756 posts shown.
Mark Miller6 said:Lifeas...? I wonder how you mean that, because I truly feel it might be much healthier for a person to focus on this one singular life they are living right now, while perhaps placing all those "other lives" into a different category entirely—much like where we tuck away our wildest dreams, fantasies, and idle imaginings...
Mark Miller6 said:When you speak of the Source, with that grand capitalized I, are you referring to God? Do you actually hold a belief in the Infinite Source? If so, which books regarding the Infinite have guided you, and whose specific wisdom led you to these realizations?
Frank Moore4 said:This is just another textbook example of how inhumane these self-proclaimed animal rights activists can be. Honestly, half of them probably haven't even walked a dog on a leash, let alone handled actual farm work or livestock. They claim they’re "protecting" animals, but they’d happily step over a human being to do it.
Unfortunately, this is just more evidence of how twisted these Western "liberal values" have become. It’s honestly shameful that our local police aren't stepping in to deal with people like this and filing formal criminal charges for their threats and harassment. At this point, we probably need the courts—and maybe a psychiatric evaluation—to get a handle on them.
wearyhawk83 said:Look, if we don't have a goal, we're basically just wandering aimlessly. You don't even need spirituality if you're just going to drift through life forever.
Jonathan Chase78 said:What I was at the beginning—well, that’s exactly what I remain at the end.
Is there anything quite as predictable as the musician who insists on clinging to that one "vintage" instrument? You know the type—the ones who act like their beat-up, decades-old gear is some kind of sacred relic, rather than just an old piece of equipment that’s seen better days.
But let’s be real—my music sounds nothing like it did when I first started.
I’ve finally brought everything back into alignment with the Universe—
Now, I’ve reached that point where I don't even dream about being awake anymore—it's all just one long, surreal fever dream.
Some people say they’re just "dreaming"... Well, I know I am.
Jonathan Chase78 said:One comes from the "heart," while the other comes from the "throat."
To put it more bluntly—one is divine, the other is hellish.
Here’s the breakdown: True joy celebrates someone else's progress and well-being. Laughter, however, usually targets someone else's flaws. Now, don't get me wrong—humor can be useful sometimes, but strictly in a masculine setting! (And I mean that purely as a way to point out a buddy's stupidity so he might actually learn from it and change. When it comes to women, you achieve that same goal through seriousness—never by laughing at them.)
Therefore, prayer and laughter don't really go hand-in-hand; prayer requires gravity—even penitence.
Because when we pray, we are petitioning—we are pleading.
Spirituality and humor? Sure, they work together.
But let's be clear: we are free spirits, capable of doing whatever we please.
The catch is, we own every single thing we do.
Dennis Jackson38 said:Indeed. I find myself in complete agreement, Nemrut. It is precisely because I view the weight of existence with such profound seriousness that I am relentless in my pursuit to fill my days with waves of laughter and bright sparks of joy and amusement.
However, looking at it from another angle, consider the woman who dials a psychic hotline to have Dorothy predict her love life, or the weary, ailing man who visits his Canadian neighbor hoping a heated "sacred stone" can magically extract a tumor without surgery; I believe those individuals take these types of "spiritual services" with absolute, unwavering seriousness.
Now, let us be clear: I am certainly not suggesting that there aren't esoteric practitioners whose "talents" possess legitimate healing properties or who might actually navigate the fractures of time to glimpse someone's future. But if we are being realistic, the sheer saturation of charlatans in these fields has rendered one mysterious and occult branch of esotericism nothing short of farcical. And yes—whether they are true mystics or mere frauds, I would label them as esoterics, but certainly not as spiritualists.
Why is this distinction necessary? Because a fundamental divide must exist. All the brilliant teachings of the great masters, the profound insights of those who have delved through layers of introspection until they float upon the shores of total enlightenment, and the divine spiritual revelations reached through long, arduous contemplations and occasionally harrowing experiences—all of this comes from people who have dedicated their entire lives to the deep study of themselves, their reactions, the world around them, and the unbreakable bonds that link everything together. This leads to a pure life and an absolute understanding of the interconnectedness and harmony of all existence. You simply cannot, for heaven's sake, throw that in the same basket as the predictions made by Stanley, who will charge you $2.00 per minute (plus tax) to tell you that you'll meet a tall, dark stranger at an upcoming corporate gala and marry him, provided you watch out for an envious older woman in his family.
Again, I am not claiming that esotericism lacks its geniuses and true mystics, but... the differences, if you ask me, are vast and glaringly obvious.
Cinka;36101933 said:What’s the point of spirituality (or even Tarot) if there isn't a destination? A home base—you know, the heavenly kingdom, our true inner selves, or even just the Lord?
It’s just wandering aimlessly through a vast, empty wilderness.
If spirituality actually had a fixed finish line, I suppose the Bible would have legs and walk right to us...😂
But really, spirituality is this endless, beautiful journey through many lifetimes.A little something for you on the Ancient Egyptian School: One of the schools. Obelisks and pyramids—explaining what their names actually mean.
Oh, Osiris, make my spirit immortal!
Dennis Jackson38 said:Spirituality ought to be treated as an incredibly rigorous discipline—perhaps even more accurately described as a comprehensive way of life. However, since the majority of people still mistakenly categorize it as some sort of "alternative" lifestyle, the term has become a catch-all for everything from the profound and transformative teachings of enlightened mystics to seven thousand different meditation techniques, yoga classes specifically designed for flat feet, reading tea leaves, or even those patchouli-scented vaporizers being peddled during late-night infomercials on local cable by Mr. Džirlo.
It’s honestly a bit pathetic, but I suppose it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. If you have achieved a sufficient level of spiritual centering, something this superficial won't bother you one bit.
Daniel Castillo11 said:Think of Tarot as a contemplative instrument designed to help us align ourselves with that very "Kingdom," or perhaps more accurately, to serve as a compass in our search for it. When someone approaches the cards merely as a tool for fortune-telling or divination, they essentially strip away its contemplative essence—that profound, quiet dimension that allows one to actually engage with their own inner being.
Jonathan Chase78 said:If she truly understood the internal—spiritually speaking—landscape of the heart or the brain, she’d finally grasp why Tarot imagery exists and what its actual purpose is.
A little context here:
The Tarot serves as a visual map of the entire spiritual journey and the various stages of evolution along that path.
Historically, these images functioned much like an enlightenment curriculum within the pyramids of the Ancient Egyptian school—or perhaps something akin to the training grounds for prophets among the Jews.
Clairvoyance is simply one trait of an enlightened individual, mainly because the future has been unveiled to them.
However, mere fortune-telling is a dangerous "game" played with human free will—which, frankly, ought to remain untouched. The level of danger depends entirely on the practitioner (specifically, their own spiritual maturity or lack thereof). If the person receiving the reading isn't mature enough to handle a "revealed" future, then not only is it harmful to them, it's actually pointless. Why? Because certain futures don't even exist yet; they are left entirely to human free will. And that is exactly what the practitioner is playing with—whether consciously or not.
Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these other things will be added to you naturally!
mistyseal11 here! Just popping in to say hello to everyone! I was sitting on my porch this morning—lovely weather, really crisp, perfect for a coffee—and I started thinking about how much things have changed lately. It’s funny how life works, isn't it? One minute you're worrying about the small stuff, like whether you left the oven on, and the next, you're having these big realizations. Anyway, just felt like spreading some good vibes today. Hope you're all having a fantastic week! Keep smiling! kaže:
Why go with a brand-new one, though? I mean, I was just sitting here thinking about how much I love a fresh start—like when I finally decided to repaint my home office last summer. Everything felt so stale, you know? But then, boom! New color, new energy. It’s like hitting a reset button on your whole vibe. Sometimes you just need that clean slate to really get things moving!
Get lost, you absolute nutcase! Seriously, just go jump in a lake! $17 Buy ten of them. One's bound to work, for sure! 😁
By the way, I’d put my money on Emmezettu, Technomax, or something along those lines. They just have that vibe, you know? It’s like when you're walking through a tech expo in San Francisco and you see those specific booths—you just know they're going to be the big players. My gut feeling is usually pretty spot on with these things!
Jeffrey Booth51 said:I honestly don't even know where to begin...
My mind is processing so many different threads all at once—as it usually does—and it feels like I’m completely falling apart just trying to articulate what’s actually going on inside my head.
And yet, that inner sense of logic always manages to step in and take control during those critical moments... and it’s just a constant cycle. From the outside, my life looks utterly mundane, but internally, it’s been twenty-eight years of wandering through the cosmos.
I suppose all of this has just felt like life—those inevitable ups and downs—up until now... but as the years tick by, I find I have fewer and fewer excuses left to lean on.
I won't spend too much breath dwelling on my childhood, the wars, moving from one US city to another, then back again, then leaving again, then returning... I suppose I just have a penchant for circles.🙂
Anyway, I just wanted to give you all some insight into my situation; I'll try to present things as coherently as possible, both how they look outwardly and how they feel inwardly.
This isn't a plea for advice on how to get my act together or build a life; rather, I would love to hear your thoughts on how to strike a balance between the spiritual and the material.
Up to this point, my life has functioned roughly like this: whenever I was more grounded in my physical body and its immediate needs, everything became explosive—intense highs and lows, all very fleeting. And every material action seemed to pull me toward something deeper.
On top of all that, when I was younger, guilt and remorse were just constant companions in everything I did.
Then came a period where I was more focused on the spiritual side of things. I was raised Christian, but due to some poor personal experiences and a lack of clear answers, I found myself gravitating more toward Eastern philosophies. Eventually, that led to some positive shifts; I became mindful of what I ate and what I no longer wanted to consume, I understood many situations and my own past mistakes better, and that heavy weight of guilt began to lift... things were going okay. That is, until people and human relationships started interfering with my spiritual progress... I simply took what I had learned and walked away. I am sensitive, I know that... and it is difficult for me to accept that my role models and my sources of inspiration can falter so spectacularly. I understand that people in religious circles are just humans, after all, and everyone is trying their best while stumbling along... but perhaps my karma is just that messed up, or maybe I am just far too sensitive to process all of this in such a short span of time.
Anyway, after that period of distancing myself from both worlds, I ended up alone, living in an old, run-down house where I grew up, with my family scattered across the US and the rest of the world... but I actually felt good. During the day, I’d go out with friends, and in the evening, I could barely wait to retreat to my little room without any technology just to read books.
It didn't last long, though, because I met this guy. It wasn't planned; it just happened. He was somewhere in the middle ground, and it worked for me. After a while, we started living together and everything was wonderful. He was truly kind to me, and I tried harder than I ever had before to make it work. He was different from my previous partners, however, because he had one specific issue I had never encountered before. He couldn't let go in an intimate relationship. At first, I didn't realize how deep the problem went... but after about a year, we realized it was a massive issue and that things were only getting worse... I felt rejected in a way, though I kept trying and trying not to take it personally. Essentially, there was no real sexual life, just occasional hints of it. After a year and a half, we broke up, and I went to stay with my family for a few days. I wanted to make him realize that regardless of his fear or shame, he had to start taking decisive steps. Perhaps he was just terrified of losing me, because he said something to me that hurt more than anything else he'd ever said; he told me that he had been taking care of himself alone for the last year because he was afraid he wouldn't be capable (even though we had talked a hundred times about how that wouldn't work, emphasizing that if anything happened, we would just be honest). It was important to me that he didn't do that alone, as that was part of the problem itself.
I was so deeply hurt—he had lied to me for a whole year... I can understand why I didn't absolutely tear him to shreds for it... but my trust was shattered... it wounded my very soul.
Still, I gave him another chance; we didn't want to give up... for a few more months, I poured out my last remaining drops of strength to be his support, and then I finally snapped.
I got the impression that he had taken steps to fix things, like "we'll resolve this," but in reality, it was always "when it happens, it happens, as long as I'm here and he's not alone." It started to feel incredibly selfish, like I was living a lie.
He actually has this deep-seated issue stemming from his early years—stuff with his parents and girls... and he used to have such a terrible view of himself, which he tried to fix once he landed a job, hit the gym, even got braces... he started trying to manage his emotions because he honestly had no clue how to deal with them. He just felt like all he needed was a good woman to marry so he could finally claim to have a perfect life. But what he doesn't realize is that he’s building everything on a facade; deep down, he's completely incapable of handling pain or the idea of someone leaving him or rejecting him.
I started seeing all of this, and in that moment, I felt somewhat like a victim simply because I had become aware of the reality of the situation.
Anyway, I cleared out... I've been staying with my folks for a week now, out in some small town outside of a major city. I don't have a job... I have nowhere else to go...
I feel a bit numb from it all, just trying to scrape by financially because I have to, but while I'm doing that, I'm searching for solace and answers in spiritual things, and my energy is just draining away like crazy... I'm just spinning my wheels.
It’s not that I’m incapable of taking action... it’s just that every single time I’ve tried to change things in my life, it always leads back to this exact same point. And here I am. Now, it feels almost reflexive, like I'm forced to believe things will work themselves out in a way where I'm constantly stuck extracting some "life lesson" instead of actually living my life.
I don't know what to think, what to do, or what I should even turn toward...
I don't feel like a victim, I'm not crying, I'm accepting what's happening, and I want to be happy and grow as a person...
But I need help... I want to start something this time that will actually make me happy... I want to know that I'm not just going in circles again...
I know I'm being overly dramatic... and I see it all clearly.
I haven't spoken to anyone about anything for days. I simply don't want to be part of that social circle in the environment I'm currently in.
There. Whatever the outcome ends up being... that was on my mind and that's what I said.
I wish you all a lot of happiness and strength in your search, whatever that may be 🙂
redhawk16 said:Do you ever find yourself cracking up at your own thoughts? And more importantly—who exactly is in on the joke? 😁
Larry Wilson5 said:Before the broken ones. People are constantly searching for something they already possess. They want help. Some kind of external power to rescue them, even though they’ve had enough strength inside them since birth to succeed. They have everything they need to grow that power—the ability to truly perceive life and its defenses. To align their will with existence, to see it clearly, and to direct their focus accordingly. I guess.
They look for what they already possess. It’s quite the paradox, I suppose.
Can a river plead for help from its own source? I suppose the power of that source resides within the river itself—in every single drop.
Does anything in nature actually beg? Or maybe every living thing just tries to survive by leaning on its own internal strength.
A man forgets his own inner power because he’s stuck in a reality where power is nothing more than a negotiation. It’s an obstacle to the will, I guess. Our focus gets forcibly redirected, and so does our willpower. We just end up steering ourselves toward whatever is right in front of us, essentially bargaining with reality itself.
Until a person truly believes in their own power, nothing they possess actually matters—not even the ground beneath their feet or the fire they work so hard to keep burning. I guess.
Until they stand up—maybe from a kneeling position, or certainly from a cyclist's crouch.
Larry Wilson5 said:I know of one religion claimed to be the source of all others, called the religion of upright people. Sounds lovely, I guess.
Susan Price30 said:wearyowl29 Asks:
It matters little what is written on a screen or in a post; what truly counts is the goal we strive for and the purpose we were born to fulfill.
Of course, it matters given the context of the opening post and how the topic was framed.
If you don't actually care about the subject matter, then there's really no reason to start threads regarding different perspectives or monotheistic religions.The three major monotheistic faiths all attempt to explain the world and our place within it through their specific understanding of God.
Jerry King11 said:Look, Ivančić mentioned on his last segment on CNN that everything within a person is part of creation—that man is fashioned from the Earth and everything God made in those six days. But that’s just the physical shell. For a person to truly become human, God breathed an immortal breath (creativity, transcendence, freedom) into them. We are essentially everything created on Earth, yet we belong to Heaven. God created man in His own image, which means we reflect Him. The snake told Adam, "You will be like God," but it was actually playing a trick, because man already is like God. Anyway, that's just how a Catholic priest interprets it. 🙂