Sunday, February 04, 2018

THE SECRET FLOWER


© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter February 2018


High up in the unforgiving wilderness that is the Himalayas lies a hidden valley, called the Valley of Flowers.
Some say that this is truly Shangri-La, the Land of Everlasting Beauty… much as I would like to sustain this gentle notion, this is not the case. You see, this Valley is fairly well known by the few local tribes that live nearby … this is where young men pick the pretty flowers they give to their beloveds, this is where the few lucky bunnies come to taste the waking of Spring, this is where the Devas of the Sacred Mountains come to dance in the full moon…
This is the Valley of Joy …
And here, stuck at the very edge, forgotten by all that is beautiful, lies a little patch of snow which can never melt … No matter how much the Sun joyfully plays amongst the pretty flowers, no matter how the perfumed breezes gently meander through the Valley, they simply cannot touch this small, little, patch of snow …
Bordered by strong boulders [as if in defense of some unseen enemy] they circle the snow, guarding it from change, keeping it constant through their shadows … this they have done for thousand of years … this they will do for thousand more … for they consider it to be ‘Duty’ … and now, ‘Sacred Duty’.
But what is Time if not just a momentary breath of the Divine … and what if no judgment, no criticism, no
disapproving censure was given to these fierce guardians … what if there was simple acceptance …
Would they not, over the millennia, relax in their intense rigidity, would they not come to feel that – even though they were not like the others – yet in some strange manner, they did belong …
… and how would this affect the land, the very loving Valley which shelters them all …
And so it came to pass that in this day of Joyful Spring, for the first time, a single beautiful while flower was born out of the eternal snows … just as radiant, just as bright as the white mantel which surrounds it … and with true joy it sang a song so pure, so filled with crystal tones, that every living being around it was transported – just for a moment – to ecstasy …
Still surrounded by these strong guardians, no-one knew the source of such infinite beauty … this secret flower of the Hidden Valley … just smiled … and sang, unperturbed …
Now every year, many come to sit and rest among the colorful flowers, each with their own opinion as to the source of such pure songs … and still none thinks of looking in the one place that is believed to be barren …
Yes, every year, for just a moment, the unique blossom emerges to sing its Song of Joy … safe from turmoil of others,  thanks to the dedications of its eternal protectors who now, for some undisclosed reason, seem to be much, much more mellow …
Mario C. Veo is a teacher of Spiritual Science and a Healing Arts Practitioner. He teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation and the Expansion of Consciousness. Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations on Tuesdays and the last Sunday at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore.

Saturday, February 03, 2018

PSYCHIC READING WITH MOM


© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter February 2018


by Bob Romero

My wife invited me to attend her Circle Of Light meeting with her group that meets on the third or fourth Monday of the month. Most members of the group are women who are involved in some type of holistic healing like Reiki or Angel Therapy. I had become interested in Reiki nine years ago when I was in a lot of pain with my shoulders, and nothing seem to help. I could barely raise my arms to shoulder height. My wife had just had some Reiki sessions and recommended that I try it. Sure enough I did and my pain went completely away. That experience sparked an interest in me, in not only holistic healing, but in higher consciousness and esoteric science. I began taking classes at the Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore in these types of classes. So I jumped at the chance to attend this meeting.

I was the only man there with about 20 women. One of the members plays golf with my wife in her golf leagues. She is also the organist at her church. For this meeting, her daughter was the featured speaker. From the email that was sent out, it was stated that her daughter was born with psychic abilities and a sensitive, kind heart.  She loves to help people connect to Source and/or their departed loved ones to receive healings and answers.  Her psychic reading modalities include intuitive, tarot, and Angel Card readings plus runes or any combination. She has participated in many psychic fairs. There was no cost for her readings.
We had a potluck dinner that was hosted by a woman who does all types of healing in her home. She was dressed completely in white. Her house is filled with hundreds of images and statues of angels. There were also lots of crystals and several large Amethyst Geodes, which are purple crystals like the ones shown in the picture.
Each Amethyst Geode is worth several thousand dollars and if you put your hand in them, you can feel a tingling. There was also a special glass display case of angels in the front room where we all met for the meeting. There was a light at the top of the display, which will come into play during this discussion. It was a very positive atmosphere and I felt good about being there.
As mentioned before, the speaker was born with these gifts. At first, her parents thought that there were something wrong with her, and had her tested for psychological problems. She turned out to be fine, although her mom told me that she would cause her Religious Ed instructors to feel uncomfortable. She would sometimes tell them, “Five angels just walked in with you”. She’s now in her early twenties. She’s very bubbly and has multi-colored hair and is always smiling. She smiled at me and told me a couple of times, “Don’t be nervous mejo”, although she wasn’t sure about the last word. It actually turned out to be “jito” which my mom would sometimes call me referring to her little boy.
We had a meditation before we got started. The light in the display kept turning off and on. My wife had heard that it did that when there were physic readings, but just a few times. People commented that the loved ones were anxious to be heard. The speaker said that she was already hearing from them as she was driving toward the house.
Before we got started, she stated that she had rules for anyone to speak and that she was in total control. She did not channel anyone, but she just listened and spoke to him or her. She then mentioned that my mom was at the front of the line and was very anxious. My mom had passed six months earlier. I noted that my mom was very assertive and had little patience. The light in the display turned off and on several times while she talked to mom.
She has translators that help her when someone speaks to her in another language. She said that mom was apologizing for the confusion that she thought that she caused as to where she was to be buried, and didn’t want me to be concerned about it and used a Spanish word for tension. I remembered that mom had long before, picked a place next to dad, but in the last couple of months, before she passed, she kept saying that she wanted to be buried next to her mother. I had attributed that to her dementia. She said not to worry about it, as she’s not there anyway, and that she would see me in heaven, because that’s where she was going. She couldn’t see us very well in the last few days before she passed, because she was crossing over.
Mom said that she had had questions about my wife but realizes now, that my wife loves me. During the last few months, mom’s dementia had her convinced that we were divorced, but living next to each other.  Mom likes the fact that she can see everything that’s going on now.
The speaker then asked me if I had an older brother. She said that mom was concerned about him and that she was going to help him. She then asked me if I had an older sister, and I said that I had two from mom and one from dad. She said it was the younger sister, that she was also concerned about, and that she was going to help her too. I said that my brother-in- law was sick, and so she pointed to her head said that it was something about the mind. So mom will be helping my sister and my brother through their tough times before she goes to heaven. She actually is here for all of us.
There were several more people that came forth, and their stories were absolutely incredible. I was completely dumbfounded by all of this and could hardly think. There was no way that the speaker would know about any of the events that happened in people’s lives, and especially what she relayed from my mom. After we were finished, she joked, and said to me, “Your mother gave me a headache”. I didn’t get to talk to her afterwards, as she was swamped with several of the attendees, and we had to get home, because it was late. I had trouble sleeping that night, as I had never experienced anything like that personally. What struck me were not just the details that mom told her, but that mom’s personality traits also came forward.
A couple of weeks after the reading, my sister, whom mom had talked about in the reading, and I, went down to Trinidad for a mass in mom’s name. The night before the Mass, we visited with our oldest sister and our niece just east of Trinidad. It was a very nice visit in which I talked all about the reading, and we all felt good. When we got on the highway back to town, my sister and I saw a shooting star. The more I think about it now, the better I feel, as I know that mom is doing fine and that she’s here with us.
Until these last few years, I was always very rational and logical due to my math and science background. While I had a spiritual faith from my religious upbringing, I reasoned that it was based on events that happened a long long time ago. I was very skeptical about any thing that was supernatural or mystic. My mother would light candles and pray the rosary, and most of the time her prayers were answered even when the odds were against her. While I believed in God, and God was answering her prayers, I thought that it was all part of the overall plan and due to my mom’s good fortune, for being do devout. I did not see a direct link. I had not experienced miracles and magic personally. I have been shaken to my core with the Reiki healing and training, with the classes that I have attended, and with my mom’s reading. I have developed an unquenchable thirst for metaphysical knowledge and wisdom, and I can’t wait for more classes and more experiences.
Bob Romero has been a diligent student of esoteric spiritual subjects and metaphysics for many years, with a life-long quest for answers. He has submitted new and original articles that focus on life lessons and experiences he wishes to share with our readers and the world.

Friday, February 02, 2018

LOVE... JUST LOVE


© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter February 2018

by Mario C. Veo

I find it ironic that most religions around the world are firmly based on Love… kindness… nurturance… forgiveness – especially those that embrace the teachings of Jesus, the Master – yet seem to find no contradiction in abusing others, taking advantage of their own status and power to exploit and even mistreat those whom they feel to be ‘inferior’ to them… “After all…” [I’ve heard some say] “ I am not responsible for your debts / mess you’ve created / missed education / race-gender inequality…” Well, actually you really are… let me put it in the same language you’ve used in the past: “If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem…” And for those of you who truly believe that you can stay ‘neutral’, I refer you to the famous words of Pontius Pilate “I wash my hands of all this… Do with Him what you will”… and so they crucified Christ – not for being a horrible, violent person … but for preaching Love, and kindness, and the Brotherhood of Man.
No, I’m not advocating some kind of political, or even ideological line [god knows there are enough fools sprouting off some self-serving propaganda – much to the merriment of late night talk-shows… but I digress]. All I’m inviting you to do is reflect… truly go within and ask yourself the hard questions… “What do you believe in… and why… what are the principles you live by… and their consequences… and – my most favorite – What kind of Karma are you creating for yourself…
Don’t just mouth off some superficial platitude about being ‘a good person’, or worse, being a good church goer [even Al Capone was dedicated to his church ]…just take a good look at your Life and your everyday thoughts and actions… and – if you believe in Heaven-Hell – ask yourself what qualifies you for salvation… and just for a moment, consider – what if all the righteous propaganda you’ve been programmed to accept… turns out to be just that: the simple manipulation of Ego, designed to make you feel ever so superior…
Now what…?!?
All the Spiritual teachings, throughout the ages, have always – clearly – stated that Love is the Energy of  Creation… it is that which links us all together… it is that which links us to Spirit-Creator. Only through Love can we find happiness… forgiveness… compassion… Only through Love can we truly call ourselves to be ‘of-the-Light’… to be ‘Enlightened’… and find Oneness with ALL of Creation…
… yes, with our current [poor] world consciousness most of us have suffered some kind of heart-wound, some betrayal, abuse, unfairness, injustice… and now we have a choice:-  “Do we simply bow down to these negative energies, and allow them to limit and restrict our Life – and the pleasures which rightfully belong to us all… or… can we do something about addressing and redressing this… and if so, what…?!?”
I’m dedicating the month of February [the febrile month!] to the passionate pursuit of Love, to the charming and joyful engagement of the greatest of all Energies… and – for those that need – to the healing necessary to reclaim all the Love our little hearts can hold… if you so choose…
Mario C. Veo is a teacher of Spiritual Science and a Healing Arts Practitioner. He teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation and the Expansion of Consciousness. Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations on Tuesdays and the last Sunday at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore.

Thursday, February 01, 2018

PLANETS & POSSIBILITIES: A LOOK AT THE ASTROLOGY OF FEBRUARY 2018


© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter February 2018


by Sally Shotwell

This month begins with our being under the influence of a very powerful Full Moon(culmination) Lunar Eclipse in fiery, heart-based Leo. As we are aware, eclipses bring with them unexpected insights or events which lead us to new ways of seeing something important in our lives. Since the Sun(our consciousness), Mercury (our thought processes) and Venus(what we most value) are in Aquarius, let’s see where this sign’s influence is most likely to resonate with us. Actually, fixed air Aquarius is noted for its brilliant, innovative thinking and desire to improve the lot of humanity, all be it, from an emotionally detached position. When we ponder where we’re directing our attention, are we releasing out of date expectations of the future and entertaining new possibilities? Uranus, the Great Awakener, rules this sign and introduces change when its necessary for growth and February 6 lovely Venus teams up with him introducing a way to connect in an exciting fashion.  Her role becomes more subdued as she enters watery, dreamy Pisces February 10 where her more romantic, feeling side comes into play. She  reminds us that our fulfilling relationships connect us on a deeper level than just the mental.  Are we taking time to muse and give our minds a break?

We need this  since the Sun is being encouraged by extravagant Jupiter in watery, Scorpio to perhaps go out on a limb with some involvement – let’s just pend for the time being.

February 13
 it’s communicative Mercury’s turn to deal with Jupiter’s grandiose ideas but our attention is captured by the Sun and future-oriented Uranus in fiery, dynamic Aries.  This is a match made in heaven since they’re speaking the same language, sharing uninhibited, spirited ideas which lead to freedom-producing possibilities to be followed up on.

February 15
 Uranus gets in touch with curious Mercury and their their combined intuition and inventiveness come up with ways to allow these progressive possibilities to become a reality.  All this is leading up to the Solar New Moon (new beginnings) Eclipse in visionary Aquarius (also 2/15) which is packed with activity.

It’s opposite the position that was held by the August 21, 2017 Great American Eclipse in Leo so issues we remember that came up then will be swirling around now and we have an opportunity to check on how we’re doing.  The Sabian Symbol suggests that we’re taking the lessons seriously through INTELLIGENT FORESIGHT.  “A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply of wood for the winter:  Knowledge and skills used in its natural surroundings for the satisfaction of vital basic needs.”  The message touches the issue that to ensure our well being we must continue to participate in the natural
world, using technology to serve us, not control us. Are we connecting with our environment?

February 17 is a busy day since the Sun and Mercury embrace in Aquarius, solidifying their intellectual achievements prior to Mercury’s entrance into idealistic Pisces where his focus becomes more intuitive. The Sun joins him and Venus on the 18th and we feel the atmosphere become more moist and flowing as this mutable water sign takes center stage.  Its symbol is two fishes connected by a thread,  swimming in different directions in an endless ocean.  This illustrates the duality we all face in connecting with the material world while also reaching beyond it. 

February 21 loving Venus and other-worldly Neptune dance together and share with us fertile ground for emotionally rich encounters and creative artistic endeavors. Let’s take advantage of this charming opportunity to spend time with caring companions or just daydream – we deserve it. We’re already grounded thanks to Mercury being in contact with practical Saturn in earthy Capricorn so we won’t go off the rails.

February 25
 gentle Venus is pitted against aggressive Mars in fiery, adventurous Sagittarius and this doesn’t lead to a happy exchange since she’s in no mood to entertain edgy drama, neither are we and we don’t have to. Mercury and Neptune are together in transcendent Pisces and  imagination is running high but the situation is ephemeral and not conducive to our making decisions until the Sun and Saturn come on the scene and help us reasonably define our potential and opportunities.  With this vetting we can pursue our ambitions.

February 27 sensitive Venus and relentless Pluto in Capricorn put their heads together and he shares his profound perceptions with her, helping her better understand others’ motivations and burning away the fog that surrounds everything Pisces.  Alliances can thrive with this clarity and let’s use it ourselves in evaluating current and past relationships.
This is the time to be seeing questionable affiliations with rose-colored glasses, we have better ways to spend our time and energy.

February 28
 Mercury is busy first dealing with Mars  in circumstances similar Venus’s recent experience due to them both swimming through emotional waters. They feel under attack by the God of War.  This is the time for us to remember our strategies to detach from hostile exchanges and we’re really in luck as again Pluto comes to the rescue (isn’t this a new role?). He  guides Mercury in understanding the meaning of the profound drama we’re living through. Let’s  remember that, even though it may seem allusive, we are playing an important role on the stage!

Happy Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year of the Earth Dog (2/15)!
Blessings!

Sally Shotwell is a life-long student of esoteric spirituality whose focus on studies in Astrology have spanned decades. She has entertained and informed our readers with her articles for a few years now.