Hello everyone and thanks for reading.
Summer is here and we are almost ready for the Hiking season. We will be doing some video and I have other plans for creating content that will not have anything to do with the newsletter. I am sitting on a plane heading back to Denver from My sister Christine’s wedding to John Viega in Virginia. It was my pleasure to perform the ceremony and it was also the first one I have ever done. I have spoken at a few but this was different. Christine and John, thank you for the honor of participating in this beautiful milestone in your lives and Louise and I wish you all of the love and happiness in the world. John already has two beautiful girls and they want to have more children together, the sooner the better. Most of the Fisichella clan was there and we had a blast.
The new temple room in our home has already undergone a change. Louise and I have just taken stewardship of the Denver Theosophical Society Lodge's library and Louise has joined the Society. She cataloged all of the nearly 450 books and if you are in the Denver area, this is a lending Library. Anyone is welcome to browse and borrow books. We have added it to our 200 plus books which are available for reference as well. If you are an Alice Bailey fan, I have her entire catalog. Just contact me at Doug@higher-ground.com and I will let you know where we are.
I have started to teach Occult Meditation at the MRS hoping that a group will coalesce so that we can move into ever more advanced techniques over time. I don't feel comfortable bringing certain practices out until people have a certain amount of experience and if this is ever going to be more than a beginner’s class it will be because we are having regular participation. Just like the Metaphysics 101 classes this really represents an experiment and we will adjust to what people need as we go. I am looking at the possibility of re-purposing the classes in a number of different ways, including shorter weekly classes and online courses. If any of you feel you would like to see that come about or have any suggestions please contact me and let me know. I want to offer the teachings in ways that allow as many people as possible to participate.
There will be changes to the website as well. We have over 100 articles on different subjects but people have had a hard time finding them in the archives, so the plan is to categorize them under some of the existing headings so they are easier to find. We are also going to begin to use the distributor, Authorhouse to do our order fulfillment on the books. I am not sure if they will do the audio products we have produced ourselves so we still have some negotiating to do before that happens.
Because the newsletter has become a quarterly offering, I won’t be separating articles in to parts for sequential newsletters. My article for this month on Estoeric Training and Psychic Development would have been a candidate for that because it is quite long in comparison to some, but you will be able to read the entire article in this newsletter.
One of our favorite contributors Jeanne O’Connor (affectionately known as “Mom”) has released her second book “Ponderings” through Authorhouse. You can get it here, or read a preview. For a better sample you can read her article on Forgiveness in our archives because it was incorporated into the book.
I am also including two book reviews. One on Brian Green’s new release “The Hidden Reality” and another called “How Quantum Activism can save Civilization by Amit Goswami Ph.D
Enjoy...
Doug
As the religious world interprets its scriptures with twentieth century educational facilities, it becomes ever more apparent that the sacred books were not historical documents, but that the kings, sages, prophets, and saviors whom Bible students have revered for ages as once-existing personalities are in reality only personified attributes of man himself.
Manly P. Hall
The Secret Teachings of All Ages |
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An excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita
Men of good deeds who worship me O Arjuna
Are of four kinds:
The afflicted, the seekers of knowledge, the seeker of wealth
An also, O Bull of the Bharatas, the wise.
Of these, the wise, always whole,
And whose commitment to the One, excels.
Indeed I am exceedingly dear to the wise,
And he is dear to me.
Noble are all these without exception,
But to my mind the wise is my very self
For he with disciplined self effort (yuktatma)
Is firmly grounded in me alone as the highest goal.
At the end of many births,
The man of wisdom comes to me
Aware that Vasudeva is all
Such a man of great self is hard to find.
Articles:
A New Kind of Adventure Begins
Excerpted from “The Christ Epoch”
In the early stages of development we speak of the awakening individual as an Aspirant - one who aspires toward a new and more spiritually oriented lifestyle, complete with revised attitude and value system. Actually, it is more than a change of lifestyle that is in question. It is the initial stage of a metamorphosis into a new state of existence that is at stake. From out of the cocoon of personality orientation, he must emerge and take wing upon a new stage of life. The governing factors will be honesty of mind, sincerity of heart, non-attachment and a growing lack of identification with the form side of existence.
Initially, it should be realized that no Aspirant, no matter how earnest, faithful, heartfelt and dutiful, is without faults. If he were we would call him "Adept" or "Master." All Aspirants are still possessed of some measure of ego and are thus personality driven to that extent. They are still prone to anger, temper, depression and irritability. Instead of appearing spiritual, at times they seem the antithesis. Like all of us, they are a work in progress. In the early stages of the Path the Aspirant is bound to succumb periodically to earlier appetites and temptations. It is an ongoing struggle characterized by many relapses and disappointments.
These faults may be aroused in them by what might seem to be "just causes" and a sense of "self-righteousness," giving rise to a rationale and justification for their conduct. Injustice, cruelty to other human beings, animals or the environment; violence, hatreds and the bigotry of their fellow men, sometimes arouse in them corresponding reactions and cause them much suffering and delay in their journey. What better are they than those they are judging if their reaction is likewise that of intolerance? It is hard, in the face of seeming injustice, to turn one’s face away and pretend we just didn't see. It is even harder to see and acknowledge the sorrow of the world and not get overwhelmed by it all, rendering one impotent, where love, wisdom and understanding are needed.
Whole Article
Anthony J. Fisichella
Anthony J. Fisichella Accomplished author student and teacher of the Ageless Wisdom. Founder of the Higher Ground Foundation
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Book Review:
"The Hidden Reality" - Brian Greene
Brian Greene's new offering takes you from the origins of quantum theory through descriptions of nine different theories of what is referred it as the Multiverse. Complex intertwined webs of matter which could either be millions of light years or just millimeters away. It is an interesting and in depth treatment and shows the evolution of the mathematical questions and answers which have their origins in the work of Bohr, Plank and Einstein. The advent of modern particle colliders have accelerated the progress in theoretical physics and lead scientists into multi-dimensional theories of reality which, by their nature defy the senses and to a certain extent the “common sense” of the mind.
The discussion is widened by the use of the term "infinite". This opens the door to ideas that seem counter intuitive at first. There are things that lie outside of the observable universe (that portion which we are enabled to see based on the time elapsed since the big bang and the finite speed of light) which we are stuck theorizing about. The Quilted Multiverse, implying a patchwork of these "universes" into an infinite expanse guarantees repetition and so the theory supposes as many of them do that there are infinite versions of "you" reading infinite versions of this. The Inflationary Universe theory gives rise to the Inflationary Multiverse, and if this expansion continues to accelerate the sky will black out because everything will eventually move beyond that observable horizon. Perhaps the most "out there" theory is the Holographic Multiverse in which our three dimensional world is a holographic projection of a events occurring on a bounding surface on the circumference and losing in translation some of the ten or eleven dimensions of that world like the shadows on the cave wall of Plato's metaphor.
I got to see Brian Greene speak a couple of years ago at the annual conference for a group called ISSSEEM, The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine. This is not where you would initially expect to find a physicist. Well, maybe it would be more accurate to say it's not where a physicist might expect to find himself. After a very clear and able explanation of the two slit experiment in which electromagnetic radiation (light) is shown to have the properties of both a particle and a wave, he was asked by an audience member to draw a parallel between modern physics theory and Spiritual teachings and well... Energy Medicine ala "The Tao of Physics" (Capra). He flatly refused and stood his ground calling it "irresponsible" to a crowd that was getting contentious. Guess what? He is a scientist and an empiricist. It was obvious then and still is after having read his book. He asked the group if we wanted to take the rest of the time he had on this argument, which I am sure he was prepared for, or allow him to finish his presentation. The crowd chose the latter and we moved on. Based on the very scientific approach and the refusal to entertain the thought proposed by the audience member, I expected this book might be dry, even though he was quite entertaining in his presentation. His willingness to examine some of the very theoretical and difficult concepts with an open mind and heart were a pleasant surprise.
Now, I have to finish the story, even though it might seem like a digression. The speaker that opened the conference the next morning was Dean Raden the chief physicist for the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). His first line after introducing himself was "and I believe". The crowd went nuts, of course. He went on to discuss the same famous two slit experiment and simply took it a step farther showing that the observer affects the outcome of the experiment. The wave becomes a particle when it is observed. Until then it is referred to as a pattern of probability or a "Wave Function". This supports the "we are creating our world with our thoughts and consciousness" stuff that Brian Greene said was "irresponsible" the day before. It’s hard to get the real gist of this whole situation without really going into too much detail but I left feeling like Brian Greene withheld something to bolster his argument. Bummer, but I still liked him, so I bought this book.
Having now seen some of the Multiverse Theories that have been built around the necessity of complex mathematical relationships, there are actually a number of explanations within the pages of this book which allow the empiricist the room to refuse to give what seems an obvious explanation more weight than another explanation of any kind when neither can be proved, without being guilty of what seemed at the time to be intellectual dishonesty. He went very deep into the experiment and its implications as well as giving a history of the evolution of thought and which preceded it and that which it provoked. Some of the multiverse theories state that at the moment of observation the particle is only where it is in our Universe. We did not manifest the particle where it is, it simply represents the direction our consciousness chose. Go Mr. Greene.
As you may have begun to assume while I meandered through this long story, I like Mr. Greene and I really liked this book. I have read a number of different books on related subjects and I found his presentation of these complex ideas clearly illustrated in his metaphors and thought experiments. By necessity he went deeper into certain ideas like string theory M or Membrane theory because each of these give rise to mathematics which describe a different type of Multiverse. It is incomprehensible to those of us who can’t "read" math how math can describe the universe, or anything else. He is and has been one of the leading theorists in String theory and you could hear his passion in his words but I have to give him credit again in that he gave fair treatment to all of them.
I am not a physicist but I find the subject fascinating. I don’t study quantum mechanics because that would take a lifetime’s focus, but I do appreciate when the dedicated people who do are able to find a way to bring these theories forth to give body and form to the incomprehensible language of mathematics. I look forward to the next one and recommend this to any other quantum wonk out there.
Doug Fisichella
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Esoteric Training and Psychic Development
In considering any subject from Philosophy or Science to Literature, it seems the first step is to define the field of enquiry. Just what is it we are to consider and will there be any boundaries? Esoteric training is in the broadest sense so all encompassing as to make the term almost meaningless. The moment we look at a happening, a thought, a feeling, or perhaps an inspiration, in considering its meaning we have crossed a line into a new realm. Every pursuit of something as yet unknown fits into this category and is, in that broad sense Esoteric Training because in such pursuits the student is essentially self taught. The moment he asks the question "why?" with regard to what he observes in his world, his quest has begun and only he is qualified to say when he has found the answer. There is an implication of detachment in the question "why?" even if it is voiced as a complaint about some outside circumstance to which he feels he has fallen victim. And then, even this could be seen as the beginnings of the journey toward the conscious direction of one’s life when looked at retrospectively at some future time, whether it is recognized at this moment or not.
There are stages and classifications that can be made within the realm of this inner training and we will certainly take this discussion to a greater depth in a number of them. We are all on our own path and yet we all simultaneously share the path of the evolution of consciousness and will tend to encounter similar problems at similar stages of our development. Those who have gone before us can serve as guides, if we let them. It is in the last analysis only the individual student who can determine the approach he will take to life and learning. The guides of the race are there to lend a hint when the student is open to their aide, but the responsibility lies with the student alone.
Whole Article
Douglas Fisichella is a Student of the Arcane School founded by Alice A. Bailey and a life long student of the worlds religions
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Yo 7 Day Physical and Mental Purge
by Louise Fisichella
First of all I feel the need to make some kind of a "disclaimer" here and now... this "regime" is only meant for peeps that are healthy. If you are under the care of a doctor of medicine or of psychology you need to double check with them as to whether you can undergo such a fast. It is important to note that I am not a doctor and I am only sharing with you what has worked for me. Many of my personal hours are spent in the study of the body, both seen and unseen and through personal experience, I have learned much. My solitary practice began in 1992 with the study of "aromatherapy & herbal remedies" and I have been practicing ever since.
In 1985, I met Mr. Swede Hanson, and began my experience in the field of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment. Although I have not renewed my license, still counsel addicts in an informal setting, without interference from the State or any clinical setting.
During the course of the next 7 days you will be undergoing a certain amount of "with-draw" and the symptoms that accompany it. These will range in their intensity, duration & origin. That is why being both mentally and physically healthy or having SUPPORT in these areas is important/imperative. You may experience headache, nausea, dizziness, changes in blood pressure and mood. I want to emphasize the mood changes. They can swing wildly, last momentarily or, you may suffer and languish for hours. Your family or those around you ought to be in support of your efforts on these occasions.
Whole Article
Contact Louise at Go Figure Body Works
E-mail: Louise Fisichella
Practice Uncommon Appreciation
by Jack Canfield
A recent management study revealed that 46% of employees leaving a company do so because they feel unappreciated; 61% said their bosses don’t place much importance on them as people; and 88% said they don’t receive acknowledgement for the work they do.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, manager, teacher, parent, coach or simply a friend, if you want to be successful with other people, you must master the art of appreciation.
I’ve never known anyone to complain about receiving too much positive feedback. Have you? In fact, just the opposite is true.
Consider this: Every year, a management consulting firm conducts a survey with 200 companies on the subject on what motivates employees. When given a list of 10 possible things that would most motivate them, the employees always list appreciation as the number-one motivator.
Whole Article
Jack Canfield, America's Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance.
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Four Steps to Success
by Jim Rohn
Let me pass on to you these four simple steps to success:
No. 1 is good ideas. Be a collector of good ideas. My mentor taught me to keep a journal when I was 25 years old. I've been doing it now all these years. They will be passed on to my children and my grandchildren. If you hear a good health idea, capture it, write it down. Don’t trust your memory. Then on a cold wintry evening, go back through your journal, the ideas that changed your life, the ideas that saved your marriage, the ideas that bailed you out of bankruptcy, the ideas that helped you become successful, the ideas that made you millions. What a good review. Go back over the collection of ideas that you gathered over the years. So be a collector of good ideas for your business, for your relationships, for your future.
The next step to success is to have good plans: a good plan for the day, a good plan for the future, a good health plan, a good plan for your marriage. Building anything is like building a house - you need to have a plan. Now here is a good time-management question: When should you start the day? Answer: As soon as you have it finished. It is like building a house, building a life. What if you just started laying bricks and somebody asks, “What are you building?” And you say, “I have no idea.” See, they would come and take you away to a safe place. So, don’t start the house until you finish it. Now, is it possible to finish the house before you start it? Yes, but it would be foolish to start before you had it finished. Not a bad time-management idea. Don’t start the day until it is pretty well finished - at least the outline of the day. Leave some room to improvise. Leave some room for extra strategies, but finish it before you start it.
Whole Article
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Putting Your Children on Paths to Tomorrow
Q. Can you offer any words of wisdom on "letting go" of my 17-year-old son? -- C.M., Boca Raton
A. Letting go of your child can be a joyful or painful experience.
Choose the path that helps you trust that he is in God's good care.
Practice listening and allow him the space to ask for your guidance. Surrender to the natural process of separation.
And read below, Kahlil Gibran's sage advice from his book The Prophet. May it bring you quiet acceptance.
On Children
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Liz Sterling is the director of LifeWorks Wellness Center in Boca Raton, FL, a member of Wachovia Small Business Advisory Group, features editor for Balance Magazine and the host of B-U-Radio
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