Just kidding. I’m trying to make a blog come-back. Thanks for checking in…

M

Well, I’ve been thinking about writing, but haven’t gotten here. So here’s an announcement of an event already over – but mark it for mid-August 2009: The Annual Jammin’ Tree Didgeridoo Festival right here in North Fork, CA – www.jtdidgefest.com

And NOW, this weekend (September 26-28, 2008): The Yosemite (Native American) Flute Festival  – www.yosemiteflutefest.com – in Central Park in Oakhurst, CA.

I’ll have my usual  crystals, tuning forks, jewelry, quartz singing bowls and whatever else  I have stashed away.

I’ll write more soon…

Blessings,

Michael

OK, I can see I already have more things to say in this post than will make for a short read. So if it gets too long (or overbearing), I apologize in advance. (Or if I am just too incoherent, please let me know!)

I once read that one of the problems with “new age” spirituality, is that it is like a buffet table, where you just sample what you want and move along to the next thing that looks appetizing. As opposed to going in-depth into a given religion or belief system, where you take your favorite dish, so to speak, along with any sides that come with it, like them or not. I think there is something to be said for both approaches. I was raised in the Catholic church. Some of the rituals, for example, could be very powerful. But I got tired of having myself, and everyone around me in church being called a sinner every Sunday. And I always awaited the mystical moment (first communion, confirmation, a million times in church), without success. (I know, I know, I was looking for the moment coming from without!) But the whole sinner concept never set well with me, so in my teens, I started searching for my God connection elsewhere.

[First aside: I also once read that the Catholic church has some special word (which escapes me) for "ex-Catholics." I do not view myself as an ex-Catholic, just as "not a Catholic." When I became a vegetarian for two or three years once, I didn't view myself as an ex-meat eater; or when I went back to eating meat, I was not an ex-vegetarian. I just was what I was, and wasn't what I wasn't. This practice, of organizations or people, pulling you into their belief system (whether you want to be there or not) is sometimes referred to as "involuntary induction."]

So in church, I was involuntarily inducted into the category of “sinner.”

So, OK, I will examine the buffet table approach I subsequently/occasionally followed more fully in another post.

I have had many conversations with people over the years who have very strong belief systems (which could also be considered very conservative). Time and time again I am involuntarily inducted into the “sinner” category. (Maybe it’s just me!) Today I had a clear thought on the difference between my approach (certainly Course inspired) and people with other belief systems.

The comparison, however unlikely it may sound, involves how our legal system works. In my approach, everyone is innocent (not even until proven guilty, as I do not believe in guilt/sin). I do not need to judge, as everyone is innocent by default. In the system of involuntary induction, I am judged as guilty (a sinner) – no matter what my beliefs are. And any “defense” I may proffer, seems to be ignored by the court. Interesting…

So although I do not agree with, nor care for many of the belief systems that are out there, I absolutely believe in the right of any person to believe what they wish. Some of these people think their belief system is the “only true way.” To me, there are lots and lots of valid ways to get back to God (or however you wish to state it). I will continue on my path, which is presently the Course. I guess that is enough for this evening.

My blessings to you, wherever you might be on your path…

This year (thus far), my tenth year of doing sound and vibrational healing as “Harmonic Healer”, has been spent on sabbatical. In this, the first post to my new blog, I thought I would address the concept of “why a sabbatical”?

Some of the ideas discussed here will be elaborated upon in future posts – I don’t want to write a book for the first post! So why a sabbatical? Why now? How long? As strange as it may sound, after ten years of studying and learning, performing one-on-one healing sessions, and teaching classes, I was ready for a little change of pace! Little did I know where my spiritual path would lead me for this part of my life.

Last year (2007), I first discovered Gary Renard (“The Disappearance of the Universe”), which lead me directly to “A Course in Miracles” (hereafter referred to as the “Course”). I found this Course compelling, interesting, fascinating, challenging, difficult – I couldn’t put it down. It was so difficult for me in the beginning few months I referred to it as “A Curse in Miracles”. Yet it became as important as any other part of my spiritual path thus far in my life. I decided that I needed to study it without any other interference or distraction. And although I have had many incredible experiences in my sound healing work, the concepts were different enough that I decided that I did not want to do two things at the same time which might interfere with one another. Ergo, a sabbatical, to concentrate on the Course.

So, for how long? I do not know yet. As a concise answer, I await guidance and inspiration as what to do next – and when. I feel that studying the Course is as important FOR ME as anything I have done. And please understand, the Course does NOT say “do this” or “stop doing that” – the choice to continue studying and not do my traditional sound healing work is purely my own.

I feel it is the proper thing for me to be doing at this time. In this blog, I plan to share some of my thinking, experiences, and anything that might grab me and rattle my cage a little. I hope that you will join in these discussions, make comments, and ask questions. My desire is that we will all use the exchanges here to continue to grow and challenge ourselves.

Thank you for reading and participating.

Blessings, Michael…