Oneness Ministry

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Forgiveness

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Here is what Forgiveness means to me now that I have been studying metaphysics, New Thought, and A Course in Miracles. The concept has always perplexed me as has Love, but that is a topic for another day, or perhaps my eBook ‘Livin’ Large’.

No one needs to be forgiven, because they have not done anything. This whole idea of doing is simply a distraction given us by the ego mind. The loud not so small voice in our minds. Now don’t get me wrong, the ego serves a purpose as does all things. The ego is the matrix thru which we experience this world. Think of it as a 4D virtual reality helmet we cannot take off. The only way out is through, as the saying goes. The way out is to choose Holy Spirit, Jesus (the I am), or Source. Yes, there is a higher power, however the ego mind has co-oped the idea and thus many are led astray. No worries however, because all roads lead home and by home I mean the One source. God is another misunderstood word, so I will refrain using it when possible.

Getting back to why no one needs be forgiven is simply because there is only One, one source, one God, and one Mind (the ego mind is illusory). See, the thing is we get sucked into believing the ego world around us is reality. It’s not. Dreams are within the larger ego dream and we are on a path to {being}, Out of our Minds. This road requires only one choice, Ego or Holy Spirit. This is where Forgiveness comes in as the ego mind loves giving us the feeling of guilt. Think of guilt as a side trip in which one must buy a ticket to get there. Don’t buy the ticket! Guilt serves its purpose, the ego’s purpose (Distraction), so let’s move on.

The trick to forgiveness is Non-Judgment and knowing the Truth. The reason the bible says to ‘judge not, lest ye be judged’, seems self evident to me. As you see the other, you see yourself. Remember we are all One. To judge another is to judge yourself. To forgive another is to forgive yourself, not because you have done wrong, but because you haven’t! Are you getting this?

Do you enjoy watching murder mysteries? The Ego loves them! As to die is to prove the existence of something which does not exist. No one ever dies! Not really, death exists only in the ego mind. When you see death or even experience it, you know your in the Ego zone. Forgive.

For perhaps a better explanation of this read Eckhart Tolle’s book “A New Earth” which is inspired by A course in Miracles. Better yet dive into A Course in Miracles and don’t look back.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Identity Crisis or Christening?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Here’s a thought, task, experiment. Imagine yourself without any identity at all, no name, no likes, no preferences, and no attachments. A difficult if not impossible ask. Why? Because this world is based on identity. There is no world without it! Thus, Identity is the most important thing is the Universe.

The next question is how flexible is your identity? Can you change it if you so choose? Are we doing this all the time as we move through our lives? Most babies now days are given a social security number soon after birth, all babies are given a name. We are born into families and thus a story… more identity. As we grow preferences emerge and we are rewarded and tagged for them. Over time we have more and more attachments to people, places, and things.

A spiritual practice I was taught is to walk about looking at what surrounds you and say to yourself, “I am that”. As you identity with every thing around yourself it deepens your connection to the world. I would suggest trying it the other way around, “I am NOT that”. This can be most disorienting and discouraging, though it does make loosening attachments a bit easier.

So, what is the “Truth” or “Reality” of our situation? Who are you, really? God herself? Dust in the wind? The third child in a family of five, born into christian values, European by race, etc. etc. etc. ? The choice is yours, to a degree and not yours to another degree. We are taught, or at least, I was taught that we have choices. But do we really? What about fate? Maybe our choices were made before we were born and we simply live them out. Or perhaps we are literal archetypes filling a role within the larger schema. I have written about this many times, because these questions come to me often. I have my answers, though I will not impose them upon you. I share this because it really is up to you.

Speaking from experience there are very few things in this world which are fixed and cannot be changed, though try as we might. The core of who you are is fixed, though much of what you think you are is based on belief. Believing is seeing, not the other way around. Reality in this world exists in thought and is projected all around you. Projection makes perception. Without movement, the world disappears. The physics of this have been proven, though explaining them here is beyond this the scope of this blog, thought exercise, experiment. Beyond your core self though the world constantly changes. Like I mentioned earlier, this can all be unsettling and yet it is a path home. It is my path and I am sharing it with you. I am and am not, that! All and nothing. The alpha and the omega.

Sequoia Elisabeth

A reprint with edits of a post in 2017:

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Pride Weekend 2024

by Sequoia Elisabeth

It’s Pride weekend once again here in Denver CO. As per my annual tradition I ponder the meaning of the word Pride and what it means to me. How does this serve me? (my favorite and most useful question) As an existentialist the answer would be there is no “Me” only “Us”. We are One after all!

But alas, there are many perspectives and points of view, so here we go.

‘Transgender (substitute your chosen identity) PRIDE is not about being proud of the fact that we happen to be Trans. IT’S about NOT allowing others (There are no ‘others’), to make us feel shame because we are Trans, IT’S about NOT allowing others (yourself), to define (y)our worth based on sexuality, IT’S about NOT allowing others, to define the love we share as less pure, less real, less deserving of recognition. TRANSGENDER PRIDE is about owning who we are, whether we are butch dykes, fem queens, or the always coveted “Straight Acting” gay (again choose your identity). TRANSGENDER Pride is about valuing the diversity that is humanity in all its varied presentations.’[Tom Guest, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman, USS BATAAN (LHD-5)] With edits by the author of this blog, aligning with her identity.

I share my perspective here as well as the quoted material as a way of sharing my vision, or at least what I have learned. So, here is a different perspective from the Cambridge Dictionary. “1 – Gay Pride: the idea that gay people should not keep the fact of their sexuality secret and that they should be proud of it instead, 2 – the social and political movement that is based on this idea: a gay pride parade.”

So, which is it? In the end, meaning is based on understanding and self-imposed values. It is up to each of us to decide. Identity is both chosen and imposed by others, and since other self is just a projection of Self, identity is a choice we made long ago. Pride to me is about celebrating my uniqueness while at the same time acknowledging our Oneness. Our specialness lays on the outside while our uniform Oneness is at our core. Knowing this frees us to be ourselves while respecting others and allowing them to be who they choose. I give you the right to hate me (or love me), while reserving this right myself. This is free will and is the only real law of the land. For clarity’s sake, I choose Love! For Love is all there is. How this Love expresses is not up to me. My responsibility is to allow it without judgment or complaint. I am who I am.

Blessings on your Journey of Love!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

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Religion, A purpose driven life

by Sequoia Elisabeth

All things serve some sort of purpose. What that purpose is depends on the choices you make. You see, there are things which serve you and your higher power and there are things which distract you from your purpose. We make choices every day, often without even thinking about how they serve both yourself and others. Life here is complicated because we want it to be. Distraction and obstacle are second nature to our ego self, the loud impulsive side of self which likes to run the show. Choosing a higher power and the form which it takes requires intentional thought. Sometimes it even involves action.

Religion fits into this process by giving you purpose and direction. Although, its main purpose as I see it is to provide connection to your fellow man. Churches are social clubs, plain and simple. This is a good thing, we all need opportunity to serve others and if we can do this while remaining focused on the ‘high road’ then all the better.

It really doesn’t matter what religion one practices, only that the practice serves the highest and best good. I’ve looked at them all and found what works best for me. While I’m sure you’ve probably done the same; remember, all roads lead home. Some take the scenic route and some the interstate. Those of us who make it to ‘old age’ (beyond reproductive years) have chosen the scenic route. No worries. Just enjoy the ride!

The essential aspect of all religion is prayer. This often involves a ‘Higher Power’ and what this looks like depends on the individual and the religion they practice. Prayer works if you allow it to. Meaning trusting in yourself, not judging, and having faith – all is well. The key is not to pray to someone outside yourself. Prayer is an internal, intentional thing, like what I just listed, trust, non-judgment, and faith. It’s sorta funny that most religions teach just the opposite. Quantum Physics has proven, there is no out there, out there! Science is just another one of the religions, by the way. Religion serves us by being social and giving one a place to belong, but the real work and reward is within. The best practice is to Live and let live. Take care of yourself while helping those who ask. Since all roads lead home, everyone gets there eventually and in their own time and manner. Celebrate this! Life is Good.

Sequoia Elisabeth

OnenessMinistry.info

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Thoughts of Crossdressing

by Sequoia Elisabeth

A thought which has stayed with me over the years concerns crossdressing. I recently read a blog about it, and they suggested it is about the inner desire to be someone else, i.e. to be the thing we covet!

We often idolize others for traits we feel are not a part of us. In fact, from my research this is the very basis of most relationships. If you break down the word relationships, ‘relate-others-ship’, you get our attempts at relating to others. Crossdressing takes this further to the point of being the other. Of course, as in most things in this (ego) world it exists as a spectrum. Can you become someone else? I think not. We can pretend till the cows come home, yet at the end of the day. We are who we are. Every decision we make takes us closer to understanding just this.

Who are you? The process of discovery is like a terraced landscape. We come to a realization of ___ is who I am and we stay at this plateau for a while until another realization takes us to the next level and here we stay for a while and the process continues. Where it stops, I believe is at the Disappearance of the Universe. Much like what is described in Gary Renard’s book of that title.

Getting back to crossdressing, our actions don’t really matter except at the level of form. Yes, the emotional roller coaster and consequences attached to certain behaviors can be painful and difficult to endure, however on the Spiritual Level hold no truth. I am not male, female, boy or girl. I am not a body! I am free, for I am still as God created me. Simply meaning, “I” am, the form is arbitrary.

Nomenclature holds only the meaning we give it and has no power of its own. A woman is only that which we agree it is and nothing more or less. While words can help us to communicate, in the end all communication fails because this (ego) world is a failure. I am perhaps better today at conveying meaning to an other than I used to be only because I understand things better now. As Einstein said, ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.’ So, this is my attempt to explain my understanding of who I am and thus assist you in understanding you.

Words such as transgender, gay, bi-sexual, asexual, transsexual, etc. are attempts to convey an identity. I claim none. Meaning, use whatever words make you comfortable and I will do the same, because in the end, how you describe others just describes yourself. This is holistic non-dualism at its pinnacle.

Sequoia Elisabeth

How Pain Works

by Sequoia Elisabeth

How do pain meds work on the metaphysical level, i.e. the level of perception? Remember that “Projection makes Perception”. The other proven principle is “What you focus on, grows” or what you place your attention on, grows. So, if you are focused on pain and other ‘wrongs’, they will only get worse. Meds allow us to forget about our pain so we can focus on our goals and desires. Doctors often use the distraction technique with children in order to get cooperation with treatment and diagnosis. When you have blood taken, try focusing on something else, anything else. It really does help, even if there is still some discomfort. Now, try focusing on what the tech or doc is doing and see how things intensify.

During a fight or flight response the body secretes its own pain killers so the person can focus on matters at hand… survival. Only afterward does the real pain settle in. And this pain has a message. Something is wrong and needs your attention. My leg is broken and needs repair or my hand hurts and needs a bandage, etc. On a mental level if we ignore these messages, they will persist till attended to.

Other times there really isn’t anything wrong, except maybe self imposed stress. We dive into our work as a distraction from the painful realities of our personal life. Some activities do help with alleviating pain. Exercise helps by stimulating the body into flight mode. Distraction works in a temporary way as we discussed above, however if there really is something physically wrong it will demand attention. Mental or emotional pain is a bit harder to avoid and pain meds only work to a point. I have found the meds need to be rotated or changed up every so often to assure effectiveness because we become accustom to the routine of taking the drug and it no longer provides the needed distraction. Our beliefs fuel our experiences on a subconscious level. Seeing is not believing, rather believing is seeing! And our conscious, aware self has no clue.

With practice and determination we can bring our beliefs to awareness and remove the meds from the situation altogether. This takes training of the mind. Choose your thoughts carefully! Make realtime assessments, am I really in pain? Is there anything I need do? Once we make up our minds, all is well. We just need to keep reminding ourselves after the physical aspects have been attended to. This is where keeping busy really does help. Taking time outs occasionally to reassess keeps things real.

When you get really serious about moving beyond chronic pain, when you are at your wits end, give up. Surrender to the highest good. Let Holy Mother or your higher power have the pain. Ask to have the source of the pain revealed to you and be willing to forgive. All that is asked for is given, so it is up to you to allow it to be received. Not as easy as you might think. If it was, then it would be.

This is not about pleasure or feeling good. Forget feelings… they lie! The idea of ‘we must suffer to be released’ is of the ego and only proves its existence. We are ready to move beyond the world of time and space. We are ready for “reality”. We are Love. We accept our place as not only partners with the holy, but of Oneness. Love is all there is.

Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

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How Important is Identity?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

As mobile as our society is today, how can one identify with where they are born? Is that really where they are from? Many people now are born in one place, and grow up in another. So are they from the place they grew up? How many years before a person can call it their own and attach identity to it? I’ve lived here in Denver longer than anywhere else except where I grew up. And if not identifying with place, do we rather identify with family or bloodline?

I ask these questions because we all have asked these questions at some point or another. Ancestry has become all the rage. With the military, corporate culture, and educational diversity, we have become modern day nomads of sorts. Many a child is born while the parents are on deployment over seas or far from the place the parents were born. This goes for corporate execs and graduate students as well. Myself and my younger brother were born while my father was in Medical School in a town we only stayed in for 5ish years. We grew up on the other side of the state once he found work. So we can hardly identify with that city.

This story repeats in infinite versions and that is all good. Who and where we identify depends on the individual. I also think we are taught to identify with family whether we feel close to them or not. The questions I pose here have no clear answer. Even cultural identities in our melting pot of a world don’t mean what they once did. Have you ever wondered why neighborhoods in the bigger cities tend to attract certain races? From my observation segregation is natural. Integration is not. I have lived in both types of neighborhoods and find no preference, though integrated communities seem healthier to me. Could that be hybrid vigor?

Identity is something we all think about, some more than others. It has been a challenge for me all my life and includes gender. Identity stratifies at many different levels. We tend to try on many and keep the ones that fit. I am still searching. Certain broad categories are easy to stick with like race, sex (not the same as gender), and family. Nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, body habitus, etc. are more fluid. It amazes me just how fluid some people can be, while others are far more rigid. It is best to be like a palm tree rather than an Oak in my estimation.

When you meet someone new and you are getting to know them, two of the first questions asked are What do you do? Where are you from? These are identity questions that tell you who this person is. They are also a way you have of identifying with them. Once a connection is made then off the conversation goes. My question is why do we assume this person “does” anything or is “from” somewhere? How about starting the conversation with, tell me about yourself? or How’s things?

The take away here is identity is important in everything we do and especially in how we relate to others. Reflect on your own identity. Are you satisfied with it? Does it define you? Can you change it if you so desire? Why would you want to? How does one’s identity serve them? Food for thought….

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Reality

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Our lives are not our own. The forces which guide our path are beyond our knowledge and yet still knowable. One of the purposes of this life is to see deeper and to “know thyself”. This takes intention along with persistent observation and study. The difficult part, at least for me, is seeing beyond the surface clutter. The daily routines and beliefs we all share are what blind us. Belief is not seeing. What we see simply shows us what our beliefs are and it is up to us to see beyond. Skepticism and denial are tools for detaching from the clutter of ‘reality’ which allow Reality to be known.

“All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream.” E.A. Poe

Whom are we to love? Why everyone and all of it, of course, for this is what we are. It does no one a favor to act small or shrink away from Reality by using ‘reality’ as cover. Be you… and I will be me. Oneness eludes us most of the time, yet on occasion when we least expect it we are enveloped in it. The wonderful experience to be it. Of Knowing it. Of being it. There is no ‘better’ experience in the world. How can we revert to living our small insignificant lives after this? For me the answer is simply, we cannot. We can however choose to share. To be the example for other self (others). What you show the world matters not on the surface, yet our choices not only guide our path but the all. Or is it the other way around? See, I often get confused as to whether I am coming or going. Forgive me.

Getting back to love, please do not be deluded into thinking you are a body who “loves” other bodies. Sex is part of the dream, it is the candy wrapper with only residual sweetness. In my book, Sex and Sexuality I get into the purpose of sex. I will sum it up for you here, sex is just one of the many distractions the dream world offers up. Both pain and pleasure are of the dream within a dream. Tools of averting our attention to what really matters, Reality, that which is Eternal. It’s simple to see the difference, I describe it in my book Livin’ Large in the last chapter, Love is – a Poem.

So, this blog has not gone where I thought it would, though it has taken us where we need to be. It reminds us to focus on what is important. Love. Not the love of our small selves, but of Reality. Most of the time we see it unexpectedly. It happens when we are ready for it and when we are not! Life unfolds as it should, so be happy… no, be Joyful! Happiness comes with sadness, as they are different sides of a coin. Joy exists always in every situation. Joy is Reality. The choice is whether we see it or not. Allow the Reality of Joy, Peace, and Love (Agape) to show you the way home.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Musing on the Unreal

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Duality, the nature of our Universe, consider this carefully. For every up there is a down. Every in has an out. Each male contains a female. This is the essence of our world. Consider this thoroughly, if you can be a man, you can also be a woman, and vice versa. This goes for everyone. We are like coins with two sides.

So, what else is inherent in our Universe? Expansion. Everything here is expanding. Consider systems like religion or science. At first you have the core teaching and over time they have expanded to many branches. And continue to do so. This applies to every organization and system. This applies to human identity also. At first, we had Adam and Eve, male/female, man/woman and now we have a rainbow of identity. There are as many identities as there are people on earth! Being a social animal, we like to group up so identity is like a tree with branches. We like to be with those we believe are like us in some way, especially when it comes to appearance. This includes identity, religion/beliefs (this includes science), sport, hobby, race, cast, and the list goes on. I am like you, so we can be friends. This is the essence of duality!

Oddly enough, family brings in a love/hate dynamic, which is the ultimate duality. “I am not you, because I hate myself.” (fear=false evidence appearing real) This explains why family feuds are so popular. What works for me is the premise, ‘just because I love you doesn’t mean I have to live with you.’ It is hard to live with those who are like you, namely family. We choose our partners with the subconscious reason of filling what we perceive as lacking. This is where the opposites attract idea comes from. I see in you what I wish to be. Over time Love takes hold and the couple become one, two halves of a whole. I have seen it multiple times. If this does not happen, divorce is the result.

The true insanity taking place today is the individuals desire to be unique and special. It has taken so many forms it boggles the mind. The idea of “shades of gray” or more accurately “rays of the rainbow” has infiltrated into people’s identity. We have radical notions of imitation like people mutilating their body to appear more as they see themselves, animal, opposite sex, mood, etc. I am sure you understand what I speak of, just look around. I am as guilty of this as anyone, being transgender myself. I know the truth, yet I cannot help but be as I perceive myself to be. Projection makes perception though so where does this leave us? We are back to the innate desire to be special. We all do this to some degree and in some way. It’s ego separation at its pinnacle. All this duality and perception of even more is the essence of the unreal, ego mind, or the false self. We hide here from the truth, from God or ultimate reality. Are we really succeeding? Don’t we all know the truth already? The irony is we are all unique and special in our own way by definition of individuality! It is the underlying truth and our desire to run from it that drive our behavior and perceptions. As the saying goes, “You can run, but you cannot hide.” Eventually we all return to reality, and I don’t mean this duality we see around us. I mean we are always at home with God, whether we realize it or not.

Sequoia Elisabeth

Footnote: “projection makes perception”

The Course’s (A Course In Miracles) theory of perception, which is a reversal of the common sense belief that our perception is caused from without. External objects seem to be sending information through our senses to our brains, seemingly causing our perception of them. Yet our perceptions are caused internally. Over time we build up beliefs about reality. These beliefs guide our attention, causing our eyes to search for those things that fit our pre-existing categories (M-8.4). Once we find these things, our beliefs guide our interpretation of them, and these interpretations are our perceptions (see T-11.VI.1-3). Our perceptions are thus projections of our beliefs, through the means of selective attention and subjective interpretation. As a result, what we see is simply a mirror, a reflection of our state of mind. See T-13.V.3:5, T-21.In.1:1. (“projection makes perception” • Circle of Atonement)

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Why Pro Athletes Make So Much Money

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Ever wonder why professional athletes get paid so much? What about other professionals like brokers, lawyers, and doctors? Abundance is a function of giving, either of time or skill. It is not related to how hard one works, because if that was true, we would all be millionaires. What you give you receive, and this compounds the more people who receive this gift. Movie stars and Pro Athletes touch millions of people through broadcast media. Other professionals put a great deal into training and thus get the most out of their efforts. There is also caste which plays a role. We have a purpose for being here and our “role” in the game of life is cast upon birth. This is not to say the poor and disadvantaged have no chance at wealth, however their chances are greatly reduced. Why? Because they are working with less resources to begin with. Just because someone does not have a lot of money does not mean they are poor. Think of it like Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and we are merely players.”

Most people don’t understand what abundance is. The best analogy I can think of is a river or the flow of a river. Abundance is flow… in and out. Like the waves on the shoreline. It is not the stock piling of resources, this is hoarding. When it comes to things or property, more is less. Hoarding comes from the place of not feeling good enough and becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. A person with little money can be very abundant if they have steady flow in their life. This flow can be in the form of love, time, money, health, or others. Perhaps you have not considered how abundant you are. I have very little cash, yet I have all my basic needs met and I am happy. This to me is abundance. My life is simple and rewarding. During my career in medical imaging, I helped many people and now as a minister and homemaker I serve my roommate and my audience online through my websites. I give what I have, and I suspect you do as well. My interests have always been broad, so I had great difficulty finding my path since many seemed to appeal to me. Other people I have known were laser focused on their path and did what it took to get there. They are now living successful lives by sharing their hard-earned talents. Not everyone will be a CEO, Pro Athlete, or Famous Movie Star, yet we are all Masters of our own fate. We are all Ministers to our lives.

One of the worst things you can do is compare yourself to others, be they movie stars, pro athletes, or CEO’s. Even family and friends have their own paths, so comparing yourself with a sibling or parent just creates roadblocks. We have our path and they have theirs. Believe it or not, we are all on our personal right path. There is no other option. No matter what we choose to do with our life, our “path” will conform to us and lead us home. So, be happy for those who have lots of money as well as those who do not, knowing they are exactly where they need to be. As I like to say, “All is as it needs to be” given the choices we have made either consciously or unconsciously. Life is about Being, not doing. So, what you do in your life makes little difference in the big schema. How you do it and who you are along the way makes it count.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Christ Mas 2022

by Sequoia Elisabeth

A last-minute inspiration moved me to repost this blog from 2012: Our favorite time of year is upon us again, especially if you are a youngster or still feel so. It is a time of giving, sharing, and togetherness. This does not require family, but it does require a willing to give of self. It is easy to find those who need love through simple acknowledgement and/or attention. A small gift of time or material substance is all it takes to let them know they are important. To move beyond this point let us look deeper to the heart of the holiday.

This is the time of year when we are reminded of Christ consciousness and its relationship to our lives. The very word itself is an indication of what this season is all about. Christ in metaphysical terms means centered or anointed one. The word “mas” in Spanish means “more”. So thus, we have it in simple terms. This season is about getting more centered or literally, centered more and the word “anoint” means to dedicate to the service of God or in other words, to make sacred and whole.

The ceremony (Christmas eve/Christmas morning) is a way of connecting to Spirit and setting intentions. It is an acknowledgment of Oneness with God (Great Spirit, Universal Oneness, Goddess, etc). The symbology is important this season because when you share gifts it is a way of saying to the recipient, “you are sacred to me”. On Christmas morning you are anointing those you love with gifts. The actual item is far less important than the Loving intention (Christ consciousness) that goes into the gift. The gift is in the giving!

When thought of in this manner the Spirit of Christ Mas is brought to life! This year when you are sitting around the tree (yule log, menorah, or whatever) and sharing gifts, share also the Christ Consciousness. In short, move outside yourself (ego mind) and connect with the One (God) which is present in each person in your life.

This is how Santa delivers millions of presents all in one night! Through Christ Consciousness the Spirit works through each of us!! May you be Blessed this season.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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What do you value the most?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What do you value the most? I doubt anyone will get the answer I wish to share today. We just don’t think this way about life. Perhaps you do know what I speak of, if you skipped persons, places, or things. Now, I ask you to really think about this. Since value is relative, think valuable to you. What is most valuable to you that you hardly ever even think about? The answer is Identity. Who you believe yourself to be. As adults, we have all latched onto an identity, created in adolescence and usually based in family. Even those who have “lost everything” retain their identity. Perhaps they identify with being homeless, poor, or powerless. Your I.D. does not count as an identity. What I speak of is self-concept. Who you are as a person and who you present to the world.

This is a complex topic and one I have been working on all my life. I suspect you too have ventured down the road of doubt as well. It is a favorite topic of philosophers. Who am I and why am I here? The answer is rather simple, yet nebulous. You are who you believe yourself to be and your purpose for being is also up to you. Frankly, you have made all these choices, more than once and most before you were born. Call it fate if you like. We are who we are, because we chose a role and are now playing that role. This does not mean things are fixed, far from it. We constantly have choice thrust upon us, day after day. Most decisions are made based on past experience or the past experience of others. This explains why things rarely ever change. You’ve probably heard the expression, “as much as things change, they stay the same.” There ya go. Even when we decide to change and they appear to have done so, at the core they are the same.

A case in point, I transitioned 15 years ago from man to woman (physical sex cannot be changed, despite what some would have you believe). I am happier as a woman, because my nature is more aligned now. This said, my core nature is the same. I am the same person; I just appear different. A tiger doesn’t change its stripes. Understand, I am not saying this is bad or good. I simply am pointing out it’s best to accept who you are and get on with life. Judgments just cloud the water. This is me speaking from experience. Gender transition is really for others and as a means to better “fit” into society. Few ever really achieve this goal. The very nature of ego is to be discontent! Don’t listen to these voices telling you that you are one way or the other. Make the choice plainly and proactively. I am a good (God) person. I choose to be loving (accepting) in every way. My purpose is to give as I receive. The question to ask is, what do I have to offer the world. For me, it is understanding and inspiration. My goal with this blog!

For those who say they value their child or other person more, I say they are your identity. You identify through them and thus why you value them so highly. All persons, places, and things are in effect, your identity. Your identity both relates to them and to your self-concepts. It’s a feedback loop. Have you ever said to yourself, “I am not that”? Or “I am that”? The world is a house of mirrors! To be honest, you are none of it and all of it. In reality, God is all there is. Identity belongs to the ego, so don’t allow this distraction to rule your life.

Sequoia Elisabeth

My Secrets to Cooking

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The following consists of a few of my thoughts on cooking from a creative point of view. I love taking standard recipes and making them my own. I also love using what I have and creating something yummy. It really is easy, though it does take practice.

The secret to making a meal is simple really and consists of 4 parts. A sauce, a vegetable, a starch, and a meat. Think of the sauce as the base. There are 4 options here, broth (vegetable or meat), cream based (milk or lactose free), oil based (Olive oil or many others), or cheese based (like nachos or broccoli soup). Some of these options can be combined like in broccoli soup. In the broth category I include tomato sauce.

The next layer is a vegetable and includes many options. It is possible to skip this option as long as the vegetable is served on the side. We all need our veggies! Often the veggie is the main course as well, it just depends on the meals purpose and who is eating it. The whole balanced diet thing we were taught is school, does make sense, so don’t stray from this too far.

The next layer is the starch, which is optional. Many folks will use this as the base, as in rice or pasta. Technically peas and corn are starches, so sometimes a meal will have more than one starch. Other starches include potatoes, legumes, nuts, and any of the grains.

The last layer is optional and includes any meat, land or sea based. Take fried chicken for instance, this is a meat and should be served with a veggie and a starch like cornbread or mashed potatoes. Meat often serves the purpose of adding flavor to the meal and nothing else. Nothing wrong with this, just remember that protein comes from many different foods like certain veggies, starches, and sauces.

This approach was inspired by cooking fondue, where the first thing is to choose a base sauce to cook in and then the item to be cooked, like veggies, meat, etc. Cheese fondue with crusted sourdough bread and a dash of hot sauce… WOW. Hot pot would be another version of this cooking method, though Asians are not big on cheese, which is why I prefer it as I am lactose sensitive. Cooking by recipe can be a great way to get started and as you practice certain patterns will emerge. Certain foods go together as do certain spices. The topic of which spices to use fills entire books, so do your research. Then, practice makes perfect, so jump in and give it a go. There is no right or wrong, although the goal is to create something tasty and nourishing which doesn’t always happen. The other principle I follow when cooking is the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sequoia). Keep the number of ingredients to a minimum. I go by the five-item rule. There are always exceptions, to every rule; however, unless following a recipe you know is good, stick with the rules.

The other thing to consider is the pH of the food. Tomatoes are acid and help to break down tough foods like certain meats. It works really well with pot roast and Salisbury steak. Cream sauce is base and goes well with seafood. Since I don’t do milk anymore, I prefer to use oil and wine with my seafood. Wine is another acid I like to use because it adds lots of flavor. Stick with the standard, red wine for red meat and white wine for light meats and seafood. Another way to use pH is in marinades. By soaking food in a brine solution this can help make it juicer and softer when cooked. Alcoholic beverages, citrus juice, vinegar, etc. can also be used in a marinade. It all depends on what needs to be accomplished. For instance, gamey flavor of wild meats softened, cheap cuts of meat improved, or bland meats enhanced with deeper flavor.

If you are looking for a good source of recipes, I suggest using Allrecipes.com and Alton Brown’s recipes. Of course, there are many other good resources, so go where your gut takes you. Bon Appetit!

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Paradigm

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Every story has its own parameters within the larger paradigm. The story practically writes itself when staying within these parameters. The plots will change depending on the circumstances of the character and the choices they make. Choice is the driver behind the plot line. Say the character makes the choice to do XYZ. This will drive the plot in that direction within the parameters of the story, keeping of course, within the paradigm.

We are all playing out a story. Our lives are our story. This means we each operate within certain parameters within a paradigm. Early on our choices are bound to our parents or guardians. Once we become adult and get out on our own, the story of our lives diverges based on the choices we make. For instance, say a person decides to go into the medical field as a physician. The medical industrial complex comes with its own parameters. The many hoops must be jumped through to reach the goal and all along the journey the story further defines itself by the choices made. The student becomes the intern, becomes the physician, becomes the specialist in the chosen field, becomes the servant to public or private industry, etc. The choices made by the person are not really choices as we are made to believe. The choices are dictated by the story within the parameters of the paradigm.

It all comes down to a life lived within the parameters of the paradigm. So, the person has already made its choices before it is even born. The very act of birth sets the paradigm. The person’s identity and path are set at this point of birth. A family has been chosen and thus the paradigm. We like to think we can change our path. Society claims change is the rule, not the exception. In fact, it is just the opposite. Even this change is within the paradigm of the individual. The greatest show on earth! Your Life!

Sequoia Elisabeth

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What does it mean to be Gay

by Sequoia Elisabeth

I have been asking myself this question most of my life. I remember commenting on how the “Gay community” had ruined a good word way back in the 70’s. To me it means being upbeat, happy, and jovial. It doesn’t really have anything to do with sex as far as I am concerned. That word is homosexual. Call it like it is. No sense trying to sugar coat things. Not that being homosexual is a bad thing. Who you love makes no difference to anyone else. Love in any form is a good thing.

I think the word gay got attached to homosexuals because they are often flighty, lighthearted, and jolly. Which to me is quite positive. I enjoy being around joyful people who don’t take life too seriously. Though I am not big on pranks or juvenile behavior. Somehow over the years the word “Gay” turned derogatory. The ego mind has its own agenda and creating more egos is one of them. Homosexuals don’t reproduce, so in the early days this was a big part of it. The more the merrier! (NOT) The other part is “guilty by association”. Fear motivates prejudice and thus the negative label. “They” don’t want to be labeled as “gay” just for being friends, so “they” choose to be enemies. The fact is, human nature is loving, we are social animals and enjoy hugs. Light unassuming contact can be affirming or offensive depending on a person’s point of view. When coming from love, its affirming, and when coming from fear its offensive. We all have the choice, fear or love. To me the acronym F.E.A.R = False Evidence Appearing Real, fits perfectly. Assume the best of others until proven otherwise! Just because someone has a negative experience with a person, does not mean all experiences will be negative. In 99% of our encounters with each other there is no need to even mention or think about sex. The ego would have you believe otherwise.

Being gay means so much more these days and this is both a good and bad thing. I often feel “gay”, though I have been heterosexual all my life, bedsides one adventure to the other side. My friends fall to both sides of the isle, and some are in the middle. I have chosen to not even play the game. My focus these days centers on agape love and non-sexual love. In the Spirit world, Love is all there is, so human/ego designations don’t matter in the end. For the sake of identity, which the ego just loves, I identify as a gay non-sexual male woman. Perhaps this puts me in the middle, I don’t even know, and have not been able to figure it out in 60 years! I doubt I ever will. It doesn’t even matter to me anymore. If you’ve read my eBook, Sex and Sexuality, you’d know sex is a distraction for most of us. A rare few use it as it is intended, as an expression of God’s Love. We are this Love, expressing. A small aspect of it includes sex.

Sequoia Elisabeth

OnenessMinistry.info

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No News is Good News

by Sequoia Elisabeth

No News is Good News…. So, what exactly does this mean? On the surface it would mean not listening to the news means you can only focus on your personal world and keep things positive. However, this is not quite how things work. It is true you are the center of your world, and all things radiate from this biased center. Your own personal beliefs feed your experience of the world. Take the recent Pandemic for instance. How did that go for you? For me it was no biggie other than being stuck at home more than usual. I have 25yrs in the health care industry, so wearing a mask is ordinary. Of course, I am retired now, so staying home is also kind of normal for me. My family all got vaccinated and eventually we all got Covid. We were sick for a few days and felt bad for a few weeks and slowly life returned to normal. Way back in the day I had an AIDS exposure (needle stick), though I never got it. What is my armor? Positive thinking and loving action, simply put. Thoughts are things, so it is important to weed your garden so to speak. Getting back to the news, I remember reading Lao Tzu’s advice about this and have followed it to the best of my ability. Be the observer on the mountain, looking down on the valley where the armies battle. They will do what they do and all you need do is observe, think loving thoughts, and go about your business. Starving children in Africa? I bless them on their journey! Floods in Kentucky… I bless them their journey. Even when it hits home, like when my mom had a car crash and went to the hospital with severe lacerations. I bless her and her journey! All I can do is be supportive and helpful as appropriate. It is her journey after all. I play my role and do my best not to feed the fire. All is well.

The other side of “No News is Good News” comes down to trusting in life and not worrying when a loved one is traveling or working in a dangerous job, etc. Not hearing from the ER or Coroner is a good thing! My roommate had this unfortunate experience the exact same weekend, my mom passed. This is before I met her by the way. The coroner showed up at her door with news of her partner being killed in an accident. I worked in the ER for over 5 years, and I can definitely tell you, no news is good news! All this being said, here is the way I look at news. With Love, Agape Love, by my side I can handle anything. I am not looking for sad news, however I am prepared for it. I am the lighthouse! I am a beacon of Love! In all my time in health care I had the opportunity to practice compassion daily. This is what I loved about it most really. This helped me learn to be supportive without taking things personally. As Jesus tells us, be in the world, not of it. If you take things personally, your road will be most difficult. If you do that while in the service industry you will implode.

I remember taking a class on spiritual prayer and they covered watching the news. They taught us that the news is neutral until you react to it. It has no power without your energy. Take a deep breath here and let this soak in. Like the tree falling in the forest, the news makes no sound until someone hears it and makes it real. There is no forest (or news) until your mind makes it real. The more minds feeding the news the stronger it gets. No News is Good News! Quantum physicists tell us there is no “out there” out there. Or as my Dad would say, “its all in your head”. What I like to ask is “How does this serve me”? Everything that happens in your life serves you in some way. It is either a distraction or a lesson to learn from. Or as ACIM teaches, it is a forgiveness lesson. Forgive, forget, and move on!

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Coping with Life

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Life has its challenges, and these can be debilitating, or they can be invigorating. Choice is the way of life here. Choosing not to choose is still a choice. Often, we put ourselves in a position where we think there is no way out. Like being in a paper bag and we don’t realize with a little water the bag will dissolve. Are you seeing sunrises or sunsets? Both are a given here, and both can serve at various times in our lives. Life grows in spurts. It’s the plateaus we must learn to enjoy by going with the flow. The spurts can be painful, or they can be exciting, the choice is yours. Coping with either a spurt or a plateau really is the same. Row, row, your boat gently down the stream. When you reach the rapids relax into it. Hold on, yet not too tightly. Drunks who are in car accidents usually are not injured severely because they flex in the stress. Resistance is futile as the saying goes. A stiff tree breaks, while a limber tree bends and survives. Palm trees survive hurricanes because they bend and allow the storm to pass over them. My favorite motto from the Disney movie “Meet the Robinson’s” is “Keep Moving Forward”.

Shifting gears, yet still focusing on coping with life, consider taking more down time. Sitting quietly comes with choice. By setting your intention, the mind will silence with practice. Understanding the contributing sources of anxiety and discomfort will allow you to make informed conscious choices. In today’s society this comes from electronics mostly. Disconnecting daily for only a short time helps. Go for a walk without any electronics. Turn off the TV and Computer, lay aside your phone, read a book. Find a hands on project to work on. For me being creative calms my mind. We are, after all, made in our Creators image. So create!

While you are creating, know the difference between making and creating. People make things, God creates. Holy Spirit (The voice for God) works through us and thus the creation. Ego or Monkey mind can work through us also and this usually just makes a mess… literally. (LOL) The difference is both profound and subtle. Knowing this difference changes everything. The choice is a conscious one and we each have this privilege. With great power comes great responsibility. And this can be a gift or a burden. When used for others we grow together. When used for the self only, we all suffer. I invite you to notice the difference. Do your actions bring both you and others joy? Do your actions benefit more than yourself? The question of “how does this serve you” can be a powerful tool to guide your path. Our actions should serve both the self and other self (others).

Sequoia Elisabeth

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A Cry For Love

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The cry for love began at the beginning of time. For us personally this is birth. Our very birth is a cry for love from our parents. The cry has been echoing through time since the Big Bang. Echos repeating in every thought and every action.

Action itself is the cry and the form it takes has so many versions, none are exactly the same. I am that cry. You are that cry. Now let’s make this personal. I must speak from my own point of view. My dad is a physician and thus my hypochondria as a child, a cry for love. All my injuries, sicknesses, and dis-eases were my cry for love, some would call this attention seeking. I am an extension of my mom, her cries for love are heard through me. We project these cries through whomever is available! My dad cares for me here and seeded this existence. My Father is the Almighty, source of all there is. My Father is Truth, he is Reality. My mom brought me into this world, she cared for me, and she loved me the best she could. My Mother is the Earth and all in this world which supports me. Love is the Way.

Love me Father for I feel detached and unworthy. I seek what I perceive to lack. Love is who I am, yet I do not know this. Lost on a sea, the story repeats ad nauseam in every person (projection) ever. My journey takes me around the world, both literally and figuratively. Where is that goose? I know it is around here somewhere. When did it get away from me? Did I chase it away?

Seek and Ye shall find! The words of insanity! We are out of our minds. And thus the answer lay right in front of us. We have been looking for love in the wrong places. We seek it in mind. Our Spiritual leaders say we need to be “mindful”. Again the voice of ego. Love isn’t outside us, nor is it within mind or mind’s projection, the world around us, it IS us. Some would say, seek love with. The answer lies within. I say, within what? Love is all there is! Anything else we perceive is illusion, like a seeming reality, yet a mirage.

I stand under my actions. Since “birth” I have been looking for love without knowing it was me all along. I am the love I seek! It is not “seeing is believing”, it’s “Believing is seeing”, and yet even this does not make it real. Miracles are the magic! Miracles are expressions and perceptions of love. Magic is the illusion. We are all magicians in this way.

Unconsciously, we do things which we believe will bring us love, in varying forms. Attention is a form of love, Acceptance is a form of love, Sex is a form of love – though some transform it into hate, Accomplishment if a form of love, Giving is a form of love – this makes Receiving a form of love too, and this remains our motivation for everything we do. The choices are either crying out for love or understanding we are love and giving what we already have. Giving is receiving. Give what you seek and you’ll have all you need. By loving we are loved. This is the first principle of Oneness. Oneness is what makes this true. There is only One. To use Plato’s parable, there is only one person in the cave. All the other people are shadows, projections from different points of view. The choice is yours, be love or seek it.

Sequoia Elisabeth

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Distraction

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Change is how the ego mind distracts us from what really matters, Holy Spirit or simply Spirit. This is why they say, “be still and know God” or “Silence is the door to Heaven”. Meditation works to quiet the mind when one sticks to it and makes it a daily practice. It need not be a long time either. It does require mindfulness and intention. Faith enters the picture when it comes to maintaining this practice.

Our purpose here is not to ‘fuel the fire’ so to speak by focusing on change; either by encouraging it or by denying it. Where you place your energy and your thoughts guides your future. Much of life is destiny, though we do have choice in our path. The key is to learn to listen to His guidance and not confuse the ego mind with it. Change is neither good nor bad, lest thinking make it so. Keep moving forward! Don’t apologize for taking an action which feels right to you, yet yields and unexpected result. We are our own worst enemies. Be Kind, both to yourself and to others.

Ego mind leads us to do things which harms others or our self. Spirit, being love itself, knows nothing of pain, harm, or suffering. What is difficult for most of us is to remain focused on service to others even while feeling ego thoughts. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Why is this true? Because it comes down to choice. A pebble in your shoe is painful, not removing it is suffering.

Recently I had a dream where these words came to me. “No Joy: Another goose wins the day.” No Joy meaning: In military aviation, a term indicating that no visual confirmation of another aircraft (especially an enemy) has yet been made; no information available at this time. Wild Goose Chase: A prolonged or chaotic search for something that is difficult to find (often because it does not exist). And a worthless hunt or chase; a futile pursuit. So, to me this means Life is a wild goose chase which brings us No Joy. Through my spiritual practice, I know Joy exists always, just as Love does. We don’t find it because we are looking for it in the wrong place, out there! The world around us does not hold any real answers. The answers lay within.

My eBook Livin’ Large, has a chapter on what Love is, actually the chapter is a poem. Please give it a look/see. It is available free online, OnenessMinistry.info. Having been through two divorces, I can honestly say, Love exists everywhere, all the time. By learning what love is not, one can see it at will. In both these relationships, I felt deep love, though it only surfaced occasionally. I still love them, because God loves them, and we are One. Just because you love someone, doesn’t mean you have to live with them! Do you live with your parents? Siblings? At some point we all must go out in the world and learn what love is not and thus what it is. Blessings on your Journey of Love!

Sequoia Elisabeth