Leaving religion and finding faith

-- I found this article a few years ago -- Ronna Detrick, expressing my own view perfectly!

"Something has changed within me.

Something is not the same

I’m through with playing by the rules

Of someone else’s game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It’s time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes: and leap!

- Defying Gravity, from the musical Wicked

When my beliefs, those long-held religious and doctrinal tenets I’d known since a child, started niggling at me, changing, and frankly, just stopped working, it felt as though the very ground beneath me was slipping away.

The image that often came to mind was of some brave soul crossing a rickety wooden bridge. It swings dangerously over a deep, cavernous space, sparsely protecting her from what’s below. As she gets closer to the other side, she realizes the just-traveled planks are disintegrating beneath her feet. She runs, scrambles, claws and then leaps (at the last possible moment) to the security and safety of firm ground. And simultaneously, what was left of the bridge, her previously-trusted stability, falls into oblivion. She sits winded and stunned on the other side, aware that her fate hung in an incredibly precarious balance – and she survived.

More than once I have been suspended over seemingly impossible situations that have caused me to grasp frantically for any solid ground. Childhood issues. Infidelity. Broken trust. Leaving the church. There is more, of course. This is enough.

My circumstances were/are not, in any way, more difficult than anyone else’s. And, like many others in such places I turned to my religious beliefs – certain that “all things work together for good.” But the bridge felt wobbly. I felt shaky, unstable, and ambivalent. And when push came to shove, literally, the firm foundation of my faith completely fell apart.

Right then and there I had to choose: return to a life of unquestioning, uncomfortable silence or leap into the unknown.

I leapt. And, in so doing, survived.

I also found faith.

In my religious tradition, faith is understood as a system of beliefs upon which one can (must) stand – firmly, resolutely, without question or doubt. It is something within which I (must) place my confidence and trust; something that resides outside of me and usually presides in authority (God, a pastor, a man).

What I needed, however, was confidence and trust in something within; frankly, I needed to have faith in myself. I had to make the leap. There was no other choice.

I’m not the only one who has stood in such places. Do you feel the ground beneath you starting to shift? Do your beliefs no longer provide you the sure footing they promised? Do you know how to cross the gaping chasm between significant life/belief questions and answers that no longer satisfy? When circumstances occur in life that defy the staid, safe tenets of religious dogma, do you know who and how you will be?

Frankly, there are no easy answers to these questions. The scrambling ensues. And ultimately, all you can do is leap.

To let go of seemingly rock-solid answers in search of more meaningful questions is not an abandoning of our beliefs; it is faith.

To adventure bravely across treacherous waters, confident that your own strength will carry you is faith.

To trust that old stories can have new meanings, assumed truths can be queried, and that you can remain standing in the midst is faith.

To leap when everything in (and everyone around) you tells you that gravity is irrefutable is faith.

And faith will not let you down.

I took the risk, stepped onto that swaying bridge, ran like hell, and didn’t look back. And I continue to stand strongly in my doubts, knowing that they are the very things that enable my beliefs. I am endlessly letting go of more and more that I’ve held sacred, dear, or sacrosanct. And I am forever leaping – trusting that when I land I will step forward, confident and empowered, defying gravity time and again.

This risking, doubting, letting go, and leaping is endless. Solid ground is a myth; but the endless, soaring flight of faith offers a stabilizing loft that sustains, emboldens, and yes, defies gravity over and over again.

Go ahead: make the leap. Have faith. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side. Here, take my hand…

It’s time to try

Defying gravity

I think I’ll try

Defying gravity

And you can’t pull me down!

"Christmas belongs to anyone who wants it, and just because I gave up believing in a god doesn’t mean I gave up believing in the love and joy of family. I did not give up the joy of celebration with my abandonment of the absurd. So to my religious and non-religious friends, I wish them all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah or happy Diwali from the heart and I hope they take it with the true spirit with which I give it – that of the spirt of humanity - something we can all celebrate."

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You just get stronger!

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us. This can be said for everything that happens in our lives. Change is the end result of all true learning. Many of us suffered hardships over the past year, so when life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. What happens in your life next will depend a great deal on what you bring to it.

Sometimes when you're in a dark place...

It really is true what they say, that every dark cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes when you're in a dark place, all you have to do is change your outlook, like seeing the glass half full in stead of half empty. The choice you make at this time will determine how you spend the rest of your life.

I know it has been said before, but every ending is also a new beginning. Every experience we have in life gives us the opportunity to take stock, find out what is important to us and to choose what to focus on. Every relationship we have, good or bad, teaches us more about ourselves, teaches us what is acceptable and what is not, teaches us where our boundaries are and how to set them. It also teaches us that you can't change people, shouldn't change people, and that we can only change ourselves.

So if you think you have been buried and that there's no chance of survival, know that you've actually been planted and that, by forging ahead, you will soon emerge into the sunshine and breathe in the wonderful air and grow strong again.

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In the name of the best within you...

“In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.”

- Ayn Rand

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May you grow in 2015!

The purpose of life for man is growth, just as the purpose of life for trees and plants is growth. Trees and plants grow automatically and along fixed lines; man can grow, as he will. Trees and plants can only develop certain possibilities and characteristics; man can develop any power, which is or has been shown by any person, anywhere. Nothing that is possible in spirit is impossible in flesh and blood. Nothing that man can think is impossible-in action. Nothing that man can imagine is impossible of realization.

Life without progress becomes unendurable, and the person who ceases from growth must either become imbecile or insane. The greater and more harmonious and well rounded his growth, the happier man will be.

There is no possibility in any man that is not in every man; but if they proceed naturally, no two men will grow into the same thing, or be alike. Every man comes into the world with a predisposition to grow along certain lines, and growth is easier for him along those lines than in any other way. This is a wise provision, for it gives endless variety. It is as if a gardener should throw all his bulbs into one basket; to the superficial observer they would look alike, but growth reveals a tremendous difference.

So of men and women, they are like a basket of bulbs. One may be a rose and add brightness and color to some dark corner of the world; one may be a lily and teach a lesson of love and purity to every eye that sees; one may be a climbing vine and hide the rugged outlines of some dark rock; one may be a great oak among whose boughs the birds shall nest and sing, and beneath whose shade the flocks shall rest at noon, but every one will be something worthwhile, something rare, something perfect.

May your New Year be filled with roses, lilies and singing birds and may the great Oak cast its calming shade over your life.

Happy New Year!

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How To Live Your Life Without Regrets

Everyone has made poor choices or done something in their past that could possibly be labelled as "regrettable." But, think about it. The fact that you are now able to look back and realize that a mistake or mis-step occurred means you have learned a valuable lesson. Some of my choices may have landed me in unpleasant circumstances, but experiencing these things certainly built my current character. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for those character-building situations. Mistakes are stepping stones to an evolving life. No need for you to sink into regret or despair -- keep your chin up.

Here's How:

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: now and forever

Acknowledge a mistake has been made - It is easy to play the blame game, pointing fingers at someone else or circumstances as to why you have stumbled or why your life is difficult. Taking personal ownership that your past actions resulted in bringing about your current reality is the first step to moving past regrets and moving toward a brighter future.

Make amends - If your past actions or words have harmed another person an apology may be in order. Or not, apologies can be tricky. Judge for yourself if an apology will help matters or only drudge up old wounds better left alone. But, definitely forgive yourself! Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Continually berating yourself for past actions is self-defeating. Would you kick a dog while it was laying down? Of course not. Please don't do this to yourself. Righting a wrong is not always feasible. If you feel badly about a past action you've taken that cannot be righted, forgive yourself, and let it go.

Do-overs - Sometimes feelings of regret arise not from our past actions, but from our non-actions. Have you ever regretted not taking a vacation, staying stuck in a dead-end job, not attending college... or whatever? It may be too late to reverse those decisions, but you still have options. Some colleges offer free classes for seniors. You might not have the time, money, or physical endurance to travel, but you can rent movies or attend travelogue showings about the regions you wish to learn more about. New opportunities are available around every corner if you just open your heart and follow your dreams.
Be grateful - The most valuable lessons learned in life often come from the mistakes we make. It may take a walk down a dark alley to see clearly. Embrace your follies, feel gratitude for getting past the worst episodes and eventually finding your way along a less-cluttered path.

Be careful not to repeat the same mistake - A skinned-knee teaches a small child not to run so fast. Slow-down. If you are repeatedly faced with similar difficulties over and over again, this is a sure bet that you have not learned the lessons these situations are trying to teach. Opportunity will surface only after you take responsibility for faulty actions taken and change your current and future behaviours accordingly.

Be watchful of future knee-jerk reactions - This is probably the toughest step, not reacting negatively to situations or the people who tend to push your buttons. We don't always have control over the things life tosses in front of us, but we do control our reactions. Stay calm. Introduce stress-management into your daily life. Meditation helps clear and focus the mind. Therapeutic play will help balance work-related stresses.

Looking deeper inside - Re-evaluate the direction your life is taking. Have you accepted that your past mistakes are just that --- in the past? Focus on today. Become aware of your future goals and desires. Setting clear intentions will help clear the path so that your life progresses with a freer heart and increased happiness. The best is yet to come! Believe it.

Tips:

Remember, nobody is perfect. Including yourself!

Forgiveness is golden.

Live for today. Yesterday was then.

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Go to your inner Happy Place

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Season, Reason and Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,

It is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong-doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
It is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring  you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

When people come into your life for a LIFETIME
relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (any way); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. 
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
- author Unknown -

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There is enough of everything, for everybody

I really want you to get into the realization that your lack-based conclusions are erroneous, and not validated. Your conclusion that there isn't enough of something—whether it is enough land or enough money, or enough clarity—your feeling that there is not enough of something, stems from you learning, without meaning to, a vibration that holds you apart from what you want. But you imply that there's not enough in the bucket, that there's not enough in the pile, that there's not enough in the Source—that the Source of what you want is somehow limited. And since the Source is limited, then those greedy buggers that have managed to figure out how to get it in their life, are somehow depriving you of it. And I say, oh, you could not be further from the fact of the abundance of Source!

There is no limitation. If you can identify a desire for it, Source recognizes your desire, and immediately begins to deliver it to you—and it will manifest in your experience in the variety, in the fullness, in the way that you, and only you, learn to allow it.

So, if you stand in your now and you say, "Look at where I am. Where I am, justifies the desire that is conjuring within me. It is really important that I have this, or this, or this—because, after all, I am living in the deprivation of it. And the deprivation of it has served me to identify that I want it. I want that thing that I do not have. I want that thing that I do not have! I want that thing that I do not have. I really, really want that thing that I really, really, really do not have!"

And I say, you cannot be equally focused upon the absence of something, and bring it swiftly into your experience at the same time, because in your awareness that you do not have it, you are offering a vibration. And the vibration that you're offering, is sending a signal to the Universe that says, "I am one who does not have this." The Universe, is based upon the Law of Attraction, which says, "The vibration that you emit is the vibration that you receive." You cannot set your radio for 98.6 and receive the broadcast from 101 FM—you understand that. And you cannot set your sender to the "I don't have enough money," and be in the place of receiving all the money that you want, because the signals do not line up—and Law of Attraction is responding to the vibration of your Being. Nice, isn't it? Nice to know. So consistent—always consistent.

No one affects you, but you. Oh, you can watch others, and you can get all revved up about what they're doing. In your watching of others, you can project a vibration that the Universe matches. But your vibration is yours. You have control of your vibration. And when you learn to offer a vibration deliberately, you are the Deliberate Creator of your own experience. And before you learn to offer a vibration deliberately, you are just the creator of your experience—a sort of creator by default.

Excerpted from the workshop 'Abraham' in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, March 8th, 2003

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Resign from a system that no longer serves you

Art By : 'Prana' Bernart Amygdalah Digital-Art

That feeling of pure bliss coming in when you decide to resign from a system that no longer serves you - be true to yourself don`t betray your own Soul.
For you to fully enter into your own mastery, you have to stop being a follower. Ask your own heart, and walk your own way lead by your heart and soul ...
We need for you to bring your own unique mastery into our togetherness ....
Espavo dear Ones !!!

~ Keeper of The Platinum Ray

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Feel the fear and do it anyway

What is waiting but a pause in a hurtful place?.. It’s like standing barefoot in a pricker bush and saying, 

“hmm, I don’t think I’m ready to move yet”.

The timing will never be right. The conditions will never ever ever ever be exactly perfect. No matter how long you wait, there will always be a reason it why isn’t the “right” time.

So maybe you should just do it anyway.

Whatever it is that you’re working on, planning to do, or waiting to implement, it’s too important to just let it slip away.

Whenever we humble ourselves, open up and decide to do something powerful, something worth doing, a lot of doubt, question, and “is it right?” is brought to the surface. Many of the people I work with have experienced this, and I too have felt waves of this feeling. And you know what? This is what makes us feel alive. This is us feeling, experiencing, and doing our work. The more we try and experience and move forward, the more “stuff” we’re faced with, and there’s always going to be more “stuff” and its all beautiful. It’s all moveable, and it’s all eye opening and perfect.

Through our “real work” we do our “soul work”.

And ooh we’re doing big things, we’re doing serious work. Whether it be bettering our own lives, and loving ourselves deeply, or sharing this with someone else through our work. The good stuff isn’t always easy. And we need to recommit to this work each and every day. We need to remind ourselves of the good that we are doing, and the fact that there is no one else in this world that can do exactly whatever it is that you can. There is no one that has what you have, because it’s YOU, that you do have. And it’s THAT which you will share, and spread out and send into the world. And this is what we must remind ourselves of.

And even more than all of this, we have to remind ourselves to actually DO IT, and make moves.

I mean really, what is the risk of moving forward and doing this thing? Are you afraid of loss or failure? Because psst, guess what: if you never move forward to do whatever it is you’re yearning for, you’ve automatically experienced loss, “failure” and non success. If you don’t do it at all, there’s no way to get it done. You have to at least TRY, or you’ve automatically failed.
Action is what really gets things flowing.

Movement is what the universe responds to more quickly than thought. It’s action that shows the world you are serious. Each step creates momentum, and each moment it gets stronger and stronger, pushing you along the way. This is you in the flow. And baby…. I LOVE the flow. Let’s move.

So let’s bring this back to you, my love. Where are you feeling stuck? What have you been waiting to do, when the timing is “right” or after “this one thing is done”?

It’s time to move now. The time is now because you will never feel ready. That edge of nerve, sweat, or super-fast heartbeat will never fully go away. And thank god, because it is that which reminds us of the strength of our actions. The fact that you are sitting here, thinking about this thing and experiencing a physical response, without having acted yet, shows how powerful it can be.

But let’s re-frame this a little bit….. Instead of experiencing this sensation as fear of what may come, look at it as if you are already feeling the effects of this powerful decision. It’s excitement about the good that is to come that you are feeling, not fear! Whoa!! Different right? One small shift of perspective changes this terrible feeling in your gut into something that’s beneficial, exciting and GOOD.

So recommit if you’ve felt like maybe it isn’t right, or that you can’t do it. I’ve been there, too. We all have. But you know what? It is right, you can do this, and you are important. Who cares how long it has taken you to get here, because you’re here now, and nothing super easy is really worth doing anyway.

There are thorns in your feet baby! Pluck them out and get a move on. Remember all that there is for you to create. Remember the fire, and kindle the flames. Remember that you are you.

Move baby! GO!

Tell me, what is the next thing you need to do to get you where you want to be? What’s your first step, and when are you doing it? Share it with me below, and THIS can become your first move to making it happen.

- by Morgan Potts

About the author:
Morgan Potts is a holistic health coach working with women from around the world who want to live a life more sacred and satisfying. Her passion is to fill life with ritual and connection, bringing wonder, magic and excitement to each moment. Morgan believes when we feel aligned we feel connected, we feel sacred, we are the divine feminine — and we can truly nurture our desires. The relationship between the moon’s phases and women’s natural cycles is a main focus.

Morgan works with women online through her one-on-one coaching programs, and also leads the Facebook group Moonblush Sacred Women. Both are aimed at reconnecting with the feminine flow, and understanding how to live a life more rich and nourishing to our bodies. If this subject fascinates you, and is something you want to connect with, join her Facebook group where all things sacred and feminine are discussed! Morgan also leads monthly women’s gatherings on the evening of the new moon, in Rochester NY.

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How To Alleviate The Current World-wide Financial Crisis

You can chill out and go to work.

Or you can focus upon the things that are important to you and figure out how to satisfy the details of your life and stop looking to someone else to solve it and figure out how to bring yourself into balance - and turn off things like this debate! - you're harassing yourself into the misalignment of what's already in your vibrational escrow.

Prosperity has been brought into motion by all of you; you are all co-conspirators, and you have, through that which you have been living, been contributing to this plan of prosperity and it is the legacy that you all hold ownership of.

In order for you to claim your piece of this amazing pie of prosperity, all you have to do is look in the direction of it and see if you can remember what pieces of it you put there, because every piece you have put there, has been lovingly held for you. It cannot evaporate from the stock-market and it cannot be squandered by those who do not understand and it cannot be taken from you. Because if your life caused you to put it in to this holding pattern, this vibrational escrow, then it is forever there for you . You hold ownership of it, and the only thing that is required for you to make your personal withdrawal, is make your personal withdrawal by no longer paying attention to who else is making what withdrawals.

Don't worry about them getting your fair share of prosperity - it's not possible for anybody to get your fair share - your fair share is always earmarked for you - it will always stay there - in perfect becoming-ness - and since you've put it there, it has been accruing magnificent interest - it's gotten bigger than it was when you asked for it and it gets bigger with every request you make and the more crisis you apply to it, it the bigger and bigger it gets - know that it's there for you and that no one can get it away from you - stop worrying about what anybody else is doing because it's the your worrying about what everybody else is doing that's causing you to hold yourself vibrationally out of whack from it.

For those who do not know about the vibrational reality, I would say, "Worry not, this has happened before and you will get through it. Do not worry about what's happening. Nothing has changed in the last few days. Nothing even has changed in the last few years that is so far out of balance that it cannot come back into balance." All you have to do is settle in and ride it out." Say to yourself every day, "It's better .. It's getting better, it's getting better, and it's going to be alright. It's better, it's getting better, it's getting better and it's going to be alright."

As soon as you convince yourself that it's better than you thought it was and that it's getting better than it is right now and that it's not only going to be alright, it's going to be REALLY alright, your prosperity can begin to come to you immediately.

Political leaders :

Do not hold anybody on the planet responsible for the well-being that comes to you - THIS man and THAT man is not responsible for your well-being. YOU are responsible for their well-being. GIVE THEM A BREAK.

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Affirmation for What I am

I accept and respect myself for who I am.
I am who I want to be, and only I have the power to change who I am.

You already possess all of the power and resources required to create anything you choose.
To unlock that power, all it takes is a willingness to change.

Affirmations are statements of truth that help us to feel differently to act differently. It is these new actions that create miracles. What could you accomplish if you believed that?

• You are powerful.
• You are talented.
• You are enough.
• You have or can get the resources you need.
• Your past does not have to determine your future.
• You only have to take the first step.

Most of the time, it is our own thoughts that get in the way of success. Positive thinking re-programs our minds to believe what is true about life. Fear and worry are only barriers if you allow them to prevent you from taking steps toward a life you fall in love with.

• Affirmations help to affirm positives and counteract negatives
• Affirmations program the conscious and unconscious mind to focus on what you want
• Affirmations can help turn negative self-talk into positive self-talk
• Affirmations can change negative habits into positive ones.

Every thought you think, every word you say, is an affirmation. All of our self-talk or inner dialogue is a stream of affirmations. We are continually affirming subconsciously with our words and thoughts and this flow of affirmations is creating our life experience in every moment. Our beliefs are just learned thought-patterns that we have developed since childhood, many of these work well for us, but others may now be working against us.

It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. Don’t force yourself to believe it, just say it. All you have to do is repeat it over and over again and the affirmation will quite naturally have an effect. After all, you don’t force yourself to believe that the medication your doctor has given you will work. You just take the prescribed dosage and assume it will. So too with affirmations; just repeating the statement many times will cause it to work for you.
The more often you use it, the purer your aura will become.
Stand in front of the mirror and repeat it to yourself daily. You might feel silly in the beginning, but who cares and who’s listening?! Do it in your own quiet time when nobody is around.


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