication is a labor and gift of love that is solely supported by donations from its readers. You may freely forward or redistribute it to whomever you wish. No donation is required. All donations are greatly appreciated.  Just Click on the secured-link below, it will accept your Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover or PayPal to make a donation.

DONATION TO SPIRITUAL CLIMATE ~ CLICK HERE ~

This Newsletter can be viewed on the AlcyoneMagi ® web log

on the following link:

http://alcyonemagi.spaces.live.com

Want SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER delivered right into your Email Box?

Click here SPIRITUAL CLIMATE and in the subject line type in ADD ME

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version and link to the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE.  Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons.  No part of the articles in this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Please include the final version of the article you are writing, a link of where it will be available along with a highlighted and/or underlining quote of the text from any of our article's you wish to use, upon review and decision you will then be notified of our answer for permission of use in your publication. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request in English by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE , please put TRANSLATION in the Subject Line )

__________________________

INTRODUCTION

Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas to the Readers, Students, and Friends of Spiritual Climate Newsletter!

Rev. Strickler asked me to include this special opening note in this edition: First and Foremost, the Entire Staff and Contributors of Spiritual Climate Newsletter would extend gratitude for all the Men and Women in uniform around the globe who are serving in the Armed Forces of the U.S.A. Please know that we recognize you and your families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. We pray for your protection, safety and speedy return to home. We also pray for grace and intercession for any in our great nation who are in need of help or services from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina or any personal devastations resulting from unregulated policies that have wreaked havoc upon our citizens, be it loss of employment, illness or any personal trauma. Let us find the courage and strength to enable the hard work required for toward true peace and authentic prosperity so that people in other countries will shape their governments and leaders to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus!

( May Almighty God Bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit ! )

. . . Rev. Strickler . . .

Friendly Reminder: Now that we are back in publication, after much soul searching and meetings with the staff of writers and contributors to the Spiritual Climate Newsletter we are going to publish bimonthly editions, or in other words, at two months intervals. This decision has come with some angst due to the popularity we have learned our newsletter has, since it is forwarded to parts and people unknown around the world. That being said, be it known that the writers and contributors are eager and excited for the continued publication of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter. Because of the ever increasing productivity demands from employers, however, one has to recognize that something cannot be created out of nothing. Productivity inflation is encroaching and usurping the time, space and freedom of all individuals, masterminded by those who live parasitically off of the productive powers of labor and the nonproductive overhead of management.

Our solution for the time being is simple: you can look forward to receiving new editions of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter on a bimonthly basis.

IN THIS EDITION

The December 2007 Edition of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter comes to you HOT off word processors with the following social commentaries:

Dr. Strickler opens the DECEMBER 2007 Edition with a look at emptiness, inspired by a neighborhood Christmas light decoration expedition in his article “THE ABSENCE OF CHRISTMAS”.

Christine Ford presents a challenging premise that may just shake you awake in her article “THE PERSONAL IMPOTENCE OF ENGINEERED ADULT AUTISM”.

We warmly welcome back Roger Clark as he joins with us this holiday season by sharing his exploration of joy in his article entitled: “AND NOW A WORD FROM ‘ANDY ROONEY’. . .”

Wendy Ford shares her moments of observation of this rapidly paced season in her article called: “A LITTLE BIT OF THIS N’ THAT”

In his vivid commentary entitled “CHILDREN OF CHILDREN”, Adam Crosthwaite shares his ever growing discovery of the vast expanse and richness of life interwoven with his internal contemplations of the past, present and future.

Also we would also like to extend a warm thank-you for My Favorite Ezines for counting our Newsletter in their Directory of listings and the beautiful summary they included.

As always, we invite you to grab a cup, mug, glass or thermos of your favorite beverage, settle down into that comfy computer chair, and enjoy the ponderings and wanderings we have put together to share with you as you indulge this wonderfully festive yet sobering DECEMBER 2007 Edition of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter.

The Staff of Spiritual Climate would like to welcome you to the wonders of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness available to all who seek.

Welcome to the DECEMBER 2007 EDITION of

the SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER

Blessings to all!

Christine Ford

Editor

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) The disk displays dark dust lanes, where many young and bright stars reside. The Hubble telescope also shows that the glowing central bulge of stars harbors nearly 2,000 globular clusters of stars, 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy! ~ HubbleSite News Center

________________________________

________________________________

THE ABSENCE OF CHRISTMAS

By Rev. David Strickler

Crisp and cold ‘twas the evening of the traditional tour of surrounding neighborhoods Christmas light display. I walked outside to meet Goldfern who was graciously piloting the vehicle and chauffeuring all embarking on our seasonal exploration of lighting designs. It really makes for an evening to see the creativity of those who celebrate the Christmas season here in the Southwest where there is no snow with temperatures to remind one of their snowy origins from back east in northern Ohio, at least in my particular history. Without the least warning, an absence had emerged within the horizontal plane.

Horizontal events are activities of response that occur in this 3 dimensional world, what used to be named the mundane world as opposed to the coexisting least recognized vertical plane of consciousness which has at its essence causal properties of Soul, Spirit or Higher functions of beingness within consciousness. Horizontal events as such are not Spiritual events, but are more the shadows that are formed by the physical senses that are a more or less accurate of a response and/or reaction toward the presence of the vertical nature (causal) of consciousness initiated by its realm of Spirit. This Causal is not to be confused with the phenomena of cause and effect within the mundane physical world.

The Solar plexus chakra, which in the human nervous system is reflected in the region known as the abdominal brain or as some prefer to call it, the living instinctual mind, is where ‘gut reactions’ seem to swallow the attention that our heads are able to focus and thereby blot out any reasoning or higher thought functions of the brain temporarily. This is the arena within that part of the function of our personality and human ego uses to assume protective custody of our physical bodies by it remarkable power of attention limitation. This is a rough description of the arena of Horizontal consciousness. In some circles we see this area of consciousness well exposed by fixations of sexual activity, as an example, in politics where political commentary seems to predominate at times in primarily dialog about genital issues: looks, sexual preference, fidelity and the rest of the useless rot of diatribe by shallow people.

It is a luxury for me, to have someone drive, since I can’t drive for long periods of time due to the limitations created by the ongoing presence of visual and auditory disturbance from my stroke. I relish being able to sit in the car, converse with friends, laugh and without failure always move inward into a process of contemplation which ignites my level of discernment to my surrounding environment for receptivity and analysis. My ongoing summation of this year’s contemplative perusal always shows in the ghost of Christmas present and this year is by no means an exception, other than I am going to share a part of it with you this holiday, wherein in most years I do not.

Absence is the closest word to describe this season of articulation emerging from the horizontal plane of human consciousness, barren and void of some kind of indescribable quality usually present within human consciousness as it expresses itself on the physical plane. To put it simply, something is missing and it is being made so blaringly evident by the paradoxical description of the overwhelming ‘presence’ and lack; absence. One fair way to describe this absence is in using the Platonic cave as a model to lend it substance for the possibility of understanding. The unenlightened horizontal person’s mind is locked in the cave of Plato, watching the shadows being cast on the walls of the cave and mistaking the shadows for reality instead of a perception which points toward that which casts the shadows.

But here I must diverge in order to show events that promulgate this adherence to creating mass chaos in order to give you some means to apprehend what this absence is or is not and that brings us to 83-161 A.D. of Ptolemaic theory and Claudius Ptolemy’s intentional or unintentional hoax. Ptolemy got caught in those perceptions and mistook them for reality and used linear mathematics and flawed approach with statistical analysis to convince himself and others as to prove that the Sun revolved around the earth. This demonstration of the incompetence of the statistical method employed for mapping observations of the orbits, by Ptolemy and later Copernicus is still showing up redressed as incomplete, simplistic modern global warming theories and you can tell that I derive my view by those scientists in the tens of thousands of dissenting against the anthropogenic Co2 theory and that consensus is not science. 

The Oregon Petition is one such gathering of dissent; Signed by more than 19,000 professional persons including 2,660 physicists, geophysicists, climatologists, meteorologists, oceanographers and environmental scientists, and 5,017 scientists from other disciplines, includes, inter alia, the statement; “Not only has the global warming hypothesis failed the experimental test; it is theoretically flawed as well”. The Peer Reviewed research paper provided in the next link is entitled:  Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide This is a "review of the research literature concerning the environmental consequences of increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide leads to the conclusion that increases during the 20th Century have produced no deleterious effects upon global weather, climate, or temperature. Increased carbon dioxide has, however, markedly increased plant growth rates. Predictions of harmful climatic effects due to future increases in minor greenhouse gases like CO2 are in error and do not conform to current experimental knowledge." (re: http://www.oism.org/pproject/ ). Here is a video presentation of: Dr. Noah Robinson, Ph.D. Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, Professor, Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine on The Global Warming Myth.

In the words of Georg W. Kreutzberg, the former Director of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, Germany, “Preventing scientific misconduct is the responsibility of all scientists.” This admonition should be branded onto Economic Speculative Theorists by Economic Scientists as well. Complex systems described by a linear mathematics in a non-linear universe usually retain the vesture of my skeptical inquiries and include a caveat that science is not peer review (Albert Einstein being a case in point, re: Physical Review, 1936), alongside the caution that science is not 'statistics'.

"Mother Nature simply operates at a level of complexity that is, at this point, beyond the mastery of mere mortals (such as scientists) and the tools available to us. As my high-school physics teacher admonished us in those we-shall-conquer-the-world-with-a-slide-rule days, "Begin all of your scientific pronouncements with 'At our present level of ignorance, we think we know . . .’ Good advice for the IPCC, and all of us." ~ John R Christy is Professor and Director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, US. He has contributed to all four major IPCC assessments, including acting as a Lead Author in 2001 and a Contributing Author in 2007.

The aroma of human ignorance in history as it repeats itself through the gambling institutions and betting matrices used by current Hedge Funds and Private Equity Firms to affirm the existence of almost anything - as long as the Black-Scholes Derivative formula for which Robert Merton and Myron C. Scholes won the Nobel Prize for economics, in 1997, confirms any form of phantasmagoric financial manifestation that could produce cash from large scale 'betting'. This ‘Las Vegas Casino Style’ appears to have emerged from the work of Robert Merton, PH.D. In 1973 Merton published a paper, "The Theory of Rational Options Pricing," in the Bell Journal of Economics and Management can adroitly snatch any cash flow and produce double digit short term yields.  Has science, as in other fields, succumbed to 'newspeak' by allowing themselves to be funded by nothing more than modern day bookies disguised as investment gamblers called Hedge Funds and Private Equity firms?

It would be amiss to not mention prior individuals which consummately cultivated the current field of mathematical finance wherein a interwoven dance of gaming theory, information theory and statistical probability theory (think---Ptolemy, Copernicus, anthropogenic Co2 is the sole cause of global warming) with the help of such earlier bastions of human dialog as Bertrand Russell, Norbert Wiener, and John von Neumann and other such applied lunacy being allowed to damage and terrorize the lives of the citizens of this nation as well as the health of our great nation and the world as is seen in the well engineered subprime loan crisis.  My bet is the the CDP (carbon disclosure project) is the great Hedge Fund/Private Equity Firm hiring quantz to create 'virtual machinery' and 'virtual jobs' to foster agreement reality through a coordinating secretariat for institutional investors with a combined $41 trillion of assets under management. Therein is your clue for the direct interwoven dance of gaming theory, information theory and statistical probability theory.  The amount of assets under management will cause affirmation some form of certainty toward anthropogenic Co2 as being the sole cause of global warming, never mind the science.  Absence of sanity.  My bet is that 41 Trillion dollars controls what type of policy is gambled on and engineered into public consent-whether or not it is true. 

Please pay very close attention to my next statement: not all Hedge Funds or Private Equity Firms nor the people who work or own them are Economic Terrorists or are corrupt; what I am pointing toward is the existence within this Republic of corrupt individuals from all walks of life in such area as Religious, Political or Business who don’t give a second thought creating damage through unscrupulous profiteering and the expropriation of the citizens of this great nation. That being stated, I find it hard to accept Alan Greenspan’s denial that he couldn’t see the subprime loan debacle coming, when the fact of the matter that any self respecting economist functioning on the evidence of economic history (such as Dr. Michael Hudson) instead of Wall Street supported ‘Walt Disney-ish’ Speculative Theory of Economics as taught by the good-old-boys unit at the University of Chicago school of Economic (non) thought. By the way, where was any evidence of oversight and participation with insight toward regulatory effort from any responsible politician’s years before this Highly Visible collapse occurred?

‘The notion that the economy could regulate itself Hamilton called a 'wild speculative paradox.”-- The Cycles of American History, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986, p. 220-221.

It is revealing to hear such lunacy as the ‘market can regulate itself’ when according to economists who use the evidence prevailing in economic history know that to be false. It appears as though flights of fancy are still the functional norm and explication from some of the mouths of politicians, could this be a political form of Oxycotin? In my opinion and view, the subprime loan debacle and the philosophical cancer it represents spreading world wide is a financially engineered act of economic terrorism by bad apples whose behavior is predictable when they get support of their fantasy in being unregulated. These videos: Hedge Funds - Paul Solman, Voice of America on Hedge Funds and Adam Hewison on SEC Rule Change should give you the basic operational understanding of how Hedge Funds and Private Equity Firms work in the market place. I would also recommend reading Bill Fleckenstein’s Contrarian Chronicles.

This brings me to the great absence of sanity in our current human experience largely in part, in my view, due to the absence of genuine connectivity to human reality between people and the spiritual principles that are removed from a blocked view when such connectivity is brought into the realm of human action. Truth is not subjective—human beings may be subjective in their perception and cognition of a truth. Truth is absolute and human subjectivity is absolutely prone to misperception.

Human connectivity is coming at odds (no pun intended) with mathematical matrices designed to quantify all human activity and interaction as a monetary value. No matter how trite this flawed ideology is it remains a force to be reckoned with as a splinter or a muscle spasm making its presence known in the form of intense pain to justify the monetary goals of whatever individual or form of corporatism and institution has as its objective.

The absence of sanity is the presence I spoke of in the opening of my commentary I see in part is making itself known in the world of our human experience and conditions. Our senses as human beings recognize this absence somewhat like a huge wall blocking the source of light that creates the shadows on the Platonic cave wall of our senses.

From a Spiritual standpoint there is now shining a light from the vertical column of our consciousness coming directly from its source and this light is so brilliant that it cannot be seen with our ordinary senses, just as the universal principle of gravity cannot be “seen” directly by the senses. This spiritual light is so bright it renders any landscape within the human internal experience absent of any shadows or images and in the unenlightened individual the senses will create an affect (shadow) to the best of its ability; the summation of an ongoing growing sensation of something missing, something absent, something very wrong. What is wrong is the absence of true human encounter, touch, and dialogue in a one on one physical experience being replaced instead by synthetic forms of virtual reality and communication.

The irony is that the same technology being subjected to human perversion under the guise of “innovation”, “connectivity” and the likes of “social networks” can also, if properly used, give us some greater range of freedom, speed, and expedite concerns thus bringing people together to the ever present underlying realization that the world is okay, but there are some human beings who are down right criminal in their gluttony for gain no matter what that gain may be: power, money, and control to name a few.

Let me cite a few examples of factual human stories and experiences that have taken notice of the absence of sanity in human connectivity in this world. There are many to cite, but I will only give a few that have truly made this a rekindling of Christmas in my world view.

I am deeply moved by the courage displayed by a former KBR-Halliburton employee Jamie Leigh Jones for her appearance and testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary about her heinous experiences while employed by an American Corporation overseas in Iraq. Her testimony was held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 10:15 AM at 2141 Rayburn House Office Building to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Hearing on: Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law to Protect Americans Working for U.S. Contractors in Iraq.

In lieu of her experience she founded The Jamie Leigh Foundation which “is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping United States citizens and legal residents who are victims of sexual harassment, rape and sexual abuse while working abroad for federal contractors, corporations, or government entities.” She appears to have incredible support from her family as she continues to recover. Her organization is said to provide a safe area for other women to come forward who have suffered similar experiences. Here at Spiritual Climate Newsletter, our continued prayers for your healing as well as those whose unnamed voices you represent, for ongoing healing, recovery and resolution go out to you.

In a different area, where the ‘out of media coverage, out of mind behavior rationalization’ bears some comment is the continual recovery process of mass disaster of mega proportions-the leftover devastation of lives from hurricane Katrina, yet it appears strongly some politicians have directed their attention and energies to the ‘Big Dig’ going on in Washington D.C. with the massive Capitol Visitors Center project whose price tag is coming in, at least so far, at about $600 million dollars. There is quite enough room for some well deserved cynical irony about this and I would be amiss in my duty as a citizen of this great Republic not to point it out.

Getting back to Katrina, my opinion and comment is likely of little difference to actor Brad Pitt, but I would like to publicly give him a ‘hat’s off’ for his ongoing activism in the participation of helping to rebuild the lives of those who suffered incredible damage and trauma from Katrina. Watching Charlie Rose having A Conversation with Brad Pitt, I listened and watched intently as Brad Pitt shared his views and some of what his Make It Right foundation is doing and pursuing. My comment is that Brad Pitt as an actor first caught my attention in the movie: Meet Joe Black, where he played alongside the incredible Anthony Hopkins. Brad Pitt as a genuine human being first caught my attention in the above interview with Charlie Rose. Not to at all imply here that a comment from me would mean anything to Brad Pitt, but I do have to say Thank-you Brad Pitt for adding to my personal experience of Christmas in your bearing forth of genuine humanity and that expression of the true human spirit that resides with us all.

What does any or all of this have to do with Qabalah? Plenty, because true qabalists are scientists who work in being receptive to truth and the reality of invisible non physical principles that emanate from the not-thing-ness of consciousness which determine the fabric and nature of creation much like physical scientists who work to seek the understanding of the invisible universal principles such as gravity that determine how elliptical orbits come about in the mundane world. This is part of the great discovery astronomer Johannes Kepler accomplished to rid the world of the errors of Ptolemy and Copernicus’s use of statistical methodology for mapping observations of orbits; Kepler was and still is correct to this day; Qabalists seek to further understand the invisible footprint of the principles consciousness that is behind the veil of the visible material universe. These principles are the font through which the aperture of the material universe renders itself manifest. These principles can be used and applied in a physical universe during our temporal sojourn in a vehicle of flesh and bones.

It may be our gift of learning that saves us from ignorance if we can ever learn to imbue ourselves with due diligence, for it is from our flaws and limitations that we have the opportunity to discover gems of truth and pearls of Wisdom and Understanding and continue to grow even when we discard the use of the physical body that we use to explore the earth which is nothing more than the microcosmic finite physical universe and the macrocosmic non physical universe emanating from the soundless sound produced by a No-Thing-Ness which brought forth Light.

Christmas is only a pagan holiday to those whose discernment is lacking in the skill to see beyond the veil of the materialist view of the physical universe. Christmas is not a worship of the physical Sun, it is the reverence that is held to the Eternal Principle of the Life Power that is veiled behind the Sun that is worshiped, not the libelous slander presented by those who wish to justify whatever image they have created their god in their own image and likeness based on whatever feeling or venue of hermeneutics being used at their disposal.

Take heed from the great One, Jesus who admonished his disciples in the parable of the "Ten Maidens" and their lamps. Jesus (YHSVH) described "five who were foolish and five who were wise." All ten had lamps, but the wise had plenty of oil to make their lamps do what they were created for, while the unwise ones had nearly-empty lamps that did almost nothing to overcome their personal darkness that they found within the world.

This is found in Matthew 25:1-13 (King James Version) The Parable Of The Ten Maidens King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

Matthew 25:1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. ~ end quote ~

Let me share with you a small view through the eyes of this Qabalist. If one were to strip all systems from the human body except the physical nervous system and then invert it, upright it, one would then see the Unadorned Christmas Tree. Further, if one had eye to see this tree animated by the invisible non physical principle of the Life Power via the agency of consciousness, one would witness a spectacular twinkling of lights that would be similar to an adorned Christmas tree but would make the adorned tree pale by contrast to the Living Principle of Life manifesting through the human tree in terms of light and sound. Those who have eyes and ears take hint!

I wish to thank Goldfern for driving me around in the surrounding area to see some of the homes of the wonderful people who creatively decorated their ‘trees’, their home, their BETH (hebrew: bayt, house). I was blessed that night to share this gift of life with those friends who were able to attend as I was gifted to bear witness to the dance of the Life Power behind the physical house of those who live in this world and to see an incredible non physical light that Lights all Worlds.

May you find within your tree the living gift that is lit with the Light of Wisdom and Understanding,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

Rev. David Strickler, Ph.D.

Qabalistic Minister

_______________________________

_______________________________

THE PERSONAL IMPOTENCE OF ENGINEERED ADULT AUTISM

By Christine Ford

I had quite an enlightening experience while doing some real live in person Christmas shopping. I went out to the Mall in the hopes of lifting my spirits a little, as I was suffering from that recurring stigma of Holiday Blues that seems to increase for me as each season rolls around. Having done most of my Christmas shopping online this year, and having items conveniently shipped to Florida for my annual return to share this time with my children and grandchild, I hadn’t spent too much time in the stores with the holiday shoppers joyfully perusing purchases to be shared with loved ones! (Hehehe! Tongue in cheek, but a thought!) Noting that perhaps I was missing the “human element” this year, feeling somewhat like a virtual recluse, I thought it might behoove me, and my dour mood, to get right in there elbow to elbow, heart to heart with the crowds and hum Christmas Carols while pondering the ideal gifts for family and friends.

After experiencing three hours of rudeness from customers as well as merchants, after standing in lines to ask questions and getting no answers, after trying to find out the real prices of items, where they were located in the store, if there were any left, and being met with stupidity, insolence, ignorance and just plain hostility at every turn, I reluctantly sulked back to my computer cave to complete my online purchases in the sanctity, sanity and safety of my private little abode. What I experienced, while being depressing and somewhat alarming, was at the same time a real shocker and an eye opener! I find myself asking just exactly what “IT” was that I stepped into and attempted to become a part of!

I am still not at this point sure, but I can tell you all that the overwhelming sadness, the lack of joy, the hollowness and emptiness that cried out to me from the shallow eyes of those I encountered was startling and evoked a poignant feeling of grief and hopelessness within me that is difficult to express. On the other hand, the extreme pushiness, the feeling of “I’m the only one here, get out of my way or else”, the intolerance and non-communication of those bags of blood as they mindlessly swarmed in what appeared to be holding patterns in a massive airport was frightening! The herd moving blindly and totally oblivious of those around them through the labyrinth of aisles without a pause to look or ponder, like rats in a maze, literally running over anyone who dared to break the rhythm left me angry and frustrated, to the point that I had to just leave and sit in my car for fifteen minutes before I could even drive home. I felt as though I were walking through a mass of lifeless, physically animated corpses, whose minds were numb and whose hearts were dead.

There was no acknowledgement or recognition of human kindness, no exchanged glances or greetings, no “excuse me”, “I’m sorry”, or “pardon me” as they forced their way through narrow aisles of stacked items, plodding behind shopping carts moving towards the next item to be numbly placed within the cart, just another item crossed off the list. I was reminded of the Discovery series I have watched where the ants start marching in a stream and that forward momentum stops at nothing, but devours any that may pause or come into its path. It was almost as if these torrents of “people” were communicating somehow on an internal channel like the Borg in Star Trek, with one mass mind devoid of any individuality, driven only by the direction of the flow, carried forward by the get what I want syndrome of gratification. This leads me to ask what has changed, because though I know I struggle with this sensation every year, I have never felt such a slam dunk of sorrow, hopelessness and emptiness in my life.

In the past I’ve written my pre-holiday gloom off to various “osophies and syndromes”, such as the Scrooge syndrome, the old lady crabbiness complex, the Christmas is for children philosophy, the I’m too busy for this crap camp, and the ever faithful, but always true, when did Christmas become nothing more than a merchandising holiday rant. I have in the past, however, been able to somehow overcome and sublimate these feelings of emptiness and shallowness and find a glimmer of hope within the eyes and hearts of those around me. Perhaps it is the romantic part of me that did that, creating joy when it didn’t exist at all, an illusion to lighten the season for myself. Perhaps there is no change in the external circumstances; the crowds may be the same as always, the beauty and joy may be in the air, and I just don’t perceive it; perhaps the change has taken place in me. At this point I cannot determine where the change originates; within the masses, within my perception of them, or from within me. I am surmising that it is a combination of all three, but I have some thoughts as to why it may be happening!

Over the past couple months, I have had the pleasure and delight to hear stories from some of my “Elders”. I hope they don’t take deference to my calling them that, I mean it in the most respectful and reverent way. Though I won’t mention names, at our weekly meditation nights we are blessed with the presence of an incredible couple in their mid 70’s and one beautifully wise woman in her mid 80’s. They have relayed to us memories and experiences of their childhood and growing years that have become true eye openers to us as to the changes that have taken place within all areas of life: familial, societal, governmental, political, ethical, moral, religious, educational, technological… The list could go on and on. I have found that recently my mother, who is approaching her 85^th birthday, has been strolling down memory lane with me in her conversations more often as well. From the tales of these experienced and intelligent, caring individuals, I have gathered a wealth of knowledge as to the comparison of the way PEOPLE interacted “then” and how they interact “now”. I have also come to the realization that the manner in which people communicate and hold each other in regard in our present society is dramatically different than it was in my childhood and younger years. Having come to a tentative conclusion as to the why of it, I’d like to share this with you for your consideration and pondering.

It seems to me that what we are experiencing today within all levels of society appears to be a gross depersonalization of humanity, a trend towards self-absorbed behavior that negates interpersonal relationships and makes a mockery of intimacy and true sharing of oneself with others. As this thought turned over in my mind, I quickly became aware of the similarity there was to this premise and the definition of autism which afflicts the children that I teach each day. Autism is a brain disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, causing restrictive, repetitive behavior. The New Latin word “autismus” (English translation autism) comes from the Greek word “autos” and is used to mean morbid self-admiration, referring to “autistic withdrawal of the patient to his fantasies, against which any influence from outside becomes an intolerable disturbance.” Sounds alarmingly like those zombies I experienced while shopping, complete with their inability to see beyond the limiting boundaries of their self defined focus of attention.

May I digress for a moment to be sure that those of you reading this understand that there is a gross difference between autism spectrum disorders, the autism the children I teach exhibit, and what I am suggesting that the masses have been induced into. My children have beautiful moments of feeling and interaction; times when you can reach right in and almost hear their thoughts. They communicate on their own level and in their own very unique ways, using phrases and events they relate to and are familiar and comfortable with to survive in a world they are completely overwhelmed by, not consciously a part of, but this is NOT the type of manufactured autism which I refer to as the stigma that is enveloping and silencing individuals in today’s world. I am merely using the etymology of the word “autism” to convey a point. Let me here refer you to a pdf document in which the use of the word autism brilliantly described the state of education within Economics: Editorial: Still Autistic Finance, by George M. Frankfurter.

In the 1940’s, Leo Kanner, coined the term “Refrigerator Mothers” as an explanation of autism. His premise proposed that cold, frigid, uncaring parents actually created autism a within child. In a 1949 paper, he suggested autism may be related to a “genuine lack of maternal warmth”, noted that fathers rarely stepped down to indulge in children’s play, and observed that children were exposed from “the beginning to parental coldness, obsessiveness, and a mechanical type of attention to material needs only…. They were left neatly in refrigerators that did not defrost. Their withdrawal seems to be an act of turning away from such a situation to seek comfort in solitude.”

Now I know for a fact that this theory is not true, for the parents of my children with autism are some of the most dynamic, communicative, loving individuals you would ever want to meet. Their daily, in fact hourly sacrifices and commitment to the well being of their kids is a whole article that I will write someday. Leo Kanner’s premise is unaccepted in today’s standards as a “cause” of autism but consider for a moment his premise when applied to the societal “parents” leading us in the political, governmental, educational, religious and technological arenas. The coldness, unwillingness to listen, uncaring decision making, demands of more time and more energy with no reward; couldn’t this be the syndrome which Leo Kanner, before his time and missing the mark a bit, may have been referencing in an almost prophetic manner? Have the parents to whom we have entrusted our spiritual, psychological, emotional, mental, physical and financial well being sold us down the river?

Have we slowly become a society of desensitized humanoids creating our sterile, unfeeling prison cells of separation while we exist only within the fantasy of our realms of purely perception? Are we increasingly becoming further isolated and withdrawn from human verbal exchange while being so addicted to technology and constant auditory and visual stimulation of mechanical devices such as television, video games and the like that we have no desire or use for the sound of the human voice, the touch of the human hand, the sharing of the warm gold of the human heart? The more this thought is mulled over in my mind, the more concerned I have become that perhaps there is no hope for the masses of humankind who choose the illusion of the Matrix over the realities of Truth. The Spirituality and beauty that was once the foundation of this sacred holy season has been denigrated and blasphemed by the engineered society, economy, religion and government; just as the U.S. Constitution written by our Founding Fathers is being slowly annihilated and ignored with glee by the same perpetrators. The community and family of the past has been reduced to dinners on the run and cell phone conferences, the joy and love shared at this beautiful season as well as year round has given way to a compressed, harried exchange of “Seasons Greetings” and Happy Holidays”, to the point where one feels politically incorrect and almost ashamed to shout a “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

The sad reality of this has almost hammered me flat this holiday season as person after person, young and old, comment, “Does it seem like Christmas to you? I just can’t believe it’s really that time of year.” This common thread of thought expresses in a vague but concerned manner that there is just something missing, “things” just aren’t right this year. Yes, I agree 100%, something just isn’t right about the feel of the energy and the vibration this year. I do believe that it has to do with the attitudes and emotional states of the PEOPLE who are burdened by time crunches due to increased productivity, money tightness due to financial fiascos of lending institutions, dwindling personal exchanges due to modern technology advances, sadness of loss of young lives in a war that has commonly become referred to as the “Theater” by politicians and the isolation of feeling as if no one cares, no one can make a change, no one has any power, and no one has any voice.

Enter the age of engineered adult autism! Can you say PERSONAL IMPOTENCE any clearer than that? Is it any wonder that people retreat into their joyless shells and stumble around like lifeless marionettes animated only by the strings controlled by those who aspire to “lead” them, while chanting, “I gotta get it done and I only have an hour to do it in?” This is a state that we have gradually and slowly, in infinitesimal increments allowed ourselves to be lulled into, NOT because we are ignorant, but because we trusted those in power, be it in religion, economy, education or the government to put our best interests before any profit margins or private agendas and we forget to ask necessary check-point questions. Where within this dismal picture is human dignity, beauty of the soul, fire of agape, joy of personal exchange and the brilliant solitude of the darkest night of the year breaking into the dawn of the first light of Christmas morning, ablaze with promise and life?

This question I actually have an answer to. That human dignity, beauty, fire, joy and light resides deep within the hearts of each and every one of us. It is within you, and can be discovered, nurtured, fed and replenished only by you. The flame can also be smothered, drowned, hidden and cut off from becoming a blazing torch, but again, that can only be done by you, to you, if you allow the influences of the idea of personal impotence to be your mantra, if you allow ‘engineered adult autism’ to be your choice. The one thing that you cannot do, however, is totally extinguish that flame, for there will always be a tiny glimmer remaining, and that spark will eternally be your connection with the Divine, your Soul and Spirit.

The first light of the dawn of Christmas day is given freely to all, as is the indwelling spark of Genesis. Dr. Strickler points out the fact that it is not the physical sun but our spiritual consciousness represented behind the physical mask of the sun in any system of creation. May this holy season rekindle within you the strength and desire to fan that flame and to break away from the desolate autism of the personal impotence which has been imposed upon you.

May you Find the that Light that Brightly shines within

Christine Ford

Editor

________________________________

________________________________

AND NOW A WORD FROM ‘ANDY ROONEY’. . .

By Roger Clark

Several months ago, I was asked if I would be interested in contributing occasional writings for Spiritual Climate. These could be on a subject(s) of my choosing to bring up the rear (so to speak) of the newsletter; being the oldest member of the group, made me think of Andy, though I do trim my eyebrows.

         "T’is the Season to Be Jolly"

My Christmas season starts earlier than most. If I don’t have my tree and decorations up by Halloween, my grand kids think there is something wrong. This year I did, however, wait until the day after to decorate and light the tree, and the day after Thanksgiving to turn on the outside lights. Don’t want to offend anyone, you know.

And now, December 9, most of the shopping is done! Did the annual Mall trip a couple weeks ago, to get the “flavor” of the holiday season? (That’s Christmas to those of you who are not offended) Bought a few things, but the bulk of present purchasing was done at Amazon.com, and other shops while I checked out online sites naked from the comfort of my own home.

Though starting this article with another story, I felt inspired to share some thoughts and experiences brought to mind today, when trekking out for the annual Brother Bonding Shopping Spree. Though seemingly disjointed, they are examples of how this “senior” mind works. I keep reading how bad the economy is and how retailers are so worried about making up for lost annual sales. Today is a Wednesday and at 10:30 a.m. the only parking spaces in site of the stores were for handicapped. Lucky us! My brother was looking for Sponge Bob Chump Bucket Legos (say that 5 times fast) for his grandson and it took four of the hiking trail super stores to finally come up with one. Presumably they are lead free. While looking through Target, I saw an associate talking on his walkie- talkie to another employee. “Sorry, I can’t help you now,” he said. “I am with a “guest”. If we are no longer customers, but guests, then why do they make us pay?

Then it was time for lunch at Pannera Bread, his favorite spot. I ordered a sesame bagel with cream cheese and coffee dujour. “Do you want anything with that?” I was asked, “Just cream cheese, please.” The same question was asked and answered two more times before I realized I was supposed to say “plain cream cheese”. The look I received was not particularly forgiving, taking up valued noon time rush. The highlight of the day, however, helped brighten my otherwise cynical outlook. A young mother noticed my brother standing, waiting for a place for us to sit. She got up and walked the length of the room, and invited us to join her. She was shopping for her three daughters and sitting alone. Not only did we sit with her but had a delightful conversation, and not once did her cell phone ring.

That brings me to my cell phone outrage…. It seems that few today can tolerate being in their own company, whether shopping, driving, or having the daily walk or jog. Multi-tasking is great, but not when it puts others at risk. I’m sure you have all seen someone go through a light, changing red with cell phone in one hand, and a cigarette or coffee in the other. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. It made me think of an old game we used to play while riding on a trip: that of counting out of state license plates. Now, though, whoever counts the most cell phone using drivers, wins.

To end the tale of this day, we stopped at the local Walgreen store on the way home. Upon checking out, the cashier asked me,”Do you need batteries today?” Answer: No thank you, I am traveling under my own power.

“And The World Will Be As One”

My brother and I were brought up in a time when there were perhaps one of two blacks in our entire graduating high school class. Our father was somewhat bigoted, but didn’t single out African Americans; he often referred negatively to Italians, Portuguese, Hispanics and anyone else who wasn’t a purebred ‘WASP’. Each had their own distinct characteristics, but we could trace our ancestors to the Mayflower. You’re impressed now, right-<smiles> As the years wore on, thankfully things began to change in his attitude as well as the country’s, but then it had to for him, for he loved his family. In his later years he found out African Americans weren’t so bad, especially when one married his grand daughter. Nor were Portuguese, Hispanics or even gays. I debated going on with more background, but that is not necessary, nor what my meanderings are getting to.

‘Robert’ (name changed for privacy concerns) and ‘Joseph’ (my nephew, name changed for privacy concerns) have been partners for eight years. They met while roommates at college; Robert becoming an elementary school teacher, and Joseph, a high school music director, both of whom received Teacher of the Year Awards at their respective schools. For a number of years they wanted to adopt children, and towards that end they even moved to another town with a superior school system to the one they were in, anticipating an eventual adoption. After many tries and dollars, taken by no result promises, they finally became one of eight couples being interviewed by the state for the care of a seven year old Hispanic boy. ‘M’ was taken by the state along with his two siblings from their abusive parents, bouncing from orphanage to foster homes, for a number of years. Much to their delight they were the selected couple to provide a home for the boy, a home, unlike any other he had known or dreamt about. ‘M’ now has his own room, neighborhood friends and loving family. My brother and his wife, now have the grandchild they had longed for. This past year ‘M’ was legally adopted by his new “Dad” and “Poppy.”

My brother for many years was a stereotypical “Archie Bunker” and as a result Joseph kept his sexual identity a secret from them. After much prodding from other members of the family, he finally told them, realizing he was denying them and hurting himself with the stress.

This past summer, I received an invitation in the mail, inviting me to the civil union of Robert and Joseph, to be held at a church in Connecticut where they live followed by a reception at a local country club. And this is the reason I decided to tell this story.

A formal wedding could not have been more beautiful: a perfect day, lovely church decorated with an abundance of flowers, and choir. The church was nearly filled by the invited plus many friends, teachers and students who just wanted to be a witness and part of the event. Joseph and Robert came down the aisle dressed in formal tuxes followed by ‘M’ carrying the ring pillow, the four parents and ushers.

All of those in attendance agreed it was one of the most beautiful and happy occasions they had witnessed. Gay, straight, friends, neighbors, family, African Americans, Hispanic, Korean and probably some I missed joined as one, dining, dancing and singing for the remainder of the day.

And the most heartwarming part was my brother, leaning over to me and saying, “Why can’t the world be like this every day?”

IMAGINE!

What does all this have to do with the Spiritual Climate? Everything!

I wish all my friends on the staff of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter, along with family, friends and fellow travelers the very best of the holiday season and a brighter New Year. May all our lights shine brightly in the upcoming year.

May Light Be Extended Unto You

Roger Clark

________________________________

________________________________

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS N’ THAT

By Wendy Ford

It seems Thanksgiving never even happened. It seems to have been ignored. There wasn’t any build up to it leading to the anticipation as in years past. Personally, disappointment is a term never before associated nor experienced with Thanksgiving Day. The true highlight of Thanksgiving was that my husband was home and off the road for two whole weeks. That was a personal Thanksgiving that lasted for two weeks and was our cherished blessing. Normally the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are filled with the anticipation and preparation for the day. This year there was something distinctly different about it but figuring out the whys may take some time.

Part of it must have to do with the fact that the Christmas displays have been in the stores since before Halloween. Finding Thanksgiving paper plates was a failure this year. A full two weeks before Thanksgiving there were none to be found in the local grocery as all the Christmas, Chanukah and New Years items were already on the displays and shelves. When a store clerk was asked where they might have the Thanksgiving items the reply came with a shake of her head, “I guess they just skipped Thanksgiving this year.” Plates with bunches of purple grapes on them were substituted with at least the theme of harvest. The search for napkins to match was quickly abandoned and instead a solid color from the birthday aisle was chosen. It just seemed Thanksgiving never even happened.

It’s starting to feel like Christmas has “already been”, too. One can’t pick up a magazine, look in a store window, open e-mails, or turn on the radio or TV without being assaulted by ads and sales.

Could be just my perception of time being so compressed right now but it just seems particularly this year the merchants have really been pushing and pushing very, very hard the sales earlier than usual. It seems paradoxical that at a time when many families are so stretched financially that they face the very real threat of home foreclosure the merchants seem to be more in your face this year than ever.

“Buy! Buy! Buy!” the ads flash, the signs proclaim and actors manically shout and pitch. It is the same every year: the perception that the more things that are given and the more money that is spent equate with how much you care or love someone. It just appears to be brighter, louder and more offensive this year.

This theme is not unique to Christmas. There was a program on the local NPR station on which a minister and a rabbi were speaking of the meaning of the two Holy Days seasons of Christmas and Chanukah. Evidently the concern about commercialization has been going on since the 1700’s.

Joy and Beauty and Love are all reflective in the spirit of Christmas and the emotions can, indeed be infective. There is also a flip side to all of this, for the Law of Polarity dictates there be a negative to balance the positive even at this time of year. For many, this time of year is very introspective and private, a time of inner searching and reflection.

Everyone seems to be frantically running hither in a dither. Evidently the idea is to search for the perfect gift for just about anyone they have ever come in contact with from loved ones to the door man to the letter carrier to the office cleaning staff to the vet to the baseball coach to the teacher to, well, you get the idea. Showing appreciation by writing a note is evidently unacceptable. Surely the work and service of others around you is only to be acknowledged on one very specific day of the year and there are even etiquette rules that govern this. Everyone is searching. What is everyone really searching for?

Could it be that at this time of year, when the darkest night of the year comes on December 21^st that we are seeking to fill and soothe that aching void deep within us that is hurting in response to our separation from our connection with our Source?

Are we searching through all the frivolity, festivities, and frantic rushing about to fill that void and soothe the ache? Are we so influenced by the Sophistry based philosophy of consumerism that we have come to truly believe the busier we are and the more money we spend the happier we must be? Oh, and if we go to a midnight religious service on December 24^th we will be spiritually medicated and soothed as well.

Could it be that those are the very activities that continue to foster the separation? If we were to instead quiet ourselves enough to turn our eyes, ears and attention inward could we experience the opposite effect? Might we be able to begin to bridge the gap between “us” and our Source? Yes. Dr. Strickler has taught us that Meditation is the key. True meditation is not contemplation or visualization or deep breathing or contemplating our navel while standing on one leg. We don’t have to “do” or “go” anywhere. True meditation is merely sitting alone in a quiet place for twenty minutes a day, allowing one’s mind to quiet enabling the participation in the greatest meditation of all: the Meditation of the Source.

The Meditation of the Source is why any thing and any one exists in the first place: we and everything in manifestation are being “thought” into existence. The present tense has been intentionally used because every moment of the “now” is the result of that meditation. Creation didn’t stop. It is an ongoing process that is the result of that Meditation. Should the Source cease meditating…..poof. No more Manifestation.

As the word meditation has been mistyped to “mediation” more than once in the writing of this article it has brought my attention to the two words. It is striking to realize that Meditation is a form of mediation. Also, it is merely one letter, the letter “T”, the Hebrew letter Tau, that makes the distinction between the two words. Key 21 in the Tarot is “The World”. Interesting: Mediation between Manifestation and the Source by participating in Its Meditation.

“Give! Give! Give!” flash, the signs proclaim and actors manically shout and pitch. The more we give the better must we feel, and the better we feel the more alive we are and the more we love. Right? Not necessarily.

In the Western world we are taught from childhood that it is better to give than to receive. What is left out is the part about that the giving needs to be genuine, and given from the heart out of Love. Most of us don’t know ourselves well enough to have a genuine connection with our own hearts in order to give out of Love.

Most of us have never been taught that unless we first come to know ourselves it is impossible to truly give to others.

Knowing ourselves is the hardest and most painful thing any of us will ever have to learn or discover, for to truly know ourselves is to be willing to know and accept every facet of our being: the good, the bad, and the ugly facets. Once we start that process of learning to accept every facet of ourselves we begin to truly love ourselves. Until we reach a point where we have at least SOME love of self the “giving to others” is merely an illusion we have concocted, a salve that soothes our own pain, an act that gives us the feeling of having filled our own emptiness and blinds us to the looking inward. Once again we if we look inward and with honesty we discover we are merely medicating ourselves with illusions and delusions.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.." (John 8:12 ~ KJV) and notice it says I AM the LIGHT not ‘Light Bearer’. Through his life became manifest that Christ Consciousness was anchored and made available in earth plane.

There is something quite magical about the first light of Christmas Morning, a tradition of observance taught to me by Rev. Strickler. If you can be in a position to actually see that first flash from the sun as it comes up over the horizon or from behind the dip in the mountains or hills or just over top of the city buildings there is an indescribable momentary glimpse of and feeling of connectedness. Because we are limited by the concepts of time and space it seems to only last for that flash but it can be your connection and fuel, your lifeline, for the upcoming year. Your Soul knows that connection and for the physical vehicle to experience even the briefest of connections is the true gift of Christmas.

So this Christmas don’t forget to give something to yourself. Take that leap and dare to really look in the mirror and find out something about yourself. This is a personal gift you don’t have to share with anyone. Give yourself twenty minutes a day to sit and be quiet and to participate in the Meditation of the Source, your Source. Go outside and find that ‘First Light’ on Christmas Morning. This could be your greatest gift of all for it can sustain you through the coming year.

May the Lord of Life empower you to grab hold and use Its Will as It bestows Its many blessings upon you: the Courage to honestly look deep within yourself; the Compassion to accept yourself in all your complicated facets; Grace in the application of forgiveness with yourself for your faults and failings; the Patience to persevere in your quest to know yourself for it is a lifelong process; the ability to Laugh at yourself as you stumble and err for that is just a part of the human condition, imperfection. You don’t need to grovel and beg for all these are already yours. Just let the Light in.

Be Open to Discover that which is True and Genuine,

Wendy Ford

________________________________

________________________________

CHILDREN of CHILDREN

By Adam Crosthwaite

This Holiday Season marks my fourth Christmas as a student of the Qabala as taught by the tradition that Rev. Strickler represents. After four years I have come to understand in part the underlying meaning of one of his most infamous statements, “This is going to be an important season…” Each year that I spend in this place takes me to levels of awareness ever expanding and ever changing in richness and knowledge as the journey known as Agape takes me to inner reaches I never knew existed. Last year it was a focus on Agreement Reality and the pit falls of politically correct jargon blinding people to the celebration of life and the love of those around them that presented itself to me in the form of a child. As I walked along the path of my life last year it became blaringly obvious that the human race has a long way to go in order to grow up and stop worrying about how different they are from the person standing next to them.

In the year before that it was remembering the importance of the human connection outside the limitations of material cares that emerged through memories of my friends gathering to warm themselves around a trash can the night of Christmas Eve that rang out to me from the darkness. The moment of connection with the person outshined the moments of material cares. I can still feel the warmth of my friends who invited me as a companion, not a stranger into their gathering in friendship.

And in 2004, my first year with David and the crew, it was the gift of the strength in children that inspired me to reach out from the depths to grasp the unknown heights of the mysteries in operation throughout the universes. The possibilities of the future had been unveiled to me as I watched the strength of hope carry a child from darkness and despair into a bright and promising new beginning in life. As a nation and the world over we will greatly need to tap this strength if we are to make it through the coming year.

This year finds me looking into the past, present and future of not only my own segment of time but that of the generation before me and the one behind me. One might say I have ventured into my own personalized version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I find myself at a point of convergence where the past is retesting an audience with the presence and the future agreed to sit in on the meeting as well. There have been moments in these past few weeks that I have felt an empathetic view with the character Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the television show Star Trek the Next Generation (STNG) when he discovered an anomaly in space and time coming from him in the past, present and future. He had to function between the past, present and future in order to complete a puzzle and correct an error made by himself in different time lines. I laugh as I recall sitting with David in the evening during this time of year and watching the final episode of Star Trek Next Generation, Episode Number 747, entitled “All Good Things…” U.S. Airdate: June 5, 1994, his favorite episode that he shared with me my first Christmas as his student.

Throughout the years I recall moments from my past that trigger an entourage of reactions. Through the process of the teachings of the lineage that David represents, I have learned to alter these moments to aid in my growth. Instead of arguing with the shadows in my mind like a blind fool screaming at a reflection I find myself working with the various parts and pieces of myself that are seeking a way to join me in the present to grow and be with me in the moment.

On the days I am blessed to spend with my daughter Emily I am reminded of the inner child that stays with me as I grow through the years. At times I encounter the “Little Adam” who wants to spend time with the “Big Adam”. Some moments are playful and cute, like when Emily walks up to me smiling and takes me by the hand or shirt to her room and shuts the door so we can be alone to read or play. Other moments are not as playful, like when she cries because daddy was walking too fast and did not stop to watch the wind blow through the grass on a sunny day; Emily starts to cry when she looks up and sees me too far ahead. Even the times Emily comes to me crying with a bruised knee or scratched cheek for me to kiss so she can smile and say, “Much Better” reminds me of the importance in taking time to spend with myself and my smaller self to be at one with each other in the present.

For the past year now I have a job at a shopping center involving security. I have plenty of time during the day to observe people at some of their finest and most questionable moments. There are days I walk around watching the people around me scrambling to make sense of the situations and events in their days. As I watch I can’t help but notice that few, if any, of these people stop to watch the wind blowing through the grass, or allow the child inside of them take them to a quiet place for some time alone away from the craziness and frantic meanderings of a chaotic world. Every day I face off with drunks, crazy drivers, shoplifters, thugs and the occasional disgruntled shop keeper. When things get tense, I find myself stopping to watch the wind blow through the grass.

People are walking around all the time in a daze unaware of the child within their psyche screaming in their ears to hear and see it in the dark corner. They wince in pain not knowing why as the parts of them longing to break out from the darkness in the closets locked away deep within their past and summon them through the fabric of the world they operate in. These winces come in the form of reactions to other people as they encounter themselves reflected in the mirror of the subconscious. Many of them fight back against these currents of change with opiate behaviors which I can relate to from my own personal experience.

These opiate behaviors (escapism) are most evident during the Holiday season when people are in a rush to buy things to prove to themselves the value of relationships. Instead of holding in regard the connections they are blessed with by honoring what is, they unknowingly, as well as covertly, pervert the truth of the Holiday season to a time of consumption in the form of giving as they pay homage with material gifts. Sadly, as long as the status quo of the Agreement Reality is not challenged openly the currents sounding in the dark corridors of the mind will go unnoticed. No matter how loudly or how long the ghost in the hall rattles his chains, the frightened and abandoned child in the forgotten reaches will never have someone to kiss away the pain swelling in the psyche of the so called adult mind.

The drunken binges of shoppers running debt higher and higher for themselves send toxic fumes from the psyche in an effort to blur the images reaching out from the reflections in the mirror of subconscious, as it attempts to take them by the hand and spend some one on one time watching the wind blow, in my opinion and view. No amount of opiate behavior can kiss away the trauma in a harsh world. The frenzy of opiate behavior robs people of those few precious moments when the Hidden Treasures are revealed and not simply valued as a consumable item, for it is in the present with the child of the past standing along side the child of the present that the most amazing treasure is found in the discovery of knowledge, known to the Qabalistic tradition as Agape.

As long as people stay stuck spinning their wheels in place without aid from all parts of their being in the present, they will stay fixed in the illusions of weakness. In the many lessons we are gifted with none are as precious as those that come in the encounters with children, The Gift of the Child is forever with us all. Past, present and future belong to the child within us all. The world unfolds before us all as the children of children lighting a path to the future.

David is continually bringing me back to Psalm 115 vs 16:

HA SHA MA EEM SHA MA EEM LAHDOE NAH EE

VAY HA-AHRETZ NAHTAN LIBNEY AHDAM

The heavens are the heavens of the LORD

But the earth hath He given to the children of men.

This is the starting point for one point of understanding the world around us as is taught by David in the Qabalistic Tradition. We are all children; we are all responsible for our children.

As children living in worlds within a larger world, we have the ability to function in whatever mode we choose. We also have the ability to take the children of the past along with all the hurts and joys, lock them away in darkness forever and live out a life as a reactive creature bent on survival, or bring that child up from the dark to spend time in the light and grow.

Trudging about in the darkness of this mundane world I occasionally find time to stop for a second look at my circumstances, this usually takes place in time sitting in the presence of my Teacher David. In the past year I increasingly have come to take the processes learned through the Qabalistic tradition as taught by my Mentor and continue to exercise the tools and skills for evaluation and discernment for myself and my relationship with the world I function in, as well as the worlds in motion around me. At times it seems that the world is out to destroy itself, other times it seems to be fighting for survival against the numerous currents. Usually those may usher a change for the greater good and well being of those concerned. Currents that are sometimes initiated by the subconscious portions of the mind seeking a resolution to chaos go on ignored or forcibly suppressed. Ironically, the very changes initiated within a world for the well being of that world are at times fought against the fiercest of all.

Children need to be allowed to cry. No matter what age or gender, they have a place in the world. For too long I have waited to allow those parts of me to come out and play. For long enough I have hidden the shame and guilt of moments that could have been handled in a better way. For far too long has the twelve year old cowered in the corner and the five year old gone unheard, and this year they will be there on Christmas day standing along side the me that is now, watching the sun rise. They will learn from me to grow and trek the mundane world by my side. I will learn to change my world for the better with the lessons they learn in the world we will share.

Blessings to the Children of Children of Men, All of Us!

Adam Crosthwaite

________________________________

________________________________

Want to help us out? Make a contribution to our free Newsletter! It is easy and is only a one time charge with your favorite credit or check card:

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL
CLIMATE CLICK HERE

You can access Dr. Strickler or any of the writers in Spiritual Climate by email for any questions, comments, or clarifications of that which they have written. You can also email with the clickable link below to access Dr. Strickler for healing-prayer service requests:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE

Want the facts intentionally hacked out of the mainstream media?

Here is a link to straight forward news articles, without the bullshit and Wall Street smoke screens:

Interesting News Articles

Looking for more Family Friendly Ezine & Email Newsletter Directory to provide you the best Education, Motivation, Inspiration on the web and help you to discover, develop and successfully share your God-given creativity and talents?

Click this fine Directory of listings:

My Favorite Ezines

© DECEMBER, 2007 SPIRITUAL CLIMATE ®

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE. Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons. No part of this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE )

- FINIS -

________________________________

The Institute of Spiritual Climate

Is proud to present

Its newsletter

of Social & Spiritual Commentaries:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®

Sunday, October 21, 2007

" Contemplation and wisdom are highest achievements

and Man (humanity) is not totally at home with them. "

~ Gabriel Marcel

___________

We are not a rich corporation, so this publication is a labor and gift of love that is solely supported by donations from its readers. You may freely forward or redistribute it to whomever you wish. No donation is required. All donations are greatly appreciated.  Just Click on the secured-link below, it will accept your Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover or PayPal to make a donation.

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL
CLIMATE ~ CLICK HERE ~

This Newsletter can be viewed on the AlcyoneMagi ® web log

on the following link:

http://alcyonemagi.spaces.live.com

Want SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER

delivered right into your Email Box?

Click here SPIRITUAL CLIMATE and in the subject line type in ADD ME

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version and link to the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE.  Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons.  No part of the articles in this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Please include the final version of the article you are writing, a link of where it will be available along with a highlighted and/or underlining quote of the text from any of our article's you wish to use, upon review and decision you will then be notified of our answer for permission of use in your publication. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request in English by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE , please put TRANSLATION in the Subject Line )

__________________________

A WARM Welcome to the Readers, Students,

and Friends of Spiritual Climate!

Did I say WARM? Let me tell you, it’s been so hot in Phoenix that you can’t even get people to laugh about it by bringing up the Robin Williams bit about loving the feeling of sweat pouring down the crack of your ass like Niagara Falls! THAT is hot, and the humidity with it has made us feel like we are in a never ending sauna! So much for the physical climate around here, think you get the picture!

The Spiritual Climate, though, has been just as hot, with Dr. Strickler delivering discourses that kick open doors to ever increasing knowledge as we traveled through the Dog Days of our Holy Season of the Q- Tradition brought in by the heliocentric rising of the star Sirius from July 23 through September 9. This time of year brings a different quality of intensity to the forefront, and this year has not been an especially easy one for the Staff of Spiritual Climate. There have been Emergency Room visits, emergency surgeries, dental problems, births, and serious illnesses among family and friends of us all. It seems each one of us has been challenged by drastic changes, demands and fluctuations within our workplaces and the judicial system has been making its presence known as well. Car repairs, late or lost checks, incompetent management, communication mix ups, plumbing and air conditioning problems, banking errors, last minute changes in plans. . . You name it, it probably happened to one of us over the past few weeks, but as we have been so sternly warned, we did not ask, nor even think, the question “Can it get any worse?” The good news is that we all managed to survive the down pouring of energies and are now experiencing the gradual integration of these energies into our personal spheres, as we contemplate the quickly approaching night of Hallow’s Eve, one of the two “darkest” nights of the year.

It is in that spirit that we would like to welcome you back to the Spiritual Climate Newsletter and ask for your understanding for our absence publicly both on the net and in your e-mail box with a monthly publication of our newsletter. Dr. Strickler has been taken to task during a new stage of recovery from his medical event of three years ago; there is a phase of a recovery, apparently, for people who have suffered a stroke which is called ‘awakening’. For Dr. Strickler it is been a very awkward accumulation of intermittent awareness these past ten months since it started off including all of the eerie recognitions that it seems to bring. In his words, he has finally come to some small realization that this medical physical event was dangerous and threatened the continued existence of his physical body and his ability to participate in this world.

Now that we are back in publication, after much soul searching and meetings with the staff of writers and contributors to the Spiritual Climate Newsletter we are going to publish bimonthly editions, or in other words, at two months intervals. This decision has come with some angst due to the popularity we have learned our newsletter has, since it is forwarded to parts and people unknown around the world. That being said, be it known that the writers and contributors are eager and excited for the continued publication of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter. Because of the ever increasing productivity demands from their employers, however, one has to recognize that something cannot be created out of nothing. Productivity inflation is encroaching and usurping the time, space and freedom of all individuals, masterminded by those who live parasitically off of the productive powers of labor and the nonproductive overhead of management.

Our solution for the time being is simple: you can look forward to receiving new editions of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter on a bimonthly basis.

IN THIS EDITION

The October 2007 Edition of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter comes to you HOT off the presses with the following articles:

Dr. Strickler brilliantly leads off the October 2007 Edition with a look at contemplation, stimulated by a trip back to the town of his birth this past June in his article “IN DEFENSIO DE COMTEMPLATIO”.

In an article entitled “THE CHOICE IS YOURS: PART 2”, Christine Ford challenges you to examine the path you are walking, or perhaps more appropriately put, sleep walking, and gives you some clues on how to make choices that just might help you wake up!

Wendy Ford asks a plethora of seemingly unanswerable questions as she explores the miasma of the ambiguity of our current healthcare system in her article “PLEASE, CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME?”

In his article entitled “FEAR’S REBELLION”, Adam Crosthwaite takes a thoughtful look at fear and the barriers and limitations fear can precipitate within one’s life if not checked, citing his own experiences to illustrate his words.

Also we would also like to extend a warm thank-you for My Favorite Ezines for counting our Newsletter in their Directory of listings and the beautiful summary they included.

As always, we invite you to grab a cup, mug, glass or thermos of your favorite beverage, settle down into that comfy computer chair, and enjoy the ponderings and wanderings we have put together to share with you as you indulge this wonderfully HOT October 2007 Edition of the Spiritual Climate Newsletter.

The Staff of Spiritual Climate would like to welcome you to the wonders of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness available to all who seek.

Welcome to the OCTOBER 2007 EDITION of

the SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER

Blessings to all!

Christine Ford

Editor

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) The disk displays dark dust lanes, where many young and bright stars reside. The Hubble telescope also shows that the glowing central bulge of stars harbors nearly 2,000 globular clusters of stars, 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy! ~ HubbleSite News Center

________________________________

________________________________

In Defensio De Contemplatio

By Rev. David Strickler

There comes a time in everyone’s life where one needs to look back and review the events and situations that occur from the interrelationships and effects from experiences within life. Many spiritual traditions teach and often speak of the periodic examination of daily events, weekly events to review ourselves in each situation that we encounter. It is quite often to find residual leftover feelings, but sensations or some type of pensive recurring feelings or thoughts can seem to loom like clouds moving through the daytime skyline overhead on a beautiful summer day.

Much has occurred since the production of the last Spiritual Climate Newsletter. I had taken a much needed vacation back to my hometown of Lorain, Ohio. This trip was long overdue and was given to me as a gift from my students. It was kind of decided for me when Ms. Ford had to make a return trip to visit some of her remaining family in Ohio. This worked out very well because I can’t travel by myself yet, let alone drive an automobile for more than fifteen or twenty minutes. I was excited to be able to return for a long overdue visit to my hometown. This gave me the opportunity with the limited time that I had, to catch up and have a 28 year reunion with some friends I had shared many tears, joys and growing pains with during the earlier part of my life, where music played a central theme and bonding role in friendship.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have renewed, rejuvenated and healed some of my relationships where it was necessary on my behalf. I was unable to see everyone that I wanted to and liked to have seen simply because I couldn’t seem to connect with them prior to my arrival in Ohio.

For all of the joy, memories and rejuvenation that a reunion with old friends can bring, this trip was also touched by a note of sadness. One would have to be blind not to recognize that my old home town is struggling for survival; that its people are fighting to maintain whatever meager existence they may have in their region of this country. I was further saddened to hear a secondhand commentary referenced to the leadership in that region and city; that the city leadership was launching an investigation to determine why the county was struggling---talk about learned ignorance and the height of conscientious stupidity---Duhhhh---an investigation? It doesn’t even require a highly skilled academic to understand what is going on in terms of the economic collapse of that city and any of the given regions in Ohio, talk about insincere ignorance from the local political leadership. Learned ignorance? Nicholas of Cusa ( 1401-1464 a.d. whose principal work is De Docta Ignorantia ) would be shocked and roll over in his grave, it would in the very least give him an abundance of fresh material with which to augment his work and writings were he alive today.

There are many parts of the trip that were surrealistic in the texture and quality from my subjective point of view that contribute to the ongoing contemplative and pensive state of awareness that I have been preoccupied with over the past ten months. It reaffirmed my findings that a quiet state of non physical activity coupled with an observant, analytical contemplative process can yield a positive abundance of conflict resolution and fresh insight; it can refresh an ongoing summation that hadn’t received necessary attention until it was given the required space, time and attenuation.

When coupled with revisiting the actual space of activities contained within a given domain of your life experience, contemplation becomes an indispensable tool that enables an in breathing and out breathing which is representative of the fruits and process of understanding. It also allows for the resizing into better proportions of any memories, thereby discarding unnecessary incongruities due to sensory maturation and contrast through time.

Contemplation is a process in which this review takes place in our thoughts within a space of mental activity. This space is an area which in its rudimentary form is the threshold and doorway to a room that converges as an intersection point for feedback from the soul. This feedback is instigated by whatever degree of critical thinking, objectivity (as far as we’re capable of) in looking at ourselves and emotions that lack resolution contained within the events being reviewed within our life.

Processes of contemplation used rightly, can render the landscape of our prior event and situational horizon from our experience in a new and different light, perhaps the clarified light that enables us to see things which may have gone unnoticed and removed from the lens of our awareness. We can gain from this process a standpoint of ourselves in relation to our activity contained within any interrelationship and situation in our encounters in the stream of our live within the container of our physical bodies during our short manifestation here within the confines of this earthly plane.

There is a cornucopia of gains in richness to be derived from using contemplation as a means to investigate wherever our experience and awareness is restricted by any defensive posture or negative response to the encounters our senses become exposed to in the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. Sometimes it can seem as though we’re negotiating as if we’re white water rafting, either through waters that are calm or tumultuous with turbulent twists and turns, up and downs through the mixture of spiritual climates that we call our day.

The yield can either be an awareness that we’ve left something undone, unsaid or maybe the realization of an achievement however small or large which occurs to us after the event has taken place. This is where the harvest can be great, as long as we provide labor to sift and sort the knowledge from the wheat and chaff contained within the bushels of information that our senses are reacting to and have gathered from the exterior world that they stand in relation to. The senses are imperfect even though they have an astonishing capability to create imagery and reflections of the representation or model from the information that they are gathering vastly exceeding any modern technological wonders.

One of the fruits of contemplation is a newfound awareness generated from a view compiled from preceding events in our lives. This awareness is actually one of the signposts that we are beginning to utilize spiritual consciousness in this world and the awareness that I’m speaking of is quite simple: Do we really understand where another person is coming from or do we just merely recognize the words that they’re speaking and from there go on to create a picture generated from the personal bias of definitions of those words merely from the subjective dictionary generated from our own experiences. In other words are we on the same page? How much of the page is similar? Where and which words being used are we responding to in the same way that the other person is responding; are we seeing the picture that the person is conveying with their words?

It is in this area we can come to realize or at least begin to realize where a vast field of misunderstanding and non consensus is contained. This is one domain that can be investigated within anyone’s interactions where signals of misinterpretation have been rendered because of the subjective listening bias of any participant. This type of phenomenon is widely recognized by translators who must render words and sentences spoken from another individual of a different language being presented to the listener in their own native language. Translation is a delicate process and requires skills, discernment and objectivity for the rendering to come as close to the intent of the foreign language being spoken to be understood by a listener who is a non native.

Haven’t you ever wondered about the accuracy of what is being translated in some social situations; is it an approximation? Personally, I have heard and seen many situations within which a translation has been rendered and a word comes out which is only a close approximation to the foreign word being used and is lacking in accuracy based on the skill of the translator. People who only speak English, read English and write English are often times prone to such misunderstandings that occur within translations, due to lack of education or some peculiar form of cultural narcissism where they have allowed themselves and their perceptions to become the center of the universe.

This phenomenon is common in the political arena, especially where the current news-entertainment industry takes its usual five to ten second sound bytes and presents the misinterpretation of their focus by interpreting a given set of words spoken by another individual completely out of context, in its place creating a phantasmagoria of biased perception to be impressed upon the listening audience and painting the way towards a canvas of socially engineered mob perception.

On a larger scale using contemplation we can see the tools of compliance being used, implemented suavely and with great ingenuity by public relations engineers in order to achieve the desired end through the creation of a pseudo product. What else would one expect in the world of the religion of consumerism, whether that consumerism be products of engineered misinformation from religious, scientific or any other field of discipline which subscribes to the historical inertia resulting from the heresy in the ongoing activity of sophistry descending from the heritage of Greek history? This phenomenon has continually incarnated and reshaped into every period of time generated by the skills of materialists who have drawn from the instinctual art of morphing and adaptation contained within the subhuman animal portion of the human brain.

One only need watch the parsing of words in any political, religious or scientific arena where a common language is shared during a discourse, exchange of opinions and points of view to experience the stretching behavior that results from the compulsive behavior generated by selling; have we turned our society into nothing more than a group of individuals who have become a consortium of morally depraved salespeople practicing their salesmanship to achieve some form of transitory gratification in the form of personal fame, glory or satisfaction for the behest of some hedge fund, private equity firm or any other form of institutional economic terrorism that seeks to disassemble the greater welfare of this nation and our children?

We live in an age where entertainers, such as Ann Coulter (not to leave out Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity) express themselves and use the word liberalism in a profoundly suspicious approximation of usage as Adolf Hitler did in his book, Mein Kampf.

“Today Christians ... stand at the head of [this country]... I pledge that I never will tie myself to parties who want to destroy Christianity .. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit ... We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during the past ... (few) years.”

~ Adolf Hitler, quoted in: The Speeches of Adolf Hitler, 1922-1939, Vol. 1 (London, Oxford University Press, 1942), pg. 871-872 )

Shouldn’t this raise enough flags to question the philosophical parentage of some of the babbling writers within today’s current society and at the very least question the motivation of some major writers and pundits who have celebrity status with the trash they produce-what is it that they seek to do? Perhaps they’re just laughing all the way to the bank whilst striding across the stage as an idiot telling the tale of rancid rant in order to gratify some unfulfilled need that came into being during their childhood or adolescence. In all fairness, pundits such as the above mentioned and many others would appear far more credible if they wore a straitjacket when speaking when appearing before the public on any platform where they are engaged as guests or host speakers.

Words and usage of words is important as we should strive for accuracy instead of intentional misinformation, disinformation and the lemming syndrome that can occur in such instances of uncritical acceptance of word collages designed to incite fear, insecurity and compliance. Further contemplation is needed in this area where some are recognizing the use of engineered compliance being tooled to generate a psychological form of coup d’état to produce an outcome that usurps freedom, liberty and the genuine expression of spiritual individuality, depriving any future growth out of the delusion and illusion that appears to be festering like an unconstrained cancer in this world in the its Tower of Babel.

It is time to question the use of our own words whenever we find our need to communicate and to be understood in personal, business or social situations. It is also time to question the definitions of some of the very same words we use when those words are being heard coming out of mouths of people in any position of leadership for the greater good of social growth and future directions being considered to increase the life, liberty and happiness of the people of this great nation and its general welfare. We are at a crossroads, I believe, where critical and strong questions are needed to be posed in order to draw attention towards any agenda that remains hidden from the public, whether the purpose for concealment is intentional or unintentional; it is in this way that we can come to help the determinations based on information presented where decisions and choices are required in order to procure a healthful outcome for our future and our children’s future.

Perhaps it is time to reconsider the use of contemplation and further refine our skill to reclaim our internal landscape, returning it to a dynamic balance capable of producing and uncovering knowledge left in the shadows from the myopic use of our listening and visual skills generated by the unnecessary speed or the worship to the monetary gains eulogized by the productivity pulpits of the Wall Street false prophets. Maybe it is high time to fire the couturiers who are currently involved in the latest trend of the new emperor’s clothes.

Let us go forward from here and foster the use of contemplation, to offset the insidious rate of productivity that increasingly speeds us toward a rapid disintegration of our personal space and time where we are free to explore the wonders of human consciousness and the life stream created upon the tapestry of our never ending existence which continues even outside physical containers that we recognize as our life here in this world.

We don’t need innovation; we do need the discovery of new knowledge derived from a comprehension of the invisible principles that are within the physical domain of the universe in order to align with the continual expansion and inherent yet untapped plentitude that exists within their rich potential harvest in our unending travels in terra firma. The current use of the word innovation by the predominant sophists of our time appears to me to be nothing more than an attempt at diversion. Diversion from what you may ask? From the obvious would be my answer, from slowing down and taking the time to see and hear what is really going on by asking a wide range and narrow range of necessary questions that take to task the current views being promulgated by paid for mouthpieces who may not have our best intentions and livelihood at heart or in sight.

We can begin within the sphere of our personal spiritual climate, by increasing the warming of our discernment in order to bring about a thawing-out of the frozen wasteland that was produced by our non use of those abilities that were given to us at the moment of our birth when we were created in the image and likeness of our creator and source. It is through the tools of genuine meditation and contemplation that we can become unfrozen and begin to live and move and have our being within the true freedom that resides within by embracing truth and discarding whatever falsehood we have unintentionally accepted, be that falsehood an erroneous acceptance of misinformation generated by opinions coming from religious, political, scientific or business malfeasance.

In the spirit of contemplation be ever vigilant, even though the visible threat of physical terrorism has existed ever since the dawn of this great nation, I feel people need to become more aware of forms of terrorism that are not physical by nature and therefore aren’t as apparent to the unaided eye: economic terrorism, monetary terrorism, policies that create terrorism, fiscal austerity terrorism, the state of the ignorance which creates ideological terrorism, subprime loan terrorism, just to name a few.

Let in the light, ( Vayomer Elohim Yehi Aur: וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר [And God said: 'Let there be light.'] ) and the darkness will vanish, disappear like ice and snow in the light of the noonday sun, whatever the shape and face of the darkness that appears within the model that the physical senses create will disappear when we open the curtains and allow the effulgent spiritual light infuse us in Its glistening warmth. All the creatures of darkness and shadows of phantasmagoria will disappear and we shall see truly what there is to see and know and exercise what wisdom we gain.

That is the true spirit of the Qabala, to be receptive. This begs the question, to be receptive to what? It is here with this question that we must exercise the inherent freedom of choice that we are given to employ in this world and in all worlds that we live and move and have our being within; we must choose who and/or what we are receptive to, as this exemplifies the first lesson and skill to be gleaned from understanding the practice that Qabala can bring, and this lesson is the lesson of discernment, ever to be gained, honed and wielded within the personal domain of our physical senses that stand in relationship to ‘exterior’ world.

Humanity stands at a crossroads, and the citizens of this great nation, the United States of America, born at the receptivity inherent within the consciousness of our Founding Fathers who chose to pay attention to a higher calling for the benefit of the general welfare of the future of humanity, are at a point in history where we too must choose. It is my hope that we heed the voice and record of history and select the choice that will benefit the general welfare of the current humanity and the future humanity that inevitably will come to growth here in this dismal plane.

Welcome back to Spiritual Climate Newsletter. Thank you for choosing to take some time and space in allowing me to share some of the fruit of contemplation generated during my absence in the process of confronting and overcoming some of my personal physical limitations as a result of my medical event from three years ago.

Baruch Bashan

(from Hebrew: the Blessings Already are)

Rev. David Strickler, Ph.D.

Qabalistic Minister 

_______________________________

_______________________________

The Choice Is Yours: Part 2

By Christine Ford

While cleaning out old files from my struggling, wheezing computer, I was “sorting the wheat from the chaff” in determining what to save to download onto our new Spiritual Climate computer. (Thanks again, Patty!) I found the beginning of an article from way back in March 2004 that never came to be finished, and was amazed at the appropriateness it held in light of that which I am experiencing right now. Interesting, how ideas pop in and begin to heat up, are put on the back burner to simmer for a while, then start boiling enough to catch our attention and end up being an enhanced version of what was originally begun, isn’t it? This article was prompted by my contemplation of the words “shallow and fragile” in relation to the seeking of “knowledge” as used by Dr. Strickler in the Interview he gave to Spiritual Climate regarding healing in “A Short Interview with Dr. David Strickler November 29, 2003”, published January 31st, 2004 (please note, this interview is unpublished on the blog as of yet). I found myself pondering those words and how they interplay in my path and in the journey of those around me. Dr. Strickler’s words which prompted this article are as follows:

“Simplicity unaided by knowledge renders an individual fragile.

People who are imbedded in the shallowness of their perception have pronation and vivid acumen towards simplistic answers. But simple answers don’t take us out of the platonic cave of shadows.

One must admit that there is a problem and that they are powerless over that problem due to the current level of knowledge they are able to exercise.”

I have come to the conclusion that the SHALLOWNESS and FRAGILITY of faith, love, understanding, communication, reasoning, dialogue, sincerity, and honesty that exist in this world have indeed created a society of lemmings rushing to the sea who DO, in fact, ceaselessly “ask, seek and knock”, as was also discussed in Dr. Strickler’s interview. The question is, however, the methods the masses employ as they “ask, seek and knock”, the danger and SHALLOWNESS of the “information only” answers with which they are pacified and placated instead of the pursuit of genuine KNOWLEDGE and the resulting FRAGILITY of that which is held in regard to be Spiritual by our society.

The shallowness and fragility of that which the generic metaphysical community presents as Spiritual certainly does lead their “consumers” to questions (asking) and a search (seeking), and a frenzy of running from place to place throwing away money and time on the latest fad technique in hopes of obtaining enlightenment (knocking). Generic metaphysics, in all its trappings and feel good techniques, masquerading as true Spirituality has created a body of horrifically shallow and fragile consumers for their products, just as the trend has gone in numerous areas of our twisted societal economy, engineered by the cunning analysts who view us all as “consumers” and nothing more. The shallowness and fragility of that which society at large and the metaphysical community specifically are asking, seeking and knocking in hopes of discovering, however, is a sad commentary that runs rampant, in an ever spiraling avalanche of confusion, depression and instant gratification of sensation. Their blissfully optimistic “Let Go and Let God” attitude, coupled now with the revelation of the so-called “”Secret” for all to know is just plain a blasphemy of Spirituality.

The way I am feeling right now, this could easily turn into a rant that could go for pages, but somehow, that isn’t what needs to be written. This goes far deeper than merely spouting off about what we have become and pointing out to you, the reader, that which you most likely are already aware of if you are honest with yourself, even if you are unable to admit it consciously or speak the words aloud. No, this discovery carries with it an intense sadness and sorrow that I cannot shake, a knowing that the masses are totally missing the mark, that they are living out the greatest of sins that could ever be committed. The gulf of disconnectedness from the Soul and Spirit which we were intended by the One Creator to explore within this negative plane of existence has grown in direct proportion to the insanity of our consumer driven mentality, being continually embellished upon and gleefully taken advantage of by those dangling the plastic carrot of “Spiritual Truth”.

The beauty and agape of participating in the ongoing Genesis that we have been granted by the One to create, discover and grow within has been bastardized and sacrificed. What was meant to be the exuberant, dynamic experience of LIFE has become an empty experience of living DEATH, a shallow, fragile shell of an existence, the Platonic cave of shadows as referred to in Dr. Strickler’s interview. We don’t need to be concerned about going to Hell after we die. We are living Hell each and every day through the illusions, lies and fantasies we create right here on Earth by misappropriating the power of choice and use of Free Will given to us so lovingly by The One God. As Dr. Strickler has pointed out, over and over, the answers are within the simple formula: ask, seek and knock.

But ask for WHAT? Seek WHAT? Knock for WHAT?

One of the most difficult challenges I have faced in my years as a student, and, if I am going to be perfectly honest, in my years before having even met Dr. Strickler, is developing the fine art of asking. Be it asking for help, for advice, for money, for assistance… Be it asking a question or for further clarification of a statement… Be it asking for love, or a touch, or that my needs be met… Be it asking someone for guidance or just to have a little bit of patience with me please… Be it asking if I can help someone in need… Be it asking for the time and space to be MYSELF! I think you get the picture.

Though this has changed considerably over the past five years, I still find myself confused and frustrated with my inability to verbalize a question or a need, in other words, to ASK. My pattern, which is changing, has been to just hope and pray that someone will read my mind and fulfill my needs. Then I have merely accepted, often begrudgingly but silently, that which came to me, whether it was what I wanted or not, and been outwardly thankful for whatever it was. Oh my God! Sounds sickeningly passive-aggressive, doesn’t it!? Know what? It’s even worse than that. It is a total denial and misuse of the power of Choice and use of Free Will that was given to me, as was given to us all, by The Creator.

What do you ask for? How do you ask? Do you ask or question at all? Or do you simply surrender your right to ask and allow yourself to be tossed about by the whims and wiles of the illusions of the masses, never having those questions that burn within you answered? Do you get so caught up in the daily minute to minute grind that you don’t even allow those questions to surface, or, perhaps, are you afraid of what those questions might be and the answers and work (GREAT WORK) they might bring?

As the Ancient Mystery Schools so succinctly query, WHAT DO YOU WANT? This is such a seemingly simple question, yet such a difficult one to answer. Only after years of being a serious student of a Spiritual Teacher am I finally beginning to formulate my answer to that, and even THAT is constantly changing and reforming, and that answer remains between me and The One.

You have to start somewhere though! Just consider for a moment the question, WHAT DO YOU WANT? Do you have an answer? Take some time to search your heart and mind, and when you find an answer, ASK FOR IT! GO FOR IT! MAKE IT SO! Have the balls to go beyond your fears and seeming limitations and put it into words, into action, into reality. At least you then are exercising the power of choice and taking some volitional steps to take your want out of your head and heart and put it into your waking conscious life. That is your right and your privilege as a human consciousness. Experience the freedom of taking the matter into your hands and voicing! ASK!

And next we SEEK! Personally, this one has seemingly (she says ever so cautiously, waiting for the Big Shoe to kick her in the ass) been the easiest for me! I have always been a seeker, haunting bookstores and attending lectures, listening to tapes and looking for information, but it has not been until very recently that I realized what I was a seeker OF! To seek is to search for, similar in a sense to asking, but more of a nonverbal quest, a journey! With seeking comes the discovery of answers through growth of the awareness of paradox, the dialogue about that paradox, the beauty of agape, and most importantly, the acquisition of KNOWLEDGE, not information peddling, through the Spiritual discovery process.

The journey of discovery of Who and What I truly Am, the Enlightenment, the Illumination, The Truth, The Beauty and The Love, all this and more lies at the far distant but ever growing closer end of my journey and is an infinitely unfolding process of discernment and sorting. Seeking is the process of moving from day to day and living life fully within the moment; it is hard work and tears, as well as times of sheer joy and laughter, but I do know what I am seeking. I am seeking Myself, and I can now state that freely and openly, and though it may sound exceedingly narcissistic to some, I really don’t care! I have come to know through my exposing and exploring my “Martyrdom Poor Me Complex” that I can help no one until I have become true to Who and What I Am and have been constantly attempting, though not always perfectly, to surrender my misconstrued ideas of personal will to the Will of the One, in other words, to put my personality and ego in its place!

That, my dear friends, is a lifetime after lifetime process which is by no means complete! I sincerely thank Dr. Strickler and Dianne for all that they have given and conveyed which has at least allowed me to be cognizant of what it is I seek within this lifetime! Now I ask a question of you, and I ask you to ponder for a moment.

What is it you seek? How do you seek it? Do you seek it at all? Or have you squandered your right to the attainment of that for which you were destined to the shallow and fragile insanity of the daily rat race? Are you going to be the gnarly old rat seeking only the generic metaphysical moldy old hunk of cheese when it is your birthright to be feasting upon the most succulent delicacies of the Elixir of Life in true Spiritual seeking? The choice, my friend, is yours, and, I remind you, so is the Karma.

Finally, this brings us to KNOCK, associated once more with asking! I’ve learned from experience, and am learning more clearly every day, that when you knock, you better damn well be ready to ASK when that door is opened! No mincing of words, stuttering, or DUH moments! You get to the point of knocking, and you better damn well be ready to open up your mouth!

OH MY GOD! While writing this I just had this gigantic AH-HA as to the realization of how crucial the skill of asking is: it not only precedes but is the foundation and fuel for the seeking and the knocking. I can just see Dr. Strickler laughing his ass off as he reads this part, because I just clicked into the fact that this has been an underlying current of my whole process since I arrived here in Phoenix five years ago on May 18, 2002, indeed, since I began this journey under Dr. Strickler’s guidance in February, 1992! Is this my gift of insight this year resulting from the energies of the Holy Season of Sirius? Well, Dr. Strickler, it may not make it any easier for me to actually voice those questions, I may still stutter and stammer looking for the appropriate words, but at last I’ve finally apprehended the SPIRIT of ASKING! It just never ceases to amaze me, the way in which knowing unfolds, opens and sometimes comes up and smacks you out of seeming nowhere in those moments when you are looking the other way! You all just witnessed an unedited glimmer of the joy of agape! Thank you Dr. Strickler!

Remember, you must SEEK the door assiduously, and be sure you have a question ready to ASK when it opens! But again, you must get up the gumption to KNOCK or your asking and seeking has been in vain!

Why did you knock? What were you hoping to find? Did you knock at all? Or did you pass by the door without even noticing that it was open a bit, that there was a dazzling light shining on the other side seeping through the cracks, and that the REAL YOU was on the other side, waiting for YOURSELF? Did you by pass the possibility of the exploration and opening to the reality of life and the ongoing creation of Genesis and choose instead the door of the masses of humanity who remain in the shallow and fragile existence of a living Hell? Again, the choice is yours.

I have lived my entire life, until quite recently, piously suffering under the self proclaimed illusion that I wanted to make the world a better place, to save the suffering masses, to help create world peace! I have taught handicapped kids for over 30 years now as a part of that “reality” that I created, and though I have seen some kids grow, I surely haven’t made the mark I set out to on the world! Geeze, I sounded like a fucking contestant for the Ms America Pageant! GET REAL!

I have finally come to know that the only person I can help is myself and everything I do is for ME! The only way I can hope to have even the smallest hand in aiding the “world” situation is to keep asking, seeking and knocking as I move along the path of Truth and Knowledge which I have chosen and then applying those truths and principles to my world. By growing in light and living those truths and principles to the best of my ability at any given moment, perhaps I may act as a catalyst for the growth of those I come into contact with. They may or may not choose to accept that which I have grown to be as I continue my process of “becoming”, and they may or may not choose to grow as well. That CHOICE belongs to each person, as does the freedom to exercise their God given use of Free Will to ask, seek and knock, in their quest for the knowledge that is their birth right.

ASK, SEEK and KNOCK! WHAT DO YOU WANT? Do you want the shallow, fragile life of information gathering, the illusion of the shadows dancing on the wall in Plato’s Cave created by those whose goal is to peddle a product and consider you nothing more than a consumer? Do you want the profoundly deep, powerfully strong life of knowledge, the truth and reality of that which only a Spiritual Teacher can reveal, whose goal is to guide you through the rough as well as smooth waters as you move closer to becoming Who and What you truly are? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

. . .May you choose wisely. . .

Christine Ford

Editor

________________________________

________________________________

Please, Can Anyone Explain This To Me?

By Wendy Ford

Many out there are wiser than I. Many have much higher degrees of education than I. Many have long careers in the political arena and federal bureaucracy, certainly arenas of bafflement to me. Others have spent their careers in policy making for the healthcare field succeeding in turning it into an actual “industry”. Policy making and attempting to control spending is admirable and necessary but at the same time perplexing.

Increasingly I find myself feeling as if I am standing under an overpass in the middle of a four-lane highway furiously waving a red flag and pleading, “Excuse me. Pardon me. Could someone help me, please?” All the while everyone is speeding on by, in all four directions, pens poised, in a whoosh of hot air as they go rushing about their business of attempting to stem the tides of flowing funds. The only goal of which all are in apparent agreement is that spending needs to be controlled. Maybe someone out there can explain some of this to me, for after almost 34 years in the healthcare field I am evidently missing some crucial point of understanding.

These are only a few of my endless questions and I am positive anyone working in or dealing with our health care system can add to these. Not one of us is immune to the state that our health care system is in.

Why is it that Medicare and insurance companies will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat a bedsore (decuitus) after it has formed but not pay for the alternating pressure air mattress that would have prevented the formation of the wound in the first place? [That’s a “luxury comfort item”.] If Medicare would pay for this item do they really think every senior is just drooling in anticipation over having the gentle whoosh, thump, whoosh of the air compressor lull them off to dreamland every night?

Why is it that Medicare and insurance companies will pay for someone’s rehospitalization and the sometimes required surgical intervention following the dislocation of a total hip replacement but won’t pay forty dollars for the elevated toilet seat that would have prevented the dislocation in the first place? [That’s a “luxury comfort item”.] If Medicare would pay for this item do they see a river of red ink as every senior rushes right out to have this glamorous item put on every commode in their home?

Why is it that Medicare and insurance companies will pay the tens of thousands of dollars required to fix a broken hip but not the twenty dollars for the grab bar in the shower that may have prevented the fall and fracture in the first place? By the way it is a well-known fact that a fractured hip is among the leading causes of the elderly losing their ability to remain living and functioning independently in their own homes often necessitating placement in a care facility that Medicare will pay tens of thousands of dollars for. Once Medicare funds are exhausted the person pays out of pocket until they are financially destitute at which point state funded Medicaid programs generally take over. Then it is our public funds to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars that foots the bill. Another well-documented fact is that life expectancy following a fractured hip is shortened; death frequently occurs within a year following the incident. Of course the cause of death is never the hip fracture but pneumonia or some other medical problem that was exacerbated by the inactivity following the broken hip. [Again the “luxury comfort item” category.] If Medicare were to pay for this item many seniors WOULD have them installed in their homes. The math hasn’t been done but wouldn’t it take an awful lot of grabs bars to equal the cost of paying for just ONE person’s hip fracture?

Why will Medicare pay hundreds of thousands of dollars treating a diabetic foot or leg ulcer often resulting in the ultimate amputation of a leg, then pay for the rehab, the prosthesis, rehabilitation services, equipment and pain management but won’t spend less than four thousand dollars on a home based ultraviolet light treatment device that has been proven to be efficacious in the healing of these ulcers? Once the ulcer is healed it has been clinically shown that the ulcer does NOT recur when treated with ultraviolet light. Diabetics with chronic ulcers will tell you that is NOT the case following conventional treatments.

Additionally this specialized ultraviolet treatment has been proven to actually reverse peripheral neuropathies in the legs and feet that are so common especially in folks with diabetes. These neuropathies can cause intractable pain and untold suffering often requiring very expensive drug management that Medicare does pay for. Another effect of peripheral neuropathies is numbness in the feet leading to the development of ulcers and pressure sores on the feet that don’t heal but Medicare and insurances pay for attempts at getting these often-chronic wounds to heal. The numbness can lead to loss of balance interfering with ambulation and subsequent falls resulting in hip fractures. Please refer to the above-mentioned effects of hip fractures and that completes this scenario.

Peripheral Neuropathies can also occur in the hands causing pain and/or numbness. This can make it difficult for sufferers to manage utensils when eating or writing, managing the fasteners of clothing items, managing doorknobs and faucets. Many sufferers are taking powerful pain medications and require assistance from family, friends or private caregivers to perform the simplest of daily tasks. Yet with the ultraviolet treatment and home unit that cost less than four thousand dollars the neuropathy can be reversed giving relief from pain and restoring functional use of the fingers and hands.

Having personally witnessed the effects of this treatment it is just not within my grasp of understanding to see why reimbursement for a home unit for these folks to be able to continue treatments on their own without the need for the cost of an outpatient treatment should be denied. A wound care clinic called me one day to find out just what treatment we were using on one of their patient’s heel ulcer. The patient had just come in for his weekly appointment and they had measured a 25% reduction in the size of the wound noting for the first time a viable wound bed of granulation tissue (that’s the good red tissue that is indication of improving blood supply and critical for healing to occur). Another patient walked into our clinic with tears of joy streaming down her face. She had just finished writing a letter to her daughter. You see she hadn’t been able to hold on to a pen in over 4 years. A gentleman was able sleep through the night for the first time in years without needing a narcotic for the foot pain. Another lady graduated from using a walker to a cane because for the first time in over 5 years she could feel her feet on the floor with the restored sensation from the reduction of the peripheral neuropathy.

If Medicare were to pay for this item thousands of folks could be spared untold pain and suffering, surgical procedures for wound cleaning and skin grafting could be reduced, many disfiguring amputations could be avoided, extensive rehab time and equipment expenses could be reduced. Quality of life could be vastly improved for many. Yes, it had become a popular treatment and for a time the costs were rising as more and more patients experienced lasting results from the treatments. If the treatments were working, why in the world did Medicare decide to discontinue paying for it? Patients and the manufacturers of the ultraviolet treatment even testified before Medicare with clinical studies showing the positive results being obtained using this cutting edge technology.

Why is it that Medicare and insurance companies will pay for the hospitalization of a patient for their chemo therapy treatments and will pay for the delivery of the treatment in a physician’s office, but will not pay for the drugs if they are delivered in the home setting by qualified personnel? The nursing visit and the intravenous equipment and supplies are paid for but not the very expensive chemotherapy drugs. The already immunocompromised patient must leave their home (often depending on a family member or friend taking time off work or school to provide transportation and then waiting two to three hours during the treatment), struggle to get to the doctor’s office for the treatment then struggle to get back home. If Medicare did pay for the chemotherapy drugs when used in the home setting what do they think would happen? Maybe they figure that it is more expensive to pay for it to be delivered in the home. It sure tugs at the heart to see a patient already weakened by rounds of radiation and chemotherapy struggling with the help of two family members to get into a wheelchair, get in to a car, then struggle to get out of the car and into the doctor’s office, get out of the wheelchair and into the treatment bed or lounge chair then have to reverse the whole laborious process 3 hours later.

Why it is that Medicare and insurance companies are demanding that patients be discharged to care facilities or their homes with such short hospital stays? The home health care field is treating patients in their homes that up until several years ago would have still been in an intensive care unit. Every hospital has on staff social workers whose sole responsibility is discharge planning. Their job is to coordinate the hospital discharges mandated by Medicare and the insurance companies with the physicians and patients to ensure that the patient has appropriate help at home, gets the appropriate medial equipment or assistive devices needed and has an appropriate home environment to go home to. Unfortunately, “appropriate” does not always mean “adequate and acceptable”. Too many emergency calls have been made to home care agency medical social workers by home care personnel requesting assistance with emergency placement for a patient who is not appropriate for home care services following hospital discharge.

Too often home care agency personnel have been sent out for a home care admission on a patient who has been sent home with no one to care for or assist them, with inadequate and unsafe housing or with no means of getting food or paying for prescribed medications.

Medicare regulations state that an agency may not admit a patient to home care whose needs exceed the care the agency is permitted by Medicare regulations to provide. That’s a good regulation to have. However, the hospital, rehab center or nursing home needed to discharge the patient because the Medicare reimbursement guidelines only allow so many hospital, rehab, or nursing home days. Yet the patient does not meet the Medicare reimbursement criteria for continued hospital, rehab or nursing home admission/placement. Huh?

Last November an article was published in this newsletter/social commentary about the Therapy Reimbursement Cap. That is still an issue before the legislature as it was only put on hold at the close of the 2006 session of Congress. It is still possible for a less than two thousand dollar limit to be placed on out patient therapy services.

Medicare is a costly system. It is not going to go away. Costs will continue to climb as more and more of us reach that magical age of 65. What are we to do? The rules and regulations are what they are and who can fight the federal government, right? WRONG!

We need to have a healthcare SYSTEM and not an “Industry”. What really needs to be done is to put the health care system back in the hands of the people who deliver the care and take it OUT of the hands of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. It needs to be the physicians and healthcare provider professionals making the day to day CLINICAL decisions and not businessmen and women. The HMO Mandate needs to be repealed. You remember, the one that turned healthcare into a profit generating industry.

Each and every one of us can write to our Congressmen and Senators, those of us who are members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) can join in taking action through the resources of that organization. Those of us who work in the health care field can work through our professional organizations. Most importantly we can take our voices to the voting booths and use our fingers to make our wishes known. There is no reason why every single one of us can’t take some kind of action. Come on, folks. Together the American people CAN band together to make our voices heard. Together we CAN form a united front that cannot and WILL not be ignored.

Can anyone explain why this is NOT possible?

May the Lord of Life provide you the light bright enough to see, the discernment accurate enough to recognize and identify and the courage large enough to let you stand up and speak out against injustice wherever it may be hiding and lurking.

Blessings,

Wendy Ford

________________________________

________________________________

Fear’s Rebellion

By Adam Crosthwaite

Fear can block us all from living a complete life. The fear of an unknown can become an unnecessary trial for the mind and heart to endure if one does not chose to embrace the fear rather than live under the influence of an unknown. The embracing of fear comes when one accepts the knowledge of a limitation thus opening them to the probability that they will overcome the fearful situation. The acceptance of fear is to move through it, not to allow it to move through you taking control over the reasoning faculty by hot wiring the emotional portions of the psyche. It has been hard for me to comprehend this phenomenon. It was when I was presented with a situation where I was in fact blocking myself from experiencing life with the shield of fear that I created with a false belief for many years. Through the teaching and guidance I have been blessed with during my studies in the Art of Qabala I have come to an abstract understanding of this phenomenon and how it played a central part in my life over the years. Still with this understanding I was missing a part of the picture that would give an opening for me to express the abstract concept in a form suitable for communication in the physical world. This form was sorely missed as it was and continues to be a focal point in my growth as a human being.

I was given a new focal point for expression during one of my courses in Business Communications. By attention having a focus in an area that required some personal growth I found myself polarized into a situation that lead me toward a new understanding. The effect of attraction literally brought me face to face with not only a fresh perspective but challenged me to face off with one of my own personal fears, a fear it turns out was shared by someone very close to me.

During an assignment for my course in communications I was introduced to Social Judgment Theory. I was so excited about this topic that when I was invited to write a paper on a topic of my choosing I dug right into this one. Social Judgment Theory was like candy for my mind! It gave me a perspective by which to explore and elaborate my understanding of life and experiences with people as well as insight into myself. This may sound silly to most people but this was indeed a breakthrough for me to be able to express an understanding in a way that is comprehendible and usable in further dialog with my writing and correspondence with the world.

Social Judgment Theory encompasses the taboos, folk ways and morays of society and is a subjective frame of reference through which people perceive the world around them. The points at which we internalize experiences to form beliefs are known as internal anchors. Internal anchors are also referred to in neurological terms as Meta Tags. These anchors are psychological impressions imprinted in the personality and ego by cultural influences as well as life experiences which include both positive events and traumatic experiences.

The majority of these anchors are pliable or in other words they are not so rigid that a person may not be accepting of new concepts as long as the new concept is within their latitude of acceptance. This latitude of acceptance may be looked at as a parameter that surrounds this anchor point. Within the parameter several concepts which closely match the nuances of the anchor point may be introduced and a person may be swayed to agree with a concept or view that may be of contrast to their previous point of perception. This realignment may occur with only a minor or even greater range depending on the fixity of their anchor point. Another way of looking at this is to use the example of suggestive advertising and/or subliminal communications which use Meta Tags.

As it turns out I had a fixed anchor point that was an effect I had been polarized toward which set quite a bit of imbalance in my perception of things. I was in an invisible prison of fear that could only be unlocked by facing that fear and embracing the truth that waited intently for me on the other side.

This fear was exposed in the open as I attempted to set a new order into my life by seeking out my dad whom I never had the chance to know. For over a year I had been looking for my birth father. I spent countless hours online looking up old addresses and names trying to find a man I never knew. I now see the fear that kept me from meeting him was not my own. As time effort drew us closer to each other I spoke with him for the first time on the phone. I realized that I had adopted a fear as my own like an inheritance passed down by relatives. I can not speak on the origin of this fear or even if it is a rational fear, for it was originally not my own. It is a fear that only secrets can breed and I was not privileged to information that would lend insight into this fear. Many things from my past as a child had been set aside by those around me and conveniently forgotten as to insulate me from the knowing I so desperately had been seeking but lacking in my fear. All I know is this fear was based on an anchor point that may never be swayed and has little if any latitude of acceptance. As much as I do know, it was misplaced on my part for reasons I have yet to uncover, but I will continue the internal as well as external dialogue with this subject to continue my growth and to understand this as much as I can.

If not for the drive to uncover my fear and face the truth that awaited me on the other side I would have never met my dad. For years I had wondered if I was going to learn about my paternal line. Now that I had found a way to connect with my past I could understand more of my present and see part of what was to come. I cannot express in words the feeling of embracing the man I only knew in stories and learning the other side of the story from the man himself. For years I was told about the negative aspects of a man I never knew and was conditioned to fear. Yes, there is a past full of pain and regret, but amends has been made and a future can be built on a stronger, new foundation. And after fifteen years from the last time we talked I was reunited with my dad.

It seemed fitting that this reunion occurred during the week I was to write my paper on Social Judgment Theory, seeing how it was a social judgment on the part of family that kept us out of contact for nearly twenty seven years. The idea of Social Judgment Theory continues to aid me in my quest to shed light into dark corners of my mind that thirst for illumination.

There is a continuation in this world of anchor points that plague our society with unhealthy views and perceptions. One of the biggest anchor points I see in society today, especially in my generation, is the concept of rebelling against authority. In my own struggle against authority I have seen my world crumble time and time again. David, being the ever patient and caring mentor, continues to sit with me in an ever evolving dialogue on this topic. The Qabalistic tradition teaches us that when we rebel against authority we eventually end up rebelling against ourselves. This happens because we are ultimately in charge of our own life. We are our own authority. As we rebel against ourselves we end up undoing all that we have worked for.

While it is healthy to question authority we lack prudence which is more often overlooked than exercised, it is merely left out of the equation. Thus no buffer is left to protect against fallacious reasoning and the behaviors it is accompanied by. If we are to gain dominion over the lives we share, perhaps it would be prudent to exercise the concepts that are learned in the study of such theories such as Social Judgment Theory.

If we are to apply the meaning of questioning authority to social judgment we would need to examine the perception of the authority as it seemingly stands. We would also need to examine our personal perception and frame of reference in relation to authority. In short we should be questioning perception, not authority. It is in the perception of authority that we find our struggles and personal internal anchors, not in the toe to toe stand off with an opposing perception. Do you remember the student who asked the Master how to fight with out fighting? If you remember, the Master said, “You watch.”

How do we break out of the destructive cycle of self-rebellion? We watch! We discern for ourselves the false perceptions and destructive tendencies of self inflected rebellions. We correct our own errors by questioning the perception and examining the full picture.

The goal is to break the cycle of unipolarization and release our locked perception to navigate closer to the balance that exists in the middle path, or in other words, stop being so damn one sided all the time! Then we can experience freedom from the effects of unhealthy anchor points that hinder our progress through life. Of course we are always free to remain locked in the stalemate of fear and be consumed by the wailing and gnashing of teeth as we attempt to insulate from the discomfort of truth. At times it may appear that the most difficult anchors are those based in fear, especially in cases where as the fear is ego evolved and the thought of being wrong is the anchor itself. It is in the journey through the perception of fear that the fear is exposed and can be dealt with accordingly, be it with professional help or a mentor.

We may never find ourselves in a society free from misperceptions and fallacious beliefs. We may find ourselves at odds with our own authority thus backed into a corner with a seemingly no win situation. However, if we learn to question the perceptions of our authority and the authority we freely place in the hands of others from time to time, we may gain clear insights and intimate healthy changes in our own worlds so we may share them as a society. The Socratic method David uses and teaches his students has been the crux of our learning and, while I may not speak for my fellow students, I find myself lead by this life line through some of the deepest and darkest of waters.

We will never overcome the fear that divides us from the truth until we are polarized toward that truth. In order to achieve that we must focus our abilities to question and use that strength to set a new order into our lives as I have been taught by my Mentor and the teachings of Qabala.

I would like to leave you with a quote from a favorite song of mine. It is a song about a man who spends his life looking for and waiting for someone or something that is missing from his life. He wades through torments and fears along his path, yet he holds to one simple rule that keeps him from fleeing the path he has chosen to walk. It is a constant reminder to me of where I have been and where I will be going.

“If I close my mind in fear, please pry it open…”

- Metallica, Outlaw Torn

May you find the anchors that weigh you down and keep you in the darkest depths, and may we all be able to share in a world blessed by truth along with the courage to uphold that truth.

Blessings,

Adam Crosthwaite

________________________________

________________________________

Want to help us out? Make a contribution to our free Newsletter! It is easy and is only a one time charge with your favorite credit or check card:

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL

CLIMATE ~ CLICK HERE ~

You can access Dr. Strickler or any of the writers in Spiritual Climate by email for any questions, comments, or clarifications of that which they have written. You can also email with the clickable link below to access Dr. Strickler for healing-prayer service requests:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE

Want the facts intentionally hacked out of the mainstream media?

Here is a link to straight forward news articles, without the bullshit and Wall Street smoke screens:

Interesting News Articles

Looking for more Family Friendly Ezine & Email Newsletter Directory to provide you the best Education, Motivation, Inspiration on the web and help you to discover, develop and successfully share your God-given creativity and talents?

Click this fine Directory of listings:

My Favorite Ezines

© OCTOBER, 2007 SPIRITUAL CLIMATE ®

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE. Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons. No part of this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE )

- FINIS -

________________________________

________________________________

The Institute of Spiritual Climate

Is proud to present

Its newsletter

of Social & Spiritual Commentaries:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®

Friday, July 13, 2007

These are the Doors of Rev. Strickler’s Classrooms at the Aquarian Church;

Room numbers 11 and 12 in Naples, Florida

1990-1994

"If you tell Life what it has to be, you limit it;

But if you let Life show you what it wants to be

It will open doors you never knew existed"

~ Unknown

___________

We are not a rich corporation, so this publication is a labor and gift of love that is solely supported by donations from its readers. You may freely forward or redistribute it to whomever you wish. No donation is required. All donations are greatly appreciated.  Just Click on the secured-link below, it will accept your Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover or PayPal to make a donation.

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL

CLIMATE ~ CLICK HERE ~  

This Newsletter can be viewed on the AlcyoneMagi ® web log

on the following link:  

  http://alcyonemagi.spaces.live.com  

Want SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER delivered right into your Email Box?

Click here SPIRITUAL CLIMATE and in the subject line type in ADD ME

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version and link to the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE.  Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons.  No part of the articles in this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Please include the final version of the article you are writing, a link of where it will be available along with a highlighted and/or underlining quote of the text from any of our article's you wish to use, upon review and decision you will then be notified of our answer for permission of use in your publication. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request in English by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE , please put TRANSLATION in the Subject Line )

_________________________

Welcome Friends, Students, and Readers of

Spiritual Climate!

Dr. Strickler asked me to extend a note of appreciation to Patty for her generous Donation of a much needed computer to the Institute of Spiritual Climate and he would also like to extend a warm thank-you for My Favorite Ezines  for counting our Newsletter in their Directory of listings and the beautiful summary they included.

IN THIS EDITION:

Welcome to our BLAST FROM THE PAST Edition from our Archives

that are not published yet on the net.

  There are events in each of our lives that are so impactual, so totally life altering, that once experienced, the world and everything in it, indeed, the very sight, sound, and fabric of life, will never be the same.  Being present at the birth of a child, witnessing the death of a loved one, experiencing the lights come on in the mind, and heart, of a child, the strong, reassuring warmth of an embrace, the knowing in an exchanged glance;  miracles both large and small, experiences we participate in each and every day, knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously.  We become somehow complacent with these miraculous events, busily flying through the day, AND through life, without being thankful for nor acknowledging the grace and power which Wills our lives into being, the Living Presence of the One Almighty God who breathes and sustains life and all of creation, who expresses through US as we participate in the eternal, ongoing co-creation of Genesis.  

What a sorrowful image, the ultimate example of “missing the mark”, which in Hebrew is the definition of the word SIN! To be in the presence of the miraculous each and every moment of each and every day, but to be oblivious to the Beauty and Truth of that uplifting experience!  To walk hand in hand, to walk WITHIN the Power of the One God, and to take it for granted, never seeking to understand or have the wisdom necessary to truly be at one with the Creator. 

What a sad, shallow existence we have been programmed to lead, what an incredibly isolated feeling that creates, causing us to run from one quick fix to another, constantly, hopelessly seeking that which will complete us, fulfill us.  Our lives become nothing more than an automatic response to daily events, reactions rather than actions, a confusing cacophony of knee jerk habitual responses.  We never find that which we seek, and just continue in the never ending cycle of feeling there has to be more, but we never pause long enough in our frantic search to discover just what that “more” is!

The pattern continues, sunrise to sunset, day in, day out, until perhaps we are blessed with an experience so profound and powerful that our perception is altered and we are unable to, for one single moment, deny the existence and presence of the Life Power moving through us. There is the sudden and overwhelming knowing that the miraculous is around us and within us, supporting us and guiding us, sustaining us and nurturing us, holding us and providing all that we need to live, if only we surrender to and work in accordance with Its Will.

These articles are a series related to two healings which took place within our class with Dr. Strickler and just such a life altering experience, for indeed, we were witness to and participants in the healings that were nothing short of miraculous events.  Did Dr. Strickler “perform” these miracles?  Indeed, there was no “performance” about it, nor would Dr. Strickler take credit in any way for the energy and power which flowed through him.  Did he allow himself to be used as a conduit and a knowing director of Will, indeed a co-creator of these miraculous events?  Did he open himself to the Life Sustaining Power of the One as he became a direct channel for that power to flow?  Ah, yes!  And those of us who were granted the privilege and honor of witnessing the events were healed as well, for we were given a rare, beautiful glimpse of what it truly is to be in the awesome presence of some of the Power of God.

Though voicing our experience in words falls totally short of being there, we wanted to attempt somehow to convey to you the incredible evenings of October 14, 2003 and November 18, 2003, hopefully sharing with you the awe, wonder, and inspiration we came away from the events with.  We were truly witnesses to the miraculous, not the everyday kind of miracle which we so often miss, but of magnitude and grace far beyond the scope of the mundane and usual.  We felt the readers of Spiritual Climate were entitled to being graced with whatever portion of those “miracles” we are able to pass on.

First will be presented the healing of “Suzie” on October 14, followed by the healing of Christine on November 18.  In the original Editions of Spiritual Climate Newsletter, these articles were broken down into several Editions, but we wanted to present the whole picture at once in our “Blast from the Past Edition”.  Also, Dr. Strickler has finally consented to let us publish these on our public Blog.

May you be touched by Light, beauty and power of these experiences and events we witnessed and have chosen to share with you.

The Staff of Spiritual Climate would like to welcome you to the wonders of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness available to all who seek.

Welcome to the JULY  2007 EDITION of

the SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER

Regards J

Christine Ford

Editor

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) The disk displays dark dust lanes, where many young and bright stars reside. The Hubble telescope also shows that the glowing central bulge of stars harbors nearly 2,000 globular clusters of stars, 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy! ~ HubbleSite News Center ________________________________

________________________________

WITNESS TO SUZIE’S MIRACLE ~ Part I

Published October 28, 2003

By Wendy Ford

In having witnessed the birth of our grand niece “up close and personal” in 2000 I thought I knew what it must be like to witness to a miracle. I was mistaken.

It started out like any other Tuesday. Go to work and look forward to the Tuesday Night Potpourri/Meditation Class with Dr. David Strickler. Spending an evening with Dr. Strickler is always predictably unpredictable and I was looking forward to another experience.

But something was different right from the beginning of that evening. Christine, myself and one other were present. Dr Strickler was in an unusually pensive mood and discussion centered around the uncertainty of what the future may hold for us personally and globally and how we might best prepare for the unknown. Dr. Strickler shared a very human side of himself that few are ever privileged to see.

As the evening progressed a member of our group (I’ll call her Suzie) spoke up and started to share a very personal, horrible, life-altering experience from her youth. The experience had very nearly ended her life. Evidently Will had her survival in mind. Suzie physically survived but was left emotionally, spiritually and energetically shattered. Doctors told her she had permanent nerve damage. Suzie has been searching her entire adult life for an answer to “why” and for a way to heal. She has been blessed with a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters and just recently has become a grandmother for the first time. But Suzie has been in constant emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical pain for most of her life. Suzie petitioned Dr. Strickler for a ceremony or service for healing. Dr. Strickler was quiet and their gazes remained locked for what seemed forever.

Then there was a perceptible alteration in the room. The air seemed to thicken but yet remain soft. The room became washed in a deep golden haze (it was dark outside and the blinds were drawn). A great feeling of safety and a love of such intensity filled the room it was almost as if the room became a gel. Very softly yet with a tone whose vibration boomed through my entire being David said, “Come. Sit here in front of me.” Suzie slowly rose, still not breaking eye contact, and crossed the room to sit on the ottoman in front of David. She laid her hands in her lap, closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. David remained seated at her left side. David then spoke a prayer whose words I did not understand consciously but to which my heart responded and opened. As David proceeded to work with Suzie he spoke words not for the ears but for the heart and soul. His hands were like those of an artist or sculptor as they worked. He rarely physically touched her but never did without first letting her know where and getting her consent (mostly through almost imperceptible nods of the head as words were impossible to utter at such deep levels was he working). Being a student of Dr. Strickler’s, I recognized the chakra points and several techniques and was able to identify much of what he was doing. It wasn’t so much the “what”; it was the “how” that was truly awe-inspiring. It was obvious David had become a “messenger”, a human, physical, living conduit through which Source or God itself was working. So powerful and pure was this link that it left no doubt we were in its presence. So profound and encompassing was the flow of unconditional love that Christine and I were affected by just being in the proximity.

As David worked, I realized my breathing patterns had become matched with Suzie’s. I am accustomed to energy often moving through me as I work with my patients and am practiced at becoming a conduit for it to move through. But this is when I am working one on one with them. I had never been witness to an event of this magnitude. I was sitting on a couch about 3 feet from where they were, yet I “felt” the healing and reconnecting and repatterning taking place and “felt” the “old” patterns falling away and being disrupted. Was what I was experiencing for me, or for Suzie? I was seated where I could see Suzie’s face. As David continued to work I could see her entire face changing right in front of me. Ten years fell away along with lines and wrinkles. The corners of her mouth which were usually slightly down turned were now relaxed and a quiet ghost of a smile started to appear. I could see her eyes moving rapidly behind the closed lids that were losing a bit of their sag and crow’s feet were taking flight. The only word I can think of is “angelic” for how she started to appear. Her breathing patterns changed rapidly as the work progressed. From slow to short and rapid to deep and shuddering. At one point it was obvious Suzie was about to have a really big “breakthrough” or “release” of some kind and she was starting to fight it. David had one hand on her forehead and the other on the back of her neck. In his soothing, deep voice he quietly said, “It’s OK. I’ve got you. I’m right here. It’s OK.” That voice spoke to the deepest core of my being as well. That voice seemed to wrap itself around every cell in my body. The compassion and love of God himself was contained in those words and vibrations. Both Christine and I sat with silent tears streaming unchecked down our cheeks as he continued to work and Suzie shuddered and her own never before shed tears started to flow. (Even now as I recall the feeling I find it hard to see the computer screen through misty eyes.) David then snatched at an invisible something at the base of her neck and both David and Christine heard a “pop”. David asked me to light a special candle and he placed his clenched fist over the open flame. When his clenched fist sprung open over the dancing flame I heard a “snap” and the flame jumped and seemed to flare then returned to its normal shape. He left the candle burning for the remainder of the evening.

David quietly told Suzie to take several deep breaths, wiggle her toes, move her fingers, open her eyes slowly. He sat with her for a while softly talking her “back” and getting her to move. He had her carefully stand up and when she listed slightly he touched her in the middle of her forehead and snapped his fingers. She immediately came to center and was no longer off balance. When she made eye contact with me there was a brightness and clarity in them I had never seen before. She appeared more alive than I had ever seen her. She seemed to just glow with an inner peace previously absent. Her shoulders were more square, she held her head higher; it was as if an invisible weight had been removed and she was able to fully breathe in the very breath of life for the first time. David then left the room and took a break for a while and the three of us just sat and looked at one another being unable to speak. Suzie found her voice and quietly marveled that she could feel the bottoms of her feet for the first time in years and quizzically noted the base of her spine was cold.

David came back in and asked Suzie to stand and close her eyes. He slowly walked around her like a master sculptor inspecting his work. Then he began working her aura (that invisible (to most) bubble of energy that surrounds each of us—our own invisible cocoon). Never physically touching her, his hands moved rapidly from area to area, smoothing an invisible rough spot, pulling out an indention, chiseling off a bulge, reshaping and fine tuning and re-inspecting until he was satisfied with the result. At one point he put one of his hands at the base of her spine, the other above her head, and drew upward. She actually grew taller by about 2 inches. Her entire posture and alignment changed. It was like she had been given an invisible chiropractic adjustment where she stood. (Believe me, as a physical therapist I KNOW postural alignment.) David put his hands at his sides and slowly walked around Suzie closely evaluating the results. He would squint his eyes or cock his head slightly, nodding from time to time in silent satisfaction or perhaps moving one hand almost imperceptibly to “fine tune” something. Lastly, apparently satisfied, David began to run a Middle Pillar with Suzie still standing. Since my eyes are always closed during my own Middle Pillar exercise, I watched in awe as I witnessed the undulation of energies pouring in from “On High”. Suzie looked as if she were an empty vessel filling with the purest of pure energies. As if she had been badly dehydrated and the pure waters of creation were plumping up her moisture starved container. She just seemed to blossom right before my eyes.

Then, just as the room had altered at the beginning of the evening, it was suddenly “normal” again. But things that were different. The air seemed crisp and clean (like after a rain when all of the dust and debris has been rinsed away). And there were three women who would never, ever be the same again. One whose healing had been initiated and the two who were witness to this miracle.

Never, have I experienced anything close to this. The compassion and love with which this took place was so much more than from our human, conscious level. It felt as if there was a huge gallery of “others” sharing and supporting with a love like I have never experienced. It wasn’t creepy or scary or “other-worldly”. What flowed through Dr. Strickler that evening can only be described as a “love” so profound and permeating and pure that even as a witness one could not come away untouched and forever changed. I can truthfully say I was in the presence of God. As I try to describe what I witnessed on this extraordinary evening, words seem so inadequate.

During the evening we knew no time and had no sense of how long anything took. We DO know that we started at about 6:15pm and the next thing we knew it was 10:30! It occurred to me after everyone had gone home that being witness to an event of this import is, in itself, a life-altering personal experience. I felt that I, too, had been blessed with a healing of my own.

We thank God and Dr. David Strickler for the great honor to being permitted to witness this miracle. May each of you be as privileged at some point in your life.

Remember. We each experience little miracles in our lives every day. Keep your eyes, ears and hearts open for them. Don’t miss the obvious.

Blessings to all, and may your Light

continue to shine toward Truth,

Wendy Ford

________________________________

________________________________

WITNESS TO SUZIE'S MIRACLE ~ Part II

Published November 13, 2003

by Christine Ford

In the past Edition of Spiritual Climate, October 28, 2003, Wendy’s beautiful presentation (Witness to a Miracle) of the healing we were witness to on Tuesday, October 14 is so detailed and complete, so similar to what I perceived that I will not repeat the aspects that we had in common with our perception of the event. Also, to be quite honest, it has taken me this long to process my experience and to be able to commit it to words. Even now, words fall short of expressing the event, but it is time to at least make an attempt to share the spirit of it with you.

Suzie lived in pain, both emotionally and physically, for over 25 years from a life threatening event encountered earlier in her life. This particular night of class out of left field she asked Dr. Strickler for help. Suzie had searched for many years in the endeavor of healing her ongoing debilitating health process, through various practices and modalities in both traditional and non-traditional healing disciplines. Even with all the assistance she acquired through her years of searching and applying solutions to little avail, she needed more than what she had brought into her life till this point in time. Dr. Strickler was there for her, and responded that he would do what was held within Will for her. I have heard many times where there is a need there is a fulfillment, but now I was watching those words come to life right in front of me in living color.

I was conscious of everyone in the room, but most specifically, the powerful presence emanating from Dr. Strickler, filling and altering the entire environment. Please bear in mind that I have been his student and known him for over 12 years, and at the onset of this healing, I could see, hear and feel that this was going to be different from anything that I had been a part of before. Although as a group we had done healings which were powerful and we had experienced astounding results, this was very different from the moment Dr. Strickler spoke to Suzie his words, “Come here and sit by me.”

The room shifted to an almost other worldly feel, the lights dimmed to a soft glow as if an invisible dimmer switch had been activated. There was a profound stillness, a holiness, and a feeling of separation and insulation from the outside world; as if a dome had been placed over the entire structure and we were encased in a sealed vault, almost like a sacred chamber in which an event of importance was going to take place. Intense energy was permeating the air, in a different way than I had ever experienced. It was palpable, liquid, like a heavy, thick blanket had been dropped over us, encasing us, protecting us, sheltering us and moving us to a place far away from the “normal” world. I am able to say without doubt that I have never felt as safe and secure as I did at that moment at the beginning of the healing. All this happened instantaneously as Dr. Strickler spoke his words of consent to Suzie’s petition.

As Suzie sat down in front of him, I watched with tempered amazement as the face of my Mentor of 12 years began to shift and change, perhaps in this day and age, “morph” would be a fitting word. Dr. Strickler closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and moved into what I can only conjecture to be a deep, deep state of higher cognition. As he stood there before me, I saw all the Healers, Shamans, Medicine Men, Priests, and Holy Men that he had been in his numerous incarnations flash through him, like one of those flip books we used to make when we were kids. Face after face appeared, each one melting into the next, changing, shifting, all with the same quality of profound love and strength, each in its own way a part of Who and What Dr. Strickler is, was and always will be.

As I stared transfixed by his face, I noticed an immense shimmering of Light begin to surround him, much like the glow of a halo used to depict Angels in paintings. This Light consumed his entire body, beginning at the top of his head and moving down until, indeed, he became the radiance. I cannot yet, and perhaps never will, be able to describe the color. Luminescent is about the best I can come up with, like liquid “Mother-of-Pearl” or shimmering muted rainbows. This energy had a humming vibration to it that started off like a train in the distance and became increasingly louder as the intensity of the color increased and filled the room, like a funnel cloud passing over head during a storm back home.

Then Dr. Strickler began to move his hands over, above and around Suzie, working within her non physical energy field in the area that he had taught me to recognize as the point of contact between the Soul and its lower vehicle. He rarely made actual physical contact with her, although, when he did touch her, it was always with her nodded consent. Though I recognized the Chakra points he was communicating with, I quickly became absorbed not so much with what his hands were doing, but with the energy and power that was flowing from them --- I could feel it from where I sat eight feet away. The Hebrew symbol for the letter Yod is the open hand; Yod is the letter from which all the other letters were created. Yod represents the Intelligence of Will, and indeed, this was pure, Divine Primal Will to Good that flowed through Dr. Strickler’s hands from above, shaping and molding, opening and closing, impressing and creating that which Suzie apparently needed for healing within all levels of her Being.

I melded into the energy pouring from his hands and became one with it, as if there were no boundaries, no time, no space, only infinite, limitless Light. The feeling was incredible, and there really is nothing I can compare it to. It was at this point that I began to realize that this healing was not just for Suzie, but would affect all of us present. As I sit writing this, I am consciously aware that the alteration from that night is still engaging within me, and will always present me with new awareness of the transformation that is weaving into my life.

Finally, there was the SOUND. Dr. Strickler almost inaudibly murmured a series of syllables… prayers, incantations, Divine Names perhaps, not meant for those of us present to hear clearly nor understand. It was as if he were calling upon some Higher portion of his Being to assist in the healing. Then as Dr. Strickler began to move his hands over Suzie, he intoned what I suppose HAD to be a note that is of this plane, though I honestly think it would be impossible to reproduce. It reverberated and echoed through the room, circling and spiraling, swelling and subsiding, rising and falling as if it had a life of its own. I do not know how many times he actually vocalized it, I just know it was there, soothing and encompassing those of us present with its Infinite Love and Compassion. Indeed, it seemed as though the very Creator of the Universe was speaking and moving through him, that Dr. Strickler had indeed become an articulation of The Word made Flesh.

Quite honestly, I do not have much aware recollection from this point on, until the healing was over. I do remember hearing a loud, audible pop when Dr. Strickler removed something about six inches behind the base of Suzie’s neck, but other than that, my impressions remain somewhat non specific. Rather than trying to hold on to all that was transpiring and analyze it, I chose to let myself move into it and become one with the event. The experience and memory written above is what I was blessed with to bring back and am able to voice to you.

In reading over what I have written, I have tried to put myself in the place of those of you reading this, as I have read accounts of such happenings myself over the years, and have marveled at those who have had such experiences, and have marveled more at those who clearly convey this type of event. I know now that mere syllables are foolish, inadequate, when it comes to expressing the Presence of the Divine.

I have known Dr. Strickler as my Spiritual Mentor for some time now, that is an undeniable fact; but the quality of Power, the intensity of the Love and Light that was manifest through him on the evening of October 14 goes far beyond that of a Spiritual Teacher. I know that I was in the presence of an aspect of the Divine; It was there – a Living Presence of the Divine. I also know my life has changed by that witnessing, that I am renewed, made stronger, revitalized, more whole and complete. I know that I am looking at the World in a different way. I will never see my Mentor in quite the same way that I did before. I find myself asking the question once more of just Who and What Dr. Strickler REALLY is, not in a fearful, doubting way, but with beauty, awe, admiration and gratitude that somehow my life has been blessed with the presence of his knowledge, Light and Love!

May you awaken to the knowing of the Presence of the Divine in your Life; may you surrender to the Holiness of Love that exists in the simple and in the complex, as well as the most magnificent of experiences.

May you too be witness to those miracles

that opening to Love can ordain.

Christine Ford

________________________________

________________________________

WITNESS TO SUZIE’S MIRACLE ~ Part III

“There is a Difference between

Changing and BEING Changed.”

Published November 13, 2003

By Suzie

Well, they say if you are open and listen with an open heart you will end up attracting to you or being attracted to what your true self really needs. I have been searching almost all my life for answers and a way to heal myself emotionally, spiritually and energetically. I really didn’t hope too much for anything on a physical healing level because all the doctors had said permanent damage had been done and subsequent autoimmune problems could only be managed. I have spent most of my adult life reading books, attending seminars, sitting in hour after hour of lectures, listening to endless hours of tapes and doing what I thought was meditating. After only two meditation evenings with Dr. Strickler I realized with utter amazement that I had NEVER TRULY MEDITATED in my whole life!! I THOUGHT I knew what mediation was. I had read about it and gone to workshops. I now recognize that I had sat in contemplation, visualized, lucid dreamed but NEVER meditated. But, that’s another story. Simply put, even before the events of October 14, 2003, after meeting Dr. Strickler my life had been totally and irrevocably changed.

Never, in my deepest self, did I ever dare to dream of anything happening like what took place in that quiet candle lit living room on the night of October 14, 2003. I came to Meditation Class looking forward to being in the presence of whatever it is that Dr. Strickler brings. I have found my Teacher in him. He speaks to a part of me that has been waiting for contact with him forever. I can’t even say what that “IT” is: a Who? A What? An It?

Listening to him that night talk about some concerns he has been wrestling with brought me into the awareness that he has a really human and vulnerable side. Yes, my brilliant, insightful, gifted Teacher has struggles, as do we all. I still can’t explain to you what happened. As I sat there listening to him a voice in my head was encouraging me to open up and speak, to ask for help. There was a feeling of safety and support in that room far beyond what the three others were providing. I had never told the complete story to anyone. Even as I started telling the story forgotten pieces surfaced.

That voice in my head kept urging, “It’s ok. Ask.” I made eye contact with Dr. Strickler. Eye contact? Oh, what “contacted” between us seemed to emanate from the very breath of life itself. So, with a deep breath of my own, I quietly but with a rock steady voice petitioned: “Is there some kind of ceremony or ritual you can do to help me heal?” Our eye contact remained unbroken by even a blink for what seemed like forever. Would he say,”No?” Then Dr. Strickler asked me to sit in front of him. I remember my body getting up and moving. Having gone through many other “healings” I thought I knew what to expect. Little did I know that all of those prayers spoken so fervently throughout my life were about to be answered. Dr. Strickler said some kind of prayer whose words my ears heard but my brain could not interpret. But my heart recognized and responded to those words. Such Love and Peace flowed into that room that I knew I was safe. Words are so inadequate to describe what was working through Dr. Strickler that night. God? The Source? The Holy Spirit? And the room was very crowded with what I will call His Heavenly Hosts or Angels or Guardians.

The air in the room seemed to thicken. As Dr. Strickler started working I could feel the energies moving. One part of me started questioning what was happening and in that instant the energy seemed to get even stronger and my questioning dissolved. Much of what I experienced cannot be expressed in words nor do I have a clear conscious memory of much of it. It took a minute or it took hours. I lost all sense of “me” in my physical body and it seemed like “I” just moved upward looking down while “I” watched but at the same time “I” was still “in there” experiencing the process. I felt a spiral of movement upward and seemed to be following an invisible force. At one point it was as if I was being born. I felt bursts of energy down my left side then up my right side over and over and over and over. Then it became a smooth, continuous current and flowed with a molten feeling to it. Something seemed to elongate in my spine. Spaces seemed to be created where things were jammed together before.

At one point I recall becoming fearful. Then from somewhere, from everywhere, came the deeply resonant, quiet “It’s OK. I’ve got you. I’m right here. It’s OK.” And it was OK. It seemed like I exploded into a million tiny shards of light and then was put back together again. At the end of the whole process I realized we had started the evening about 6:15 pm and I was walking out the door at 10:30 pm! I will never be the same.

Two weeks later, Dr. Strickler, Christine, Wendy and I gathered once again for our Tuesday Meditation Night. They were all curious. How was I? How had my weeks gone? Had I noticed “anything” different?

Different? Well, I had lost five pounds without trying! I reported on the third night after, waking myself up about 4am bawling my eyes out, having a profound feeling of Grace and release and being ALIVE. There doesn’t seem to be as much as a sense of struggle, I feel less restless. I am more content with what I have and who I am. Day by day I experience “me” differently.

Emotionally I feel more stable, on a more even keel. I felt lopsided before. I really have a decreased anxiety level although, now that I think about it, I really didn’t realize I WAS anxious and on guard all the time. I feel more comfortable with myself and letting people get closer. Before, people coming into “my space” used to really bug me and get under my skin. It was literally uncomfortable to have people near me. Feelings are starting to surface. Feelings I never knew were even under the surface. There is openness to me now. I’m not blocking things intellectually. I’m starting to find words to put on the emotions, which are surfacing. My feelings seem to be leaving my gut and centering more in my heart. There doesn’t seem to be a big a fight between the gut and the intellect.

Sensations are changing for me. Hearing is becoming clearer and there is more depth and understanding to the content of what is being said. There seems to be more of a connection with communication. Colors are brighter. It’s like there’s been a good window cleaning done on the world! There is a more clearly defined horizon in my world. I didn’t realize it, but before I don’t ever remember there really being a horizon to my world as I looked at it. Light touch and proprioception*{see below} are increasing. It’s as if I don’t have to insulate myself from the world any longer.

I have also noticed I can feel between my shoulder blades now and the pain between my shoulder blades is gone. Come to think of it, now that I really am looking at it, I haven’t had a headache or backache for the past two weeks. My gosh! My joints don’t hurt either! Pain has been so much a part of my life for so long now that now that I put a focus on it and think about it, I realize it’s gone!

My daughter has commented, “You look younger, Mom.” My husband had been out of town over this time. Upon reuniting he turned to me one night and with great love and support said, “You’ve changed.” My reply to him was, “There is a difference between changing and BEING changed.” He gently held me in his arms and whispered, “David did something to you, didn’t he?”

Oh, yeah, I guess you could say that.

“Suzie”

________________________________

________________________________

A REASON FOR THANKSGIVING ~ Part IV

Christine’s Healing Session, November 18, 2003

Published December 15,2003

by “Suzie”

Tonight, at Meditation, David did a healing for Christine, and I witnessed something I need to put into words right away…

Christine has been ailing for a long time – yes, there was an accident she told me about, some years back, when she was in Florida. But her ailment is much more than “just” a neck injury – it’s much more than a physical disability – it’s an injury to her soul that never healed because something else was severed that day, and it did not align and connect again properly….

I met Christine my first day at work, and BOOM! We recognized each other in spirit and knew that each of us had this “dark night of the soul”-thing going on – so, yes, I know her pain.

Tonight, David said: “Christine, what do you want?” I could barely hear her answer, but I wanted to almost answer for her, wanted to yell: “Tell him already, ask him to be healed! You’ve seen it work for me!” Christine is one of the closest students of David and she could have asked for a healing many times, and maybe she did, I don’t know. Anyway, tonight she must have done it right, or maybe the time was right – and David started by having Christine sit in the middle of the room. He worked with his hands around her, sometimes saying certain words or phrases I could not understand, other times touching her gently after telling her what he was about to do and if it was okay. Christine and David seemed to become one with an energy, with a force or an entity I can only describe as pure LOVE – and with this force that seemed to emanate from or through David, his hands and voice performed a miracle. What else can you call it, when someone’s spine starts straightening, developing the proper curvature that was clearly missing before?

Christine’s whole back seemed to elongate. Her shoulders dropped to where they should be. Her neck, her head, everything began to balance out, and even though I could not see her face, I knew that the years must have just melted away from her features. As I was watching I was fully conscious – this was REAL, in front of my eyes. I was not in a trance, or a “dream state” – just relaxed and wide awake, and able to truly witness this event.

At times, when David moved his hands, I could feel a sensation of coldness – not really a draft, but more like the cold you feel looking into a deep well. Once I have felt a sensation like this, many years ago when my husband took me to a cave that had an old mine shaft – this cold had something very ancient to it, like coming from beyond space and time. And whenever I felt that coldness, David’s face would change, and for an instant he would look ancient as well….

Christine continued to be transformed, re-created by this force until David asked her to stand up and walk. She stood up, straight now and balanced, looking 20 lbs. lighter and years younger, and she could walk almost without pain. David looked at her, and the expression on his face reminded me of the Bible, where it is said that “God looked at his work and saw, that it was good”.

David asked Christine if all pain was gone, and she answered: “Almost all”, but that there was one specific spot that still hurt. So Davis assessed that and found, that something (I think he called it a “valve”) seemed to be “stuck” and needed to be opened. And when that had been accomplished, David said it was almost finished, and that he would now “re-shape her cup”. He started working on and around Christine’s head and it almost looked as if her head was melting, as if bones were softening, like wax. David created a globe of energy around and on top of Christine’s head. His hands pushed and pulled clearly on something, an essence my eyes could not see but that nevertheless was very real, very palpable. I could see David’s muscles working, exactly like they would if he were modeling some material that appeared to be putty-like, or an elastic membrane. And then it was done. Christine’s face was shining and beautiful; her posture was very relaxed and poised, and her step light and balanced. She had a “plumb line”; every thing was in place and where it should be, and her pain was gone….

I don’t know what her doctor will say (or find) at her next X-ray; I don’t know what her doctor will say when he finds every joint and vertebra back in place.

I don’t know how David does what he does. I don’t know what kind of force or energy it is he that he commands. But there is no doubt in my mind that what I witnessed was REAL, because David has healed me as well, while everyone else was watching. I do know why Christine’s face was shining and new – because a few weeks ago I sat in the same spot, in that same room. I know how it feels – it is LOVE, it is GRACE and SALVATION. And it is REAL. All you need to do is ask for it.

This year, may the “JOY OF THE SEASON” be more for all of us

than just a “HALLMARK” moment!

“Suzie”

________________________________

________________________________

A REASON FOR THANKSGIVING ~ Part V

Christine’s Healing Session: November 18, 2003

Published December 15, 2003

By Wendy Ford

Four had gathered for Meditation Night on Tuesday, November 18, 2003. We were making our tea during a break and chatting around the kitchen counter. Dr. Strickler had been idly stirring his brewing cup of Earl Grey while we waited for more water to boil in the microwave. The pleasant friendly sound of the clinking of the spoon against the mug and drone of the microwave combined with chit chat filled the kitchen. Then the microwave beeped and stopped, and there was a sudden profound silence. Dr. Strickler studied his tea swirling in his mug and quietly asked, “Christine, what do you want?” She looked at him for a few moments. “What do I want?” “Yeah. What do you want?” Silence. Dr. Strickler continued, “You see, one of the Ancient Principles is to seek, ask and knock. What do you want, Christine?” They had made eye contact by this time and the atmosphere had started to thicken. Knowing Christine as I do, I could sense the sudden shift in her as the question started forming in her mind. In a voice so quiet it was barely above a whisper, and with an inflection of puzzlement Christine asked, “You mean to be healed?” He raised an eyebrow and remained silent but their eye contact remained unbroken. I saw an entire wordless conversation occur between Dr. Strickler and Christine in that contact. Time seemed to stand still and there was silence except for a barely audible very deep hum that had started to permeate the room. Then in a clear yet quiet voice Christine replied, “I want to be healed.” “Be more specific.” “I want to be physically healed and have a body that can move again.” Dr. Strickler was quiet. Their eye contact was still unbroken even though he had brought his mug to his mouth and was sipping on the sweetened tea within. He put the mug quietly back on the counter, broke the eye contact, walked back into the living room and sat in his chair. The three of us silently followed and took our places on the couches and chairs. The atmosphere by this time had become thick and golden, like a thin honey. The temperature in the room had begun to rise. The deep hum had become almost tangible. Dr. Strickler again made eye contact with Christine. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “Come. Sit by me.”

Christine took a deep breath and crossed the room to sit on the ottoman in front of Dr. Strickler. A huge wave of emotion washed through me as the enormity of what was about to happen hit me. She and I made eye contact and we had both become quite teary eyed. We both know the struggles with pain and functional restrictions she has gone through over the past fifteen years. Christine has been dealing with the effects of a severe musculoskeletal injury sustained when she was restraining an out of control student (the goal being to prevent harm to the student which would have resulted from his self injurious behavior). She suffered a fracture to her second cervical vertebra, severe neck, upper back and shoulder muscle damage, and damage to her 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th cervical vertebrae as well as a severe lumbar strain. What is remarkable is that Christine was so pumped up with the adrenaline produced by the event that she didn’t even know she had been injured until she realized she needed both hands to put her key in her car door and needed to lift her leg into the car. She drove herself to the urgent care center and threw the entire place into a tizzy when the X-Ray showed the fracture. (A fracture of the second vertebra is often instantly fatal.) Even after years of treatments and medications she still struggles with pain and functional limitations. The prospect of a healing was just stunning. For reasons that I cannot go into here, this was the first time in her 13 years with Dr. Strickler that this had become possible. So, this was indeed a “big deal”.

As suddenly as the wave of emotions had overcome Christine and me they were gone. They had just disappeared. It was as if they had been neutralized. Later, when questioned about this, Dr. Strickler said he had isolated our emotions and personalities to prevent interference with the process of his work.

Once settled on the ottoman, Dr. Strickler softly smiled at Christine and with a twinkle in his eye asked, “Are you ready?” “Yes.” “Here we go.” He closed his eyes. He placed his hands above to top of Christine’s head and intoned a series of words that were different than any he had used for Suzie. Nonetheless, those words went straight to the very core of my being. He allowed himself to be filled with a higher self and “he” was “gone” from this world. What worked through his physical vehicle cannot be put into words: The Holy Spirit? God? Whatever “it” was and energy working this night, was quite different from what I experienced and saw when witnessing Suzie’s healings. Consciously, I actually remember very little of what transpired during the rest of the evening. I would speculate that it is probably because Christine and I are so close and have been the closest of friends for almost twenty-nine years. I do know without a doubt the event is forever etched in my subconsiousness and spirit. Whatever happened has changed me, too.

I watched. At one point near the beginning, I think, I felt a warmth start in my heart area and just expand until a ball of this warmth surrounded my entire body. I felt such a profound Love there, a contact with true, unconditional Love that could only come from the Source of All. I felt surrounded by the Love of the invisible beings suddenly in attendance (Angels? Heavenly Hosts?) I do remember Dr. Strickler working with opening, adjusting and closing Christine’s chakra areas; opening adjusting and closing of other body centers that I recognized. He worked with the many components of her various energy layers and levels. He was in constant motion. Again, he was the master spiritual sculptor at work. He worked with but the rarest of physical contact; hands molding invisible forms and turning to spin an invisible something; fingers pulling, drawing and tugging at unseen lines; eyes constantly evaluating and assessing the progress and results; soft breaths being blown into invisible recesses and receptacles. His lips moved with words not meant for the conscious mind and in such soft whispers that the ear only heard the articulation of the tongue as it softly hit his palate in the formation of the “t’s” and “s’s”. Occasionally Dr. Strickler would ask Christine if something was hot or cold, a direction (up, down, left, right, forward, back), dark or light, or if it was easy or hard to breathe, or to tell him when she could “feel” his hand(s) even though he was not physically touching her.

At several points Dr. Strickler had Christine open her eyes and make eye contact with him. I could see a wavy, shimmery line connect between the two then he would move on and her eyes would close again. I watched in awe as the impression of Christine’s weight on the ottoman shrank slightly. It was if her physical weight had been lessened and she was not sinking down as deeply into the cushion. At the same time she grew taller sitting right in front of me. Her shoulders straightened and leveled (one shoulder is usually lower than the other), her lumbar curve became more pronounced (her lower back is usually flattened), the back of her head drew upward tilting her chin down slightly and straightening her cervical spine and upper back and there came over her face the most beatific of expressions. The circles under her eyes disappeared; the lines at the creases of her nose and mouth softened, her face actually became thinner.

Dr. Strickler eventually asked Christine to stand up and slowly walk. She effortlessly stood up from the ottoman and walked toward where he stood on the other side of the room. Step by step I watched as first her limp dissipated, her lumbar curve in the low back normalized, her upper back and neck curves normalized and her posture was perfect. (In anatomy we learn that there should be natural postural curves and that with “perfect” posture one should be able to drop a plum line from the ear lobe and it should fall through the shoulder, hip and just in front of the ankle bone. Rarely does one ever see this as we all have abnormalities accrued over a lifetime of poor habits.) Dr. Strickler continued to make minor adjustments and fine tune while having Christine walk and stand.

When Dr. Strickler was apparently satisfied with the results initially attained, he had Christine sit back on the ottoman, said a prayer of blessing and concluded the session. With that the room instantly became cooler (at some point in the evening the air conditioner in the house had actually cycled on even though it was in the 50’s outside), the atmosphere became less dense, and the light became brighter. He intently looked at each of us in turn for a long moment apparently assessing our reactions and the effects this event had had on us. He gave us his quiet smile and asked, “Everyone OK?” How does one respond? I had just witnessed what few will ever have the honor to witness. I had been in and felt the presence of the Divine. I had heard the words of the Divine. I had seen the workings of the Divine. I had witnessed the physical transformation of a beloved friend. I will never be the same as changes were being made in all who were there. Was I “OK”? Just two little letters: “O” and “K”. Considering what had just happened, all I could do was nod my head and say, “Yeah, I’m OK.”

It’s been a week and a half since that wondrous evening. Christine is different. One objective physical example: As Christine and I were getting Thanksgiving dinner on the table we came face to face in each other’s way. We had to stop to keep from bumping into each other. I was stunned. “Oh my God! I can look you in eye now! I can’t remember being able to do that!” Christine just laughed and said she had been measured at the doctor’s office just this week. She measured five foot six and one half inches tall. Two years ago the doctor measured her at five foot five. She also commented that she can now turn her head better enabling easier merging into busy highway traffic and that the numbness which had become familiar in her arms and hands has diminished. I think she looks ten years younger and she feels she is in less pain. She also commented that each one of the autistic children she works with everyday in her classroom were looking at her strangely during that first week “after”. None ever verbally asked, but she thinks each was silently noting and acknowledging that Miss Christine was somehow different. Although Dr. Strickler has stated it will take much more work with Christine to further the healing that was initiated that night, it is obvious to all who know her that profound changes have already manifested.

May Truth and Light penetrate to your core

to expose the Real You.

Wendy Ford ________________________________

________________________________

SOMTIMES ONE NEED ONLY ASK ~ Part VI [Final]

Originally Published December 15, 2003

By Christine Ford

A most interesting interplay exists between a Spiritual Teacher and a Student, an alive, ever-shifting balance of possibilities and expansion, of questions and answers, of growth and change, not only on the part of the Student, but for the Teacher as well. Yes, a Student approaches a Teacher with the ultimate of awe and respect, but even THAT expands and changes along the way, in degrees and nuances that cannot be expressed, but only experienced as the bounds and parameters of the mentoring process take on shapes and forms never imagined. What I am struggling to make clear simply is that the relationship between a Spiritual Teacher and Student is not a static, defined, rigid construct like a land mass, but rather a shifting, churning, eternally moving entity like the ocean in a storm; an infinite process of unfoldment, discovery and growth. This became crystal clear to me on the evening of November 18, 2003.

Thirteen years ago I was injured at school by a student while attempting to keep him from hurting himself. The damage done was quite extensive, and I was labeled permanently disabled. The injury involved damage to my spine, which has created a thirteen-year struggle of visits to doctors of all kinds, several courses of physical therapy, daily medication, and the ever-looming possibility of surgery. The injury changed my life in ways too extensive to go into.

I was left feeling abused and violated by “the system”, for the child who innocently caused this damage to me should NOT have been in my classroom, and I had spent from August until February when the accident occurred documenting and sending his behaviors daily to the administration center. Their answer was that there was no where else for him, that he did not fit into ANY category, and that I had the experience and patience to deal with him. My reply was that with 12 other appropriately placed mentally handicapped students and only one assistant; it was just a matter of time before someone would be injured by his extreme behaviors. My classroom was not equipped to deal with a student so involved, in terms of physical layout (no “secured seclusion”, i.e. time out room) or just plain manpower! We were doing the child NO service other than keeping him from harming himself, at the expense of taking valuable educational time away from the other 12 kids.

My helpless pleas fell on deaf ears, making me feel abandoned and at the mercy of circumstances until finally I was hurt. Was it a self-fulfilling prophecy? I have asked myself that question time and time again; my anger towards “the system” which I so strongly felt should have and could have prevented this grew as I waved my frustration and resentment for thirteen years like a banner, allowing it to fester, poison, and color every aspect of my being. I was blissfully unaware of the power I had inadvertently given it, unconscious of the precious time and energy I had denigrated, until Dr. Strickler offered me the mirror to see the situation for what it really was that evening of November 18, 2003.

How many times have I heard him speak of the patterns upon which we build our lives? How many chances has he given me to uncover the underlying psychology, the poor me, martyr syndrome, the helpless victim of circumstance view that I limit myself with? Yes, I have actually seen it in other areas, but I have allowed this one GIGANTIC all-encompassing pattern to hold me hostage my entire life. And for the past thirteen years I have functioned oblivious to the fact that I was a victim NOT of the circumstance, but rather a victim, indeed a prisoner, of my own beliefs, anger, rage, feelings of helplessness and inadequacy.

On the evening of November 18, 2003, my physical body was most positively healed of injuries sustained back in 2000, and that healing was initiated and directed by Dr. Strickler, of that I have no doubt. There are the accounts of Wendy and Suzy to support that, though I have nearly no memory of the actual experience at all. All I remember is hearing his voice, feeling safe and secure, and being told at different points to open or close my eyes; it was like I wasn’t even there. There are facts that I can share though… the ease with which I move, the immediate comments from people at work who want to know what doctor I went to because they see such change, the levelness of my shoulders, which had been drastically uneven since the injury, the returning of feeling in my arms and hands, and most significantly, upon a trip to the doctor, a report stating that my height is 5’ 6 ½”, an increase of 1½ inches over the 5’ 5” that I had measured previously.

Of the physical healing, there is visible proof, and of course for that I am most grateful. But the healing of Spirit, the understanding of psychology, the forgiving of myself to myself that has been triggered by the realization of what REALLY occurred on so many levels is where the true healing lies for me. The miracle of Revelation is what happened that night, and with it, the freeing of a part of me that I have allowed to be held in bondage for lifetimes. There is constantly growing insight and motion towards health on all levels, mentally, physically, emotionally, and Spiritually, that was started that night.

Once, about 8 years ago, I did ask Dr. Strickler if there was anything he could do to help heal my injury. He told me at that time that it was mine to deal with, Karma was involved, and there was nothing he could do. NOW I can admit that with that answer I felt, IN THE STATE OF MIND I WAS FUNCTIONING IN AT THAT TIME, abandoned, helpless, and rejected, and I never broached the subject with him again, never spoke with him about “physical” healing again, until he healed Suzy that night. Even after that, with all that I have learned and grown into, I had to be prompted to ASK. My stubborn resentment at being “turned down” had trapped me in an area of my mind that didn’t allow me to ASK Dr. Strickler to help me with this particular problem that had so encompassed and imprisoned every area of my life. And simply by asking again, at the right place and in the right time, I was healed and set free.

Quite interestingly enough, the day after I wrote this article to this point, I was literally knocked on my ass by a student at school. I ended up with a severely bruised tailbone, and am now am undergoing a round of physical therapy, and I’m REALLY hurting! As I have been taught, I have questioned the “why” of it all. Did I intentionally do something to bring this injury to myself? Is there a part of me that WANTS to be hurt, injured, so that I can hide behind it and not be an active participant in life? Do I feel that I need for people to feel sorry for me, or do I just feel a need to be punished for something I don’t even know I’ve done? Is there a reason I won’t allow myself to be whole and healthy? Is there a Force out there that doesn’t WANT me to be healthy?

Believe me, all those questions and more I have asked, and though I do not have the answers, there is one thing that I do know as sure as I’m sitting here. This will NOT be a thirteen-year healing process. I will NOT give it control over my life. I think more than anything, it is a challenge, a throwing down of the gauntlet, so to speak. I have very quickly been given a chance to stand up and take action, to handle the situation differently, to show just how sure I am that the past thirteen years of pain and suffering were brought upon me by MYSELF, AND that they WILL NOT be revisited! I am able to overcome and heal; I am worthy of having a strong, healthy body. I suppose we will see how this one unravels as time goes by.

Now back to my opening, about the ever-changing relationship of a student and teacher. Time for a confession. Over the years of mentoring, I have not especially looked upon Dr. Strickler as a “healer”. Oh my God! One of those “you can’t see the forest for the trees” deals! Without a doubt, he is a most talented teacher and mentor, a genius of a man who can amazingly lecture unprepared for hours and always deliver ever expanding interpretations with a new twist. He has the patience of a Saint, the gentleness of a loving father, when it comes to explaining and RE-explaining concepts and constructs that are elementary to him. He watches in silence as we make similar mistakes over and over, never interfering, but helping us learn and gain from those errors when we realize they have been made, and forgiving us each time for being so stupid!

All this and more I saw in Dr. Strickler from the beginning, but what I did not see is that from the moment I sat down across the table from him for that first reading, my “healing” began. He is a Healer in the purest, most complete sense of the word; not only of the physical, but of the Spiritual, emotional, mental, and intellectual areas as well. And the most beautiful part of all is that he does it through love and compassion, and all you have to do is ASK.

What a Revelation! What a gift of healing to receive at this very sacred season. I humbly thank the Lord of Life for opening this realization to me. And as ever, always, my gratitude goes to Dr. Strickler for his strength, wisdom and seeming eternal patience.

May The One bless you with the ability to acknowledge

the areas in which you are sabotaging your destiny,

and the courage to take action to change . . .

Christine Ford

Editor

________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Want to help us out? Make a contribution to our free Newsletter! It is easy and is only a one time charge with your favorite credit or check card:

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL

CLIMATE ~ CLICK HERE ~

You can access Dr. Strickler or any of the writers in Spiritual Climate by email for any questions, comments, or clarifications of that which they have written. You can also email with the clickable link below to access Dr. Strickler for healing-prayer service requests:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE

Want the facts intentionally hacked out of the mainstream media?

Here is a link to straight forward news articles, without the bullshit and Wall Street smoke screens:

Interesting News Articles

Looking for more Family Friendly Ezine & Email Newsletter Directory to provide you the best Education, Motivation, Inspiration on the web and help you to discover, develop and successfully share your God-given creativity and talents?

Click this fine Directory of listings:

My Favorite Ezines

© JULY, 2007 SPIRITUAL CLIMATE ®

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE. Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons. No part of this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE )

- FINIS -

______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

The Institute of Spiritual Climate

Is proud to present

Its newsletter

of  Social & Spiritual Commentaries:

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty,

to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better,

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,

or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life

has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is the meaning of success!"

 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

_______________

We are not a rich corporation, so this publication is a labor and gift of love that is solely supported by donations from its readers. You may freely forward or redistribute it to whomever you wish. No donation is required. All donations are greatly appreciated.  Just Click on the secured-link below, it will accept your Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover or Paypal to make a donation.

MAKE A DONATION TO SPIRITUAL CLIMATE  CLICK HERE

This Newsletter can be viewed on the AlcyoneMagi ® web log at the following link:

http://alcyonemagi.spaces.live.com

Want SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER delivered right into your Email Box?

Click here SPIRITUAL CLIMATE and in the subject line type in ADD ME 

( It is permissible to translate this publication into other languages as long as the translated version and link to the translated version is sent to SPIRITUAL CLIMATE.  Full permission is granted for forwarding/sharing this publication with other persons.  No part of the articles in this newsletter can be quoted or used for any other publication without first in advance obtaining the express written permission of SPIRITUAL CLIMATE®.  Please include the final version of the article you are writing, a link of where it will be available along with a highlighted and/or underlining quote of the text from any of our article's you wish to use, upon review and decision you will then be notified of our answer for permission of use in your publication. Permission can be obtained by emailing a request in English by clicking SPIRITUAL CLIMATE , please put TRANSLATION in the Subject Line )

____________________________________ 

Welcome Friends, Students, and Readers of Spiritual Climate!

Yes, we’re back! Rev. Strickler halted the publication of the newsletter for a few months. I asked him if there was anything I could say or send off to the readers of the newsletter and he said “Not until I decide whether we are going to publish again or not, I have been called into contemplation about my life, my work and relationships and I have some choices to make this year.” He has also expressed that he is coping with some new peculiarities due to the ongoing effects of the embolic stroke his body suffered the late evening of August 22, 2004.

We, the contributors for the newsletter, have been busy maintaining a monthly writing schedule, but he did give us March off. You will likely see a May Edition within a few weeks. I am happy to say, since you are reading this, Rev. Strickler has given the “all systems go”, so welcome to our new look and expect to hear more from us. To quote Rev. Strickler as of recent it’s a “Time for change”.

Dr. Strickler asked me to extend a note of appreciation to Patty for her generous Donation to the Institute of Spiritual Climate and he would also like to extend a warm thank-you for My Favorite Ezines for counting our Newsletter in their Directory of listings and the beautiful summary they included.

IN THIS EDITION:

Dr. Strickler blasts open some creaky old doors, shedding light on the subject of Occult Blinds and the insidious damage that can be produced by the misuse and misrepresentation of spiritual principles and laws in his article: “IT’S A MATTER OF KNOWELDGE, NOT PERCEPTION”.

Adam Crosthwaite explores the confusion of Polarity in his articled entitled: “ESCAPING THE REALM OF UNIPOLAR EXISTENCE”.

Wendy Ford presents her views and opinions on the release of the secrets contained within the Law of Attraction: “TRUTH: PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY. FICTION: LAW OF ATTRACTION”.

Christine Ford expresses her frustration with the changing of words and meanings of interpretation in her article: “THE 1^st CORINTHIANS MYSTERY”.

The Staff of Spiritual Climate would like to welcome you to the wonders of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness available to all who seek.

Welcome to the APRIL 2007 EDITION of  the SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER

Best of Love and Life to You and your Family 

Christine Ford

Editor, SPIRITUAL CLIMATE NEWSLETTER 

About the Photo above:

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) The disk displays dark dust lanes, where many young and bright stars reside. The Hubble telescope also shows that the glowing central bulge of stars harbors nearly 2,000 globular clusters of stars, 10 times as many as orbit our Milky Way galaxy! ... HubbleSite NewsCenter.

____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

IT’S A MATTER OF KNOWLEDGE, NOT PERCEPTION

By Rev. David Strickler

Ashes sometimes drift on the wind and carried afar, by movements of air and then perhaps dissolved into the watery confines of the oceans or seas. Residue our bodies cast adrift into the biosphere of this planet that we call earth. The energies created by the principles emanated by our consciousness also move through a three fold process of disintegrating, equilibrating, and integrating; the basic modulation in these aspects of the principles that exist within our consciousness is that which enables us a tertiary ‘layered’ form of macrocosmic scripting of ourselves via this trinity of Spirit, Soul and Astral envelope which contributes fully to the functional bio-aspect aperture you express and identify through called your physical body.

Elaborating on any of the systems becoming or manifestation, produced within consciousness can be at best, just a starting point toward the apprehension of knowledge which can only be adduced through a philosophy that properly dispels the inadequacy of empiricism and the philosophers that supported the idiotlogy that states what the senses grasp are the only thing that can be known. I would have to start the conversation pointing out that the essence of Genesis (ALEPH Bereshyt) was profoundly induced and brought into vibration of 7 (days) principles, that which can be heard produced from the sounds of sounds known as the voice of creation; thus vibrated (from sound) formed into light. Now please take into consideration that this is even before ANY physical manifestation comes into being.

Each of the Seven principles are expressed in the classic book called the KYBALION It was supposedly written by the three initiates, one of whom is considered to be Dr. Paul Foster Case one of the greatest practical Kabbalists of the past 50 or so years. Within his writing is contained much knowledge pointing towards truth which in turn acts as veils of the main principles behind which we find the principles of consciousness. One of the other initiates is believed to be Yogi Ramacharaka (aka William Walker Atkinson), while there appears to be a consensus (yet inconclusive) that the third person contributing to the book was a woman by the name of Mabel Collins (1851 – 1927) a gifted Theosophist and occult writer who was black listed by the Theosophical Society according to some accounts.  In some circles it is stated that the real author’s names were never used for the publication of the book because the principles and the philosophies that the book that presents cannot be credited to any person.

There’s a wealth of knowledge to be explored, discovered and applied that one is to distill in practical daily use toward the discovery of that sentient nonphysical principle that consciousness uses as a latticework or a loom to bring from the subtle and into greater ranges of densification until the formation of the physical senses originate from non-physical principles. The five physical senses then stand in relation of their proximity and incomplete comprehension to form and begin creating a picture of the world around you. Part of the nature of your senses is only to give their relation point to the external world thus rendering a perspective of your relationship that your physical senses have in proportion to the external world. It is within these physical senses we find the lessons of the Allegory of Platonic Cave; that the shadows we watch ‘come to life’ and dance on the wall of the senses are nothing more than that-faithful reproductions based on the limitations of our remarkable physical senses of the external world and yet incomplete, the apple is not red it only appears to be red based on the vibrational range they are capable of reproducing. Amusing at times, to see how many people are as yet deluded by the illusion created by the senses, yet some use the very same habit of delusion in their interpretation of sacred text. It gets even less amusing when unskilled interpreters operating in their ‘Disney Mode’ interpret hermetically sealed ideations, principles and knowledge with little or no regard to anything but the use of their improperly used imagination and then sometimes justifying their behavior by saying their infantilism is generating money to substantiate the use of their fantasy is a reality.

Time and time again we watch the reappearance of components of the knowledge and principles intentionally confined into symbols by the hermeticists and held with in small groups of selected people who were chosen for their ability to hold onto, convey appropriately with lucid accuracy the nature of the major principles of consciousness and the agency’s (laws) resulting from these principles out of which arise the natural polarization of conditions within the physical mundane world called everyday life. The last large volume of work that the hermeticists produced whereby they sealed knowledge into symbolic content was during the period of time prior to and upwards a bit from 2 BCE during the compilation of the components of what is commonly referred to as the ‘old testament’, wherein the content of the origins of creation were preserved in the sacred language of Hebrew wherein each letter represents a principle and unit of measurement and contains no vowels, unlike our synthetic linear language called English whose letters represent nothing at all. It is not surprising in the least to watch the attempts of untrained, unskilled yet highly imaginative people vainly interpret alchemical and or spiritual writings into misleading and misrepresented disinformation, much like the arrogance of presenting human induced global warming - the idiocy of which Lucifer must be laughing his ass off at human gullibility divorced from knowledge!

Fascinating at times to watch the prance, parade and dance of the human ego. A good percentage of people are suckered into the apparitions of their senses and accept their senses as the only thing that can be known and support their erroneous irrationality by the writings of lunatics such as Hobbes, Kant and Thomas Malthus to name only a few. There must be some great overwhelming sensation to succumb to such wailing and gnashing of teeth offered by the Sophists who use small pieces of this knowledge and agencies and laws to create conditions in which they can extract cash to parasitically live their lives. How? Create a gospel by writing a book, never mind that the knowledge inside the book was truncated and pieced together to fit what is pleasing to the eye of the creative artist who is painting a picture which is nothing more than an abortion of the original tenets of fractured knowledge from which the structure of the book was drawn; as long as people ‘buy it’ that seems to be all that matters in an age where consumerism and making money along with the worship of the dollar, certainty and sensation is the modern religion of the day.

Next stage is quite simple: getting some metaphysicians jump on the bandwagon by providing them with an audience and a stage financed by the brothels that are simply gaining profit while experimenting on social engineering by mood creating solace in the in the mental atmosphere by giving out mother’s milk to unsuspecting overworked adults thereby adding insult to injury by laughing at the true spiritual consciousness that resides within all human beings. Sophistry arises once again to the forefront.

Such a simplification is usually released at the behest of a larger group of behavioral engineers that are seeking to provide distraction via some illusory form of higher hope while filling their pockets with whatever national currency is held by the nation that the so called book of secrets is being sold in; belief structures can create the perception of a reality, but that perception of reality may bear no resemblance to the real reality it is supposed to represent and therein lies the danger. For the sake of brevity in this article please read this statement once or twice: there is no law of attraction. Once again, there is no law of attraction.

About now I should hear the gripe that the law of attraction is found in print (therefore it’s gospel) from many sources; I am aware of that, I am aware to cite one example, it is referenced in the Kybalion, where it calls attention to the law of attraction. I think is brought into the writing about ten times: you are correct it is right there in print and it is an occult BLIND. I’m going to say to you that the language that the three initiates operated within during that day and time was restricted by the knowledge and their ability to express that knowledge within the language of their milieu. One might also include the science of their time if one can refer to a genuine science, not science working at the behest of marketing which makes it nothing more than junk science. That aside, the authors used this BLIND employing the word attraction, blinds are a common occurrence in spiritual and alchemical essays and that is done intentionally. This intentionality is there to prevent those who would use the power that hidden knowledge can put into the hands of psychologically damaged people. Locking up the knowledge by hermetically sealing it with a ‘blind’ prevents perversion of its use. IF used at just its coded face value it will generate negative karma (law of compensation) if it is used as is, in other words, just the use of the word attraction leads to effects of misapplication and those responsible for generating its misuse will incur negative karma in this life or in their next.

Seven basic principles consciousness uses toward the ends manifestation and of those seven principles are as follows:

THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE.
THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION.
THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY.
THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER.

From the seven principles are generated laws which are agencies that enable the universe to produce a reflection in many aspects towards a physical representation that resembles some range of activity that the originating principle intends to bring about, some recognition of the consciousness that it represents.

The so called artificial law of attraction doesn’t exist as a law, but as an effect within the physical mundane world. That’s right, I said an effect and I am not talking about the principle of effect---if there is one, provided that ‘effect’ is not a blind being used within the principle of Cause, that being stated and not within the scope of this current article or argument for consideration. So what is being proclaimed as a law of attraction is BULLCRAP from the position of my tradition because attraction is an effect streaming from the principle of polarity using the law of desire. I would agree that there is a law of desire and that there is an effect known as Attraction that emerges as a condition in relationship to the law of desire. The question may arise as to why I am making such a deal about this and it is quite simple.

There are those who are blatantly bastardizing information while masquerading this information as knowledge when in fact it is not knowledge, it is only information and speculation from the realm of fancy circular reasoning and profiting from it at the same time. Problems are created by this type of irrational speculation in that it creates a form of the ‘emperor’s new clothes’ behavior being expressed verbally by a few people in pockets of mainstream idiocy which results in the parlance of “you attracted, it is your fault” another way of rationalizing the blame the victim lunacy which is being passed around quite actively by people from different tiers of life and seemingly more active from those within higher financial echelons to support their illegal and/or morally, ethically bestial behavior to justify and protect their cash flows. What a load of crap. Anyone who believes in the ‘blame the victim theory’ is a mentally disturbed person; they are insane-money does not justify or guarantee a person’s saneness.

Accountability I hear being shouted from some quarters; true I would say but what determines accountability? My first question to those who support the lunacy of blame the victim idiotologies is: should I hold your lack of sanity accountable for such flights of delusion which creates deviants who further tragedies such as Jerry Miller who served 25 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, the 200 person exonerated by post conviction DNA testing by the Innocence Project? Where is the shout for accountability of those and the system that sentenced him? Isn’t the shout for accountability more than just a convenient conclusion for lynch mob mentality? It is complete lunacy to create a Tower of Babel that gives credibility to Idiotologies suggesting such things that the murder of innocent children or that the students at Virginia Tech ‘attracted’ themselves to the situation, that is beastialization from my view and you are in need of serious psychological intervention to believe such rubbish.

For Christ sake, some of you better find the light switch in your heads.

That is one of the reasons why there are ‘blinds’ put within written and oral traditions of spirituality and process, in this way, those who know and who have the keys to interpret correctly can distinguish genuine spiritual articulation from that of the jackasses who are making money by selling disinformation and profiteering from the Sophistry of their lunacy inside the temple. It’s as bad as the Nut Cases who are still waiting for the Second Coming of the Great One who are being guided by some slime bag preacher backed by a Hedge Fund convincing them that the Second Coming hasn’t occurred, when the fact of the matter is that the Second Coming has been happening since the appearance of the Great Rabbi known by the mainstream as Jesus.

Alongside Truth, not falsehood, it is a matter of knowledge, not perception.

Gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro et Domino Iesu Christo

( Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus )

Rev. David Strickler, Ph.D.

Qabalistic Minister

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Escaping the Realm of Unipolar Existence

By Adam Crosthwaite

From the past to the present and on through the future it is impossible to track the growth one experiences without the contrast afforded to us by time as it fuels our momentum in the space we operate in throughout this process. One way of looking at this is to think about a garden. From seeds to flowers, and in time even fruit, the contrast in form and function continually change from the first stages of growth to the final harvest, be it roses for a loved one or vegetables to feed a family. Over time the growth process takes place within the physical forms that started as seeds produced by the growth process of the previous generation. Still, a garden does not grow all by itself. Someone has to nurture and aid in the growth process to insure a healthy harvest. This is much like the mentoring process (only after another fashion) experienced by students in schools of spiritual development. Without someone to tend the process there is no harvest. For that person to watch over, nurture, guide, and teach they must have been guided through the same process by another mentor brought up within the same tradition, whatever that tradition may be.

Through the mentoring process many people find themselves opening doors to find themselves. Through a true spiritual tradition one finds their true self and learns to unlock the secrets of an ever unfolding universe. Within these traditions there are many manuscripts that are written records for the tradition leaving instructions and methods to future students. Many of these manuscripts are encoded. For obvious reasons it takes a mentorship process to properly develop in any tradition, but with the traditions themselves there is an oral tradition which holds the keys to the encrypted messages of the tradition as well as a system of checks and balances. There are several reasons for this double blind approach to mentoring in a spiritual tradition. One of the biggest and most overlooked reasons is human error in the form of our own personal IGNORANCE.

Now remember we are living in a world of truncated views. This world is full of feel good happy sunshine people who think life is like Saturday morning cartoons, people who perhaps need to learn that the Care Bears are not real! Imagine that one or a group of these people get their hands on a bit of information and decide to start the latest “feel good movement” in a country of individuals who feel they are running for cover with targets painted on their backs. The ignorance resulting from a society pacified by truncated versions of the truth coupled with the need for security and a sense of control, an illusion almost as grand as the one presented in the theory of attraction being paraded around as the latest form of the emperor’s new clothes in the media, would give anyone an opening to manipulate and persuade vast numbers of people. Of course there is a plethora of plausible explanations other than being manipulated by a hunger for the illusion of control. As a side note I would like to point out that this illusion is not a defense for people who “lose control” over their own behaviors, just like the Law of Attraction is being misused as a defense as victim precipitation.

Now it may be a process of miscommunication or perhaps an attempt at control by misinformation or any number of “reasonable” explanations for people to accept what sounds good, but there truly is no good reason or explanation for the ignorant behavior of accepting theories because they simply sound good. If the human race has evolved out of the darkness of the Middle Ages and the Sophist’s contempt for discomfort, we should all look to expand our processes in reasoning and discernment.

If there is to be a contrast to the maladjusted adolescent stage of development one must undergo a growth process and learn to examine the whole picture without disregarding that which is hidden beyond the senses. In many cases it would take a very small degree of adjustment to expand a perception. Look at it as if you were watching a sunset through a window. If there is a tree in the middle of your view you can’t see the full sunset, but if you sit down or step to the side you may see the sunset clearly with out looking through the tree branches. You can see all of the colors and shadows at the same time, yet people still take small bits of information and form theories. They do not take the time to evaluate the full context of the situation. We live in an age where all you need is an hour on the internet to research different opinions and views on any subject, yet many people are content to accept truncated views and perceptions. They are choosing to behave as if this were the Middle Ages and only the privileged are allowed to read and comprehend.

There has been a growing awareness in this world and it has been cultivated by several traditions and by many trials in the lives of those who tread the harsh terrain of Truth. Anyone who has spent the time and cultivated a reasoning faculty even in some of the beginning stages of a truly Spiritual Tradition would know better than to accept half a picture. It would appear that the only valid reason for the acceptance of truncated perceptions would be a lax reasoning faculty. With a mentorship process that monitors and facilitates the true learning curve of the universe people develop skill and knowledge in order to discern a clearer and far more accurate picture of a situation. I don’t know how many times Rev. Strickler has told me in the middle of a lecture that he will answer my question after I come back from doing a little background research on a topic, or two, or three.

One of the first lessons and perhaps the most basic concept I learned in my process was the art of examining the full spectrum of any given situation. This was taught by the A and not A approach to examination. It means literally asking the question “what is this” followed by “what is this not”? This opens the mind to examine the full spectrum or rather POLARITY of the situation. The tradition of Qabala examines the full spectrum of polarity in order to find balance within a world that finds itself polarized to extreme points of difference. How does a person find balance without first examining the extremes in order to lend a point of contrast which allows that person to find a centered position and come to understand the truth of a situation?

Ironically people are already taught this concept particularly in the business world under the heading: Cultural Diversity. In short people are told not to take things for granted that there are multiple views and ways of approaching life. The contrasting of different cultures increases the sensitivity of people toward varied cultural experiences by teaching that them that there are alternative means of accomplishing tasks and living, that other ways are just as effective if not more so if applied properly. Talk about drawing people’s attention to contrasting differences! If people would use this same formula of contrasting differences and similarities in other situations on a regular basis this world would run a lot smoother than it has been.

People are encouraged to live in acceptance of one another through contrasting differences and honoring the fact that there is more to a person than meets the eye but they rarely extend that contrast to other areas of discernment. If we are truly a society of tolerance and acceptance then why is it so difficult to tolerate the acceptance of truths when it appears as if society is so accepting of ignorance?

If I were to answer this question with the same logic as the people accepting the Law of Attraction as a “Law” I would have to say that it is choice of ignorance that allows its acceptance in society. If I were to answer this question as a person who has a basic understanding of the Principle of Polarity I would say that it is the ignorance of a society that allows the furtherance of ignorance. The latter of the two responses would be my starting point for the application of the A and not A formula.

The acceptance of truncated perceptions by a society leads to a UNIPOLAR society with a small number, usually one, of the people controlling the vast majority. Unipolar is a term used to describe the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder in contrast to Bipolar Disorder in clinical terminology. Basically a person who suffers from this disorder will stay at the depressive end of the spectrum. Polarized toward depression they will have difficulty with a balanced perception, not too dissimilar to the difficulty one faces in life with a Unipolar view of the world. It is the effect of attraction to this end of the spectrum by the Principle of Polarity that is expressed in the physical world. Attraction itself cannot be a Law as it is an Effect in the physical world or rather a perception of some who are stuck in the realm of truncated perception and self deception having been polarized toward ignorance by choice.

It would seem fitting to end on a clinical definition to lend contrast to the behaviors exhibited by members of today’s society, but we would all do well to remember that we can only view the behavior itself. There is a lot more going on within the situation than what may be perceived from a distance.

May the evolution of human consciousness guide you to brighter sunsets of contrasting light and color.

Blessings,

Adam Crosthwaite

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Truth: Principle of Polarity. Fiction: Law of Attraction

By Wendy Ford

So the secret is out, eh? The Law of Attraction is the key to it all. The key to unbridled success and riches. But there is a flaw in this. One major, gigantic flaw: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE LAW OF ATTRACTION. Nope. Nowhere. No how – yet where you do find it in print it is an obvious ‘Occult BLIND’ when its use is found in writing from a genuine Hermeticist, Occultist or Spiritual Orator. Dr. Strickler opened class recently stating this and the floodgates were opened. The amount of energy that was pumping through him from Above was astounding. Those of us in the room at the time fortunately recognized the movement of the energy and were able to withstand it. Our ears were ringing and the paint practically blistered off the walls from the heat and intensity of the message being conveyed. Made us wonder if Rev. Strickler had some “Hell fire and brimstone” background! The Above is not amused with this falsity and misinterpretation/misrepresentation. The Above is not entertained by the creation of Law in Its name. Talk about libel and slander.

How can anyone in physical manifestation who has been created in the image and likeness of and by the ONE be so egotistical as to presume to know the Mind of the One? To come up with a Law in its name is playing with the ultimate of Karmic fire in my opinion. Yes, people have referred to the Law of Attraction for many years. But it has been inaccurately interpreted and extrapolated from. As Dr. Strickler quite intensely put it, “This Law of Attraction” concept has the potential to generate a belief system that will turn into the ugliest thing imaginable.”

It has the potential to proliferate the mindset of BLAME THE VICTIM. This has the ominous possibility being adopted by our society and changing the faces of politics, healthcare, insurance and the like. It carries the prospect of pervading every layer and segment of our society like a cancer. It could have the power to destroy lives for generations to come if it is not stopped. People need to be made aware of the Truth and individuals who are brave enough and strong enough to speak up need to prepare themselves to do battle.

In an interview on Larry King Live several weeks ago he asked his guest if the child who was murdered in Florida attracted that to herself. The answer was, “Yes.” Dr. Strickler almost threw the television through the wall. WHAT? WHAT? HOW? What happened was that the Principle of Polarity was in action. The higher vibration (the adult who is physically larger and stronger) will always overpower a lower vibration (the young girl). The adult’s negative polarity of desire to do harm overpowered the child’s positive polarity of youthful innocence. It had NOTHING to with an innocent child attracting a murderer to her!

Insurance companies and lawyers might be able to take this concept of the Law of Attraction and run with it. The idea would be, “Well, the client attracted the illness or accident or incident. It is the victim’s fault the illness or accident or incident happened because they ATTRACTED it.” The question would follow of why should the insurance company pay or the perpetrator of an injustice be punished if everything is brought on by the individual? The individual (victim) is now being put in the totally impossible position of being responsible for every single little thing that happens to them. Logically this of course makes no sense.

Politicians might be able to incorporate the concept of the Law of Attraction into legislation and public funding. If the Law of Attraction works it must be that the single mother who is on welfare because her husband died in a car accident and she is unable to make ends meet ATTRACTED that situation to herself. Likewise she should be able to extricate herself from that situation by ATTRACTING the solution and should not need public assistance. Nor should the innocent child born with mental retardation qualify for any publicly funded program because it is, after all, the child’s fault and they should be able to ATTRACT something better. All of the victims of the horrific hurricanes that swept away our Gulf Coast almost two years ago ATTRACTED that to themselves? They should likewise just be able to ATTRACT funding and housing now? Should we shut down all of the public assistance, food banks, soup kitchens and shelters because all of the homeless on our streets should be able to ATTRACT housing, shelter, employment, and food to themselves?

Should we have no need for as many doctors or the healthcare system because folks should just be able to ATTRACT good health for their entire lifetime? Should our elderly be able to ATTRACT adequate housing and health? There would be no sudden infant deaths or stillbirths or birth defects because all parents would be able to ATTRACT perfect and brilliant children. Fantastic! Hooray! Then no one would ever die because they would be able to ATTRACT health and immortality.

Oh, and about the weather. I will ATTRACT only sunny days with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, nice cool evenings because I like to snuggle under the covers, rain only at night and on the days when I don’t have to go anywhere, no snow on the streets or sidewalks, just the lawns and oh, yes an occasional thunder and lightening storm because I like to watch them. What? Weather can’t be ATTRACTED? Why not? If there is the Law of Attraction I should be able to do that. The Law of Attraction says I can. By merely putting my mind to it anything can be ATTRACTED.

Just think about it people, it makes no sense that an individual ATTRACTS everything. It just makes no sense. Then an individual should be able to attract only the good stuff because, after all who in their right mind would want to attract the ugly, painful and icky stuff to themselves, right?

In truth, it is the PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY that has been so misinterpreted. Because it is in manifestation all energy is polarized. It is either positive or negative. Like a magnet this energy is not Good (positive) and Bad (negative). There is no “good” end or “bad” end to a magnet is there? No. Each end of the magnet is a different expression of the same energy. Likewise energy is either negative or positive. Putting positive energy to negative USE or negative energy to negative USE is a different story. An individual does have the choice in how an energy is used by having the choice of where to focus attention.

It is in the focusing of attention that a field of focus or field of energy is formed, then, once a field of attention has been formed from the pulling of units of consciousness together into a focused arena that collection begins to whirl. It is the whirling that generates a gravitational field. It is this gravitational field’s POLARITY that will appear to ATTRACT like fields of gravities toward it. So to say that attraction occurs is correct in this sense of the word. The attraction is the EFFECT of the generation of a gravitational field of collective units of attention and thus has a positive AND negative pole, but the attraction is not a Law only an effect.

The Seven Hermetic Principles are the foundation of Creation. There are seven and only seven. Everything else is just an effect generated by any one of the seven Principles in action. Granted the effects are consistent, reproducible and measurable, but Effects are not Laws. To those who have not been trained these effects have been interpreted as Laws because of their consistency and predictability but the effects are only reflections generated by reality and picked up by the senses. By the very definition of manifestation they are only imperfect reflections imperfectly transmitted to the brain.

Remember the red apple? Our senses tell us the apple is red. But in truth the apple is everything except red. The red is the wavelength of color reflected by the object and picked up by our vision. There is no way for our senses to transmit to us the true nature of the color of the object. By consensus we have all agreed to call it a red apple.

Since there is NO Law of Attraction it would behoove folks to think very carefully about the recent mushrooming and presentation of this idea. It is a very enticing concept. That by having the right attitude and thinking the right thoughts good things can come your way. Of course we would like wonderful things to come our way! Having a positive attitude is a place to start the focusing of attention on something but too many folks are going to stop there.

It is going to be very dangerous for folks to truly believe, “If I think positive thoughts I will be happy and the world will be mine. It is all up to me.” They will not go on to take the necessary actions required over a period of years to develop and hone the skills required that will lead to the ability to more accurately and completely focus attention. Rude awakenings are going to come crashing down on many when the concept of the Law of Attraction is turned around on them. Fine. If all these wonderful things don’t come to pass then it’s your own fault.

It is going to be too easy for blame the victim mentality (no require thought or discernment need in blame the victim) to get an even stronger foothold than it has now. Remember the years of battling it has taken for rape victims to finally be regarded as victims of the crime and not the ones who “asked for it”? This idea of the Law of Attraction has the potential for causing immeasurable harm. Be very careful about blindly accepting this concept. Please. Do some of your own research and thinking.

May the Lord of Life provide you with the ability to think this through, the bravery to speak up and the strength to stand up for your insights. The phrase “if it seems too good to be true, it is too good to be true” absolutely applies to this nonexistent Law of Attraction. The Principle of Polarity on the other hand is one of the Seven Hermetic Principles and is Truth. Maybe the people who have enough naiveté who believe attraction is a law should study the Principle of CAUSE and EFFECT.

Pax Vobiscum,

Wendy Ford

_____________________________________________________