HANGING OUT WITH GOD ( H

HANGING OUT WITH GOD ( H.O.W.G.) # 10

Carolyn's H.O.W.G. - Star Date September 19, '06

Yes, we do have statures of deities in the sanctuary. There is one of Buddha; one of Kwan Yin; one of Vishnu; one of Hannuman; one of Ganesha; one of Jesus; a Prayer Wheel; and a Totem Pole, plus a photograph of Ananda Giri on our Altar of All Faiths. On the Prayer Intention Altar, there is one of Mary and a picture of Jesus, plus twelve votive candles that can be lighted by various ones as they have need or desire. Our delightful People's Altar has one of the Archangel Gabriel, at the moment, plus a few cat figurines and various other mementos. (It changes)

Are they Holy objects? Yes. Are you a Holy object? Yes. They are tangible representatives of an indescribable and marvelous Truth - as are you.

Just as Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "S/He will bring all things to your remembrance." (John 14:26) Spiritual items have done so for ages and generations. Why do Catholics carry Rosary beads and Hindus Mala beads? Why use "Holy Water" to make the sign of the cross? Why burn incense? Or light candles? Or sing Hymns? Or chant?

Unfortunately some have come to believe that these objects carry some special sanctification in and of themselves. Not so. They are just "things;" objects. The only powers that they have are the ones we ascribe to them. They serve to remind us of the One Presence and One Power; they are simply the many "facets" of a gorgeous gemstone.

In the front center of our chapel we have a fairly large verdigris stature of Jesus with arms outstretched. Each week I purchase a rose to lay across the arms; often I buy one for Buddha, too. I buy bags of rose petals with which to "dress" the altars. The roses are my gift of Love, Respect, and Devotion. There is no magic to the ceremony, but there is power. One can not see power - but one can feel it.

Once Spiritual items and ceremonies all had meaning. They served to remind humans of God. Over millenniums of time, they came to be "crystallized" into "Thou Shalts" and "Thou Shalt Nots." Then man's vivid imagery envisioned the fires of hell and tantalized self with the hope of Heaven. (Can man do that? Oh yes, he does.)

Let's face it. For oh so long, man has been "spiritually dyslexic." He has tried to create God in his own image and likeness.

Some people react with repugnance to outer symbols of religion. (I feel they have deep, subconscious memories of previous life experiences.) Others embrace these things joyfully. The objects make them feel secure.

Such things are rather "un-Unity like," I admit. I think the Fillmores had an aversion to the superstitions that build up around objects of religion and wanted to avoid that.

But, sometimes one can "throw out the baby with the bath water," or "bend over backwards" to avoid the mistakes of traditions of the past.

God is in the Now; the Moment. Always has been and always will be. An object that serves to remind us of this Truth is a holy object.

Relics and ceremonies have their place as long as we "Remember from whence we have fallen and return to our First Love" - God. (Rev. 2:4,5)

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Carolyn's H.O. W.G. - Star Date September 20, '06

"Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this place." (Or Lordly Beings, or Energy.) This morning revelry was at 5:30 AM - right between 4:30 and 6:30. :o) (Good sense of humor) My, coffee tastes good this early in the morning when the world is still dark. My eyes keep gently closing. Not a sign of the sun beginning to peep in between the blinds. Even Boo and Gabby have not yet begun the daily competition for attention. (I try to convince myself there is some good reason for early morning musings.)

O.K. O.K. I'm making a feeble attempt at cooperation. (Open up, eyes.) :o) Gosh, I can't believe that I consumed that cup of coffee already.

Was thinking about the ancient custom of pouring a libation for the gods. The theory was that as the wine soaked into the earth, the life-giving energy would be absorbed by the powerful ones. (Maybe they need an early morning cup, too.) :o)

I hear an ambulance wailing on the steet. Ah - always opportunity for healing angels to be about their Heavenly Father's busy-ness.

Missy begins her new job next week; it came to her "out of the blue." She will still be working at the hospital, but in a different department. (Yes, shepherd -boy, David, there is a God in Israel - and in Mobile.) :o) We will celebrate tonight - at Chili's.

6:45 and I've sat here and written mostly nonsense. But cheerily so. And maybe that is the whole point; or lesson of life.

Was thinking the other morning how nice it would be to be a "bubbly" type of person; to naturally always be "up." I tend to be more placid and even-tempered, but at least I'm not a morning grouch. I can even smile at "Brother Sun" as he comes peeking through the window - just as I complimented "Sister Moon" on her mysterious beauty last evening.

My Mama used to tell me that "still water runs deep;" also that I tend to "live in my own little world." That always reminded me of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Euperey. He had his own little planet (very little) and his own little flower to care for; his own little world. A fox told him a great truth: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Beautiful)

I never had a flower that I had to care for; my "own little world" was populated by creatures from fairy tales; was ruled over by a handsome prince who was searching for a real princess to rescue. (shades of Princess and the Pea!) And romance.

No wonder as a young adult I was attracted to fairies, wizards, witches, and magic. (Real magic; not show-business stuff.) From there it was an easy slide into my spiritual formative years: my long-time commitment to religious thought, metaphysical aspirations, and mysticism. I cut my "eye teeth" on tales of Masters and Adepts; stories of those who had developed abilities beyond the norm; Yogis and Healers.

I played around with all of the psychic "woo-woo" in my younger days and came to see that these things are natural gifts to those who sincerely seek The Spirit of Truth; not worldly goodies and acclaimation. "Pearls of Great Price" are somewhat costly. They require - your entire self: Mind, Body and Soul.

There is a legend that once you enter Fairy-land and eat fairy food, you can never go back. I've found that to be true with the World of Spirit, too - and the "food to eat ye know not of" spoken of by Jesus. (John 4:32)

It's addictive - and you never want to go back. :o)

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Carolyn's H.O.W.G. - Star Date September 21, '06

Autumn Equinox; Rosh Hashanah - the beginning of the Jewish New Year; Ramadan - the Islam month of fasting to commemorate the receiving of the Koran. All within a few days of each other. Wow!

It has to be a special period of time with many hearts open to receive spiritual blessings - a turn of the Wheel of Life that brings new beginnings.

Even death (passing of the old) simultaneously brings a birth (the beginning of the new). Dying and Birthing are flip sides of the same coin - Life. When we were born to this world of physical opportunity, we ceased to be (for a time) on the "other side." When the body ceases to exist (dies) on this earth plane, we are born once more to that one.

This is the most simplistic way to state it without getting into terms that may be strange to the Western mind-set. That is why I say once more that heaven is not a location - it is a vibration. When one begins to be a higher vibration than earth energies it's a whole new "ball-game."

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Carolyn's H.O.W.G. - Star Date September 25, '06

Mercy! I sure took a tumble through some down, heavy vibrations. Felt like getting entangled in a big spider web. Maybe it is that so many are entering into the Jewish Days of Awe. A time of repentance and contrition.

Maybe it should be called as is the childhood game of "Do-Over." (Actually, that is not always too appealing either. If we had to do something over, we may well make the same choice that we did originally.) We usually act from the highest Light that we perceive at any given time. In retrospect, we often see things "in a different light."

How does one handle "stuff" when one blunders into a heavy vibrational cloud? Is one spiritually awake enough for a symbolic baptism? A dip in the Jordan River which symbolizes the thought-stream? Clean up your act (thoughts). No "stinking Thinking."

On the physical level there are things that can be done, too. First - shower (and shampoo). Water cleanses. (The meaning behind baptism.) Don't wear clothes in which you were angry/depressed until they have been washed. Cleanse (and smudge) self and jewelry. Metals hold vibrations. You will need to cleanse bedding; sheets, blankets, pillows, etc. All of these things hold your vibrational energy.

Then, work on the atmosphere (thought/feeling) aura around you; Speak the Word with power and might. Also smudging is good (the lighting of sage). Burn incense. Play lively, happy, and/or spiritually-uplifting music to change your energy pattern. The ringing of a ceremonial bell or chime brings positive energy into your awareness. Light candles to focus your attention on the Light side of things.

These are a few things that may aid you in "turning the other cheek" (seeing things from a bright, new perspective).

Or, do it all mentally. Breathe in deeply of the Breath of Life; Smile; Give thanks to God that you are soooo blessed. You are, you know. "Many prophets and kings have desired to see and hear the things which ye see and hear, and have not." (Luke 10:24)

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Carolyn's H.O.W.G. - Star Date September 27, '06

I wonder what we would do - how we would react if the voice of God spoke within our souls and told us that we were the creators of this earth realm; that God was a Pure, Holy Energy Wave that was amenable to our every thought; whose fulfillment came from Being - just Being (whatever we asked for in our souls by our thoughts and actions - deep-down subconscious soul needs)?

We''ve been told this truth over and over in today's "Pop" metaphysics; i.e. the movie, "The Secret" whose premise was that "The Force" was a genii (like Aladdin's Lamp) who appeared and said: "Your wish is my command." And meant it.

Not a big secret - always newly discovered by those "waking up," and then thought to be a brand-new discovery; a new transforming way of doing things; a secret.

Amusing that traditionally the best way to hide things is in plain sight. Jesus taught many deep truths openly - but knew many were not ready to accept beyond surface value. He also knew that there would be those peeking into deeper levels and getting closer to the Center. For those he said, "if ye have ears to hear" (that there is a deeper message in what I am saying) - "Hear!"

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Carolyn's H.O.W.G. - Star Date September 30, '06

Wake up call this morning was at 7:00. (A good, mystical number used frequently in he Scriptures.) Yesterday it was at 6:30. I groaned and went back to sleep. Sweet Spirit has infinite patience with this recalcitrant child. I assure myself that I am not being willfully disobedient; chldish. Just accepting the world with awakening awe, which is childlike. :o) (My Mama also used to tell me that my head was as hard as nails.)

It is interesting that at the past two Monday evenings at the Labyrinth meditation my mind has begun to be "filled with zeal and enthusiasm" (like Papa Charley's) and receive visions of things that could come to be. They seem so real; so immanent; so tasty.

For the past two weks, I have had strong urgings to set up small altars in the four directions at the church: North for Michael; South for Gabriel; East for Ariel (Uriel); and West for Gabriel.

Others have assigned these Mighty Four to different directions - but these were revealed to me by a reputable source and feel right. Whatever.

Michael is head of the order of angels that protect us - with mighty power.

Raphael heads the sweet angels of healing and mercy.

Gabriel and his/her band is the communicator of messages from the Almighty. (Ladies, be careful if Gabriel appears. He has often announced that one would have a baby - when least expected.) :o)

Ariel (Uriel), angel of Light, presides over Earth conditions. One sometimes has to streth one's vision to see that the old things must pass away for the new to be born.

These are archangels and their "bands" for certain conditions. Light a candle for Michael when afraid; Raphael when ill; Gabriel when you need ideas and words; Ariel (Uriel) when undergoing transformative situations.

A little something for everyone. :o)

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Rev. Carolyn Crane