Newest Crop Circle Appears near the Uffington White Horse

Only 5 crop circles have appeared this May in the UK, the latest a simple circle with several smaller circles inside it appeared on May 19th. The newest crop circle appeared near the famous and well known Bronze Age Uffington White Horse hillside in a field of oilseed rape in Oxfordshire. The meaning of the circles is not clear at this time.

Newest Crop Circle Appears near the Uffington White Horse

Only a few miles east of Swindon, the formation is one of only five to be reported in the United Kingdom this year, presumably because of the unseasonally cold and damp weather.
It was first reported on Saturday close to the busy B4507 which runs along the escarpment parallel to the Ridgway and the White Horse itself, which means it must have been discovered soon after its creation.
Matthew Williams took these photographs while flying over the area in his microlight on Sunday. The relatively simple formation is composed of a wide circular band with a large central circle and four smaller ones in the area between.

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Here is some of the information about the Uffington White Horse from Wikipedia.

The Uffington White Horse is a highly stylized prehistoric hill figure, 110 m long (374 feet), formed from deep trenches filled with crushed white chalk…..Best views of the figure are obtained from the air, or from directly across the Vale, particularly around the villages of Great Coxwell, Longcot and Fernham. The site is owned and managed by the National Trust….. The figure has been shown to date back some 3,000 years, to the Bronze Age, by means of optically stimulated luminescence dating carried out following archaeological investigations in 1994. These studies produced three dates ranging between 1400 and 600 BC. Iron Age coins that bear a representation comparable to the Uffington White Horse have been found, supporting the early dating of this artifact; counter suggestions that the figure was fashioned in the Anglo-Saxon period now seem untenable.
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It seems that there have been some kind of intelligence that makes these figures, ( best viewed from the air) for a long time – at least since the Bronze Age (approximately 3,000 years). Will we ever discover what force makes these patterns? I believe we will indeed find out within the next 25 years. If you wish to know more about crop circles, I recommend this book: Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles by Freddy Silva. If you want to know more or purchase this book, click here. This newest crop circle appearing near the Uffington White Horse will be added to the growing number to be recorded.

Spiritual Practices through Jewish Spiritual Retreats

Those of you who read my articles know I like to feature spiritual retreats, journeys or pilgrimages once a week. Here’s an entire website devoted to Jewish Spiritual Retreats through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality in New York City. Here is what the “About Us” section has to say about their philosophy for spiritual practices through Jewish spiritual retreats.

Spiritual Practices through Jewish Spiritual Retreats

The Institute offers transformative, contemplative programs that help people reclaim traditional Jewish wisdom and deepen their relationships with God. This helps them become stronger, more effective teachers, preachers, and leaders, which in turn helps build healthier communities and enriches everyday life for all Jews.
Our challenge is to reestablish a connection between Jewish practice and teaching, and the lived lives of Jews. We need teachers, grounded in authentic Jewish spiritual practice, who can help Jews connect their own deepest experiences to the language, imagery and compelling power of the Jewish tradition. If we are to inspire our people and sustain our vision, we must tend to our own inner life, drawing from Jewish spiritual tradition.
To read more of this passage click here.

Now back to the retreats, a very complete section of the website with different types of retreats, different locations, even a travel center to help you with that aspect of your retreat vacation. Here is the description of some of the spiritual practices on retreats.

Meditation on Retreat

Our meditation sessions are all guided or with prompts, with the exception of early-morning meditation, which is optional and individual. If you have difficulty sitting for long periods of time (30 minutes to an hour) we invite you to bring a chair-pad, cushion, or to stand as necessary during meditation sessions. Your safety and comfort is our primary concern, and we encourage you to take the steps necessary to have a healthy mediation experience.

Prayer on Retreat

Our prayer practice typically incorporates mindfulness meditation, Hebrew prayers and chants. Hebrew texts will always have transliteration and translations available. If you have a siddur or prayer book that you like to use, we welcome you to bring it (we provide siddurs as well). You are also welcome to bring ritual items such as tallit, kippah, or tefillin – we are not able to provide these.

Silence on Retreat

Institute retreats, even ones that are not specifically “silent” retreats, incorporate intentional silence throughout the program. We offer periods of intentional silence in the form of mindfulness meditation each day, and incorporate periods of quiet during prayer and study. We believe that when we step back from the impulse to speak, we offer our souls the space in which they can more fully manifest. In no way is this silence meant to stifle expression – rather, it is intended to expand the opportunities for greater self-knowledge and more intentional, compassionate expression and action.
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This site is worth visiting as a good resource for those who want to maintain or strengthen their Jewish ties. It’s well organized and easy to navigate. Some of the upcoming retreats such as the Silent Shabbat Contemplative Retreat on July 13th or the Hevraya Summer Retreat on July 15th look intriguing as spiritual practices through Jewish spiritual retreats. It seems that some of them are attended by the many of the same people each year. If you find this article useful, please use the “share” buttons below to pass it along. Thanks.

Spiritual Healing Practices: All Natural Remedies for Cancer

Here is a useful website that includes not only a variety of natural remedies for cancer but addresses the different types of cancer as well. The webmistress, Anna Whang from South Korea recovered from cervical cancer and then decided to start this website. It’s also a good support network for people with cancer or their care givers. Here is what she says about some of the spiritual healing practices: all natural cures for cancer.

Spiritual Healing Practices: All Natural Remedies for Cancer

There are various techniques of approaching mind over matter approach. This technique works with your thoughts. Alternative treatment that uses mind, body, and spirit to medicate, calm, sooth, and ease the body to heal naturally is part of spiritual approach.
For cancer patients, it is very important to keep the mind healthy and try not to have negative thoughts as it is not only unhealthy but dangerous for your health. Feeling hopeless also feeds on the cancer cells. It is vital to be optimistic and meditate by feeding the mind positive thinking.
Spiritual healing is also related to praying to God. Attending a church, listening to sermons, reading out loud the bible out loud. There are testimonials of people being healed from cancer prayer and healing scriptures.
There is no right or wrong approach. See what works best for you. Personally, I have couple of options that works out for me. I enjoy praying to God and reading the bible to draw closer to God. The second approach is practicing hot yoga at the Prana Power Yoga. It teaches me to let all my anxiety, stress, worries, and anger flow through the movements of the yoga poses.
In healing cancer, not only is diet important for you, but your perception of the world and yourself is vitally important. Humans are complex, intelligent, and social beings. We have the ability to feel emotions. Our emotions control our body chemistry. When you are happy, in love, your body produces healthy hormones that heal the body naturally. The opposite happens when you feel depressed, hopeless, worthless, lonely, sad, and upset. When you respect yourself for who you are and treat yourself that way, you are actually curing yourself and boosting up the immune system inside your body.
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Anna has sections on 5 different treatment methods (Budwig Diet and Gerson Therapy, for example), cancer facts, cancer types, what causes cancer, juicing, raw food diet, etc. It’s well organized and simple to read with lots of links to other resources. This is a great resource and an important addition to spiritual healing practices. I hope she is indeed cancer-free now and can keep up this good site she says is making her a living.

Memorable Spiritual Gathering for Vesak in Sri Lanka

Vesak is a celebration of the birth of the Buddha and this year, being the 2600th year since his birth, meant the celebrations were attended by a record number of Buddhist monks and bhikkhus as well as lay people. In Sri Lanka off the coast of India the Vesak celebrations complete with homes and public buildings decorated, pagents and songs, we saw the gathering of The World Buddhist Sangha Council, with traditional dances and the chance for Buddhists of different “denominations” to meet and exchange views. In this article Kalakeerthi EDWIN ARIYADASA in the Daily News, the English version of the Hong Kong-based Buddhist Door, published in English and Chinese each month, he describes the memorable spiritual gathering for Vesak in Sri Lanka. Here is some of what he says.

Memorable Spiritual Gathering for Vesak in Sri Lanka

Historically, there had never been such a prestigious assembly of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana bhikkhus, in Sri Lanka as was on this occasion.

The rituals performed by each outstanding school of Buddhism represented eloquently and enchantingly the unity of all the Buddhist sects, transcending various rites, rituals and practices specific to each unit of practice.

Most Ven. Liao Chung Maha Thera, President, World Buddhist Sangha Council, raised the most crucial issue, which confronts mankind at this particular point of time.

“I would like to make an appeal to the politicians of the world: Please stop the development of weapons which will destroy human beings. Please work together for the well-being of humanity and the ideal of a world family”.

The assembly signified the vast human and spiritual resources, that could be readily harnessed for peace, harmony and the well-being of the global masses.
In the ephemeral world of Vesak celebrations, the assembly of global bhikkhus delivered a lasting message, in a subdued and spiritual idiom without resorting to any spirited oratorical effusions.

If you want to read the original of this passage, click here.

I think the changes that we want to see in this world will not come from elected politicians (who most time are not elected by the common people) but from the grass roots and groups such as this when they gather. Now that we are all in touch by computer, it’s easy to pass information quickly and to organize public events that are productive and inspiring. If you find this article about this memorable spiritual gathering for Vesak in Sri Lanka useful please leave a comment below. Thanks.

Spiritual Self Healing and a Different View of Archangels

The author of this article, Stephanie Adams, is a colorful woman from anyone’s perspective. A former Playboy model, author of dozens of metaphysical books and now a self-made millionaire, she writes about spiritual healing in SelfGrowth.com, an online self improvement community. Here’s some of what she says about self healing and a new view of Archangels.

Spiritual Self Healing and a Different View of Archangels

There are many methods of spiritual healing from a vast variety of cultures and spiritual origins. The one common denominator that always holds true is the basic ceremony for healing:
-Place yourself in a relaxed setting.
-Use scented candles, oils, incense and any other herbal aromatherapy to accentuate the mood for complete serenity.
-Lay down (or sit) in silence. (Calm, soothing background music is optional.)
-Close your eyes and clear your mind from all irrelevant thoughts and forms of negativity.
-Focus on the matter that needs to be healed from within.
-Picture the obstacle (whether it is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual) and picture yourself overcoming it.
-Open your eyes and resume with your natural activities.
-Most importantly, BELIEVE in your healing abilities and assure yourself that your healing session will result in success.
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This is a simple ritual but one many people forget to do in order for the unconscious mind to be programed to heal your body. In another short description of her new book, Stephanie describes her view of the Archangels as warriors fighting for the good.

In these modern days, it is often quite rare and beyond unheard of for people to portray angels as militant, godlike warriors. Surprisingly, archangels being viewed as paranormal figures and action superheroes are even more unheard of. Books, movies, and other popular venues glorify in actors playing the role of generic crime fighters and fictional lifesavers, but what about the original ones written about during ancient times? And according to the author of nearly two dozen publications, Stephanie Adams: Sometimes you have to go back in history in order to make it. So what better way to teach the spiritual battle between good and evil, ultimately showing that the goodness of God will always prevail, than to write a book on it from a religious background, combined with a metaphysical perspective? Introducing...The Book Of GODDESSY By Stephanie Adams.

If you wish to read more about this book, Goddessy and the New Order of Archangels, click here. Then you can see more about spiritual self healing and a different view of Archangels.

Practical Spirituality Mediumship Workshop Coming to Seattle

Famous psychic, author and award-winning producer, Jonna Rae Bartges will hold a mediumship workshop at Seattle’s East West Bookshop on May 31 – June 2, 2012. In a press release (PR Web, May 10, 2012) there are more details about this practical spirituality mediumship workshop coming to Seattle, Washington State and also her new book, Psychic or Psychotic? Memoirs of a Happy Medium.

Practical Spirituality Mediumship Workshop Coming to Seattle

“I see dead people so you don’t have to” is ‘Happy Medium’ Jonna Rae’s slogan. Thursday May 31 at 7 p.m., she’ll give a brief presentation and sign copies of her autobiography, Psychic or Psychotic? Memoirs of a Happy Medium. In her book, she shares how growing up psychic let her navigate a near-death experience, win EMMY® Awards, comfort grieving families and talk to Walt Disney and whales while doing PR for Disneyland and Sea World San Diego. Her sometimes humorous, always real life journey helps you understand and cultivate your own psychic potential.

Because so many of the stories in Jonna Rae’s book deal with animal communication, she’s donating 20% of her proceeds that evening to the Seattle Humane Society.

In addition to her private consulting business, during her 35 years as a professional psychic she has read for the International Coptic Conference, Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship, The Learning Light Foundation in Anaheim, CA and United Research Light Center and Crystal Visions in the Asheville NC area. After Jonna Rae did a reading for Peter Caddy and his infant son in 1984, Caddy invited her to come be the resident psychic at his Mt. Shasta community. Feeling the timing wasn’t right, she respectfully declined.

Through skype, phone, and in person at her Asheville and Hendersonville, NC area offices, Jonna Rae serves an international roster of clients.
To view the original press release and the details of this workshop, click here.

People who attend this practical spirituality mediumship workshop coming to Seattle will get in touch with their “inner intuitive”. This is a streamlined version of her usual workshops, but the space at East West Bookshop is quite conducive to learning (separate but still part of the bookstore). I have taught a course there myself in Psychic Hand Diagnosis and Intuitive Reading. If you wish to know more about Jonna’s autobiography, Psychic or Psychotic? or you wish to purchase it, click here.

The Increasing Demand for Spiritual Directors

There is a new, popular job springing up called “spiritual director” that is something like a religious counselor but not necessarily a minister or rabbi. In our world where things are changing so quickly, many people are looking for direction and focus. They may not want to attend church services, but they are seeking counsel from religious “mentors”. Here is what Lisa Wangsness has to say writing in The Boston Globe (“Metro” section) about the increasing demand for spiritual directors.

The Increasing Demand for Spiritual Directors

Natalie Weaver, a 25-year-old musician who lives in Roxbury, does not go to church. But every three weeks or so, she visits a white vinyl-sided building on Dorchester Avenue, a former convent, to meet with her spiritual director.
For about an hour, she sits with a gentle, bearded man in a quiet room with gleaming oak floors and talks about the experiences that most awaken her spirit, the people who make her feel most connected and alive.
“It’s another person who is listening, and kind of asking questions and even just pointing things out,’’ she said. “I think it holds you accountable to dig deeper.’’
Spiritual direction is a tradition of religious mentorship with roots in ancient Christianity. For centuries, monasteries and seminaries offered direction to clergy and members of religious orders. But the practice is increasingly going mainstream, as more people, Christian and otherwise, seek help exploring their relationship with the divine.
Membership in Spiritual Directors International, the largest such organization in the nation, has increased from about 400 at its beginning in 1990 to more than 6,000 today, including more than 250 in Massachusetts.
Driving the growth are millennials like Weaver, who are more apt than previous generations to identify as “spiritual but not religious.’’ Ed Cardoza, Weaver’s spiritual director and the founder of Still Harbor, a South Boston nonprofit, mostly sees people in their 20s and 30s.

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It seems a positive step that churches and synagogues are accommodating these young folks seeking guidance in a way that is meaningful to them. I suspect the next step would be to make the religious services more relevant to the younger set too. It’s also great that the ministers and rabbis who are spread so thin already have help in the form of these extra counselors. Lastly, it wonderful to have new jobs available due to this increasing demand for spiritual directors. Do you find this article useful or interesting? Please click on the Facebook “like” or “share” below if you do.

                                     Photo by ARAM BOGHOSIAN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE