Oneness Ministry

Welcome To The Age Of Aquarius

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Pisces is the last of the astronomical ages and the end of a complete astrological cycle. Aquarius is the dawn of the new earth! The changes occurring now are profound. We have all seen a glimpse of what is to come, with the drastic natural events such as tsunami’s, earthquakes, floods, tornados and severe weather, however what I speak of is even more profound.

So what is an age? “Age, astrological (great month) – A period of about 2,150 years, or one-twelfth of the Great Year of approximately 25,800 years. It represents the time required for the vernal equinox to retrograde through the thirty-degree arc of one constellation. According to many astrologers, the Earth is now moving from the Piscean Age into the Aquarian Age.” (Astrology-Numerology.com)

War has been a way of life for the past 2000 yrs or more and it is time to hammer our swords into ploughshares. Peace is the way of Aquarius. An age of perfect harmony is upon us and all we have to do is embrace it. It stands before us like an old friend, so let’s welcome her in with open arms!

Pisces is the old ways of manual labor, chaste systems, fossil fuels, power based monetary systems and dominate masculine energy. This is giving way to the precise opposite – automated labor, equalitarian systems, renewable energy, Love Based Society, Resource Based Economy, and passive feminine energy.

The beautiful part is we each chose to be here now to take advantage of this shift in energy, so embrace this great opportunity to shift your own energies to a higher vibratory level. It is time to shift your consciousness to the next level! This is a choice not a requirement, so those who prefer to remain in the old Pisces ways are free to do so. The shift is occurring over time, roughly 1960-2160 with many claiming it begins Dec. 21^st, 2012. Be this as it may, the choice is still yours to embrace the changes or resist, just remember in the words of the Star Trek Borg, “Resistance is Futile”.

The Aquarian age shows our gender and sexual preferences changing, “Iconclasm such as this is characteristic of Aquarians who are frequently noticed to have “unusual” sex lives, such as androgynous and bisexual. Mind you, by Aquarian standards, nothing is that unusual. That is what it means to be an Aquarian, an individual.” (Fenn N. R., 2007)

Think deeply about what your heart desires. Better yet learn to listen to the heart and not your head, yet another of the shifts. We are moving into the thinking and intellectual Aquarian age so heart based guidance is needed to stay balanced. The brain connects to the mind which we have learned is a wonderful tool, but it is not who you are – this is connected through the Heart.

The Heart is what connects to the soul. You may know this as intuition which is similar. The soul guides you by communicating with “gut feelings”. Have you ever chosen a path and then felt sick in your stomach? Those who are familiar with the chakras know the soul chakra is in the solar plexus or approximately in the stomach region. The Heart chakra connects directly to your Higher Self or Oversoul (heart chakra is literally over the soul chakra). Working with this energy and opening this doorway is key for everyone who chooses to move on to the Age of Aquarius!

In conclusion, I ask you to look closely at your life and see the change taking place and know it is bigger than you! Do your inner work, see where you are, and embrace the Divine Feminine. “You can move into the Aquarian age easily, and with minimum pain, by awakening to the challenge and doing the necessary work within to bring your feminine energy into full conscious partnership, or you can go kicking and screaming, immersed in painful experiences. The more who make the changes within, the easier it will be for everyone.” (Ruback, Stephen, 2006)

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

For more on a resource based economy, click here.

Finding Meaning In Life

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The blog today is about How to find Meaning in your Life. Since this is a common question I did some research and found the following seven steps each of which makes a lot of sense to me. So instead of reinventing the wheel the steps are to follow. For the full article/source click here.

Find out how inquisitive and trusting you are. Many people find religious belief systems more than adequate to fill their lives with meaning. Being a “True Believer”, however, will only result in giving up your identity for the identity of the collective. Conflicts and mid-life crisis inevitably arise when the adopted concept of self-conflicts with the true self. If you are inquisitive and trusting of your own intelligence, the first step is to find your true self. Self-revelation is not for the squeamish. Take the time to let go of societal and personal preconceptions, letting your identity emerge without construct.
Let go of language. The universe was here before Humans and certainly before language, and requires no pedantic explanation. Words are not things or actions. They are vibrations of the air molecules or squiggles on a page. Mistaking words for reality is the mistake that puts politicians in office and sells all of the products, religions, and systems of government on the planet. Saying “Tree” is no more a tree than saying “I love you” means someone loves you. To perceive reality as it is one must accept that words are a vehicle for the transference of our perception of reality, not reality itself.
To bring meaning to your life, you must be able to perceive it without language. The fragility of language will undermine your search.
Seek without purpose. The universe will unfold and become clear when you seek knowledge without prejudice. Knowledge is not a destination, but a journey. Human knowledge is also imperfect. But don’t despair; we know enough to come to firm conclusions. A ‘fact’ can only mean ‘confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.’ I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Work with what you can know, not what you can imagine.
Know that the universe is under no obligation to conform to your expectations. It is what it is whether or not you exist.
Know that your life in civilization is a construct, not a law of nature. Our lives and the way we live them are human constructs of what we think is the best way to live. It is littered with over 6000 years of myth, superstition, and dogma. Don’t confuse the truth with the things you do to survive. Society doesn’t, and very often won’t make sense.
Understanding yourself, the universe, and your place in society, it will be easy to find meaning because you will determine what is meaningful. You will be able to separate the noise of language and society from the true sound of yourself. Define for yourself what brings meaning to your existence. Your meaning will be different from everyone else. You will know your life is meaningful because you will not fear death, getting old, or the various travails all of us encounter. Your destiny, your reason for being here will be apparent every waking hour. Contentment and bliss will follow.

The moral to this story is life has no meaning till you give it meaning. You are here for a reason and it is up to you to find the meaning and act upon it. I will add the importance of getting out of your head and into your heart. This means to stop thinking about your life and simply live it. It means to feel what you are feeling, do not hide, shrink away, or avoid situations you are presented with. It means to live from your soul.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Ps. For help in hearing the voice for love, go to this link. David Paul is a friend and his teachings are highly recommended.

Humility Revisited

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Each person has their understanding of what humility is and it will depend greatly on the traditions in which you are raised. Let’s face it, we are the culmination of our beliefs and our beliefs are handed down from our forefathers. With Loving care and diligence these beliefs can be shifted and molded to direct your life in the direction of the most high.

The origin of the word humility is “early 14c., from O.Fr. humilité , from L. humilitatem (nom. humilitas) “lowness, insignificance,” in Church L. “meekness,” from humilis “humble.” In the Mercian hymns, L. humilitatem is glossed by O.E. eaðmodnisse” (Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010).

Look now at the dictionary meaning of Hum·ble, which is the root word for Humility.

–adjective

1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.

4. courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.

5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.

–verb (used with object)

6. to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.

7. to destroy the independence, power, or will of.

8. to make meek: to humble one’s heart.

(humble. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved December 02, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humble)

Now that you have a good feel for the word, consider how this feeling serves you in transition. Most people and especially the transgender community are well familiar with the feeling of embarrassment, disgrace, and humiliation. These are typically emotions we avoid like the plague! When you do experience them it is painful and the effects last for days if not longer.

What if instead of getting upset about these events you choose to be grateful for them and accepted them as a gift? How is this possible you ask? Quite simply shift your perception and see these events in their true light. The truth, by the way, is always humbling. As an example, assume that you are wearing a wig (because you feel your hair is too thin) and in full view of public your wig falls off. Several people turn and see you, including a cute person behind the counter who you like. The first reaction is to panic, grab the wig and run! This would of course make things worse. Instead consider the possibility of breathing deeply, moving slowly, picking the wig up, and carefully putting it back in place, asking for help if need be. Feel the humility of such an event and do not run from it. Allow that cute person behind the counter to see the real you, the part that God sees, the lovable part in God’s eyes.

So often in life you allow the ego to run your life and this is where the fear and discomfort comes from in the first place. When Spirit is what animates you then Love is behind every action and even if you fall flat on your face in a restaurant full of people, Loving care, and concern is what reflects back because it is Spirit that fills you. You see – whatever you experience is a reflection of what flows through you. If it is ego, then pride fills you and your experience is that of embarrassment, however if it is Great Spirit/God/Universal Intelligence that fills you then Care and Compassion is your experience. This is the gift of humility!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Revisited

by Sequoia Elisabeth

On this wonderful transition called The Journey of Love, a few practices are important to understand and respect. By now if you have been reading my blogs you know that energy makes up everything and can be thought of as God. Everything vibrates at a certain frequency which is inherent within its structure. So what is cleanliness? How can anything be dirty in God’s world?

First of all, this is not God’s world! It is man-made; every blade of grass, every animal and every person is created by the ego of man, as described in A Course in Miracles (ACIM). It is worth the effort to figure out what I am speaking of, but it is too complex to explain in a few paragraphs, ACIM is a yearlong course. Just know that your “reality” is created by your ego mind and each person see’s their own version of the same thing. Earth is often considered dirt, and the state of being dirty is any substance, liquid, or semi-solid that is located where it is not wanted. Being dirty changes the overall appearance of the object it (solid, liquid, or vapor) rides on.

Dirty on a basic level is a decrease in energetic frequency which then attracts particulate matter similar to its energy. This usually occurs over time (entropy), unless energy is being expended to clean or increase the areas’ energy vibrations. If you ask three people if something is dirty, you will get three different answers, because the state of being dirty is subjective. Dirty is simply a lower vibration.

Take your body for instance, washing it removes any foreign materials and thus raises the bodies overall vibration to a more natural state. The soil can come from the environment or from within (sweat, mucus, tears just to name a few). So to wash anything raises its vibrational signature to a more natural state or close to original state. The original state is difficult to attain in this world because of the many energetic influences being exerted on all matter. Once matter is changed, it cannot be changed back, only taken to a similar state. Think of this at the molecular level, so while it may appear good as new, it has been changed.

Looking at dirty from the spiritual point of view, it is impure, soiled, tainted, unclean, and viewed as sinful. Thus anything in this world could be considered impure or sinful. Not that purity does not exist, for it certainly does, however it is not of this world. Ever since Eve ate the apple and Adam & Eve where thrown out of the Garden of Eden, this world has been impure or sinful. Of course this is a perspective which was taught long ago by religious leaders to explain the world they saw around them. It is only one viewpoint.

Energetically speaking the 3d dimension, where we all live, is a dense world made up of matter at a low vibrational frequency. As energy vibration increases, cleanliness becomes a natural state. If the body can be vibrated at sufficient frequencies it too will move to attain a state that cannot be dirty or sick.

Metaphorically speaking cleaning is a kin to forgiveness, because forgiveness is how one raise’s above sin. Keeping your body and your environment clean is thus a conscious act of forgiveness!

Cleaning is also a way to increase the vibration of anything, your body, house, yard, etc. Living in an energetically vibrant environment is crucial to higher living. But don’t take my word for it, just notice the next time you are in a “dirty” place and see how the space feels. Energized? Depressed? The same goes for a place that is immaculately clean, or someplace brand new/never used.

The secret to moving to higher states of existence comes in creating an energized space by keeping it clean. As you grow, you will find yourself in places that are ever more energetic, clean, and beautiful.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

What Is Gender, Part II

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Continuing with our look at What Gender is let us consider it more specifically. Gender Identity is a person’s innate sense of being masculine or feminine, which cannot be determined until the person is at least 3 years old and often it is 5-6 years of age before anyone is able to know the true gender. Since gender is an inner knowing of the individual no other person is able to determine the gender. It is up to the child to express their gender when they learn to speak. The Native Americans knew this and would not name their child until they were 4-6 years old in order to allow them to express their gender identity and find their place in the tribe. A baby name or generic name was used up until this time and often the naming involved the entire family including the child and sometimes the tribe. Once their name was given the person wore it like a badge of honor, because it reflected their very nature, their Great Spirit.

Context of usage is very important and I would like to clarify this right here. What I have described here is Gender Identity, what the parents are told at birth is the physical sex, how the person dresses is the gender expression and how this person acts in society is the gender role they are playing. So you must see the context of the word usage before you can understand which gender is being referred to. As I pointed out before the word sex has many uses so be sure to determine the context in which it is being used.

A vision of society I would like you to embrace is the Native American idea of allowing the child to choose, and get away from using physical sex to describe a child – most children as I stated above have no gender till they are 3-6 years old. As a parent, how do you know it is a boy or a girl? Fortunately the children being born today are more aware than ever before and they are expressing their gender identity at a very early age. Many parents understand this and respect their child, however others do not, so we each can help by raising the general knowledge of Gender and what that word means. I would love to see a society that reflects the wisdom of our ancient peoples by honoring gender identity and not assigning gender roles, instead allowing the child to choose the role that fits them.

A few words about the differences of gender role and gender expression, while they are similar they are different in that gender expression is about outer appearance and gender role is activity. So wearing make-up and female clothes is a female gender expression, while a female gender role would be cleaning house and babysitting. I hesitate to include this here as our roles and expressions are getting to be so varied and free. The old rules are breaking down, so we are seeing women in active military duty now while 20 years ago this was almost unheard of and men are cleaning house, washing dishes, and babysitting. The best way to put this is man and women are integrating now as a society and our roles and gender expressions are so much more open. New gender roles and expressions are emerging with each new soul born.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

What Is Gender, Part I

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What is gender and why do I care? Most people in society go about their business and never give their gender a second thought; however, I have a light to shine on this subject so we can all have a deeper understanding of who we are and why this is important. Every day we interact with any number of individuals and with repeat interactions we can say we know a person. The level of interaction will vary in importance and significance to us. This aspect of our being called ‘gender’ is actually an important function of how we react to others and how they treat us.

Of course gender is just one aspect of our nature, we have many others including but not limited to, personality, demeanor, attitude, physical sex, physical attractiveness, body habitus, sexual orientation, intelligence, common sense, and self-actualization. When we meet someone new a few of the first things we notice are the persons size, gender, attractiveness, and how comfortable they are with themselves. The package you present is a total summation of your nature and nurture. So some aspects are a gift from birth and others are learned along the way. The innate ones such as size, gender, sexual orientation, common sense, and physical attractiveness (for the most part) we must do our best to live with. This means personality, demeanor, attitude, physical sex, body habitus, intelligence, and self-actualization are learned. These are attributes of our nature that we have somewhat of control over. Gender falls in the attributes that are innate meaning we are born with our gender and we cannot change this.

If we look a bit closer we see that there are different aspects of gender that are important to our understanding, such as gender identity, gender expression, gender role, and physical sex. One of the challenges we have today is the popular confusion of gender and sex which are often used interchangeably. If nothing else I would like you to come away from this blog with an understanding of the differences of these two words. Sex is a word which has many usages and thus the confusion creeps in. In Dictionary.com thirteen different definitions come up with this simple 3 letter word, so I will not get into every definition here. When we are born the first thing the parents want to know is, “is the child a boy or a girl” and in this case we are talking about physical sex not gender identity or even gender role. Our physical sex is determined by the physical body parts we are given at birth, but with today’s new surgical techniques this can be changed if need be. Is a woman who has had a complete hysterectomy still a woman? Is this person still female? What factor is it that makes a person male or female? What makes a person man or woman? Where does gender fit in?

More next time as we explore gender identity and what it means to each of us.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Pain and Suffering

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The road is what you make it; however anyone can navigate a straight and level path. Perhaps the journey is not meant to be easy, but instead to be challenging, eventful, and fulfilling. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

This is an important distinction which I wish to make clear. Suffering is optional! My definition of suffering is avoidable pain. The example that best explains it is a pebble which has gotten into your shoe. It is large enough to cause a blister and perhaps eventually break the skin, whether you stop and remove the pebble or not is up to you. Leaving it in all day is suffering. With this said let us now consider muddier examples.

Say you were born with a birth defect like a cleft lip or missing fingers. The pain is indirect now and so the suffering is harder to avoid. Or say the defect is more profound such as Down’s syndrome. In these situations the pain is often more for the family than it is for the individual. The opportunity to grow extends to all those around this person. From my perspective it is a larger gift, if used in this way. The point here is each challenge is an opportunity to share Love (God’s Unconditional Love).

Now let us consider gender dysphoria or transgender/transsexual. The pain from this condition is often mental/psychological and so it is even further removed and harder to avoid. It is possible to go your entire life avoiding this gender confrontation, and some do this very thing. However now a days the treatment of hormones and surgery have become available to remove the physical distress this condition offers up. Since this is really a mental/psychological condition do the physical changes remove the pain or simply remove the obstacles associated with it? The latter would be my answer and so any treatment that does not include psychological therapies is useless in my opinion. Perhaps the psychological therapy is all that is really needed!

After many years of walking this road of gender dysphoria I have concluded the real message here is about Love and acceptance of the self. If you cannot accept yourself as you were born then accepting the body after surgery is simply another delusion. With this in mind, to run off and have surgery early on is simply perpetuating the problem instead of healing it! At some point surgery is a viable option, but not till and unless the individual is able to comfortably express love for the self. Perhaps this is the gift a therapist can most assist the individual with! The road to self-love is often a long one, however if gender dysphoria or any dysphoria for that matter is being experienced this is a sign, a call for help if you will.

When I first entered therapy for gender dysphoria I was told only about 5% of people successfully transition from man to woman or vice versa. This is because many are comfortable somewhere in between, so this is not to say they are unsuccessful, but simply they did not realize where balance would be achieved or that the journey was really about learning to love the self!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Renewable Energy Only

by Sequoia Elisabeth

In a Love Based Economy/Society (LBE) we utilize renewable energy sources only. Energy is free and abundant in a LBE because each individual realizes that everything is energy. Money is no longer necessary because it is simply a middle man or motivator if you will. In a LBE, Love is the motivator there is no need for tokens.

In a LBE no one ever uses more energy than they need at any one time. The days of having every light and appliance running in the house at the same time is over because each person is operating from Love and an honest care for their fellow beings. Efficiency is taken as a matter of respect for life and responsibility is as natural as being aware of the impact your actions.

Energy is now created at the point of need so the need for power lines strung all over the place is gone, meaning the beauty of the landscape has returned. Since renewable energy is the only form energy takes now, many systems are utilized depending on the available resources in a certain area. Zero point generators and many other systems are in place so that each device being used comes with its own power source built right in. No more power lines, just a simple device providing all the energy needed for that locale. Please see this website for more info, http://www.panacea-bocaf.org/zeropointenergy.htm.

Energy like everything else in a LBE is available to everyone equally, and more importantly free will is respected. Now that Love energy is predominant in society love is expressed by everyone in all situations. Even if something unloving manifests it is seen as temporary and allowed to pass without drama. The less energy given to it, the less likely it is to persist. What you resist persists!

Society transformed to a Love based system once the previous fear based society was allowed to pass. The people finally woke up and saw just how unnatural a fear based system is and how much energy is required to maintain it. Love is a natural state and requires little energy to manifest, however it does require a certain awareness, acceptance, openness, and trust to operate from. It is like slipping into a warm stream and swimming in the gentle waters of Great Spirits flowing Love. Once in the flow it is not necessary to leave and in fact you will be inviting everyone you know to join you. May the flow be with you.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

For more on a resource based economy, click here.

Porn and the Effects of Sex

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Recently I read a very interesting message about the energy exchange that happens with porn or any sexual fantasy. The object or subject of the act feels the energy (both parties feel it). An actual exchange of energy takes place on a mental/astral plane. The intent has a lot to do with the energy’s frequency. There is still much about this I do not understand, but I can attest to the energy exchange as I have been on both ends. Unfortunately this energy can be addictive working much like any other drug; however with a Loving intent and focused meditation the energy can be transformed for the positive. It is best to ask Holy Spirit to assist in this endeavor. The bible warns of worshiping idols and as history shows it, it is the men who fall prey.

The power of human sexuality is explained in this video, so I invite you to explore this energy at a deeper level. Then take this understanding to the experience of masturbation, either by yourself using your imagination or by using an image on the page of a magazine or monitor. It is like opening a door and releasing a vastly powerful healing energy. Focus on the healing aspects, the release of vital hormones, and brain chemicals that revitalize the body. Feel Love as you are doing it. Express Love in every action you take. This is where all is transformed to a higher vibration.

While having a partner makes the experience more profound, masturbation still serves its purpose and can be beneficial. Same sex partnerships can be beneficial as well depending on the energies of the partners. Remember that all attraction is magnetic in nature so the polarity will be opposite, even if the physical sex of each person is the same. Give the experience to Higher Spirit and allow this energy to guide the experience, surrendering to the forces of nature. A positive loving intention is most beneficial.

After the experience, let go and move on with your life holding no attachment to your partner and placing no demands on either yourself or them. Remember this is not idol worship; this is a sharing of being with no expectations or attachments. Love is unconditional… the purer the Love and the deeper the sharing – the more profound the benefits.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality

Life is a Gift

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Life is a gift. What are you going to make of it? It is not like you were only dealt five cards. You have the entire deck in a certain order and it is up to you how you play them. There is an order to life because it is built on past lives and inherited traits. Think of it as a journey. A Journey of Love.

The choices are endless. You can go anywhere you like and do anything you choose. The price (consequences) will vary. By now you have discovered the ripple effects of your actions, so choose consciously. This is like being careful but with added consideration of all factors. Or at least as many as you can be aware of.

The transgender journey can be quite the challenge; however it is my belief that it is also a great gift. Purpose lay behind every choice and every action. Do you know the purpose of your journey? I can only really speak of my journey because yours will be slightly different or possibly greatly different. I am here to make the most of what I have been given.

I was born male with a woman’s brain. My body is quite tall and large in the proper proportions for a giant. These are my cards. I still have the deck, but these are the cards showing. For many years I played the male cards and lived a superficial life, what you see is what you get! This all changed five years ago. I dealt new cards from the deck and now I play the woman cards. The male cards have been placed back in the deck.

The question many of us face is do we trade the male cards in for female cards. Is surgery to create the facade of female a viable option? Many believe it is, however I hesitate because it seems a denial of who I am. I was given these cards for a reason. Have I made the most of them? When the time comes I can just deal again or even trade this deck in for a new one (ending this lifecycle).

It seems to me the purpose of it all is to accept yourself as you are, not to change the game! It is about Loving all that you are no matter the cards dealt. This is done through the actions you take and the choices you make. I see people with no legs walking on prosthetics. Are they not meant to stay in one place? Or is it about doing what they do and not copying others just because they are walking. Do they deny their gift by using prosthetics? It is like slipping a card up your sleeve or cheating fate. Or is it? They have made the choice to exceed their limitations and make new choices and we all have that privilege. It can be done in Love and acceptance or in denial and disgust. Without Love there is no progress and in fact it would be going backwards.

Ultimately the journey is yours and how you play the game is up to you. Love and acceptance are necessary ingredients. Remember that it is not about winning or losing but how you play that makes the difference. Anything done from Love and acceptance is a win! Just because others are doing things a certain way does not make it right for you. The choice is yours. We all are a part of the same puzzle, so there is no way not to fit in; this is the beauty of life. Accept your place (card deck) and make it shine!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Art of Listening Part II

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The discussion of awareness continues and relates back to listening because listening is a form of awareness!

Awareness is about consciousness and being aware that we are aware. Try this little exercise. Imagine you are a person on the other side of the room and you are watching yourself sitting at your computer reading this article. Just relax and close your eyes if this helps and let your mind go. Can you see you? It may take a few minutes or just seconds, but with practice anyone can do this. How you may ask? It is simple; consciousness is more than your body and as you become aware that you are aware your consciousness grows. Most of us are aware of the world seen through the eyes, but what I am suggesting is that there is far more to it. Spirit is another word we use to describe this universal consciousness and we are individuations of this one Spirit. This is how a psychic can see things that some people cannot.

In the words of Ernest Holmes, “there is but one mind, the mind of God, and that mind is my mind now”. What you believe; you experience, so if you do not believe in ghosts for instance then we will not see ghosts. If someone swears to you that ghosts exist and shows you enough “proof” then you can choose to believe and thus see ghosts, but that choice is always yours. What we are aware of in this world is largely due to our perspective which is based on cultural and personal beliefs. It can also be due to our experiences and work in just the opposite fashion. Say you have the experience of seeing a ghost but have never really thought about them and so had no opinion, but now you are a believer due to your experience. This is because you did not make the choice not to believe in them in the first place, and this lead to your awareness of ghosts. If you were to say that you do not believe in ghosts and yet you saw one, then the evidence is proving otherwise.

Awareness is possible on several levels and by this I mean levels of consciousness. We are aware of our bodies and the bodies of others, we are aware of our thoughts, we can be aware of the thoughts of others, and we can be aware of the Great Spirit/Universal Mind/God. From a more complex point of view science has identified by the use of string theory up to 11 dimensions or levels of awareness. I will leave this more in depth study to the big boys, the physicists and scientists that have taken their entire lives to discover the vastness and complexity of all there is. Many good books exist on this subject, but for our purposes just know that this is an introduction. A good example of shared thought is the parallel development of inventions. Take the radio for example, both Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi both developed radios at basically the same time in an era where communication took a long time and they did it from different continents. There were others too that were involved in this process and they were all working with the same mind. Remember “there is but one Mind”(Ernest Holmes). This same parallel thought can be seen in plants that evolve very similarly on different continents, the agave and aloe plants are a good example. When we start to look for similarities in the world we find them everywhere. The beauty of the process is no two things are identical, and yet similarity exists everywhere! Snowflakes are the classic example and this can be found in many things in our world. Whether we see the similarity or the differences is our choice. Try looking for the similarities in the world for a whole day while being aware of your feelings along the way. At the end of the day write down your thoughts and the next day look for the differences and do the same at the end of the day by writing down your thoughts. What you will discover is that not only is there a whole world out there that you were unaware of, but you will have gotten to know yourself better in the process.

This applies just as well to listening, because we are all One, the person you are listening to is an aspect of this One, just as you are. When this is fully appreciated the act of listening takes on a new importance and makes compassionate listening so much easier!

Life is a journey of discovery and holds many wondrous gifts that we need only be aware of. Listening is the key which completes the circle of communication in divine oneness. When we do this we exist on a whole new level which I call Peace. Consider this quote from A Course in Miracles,

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Art of Listening Part I

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Today I offer my perspective on the importance of listening and being aware. The message is targeted to young counselors and therapists but really applies to us all in whatever pursuit we find ourselves in.

The first thing to remember is simply, it is all about them, not me. Listening honors the one speaking; it connects you to them in a divine way. This is simple respect. Going beyond this communication is actually beside the point although we often think it is primary. All Communication is about connection or unity. We are expressing our Oneness! With this in mind we hear their words and respond in a mindful way, expressing compassion, caring, and courtesy.

Second is to be present fully in the now. This means you focus on the person speaking and put other activities or speaking aside. You do not think about how to respond. Empty your mind and allow them to fill it. Then when they are done, you speak your mind. Take your time, consider your words carefully. Even if they anger you, remember to take your time. It is not a race or competition, it is a sharing.

Listening is more important than speaking because without someone to listen we cannot say anything. The role of the counselor and therapist is to listen above all else, it is not about giving advice or anything like that. Simply hearing the client, patient, or friend validates their existence and connects you both in unity. This is what it is all about!

Awareness is another key in the process of listening, so please consider this carefully. A state of elementary or undifferentiated consciousness defines awareness in the dictionary but what does this really mean? To be conscious means that we are aware of our surroundings, what is happening to us so to speak, but to be more accurate it is what is happening through us! This is something that many people take for granted but I would suggest that it is very important to be aware of as much as possible. Each person brings a different perspective of awareness to the world and that is what makes us all unique.

We are each valuable for the views, experiences and opinions we bring to this world. Let me explain by offering this example. Three people walk up to an apple bin and pick up an apple and take a bite. What each person notices, feels, and experiences will be different. In fact every time the same person does this same action their individual experience will be different! If you took only one bite out of the apple you might never realize that the apple has seeds. Can you remember the first apple you ever ate? Is it possible to experience eating an apple for the first time every time you eat an apple? The more we experience one particular thing the more we expect the experience to be the same, hence the expression “been there, done that”. Is it really possible to experience the exact same thing over? I don’t think so, but it is possible for us to imagine it so. The number of factors that make up our experience in life boggle the mind. Take the apple scenario for instance, the elements that make up that experience include all the five senses, the details of the physical surroundings, the time of day, the location, the circumstances leading up to the experience, the type of apple, the condition of the apple, our expectations of the experience, our cognitive abilities, and on and on. I am sure you can add to this list, so just realize that for every experience you have the number of things to be aware of is endless. It is possible on the other hand to eat the apple and not remember doing so, we can all relate to this as well. So what if we are unaware of the experience? Well, If we go through life unaware then we are missing the point and some would say we are not even living. We would be zombies in a divine world!

“Heaven “is merely an awareness of perfect oneness, and the knowledge that there is nothing else; nothing outside this oneness, and nothing else within” (text, p. 359; T-18.VI.1:6). This fact alone is true, and only this truth is Reality.” (Gloria and Kenneth Wapnick discussing A Course in Miracles)

To continue in the next blog…

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Are You Transgender

by Sequoia Elisabeth

How does one know they are transgender? The answer to this question is both easy and complex. Easy in that only the individual knows they are transgender by how they self-identify and complex in that identities often blur together.

Transgender – A person appearing to or attempting to be a member of the opposite sex, such as a transsexual or habitual crossdresser. This is an umbrella term often used to include the entire community of individuals who cross gender boundaries on a consistent basis. Dressing as the opposite sex for a school play, at Halloween, or once or twice as a youngster does not make you transgender.

A person can identify with many others who are important in their life. Gender is not always important, meaning they may identify with both men and woman and sometimes other beings as well, such as animals, plants, or insects. We do it all the time, it is called anthropomorphication, projecting human characteristics on to things other than human. Pets are a favorite subject for this. Identity is a fluid thing, because we are all connected through Great Spirit.

Getting back to self-identity, gender identity is usually apparent by the age of 3-6. For this reason historically the Native Americans and recently some modern families are choosing to allow their child to tell them how they identify instead of looking between the legs and then pasting them with an identity of boy or girl. Certain characteristics such as toys chosen, behavior in certain situations, and how the child interacts with others can be indicators of masculine or feminine characteristics. However just because a boy likes to play with dolls does not make him transgender either.

Gender is a spectrum not a binary and in fact 80% of the population falls somewhere in the middle of the bell curve. It is rare to be totally male or completely female in gender. Just think back about your life and whether you enjoyed doing things which were considered opposite of your gender?

The main gist of the growing numbers of Transgender identified individuals is equality. Everyone no matter their gender, race, orientation, status, finances, appearance, mentality or any other characteristic deserves to be treated as an equal. Each person in their own way is an expression of God, Great Spirit, or Infinite Intelligence. And it is up to the individual to decide how they identify! Our job is to lovingly accept them.

Doctors, Lawyers, or parents do not have the right to impose their interpretations on any other person. Now they can and will offer their expertise, but it is still up to the individual to take that information and do with it what they will. Even a child 3-6 years old can tell their parents how they feel.

The parent can then provide opportunity for the child to explore their feelings, and with love and support the child will fulfill their destiny. And for those individuals who have suppressed these feelings for decades it is never too late to give yourself permission to be true to you!! Ultimately, Love is the answer to every question.

I encourage those with gender doubts or questions to explore their feelings by looking deep within the heart. The only way to know for sure is to try different gender role expressions. When you arrive at a conclusion it will feel right. Of course, this is for the moment because life is filled with moments and this feeling may change, although the wiring of the brain is fixed at birth. Ultimately life is an exercise in discovery and forgiveness.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Giving Is Receiving

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Living is a dynamic process and it is easy to get caught up in daily dramas and just staying busy. Transitions Blog is here to offer coping techniques in turbulent times. Attitude and personal cosmology largely attribute to your experiences in life.

A “Polly Anna” does not necessarily have fewer problems than everyone else they just enjoy them more! Since life is about Joy and not struggle this seems like a good approach. Often though it is our family that teaches an approach which we adopt without even thinking about it. Once we realize that life is a choice we can begin choosing differently, or not.

Another aspect to life is that it has no meaning. Many people search their whole life trying to find something that does not exist! I tell you this not to depress you but to offer an alternative. By the way, it is the ego mind’s purpose to control your life by sending you on wild goose chases, so now that you know better, choose again!

Meaning is assigned by you! It is your duty to decide what has meaning in your life and act appropriately. Many Spiritual leaders have gone before us and offered their answer to this dilemma which I am sharing here today. Mother Teresa is famous for her work with the poor and infirm, Gandhi for his contributions of Peace to his people, and Martin Luther King for his demands for Equal Rights. Each of these leaders chose what was important to them and shared this with others. The binding theme here is caring for someone besides yourself. It does not have to be a whole country or even a whole community. It can be a family or even one person.

The greatest gift of being in a loving relationship is the opportunity to care for someone other than yourself. When you have children this purpose grows. Life is no longer about you, it becomes about them and you have a reason to live!

Having a family or even a partner is not required. Loving another human being is a gift that anyone can give. (This does not mean the other person must accept your love, by the way, so give to everyone.) It does not require money, health, or good looks. All that is required is making the choice and following through. There is no limit on how many people you can love as Gandhi, et al showed us. Do what feels right to you!

You will discover that depression, anxiety, and many other ailments disappear when you have a purpose greater than you to focus on. Of course you know that in order to be most effective you must face your personal issues along the way. Take care of you and then take care of others. This is not an excuse but it is an important consideration. Give what you need! If you are having health issues, help others in the process of healing yourself. If you have money problems then help others with their issues by volunteering with a charity. What you give, you receive!!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Law of Agreement

by Sequoia Elisabeth

After reading this excerpt you will be wanting to know more and alas you should. This book is excellent and illustrates a vital law that we all face every day, dozens of times a day. We are literally guiding our path by what we agree to!! Here is a short excerpt from The Law of Agreement by Tony Burroughs.

“A lot of people nowadays are talking about the Law of Attraction and the Law of Allowing, however there is another Law which also begins with the letter A that is just as important – and yet, we in the Intenders are among the very few who are even talking about it. It’s called the Law of Agreement and, simply put, the Law of Agreement says, agreement reinforces reality. Said another way, your agreement with any belief or idea makes it stronger.

We can easily see how this works by looking at an example. If, for instance, one person believes it’s a good idea for all of us to go jump off of a cliff, well, then it’s not very likely to happen. If, however, 100 people agree that it’s a good idea to jump off a cliff, then the idea gets a little stronger. Taken a step further, if, enough people – say, 100,000 people – agree that cliff jumping is a great idea, pretty soon we’re all standing in line at the edge of the cliff waiting our turn to jump.

It gets even more interesting when we stop to consider that every belief system we have exists only because we agree on it. Indeed, our agreements are the building blocks of our realities; they are the very foundation upon which our beliefs are built. Not one belief, large or small, would exist for long without our agreement to it . . .

Put still another way, your agreement is your point of power, and you can add to or weaken any idea or commonly held belief simply by making a choice. We have with us, in each moment of our lives, the ability to discern – to decide whether something is working for us or not – and to choose to agree with it and make it stronger, or to say, “Hey, I don’t think it’s such a good idea for us to jump over that cliff. In fact, cliff jumping never really got us anywhere in the past and it doesn’t look remotely like it’s going to give us the results we’re looking for in the future. I think I’ll pass!”” (Tony Burroughs)

Here is a challenge for you. Take a recorder with you through your day and record everything you say and do. Video works even better and if you can get someone to follow you around, give it a try. Even for a few hours, you will never be the same after reviewing the tape or recording. Do you have any idea how many times a day you give your agreement? All we are saying here is to think before you answer or do anything. BE AWAKE AND AWARE! Even and maybe especially those things you talk about are being given your attention and it matters not if you are fighting against them or supporting them. Your very attention is agreement! Focus on your desires and be careful what you wish for!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

OnenessMinistry.info

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Law of Attraction

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Contrast is what brings Joy into our lives yet we still seek connection or a sense of ourselves in those we meet. What is this “sameness or normality” we are looking for? Why is it that we are repulsed by those individuals who are different than us? When picking friends why is it we choose who we do? These questions are all related and the answer is simple, you may have already guessed it. God seeks to experience self in each expression. Sometimes this is done by experiencing what it is not, and sometimes by being what it is.

In regard to picking friends and being attracted to certain people over others it is a simple Universal Law, The Law of Attraction which states, “Like attracts Like”. This is the same law that created our planet, the galaxy, and all that you know. It is the same law that draws to you everything in your life. You have a vibrational frequency which resonates an energy signature. This energy attracts or repels everything in your life. Thoughts are energy and vibrate just as you do and when certain thoughts or energy vibrations are claimed those things are attracted into your life. That is why I say all thoughts and words are prayers. Focus on what you desire!

Imagine the Big Bang! Millions of particles are expanding outward and those which are alike are drawn together, slowly they form suns, planets and moons. The Universe is still expanding outward and particles are still being drawn together, except now we are conscious of this process. We are the observers who are witnessing our own creation!

Bringing this analogy back to earth, our relationships are no different in that we are attracting and repulsing all the time based on our thoughts, words, and actions which reflect our vibrational frequency. Ever walked into a room where two people have been arguing and they are still mad? This is the energy of repulsion. Or if you are with two people in Love it is so easy to feel the attraction they have for each other. Of course being the one in Love is what we are all seeking where we are drawn to our partner in such a way as Joy flows with every heart beat! Remember like attracts like, so be the person you desire! Yes, that means just what it says; you are attracting people who are like you!

Contrast brings Joy to us and it is sameness or connection we seek so how can you have both? Simply by looking at things with the eyes of your Father or to say that another way, see the Christ in every person you meet! We are all the same in this way. We are each a child of Christ, born of the same star-stuff and yet vibrating with unique energy. When I say Jesus walks beside me take that literally, because each person I meet is the Christ!

To see that spark in another is one of the greatest gifts there is. Next time you feel yourself drawn to another person or thing, it is because they match your energy vibration, or at least compliment you. Understanding the dynamics of energy opens so many doors and simply makes life easier and more enjoyable. For more on energy dynamics and the workings of life, check out my ebook, “Livin’ Large – A journey of Love”.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Free eBooks click here

Law of Gender 7ULs

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The 7 Universal Laws have become a yearly blog tradition. So let us complete the list of seven universal laws with the Law of Gender. There are two other laws which will get honorable mention in blogs to follow this one. Understanding the Universe and working with life, instead of against it is our goal here.

Tania Kotsos in The Seven Universal Laws Demystified lists the seventh law as,

“The Law of Gender: “Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles”. The last of the seven Universal Laws is evident throughout creation in the so-called opposite sexes found not only in human beings but also in plants, minerals, electrons, and magnetic poles to name but a few. Everything and everyone contains both the masculine and feminine elements. Among the outward expressions of Feminine qualities are love, patience, intuition and gentleness and of Masculine qualities are energy, self-reliance, logic and intellect. Know that within every woman; lay all the latent qualities of a man and within every man those of a woman. When you know this you will know what it means to be complete.”

Many people would consider this law to include the duality of nature, however this law is about gender only and duality is considered in a different law. This law is about the whole and the aspects of that whole. To express gender fully one must embrace both masculine and feminine energy. The fullness of being contains both.

Let us consider this in regards to people. A man has both energies and expresses masculine energy primarily. Situations will arise that he will need to express feminine energy, for instance while caring for children. In an emergency situation where people are injured and swift action is needed to save lives and respond to environmental stresses the man will need both masculine energy and feminine energy. The injured need the feminine energy of caring and compassion while the swift action and problem solving skills of masculinity will also be necessary. Without both he is not going to be as effective in his response. A woman in the same situation has the same energies at her disposal, but will most likely tackle the situation differently. It is simply a matter of using the same energies differently.

Society needs to get over its identification with men are this way and woman that. There are no rules, unless you make them or accept the rules others offer you! Allow these energies to flow naturally through you and know that all is well.

I will point out here that gender identity is how the brain is wired and follows the same Law of Gender. Transgender individuals are wired such that the traditional male = masculine or female = feminine is reversed to be male = feminine or female = masculine. There is nothing “wrong” however; it merely is what it is. Each person is comfortable expressing themself in one way or another. The physical body need not dictate how the individual expresses themself. The important thing is each individual feels the freedom to allow the Law of Gender to express through them as it needs to.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

Law of Cause and Effect 7ULs

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The Sixth Universal Law – “The Law of Cause and Effect: “Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause.” In accordance with this Law, every effect you see in your outside or physical world has a very specific cause which has its origin in your inner or mental world. This is the essence of thought power. Every one of your thoughts, words or actions sets a specific effect in motion which will come to materialize over time. To become the master of your destiny, you must master your mind for everything in your reality is a mental creation. Know that there is nothing like chance or luck. They are simply terms used by humanity in ignorance of this Law.

Your Desires are Instantly Created: The Law of Cause and Effect applies on all three planes of existence – the spiritual, the mental, and the physical. The difference is that on the spiritual plane cause and effect are instantaneous such that they appear inseparable, whereas on the other planes our concept of time and space creates a time lag between the cause and the eventual effect. Know that when you focus on your goals and desires using creative visualization that which you wish to create in the physical world automatically manifests in the spiritual world, and with perseverance, practice and continued concentrated thought, it will also come to materialize in the physical world.” (Kotsos 2011)

I trust that you can see the value in this 6^th Universal Law. Transitions blog has discussed creative visualization several times and it also talks about mind power or the power of thought. Carrying those discussions forward we now see why the mind has so much power. Cause and Effect can be as simple as dropping a stone (cause) and experiencing the stone falling to the ground with all the ripples created (effect). Gravity has an effect because your mind is so fundamentally structured around this expectation it creates it at any hint of cause. So it is not universal law to have gravity here on earth, it is a universal law that we have cause and effect with which our minds have created gravity. We could not live here without it. Thus here is your cause. We have gravity because we need it to survive! (Without gravity everything on earth would float off) At some level we need to trust what our minds create for us with this caveat, “All that I see, feel, taste, and otherwise experience are in the Highest and Best Good for me, my community, and Everyone Everywhere”. Without this caveat the ego mind creates experiences that ensure its survival (not yours) and most of these are contrary to the above statement.

Now that you know that every prayer is answered all you need do is stay focused on that prayer and know in your heart that all is well. Use creative visualization to guide your life using your highest desires. The Universe cares not what you create, but you do! Whatever you are experiencing now is something that you have created either consciously or unconsciously. Depending on where you are in your level of awareness, it may seem like things are happening to you and that other people or things caused them. You are the source of your life – all you experience is effect! Understand the Law of Cause and Effect so that you can move forward in your Journey of Love!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Tania Kotsos is the author of Seven Universal Laws found here at Mind your Reality.