Church of Spiritual Light

Sacred Arts Studio: Creativity Playshops

2012-01-27T13:39:00.000-08:00

“In art the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Join us each month for an afternoon of sacred creativity and artful inspiration. Eva Stulb, Tamsin Moore and Mir Lynne Pietryzk have formed a new creative alliance, Sacred Arts Studio, that is dedicated to helping you tap into your artist soul!

Each session is stand alone and open to the public. RSVP is appreciated so that we can plan for the proper amount of supplies.
-----------------------------------------------------------
February 11, 2012 - 3-5pm

Clay Goddess Sculpture - Pendant & Vial with Essential Oils
The signs, symbols, lines and themes of the Goddess venerate the universe as the living body of a Goddess-Mother Creator and of all living things within it partaking of her divinity, where all creatures have been born alive. (Adapted from Marija Gimbutas, in her book, “The Language of the Goddess”)

There are many different forms that the goddess has taken. These ancient forms are not named, as some of our myths relating to Aphrodite, Hecate, etc… They are taken as they are found, crafted by a human from another period of our very old history, many dating back over 45,000 years B.C. to ages that we don’t know. This mystery holds intrigue and links us to our past. By working with these symbols, we can unearth in ourselves a link to a time when the female was honored in a very different way.

Goddess centered art has a striking absence of images of warfare, reflecting a social order in which women were leaders and culture flourished as a peaceful and creative civilization until 1500 B.C. The main theme of Goddess Symbolism is the mystery of birth, death and the renewal of life. These symbols survive today as an undercurrent, still present as images in our art and literature, powerful motifs in our myths and archetypes in our dreams.

When Eva originally created a replica of these old forms, it came to her that she could put a small vial inside the sculpture to empower the idea of “Women as Vessel”. This led to adding essential oils to the vials. She has now realized that by combining oil and sculpture, we create a synergy that produces a truly powerful and magical object.

You are invited to share in the joy of creating to get in touch with our powerful past.

Hosted at: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
RSVP: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314
Date: February 11, 2012 (thereafter every 2nd Saturday) 3-5pm
Cost: $20 (Materials supplied)

Matt Venuti Hang Immersion Concert - January 28, 2012

2012-01-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

"Come and be swept away by the compelling beauty of this new art form of sound sculpture. The Hang in Matt’s hands is pure magic."

The People Shine Project is pleased to present a Hang Immersion Concert with Matt Venuti hosted at Church of Spiritual Light on January 28, 2012, Saturday evening at 6:30pm. Additionally, there will be a Hang Movement Workshop on January 29, 2012 3-5pm, where participants can come and experience the Hang in an even more interactive and intimate way through the connection of their own body movement. The Hang is not only a very special musical instrument, many feel it is also a powerful, vibrational healing instrument.

So by now, you might be wondering... What is a Hang? And that is a question that Matt Venuti has a passion to answer. Several years ago, Matt began to yearn for a new way to express his music. When a friend described something that she had seen at an event, Matt knew instinctively that this was what he was looking for. An exhaustive search eventually led Matt to Bern, Switzerland, where a new instrument had been created in the year 2001 by two ingenious artist/visionaries named Felix Rohner and Sabina Sharer. Their creation was called a "Hang" which means "hand" in their language. Made by hand and played with hands, the Hang is no typical musical instrument. The Hang can only be described as a contemporary innovation...a hand-crafted "sound sculpture".

Click for Matt's YouTube Channel

Matt Venuti is widely considered one of the world’s most prolific players of this heart-inspiring instrument and performs concerts and events, unfolding a soulful musical journey of rhythm, melody, and resonance. The Hang in Matt’s hands is pure magic. He most often performs his “Hang Immersion” concerts in intimate and quiet settings, where the “choir-like” overtones and rich harmonics have a mysteriously profound effect on both listener and player.

Matt has recorded several Hang inspired CDs such as “Dance of the Helix”, “Hangisphere”, and “Hang Therapy”. He shares his time performing as a soloist and with his band. As a composer and performer, Matt Venuti and his band, The Venusians, have made unique contributions to the budding genres of World Fusion, Ambient and Jam-based music. Using both traditional and contemporary instruments, they are innovators of a sound and style that has become a strong presence in the international music scene, performing at grand scale events and festivals world wide.

You can visit Matt's website at www.MattVenuti.com or become a Facebook fan. He will have CD's for sale at the event.

Event is hosted by Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Seating is limited for these intimate concerts. Please be on time. Doors at 6:30pm.
Media Contact: Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314

Online tickets will be handled via Will Call ONLY! Please bring your paid receipt to the event as confirmation. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door for each event. If you pre-purchase the bundle you can attend both events for $30 (save $10!). Space is limited, so please get your tickets early.

PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE HANG IMMERSION EVENTS BELOW.

January 2012: Seize the Day

2011-12-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

Every man dies. Not every man really lives. ~Braveheart

We've come so far, we've endured so much. It's time. It's our time. It's time to start living... really living, really loving, really listening and really connecting. All of us on this human journey have paid a high price for the experiences that humanity as a whole has endured in the quest for the knowledge of good and evil. The data is in, the karma is clearing, the contracts have been completed and we stand at the brink of a massive re-entry into paradise. As we come out of stasis, awakening one by one to the full implications of this evolutionary journey we have been on, descending and ascending the tree of life, we now have perspective unlike ever before about where we have been, what we have been up to and where we are now headed.

Many prophecies speak of the "end times" or "end of time", which might only mean that we are no longer constrained by time, and that our consciousness has expanded so that we understand how to easily and quickly traverse alternate realities at will, thereby transcending time. Yet, that only gives us the ability to more wisely use clock time as a means to connect in the fourth dimension, with fifth dimensional consciousness and higher and experience our unique creations and expressions of love.

The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies a time in between, a moment of indeterminate time in which something special happens. In rhetoric kairos is "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved. We now have the ability to pierce the veils, to experience the light in these small moments. The power of the light is so potent and powerful that when we access these tiny shifts through sacred space, we can tap into our own divinity and the grace of the creator and perform outright miracles of manifestation, creation, healing and empowerment!

Yes, we are up for change, but we are not without the means to create something entirely new and filled with light and love beyond imagining. We're making room for full frontal contact with beauty, joy, peace, love, creativity, cooperation, unification and abundance in ways we have only dreampt of. Beware... magic is afoot...

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. ~Annie Dillard

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
January 01 - Carpe Diam: Sieze the Day
January 08 - The Role of Time & Space
January 15 - Humility, Awareness, Intention & Surrender
January 22 - How to Make Your Shadow Dance
January 29 - Sacred Circle Altar - New Beginnings 2012

January 2012 Affirmations
I seize the glory and power of each new day.
The time for change is here and now.
I claim my shadow and embrace the gifts it holds for me.
I dance with my shadow and turn into the light.
I acknowledge the full spectrum of my beliefs with humor and grace.
I make intentions through the powers of humility and awareness.
I surrender my intentions to my higher power.
I create sacred space for healing and enlightenment.
I accept full responsibility for my life.
Whatever has happened in my life has brought me to here and now.
I step outside of time to heal and empower my life.
I work with alternate dimensions and states of consciousness to move energy and manifest my destiny.
I continue to learn about and use spiritual tools to manage my energy.
I work with time in new and respectful ways.
I use the power of the earth, moon and planetary cycles to manifest and heal.
I look to my relationships, my higher self, guides and guardians to show me what I cannot see.
I honor difficult relationships as teachers, and am willing to release them into the light.
When I receive the lessons and messages from challenging situations they miraculously shift into the light.
I purify my intentions through the powers of love, compassion and forgiveness.
I am moved into action on behalf of all creation.
I am guided by angels and spiritual teachers.
I actively engage and communicate with my higher self.
I am a being of light, created with the intention of pure love.
I am capable of transforming anything into love.
I am a vessel of light and my cargo is love.
Love is born through the light within me.
I step into the land of the living as I cross the shores of my soul.

CoSL Sacred Circle Altar & Holiday Luncheon

2011-12-18T05:05:00.000-08:00

You cordially and especially invited to the Sacred Circle Altar with Holiday Potluck Luncheon immediately following on December 18, 2011 - Service begins at 9:45am - luncheon to immediately follow. We've got lots of "presents" for you and hopefully in return you can gain even more "presence". We've always got something fun and joyful up our sleeves!

Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907

December 2011: True North

2011-12-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. – Rumi

What do you love? And who do you love? When are you the most present in your life? What experiences bring you joy and put you in flow? How often do your encounter this in your day to day life? These are all important questions to ask ourselves. For as we do, we find our True North. True North is where we live... as in what makes us come alive, feel energized, inspired and blissful.

On the medicine wheel, the cardinal direction of North is the aspect of the earth and physical manifestation, our body and the actions that we take. It is in these actions that we truly stand in our power and operate from our True North as we walk the earth walk. As we come to know ourselves better, we come to understand the entire creation. As we gain understanding through the wisdom of the earth, we align all the wills to create our life through our unique purpose and passion, not simply from passing fancy or addiction.

During the Winter Solstice and Christmas season we give birth to the seeds of radiant light within our being. There isn't a better time to consciously plant the seeds of our most cherished desires into our heart for safe keeping, as more clarity and new intentions reveal themselves. The ability to tap into angelic forces, ascended masters and beings of light are very strong at this time and they are all awaiting to be called upon.

It's time to receive the wisdom of your Higher Self. The suffering is at an end and the New Earth holds the seeds of much beauty. Find your passion and you'll find where True North lives within you.

Your “true north” cannot be redirected by external pressures. ~ Bill George

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
December 04 - Direction, Pathways & Purpose
December 11 - Seek and Find, Ask and it is Given
December 18 - Sacred Circle Altar - Calling All Angels - followed by Holiday Potluck Luncheon
December 25 - 7pm Candlelight Ceremony/Meditation - Open House (No AM service)

December Affirmations
I am open to receiving guidance and direction from my higher self.
I am a being of light expressing love in the manifested world.
I create a world of beauty.
I walk in beauty.
I give my soul expression.
I am always creating through the loving intentions of my higher wisdom.
I deepen and strengthen my connection with the indwelling Spirit.
My love is my light.
I experience love in new ways.
I see the perfection of my path.
I am guided to my highest good through the process of life itself.
I am the intention of a loving creationary force for good.
I am the fulfillment of the desire for life.
I work with the cardinal directions for protection and creation.
I plant the seeds of realization for my highest good within my heart.
I awaken to my bliss.
I follow the pull of my grandest desires.
I trust that my joy will bring joy to the world.
I am a portal of light and I enlighten the world.
I call upon beings of light and angelic forces to guide and guard me.
I am created in the image of the Master of Light.
I shine my light on this earth, so that others may find their True North.
I merge with my higher self.
I am the light of the world.

Ritual Teachings from Ancient Atlantis

2011-11-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome Seeker, Know Thyself!
I want to share with you an ancient ritual that has a long oral tradition, passed from person to person, dating back to the lost civilization of Atlantis. I learned this ritual over 20 years ago and have followed these teachings ever since. It is by connecting to the earth in this sacred and powerful way that I first opened to the other earthly realms and could clearly see the tree nymph that nurtures the plant kingdom. It is a magical journey like no other.

You will learn how to prepare your body to reach a higher level of vibration that will help you gain a closer connection to the earth. You will learn how to follow the cycles of the year and perform ritual in a sacred way on the Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox.

For those who seek to embody the highest vibrations within their being, for those who resonate with the Christ consciousness, for those who wish to walk in the light of the divine, this ritual will show you how to embody that which what you wish to study so that it becomes part of your own vibration.

We will start in the winter when the Bear is in hibernation and the growing season is over, harvest has been celebrated and the earth has stilled her energy. It is now when we will bury ourselves deep in the ground to begin storing energy for springs’ new growth.

Facilitator, Sunaria
Eva Sahlin Stulb
Serving the Light

First Session: November 20, 2011 - 3-5pm
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
$10 (donated to space)
For more information contact: Rev. Renee Bledsoe, 239-560-6314

Men's Circle of Recovery

2011-11-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

“What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him.” - Louis L. Mann

It is our mission to offer men options to traditional 12-step programs. The Men's Circle of Recovery group encompass all parts of a sucessful recovery with the focus always on positive teachings. The approach is to recover the mind, body, and spirit through 12-step methods enhanced with spiritual, health and medicine wheel teachings. This group meets once a week for one hour. Our talking circle is the basis of the meeting. Through closeness with our Higher Power, there can be positive healing and addiction recovery. This is our program goal.... AHO!

Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, Fl 33907

Facilitator: Butch Bridenbaker

Email: Hawkspirit@comcast.net

Phone: 239-470-1448

November 2011: Grace & Gratitude

2011-11-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

“Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.” ~ Jackie Windspear

Grace and Gratitude go hand in hand. Without grace there is no gratitude and without gratitude there is simply no grace. Bringing these two concepts to life in our daily lives is probably one of the single most important things that we can do for both spiritual and material growth. Many feel as though grace is an elusive, fleeting thing in their life. While it is true that we cannot force a state of grace, it is also true that we can magnetize ourselves into a state of grace through an attitude of gratitude. And gratitude can be cultivated by becoming more aware and raising consciousness, seeing new perspectives and having compassion for self and others. This is the energy of the times as the month of November ushers in a very special ritual called Thanksgiving. Yet, Thanksgiving becomes a daily occurrence when you are in a state of grace. As we start to notice the deeper, hidden meaning behind the events and circumstances of our life, we begin to realize just how miraculous and magical the creationary force is. We begin to get a sense at what we might be missing when we spend too much time railing about what is wrong and not seeing what is right. The more we see the beauty behind what is wanting expression, the more compassionate we are, the more we know that we are in grace... the more grateful we are.

You do not attract what you want. You attract what you are. ~Wayne Dyer

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
November 06 - Guest Speaker Rev. David Essel
November 13 - Embracing Grace
November 20 - Thanksgiving Giveaway Ceremony - Sacred Circle Altar
(Bring a meaningful, but small gift for the Giveaway ritual if you so choose)
November 27 - Abundant Living

November Affirmations

I am grateful for life.

I magnetize good into my life.

I am a unique manifestation of the divine.

I appreciate the bounty of this planet.

I am abundant in friendships and community.

I embody abundance by consciously receiving good into my life.

I am open to receive, so that I may share my good fortune with others.

My wealth is the world's wealth.

When I treat myself well, I magnetize the same to me.

I open further to my powers of manifestation.
It is safe for me to create and expand.

It is my birthright to be abundant.

I am free to choose life.

I cultivate prosperity consciousness.

I see a prosperous world, filled with people who love life.

I create my own destiny.

I freely give to others that which I value in life.

I allow my desires to be driven by my values.

I create my intentions according to my values.

I take full responsibility for my own health, wealth and wisdom.

I heal myself with love, so that I can more fully love others.

I am peaceful, so that I can bring peace to the world.

I attune with my higher self.

I am open to initiations into the higher dimensions.

I see beyond the illusions of lack and receive the light.

I work with the ebb and flow of life.

I manage my energy in consciousness.

My energy and my money are showing me how I work with Spirit.

I do energy work to keep my energetic body healthy.

I build wealth from the inside out.

My true wealth comes from within and flows out of me.

I am abundant.

I live in grace and gratitude.

21 Ways of the Peaceful Warrior - Make that 22

2011-10-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Peaceful Warrior. At first glance, it seems like an oxymoron to nestle the two terms together. There is a great paradox in the notion of fighting for peace, yet as we see the importance and hear the call to make way for peace we do find it possible to hold this juxtaposition of two opposing forces in our mind if we are willing to re-think our position. As we pause and reflect upon both terms, we see that each highlights the need for the counterbalancing of the other.

Courage, trust, belief, self-acceptance, self-esteem, compassion, forgiveness, non-judgment, non-attachment and an open heart lead to peace within. Yet we can take little direct action upon these things. Like peace itself, we must foster their emergence. And this is the way of the peaceful warrior. For when the decisive, disciplined part of our psyche can learn to do battle on behalf of that silent, still small voice within, we have truly become the hero of our own life.

Ways of the Peaceful Warrior

1) Breathes consciously
2) Eats consciously
3) Meditates regularly
4) Examines dreams
5) Journals frequently
6) Uses Visualization, visioning and quantum affirmations
7) Rests and sleeps appropriately
8) Identifies, commits and stays focused on important decisions
9) Surrounds with supportive community
10) Asks for help and receives it graciously
11) Makes Self-care a priority
12) Moves the body
13) Participates in soul enriching activities and practices
14) Engages in holistic healing
15) Engages in self discovery and creates personal boundaries
16) Says no, by saying yes to priorities
17) Uses ritual to communicate with unseen aspects of the self - such as burning bowls for releasing, written intention ceremony, prayers and blessings, candles, incense/sage/holy wood, annointing with oil/balm, altar making, yantras/mantras/mandalas
18) Communes with nature and balances personal& environmental elements
19) Practices energy clearing and healing techniques
20) Becomes the Tracker - reads spiritual signs and symbols, uses divination
21) Sends and receives Light Consiously into the body, mind, heart and soul

We take up these practices not just because they physically calm us. But because they also energetically calm the cosmic anxiety of not knowing who and what we truly are…they put us in touch with our true nature. Understanding our true nature permanently anchors peace in our lives. Knowing thyself – doesn’t mean you do everything “right” – knowing thyself means you take into account what you understand about yourself, and the complexities of being human on this path and allows you to come into acceptance of some of the things you have thought were your worst character defects…thus turning your base metal into precious gold.

I gave this as the Sunday Talk at Church of Spiritual Light on October 2, 2011. As I was reading it over again and preparing to publish it on this blog, I was given a new item for this list. It is one that is so important that I can barely comprehend how it didn't come with the other 21. But I think, this was on purpose so that I could see the message in the pattern. For 22 is the number of mastery...and if this last item had come before it wouldn't have been situated in the number 22 spot and I might have missed just how important this last piece is to the fortification and nurturing of the Peaceful Warrior. Message received! So here it is, perhaps the most important of them all:

22) Have fun! - Do things just for the sheer joy of it to keep the vibration of delight and enjoyment alive in your being.

Source: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 2011

Every Warrior of the Light has felt afraid of going into battle.
Every Warrior of the Light has, at some time in the past, lied or betrayed someone.
Every Warrior of the Light has trodden a path that was not his.
Every Warrior of the Light has suffered for the most trivial of reasons.
Every Warrior of the Light has, at least once, believed he was not a Warrior of the Light.
Every Warrior of the Light has failed in his spiritual duties.
Every Warrior of the Light has said 'yes' when he wanted to say 'no.'
Every Warrior of the Light has hurt someone he loved.
That is why he is a Warrior of the Light, because he has been through all this and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is.
~ Paulo Coelho

October 2011: Warrior of Light

2011-10-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Kahlil Gibran

What is a Warrior of Light? If I am supposed to be peaceful, why would I want to be a warrior at all? If the Light is so powerful why does it need warriors? What is Light? And how can it help me? These are some of the questions that we will be exploring this month as we delve into this most powerful archetype of the Spiritual Warrior. As we invoke and invite this warrior within into our lives, we advance into a stage of spiritual development that is not for the faint hearted. This warrior within is the one who will give us the strength to face what has been hidden in the recesses of our psyche, and bring to the surface unconscious beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior that are acting out in diverse ways in our lives and causing us to remain unconscious with our choices.

Some of these beliefs are powerfully manifesting in our lives and creating much chaos, confusion, sorrow and loss. At the very worst, they are keeping us from experiencing unconditional love, because these things are often very limiting, restrictive, binding and small. Yet, we are not defenseless against this darkness and sometimes there are even great gifts hidden within these patterns. There are counter-balancing forces which can be invoked in order to clear these from our psyche which cannot be brought forward through the mind alone. And this is why it cannot be done alone.

Einsten said, “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” To this end, we understand that the only way in which we can transform this darkness is to bring it into the Light, to enlighten and shape-shift our beliefs by reframing it and then re-filtering it in the sacred space of a raised consciousness. This allows us to see things in a new way and begin the healing process. Through the power of Grace, if we will allow it to do it's work, we can be moved through these processes in a safe and profound way. The Warrior of Light within our being guards and guides us in this work.

You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew. ~ Albert Einstein

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
October 02 - The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
October 09 - Blinded by the Light
October 16 - Removing Obstacles through Grace
October 23 - Becoming a Warrior of Light (Sacred Circle Altar)
October 30 - Guest Speaker Rev. David Essel

OCTOBER AFFIRMATIONS

I am a Spiritual Warrior of Light

I invoke the Ways of the Peaceful Warrior

I am conscious of my own darkness.

I reframe my core beliefs about myself and release my suffering to the light.

I stand in my full power and engage that power to help others.

I relentlessly heal and empower my life.

I keep the company of other consciously empowered people.

I align myself with consciously empowered organizations, activities and people.

I am a sacred path teacher and way shower.

I experience compassion for my own journey.

I experience compassion for humanity’s journey.

I am willing to look at areas of myself that I disown by examining my relationships.

I am willing to see myself as I truly am.

I am willing to see the beauty in what I see in myself.

I am willing to see the gifts in my apparent weaknesses.

I claim the power of my gifts, talents and what I am passionate about.

I trust that I have the power to stand tall and to bring something new to the world.

I am willing to fight for the right to be myself.

I trust that the creator gave me these gifts for a reason.

I understand that I am here to change and evolve.

I recognize the light within my own being.

I perform the rituals and self-care that will nurture me and keep me whole.

It is safe because I make it safe.

I trust because I trust in God/Goddess.

If I will expand my aura then I will perceive the higher intelligence of the will of God.

I continue to know myself so that I may bring my will into alignment with the creator.

When the wills are aligned, secrets are revealed, doors unlock and miracles occur.

I am peaceful, because I am filled with peace.

I practice the ways of the Peaceful Warrior.

I shine the light of truth on my life and that of others with compassion and care.

I am gentle with my own soul, spirit and body.

I am gentle with the spirit of all living things.

I feel an overwhelming reverence and respect for all creation.

I am a medium and a channel for the divine.

This world is a magical place. I allow the universe to do it’s magic.

I see the reality of other dimensions and walk the worlds in complete confidence.

I am unafraid to speak the truth.

I see the beauty of each soul’s path.

I am the Light of the World.

September 2011: Enter the Silence

2011-09-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

Silence is a fence around wisdom. ~German Proverb

What sweet relief to go into the silence. There is much peace, wisdom, enlightenment and bliss to be found in the sacred space within, if only we will trust the process of stillness and silence to deliver us to ourselves, our souls and to Great Spirit. Could we truly learn to trust that everything does not run by our thinking mind alone? Can we observe the intelligence at work in the universe and really "know" this for ourselves? Do we have to tell our heart to beat, our hair to grow, the sun to rise or the fish to swim? The answer, of course, no - we do not. There is so much here that runs perfectly well without us ever thinking a conscious thought. And the reason for that is because most of this creation runs according to it's true nature. And this gives us a clue about how to make "entering the silence" a part of our everyday lives. We're not only speaking of meditation, reflection or stillness, but of adapting and creating a way of being that taps into the deep magic of living a life that is centered in the stillness of our soul... and honors our true nature. For when we discover our true nature and become true to that nature, even as we allow ourselves the freedom to explore, expand and grow, we find our place in the grand scheme of creation and this sends out vibrations and ripples of deep contentment, pleasure, peace, fulfillment, love and gratitude to the whole world. And so that is what is returned to us a thousandfold. We find peace by engaging in peaceful practices which allow us to commune with the silent intelligence within. You must listen very closely to hear the whispers of the still small voice within. And if you are patient, all will be revealed.

SEPTEMBER AFFIRMATIONS

I access the deep peace within my soul.
I meditate in silence each day.
I contemplate and reflect upon the beauty of nature.
I drink in the perfection of creation and allow it to fill my cup.
I embrace the way of the peaceful warrior.
I focus my will through the power of attention, awareness, intention and surrender.
I open to a more balanced approach to life.
I create a harmonious and peaceful environment to live in.
I reconcile all the parts of myself and come into acceptance of what is.
I release and relinquish the rigid rules of the mind.
I open my mind and expand my consciousness.
I am humbled by my expanded view of life.
I am grateful for the richness of experience that higher consciousness brings.
I release all need to control outcomes.
I trust in my own process of human spiritual evolution.
I expand my field of awareness.
I listen to the instructions of my soul.
I allow my life to be informed by higher awareness.
I am mindful and present to myself and others.
I sit in blissful silence and sending love to all beings.
I fearlessly face the magnitude of my soul.
I allow the medicine wheel to help me balance, harmonize and integrate all that I am.
I see the essence of "things".
I open to the essential truths of every situation and relationship.
I walk in humility.
I realize the more I know, the less I know.
I remain a student of life, even as I teach.
I open to the unknown and look forward to the joy of discovery.
I allow nature to inform and guide me.
I receive spiritual messages which uplift and inspire me.
I continue to build trust in the unseen aspects of myself and this creation.
I can know the unknowable, see the unseeable and hear the inaudible.
I gather my energy in the stillness of my soul.
I am centered, calm and serene, because this is my eternal nature.
God has entrusted me with myself.

King's Council: Celestine Prophecy Discussion Group

2011-09-02T13:20:00.004-07:00

Join us for this monthly discussion group and book club. We will be delving into the concepts in the books by James Redfield, from the Celestine Prophecy through the Twelfth Insight. This group promises to be an exciting adventure into pure spirituality. All are welcome.

Facilitated by Joe Stulb and Tim Albright.

Meets: 2nd Monday of the month
Time: 6-7:30pm
Cost: $5 (donated to space)
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907

CELESTINE VISION

THE FIRST INSIGHT . . . A CRITICAL MASS

A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture, an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.

THE SECOND INSIGHT . . . THE LONGER NOW

This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete worldview, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe.

THE THIRD INSIGHT . . . A MATTER OF ENERGY

We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction...where attention goes, energy flows...influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives.

THE FOURTH INSIGHT . . . THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER

Too often humans cut themselves off from the greater source of this energy and so feel weak and insecure. To gain energy we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people.

THE FIFTH INSIGHT . . . THE MESSAGE OF THE MYSTICS

Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness--buoyancy--along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended.

THE SIXTH INSIGHT . . . CLEARING THE PAST

The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own growth path in life, and our spiritual mission--the personal way we can contribute to the world.

THE SEVENTH INSIGHT . . . ENGAGING THE FLOW

Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being.

THE EIGHTH INSIGHT . . . THE INTERPERSONAL ETHIC

We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection in romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups where each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message.

THE NINTH INSIGHT . . .THE EMERGING CULTURE

As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death.

THE TENTH INSIGHT . . . HOLDING THE VISION

The Tenth Insight is the realization that throughout history human beings have been unconsciously struggling to implement this lived spirituality on Earth. Each of us comes here on assignment, and as we pull this understanding into consciousness, we can remember a fuller birth vision of what we wanted to accomplish with our lives. Further we can remember a common world vision of how we will all work together to create a new spiritual culture. We know that our challenge is to hold this vision with intention and prayer everyday.

THE ELEVENTH INSIGHT . . . EXTENDING PRAYER FIELDS

The Eleventh Insight is the precise method through which we hold the vision. For centuries, religious scriptures, poems, and philosophies have pointed to a latent power of mind within all of us that mysteriously helps to affect what occurs in the future. It has been called faith power, positive thinking, and the power of prayer. We are now taking this power seriously enough to bring a fuller knowledge of it into public awareness. We are finding that this prayer power is a field of intention, which moves out from us and can be extended and strengthened, especially when we connect with others in a common vision. This is the power through which we hold the vision of a spiritual world and build the energy in ourselves and in others to make this vision a reality.

THE TWELFTH INSIGHT . . .

The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision

http://www.celestinevision.com/

BOOKS
The Celestine Prophecy
http://amzn.com/0446671002

The Tenth Insight
http://amzn.com/0446674575
The Secret of Shamabhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight
http://amzn.com/0446676489
The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision
http://amzn.com/0446575968

CoDA: Co-Dependents Anonymous Group

2011-08-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart...

Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” -Carl Jung

We are pleased to announce a new CoDA (Co-Dependents Anonymous) Group is now forming. The group is facilitated by Angel Cardenas and Rick Tiner and hosted at Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr.#1 Fort Myers, Florida 33907.

The intention of this group is to help people to learn about and gain support in forming and maintaining healthy and loving relationships both with self and others. We will be exploring personal boundaries and patterns of behavior that are beneficial to create better relationships, using the 12 Steps as a guideline for recovery.

If you would like to learn more about codependency, click here to review.

Meets Every Wednesday 5:30-7pmCost: $5
Contact: Angel 272-7471
All are welcome!

Click here to purchase CODA Workbook

Medicine Drum Circle

2011-08-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

“The drum is the Great Spirit’s favorite instrument. That is why we were all given a heartbeat.” ~Navajo Elder

Please join us for our monthly Medicine Drum Circle with Tim Albright. The circle is open to all, drummer and non-drummers, musicians and non-musicians, alike. Tim will be helping us connect to the power of drumming by linking the rhythms of the instruments to our heart. Please bring your own drum or instrument, however, we will have several instruments such as rattles, shakers, rainsticks and some drums for those without an instrument to play.

When: Meets the 3rd Friday of the month - 7:30 - 8:30pm
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
Facilitator: Tim Albright
Cost: $5

Besides being fun and just soul-satisfying, check out some of the therapeutic reasons to make drumming a regular part of your life!

Stress-Reduction
Strengthened the immune system by increasing Natural Killer (NK) cell activity. (Bittman, Alternative Therapies, 2001) This protocol also reversed multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level, not just reducing but reversing 19 genetic switches that turn on the stress response believed responsible in the development of common diseases. (Bittman, Medical Science Monitor, 2005)

Exercise
Drumming is an accessible exercise which burns calories and improves mood and may reduce the risk of disease. A Norwegian study of 25,000 women age 20-54 that performed leisure time exercises at least 4 hours/week experienced a 37% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. (Thune, Brenn, Lund, Gaard, 1997)

Self-Expression
Empowers people to move beyond their perceived boundaries.

Camaraderie/Support
A 1992 Duke University Study linked lengthened lifespan with having a close confidant. HealthRHYTHMS protocol builds camaraderie and support by creating a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing and offering support.

Nurturing
Creates a level playing field where support of growth and development is encouraged. As equal partners in this process participants often discover inner strength and encouragement by those sharing the experience.

Spirituality
According to Jan Gregory, Adjunct Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Spirituality at Hartford Seminary, “Hand drumming is an ancient art that has been used in many cultures. The music of drums creates a conduit to the Divine. This is an opportunity to experience worship with our bodies as well as our minds”.

Music-Making
Systematic inquiry into the relationship between music and brain function is one of the most rapidly developing fields of human research. “Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and their synapses (connections). It would be difficult to find another activity that engages so many of the brain’s systems.”(Weinberger, N., 1998)

August 2011: Art for Life

2011-08-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

"Everything you can imagine is real." — Pablo Picasso

We reveal ourselves to ourselves and to the world by what we create. Come and join us this month to experience the divine within your creations. We're talking about everything you experience, design, or make, everything you do...as art. Your entire life can be a sacrament, a prayer and a devotion to the magnificence of being human and having this experience to becoming even more fully human. We're so busy trying to become holy, that we miss the mark and don't realize the full potential of being human and all that it entails. Certainly we seek to purify ourselves, but that does not mean that we live a dry, dull life, toeing some imaginary line that our distorted psyche holds us to. What we are exploring this month is the inner doorways to absolute abundance of Spirit within which leads us to our highest creative ideas and gives us the inspiration to create our lives from the next level of existence. Higher consciousness brings new ways of seeing the world...and this is an exciting vision to have. It infuses and inspires everything in an unexpected and often magically endearing way. For in that space, a common tea kettle is a miracle, a motorcycle is a dragon, a car is a golden carriage and human beings are works of art!

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe

August 7 - Guest Speaker - Rev. David Essel
August 14 - Creation & Inspiration
August 21 - The Muse is Loose
August 28 - Art for Life

AUGUST AFFIRMATIONS

Everyday I create something beautiful.

I am a co-creator with the divine.

My powers of creation are ever evolving.

I create with confidence and courage.

I stretch myself by trying new things.

I embrace failure as proof that I am creating.

I consider the hidden intention of my “errors”.

My “mistakes” are lessons to learn from.

I give myself the leeway to make mistakes.

I love life and life loves me.

I take inspiration from nature.

I allow myself time to daydream regularly.

When I am still, I am also creating.

There is much to be expressed from within me.

I look forward to what is revealed through my creativity.

I help others to be creative.

I allow my unconscious to be expressed in my art.

I trust my own creative process.

It is possible to make money from my art.

I bring color and my use of it into my awareness.

I use color to change and command my energy.

I am human, a multi-colored being of light.

I give myself permission to be creative.

I am creative in all my endeavors.

I let my imagination soar.

My life is a masterpiece.

I am a work of art.
Life is my art.

The 10 Commitments (that lead to freedom)

2011-07-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

The 10 Commitments (that lead to freedom)

I recognize and honor the indwelling spirit of the divine presence within myself and all creation.

You shall have no other gods before me.

I will remain vigilant over anything that subverts my free will, be it mental or physical, and continually seek wholeness.

You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

I will take excellent care of myself as befitting the divine presence that lives within me.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

I will keep my promises. I will honor the 7^th day as an agreement that I made with the Universe as a whole to go into the stillpoint of God and reaffirm the spirit of creation.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

I will balance and harmonize the divine masculine and feminine principles in all aspects of my life.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

I will cherish, guard and protect my life and all life.

You shall not murder.

I will be faithful and trustworthy in all my relations.

You shall not commit adultery.

I will embrace prosperity consciousness so that I may give generously.

You shall not steal.

I will tell the truth to myself and others and enable others to do the same.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

I will be joyful and grateful for the success of others, for when I intend good things for others, two or more are gathered and I bring the vibration of abundance to us all.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

Source: Rev. Renee Bledsoe

July 2011: Free To Be

2011-07-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

" You have freedom when you're easy in your harness." ~Robert Frost

In our country the Fourth of July marks a very special milestone in human history: a collective acknowledgment in a new world for liberation from tyranny, injustice, slavery and anything that bars our pathway to life, lliberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Does anyone ever notice that our founding fathers put the pursuit of happiness right up there with life and limb? But how many of us truly honor and guard our pursuit to happiness as much as we do our very lives? Don't we tend to suffer as long as we can tolerate the suffering? Which for many of us is very long. Don't we say someday I'll be happy when... Don't we underestimate our need for deep soul satisfaction as being something that would be nice, but not necessary for our survival?

I daresay our ancestors had gave us alot more than a free country when they signed those documents. They gave us the true formula to properly prioritize the care and feeding of the human spirit. Isn't it fascinating that this powerful message comes forth in what is considered a political, secular document? In one of the greatest revelations of the power of the people the Declaration of Independence is possibly one of the most sacred documents in existence for our time, if you consider that God can speak through humankind.

We must be committed to our freedom. Freedom isn't free and we must be willing to pay the price, to fight if need be not only for our right to do as we please, but to be who we really are. We must fight our own inner demons and that of our ancestral karma to be free of old patterns and programming, while enjoying the gifts we've been given to create ourselves by the power of the divine will that resides within each of us. This is our path to freedom, right through the center of our heart. Most of all we simply want to be free to love, to be love, to flow love and to receive love. This is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to each other.

"Most people want security in this world, not liberty." ~H.L. Mencken

"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." ~William Faulkner

"Freedom is the will to be responsible to ourselves." ~Nietzsche

Free to Be

I am committed to the freedom of my spirit.

I allow my soul to soar.

I practice freedom in my life.

I allow others the freedom to be who they are.

I am free to love.

I am free to just be myself. I am free to discover who I am.

I am free to make new choices.

I give myself permission to express myself in different ways.

I am a growing, evolving spiritual being.

I have the higher vision of eagle within my being.

I am free to explore the possibilities of life.

My will to live is ignited and my love is the flame.

There is so much to live for and I am grateful for my life.

I am the intention of my ancestors, but I am ultimately made in the image of the creator.

I remember who I am. I remember all that I have been.

I activate stellar consciousness and witness the birth of this universe and all that is.

I am a Shining Star.

I am gifted and talented at____________________________________________.

I love to____________________________________________________________________.

Others think I am good at ___________________________________________________________.

My journey has been long, but I have never been alone.

I feel the supportive power of my people.

I experience God through my people and my family and community.

I call upon Archangel Michael, the mighty Eagle, to clear me of the imprints of the past.

I clear and purify myself and reset the future.

With great excitement and gratitude I step into my destiny.

I am free to choose life.

June 2011: Believe & Receive

2011-06-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

The energies that are sweeping through the world at this time are nothing short of spectacular. Never before in the history of the world have we had the ability and the opportunity to make so much progress in our human development. Some see the glass half empty, while others see the glass half full. So which is it? Do you see an exit sign and stop yourself at the thought, "that's the way out?"...or do you remember to see beyond the beyond...and say, "yes, that is the way out, but it is also the way in... to something new!"

It takes a great deal of self-discipline to re-train ourselves out of our negativity. This month we're going to be exploring the gifts that we can give ourselves to do just that. The big surprise is that we can't really "talk" ourselves out of a mindset. Sometimes that works, but that gets old. So why not open that door and step into the next realm of your own being? The summertime says it's time to play, relax, be at peace, dream and re-charge our batteries.

It's time to mend our body and tend our spirit with some downtime. But I can assure you, that even when your body is at rest, your soul only has more of a chance to catch up with you and become a bigger influence in your life. So the good news is that taking that quiet time, injecting joy into your life and visioning for your future is never a more active time...behind the scenes, that is. The magic is happening while you are sleeping, meditating, sitting on the beach or creating a cool work of art. If you don't believe it, try it and see if after you take that time for yourself if you aren't twice as productive and ten times as inspired! Believe and Receive the beauty of your soul.

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." ~Vincent Van Gogh

"We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm." ~ Winston Churchill

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
June 05 - Rest in Your Belief
June 12 - Breathing, Dreaming & Miracle Making
June 19 - The Art of Creative Relaxation
June 26 - Your Invisible Crown

JUNE AFFIRMATIONS
I believe in myself.
I believe in the beauty of my dreams.
My dreams are important to me in ways beyond my imagining.
I allow myself time to rest and restore.
I schedule fun and play into my life every day.
When I smile, the whole world is alight with my love.
When I laugh, the angels are celebrating.
The care and feeding of my spirit is just as important as the care I give my body.
The soul communicates in symbols and imagery, so I give myself time to visualize, meditate and create.
I am a creative genius.
My inner artist is shining through my whole life.
When I am peaceful and tranquil, I am open to more inspiration.
I am inspired by the Light.
Each morning I lie quietly before arising and allow my higher self to speak to me.
I receive high inspiration from the quiet of my soul.
My soul speaks in silence.
I am a master of the art of doing without doing.
I treat myself as royalty and everyday I wear an invisible crown.
When I am happy, I give off the vibration of happiness and everyone and everything I come in contact with benefits.
I receive good things into my life.
I accept my highest good into my life in the manner in which it should unfold.
I rest in the belief that the Universe is supporting my purpose.
I acknowledge any apparent misfortune, but I see only good.
I experience my feelings clearly without attaching emotional baggage from the past.
I give myself permission to feel.
I give myself permission to rest.
I give myself permission to love.
I give myself permission to live life with passion and grace.
I am filled with the endless blessings of the creator.
I find creative ways to relax my body and mind.
I breathe my cares away and restore myself with the breath of life.
I am a miracle maker!

Redirecting Children's Behavior

2011-05-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

REDIRECTING CHILDRENS BEHAVIOR

Presented by

The International Network for Children and Families

Calling all Parent, Life Coaches, Teachers and anyone who works with children and youth...

This amazing course teaches you to “Empower Your Children to Self Discipline, Self Reliance and Self confidence”!!

*END POWER STRUGGLES

*ELIMINATE SIBLING RIVALRY

*TEACH SELF MOTIVATION

*FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CHILDS EMOTIONAL NEEDS

*INCREASE JOY AND LAUGHTER IN YOUR HOME

5 consecutive Thursdays

Beginning June 7th, 2011 From 6:30pm to 9:30pm

Held at: The Church Of Spiritual Light

1939 Park Meadows DR . Ft.Myer FL

Cost Single: $95

Couple: $150
+ $20 book fee (each)

*Deposit required to cover the cost of books. For more details, and to lock in special pricing please contact the instructor of this course, Elizabeth Vallie at 239-691-1399

Visit the website at www.incaf.com

Wellness & Nutrition Seminar Series

2011-05-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

"The part can never be well unless the whole is well." ~Plato

Join Lora Ulrich of The New You Health and Wealth Lifestyle Coaching and Diana Grant of Vitality Health Coaching to learn about a revolutionary and clinically proven wellness program that can help you look and feel your best, and address energy levels, immune health, fitness, metabolism, cravings, and more to be at your best for the summer!

Nutrition Seminar

Offered every third Thursday of the month at 1939 Park Meadow Drive, Suite 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

This information-packed seminar shows you the rules for getting Healthy for Life! The seminar explains: why diets don’t work, how eating the correct foods will have you feeling great with more energy, the importance of maintaining a stable blood sugar level, the Glycemic Index of foods, the importance of exercise and finally the importance of following a good supplementation program.

Health and Wellness Spa Seminar

Offered the first Thursday of each month at 1939 Park Meadow Drove, suite 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

The Health and Wellness seminar is the Nutrition seminar with a fun, yet informative section about skin-care added to the presentation.

Other Upcoming Seminars...

5-Week RESET Weight Loss Challenge

This program will be offered via phone or at any location that would like to host the event.Change does not have to be complicated. USANA scientists designed this 5-Day

RESET Weight Loss program to make losing weight feel easy, giving you a significant head start to long term weight management. By following the RESET program, you can lose up to five pounds in five days. RESET has been clinically tested, and its low-glycemic foundation is scientifically based. Rethink dieting. Resolve, renew, reinvent with RESET.

Then, depending on the amount of weight you wish to release you will move on to either Phase I or Phase II, depending on your specific goals. Once you have achieved your ideal weight, you will continue with Phase II, consisting of one USANA Nutrimeal™ smoothie and one USANA Nutrition Bar each day along with the USANA Essentials™ multivitamin and BiOmega™ fish oil supplements. You will be counseled and monitored for 5 weeks while you are learning to pick healthier foods and start in incorporate exercise into your daily lifestyle.

Self Care Seminar
This seminar will be offered periodically as part of the lecture series.

The Self-Care seminar explores the 10 Areas of Self-Care that can greatly impact your health, happiness, personal and work relationships, and the purpose of your life. Each of the 10 areas are discussed and suggestions given on how to easily incorporate healthier practices into your busy live. You will work on creating your ideal week and envision how that ideal week would look and feel. You will leave the seminar with a plan to reduce stress and take better care of yourself.

How to Get a Healthy Home Seminar

This seminar will be offered periodically as part of the lecture series.

This seminar is a short summary of the New York Times Best-seller, The Healthy Home. We follow the book as the author goes from room to room in a typical American family’s home and points out all of the toxins that are in the home and gives you suggestions for how to lessen the impact these toxins have on yours family’s health. This is an eye-opening seminar that you do not want to miss.

Public Welcome. For more information you may contact Diana Grant at 239-851-1846
Cost for monthly Thursday evening seminars: $5

May 2011: Divine Love

2011-04-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

May the beauty of what you love be what you do. ~Rumi

May 2011: Divine Love
As we continue to create our lives through the power of true community, the "journey is the destination" takes on new meaning. For it is cradled in the arms of our people, our tribe that we open ourselves to the presence of divine love. God and Goddess is in the people. Never is that more apparent than when we live our life surrounded by our soul group. Living in true community means much more than just friendship, it means that we are experiencing the divine through our relationship to everything in our field of awareness. And as this awareness increases, the gratitude and appreciation that we have for each other, the earth and nature, our inventions and technology, and all of our heavenly counterparts draws us ever nearer to our creator and the reality of our own magnificence. Our community provides a stable container to create, invent, relate, grow, heal, transform and love like never before! And finally we come to the nucleus of our own souls and step into our higher self and into our destiny. We realize that we are actually doing it - We are bringing heaven to earth. And it is in that moment of clarity and largesse of Spirit that we understand that we ARE sacred, divine love in the flesh. And this love has crept upon us, sneeking right into our way of life, inch by inch, guiding and directing us to some unimaginable joy. And we are made whole.
Bright blessings to all!

"The sweetest sounds to mortals given, Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven". ~William Goldsmith Brown

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
May 1 - Agape: Divine Love
May 8 - The Gift of the Divine Mother
May 15 - Love Is a Verb
May 22 - Grace & Gratitude
May 29 - Calling All Angels

May Affirmations
I love all.
I am sacred, divine love in the flesh.
I am loving.
I am loved.
I recognizes the power of the divine feminine within me.
I see the hidden beauty of the Goddess at work in the world.
The Divine Feminine is love and is the container for love.
The perfection of Mother Father God moves through me, guiding and protecting.
I am moved by the beauty of the soul's expression.
I am guided moment by moment through the power of love.
I acknowledge the burdens of my ancestors and heal the past, present and future.
I clear the path for the complete realization of the perfection of my soul.
I embrace my destiny and create my life in joy.
I see all through the eyes of my Higher Self.
I embrace the desire to receive in order to share.
My wealth is the world's wealth.
My empowerment is key to someone else's success.
I experience the divine in all things.
There is no separation of human and divine.
I am the manifestation of the intention of the creator God within me, my lineage and the creator.
I remain eternally connected to source energy.
I go to the source for renewal and restoration.
I consciously bring Light into my being.
I meditate and energize my cells with the Light.
I magnetize only good into my life.
It is time to release myself from the karmic path of suffering.
I surrender to my soul and to my higher self.
I have compassion and deep respect for myself and others.
I am filled with grace and gratitude for all creation.

PEOPLE SHINE: 2011 RAFFLE FUNDRAISER

2011-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

PEOPLE SHINE: 2011 RAFFLE FUNDRAISER

We are raising funds to benefit the People Shine Project, a SW Florida community service program that promotes and facilitates holistic recovery and leading-edge self care practices through affordable classes, groups and workshops, as well as private consultations. As proponents for integrative and complimentary medicine, we have formed a unique community alliance of caring professionals which allows us to bring over 50+ classes per month together under one roof that promote wellness and holistic well-being.

5 CHANCES TO WIN!!

GOLD PRIZE
Platinum & Diamond Custom Yin/Yang Ring
(value $3500) (Unisex)

SILVER GIFT BASKET DRAWINGS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

3 Month Health Club Membership – (value $150) Fitness On The Move

Life Coaching Package – (value $400) David Essel

Body & Energy Work – (value $85) Joanna Salerno, LMT
Package valued at $800+

HARMONY AT HOME

Feng Shui Consultation (value $170)– Eva Stulb Design Group

Personal Altar in the Home Consultation (value $85)– Rev. Renee Bledsoe

Gift Certificate to Labyrinth Shoppe (value $25)
Gift Certificate to The Mystical Moon (value $25)

Package valued at $300+

BEAUTY WAY

1 Hour Massage - (value $75)

Hair Makeover (Cut, color, style) – (value $200)

Manicure or Pedicure (Pro Files) – (value $30)
Package valued at $300+

DINNER & A MOVIE

Dinner at Mad Hatter Restaurant – (value $100) (Sanibel)
Regal Cinema Gift Certificates – (value $20)
Package valued at $120

Click here to read more about People Shine Project

Sai Maa Pure Light Initiation Ceremony

2011-04-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Bringing Enlightenment to the World

You are cordially invited to the Sai Maa Pure Light (Diksha) Initiation Ceremony on APRIL 17th, Sunday afternoon 3-5pm at Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33907.
There is no cost for this ceremony, however, we are requesting a $20 fee to cover expenses. The ceremony will be conducted by Rev. Renee Bledsoe.

After the initiation you will be a part of the spritual lineage of Sai Ma and able to both give and receive the Pure Light Sai Maa Diksha Blessing.

“A Community without the tradition of Diksha is like a desert. Only by wisdom can we understand how to make our life holy and sanctified. This wisdom itself is known as Diksha.” ~ Sai Maa

The Sanskrit word Diksha comes from the root da, to give plus ksi, to destroy and therefore is the process that bestows transcendental, spiritual knowledge while at the same time destroying the seeds of ignorance. Many Great Masters have offered Diksha in many different forms however, Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi has brought us a simple, systematic approach that can be easily learned and offered by everyone. We call this Sai Maa Diksha.

We are entering a remarkable time for the world, unlike any other in recorded history. There is a Great Shift, a universal transformation taking place that will propel humankind from doubt and confusion, into a Golden Age of Joy, Peace and Understanding. Powerful new energies are being generated and radiated throughout the world. Great blessings are being showered upon us.

Sai Maa tells us that the most effective tool to take full advantage of these Divine Gifts is the practice of giving and receiving Sai Maa Diksha. This Pure Energy and Light begins a process of dynamic change, activating our dormant spiritual powers, releasing all that no longer serves us, opening the path to Enlightenment.

In an unprecedented gesture of generosity, Sai Maa is freely offering this magnificent gift to the world. If you are ready to bring Sai Maa Diksha to our friends and family, ready to train others and to be an active participant in the Great Shift, the following information is available to support you.

This Pure Energy and Light begins a process of dynamic change, activating our dormant spiritual powers, releasing all that no longer serves us, opening the path to Enlightenment. Different spiritual lineages offer different intentions with their Diksha. Sai Maa Diksha is the initiation of bliss; bliss being an aspect of Enlightenment.

Click here to read more about Sai Maa and Humanity In Unity

Inspire Me Journaling Class

2011-04-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~William Wordsworth

Do you struggle with what to journal about? Are you wondering why you should take time out of your day to journal? Did you know the positive effects of Journaling?

Releases built up tension
Allows you to see clearly what you are dealing with in your life
Creates positive outcomes when dealing with difficult situations
Releases anxiety
Creates a since of balance and joy
Allows conversations with friends and family to deepen

If you would like to start journaling or would like to go to a new level with your journaling then this class is for you!

We will discuss:

Journaling prompts to help you and continue to develop
Practice sessions and overcoming blocks
Learn how to review your private journal to make a shift in your life

Date: Every 4th Monday of the Month (begins April 25, 2011)

Time: 6:00pm to 7:30 pm

Where: 1939 Park Meadows Drive Fort Myers, FL 33907

Cost: $10.00

RSVP: Lynne@shiftandwakeup.com or call 239.253.2884

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning: I wanted to know what I was going to say." ~Sharon O'Brien

April 2011: Blessings of Light

2011-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne

This month we will be exploring the power of the Light in our lives. The Church of Spiritual Light will be 3 years old this month! In that time our community has received many blessings, much healing and ever deepening pathways to enlightenment. The Light is the means by which all this has been accomplished.

“The Light is more than some abstract, unknowable energy force. Light is Truth. If Light is truth, then darkness must be lies. Each and every lie we tell to ourselves and others casts the shadow of separation upon us. Every time even the most minor deception is revealed and the truth is made known we are re-united with the Light. So, Let there be Light. Those are the words by which you can create your own magnificent world.” - Rev. Renee Bledsoe. Bright blessings to all!

"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light." ~ Groucho Marx

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
April 3 - Turn on Your Heart Light
April 10 - Shattering of Illusion
April 17 - The Glory of the Sun, Moon and Stars
April 24 - Easter Celebration of Light: Rebirth

April Affirmations
I am a multi-dimensional being of Light.
I am fueled and sourced by the Light.
I am born anew each day into the Light.
My physical being is only 1% of who I am.
My essence lives within my body, mind, heart and soul.
I set my Spirit Free.
I am free to choose love.
Love is an energy.
I am filling my healing circle with the Love of the Light.
I call upon my angels and spiritual allies for support, guidance and love.
I am filled with spiritual abundance.
I communicate with all the aspects of my being.
I reveal my GodSelf to myself and to the world.
My spiritual essence is immortal.
I break with denial and embrace the truth of my life.
The truth will set us free.
I come into acceptance of what is. That is how I change and grow.
I surrender to the power of the Light.
The Light is universal truth.
I am aware of multiple levels of perception and can accept paradoxical realities.
I am discerning and enlightened.
I tap into non-local consciousness for wisdom and guidance.
I activate my intuition for greater knowledge of cosmic truth.
My love is a gift to others and myself.
I am guided to let love motivate and inspire my life.
I love life.
The Light reveals my true nature.
I see with spiritual eyes beyond ordinary appearances.
I receive light blessings to activate and assist my spiritual evolution.
I give light blessings to activate and assist the spiritual evolution of others.
I bring in the light of my higher self into my being.
I live in the Light of the Creator.
The Light is a limitless substance and provides all things needful, both spiritual and material.
I am a portal for light and love.
There is no separation between human and divine. Human is Divine.

Trinity Crystal Bowl Meditation & Theta Healing

2011-04-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible
is to go beyond them into the impossible.” -Arthur C. Clarke

Join us for our twice monthly Crystal Bowl Meditation and Theta Healing Event. Come and experience the power of healing, release and renewal through the combined modalities of sound healing with the crystal bowls and Theta healing. This class is facilitated by Pamela Kinton, Peggy Bridenbaker and Jennifer Parkinson, certified Theta Healing Practitioners.

The crystal comes from the earth, but the sound comes from above. Every cell in your body is a sound resonator. Our bodily systems respond to sound vibration, as do our mental and emotional states of consciousness.Everything is Energy - Light, Color and Sound - What better way to speak the essential language of your being than through the beauty of the Crystal Bowls?

Theta healing is a technique that focuses on thought and prayer. Theta healing put your natural intuition to use, relying upon unconditional love of Creator Of All That Is to do the actual “work”. We believe that by changing your brain wave cycle to include the “Theta” state, you can actually watch the Creator Of All That Is create instantaneous physical and emotional healing.

“Energy healing restores the bodies own inner physician.”

1st and 3rd Monday's of the month - 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cost: $10

To RSVP call Rev. Renee at 239-560-6314.

The Women of Valor Circle

2011-03-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is a call for women, of all ages, to come and join us, as we gather together to explore, experience and express our true, authentic, Divine selves.

In a safe, peaceful, loving circle of friends, you will join other women, who willing step into a new experience to share her Divine Essence. This time is set aside specifically for us to gift ourselves love, grace and radiant illumination. We gather to share in prayer and supportive understanding. We come to help each other heal hearts, to deepen our connection with our bodies, to train our minds to stay focused on nourishing the eternal flame of our souls.

The Women of Valor Circle will gives you the sacred space to feel, express and experience the movement of Divine Grace alive within you. Through prayer, spiritual readings, and sacred activities, our love and joy, experienced during this time, will cause the works of Spirit to be known and expressed in you and in all areas of your life.

You can expect to experience the powers of inspiration, creativity, pleasure, well-being, belonging, wholeness, movement, compassion, spontaneous laughter, healing tears, magnificence, power, self-love, unconditional acceptance and more!

Come as you are. Bring a journal, an open mind, open arms and open heart. Be willing to share your gifts. We affirm that Life’s Good is available for all and now is the time for Good, the Divine Feminine Soul, to teach us the mystic, majestic powers that reside within each of us. At your own pace, you will experience the freedom to fly. We affirm that LOVE is the power that heals, cleanses, and awakens the soul to the miracles yet to be experienced!

The Women of Valor Circle

Meets the 4th Friday of each month

At The Church of Spiritual Light

1939 Park Meadows #1, Fort Myers, FL

Donation $25.00

Please RSVP to help us prepare for each gathering

Please contact Caroline Ravelo 239-791-6749 or Rev. Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314

Or email CarolineRavelo@aol.com for more info

Kabbalah: Tree of Life Journey

2011-03-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Join Dr. Melinea Holman for this Creative, Healing and Empowering journey to identify and break down the blocks that are holding you back from the abundance you want: love, money, happiness and a sense of peace.

12 Month Journey meets once per month on the 2nd Sunday of the month. You will need to plan on attending each session monthly. (Makeups are granted at the discretion of the teacher and have a surcharge.

Cost: $35 per meeting,
One time material cost are as follows:

Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ by Tau Malachi and Mystical Kabbalah by Dione Fortune - books

Hosted by: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

For More Info Call Rev. Renee at 239-560-6314

March 2011: Hands & Heart

2011-03-02T20:11:00.000-08:00

“Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.” ~ Zen Proverb

The spring equinox this month truly ushers in a time of new beginnings. What did you plant? What's coming to fruition for you now or very soon? Life is cyclical and that is never more evident than when we actually start to see some of our projects take root, our ideas blossom, our relationships bloom, and our businesses grow "corn". Get ready for new life everywhere. The wonderful thing about the springtime of our life is that in fact we do get to reap our harvest. This is a fertile time of the year! So take your heart into your hands and accept the luck you have made for yourself. This month we celebrate the connection of our hands to our heart, not just symbolically, but in the work that we do in the world...the actions that we have taken and the creations we have made a reality. So many people in our community and around the world have been very valiant in their own personal growth and willingly faced their shadow. Well groundhog already saw his shadow and now it's time to glow in the radiance of the emerging sunlight and bask in the sweetness of spring. Bright blessings to all!

All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
a light from the shadows shall spring;
renewed shall be blade that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king.
~ J.R.R. Tolkien

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~Terri Guillemets

SUNDAY TALKS
March 6 - Hands to Heart: The Practice of Kindness
March 13 - All that is Gold Does Not Glitter
March 20 - Spring Equinox: Joyful New Beginnings
March 27 - Cycles, Seasons and Rhythms of Life

MARCH AFFIRMATIONS
I allow my hands to do the work of my heart.

I look forward to my future with faith, hope and joy.

I embrace the unknown and allow Spirit to reveal the beauty of my soul.

I am free to create a beautiful life.

I am open to experiencing more love in my life.

I allow my creativity its full expression.

My talents are needed in this world.

I am a unique expression of the divine.

I allow myself to experience the cyclical nature of life with grace.

I set up myself to encounter more ease in my day to day life.

I release myself from the path of suffering and create beauty in the world.

When I am happy and healthy, I send the energy of health and happiness to the entire planet.

I feel lucky and joyful.

I tap into my highest creativity for solutions and new ideas to help myself and others.

I see the path of beauty before me.

I am so grateful for the abundance of spiritual support from my community.

I am a part of a real human family of mankind.

My family extends into my friendships.

I am an important part of my community.

I am surrounded by loving supportive people.

I honor my shadow and my light and see myself whole and healed.

I am blessed and I bless others every day.

May the circle of love that is my life be unbroken.

May we all walk in beauty.

May I reap the rewards of my creations and quickly correct what is in error.

May all my errors turn to blessings.

I have the eyes to see and the ears to hear the desires of my heart and soul.

May I tap into my imagination to activate a higher vibration of love within my being.

Love is all around and within me.

I am dancing the sacred spiral of creation.

My joy is a blessing to the earth.

I touch the lives of others with random acts of kindness.

My destiny is to love and be loved.

Don't Kill Cupid!

2011-02-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.” ~Kahlil Gibran

"I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love."

-Henry Ward Beecher

HOW TO BRING IN THE GODDESS – EROS/CUPID

1) Root Chakra - Be Present
Paying attention, Caring for the comfort and joy of another and yourself, any relationship with another depends upon the foundation it is built upon. Spending your time.

2) Sacral Chakra - Be Creative
Think of the different ways to express this caring and be open to new expressions of love. Release the limits on what you think love ought to look like.

3) Solar Plexis – Be Vulnerable
The feeling of excitement is actually eros at work, take risks and be willing to be vulnerable and open to true intimacy. Step out of your comfort zone.

4) Heart Chakra – Be Kind
Send Lovingkindness in your thoughts, intentions and prayers. Smiles and Hugs, Hands, Feed your heart with good things and truth.

5) Throat Chakra – Be Communicative
Write poems, letters, speak openly and freely, dialogue and deep meaningful conversation.

6) Brow Chakra - Be intuitive
See the story behind the story. Dream together and share each other’s vision.

7) Crown Chakra – Be honest
Tell the Truth in your relationships. See them in the highest possible Light.

8) Transpersonal Chakra - Be whole
Allow your Higher Self to enter your story. See your Godliness and you will see that in others.

“You were born together, and together you shall be for evermore.... But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” ~Kahlil Gibran

Full Moon Ceremony

2011-02-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

Join us for an evening full moon celebration and ceremony. We will release all that no longer serves us and utilize magickal energies to bring forth what we desire. This particular moon gives us as opportunity to bring the desires of heart and mind together in order to manifest your most amazing creation - your life!

Goddesses Caroline and Lynne will facilitate this circle. All are welcome to bring the power and energy of Light into their being to share with the world.
When: February 18th 8pm
Where: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cost: $35

Note:
Also, don't forget the Exceptional Women's Group meets from 6-7:30 that same evening. If you attend the Exceptional Women's, which is a $5 donation, you may attend the full moon ceremony for $25 ($30 for both - saves you $5!)

Drum Making Ceremonial Workshop

2011-02-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

“The drum is the Great Spirit’s favorite instrument. That is why we were all given a heartbeat.” ~Navajo Elder

Do you know the sound of your own heartbeat?

Are you open to listen?

Do you walk to the beat of your own drum or do you follow the crowd?

Is the drum calling you to take back your power and begin walking to the beat of your own drum?

The drum is a a tool for you to learn to listen to your own voice. Now, you can learn to make your own drum and begin your journey towards rhythm and grace. If you are being called to learn the traditional stories of the drum and to make your own drum, join us on March 12th and 13th......and awaken your drum to the sound of your voice.

Trina Hayes is a storyteller and healing drum teacher. She made her first drum almost eleven years ago after being diagnosed with a lump in her breast, which was her awakening to the need to go back to her roots and to become the ‘strong woman’ she knew she was intended to be. Allow her to guide you on your journey of healing and embracing your own voice.

DETAILS...
March 12 & 13th - 2-6pm

Cost: $170
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, Fl 33908

RSVP: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314

You must sign up as space is limited due to the highly sacred and personalized nature of this process.

February 2011: Heart & Soul

2011-02-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

February is the month of love. Let us help you renew your romance for life. As we continue on our journey to the soul, how fitting it is that our first stop be at our heart. It might be said that the heart is the mouth of the soul and what we take into our hearts is what we believe. What we believe shapes our attitudes, behaviors, actions, all physical manifestations and ultimately our soul's destiny. This month we will be exploring ways to purify our hearts and what we take into them. Feeding our hearts and clearing our belief systems is how we regain a deeper connection to our soul and spirit. We want to let our soul take a new shape, released from any burdens of fear, lack, doubt and judgment. This month we will set our souls free to love and express ourselves in joy and be the cause of joy not only to ourselves, but to others, just by being our most authentic self... and sharing our soul.

Sunday Sermons with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
Feb 6 - Anatomy of the Heart and Soul
Feb 13 - Don't Kill Cupid!
Feb 20 - Tough Mind, Tender Heart
Feb 27 - Lead with Your Heart

February Affirmations
I am love.
I take only good things into my heart and soul.
My heart is the gateway to my soul.
What I believe I take to my heart. What is in my heart shapes my soul.
I send lovingkindness to my own heart.
I send longingkindness to everything and everyone.
I surrender to my soul and accept my own divinity.
I purify my heart and soul.
My heart is smiling.
I surround myself with the energy of love.
Unconditonal love also includes tough love.
I release all acts of inner violence such as fear, doubt and judgment of myself and others.
I acknowledge and accept others just as they are.
I acknowledge and accept myself just as I am.
I am free to express my soul.
I bless my heart.
I bless my hands.
I bless my feet.
I bless my body.
I bless my mind.
I bless my spirit.
I bless the earth.
I bless the environment.
I bless the ocean.
I bless humanity.
I bless the animals.
I bless my food.
I bless my home.
I bless everything.
I bless my community.
I bless my friends.
I bless my family.
I feel the heartbeat of mother earth in my soul.
I engage in a healthy romance with life.
I bring new levels of intimacy and love into all my relationships.
I am free to love.

Join us for a Valentine Potluck Luncheon, Sunday Feb 13th, immediately following our Sunday service. Please bring your favorite dish to share!

Meditation Rescue Workshop

2011-01-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

Meditation Rescue Workshop with Rev. Renee Bledsoe

Having difficulty with meditation? Can't get rid of the monkey mind? Crawling out of your skin or experiencing other discomfort while attempting to meditate? If so, read on... We have designed a class just for you!

Come and learn some techniques to increase the effectiveness of your meditation practice. Discover and explore alternative methods of meditation, as well as how to use mindfulness to "turn off your mind" by coming into complete acceptance of your thoughts and simply becoming the observer. It is this "observer" within you that will lead you to a place of peace, calming the central nervous system and helping you to access higher consciousness.

In this time where we suffer from over-stimulation and information overload, meditation is becoming more of a must than ever before. Take the time now to access the doorway into your inner being with the help of someone who overcame obstacles to meditation and understands the common blocks to meditation.

Your brilliant, intelligent active mind is a great strength, but without the checks and balances of the other half of the brain, it can become a weakness. Meditation allows you to tap into the intuitive, soul aspects of your being and will encourage more whole brain functioning, body chemistry regulation and the opportunity for holistic healing.

Meditation Practice Workshop - $10

Sunday, January 16, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

RSVP to Rev. Renee Bledsoe 239-560-6314

BECOMING THE TRACKER WORKSHOP SERIES

2011-01-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." ~Henry David Thoreau

Join us for the BECOMING THE TRACKER Workshop Series... See the interconnectivity of all that is and communicate in ways you may have not imagined. Let the nouns of your life become verbs!

Each month we will have an indepth exploration of the clues and nature of the spiritual messages and messengers that are all around us, in all their many forms. Learn to see the world with new eyes, enrich your life and experience the abundance of the Universe on a more personal and profound level.

Let your world come alive!

There are 10 sessions. Each session is stand alone and anyone can join in at any time. $25 per session. Classes are held at 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, Fl 33907 from 2 -5pm
Please RSVP to Rev. Renee Bledsoe at 239-560-6314 or renee@weavestheweb.com

SERIES ITINERARY
JANUARY 29 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 1 - Animal Totems & Nature Guides I

FEBRUARY 27 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 2 - The Elements

MARCH 27 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 3 - Botanicals & Trees

APRIL 22 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 4 - Birds & Angels

MAY 22 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 5 - Angelic Guides

JUNE 26 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 6 - The Land

JULY 24 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 7 - Your Body & Health

AUGUST 28 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 8 - Your Home & Office

SEPTEMBER 25 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 9 - Messages in the Mundane

OCTOBER 23 - Becoming the Tracker Series
SESSION 10 - Earth Angels & People Guides

January 2011: Journey to the Soul

2011-01-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

JANUARY 2011: Journey to the Soul

“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell

Humility, Awareness, Intention & Surrender are the psychic building blocks of our soul. Without humility, it is very difficult to become truly aware. The arrogance we often have of the knowledge of our own self, can prevent us from the actual discovery of what is truly in our heart and soul. Humility demands that we approach ourselves and the divinity within with an empty cup. We cannot expect to create when we are already so full. And if awareness is not present, then we run the risk of ignoring the call of our heart and soul as we make intentions. The quality of our intentions may suffer. The final action is the surrender of our intention to the Universe. All three of these actions require humility to be fulfilling to our entire being, body/mind/heart and soul. This is why many sacred teachings ask us to lose our life in order to gain our life. We must not be afraid to listen to the longings of our soul. The humbling comes as we no longer give our body and mind total authority over our Spirit and soul. Humility is the key to the garden gate and will allow us to regain entry into paradise.

“When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Zechariah prophesied, "Behold! Your King comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey."

January 2011: Sunday Sermons with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
January 2nd - Humility: The Gatekeeper

January 9th - Awareness: Becoming the Tracker

January 16th - Intention: Melting the Ice
January 23rd - Surrendering to the Soul

January 30th - Soul to Soul

______________________

January Affirmations

I strike out on my new journey with renewed faith, hope and love.

I am a multi-dimensional, ever evolving human being.

I am the intention of a force so powerful and true that there is no way I can fail.

I am humbled by the indwelling spirit within me.

I am humbled by my body, the temple of my soul.

I speak my truth with love and compassion.

I allow others to speak their truth with love and compassion.

I understand the difference between my truth and universal truth.

I access higher truths, through the powers of meditation and reflection.

I am filled with the light of angelic forces within.

I call to my spiritual guides and guardians for guidance and assistance.

I am a force for good in the world.

I allow all that I am to fully integrate into my being.

I operate with the highest levels of integrity that I am capable of.

I release the bounds of illusion and the wall of denial that keeps me from my soul.

I authenticate and validate my true self.

I accept myself unconditionally, as I honor my transformational process.

I trust in the wisdom of my spirit, to inform my life and lead me to my higher self.

I treat my body as a sacred trust.

I treat my mind as a sacred trust.

I see the holistic view of every situation.

I am socially conscious and care deeply about this world and humanity.

I realize that everything we see is connected on levels that we can barely imagine, with things that we cannot see.

I honor the interconnectivity of all that is.

I send lovingkindness to all beings.

I am open to the expression of my highest creativity.

I acknowledge the power of humility to bring me to my true hearts desires.

I consciously work with the powers of love, compassion and forgiveness.

I consciously work with the powers of awareness, intention and surrender.

I am love. I surrender to the love within my soul.

I trust the creator, the master of the divine plan and see the brilliance of this creation.

Whatever circumstances I am in are exactly what I need to continue or complete my spiritual transformation.

The wisdom of my higher self is my guiding force.

I see the Light, within myself, within others and this creation.

I am open to the adventures of this magnificent journey called life.

I am, that I am.

Rev. Renee Bledsoe, Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

2011 New Year's Eve Manifestation Ceremony

2010-12-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

Spend this New Year's Eve in sacred ceremony. What better way to start out the new year than with your community in a circle of divinity. Come and place your intentions for the coming year into sacred space. There will be all kinds of surprises and powerfully fun activities in store for you to empower your intentions, connect with Spirit, with each other and the earth. We'll be doing something called Future Recall....a technique to call your future to you, setting up your vision and working from the end back.

Please dress in your favorite color appropriately for sacred ceremony of this magnitude. This is YOUR LIFE - Let's Celebrate it!

Facilitated by Rev. Renee Bledsoe
Where: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
RSVP: 239-560-6314
Cost: $25

Preparing the new Temple of the Soul

2010-12-04T16:28:00.000-08:00

You are perfect exactly the way you are.

---

You've never needed to be anything more than who you are.

---

No matter what has happened in your life, you could not have done anything differently.

---

You are a blessing in this world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Body - Temple of God
Based on Edgar Cayce's Readings

by John Van Auken

St. Paul asked in 1 Corinthians: “Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” and “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God?” In 2 Corinthians he comes right out and says it plainly: “We are a temple of the living God; even as God said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’”

The disciple John hints at this when he recounts in his gospel an event when Jesus was in the great temple in Jerusalem and was asked to show the people a sign. “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The people at the temple said, ‘Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he spoke of the temple of his body.”

PERSONAL SPIRITUALITY

From Edgar Cayce’s attunement to the Universal Consciousness, he too saw and taught that our bodies are more than physical vehicles for living in this world. Here are five brief excerpts:

“Know that your body is the temple of the living God; there you may seek communion. There you may seek counsel as to the choices to be made, the directions to be taken.”

“He has promised. ‘If you will but open the door of your consciousness, of your heart, I will enter and abide with you.’ This is not a fancy; this is not hearsay. You may experience such. For it is the law, it is the way, it is LIFE itself!”

“Seek and you shall find. Not without but from within. For in thine own temple He has promised to meet you.”

“All that you may learn of the Father God is already within self. For your body is indeed the temple of the living God, and as you meet Him there you may gain in your own consciousness the satisfaction of walking and talking with Him. When these consciousnesses are yours and you are one with Him, then indeed may you see that the kingdom of heaven dwells within.”

“This is a promise to you, to each soul; yet each soul must of itself find that answer within self. For indeed the body is the temple of the living God. There He has promised to meet you; there He does. And as your body, your mind, your soul is attuned to that divine that answers within, so may you indeed be quickened to know His purpose; and you may fill that purpose for which you entered this experience.”

Years ago, when I first read these teachings, I would sit quietly and go within my temple. With my physical eyes closed, I would scan inside my head with my mind’s eye, looking for God. I would begin conversations, and then sit silently, listening for a response. In those early days it was like sitting in a dark, empty room by myself. There was nothing in here but me. If I began to perceive a response, I would not know if it were some aspect of me or truly God speaking. Now, thirty-some years later, I cannot close my eyes without feeling the nearness of a vast inner universe of life, information, creativity, and God. In preparing to write this article I spent some time recalling how I went from sitting by myself to awakening to the heavens within. It is true that if one seeks, one will find; it’s a matter of seeking long enough. And it was a long journey, with some side trips that led nowhere. But, through it all, there was a thread that I can now see in hindsight. There were spontaneous moments of enlightenment, of direct contact with God, and of knowing the truth. Sustaining those proved more difficult than expected because outer life was more integral to inner growth than expected. If I stopped living the fruits of the spirit in the outer life, the inner life dried up. But the inner life is the ultimate, eternal life, and it is only lived by going within the temple of the body and awakening to it.

There are two excellent ways to enter the temple within: deep sleep and deep meditation. A good biblical example of deep sleep producing a vision of the life within would be Jacob’s dream of the ladder to and from heaven. You’ll recall that upon waking from deep sleep, he said, “This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven.” The place of deep sleep and illuminating dreams is indeed the house of God and the gate to heaven. A good biblical example of deep meditation producing a vision of the life within would be John’s description of how The Revelation began. John tells us that he “was in the spirit [in deep meditation, caught up in the spirit] on the Lord’s day and I heard and saw and was told to write.” In this issue, let’s explore how the body, the temple, is arranged for spiritual activity.

THE EXPERIENCE

I am often asked to describe what it feels like to open centers and raise energy, and to be in the presence of God. The Ineffable is just that, ineffable. Even God ordered Old Testament seekers to make no images or utter any name for Him. Additionally, I’ve found that people are quite unique in their wiring and perception. Some are more visual. Others are auditory. And some are tactile or kinesthetic, feeling more than perceiving. Some are conceptual; they know. Frankly, I could find no difference in the profoundness of their spiritual experiences. For me, it began with feeling the Presence and the energy, then developed into knowing, and eventually became visual. But I have a friend who began seeing before he could feel. I recommend that you seek and practice and allow yourself to discover it as it comes to you. You must have some faith that it is there and in the beginning you’ll need to be inspired (that helps lift you into the Spirit).

SECRET STRUCTURE

Many of the body’s major systems may be used for both physical and spiritual activity. For example, the seven major endocrine glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to keep the body running optimally are also a physical portion of the seven spiritual centers or chakras that can affect major changes in our vibrations and consciousness. The central nervous system, so vital to living in the three-dimensional world, is also a portion of the kundalini pathway that can raise our vibrations and help us perceive beyond three dimensions.

Much of this was known in the sacred and often secret temple schools of ancient cultures around the world. For example, the staff carried by the god Mercury (also known as Hermes by the Greeks, Thoth by the Egyptians, and Enoch by the Hebrews, and who Cayce said was an incarnation of “the Word”) remains today as the emblem of modern medicine (the caduceus). But few really know its intended meaning. It is an excellent emblem for physical healing, but it also contains the metaphysical structure of the body for spiritual flight, flight with the messenger of the gods, Mercury, into the heavens and the presence of the Most High God.

An important but often forgotten teaching in several ancient temple schools dealt with the movement of the life force in the body. It was taught that when the life force flows downward and outward through the body’s structures, one becomes fully incarnate and conscious in this world; when the life force flows inward and upward through these same structures, then one moves beyond this reality and becomes conscious of the heavens. If both flows are made to circulate the life force, then integration occurs, and the person becomes whole, both human and divine. Cayce and other sources teach that this is accomplished by using the breath. The Taoist teacher Liu Hua-yang wrote: “There is a turn upward toward Heaven when the breath is drawn in. When the breath flows out, energy is directed towards the Earth. In two intervals one gathers Sacred Energy.”

Edgar Cayce’s readings affirm these energy flows and encourage us to work at entering the temple within and raising the life force in order to draw closer to God and receive His/Her counsel and comfort, and ultimately to become one with God. In the process, we are to channel that light and love into this world, into our lives and the lives of those we interact with each day. This, according to many spiritual teachers and schools, is the primary lesson to be learned in this incarnation: know and love God completely and channel that light and love into this life’s daily opportunities with others. Entering the temple, raising the energy, enlivening the spiritual centers, and uniting with God are not necessary to living a spiritual, loving life. But, if one wants to experience the whole of God consciousness and eternal life, then one needs to raise the body’s vibrations and experience higher states of consciousness. Moses could not ascend the mountain and meet God face to face until he first gave water to the seven maidens and raised the serpent off the desert floor -- symbolic of enlivening the seven spiritual centers and raising the kundalini energy.

Let’s explore the body’s secret structure and some of the techniques for finding God within us and channeling the light and love into our lives.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS & THE LIFE FORCE

The concept of spiritual centers can be found in the art of antiquity, from glowing globes on people’s heads in Egyptian art to third eyes on the bodies (even on the palms of hands) in classical Asian art.

The first formal mention of spiritual structures, including energy centers and pathways, appears in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, c. 300 B.C. He reveals six centers and an ultimate luminescence that occurs around the top of the head. These centers are depicted in two ways: as chakras (literally, “spinning wheels”) and as padmes (literally, “lotuses”). Therefore, one may understand that the spiritual centers are both energy vortexes that generate movement as they are stimulated (as a spinning wheel) and enlightenment complexes that unfold as they grow (as an opening lotus). Cayce correlated these centers with the endocrine glandular system in the body. He also said that there are twelve (1861-11), but seven are of importance here. Whenever we find seven people, places, or things in a classical story, we may correlate them with the seven spiritual centers. Cayce’s most famous example of this is in his interpretation of the Book of the Revelation. He correlates the seven churches, seals, vials, and plagues to the cleansing and opening of the seven spiritual centers within a seeker’s physical body (for more on this, see my book Edgar Cayce on the Revelation). Hugh Lynn Cayce had a fascinating presentation on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a tale of spiritual awakening.

Patanjali also identifies three pathways in the body. Two are an interwoven double helix called ida and pingala, often represented by double serpents (as in the caduceus). The third is a single path, the sushumna, beginning in the lower pelvic area and traveling directly up the body to the top of the head.

Many modern books and teachers list the crown as the highest and the third eye as sixth, but Cayce instructs us otherwise, as do many of the more classical texts and images. For example, in ancient Hinduism the kundalini pathway is symbolized by a cobra in the striking position, not straight up. In mystical Egyptian and Mayan art it is a winged serpent in the striking position. In Hebrew and Christian mysticism it is the shape of the shepherd’s staff. The energy flows along a path that is like a question mark (?), not like an exclamation mark (!). Cayce says it flows up the body to the base of the brain, then over to the center of the brain and the crown of the head, and then on to the forehead and the great frontal lobe of the brain and the third eye.

Cayce states that the navel and the crown centers have a powerful magnetism between them. He says that the crown is always ready to illuminate and elevate, but that individuals must open the navel center before they can begin to transcend and transform. He calls the navel center the “closed door” and the crown the “open door.” Some Eastern texts call them the “lower gate” and the “jade gate.” Reconnecting these two centers is key to restoring our connection to the divine within. Here are three Cayce excerpts on this:

“This was from the flow of emotion from the kundaline center or the Lyden (Leydig) gland, to the ones in the center [pineal] and frontal portion of the head [pituitary]. This is nothing to be fearful of, but keep the emotions better balanced.”

“Second sight, or the super-activity of the third eye may come whenever there is the opening of the lyden (Leydig) center and the kundaline forces from same to the pineal.”

“We find that there has been the opening of the Lyden (Leydig) gland, so that the kundaline forces move along the spine to the various centers that open with this attitude and these activities of the mental and spiritual forces of the body.”

He teaches us to prepare to raise the spiritual forces in the body by setting and feeling a powerful, fully-penetrating ideal of God’s will, rather than our will, and to feel God’s direction throughout the whole of our being as we open the centers and raise the energy. As he said in an earlier reading, “There is nothing to be fearful of, but keep the emotions better balanced.” So many people that I’ve talked with over the years of teaching meditation have expressed their fear of raising the kundalini and opening their spiritual centers. The teaching is: don’t raise and open by yourself! That is rightly fearful. But do get in there and attune self to God’s presence and then, in His/Her presence, open and allow the spiritual forces to flow. Here’s a wonderful reading on this:

“Indeed it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Yet, they that love His coming, they that walk in the cool of the evening, in the shadow of His precepts, shall be awakened to the great truth....”

Are there dangers? Yes. But most of them are before us always. As Cayce points out: “Yourself is your greatest weakness, as yourself is your greatest strength.” If we seek to become fully conscious of God and one with God, then we have to get to work on cleansing, raising, and living the love and light that is God and on with controlling our willful, self-seeking desires. “With the opening of yourself to the vibrations, the emanations, you may be tempted by the desires of the flesh; yes, of the spirit of untruth. But hold fast to that light which is your assurance of His presence with you!”

After imbuing ourselves with the ideal of “God’s will be done,” Cayce instructs us to get our bodies in order: properly assimilating nutrients needed to maintain high levels of life and eliminating wastes and toxins that build up in the system. He also directs us to exercise, even if it is just walking a mile after dinner, and to get massages and adjustments to keep the fluids and electrical energies flowing smoothly through the whole of our system. He specifically identifies three points along our spines through which there is the activity of “the kundalini forces that act as suggestions to the spiritual forces for distribution through the seven centers of the body.” They are among the vertebrae and ganglia of the spine: 3rd cervical, 9th thoracic, and 4th lumbar. These need to be kept limber, open, and flowing. Get them massaged and adjusted, and do daily exercises to keep them fluid.

So important is the body’s condition that in some cases he actually recommended not practicing deep meditation until the body’s health improved. There are many other activities one can do in preparation for entering into the temple and meeting God. Each of us should study and research them on our own and select what works for us.

RAISING THE SERPENT ENERGY

Not only Adam and Eve fell in the Garden, the serpent fell also. And, as Moses raised the serpent in the desert, so must we all raise the serpent power within ourselves in order to receive the presence and the power of God, the Omnipotent, within our temples, our bodies. One of the most primary practices for doing this is kundalini meditation.

Like the Magic Silence method, this method will use words, breath and spaces of silence, but in more powerful ways. Since there is more power involved, there are more warnings in the readings about using this method without proper preparation and self-examination.

PERSONAL SPIRITUALITY

“But make haste SLOWLY! Prepare the body, prepare the mind, before ye attempt to loosen it in such measures or manners that it may be taken hold upon by those influences which constantly seek expressions of self rather than of a living, constructive influence of a CRUCIFIED Savior. Then, crucify desire in self; that ye may be awakened to the real abilities of helpfulness that lie within thy grasp. ...without preparation, desires of EVERY nature may become so accentuated as to destroy....” Therefore, let’s examine our purposes, searching our hearts for our true passion. Is it cooperation and coordination with God, or are we still longing to gratify some lingering desires of our own self interests?

The Taoist meditators of The Secret of the Golden Flower talk about the right method being like one wing of a bird, the other wing being the right heart. A wise seeker must remember, the bird cannot fly with only one wing. All seekers must have the right method and the right heart.

The Ideal

The right-heart concept leads us naturally to the readings’ teaching that an ideal should be raised as we seek to awaken the life force. What is our ideal? To whom or what do we look for examples of better behavior, better choices, better uses for our energies, better relating skills with others? What standard guides us in conceiving our better selves? Who is the author of our “Book of Life”? Is it the circumstances of life? Is it our self-interests?

These are important questions from the perspective of the Cayce readings, questions that should be considered before going on with the powerful kundalini forces aroused in this method of meditation. As the readings say, we can build a Frankenstein or a god using basically the same meditative method. It all depends on the ideal held as the practice progresses.

FIND that which is to YOURSELF the more certain way to your consciousness of PURIFYING body and mind, before ye attempt to enter into the meditation as to raise the image of that through which ye are seeking to know the will or the activity of the Creative Forces; for ye are RAISING in meditation actual CREATION taking place within the inner self!

The readings would advise anyone who feels unable to “set the carnal aside” and attune to a high ideal for the period of meditation to not meditate -- and instead to pray. If the pray then changes you and you feel that you can set the carnal forces aside, you may enter into meditation. Otherwise, stay away from it. Meditation gives power to whatever is in the consciousness and desires of the person. Make sure these are pure and of the highest.

Jesus Christ

Kundalini meditation is certainly an Eastern concept and method of meditation, but the Christ Spirit can help one awaken these powerful forces carefully and in accord with God's will and way. The Edgar Cayce readings present Jesus Christ as not only a high ideal but as a powerful force of protection for anyone seeking to loosen their life force, to open the bio-spiritual seals, and enter into the presence of God. Christ is presented as an advocate for us before the Godhead. To call on this protection and guidance is to call on the greatest resource available. However, the readings do not put the religion that formed around Jesus Christ above other religions. The readings are too universal for that. Seekers from any religious faith can use the power of Christ in their meditative practice and still remain loyal to their religion. Here’s an example of this perspective, from reading 281-13:

If there has been set the mark (mark meaning here the image that is raised by the individual in its imaginative and impulse force) such that it takes the form of the ideal the individual is holding as its standard to be raised to, ...then the individual (or the image) bears the mark of the Lamb, or the Christ, or the Holy One, or the Son, or any of the names we may have given to that which enables the individual to enter THROUGH IT into the very presence of that which is the creative force from within itself -- see?...

Raising then in the inner self that image of the Christ, love of God-Consciousness, is making the body so cleansed as to be barred against all powers that would in any manner hinder.

Notice how “Christ” is given as equivalent to the “love of God-Consciousness.” Seekers from any religion may have love of God-Consciousness. Christ in this perspective is more universal than the religion that possesses that name. Notice also how “love of God-Consciousness” cleanses us of self-interests that may hinder or harm us.

However, there is much more to this reading than ecumenism and protection. Cayce is giving us a great insight into just how a meditator may be transported from a good meditative stillness into the very presence of the Creative Force, God -- with all the ramifications of such an experience. If in our imaginative forces we can conceive or form the ideal (the standard) to which we seek to be raised, then we (as the Revelation states) bear the mark or the sign of that power (whatever name we give it) that enables us to enter through it into the very presence of God within us, the Creative Force within us. Despite the power of some of the other techniques in this form of meditation, imaging the ideal is seminal to transformation. Reading 1458-1 points out our only limitation: “The entity is only limited to that it sets as its ideal.” We are “gods in the making” if we can conceive ourselves to be such -- in cooperation and coordination with the Great God.

The Kundalini and Eternal Life

As we have seen, the readings interweave Judaeo-Christian teachings found throughout the Old and New Testaments, but particularly in the book of The Revelation, with concepts and practices from ancient Hinduism and Yoga. The fundamental concepts are these: The kundalini is metaphorically seen as the great serpent power fallen from its original place of honor. As Adam and Eve fell from grace in the Garden, so did the serpent. But as Moses raised the serpent in the desert and Jesus raised it to life everlasting, so each of us must raise our serpent power to its rightful, original place of honor. Kundalini meditation is intended to do just that.

This kundalini or life force is within the human body, the temple. Normally it is used in ways that dissipate it, eventually leading to aging and death of the body. All people are allowed to use their life force as they choose (at least within the parameters of their karma). Whether they dissipate it consciously or unconsciously makes no difference. When it’s gone, it’s gone. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As the readings put it, “...if there will be gained that consciousness, there need not be ever the necessity of a physical organism aging ... seeing this, feeling this, knowing this, ye will find that not only does the body become revivified, but by the creating in every atom of its being the knowledge of the activity of this Creative Force ... spirit, mind, body [are] renewed.”

The “elan vital” of the Western world and the “kundalini” of the Eastern world follows natural laws, and can be made to flow in rejuvenative ways which enhance and extend the life. This is not only possible with kundalini meditation, but it is a valuable goal to pursue. Here’s one reading’s statement on this: “How is the way shown by the Master? What is the promise in Him? The last to be overcome is death. Death of what? The soul cannot die, for it is of God. The body may be revivified, rejuvenated. And it is to that end it may, the body, transcend the earth and its influence.” This meditation practice works directly with the forces of life.

Prayer Words

Now let’s look at the mechanics of this method. Assuming that our ideals, purposes and hearts are in the right place, that we have crucified our selfish desires, conceived of our ideal, and drawn on the power and protection of the Christ, “love of God-Consciousness” -- let’s begin with prayer-words for the seven chakras. These words vary with different practices, but the Cayce readings teach that one reason the Master created the Lord’s Prayer was for this purpose. The readings give a slightly different version of the prayer, which we’ll use. The readings are also comfortable with the feminine aspect of the Godhead as well as the masculine, so let’s also use this. As you say the prayer, feel the meaning of the words as your consciousness is directed to the location of the chakra.

To fully realize the power of this prayer, one must understand that it is intended to call forth the highest in each chakra. Just as we felt the words “stillness” and “God” in the earlier affirmation/mantra, so now we must feel or imagine the change brought on by these words and their meanings. Take your time. Consider this as part of the meditation period.

The order of the chakra prayer is significant in that it attempts to awaken the higher chakras before awakening the lower ones. This is the best approach. Awakening the first chakra before the seventh and sixth is like opening the serpent basket without the charm of the flute. The serpent is loose to its own interests, rather than under the charm of the higher music. Keep a higher ideal, a higher purpose, a right heart, and the consciousness focused predominantly on the higher centers. Draw the kundalini upward.

Happy Holiday Dance Party 2010

2010-11-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

IMAGINE JOY!!!
Join us for an evening of holiday celebration, food and fun. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to party hearty. Also bring your favorite dish to share. Come together to be with one another, in your sacred space, with your tribal community in brotherhood and sisterhood. We must retrain ourselves and reframe not only our own, but the cosmic shift out of suffering and into our natural state of wellbeing, abundance and joy. Let's end the year by bringing in more JOY! Being more IN JOY - so ENJOY Your Life!

December 18th, Saturday 6:30pm - All Welcome

Sunday Sermons - IMAGINE JOY!
Dec 5 - Featured Speaker: Rev. Joanna Salerno
Dec 12 - Featured Speaker: Rev. David Essel
Dec 19 - The Conditions of Unconditional Love
Dec 26 - The Day After Christmas Celebration

December Affirmations
I am a shining star, radiating love to one and all.

I take my place in this world and express my special genius.

I am supported by the oneness of the Universe to become a unique expression of God/Goddess.

The stronger my sense of self, the less I need to prove myself to others or myself.

I allow my sense of purpose to full emerge in my life.

I tap into the angelic forces to empower and enrich my life.

I help others to realize their dreams, when I realize my own.

I allow myself to embody grace, peace and poise in all my dealings.

As my soul matures, my personality and character align with the Truth of my entire being.

My desires are purified by the Light of truth and guided by Love.

I am a vital part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity.

When I take my rightful place, this allows others to do the same.

Others, who are a part of my soul contract, are waiting for me to accept my power.

My joy leads me to the Light.

Peaceful acceptance of what is leads me to the path of realization of my highest good.

I am open to experience more love, peace and joy in my life.

I unconditionally love and accept myself exactly as I am in this moment.

I surrender to my soul and set my Spirit free.

I am a radiant light unto the world.

I receive the love of all that is into my being, so that I can share this love freely.

My art, my creativity is the gateway to my joy.

As I open up and allow others to assist me, I activate the divine template for abundance.

I recognize the face of God/Goddess in every living being.

Each day I give gratitude for the abundance of blessings in my life.

I am thrilled to be a human, alive at this time in our cosmic evolution.

The value of my love is priceless to myself and others.

I am open to the discovery of my entire being and all the magic contained within.

While I am the superstar and lead character of my life experience, it is the desire of the God force within me to be the cause of joy to others.

Bringing peace on earth and goodwill toward men is the foundation of all my soul intentions.

I follow the instruction of my soul.

I now live only by my soul intentions.

by Rev. Renee Bledsoe

Permission to freely distribute granted.

Crystal Bowl Meditation with Cathy Blair

2010-11-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Crystal Bowl Meditation with Cathy Blair of Naples, Florida on Monday, November 15th at 6:30pm. Join us for this very special, one time event with Cathy. We're lucky to have her in Fort Myers!!! She has 26 bowls, some of which are made of precious and semi-precious gemstones, such as ruby, emerald and my favorite, kyanite and they each have their own special sound.

Crystal bowls not only provide a beautiful way to meditate and relax, but also carry profound vibrational healing frequencies to every cell in our body. Come and experience Cathy and her unique array of bowls!

Where: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows, Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cost: $10
When: November 15th (Monday) 6:30pm - please bring blanket/pillow or lounge chair (indoors)

Yoga: A Journey of Exploration

2010-11-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

by Carol Haefner
The word Yoga means "unity" and is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj meaning "to join". In spiritual terms yoga is about joining the individual "spirit" with the Divine "Spirit" or individual consciousness with Divine Consciousness to realize our already complete nature. In more practical terms yoga is a means of balancing and creating harmony between the body, mind, breath and emotions. And, like finely woven cloth, yoga weaves together layers of expression to create an integrated whole.

Like many before me, I came to yoga to exercise my body. I enjoyed the challenge of putting my body into new and sometimes unflattering positions. And, just like many of my other pursuits I pushed and pushed hard to make my body conform to the yoga body image I saw in magazines and advertisements. But it seems that the practice of yoga will have its way with us and despite the fact I knew nothing about yoga except for the postures, something began to happen in my practice, something startling and seemingly otherworldly.

I realized I was on an adventure of exploration and I didn't have to leave my house or even my yoga mat to participate. Yoga has invited me into an "in the body" experience at every level of my being. I realized that the unity or oneness of body, mind and spirit described in yoga is what I had been seeking all my life. So, yoga (not just the postures but the entire philosophy of yoga as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali) not only describes this way of being but also gives us all the tools to realize this already existent state. I have not experienced any other body of knowledge that has been the means and the end in and of itself like yoga is.

Since those first eye opening experiences when I got the sense that I was exploring my own subtle nature I have begun to study yoga more intently and became a yoga teacher. I have started to consciously explore and I invite my students to explore in their practice who they are at every level of their being; including the mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual levels.

As I watch, mentor and guide my students and we participate in each others growth I see that it is important during yoga practice to create a safe nurturing environment where we can learn to perceive ourselves directly, free of judgment and criticism so that all that we are, think we are and wish we were can be exposed in a loving atmosphere. This then becomes the starting point for our exploration, the grist for the mill of self inquiry. We learn we can't hide from ourselves and yoga holds us in arms of compassion during our journey.

In our practice we move into Tadasana (Mountain pose), Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) or Trikonasana (Triangle). What really happens in those poses? How can they deepen our experience of who we are and move us into a deeper knowing of ourselves? I often encourage my students to journal about their experience (as I often do). It is not unusual for a student to sit down in the middle of class; journal nestled on lap, and begin writing about an insight gained during a posture. Sometimes, after class the student will share their experience and sometimes what was revealed to them was too personal and they simply leave quietly with journal and mat tucked under their arm. These to me are moments when yoga is weaving its magic!

I believe everything we do on or off the yoga mat is a multidimensional expression of who we are. As our yoga practice deepens we begin to see that each posture has many levels of expression. It is really a form within a form created and sustained by the dualities of movement and stillness, tension and relaxation. This could be expressed as the yin and yang of each posture, the coming together and balancing of opposing forces. It is in exploring these energies in every posture that we can begin to understand who we are more deeply.

Each posture has an external form, the shape the body takes to be in the posture. This is the active form of the pose. Each pose also has an internal form as our organs adjust to a new physical position. The internal expression is receptive and restful; the expression hidden from the world. At this level of exploration we experience the opposing forces of outward strength and inner stillness.

On another level is the energetic expression. We must exert energy to move into and hold a posture. At the same time the posture creates space within for energy to move. We experience energy that moves and creates and energy that sustains and supports. With the breath we discover another expression. The inhalation creates expansion and spaciousness that take us to the dynamic edge of the posture while the exhalation allows us to explore that edge and move deeply, more consciously into the pose. The inner dance of breath and energy echoes the rhythm and pulse of creation and is the bridge between the inner and outer worlds.

Each posture has an emotional expression. I find this expression the most challenging and revealing and often it creates the deepest sense of inner questioning. It seems that if we allow ourselves to explore the emotional edge of a posture we can begin to see how even deep seated emotions are changing, fluid and impermanent. We all have our favorite postures that illicit feelings of peace and comfort, surrender and relaxation. What is it about these postures that create those feelings? And we all have the postures we resist. Can we be in those postures and explore our own resistance? Can we allow ourselves to come to our emotional edge and create an inner dialogue listening and responding with compassion, exploring the continuum of emotional expression that is part of the changing nature of emotions?

As we explore the full expression of a posture, we explore not only our physical limitations but how we sometimes use our mind and emotions to create limits. Very often our limits, real or perceived, become our teachers, if we explore them with openness, curiosity and nonjudgmental awareness.

Yoga is the practice of opposing forces equalizing each other, creating balance and unity. It is the practice of active exploration and resting in the moment.

Every posture has the capacity to move us deeper if we allow the full expression of who we are in that moment to be manifest in our practice as we explore the tantalizing synergy created by opposing forces. If we can allow the posture to bloom within us and explore our physical edge with softness, our energetic edge with awareness and our emotional edge with compassion we have the potential to reach inside to our own pool of wisdom and insight and come to a deeper understanding of who we are. In this way there is nothing outside the scope of yoga practice. We can bring this same depth of experience; this same rich tapestry of sensation, emotion and mindfulness to our everyday lives. In this way yoga truly enhances every moment and creates an experience of exploration at every level of our being.

Carol Haefner, RYT is a writer, artist and teacher; author of Sisters of the Circle: One Woman’s Journey to Wholeness and owner of Stories For Life™, LLC whose mission is “Empowering through Storying our lives”. Carol conducts playshops where participants explore and express their personal stories through yoga, meditation, writing and other forms of artistic expression. For more information email: storiesforlife@cinci.rr.com

November 2010: Remembering

2010-11-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to November - It's time to Remember! We've had quite a journey this year and will be putting together a special book filled with the highlights and affirmations of each month at the end of the year. It is my hope that you will become aware of how much you have grown in all aspects of your being. I honor those who have followed this path and traveled this journey together. This has been a powerful year and as we approach the last 2 months of the year it is really important to take stock and realize and enjoy what has transpired. Even through the difficulties, when you have a deeper understanding of the interplay of the realities at work in your life, it always brings you to the same thing: without each other it's just not any fun. The closer you get to God/Goddess, the more consciousness you reveal, the lonelier it can become, unless you reach out to others who are traveling this journey. Everything, even our woundedness is driving us to this. So why not remember who you really are and what you really want? Remembering or Re-membering means to recall, recovery and re-establish a connection with who and what you really are. We will be spending this month re-membering and putting the beautiful pieces of this mosaic called you into a beautiful framed work of art.

Also, please join us for our Thanksgiving Potluck Feast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, 2010 at Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL. Click here for more info.

NOVEMBER AFFIRMATIONS
I am grateful for my life.
I am filled with grace and gratitude for the abundance of this world.
I am loved and blessed.
There is love and beauty all around me.
I access higher realities and bring order to any chaos in my life.
I remember who and what I am.
I reach out to others to share love and prosperity.
I am prosperous beyond my wildest dreams.
I desire to receive in order to share the bounty of my life.
My life is a sacred trust.
I see and get present to myself and others.
I see others for who and what they really are.
I am in tune with my inner song when I am in service to the Light.
I accept my personal evolution and see myself in the highest light.
I honor the path of each and every being.
I am a multi-dimensional being of light.
I am filled to overflowing with gratitude for light, love and life.
I call to the powers of the Universe to support and care for myself and others.
I am the author of my fate and the creator of my destiny.
I remember my sacred contract and open to what is necessary to fulfillment.
My sacred contract was created by me and I was born with everything I need to fulfill my destiny.
I open my consciousness and expand my awareness to non-local reality to create and enlighten my life.
I reach for ever higher and deeper expressions of love.
I set my soul free and come to the center of my Self.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
I am a force to be reckoned with and I use this force to gather my will for the greater good of us all.
I love all.
I am, that I am.

Thanksgiving Feast & Giveaway Ceremony 2010

2010-10-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 25th, 2010
Thanksgiving Day - 3-6pm

Church of Spiritual Light presents the 2010 Thanksgiving Feast and Giveaway Ceremony. Please bring your favorite holiday dish to share, as well as a small gift which will be given away to honor a very special sacred ancient ritual to show gratitude for our blessings. The gift can be anything that has meaning to you, including feathers, stones, figurines or sacred objects. In order to honor the energy it should be something that you love and not a cast off item.

The potlatch is a festival or ceremony practiced among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest most prominently. At these gatherings a family or leader hosts guests in their family's house and hold a feast for their guests. The main purpose of the potlatch is the re-distribution and reciprocity of wealth. The word potlatch comes from the Chinook jargon, meaning "to give away" or "a gift".

Help us coordinate our feast and call Rev. Renee at 239-560-6314. Everyone is welcome!

Click here to check out our menu the very first year we did this in 2008!

ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Great Invocation

2010-10-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

Let the Forces of Light bring illumination to mankind

Let the Spirit of Peace be spread abroad

May men of good will everywhere meet in a spirit of cooperation

May forgiveness on the part of all men be the keynote at this time

Let power attend the efforts of the Great Ones

So let it be, and help us to do our part.

Let the Lords of Liberation issue forth.

Let Them bring succor to the sons of men.

Let the Rider from the secret Place come forth,

And coming, save.

Come forth, O Mighty One.

Let the souls of men awaken to the Light,

And may they stand with massed intent.

Let the fiat of the Lord go forth:

The end of woe has come!

Come forth, O Mighty One.

The hour of service of the Saving Force has now arrived.

Let it be spread abroad, O Mighty One.

Let Light and Love and Power and Death

Fulfil the purpose of the Coming One.

The Will to save is here,

The Love to carry forth the work is widely spread abroad.

The Active Aid of all who know the truth is also here.

Come forth, O Mighty One and blend these three.

Construct a great defending wall.

The rule of evil now must end.

From the point of Light within the Mind of God

Let light stream forth into the minds of men.

Let Light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God

Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.

May Christ return to Earth.

From the center where the Will of God is known

Let purpose guide the little wills of men -

The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the center which we call the race of men

Let the Plan of Love and Light work out

And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

by Alice Baily

Flow Yoga

2010-10-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Join us for this beautiful Flow Yoga class, with Connie Caracappa, certified and registered yoga teacher and former studio owner in NYC!

Flow Yoga: You will learn to move from the heart first into each asana; flow yoga is a progressive style of yoga where each pose flows right into the next . You are synergistically taking your body through multiple motions, angles, and planes, while channeling all of your energy into one synchronized symphony. It is a beautiful melding of fluid and flexible strength, mental focus, deep breathing,and stability in motion.

Flow yoga is the absence of resistance. When you bring flow into your practice, you let go into the movements and create a liquid quality that inspires deep release. It allows you to build magnificent momentum and heat while moving through your practice in an effortless, seamless manner. Flow encourages meditation in motion: When you ride the flow like a wave, it moves you out of your head into your body and the present moment. Flow creates dynamic energy that keeps your internal heat up and your heart pumping steadily. This brings the cardiovascular element into your practice, which facilitates weight loss and an over all increase in health. Practice is one hour with a 25-30 minute savasana,( meditation)

Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unti 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

Saturday's 9-10:30am | Tues & Thurs 4-5:30pm
Cost: $15 walk in - 4 Class Pass=$40 - 8 Class Pass=$75

Facilitated by Connie Caracappa

Tai Chi Class

2010-10-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

COSL is pleased to present our Tai Chi Class with Rev. Paul. The ancient art of tai chi uses gentle flowing movements to reduce the stress of today's busy lifestyles and improve health.

Tai chi is sometimes described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body. Originally developed in ancient China for self-defense, tai chi evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and to help with a variety of other health conditions.

Saturday's 2:30 - 3:30pm
Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Please wear comfortable, loose flowing clothing.
Cost: $10 per class

Crystal Bowl Spiral Journey

2010-10-18T13:59:00.001-07:00

Everything is Energy - Light, Color and Sound - What better way to speak the essential language of your being than through the beauty of the Crystal Bowls?

Tonight is a very special Crystal Bowl Journey - We will be using the sacred spiral formation to help you heal and renew your mind, body and spirit connection. The crystal bowls can help reset your vibration to wholeness and clarity.

Crystal Bowl Spiral Journey
6:30-7:30pm
Church of Spiritual Light
1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Facilitated by Rev. Renee Bledsoe
Cost: $10

No reservation needed. Just come as you are!

The Missing Link of Addiction Recovery

2010-10-12T18:53:00.001-07:00

I don't understand how anyone can think that it is far-fetched to acknowledge the pull that plants and the earth have on us, yet ingest these self-same plants in an unconscious way, desecrating their own bodies in the process and discounting the power of these plants and the intrinsic need of the human spirit to connect to the earth in consciousness. What is far-fetched and will keep us engaged in the addictive process is our denial of what the body/spirit/soul truly wants. Like a rat in a labyrinth, we must find our way to the center and find out who and what we really are.

I believe that when we disconnect from the land and from the essence of the creator, as many of us have done during this leg of our human spiritual evolutionary journey, we will continue to unconsciously seek out ways to do so. We can say that we turn to drugs and alcohol because of our woundedness, inhibitions, anxiety, stress and peer pressure, and while that is true on one level of reality, it is not the whole picture. If you keep looking and go beyond even sobriety, the end/beginning of this human story takes us back/advances us to our longing to connect to our mother, the earth and our father, the Sun. We have connected to them in our heads long enough. If prayer and meditation is not taking you to the land, if it is not helping you to connect more fully to the human experience, keep at it. Our creator is not some unknowable force. Now it is time to develop the eyes to experience in the physical what is here and has always been here.

Alcoholic beverages are made from the earth, herbs, barley, hops, juniper, fruits, etc. and filled with the "spirits" of the earth. Tobacco the same. When these sacred substances are utilized in this way, we deny our true connection to them (and the earth) and we over do it. Of course we over do it, because we're not getting what we really want. We can never get enough, because we do not recognize the gifts of our deep, deep connection. We have scales over our eyes. We are carrying around oxygen tanks in a world filled with air and withered with thirst in oceans of water.

People can become sober. The 12 Steps has shown us that. But can they become fully human, limitless beings of light who are deeply tapped into the earth, the cosmos and their own soul? We must keep going...there is more...much more....Sobriety is the beginning, it is not the end. For there is no end to the journey. The snake eats its tale. And right now we are in the period of our evolution that is about to come to a measure of wholeness, as a whole, that we have heretofore not seen.

by. Rev. Renee Bledsoe
For more information visit www.AddictionAlchemy.com
May repost with full attribution.

Other articles of interest:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49834.asp
http://www.taosherb.com/store/sacred-herbs.html
http://www.aegis.com/pubs/woalive/1998/wo980402.html

Love, Compassion & Forgiveness vs. Anger, Judgment & Revenge

2010-10-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Invocation of Forgiveness
Today, I call on the powers of forgiveness,
the hope that heals and wipes away resentment,
I am ready to forgive and heal old wounds.
I forgive you for the past, making way for friendship &
to forgive all who have hurt me in the past, deliberately
or by accident. I am ready to forgive myself for errors
made and things I have done in the past that I regret.

Healing replaces resentment, peace replaces anger
as forgiveness grows inside me, my heart lightens.
filling me with a sense of wellbeing and acceptance,
I embrace forgiveness, the great healer of hearts.

Go and wash off all hatred from your chest
Seven times with water.
Then you can become our companion
Drinking from the wine of love.
-- -- Rumi

“Forgiveness means letting go of the past.” Gerald Jampolsky

"The incoherence that results from holding on to resentments and unforgiving attitudes keeps you from being aligned with your true self. It can block you from your next level of quality life experience. Metaphorically, it's the curtain standing between the room you're living in now and a new room, much larger and full of beautiful objects. The act of forgiveness removes the curtain. Clearing up your old accounts can free up so much energy that you jump right into a whole new house. Forgiving releases you from the punishment of a self-made prison where you are both the inmate and the jailer." ~ Doc Childre and Howard Martin, The HeartMath Solution

"Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember the wrong or they will not learn from it. The opposite is true. Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it. Through the power and intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded intelligence to work with the situation more effectively." ~ David McArthur and Bruce McArthur, The Intelligent Heart

“Forgive or relive.” ~ Unknown

“Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.” ~ Saint Augustine

As I looked at the messages from all the great sages, from every book, every articles, every prayer and even my own head came the sweeping message: "You MUST forgive, or else....fill in the blank." And it wasn't going to be a good thing that you would fill in the blank with. This struck me as somewhat counterproductive to the process of forgiveness. And in the several hours of searching I found very little without really, really digging around that breathed any sort of wisdom into the HOW YOU FORGIVE part. And so I layed on my bed and reflected in meditation and asked to be shown more wisdom about the how. Because I do not like to continually bash myself or others into forgiving something they are not yet ready to forgive. I trust in the supreme wisdom of the human being. And I understand that we must work with our whole selves and not just tell one part to "suck it up" or "stuff it"...and furthermore if we do we will continue to hear from that part until it is acknowledged!
So to that end I was rewarded with, perhaps, not the whole picture, but what I felt to be a pretty big piece of the puzzle: We often are not able to forgive, because we do not feel safe. And we do not feel safe because we do not yet feel like we can protect ourself. And We do not feel that we can protect ourself, because we need to better develop our sense of self and our personal boundaries. Once we begin to feel strong enough within ourself, the process of forgiveness will come naturally. It first begins with compassion to the self...the whole self...the little child within...or even the bully within.
The problem of getting stuck in unforgiveness occurrs when we do very little work on ourselves to encourage the development of our sense of self and our personal boundaries. Eureka! I was clearly shown the path to wholeness, without using force on ourselves and working with ourselves. Forgiveness can be fostered, not forced.

LET US NOT CONFUSE UNFORGIVENESS WITH BOUNDARIES
NOR FORGIVENESS WITH A LACK OF BOUNDARIES

IN FACT _ WHEN YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR OWN PERSONAL BOUNDARIES AND YOUR SENSE OF SELF IS INTACT – THAT IS WHEN YOU CAN TRULY FORGIVE ANOTHER IF YOU HAVE BEEN USING UNFORGIVENESS AS A PLACEHOLDER FOR YOUR BOUNDARIES. UNFORGIVENESS WILL DISSAPATE AS YOU BECOME STRONGER. PEOPLE GET STUCK IN UNFORGIVENESS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT STRENGTHEN THEIR SENSE OF SELF – THEY USE EMOTIONS OF ANGER AND JUDGEMENT TO GIVE THE ILLUSION OF BOUNDARIES WHERE THEY ARE ACTUALLY WEAK.

SO THE PATH TO HEALING BEGINS WITH COMPASSION TOWARDS THE SELF, FIRST.

BOUNDARIES
"Setting boundaries is about learning to take care of ourselves, no matter what happens, where we go, or who we're with.
Boundaries emerge from deep decisions about what we believe we deserve and don't deserve.
Boundaries emerge from belief that what we want and need, like and dislike, is important.
Boundaries emerge from a deeper sense of our personal rights, especially the right we have to take care of ourselves and to be ourselves.
Boundaries emerge as we learn to value, trust, and listen to ourselves.
The goal of having and setting boundaries isn't to build thick walls around ourselves. The purpose is to gain enough security and sense of self to get close to others without the threat of losing ourselves, smothering them, trespassing, or being invaded. Boundaries are the key to loving relationships.
When we have a sense of self, we'll be able to experience closeness and intimacy. We'll be able to love and to be loved.
Intimacy, play, and creativity require loss of control. Only when we have boundaries and know we can trust ourselves to enforce them and take care of ourselves, will we be able to let go enough to SOAR. These same activities help develop a sense of self, for it is through LOVE, PLAY, and CREATIVITY that we begin to understand who we are and become reassured we can trust ourselves. Having boundaries means having a self strong, NURTURED, HEALTHY and CONFIDENT enough to LET GO--and come back again INTACT."
From the book: "Beyond Codependency" by Melody Beattie

Every doubt, fear and judgement against the self is an act of inner violence. Too much of this and it will outpicture. Replace these thoughts with compassion to self. It is in this way that we cultivate the grace of compassion within our being and in our lives. ~ She Who Weaves the Web

‎"As I lived up to the highest light I had, higher and higher light came to me." ~ Peace Pilgrim

The electromagnetic field of the heart deeply affects the well-being (or not) of the body and the environment. Feelings of appreciation and positive emotion affect the resonance of the heart and in turn affects the electromagnetic field of the body to create better health and more happiness.

Now - not only does our heart energy affect your own body functioning - it also affects the entire planet and even our cosmos - We are not separate from this planet in ways that are finally being proven by science. Now anyone of any belief can understand how this is so. Hallelujah! I want to roll in the earthen soil and give praise for this magnificent creation. We are the ones we have been waiting for. Blessed be.

So how do we make the conditions ripe for forgiveness? We take really, really good care of ourself. We allow our soul to be heard and ultimately to be expressed. We have compassion for ourselves and we develop our sense of self as fully as we can, with healthy boundaries. When we are generous with our own spirit, when we are filled with love and compassion for ourself, then we are calling this to us and it will manifest. When we have it to give, we can then and only then give it.

I think when we go around the forgiveness wheel time and again what has happened is that we have stopped filling our own cup. We feel small and weak again, and we start to remember old grievances. As we attempt to climb our way up the emotional scale we come back to the place of blame. We must not judge ourselves for this and worry that we haven't really forgiven or that we will never be able to forgive. But what we must do is continue to climb that scale. What we must do is remember to take any signs of unforgiveness or blame as a call to self love and self care. Step it up a notch - do something extra nice for yourself, be silent and reverent and gentle with yourself for a day. You will see a shift. I promise, if you do this. Fill your own cup with love, by first loving and caring for yourself in the same ways you would care for others...then you will be overflowing.

I can tell you from my own experience - self care has to be scheduled in just like going to work. If you don't make it a routine, life and everyone else's needs will come and erode it away. People might not thank you for taking care of yourself, but they sure would be mad if you leave them, or get sick and die, etc. When we protect and take good care of ourself, we are really protecting and taking care of those who love us. We do not only belong to ourselves. We belong to the world.

I recently read a blog article that takes the power of forgiveness to yet another level. For I feel that as we increase our consciousness, we do become more and more compassionate and able to break with denial. The more we break with denial, the more we see the traumas and the atrocities on the path of our human evolution, which are potentially much more challenging to forgive than anything we personally experience. So in a sense our personal relationships and their challenges, betrayals and traumas are teaching us how to be compassionate to humanity and the human experience as a whole. We will not let ourselves off the hook and allow ourselves to walk into the new earth filled with joy and abundance as long as we have not mastered the art of compassion.

The story below is by Dawn Dancing Otter, who uses the powerful practice of Ho' oponopono to go to the place of ultimate compassion.

Soul Alchemy: my recent response to ‘hate mail’

Everywhere I go, in every moment, the ongoing mantra in my mind is the 4 graces of Ho’oponopono – I am sorry, I love you, Please forgive me, Thank you.

What I have come to realize is that my life is transforming miraculously as a result. Whatever situation, whomever/whatever is in my field of observation, whatever thought or sensation which is in my present awareness, I am constantly reconciling, acknowledging, forgiving, and integrating.

The miracle, to me, is, that each moment I live is a lesson, a gift, an opportunity to love myself even more; to reconcile with the parts of myself that have been forgotten, disassociated, unloved….my shadows.

Recently, I received an email from a blessed man in Poughkeepsie NY. The gist of the email was this man’s need to communicate his fears, disillusionment, and anger over my Shamanic workshops, and that I ought to realize that whatever I am offering to the world is a lie, deceitful, and intentionally misleading; further, that I am a thief. He insisted that I become a skeptic of this way of life, as he is.

When I received this email, I took a deep breath in and let it wash over me. I felt the hot anger, I felt the ‘knives’ of pain touching all the places that responded to the words ‘thief’ ‘false’ ‘liar’ ‘deceiver’. I kept breathing into those places and let the pain build. I then recited the 4 graces until the sensation shifted.

Then I responded, telling this wonderful man that yes, I have been a thief in my life (I have at various times stolen/shoplifted when I was living in scarcity), and yes, I have lied in my life (too many times to count), yes, I can see many times in my past when I have intentionally deceived others,yes, in the past I have been false.
It didn’t (and doesn’t) matter to me that this man knew nothing of my work, my history, or of me personally. It didn’t matter to me that the contexts were entirely different. This beautiful human being was asking me to be present to the part of myself that I have kept hidden and in the shadows. I gratefully obliged.

I also realized that in his pain of having experienced deceit in his life, having experienced theft, that he was simply asking SOMEONE to take responsibility for it. Again, I obliged, with the intention that, as human beings, we are all One. Why shouldn’t I take responsibility. I have no idea what I have done in this life or any other which may have supported or caused this injury in him. At that moment, it didn’t matter to me. I simply took responsibility, and with the 4 graces, I acknowledged the injury and asked forgiveness. I then let it go to the Universe.
The ecstasy that filled me was so overwhelming, I cried. I felt this huge release…this part of me that had been acknowledged, forgiven, and loved was definitely ready to be integrated, and it had provided me with so much learning.

When he wrote back, in an entirely unexpected outcome, he had softened considerably…though his opinion of my work had not changed -which is as it should be, it is not my intention to impress my Shamanic life choices upon him for validation/invalidation. It felt to me very much that we were able to connect together as human beings. This was such a joyful moment, because to invite us both into a human embrace to experience oneness was my intention.

I am so grateful to this man. He was moved to show me this shadow of myself, and he took the time to do so. Wherever you are, G. C. from Poughkeepsie; thank you.
Big Love,
Dawn Dancing Otter

Secrets of Financial Alchemy

2010-10-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce a new abundance class hosted at Church of Spiritual Light, Morganna Rae's Secrets of Financial Alchemy. Morganna is a Los Angeles, California based prosperity coach who has developed a powerful, fun, practical and spiritual way to help people achieve not only financial abundance, but personal breakthroughs in many areas of life. With Morganna, ancient wisdom and modern technologies bridge the gap between material and spiritual prosperity and she understands that money issues are not just about money, but are tied to every single relationship we have in life. This is a powerful concept!

Join us on October 7th from noon - 1:30pm at COSL for our first session, which will be an Orientation to familiarize you with the material and give you a chance to order Morganna's workbook, "Financial Alchemy: Twelve Months of Magic and Manifestation". We will be working from this workbook to create a new, loving relationship with money that supports our ultimate success.

Don't worry if you miss the orientation - we will meet again on October 14th to give anyone who missed the first orientation a chance to get in on this powerful, fun class. Then the class will officially begin and everyone will be expected to have their workbook by October 21st. (Once the class officially begins it will be closed until a new session begins in January 2011.)

When: Orientations, October 7th and 14th - Class officially begins Oct 21
Time: noon - 1:30pm - Every Thursday afternoon for 12 weeks
Where: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. Unit 1 Fort Myers, FL 33908
Facilitator: Rev. Renee Bledsoe, 239-560-6314
Cost: $5 per class

Click here to purchase the workbook - Financial Alchemy: Twelve Months of Magic and Manifestation

Message from a Modern Prophet

2010-10-05T20:23:00.002-07:00

(Note: My dear friend, Ted Murray, has been writing these channelings every morning since before we first met in 2005. This one was so good I decided to re-post it here.)

Dear Friend,

You must first develop wisdom before you can hope to manifest something wonderful in the world. Your power to manifest is regulated by spirit in order to protect you from making mistakes that will be costly in your life and that of others. You learn from mistakes and that is part of the growth process; however, the scale of your mistakes is kept low until you have the wisdom to ensure that your focus on massive projects will be properly directed. Therefore, don’t be in a huge hurry to see your dreams manifested immediately. Instead continue to increase your own level of discernment and your connection with the wisdom of the universe.

Once you have sufficient wisdom to ensure that your goals are for the genuine benefit of others and not merely selfish goals then you will experience huge breakthroughs. There is no limit to what you can manifest when you tap into the unlimited power of spirit. The only limitation is your own ability to use this power wisely in a way that will serve the highest good of humanity.

Love & Light,
Ted

Spiritual Tools for Getting in Flow

2010-10-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

"The electric energy which motivates us is not within our bodies at all. It is a part of the universal supply which flows through us from the Universal Source with an intensity set by our desires and our will." ~ Walter Russell, The Man Who Tapped the Secrets of the Universe

"Genius is Omniscience flowing into man." ~ Wallace D. Wattles

What is flow?
to move along in a stream: The river flowed slowly to the sea.
to circulate: blood flowing through one's veins.
to stream or well forth: Warmth flows from the sun.
to issue or proceed from a source: Orders flowed from the office.
to come or go as in a stream: A constant stream of humanity flowed by.
to proceed continuously and smoothly: Melody flowed from the violin.
to hang loosely at full length: Her hair flowed over her shoulders.
to abound in something: The tavern flowed with wine.
to rise and advance, as the tide (opposed to ebb).
Physics. the transference of energy: heat flow.

Why would we want to get in flow?
To create, to be sustained, to be propelled, to experience grace, to manifest beyond what we have imagined using the source of all creation.

So do you think of your desires as a means to an end result…or do you see the constant stream of abundance in your life and on the planet for that matter (even if it’s not monetarily), realize you’d like to manifest or create something and put your intention into that stream?

Here are 12 Tools to get and stay in Flow...

1 QUESTIONS?

"To know oneself is the first step toward making flow a part of one's entire life. But just as there is no free lunch in the material economy, nothing comes free in the psychic one. If one is not willing to invest psychic energy in the internal reality of consciousness, and instead squanders it in chasing external rewards, one loses mastery of one's life, and ends up becoming a puppet of circumstances." ~ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi quotes from Good Business

Questions are TOOLS!
Do you go to the well, to the source for inspiration and guidance?
Do you think that your will alone is all it takes?
Is your conscious will aligned with your whole team – body/mind/heart/soul/Spirit?
Have you made a clear decision about what you want?
Or is your decision/intention still under development?
Have you surrendered your intention to all the powers that be?
Do you trust in the Laws of Attraction? Do you fully understand them or seek to understand them? Do you work with them in your life?
Can you drop your limiting beliefs about yourself and the capacity of the human being and the intelligence of the source to see the deeper magic that is available to you?
Do you really believe that a deeper magic, a higher intelligence is available to you?
Or are you still in the process of proving it to yourself?

2 WRITING TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE
Writing down anything moves it from the side of your brain that mainly focuses on symbology and imagery and passes it over the side of your brain that deals with more concrete realities. Bingo - if it's something you want to manifest you want to take it out of the ethers and get it into the physical. Writing it also does just that - paper to pen is the real deal!

3 MEDITATION & REFLECTION TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE
Did you notice that I placed writing above meditation? I did this for a reason. Sometimes when we go to meditation the mind becomes active. If we do the writing first, this creates a sort of "brain dump" effect, which may allow for even higher refinement of information and reflection to occur. And if the writing is more "automatic" initially and less about hard thinking, the results are usually more guided. You can always write more after reflection, as well.

4 DIVINATION TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE
This might be a new one to some of you, to others, breaking our your affirmational card deck might be something you routinely do! This is a very powerful way to affirm the directions and actions that your higher self and the Universal powers that be may be may be suggesting to you. I always recommend to use divination in a layered effect. You can ask for signs and synchronicities to confirm your direction. And if you're not sure, keep asking. Higher energies are not offended by this, and understand that we must stay grounded.

5 COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE
Finally, after you have taken counsel with yourself, going to members of your community, you family and friends is possibly the next best step to take. I purposely am suggesting this as the last step in your quest to receive guidance, not because it is not important - but because it is so important that you empower yourself first to setup the vibration of confidence within yourself. It is too easy to become confused or unduly swayed by the advice of others if you have not contemplated your own situation. This gives you a baseline to work from, as well, and allows you to speak more intelligently and thoughtfully from those whose counsel you seek. It also signals to the Universe that you are taking responsibility for yourself and part of that responsibility is to reach out to your people.

6 SETTING YOUR INTENTION
"The goal should not be to make money or acquire things, but to achieve the consciousness through which the substance will flow forth when and as you need it." ~ Eric Butterworth

CLEAR INTENTION = STRAIGHT SHOT
UNDER DEVELOPMENT = RESISTANCE
WRITING YOUR INTENTION – STATE IT IN THE POSITIVE - EXPANSIVE
PROTECTIVE LANGUAGE
(For the highest good of all concerned, I will to will thy will, this or something better, etc.)

7 SURRENDER
"By banishing doubt and trusting your intuitive feelings, you clear a space for the power of intention to flow through." ~ Wayne Dyer

DO NOT TELL THE UNIVERSE THE HOW OR EVEN THE WHEN. WHEN YOU ENGAGE TIME AND SPACE YOU ARE KEEPING YOURSELF BOUND IN THE 4TH DIMENSION AND TAKING YOURSELF OUT OF FLOW. THERE ARE RESOURCES WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF THAT WORK OUTSIDE OF TIME AND SPACE IN THE QUANTUM. ASK FOR DIVINE TIMING – THEY CAN HANDLE IT FOR YOU. YOU WILL BECOME INSPIRED and RECEIVE GUIDANCE AND ACTION STEPS TO TAKE AND DIRECTION. IN FACT IF YOU ARE NOT BEING GUIDED TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS THEN YOU MAY ALREADY BE OUT OF FLOW.
BURNING BOWL CEREMONY TO RELEASE FEARS OR TO SURRENDER INTENTION TO SPIRIT.

8 CLEARING YOUR OWN ENERGY
“Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” Chuang Tzu

IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME IMPATIENT OR FILLED WITH NEGATIVITY OR FEAR YOU TAKE YOURSELF OUT OF THE FLOW. YOU CAN QUICKLY PUT YOURSELF BACK IN FLOW BY CONSTANTLY CLEARING YOURSELF. SIMPLE PRAYERS AND RITUALS, SUCH AS CALLING ON ARCHANGEL MICHAEL, GANESH, JESUS, MARY OR OTHERS. FOR MORE SERIOUS ISSUES CORD CUTTINGS AND ENERGY BALANCING BY A PROFESSIONAL CAN HELP. HEALERS THAT DON’T GET HEALINGS WILL EXPERIENCE BURNOUT AND BE OF SHORT SERVICE TO THE WORLD AND THEMSELVES.
RELEASING FEAR ABOUT YOUR OWN MAGIC. BUT ALSO OWNING THE FACT THAT YOUR OWN NEGATIVE ENERGY CAN BOOMERANG TO HARM YOU. UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY LIMITING BELIEF YOU HAVE NO MATTER HOW INOCUOUS CAN CREATE BLOCKAGE AND IMBALANCE.

9 FOSTERING A HIGHER VIBRATION
“As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.” ~ Emmanuel Teney

BRINGING IN HIGHER ENERGIES THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PRAYER, RITUAL, ACCEPTING SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS, READING INSPIRATIONS AND AFFIRMATIONS, AND CREATING OR GOING INTO SACRED SPACE ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

10 BEING IN GRATITUDE
"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." ~ The Bible, Malachi 3:10

FOSTERING GRATITUDE BY RAISING YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS, SO THAT YOU CAN READ THE SIGNS OF YOUR LIFE, SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE, ACCESS THE HIGHER REALITY OF A SITUATION. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY OR GET INTO FLOW. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU DENY YOUR EARTHLY EMOTIONS, IN FACT WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS, EVEN IF YOU KNOW IN THE MOMENT THAT YOU WILL GAIN A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE LATER, THIS LEVEL OF SELF ACCEPTANCE KEEPS YOU IN INTEGRITY WITH YOURSELF AND CREATES RESONANCE WITH FLOW.
CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
SUCH AS KABBALAH AND MEDICINE WHEEL, DHARMA TEACHINGS, COURSE IN MIRACLES, TAO PRINCIPLES, PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT, DIVINATION, SHAMANIC JOURNEY WORK, ETC.
GRATITUDE LISTS

11 BLESS EVERYTHING
"Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow". ~ Sun Tzu

BLESS AND AFFIRM YOURSELF TO YOURSELF EVERY DAY – BLESS EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE – AFFIRM YOUR FAITH IN THE SOURCE OF CREATION AND CONTINUE TO BUILD YOUR FAITH THROUGH CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING IF IT IS WEAK.
SELF CARE
SELF ACCEPTANCE
KINDNESS TO SELF AND OTHERS
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD & HOBBIES
GENEROSITY TO SELF AND OTHERS
TITHING TO SPIRIT
RECEIVING THE GIFTS OF OTHERS

RECEIVING IS LIKE BREATHING – IT IS FLOW

“It is the stretched soul that makes music, and souls are stretched by the pull of opposites /opposite bents, tastes, yearnings, loyalties. Where there is no polarity /where energies flow smoothly in one direction /there will be much doing but no music.” ~Eric Hoffer

THERE IS AN INHALE AND AN EXHALE. IT IS THE SAME WITH RECEIVING – THERE IS AN INHALE – THIS IS WHERE YOU NOURISH YOURSELF, CREATE YOUR PROJECT OR BUSINESS, INVEST IN YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS – YOU ARE FULL - AND THERE IS AN EXHALE – THIS IS WHERE YOU PRESENT AND OFFER YOUR GIFTS TO THE WORLD – IF YOU’LL NOTICE DURING AN EXHALE THERE IS A VOID, AN EMPTINESS – YOU MUST ALLOW FOR THIS EMPTINESS TO CREATE A VACUUM – THIS MAY BE A TIME OF PROVING TO YOURSELF THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU HAVE EXHALED INTO THE WORLD OF SETTING THAT VIBRATION UP WITHIN YOURSELF – YOU’LL BE IN THE VOID FOR A TIME AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AND ALLOW FOR THAT SO THAT YOU DON’T ENERGETICALLY PULL THE PLUG ON THE FLOW. IN ALL THINGS THERE IS AN EBB AND FLOW – THIS IS THE LAW OF GESTATION, POLARITY and GENDER.

12 TELL THE TRUTH
“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.” ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Nothing will take you out of flow quicker than when you are not in integrity with your true self and your hearts desires. All of the things mentioned above will help you to know yourself better, and strengthen your connection to wholeness so that you can tell the truth. To THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE! Telling the truth to yourself will also help you to clarify and purify your intentions and get your will in line with the will of your soul and the will of Source energy for the highest good of us all.

And so it is.

by Rev. Renee Bledsoe, Church of Spiritual Light 2010 copyright - www.churchofspirituallight.org
(Permission granted to reprint article in entirety with full attribution)

October 2010: Everything is Energy

2010-10-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” ~ Aristotle

More and more people are coming to understand that what we can interpret with our physical senses and our conscious intelligence is not the only intelligences and energies at work in the universe. But as we fast lose our death grip on this 3D reality, we need to continue to develop our intuitive abilities and our spiritual senses to better interpret the energies around and within us. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to get very clear emotionally, so that we can interpret our experiences with purity and not through the darkened lens of a fear of the unseen, unknown or unusual. If we do not allow ourselves to learn how to read energy in a non-judgmental way we will find ourselves lost in a world of fear, superstition and misinformation. We do not want to burn the witch within. For certainly within each of us there is a master magician and a powerful manifestor, who will benefit greatly by understanding how to better work with and manage energy.

During the month of October we will be increasing our understanding of energy. We will be raising and resetting our vibration, discovering areas that need vibrational re-attunements, learning about how to read and shift the energies surrounding people, places and things, including ourselves and opening to new levels of manifestation. Everything is energy and as such, we invoke the power of change right from within.

Rev. Renee Bledsoe
October 3rd - Energy, Emotions & Vibrations, Oh MY!
October 10th - Love, Compassion & Forgiveness versus Anger, Judgment & Revenge
October 17th - Rev. David Essel - Featured Speaker
October 24th - Hidden Machine of the Universe: Reading the Signs
October 31st - Accessing the Knowledge of the Ancients & Ancestors

Energy Affirmations

That which is like unto itself is drawn.

I am a multi-dimensional being of light, color and sound frequencies.

I re-attune my body through energy healing and balancing activities.

I magnetize my clear intentions into my life.

I receive divine inspiration through the channel of my higher self.

I clear my energy field through prayer, ritual and visualization.

I invoke the Light for healing and enlightenment.

I access the wisdom of the ages through study of ancient mystery teachings.

I see and experience the divinity of all that is.

I am a vessel for the Light.

I am integrating Light into my physical body.

I am on the path of ascension to higher consciousness, opening new pathways for all mankind.

My consciousness lifts me into ever higher realms of love and light.

I am filled with well-being and high intentions for the greater good of all mankind.

My joy will heal and delight the world.

The “I am” presence within me is at peace in my being.

I acknowledge my emotions so that I can be in the present moment.

I give the gift of my attention to someone who needs to be seen.

I experience the power of love, compassion and forgiveness in my life.

I unconditionally release judgment of myself and others.

I observe with awareness the hidden meanings of my experiences.

I call to my power animal to enrich my life and call upon new programs for empowerment and healing.

If I wish to experience more love, I will love myself more, by caring for my physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

If I wish for others to treat me with kindness, care and respect, I will do those same things for myself.

If I wish to be more abundant, I will invest in myself. If I wish that others will utilize my services, I will utilize the services of others.

The universe is conspiring on my behalf.

The moment I register a desire, focus on that desire and turn that desire into an intention I begin to resonate with that desire and it with me.

What I truly want, wants me.

I am, that I am.

Sacred Stone Study Group

2010-09-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Join us for this monthly gathering of crystal lovers! Open to crystal and stone lovers everywhere who would like to tap into the collective wisdom of others who study, collect and work with crystals. This is an informal study group designed to create a forum for sharing experience and knowledge about crystals for vibrational healing, enlightenment, artistry and a deeper connection with the earth. Please bring your crystal books and crystals to this monthly gathering and join in the discussions or just listen in. Also if you would like some help identifying your crystals you may bring them, as well. We will be focusing on 3 crystals per meeting, so that we can really get to know the stones!

We will be creating, studying and activating our own Stone Tarot set over the course of the next several months. The plan is to activate 3 stones per month, which at that rate will take about 7 months for all 22 of the major arcana. Stones should be approximately the same size and more on the small side as we will be amassing 22 stones, which will be housed in a bag or container of some sort to be determined. Don't worry if you miss a class you can always catch up! See schedule below...

2nd Friday of each month @ Friday 6-7:30pm (Open to public)
Cost: $5 (donated to the space)
Hosted by: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr, Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907

STONE TAROT SET
September 2011
22 The World - Review - Kunzite/Opal
0 The Fool - Agate (your choice of type)

October 2011
1 The Magician / Shaman - Quartz Crystal
2 The High Priestess - Emerald/Pearl

November 2011
3 The High Priestess - Emerald/Pearl
4 The Empress/Goddess - Peridot, Olivine, Turquoise

December 2011
5 The Emperor/God - Ruby
6 The Hierophant / The Pope - Topaz

January 2012
7 The Lovers - Rose Quartz
8 The Chariot/The Elements - Staurolite, Cross Stone, and twinned cyrstals

February 2012
9 Justice/Strength - Diamond/Herkimer Diamond/Garnet
10 The Hermit/Wise Elder - Sapphire, Blue Tourmaline

March 201211 Wheel of Fortune/Spiral - Sardonyx, Black Opal
12 Strength / Fortitude - Carnelian

April 2012
13 The Hanged Man / The Traitor - Beryl/Aquamarine
14 Death/Change - Amber

May 201215 Temperance - Amethyst
16 The Devil - Black diamond, Black Tourmaline

June 2012
17 The Tower / Fire - Lodestone/Lava
18 The Star - Meteorite/Any star stone

July 2012
19 The Moon - Moonstone/Chalcedony
20 The Sun - Tiger Eye/Sunstone

August 2012
21 Judgment / The Angel - Fossil
22 The World/Universe - Opal/Kunzite
Final Review

Emerging Healers & Lightworkers Group

2010-09-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

The gifts of emerging healers and those who are becoming more consciously aware of energy, intention and manifestation can create challenges as we learn to walk between the worlds! Join us for this empowering hour of community as we gather together to assist each other as we grow in the light to gather the strength and support to be of even greater service! No need to RSVP. Open to the public. Cost: $10 (donated to the space). Facilitated by Rev. Joanna Salerno of Sacred Listening - Sacred Touch

Begins: 2nd and 4th Thursday each month - 6:30 - 8:30pm
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907 ()
Cost: $10

The Art of Graceful Living Luncheon & Workshop

2010-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Learn how to add more soulful style and grace to your home and everyday life!

In a fun, informative and interactive way, we will learn about cleaning, clearing, blessing and dressing your living environments and how to make sacred spaces. We will learn about altars, how to make them and how they assist us in maintaining, focusing and honoring our intentions. We will be focusing specifically on creating abundance in the home and making items for you to take home for your abundance altar!

The workshop will begin with a Light and Lovely Luncheon...

Graceful Luncheon Menu

Iced Bliss Tea & Blessed Water

Colorful Veggie Green Salad with Chicken

Fresh Corn Salsa

Humus & Almond Crisps

Cookies & Raw nuts

Workshop Facilitated by Eva Stulb, Interior Designer and Feng Shui Consultant and Rev. Renee Bledsoe, Ceremonialist

Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Fort Myers, Fl 33907

Cost: $50 (includes luncheon and sacred objects to take home)
RSVP: 239-560-6314

The Shamanic Journey with Raven

2010-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Church of Spiritual Light is pleased to present The Shamanic Journey ceremonial workshop with Raven Lamoreux-Dodd. Join us for this day of journeying to connect with your power animals and totems, drumming and intention. Invoke the power of the shaman in your life!
Please call Raven directly at 239-682-0598.
Note: Addiction Alchemy members please contact Rev. Renee 239-560-6314

10-10-10 Ceremony

2010-09-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Joanna Salerno of Sacred Listening-Sacred Touch Presents

10-10-10
Cosmic Ceremony of Manifestation
Drum Circle and Shamanic Journey
Embark on a Sacred Journey to receive the energies of this significant day. 10-10-10 is an astrological star-gate opening and in numerology adds up to 3 which is the number of manifestation. As we journey and ride the wave of these energies we become more aligned with the Universal energies of Light. It is in raising our vibration that we attract more of what we want to bring to our lives.
Please bring drums, rattles, yoga mats or towels and items for our alter.
When: October 10, 2010 - 1-2:30pm
Cost $10.00

Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907