One of the best reasons for taking a train is the usually lower rate of baggage hassle. Perhaps due to the influence of reality-based folk like Beth, luggage is far more limited on this Living with Reality train. This would explain why I am still stuck on the station platform and haven’t yet made it to the viewing car. Who knew there were FIVE more bags that I would have to utterly abandon? Inwardly, of course, a higher part of my consciousness is doing cartwheels that I won’t be breaking my back, soul and spirit trying to schlep this stuff anymore. I understand that I may actually be given 5 new bags to take their places, but that seems too good to be true. You mean I might actually be able to get rid of a bunch of stuff that I don’t need and replace it with highly functional options instead? What have I been waiting for?

In reality, I know it will be hard to totally leave these behind: For starters, there’s the bag labeled Negative Habit Three, in short Competing. None of us wants to acknowledge how much we all compete with each other and even ourselves. If we did, it would look as bad as our sugar intake. And some competition is sneaky, like the invitation to the wedding that doesn’t mention a dress code (How will I know how to look better than the others if I don’t know what to wear?), or the “contest” that is supposed to be fun among friends (I know I’m smarter and will win hands down at Scrabble.), or the cold wars at family functions (Mom likes me better than you and you know it!), such as reunions or Thanksgiving. The solution is Beth’s replacement bag: Positive Habit Three–Support Each Other! Whew, what a relief. Now, if I can just remember that connection and SUPPORT are more important than winning anything! I had a chance to practice this a few weeks ago at a professional seminar, where I had entered a design contest. As usual, the “rules” were not exactly clear until the last minute, and some were probably not totally fulfilled. Our store has entered these for several years and we have always been forthcoming about our entry being a team effort between at least 3 people: myself, the designer, the wax modeler, and the stone-setter.

After the winner admitted on her fourth prize that she had “some help,” it became clear that the judges were probably influenced more by the single “do-it-all” designer than a team, although realistically there is almost always a team. This is an example of one of those “unwritten” rules that always apply, but are never admitted. I have two goals for the future: 1) If I ever decide to enter another contest, I will enter the contest just to support the group and, 2) be more verbally supportive of all the other contestants, as well as myself and my own team, and, 3) I will say “I am that” (see the next habit to see why I will do this.) to all the positive attributes assigned to others and enjoy them as my own. Easier said than done, but much more fun and rewarding if we can unclench our teeth, laugh and thank everyone for being with us and sharing. I had much more fun and support with my fellow putt-putt golfers the night before, because we didn’t take ourselves seriously and we just wanted to enjoy our connection. I could root for someone else to win and mean it! Now, to apply that to something that I have an ego investment in. That would be something!

It helps to truly know ahead of time that we can and should allow others to be in their place and we in ours. In my case, it was truly delightful to see the younger generation coming into the field with such enthusiasm and creativity. Perhaps something other than a contest would allow us all to support each other more. Yes, the idea of just acknowledging people without having to compete. That would be a fun conference!

The adjunct, companion baggage to the above is Negative Habit Four, or “not ME! I’m not like THAT!” baggage, as I call it. Of course I don’t want to admit to being selfish or self-centered, that would prevent me from seeing that the person who really needs to win a design contest is the young woman just starting out who is unsure of her path or talent and really needs encouragement more than I. Or, I might be unwilling to see just how much talent it took to do what she did. Fear of losing might keep me from admitting that. Beth reminds us that the opposite can happen. Perhaps I can also not see that I have that same passion for excellence that she has, or the talent to think creatively. I can see myself in her success instead of thinking that her winning somehow eliminates my happiness.

This is why Beth asks us to always bring out Positive Habit Four–”I Am That.” “I Am That” is a wonderful tool to keep handy in an election year when I feel my blood pressure spiking over some seemingly insane political accusation or pronouncement. Of course, my political views are correct! Who are these other idiots?–oh, I Am That! I am also totally frustrated with my elderly, frail father who is stubbornly trying to live his life as if he were 20 years younger and had no health issues. HELLO–I Am That. If I were not frustrated and fearful with my own aging, I might be less frustrated with Dad. If Dad and I are both evolving beings, he and I need to relax about the reality of that evolution and not try to deny the totality of our existence, which includes illness, disability, feelings of impotence and death as well as birth. Dad has lived with Parkinson’s for the last 5 years, and now has been diagnosed with terminal/end stage bone cancer. Obviously, he will need support to make good decisions based on several factors, not just fear. I will have to not judge these decisions, but instead be able to say “I AM That” in order to stay connected to Dad. If I am going to be of real support, both to him and myself, I must relate to his experience and see it in myself. After all, as Beth points out fairly often, the highest good for all also includes me! Stay tuned while I round up the last 3 bags and their replacements….and remember to say “I Am That.”

1. What is peace for you?

Peace is a state of alignment with what is, which includes the potential of what could be. When we fight reality, we are not at peace. But neither are we at peace when we accept it without supporting it to transform to higher levels.

When we encounter behaviors or attitudes that cause pain, we have to be in allowance that these behaviors exist in the context of cause and effect. This brings us compassion. We begin to understand why we behave as we do. Now having achieved allowance and compassion, we can see the pain that caused us to exhibit these painful behaviors, and we can devote ourselves to calling ourselves and others to consciousness about the needless suffering these behaviors cause, to identifying the sources of these behaviors and to co-creating therapeutic modalities and transformational moments to heal the causes of our destructiveness. Now we are not only at peace ourselves, we are spreading peace by supporting others to become more peaceful in themselves and, therefore, to become more of a blessing to others.

2. What drives you to do your work?

As a child, I was acutely aware of the suffering on this planet, and at the age of 9, I vowed to do something about it. Until the age of 33, I was deeply engaged in social activism. But then I had a spiritual awakening followed by a psychic awakening, and I suddenly had access to different means of supporting human transformation.  The drive simply moved from making the outer revolution to making the inner revolution: from changing human behavior through changing our social relations to changing our world through changing us, which in itself requires us to relate to one another differently – through the lens of oneness.

I can’t tell you what has driven me to be this way, but I believe the desire to help was implanted in me before I was even born, and so you could say that the drive came from God, the Source, whatever creative intelligence runs the universe.

3. What are the challenges and opportunities, personal and professional you have encountered through your work?

The constant requirement that I overcome my own ego-based responses and reactions. I need to not react to my clients and students when they oppose “me.” I need to be compassionate toward behaviors that are easy to condemn. I need to be dispassionate and see everyone’s perspective and everyone’s part in conflict. I need to not need the appreciation or validation of my clients and students, because the need to be liked or appreciated could block me from telling the truth. Finally, as a counselor and spiritual teacher, I need to be on constant alert to my possibly projecting onto others, justifying in others behaviors that I have as well, or just missing seeing what’s there because seeing it might threaten me in some way.

As a counselor, spiritual teacher and human being, there is, of course, always the additional challenge of not competing with others who are different from me or who are similar and might be doing “competitive” work. There is enough pain to go around in this world, and I have had to retrain myself to think of the whole and the benefit of our collective efforts, rather to focus on myself and my ego, career and sense of value.

4. What have you learned about yourself being in intense settings?

That when I am empty of ego and opinions, I am more likely to be of service to others.

When last we met, we were on the train ride to reality, with a stopover in the unforeseen tunnel. Having survived the ride through the “reality tunnel of compressed awareness,” we passengers are all looking forward to getting off, taking a deep breath of fresh air and getting back to our “normal” lives. Wait…what’s this?! ….another clarion call from our Disaster Relief Engineer, Beth? What now?

“Ladies and gentlemen, like all old tunnels, this one has uneven and unstable ground, some of which has fallen under the water table. In order to exit this tunnel, we must all link arms and traverse as one unit, in order for the highest good and the greatest number of survivors. Each of us is responsible for holding up not only ourselves, but possibly our closest neighbor. To help, we have thrown flotation platforms out onto the tunnel surface and water. Feel free to allow these to support as needed, but DO NOT LET GO of each other! Also, you will not be able to collect and carry your old baggage across this. Trust each other and start NOW!”

Would I/we be able to do this? This is essentially what Beth asks for in the chapter “Platform One-Becoming Oneness–Who We Are.” This means I might have to stand between a child murderer and a Tea Partier (if I am a Democrat or next to a Democrat if I am Republican), or anyone whom I deemed “other” or “them.” As Beth astutely points out, we can always find a “them,”, an “other;” the changing point is to NOT look for that, but to focus on our connectedness, our mutual humanity, our mutual desire for oneness. We can then use that sense of unity, of oneness to pull all of us forward together, trusting the Universe, God, the Source to hold us all as we go forward. This is the step we need as couples, as families, as states, as a country, as a PLANET! If we could truly do this, we could live with so much less suffering and so much more joy in each other.

In this case of trying to cross the abyss together, we can see that if we don’t hold onto each other and help each other across, we will surely fall into that chasm and perish. We need to see and feel the reality that this is so in our everyday lives. How often do we recognize that we would probably perish without the support of all the people who grow the food, make the clothes, harvest and process the oil, manufacture the cars and make the steel and plastic that go into them? Do we often realize how much we depend on people for everything we do all day, where we live, how we are transported, for our jobs, our education, our healthcare. We need a tremendous amount of support every single day! And yet, we like to think of ourselves as independent and not impacting others or being impacted by them. HA! We HAVE to cooperate, don’t we?

In order to do function as ONE, it is, of course, crucial for us to toss our old ”baggage,” or negative habits, as Beth calls them…otherwise we go back to our old “normal” life that didn’t really work. For the sake of brevity, I will condense these habits into short descriptions. Maybe I/we can remember them all better this way.

Negative Habit # 1–Separating into Fragments to be replaced by Positive Habit # 1- Oneness or experiencing ourselves as one.

Sounds simple–but obviously requires a lot of practice. I have been trying for 3 weeks to practice this habit and NOT get sucked into political discussions with my elderly father or cursing sessions of our current governor with my husband. It is a struggle to remember that others may be trying equally hard to include ME in their concept of oneness! It helps to remember that I cannot be truly happy if others are unhappy, and that the poor may include the emotionally impoverished as well as the financially impoverished.

Negative Habit #2– Domination –to be replaced by Positive Habit #2 –Letting GO of domination and practicing cooperation instead.

We cannot have true cooperation if domination exists–I personally have to remember to not dominate conversations, over-talk someone, (especially my husband), or try to “arrange” things for my elderly parents that really need their freedom of choice to maintain a sense of integrity and dominion over their own lives. An example is my siblings’ and my wish that our 84-year-old father give up driving, for the highest good of all. Although Dad agreed to do this in front of seven of us and signed over the title of his current clunker, he is still conflicted.

Do I dominate this and just donate the car without Dad’s blessing, to the relief of all my siblings?? Or do I have an ongoing conversation with Dad, emphasizing everyone’s love for him and our deep desire for his safety and well being and that of the other drivers on the road? Do I dare try compassion, showing that I understand how difficult this must be. So far I am trying the latter, with the car at rest. Prayers are accepted.

Thanks to Beth, I can acknowledge Dad’s issues with feeling powerless and worrying that his needs will not be met, in addition to facing my own fears of powerlessness and abandonment. My sister reminded me that Dad has used the car to escape uncomfortable feelings all our lives. He used to just get in the car and drive away when he was upset. No wonder he doesn’t want to give up this valuable means of getting away! If Dad and I can give up trying to control each other, we may have a much more joyful relationship. WE are both , as Beth puts it, works in progress, and that is OK.

Using Positive Habit #2 also frees me to speak out against domination and dominators in general and not be a doormat, but also not become the dominator myself in the process of “standing up for myself.” After all, the highest good for all includes ….ME. Beth insists that we quit ignoring dominators and focus on connecting with them. There may be danger in this, but not as great as the danger of disconnection, where everyone is ruled by fear. There is a quote l have heard attributed to both President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill during WWII–”We have nothing to fear but fear itself!” After all, what good is a train vacation if we’re afraid to get off the train and meet new people and adventures?

So, let’s practice these two habits together for a few weeks and check back in and see how we’re doing with choosing oneness and cooperation. I, for one, am relieved to know that there is another way to live, leaving all that fragmentation/separation and domination/submission behind! See you later in the viewing car.

 

Before describing the school, let me tell you about myself. For the past 40+ years, I have endeavored to be on a spiritual path devoted to God and the “Ascended Masters,” including involvement with various “mystery schools” of the Eastern and Western Traditions. These have included the Arcane School of Alice A. Bailey, under the Master Djwhal Kuhl (“D.K.”), the Findhorn Community in Scotland, the Rosicrucian Fellowship and Builders of the Adytum, under the Master St. Germain, the Golden Dawn Society and others. In addition, for over 30 years, I have worked as a spiritual hypnotherapist employing spiritual and therapeutic modalities.

Yet only recently have I discovered what I consider to be a “modern mystery school,” which has existed behind the scenes for over 30 years in southern California under the auspices of a collective of the Ascended Masters, whose channel and founder is Beth Green.  Unlike myself, who had studied about the Masters and who had been familiar with various of their schools over the years, Beth was contacted from within – with no prior knowledge about the Masters – and was guided to found and develop a spiritual community and center for higher consciousness that is in alignment with the teachings of Master Djwhal Kuhl.

Before I talk about the school itself and what I consider to be a first-rate teaching program, I’d like to talk a bit about Beth and why I consider her a credible channel of the Masters. Prior to a spiritual awakening in 1978, Beth was a social activist with absolutely no knowledge of spirituality or the esoteric. She had an abrupt awakening in 1978, and she began to channel God, who set her upon a spiritual path whereby she has been receiving divine guidance on an ongoing basis ever since. Following this guidance required absolute discipline, because she was guided in every aspect of her life – from what to wear and eat, to where to live and what to teach. With virtually no knowledge or support from others, she followed this rigorous discipline and was contacted by Jesus in 1980, who advised her to be ready to encounter two Masters who would come to her – one coming as a man; the other, as a boy.  Thereafter, Lord Maitreya appeared to her on the inner plane, along with Master Serapis Bey, in the appearance of a youth.  Thereafter, she was contacted by, and worked with, Master Djwhal Kuhl, for a period of time, before being contacted by Lord Kuthumi (“K.H.”), who became her main teacher.  K.H. was one of the Masters responsible for the founding of the Theosophical Society and the release of esoteric wisdom to the public beginning in 1875.

Is there any evidence to support the validity of these contacts? First, Beth became an intuitive counselor in 1980 under the auspices of the Masters, and her accuracy in reading into the hearts of clients is astonishing, as is her ability to “see” incidents in their past that have been foundational to their difficulties. She also channels chi energy that puts people into altered states of consciousness. In addition, she has channeled five books and three CDs of original music, and the information is original and of a very high value. In addition, there are daily “miracles,” all of which have been witnessed by virtually hundreds of people who have been in her life. For example, in 1982, Lord Kuthumi guided Beth to take certain steps to take to help a client who had a bladder infection.  She was told to go to a building in the Los Angeles area in order to find the “Materia Medica,” the foundational book of homeopathy about which she knew nothing. The building was deserted and padlocked. Nonetheless, she followed the guidance and knocked on the front door for 20 minutes until a man finally came to the door.  The man was a janitor who explained the building was closed. She insisted that she had been sent to that place to find this book.  After insisting that there was nothing in the building, the man gave her the card of a woman who he thought might have the book.  Beth called the woman and told her about the guidance.  The woman did, indeed, have the book, invited her to come to over, lent the book to Beth, and Beth was able to intuitively pick a homeopathic remedy that cured her client’s bladder infection. In another instance, K.H. told her to sell her house and to move, even though she had no money. He pointed out an ad in the newspaper for a house that he told her she would buy for the emerging Stream spiritual community.  K.H.’s words were:  “See that ad in the paper? You are going to buy that house.”  Despite the fact that Beth could not qualify for the house, she insisted the agent make an offer. Miraculously it was accepted. K.H. even guided her in what provisions to include and exclude in the real estate documents – all of which changes were accepted by the seller!  The sale was consummated even though Beth had to borrow the entire down payment, which she was able to pay off in one year!  These examples are only indicative of Beth’s daily life, where she is guided moment by moment to do the impossible.

At the time of her spiritual awakening, Beth was told by God not to study with anyone or read any book, because God wanted her to be a blank slate for divine guidance. And so it has been. Following K.H.’s directions, Beth founded “The Stream” in 1983, and it is now a flourishing spiritual community, a non-profit organization and modern mystery school that continues to provide spiritual guidance and tools for identifying and healing self-limiting patterns in the unconscious and for facilitating connection with divine consciousness.

If you are not familiar with the concept “mystery school,” let me reiterate my definition. As I indicated previously, a mystery school is a rigorous training program whereby people are assisted to connect with their Soul – or higher consciousness – and to dissolve ego barriers so that they may become agents of the divine.  Dr. Jean Houston has done much to popularize these principles through her own mystery school of long standing.  At the Stream and the Center for Healing & Higher Consciousness, disciplines are utilized to accomplish this, examples of which are spiritual practices, such as meditation and LifeForce Inner Workouts; intuitive, state-of-the-art psychological healing modalities that clear blocks to higher consciousness; and teachings about the mysteries of the workings of the inner and outer worlds in which we live and move and have our being.  To be a complete mystery school, it is not enough simply to teach mental concepts, as do some schools, or provide spiritual practices only, as do many other schools. To be a true mystery school, the program needs to provide a comprehensive approach that combines spiritual and modern psychological modalities to accelerate one’s evolution toward truly being an agent of the divine.

“The Stream,” along with its affiliate, the “Center for Healing & Higher Consciousness,” does all of that. We are now sponsoring a new training program, the first year of which is called “Consciousness Boot Camp,” whereby such a comprehensive approach is provided, and I will be participating in this school as a teacher and student, which we all are.

I am excited to share with you this modern approach to achieving higher consciousness – a “boot camp” for intensified transformational work for overcoming the domination of the ego and becoming a clearer expression of the divine. Since I have been involved with The Stream as my own personal “boot camp,” I have experienced deeper transformations than I ever had before!  I have tackled, head-on, ego-driven patterns of perception and behavior that had run my life since infancy and I have been able to shift them.  By “ego driven” I mean the drive that we all have to survive and thrive by demonstrating our value to others, regardless of what is for the highest good of the whole.  The ego-driven life is a me-based existence. Since being at The Stream, I have moved into a we-based existence. I have opened to a life that is more fully guided by higher consciousness – more guided by an intuitive knowing of what is for the highest good of the whole, which includes me.  I have deepened my connection with God and allowed God or “The Source” to guide me on a daily, ongoing basis far more than ever before.

All of this has prepared me to co-lead Consciousness Boot Camp – a 10-month program sponsored by The Stream and its affiliate, the Center for Healing & Higher Consciousness. Master D.K. has confirmed that The Stream and the Center, along with its program, Consciousness Boot Camp, comprise a preparatory school under the auspices of the Masters.  This intensive program trains people in tools and modalities that can assist one in becoming “a soul-infused personality” (as Master D.K puts it).  I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to contribute some of the modalities that I work with to assist in this training.

Consciousness Boot Camp teaches new paradigms, offers deep healing experiences that clear the unconscious, provides tools for self-healing and for helping others, and leads step-by-step to a God-centered life with a more reliable connection to higher consciousness. The program starts this month, September 2011, and materials will shortly be available via the internet. Its first live day-long session is taking place on October 8^th, 2011, and you can come to The Stream in person or participate via the internet. At the same time, the entire program is going to be recorded and delivered via the internet, so that you can join Boot Camp any month you wish and do all your studying in your own time. For more information, click here.

This is a critical time in human history.  We need to complete our inner clearing work so that we may be less dominated by our egos and more available to higher consciousness.  I strongly urge you to consider participating in Consciousness Boot Camp to help to bring in the New Age! And I strongly urge you to take a look at The Stream community. Under Beth’s leadership guided by the Masters, this entire community is steeped in dedication to higher consciousness linked with the ability to bring that consciousness into daily life.

For those of you who know me personally, you will not be surprised that Beth and I are soon to be married, and our names will soon be James and Beth Maynard Green. If you think that our personal connection is prejudicing me, just check out Beth herself. For example, watch her latest video on The Cosmic Convergence: Is It Real and What Is Our Part? Just click here, and see for yourself what Beth channeled on the spot this September.

Please join us!

For additional information, click on Consciousness Boot Camp, the Consciousness Boot Camp Manifesto and The Stream. Beth’s teachings are spreading around the world. You are invited to read some of her blogs at the AOL Huffington Post:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-green, or view some of her videoed presentations at Youtube.com. Go to the ForUnity channel. You can start with her video on the Cosmic Convergence and then look at her many presentations on that channel. Enjoy!

James Maynard, Ph.D., J.D.

Everyone has a dream vacation and for most of us, this represents taking a vacation from consciousness and indulging in every fantasy we can imagine.  We don’t just go away, we go away from consciousness. Things we don’t do in our everyday lives, we think are fine to do on vacation. What about the Vegas slogan that “what you do here, stays here?” How many of us eat things we know are not healthy or drink alcohol or engage in some kind of sexual behavior we wouldn’t do in our daily lives? Or how many of us spend money that we don’t have on vacations, only to face inflated credit card debt when we return home? For some of us, this might be the train ride of a lifetime; perhaps a leisurely swing through the American southwest with a Native American guide, or a vivid tour of the California coastline, or even a trek across  the Great Lakes and Eastern seaboard.  We might even opt to tour Ireland or the Continent by train, perhaps even on something as luxurious as the Orient Express.  Some of us would be realistic in our expectations, but many of us would have indulged our fantasies in some other way. 

We can imagine ourselves gazing out the window at spectacular landscapes, waiting for someone to bring our hot tea or a gourmet meal or a bottle of wine.  In the midst of the relaxation an authoritative voice commands our attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your engineer speaking.  Train #88 must make an unscheduled detour to avoid an avalanche occurring as we speak, an avalanche that has, unfortunately been caused by our presence in this fragile environment.  For reasons of urgent safety we must detour through an old, little used tunnel. (Reality?)  Before that time all electronic devices, food and beverages will be confiscated for the duration of the detour. We must request that upon entering the tunnel that all physical movement and noise, including talking, cease until further notice.  If you feel you absolutely cannot comply with this request you may exit the train immediately.  However this is a wooded area with wild animals and no protective shelter.” Is this the voice of God saying, “WAKE UP or GET OFF the train! It’s later than you think?”

 I personally think that this has the makings of a great Hollywood disaster movie script, but Beth would disagree.  In her amazing chapter #4 “Changing Our State: Addictions and Fantasy,” Beth reels off a laundry list of addictions, overeating, anxiety, alcohol, rage, sex, work , co-dependency, placating God, getting high and (drum roll, please) FANTASY!  Beth would say that we need to face the disaster that addictions and fantasy can wreak, not wallow in them, however entertaining they might be.

Now, our imaginary scenario on the train above would demand that all passengers give up their addictive behaviors immediately and for an undetermined time–although it would be impossible to stop the addictions of placating God and fantasizing, unless these were done out loud! How many of us could do this? After reading this chapter several  times I had to face the reality that as a society  we are drowning in addictions and fantasy, barely able to come up for the air of reality long enough to survive.  Beth is right, that practically none of us is without some addictive behavior, even if it is only worrying or pretending that everything is all right, two of my personal favorites.

I was brought face- to-concrete over the last four weeks with the uselessness  of two of my favorite addictions, worrying and pretending, when each of my elderly parents fell and had to be hospitalized.  There wasn’t much possibility of any fantasy in this scenario, hard as I might have tried to pretend things were going to be okay; hard as I might try to find some pretty scenery to look at inside my head. The damage that can be done to an older body by falling is undeniable and awful.  The aftermath is apparently never ending.  I was forced to face several realities in rapid succession, how physically fragile my parents had truly become and how much we all had been in denial about this fact.  It became obvious that changes in lifestyle and medication would be necessary and would require the assistance of all four of us children.   Besides the pain of the injury and the ensuing adjustments, there was the strain of being apart for days and weeks at a time, when a couple has been together the better part of 60 years.

My siblings and I are trying everything we can to help, but the reality is that we are waging war on a lot of fronts. Possibly the biggest battles are with ourselves and our denial of the reality of aging, both our own and others, as well as the battle of giving up our fantasy image of our parents as stronger protectors.  Now, why would we want to face these realities? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay in our addiction to denial and avoidance? Well, we see where that has gotten us and them. Maybe we should try something new.  Beth suggests that if we can give up our addictions and if we can remain connected to God/the Source throughout this process, all can benefit. We will be able to see the highest good for all, and be able to let go of our fear. We will stop seeing it as a battle AGAINST anything and start seeing it as a challenge to go TOWARD higher consciousness and reality and the rewarding and loving connections that can exist between us during this sometimes painful journey toward death. Doesn’t that sound better than constant contention, fear and confusion?

We will all be able to feel part of the Oneness and not feel or be alone. Isn’t that what Beth says throughout the book, that our greatest fear comes when we feel disconnected? Well, in this situation, everyone was feeling disconnected. This is the core of why we want to flee into fantasy.  The problem is that when we are in fantasy or addiction, we are not present to be able to connect. But when we are in pain, we often believe it will take away the pain to go on a vacation from consciousness. The result is more feelings of disconnection, however, and more pain. I saw that throughout this situation with my parents. The only relief came at the moments of connection.

We have just celebrated the Fourth of July, our Independence Day.  What a wonderful thing it would be if each and all of us could start using that day to also declare our independence from our fear, addictions and fantasies!  IF we could use this day of fireworks and remembrance to honor our ancestors by becoming our best selves, with a real connection to the divine consciousness and energies that the founders spoke of so eloquently, then we would have what we need to help everyone reach the potential that God intends for us. And, of course, aging and death are part of that process for us all. Nothing is wrong.

 When we read the actual quotes of our founding fathers, it is obvious that most of them were making a genuine effort to deal with reality, while fulfilling a dream of a different kind of nation, one that they hoped would be based on achieving what is for the highest good of all.  They did not, however, have the consciousness or the support to eliminate human addictions to comfort and greed and domination. Many of them foresaw the disaster that would happen if slavery were not eliminated.  For nearly 100 years AFTER the Declaration, slavery remained our worst addiction as a nation.  Even Thomas Jefferson found it impossible to give up slavery before his death. In many ways, we are slaves now to our addictions and fantasies.  We have forgotten, somehow, that no one who is a slave is ever truly free, and so it is with our slavery to addictions, all of them. If we want to be truly free in the 21st century, this is our next revolution, the only kind that will save us all. We must face and embrace reality and go toward it with support from each other and the divine consciousness that can guide us beyond our own human capabilities. Let’s join together and do it now!

In train lingo connecting two train cars is called “coupling”.  If you’ve taken more than one train ride, you’ve likely experienced it–the train comes to a slow jerky, screeching halt, followed by the noisy clanking business of uncoupling, then a slow short ride backwards until the new car is reached. More clanking, jerking and finally movement forward, much more smoothly!   Although a necessary and common occurrence, most of us still feel a bit apprehensive about the whole process.  Possibly this is due to our own problems with what Beth nails so accurately in Chapter 3, The Fear and Pain of Disconnection.   I quote her fearless truth here, “In order to overcome the fear and pain caused by our experiencing ourselves as separate, we try to artificially create the feeling of connection and this causes enormous harm to us and everyone else!” 

Sure, sure, we mutter, of course, but how bad is that? Well, consider our train again…what if the “coupling” between two cars broke, and someone tried an emergency fix with, oh say, DUCT TAPE???  How would that work??  Probably, even in the hands of a duct tape engineer, the train would only make it a short distance before it broke loose, veered off track, taking other cars, vehicles, people, maybe even animals with it into chaos and destruction.  What a mess!! This is what happens when we let our ego drive the train and decide what kind of “coupling” should take place!  How many of us have “coupled” by having sex with someone we don’t love or pretending we love them so we can avoid facing feeling alone? How many of us have turned to pornography, drinking in bars, shopping, online gaming or eating compulsively to try and pretend we don’t feel separate? But the duct tape doesn’t hold and we end up alone and craving more of this artificial coupling to fill the void where true connection to ourselves, each other and the Source should be. 

The opposite happens when we are open to the Source and the concept of Oneness, according to Beth. I have been fortunate to have experienced this more than once in my life.  The first time happened in my childhood.  I was at home alone in our kitchen when I suddenly heard very loud classical -type music.  At first I thought the radio had been left on and raced to turn it down, fearing it might get damaged and I would be blamed. When I found the radio and it was turned off, I realized this was no ordinary music. There are no words to truly describe this, only that I felt a profound part OF this incredible sound, that it was both within and outside of me, that it and I were ONE.  I thought of the angels and was drawn to go to our back glassed in porch, where I could see orbs of shimmering lights through the trees. I felt them radiating joy and peace and love to me, telling me how much I was loved.  Gradually the music and the sights faded away, but I will always remember them and the feeling of oneness. 

Surely all of us would like to have more days like this–when we are connected enough to the Source and ourselves to truly hear the wonderful music and messages God and the angels, and our fellow humans have for us!   We may be able to get to that state if we can learn to live in the here and now WITH reality, WITH compassion, WITH joy.

 I had an opportunity to experience reality and connection in an unexpected way today at my jewelry store.  Twenty minutes before closing a young couple pulled up. Gloriously tattooed in full color and wafting cigarette smoke, they were obviously in love.  The sweetness of their smiles and the gentle caring way they spoke to each other was wonderful.  We were able to begin a dialogue of what their needs and desires were for an engagement ring and wedding band.   We all made the effort to hear each other and respond thoughtfully.  Finally, it was obvious that the young man wanted to come back alone and make a decision, so I gave them some literature and encouraged them to sit down together and list their personal priorities, after considering the options. They thanked me for being the first salesperson to really listen to them and honestly answer their questions.  I thanked them for coming in to our store.  Even though no purchase has yet been made yet, I felt great joy in working with them, and helping them try on several rings. 

If I had let my ego take over, I might only have thought of how tired I was at the end of a long day, or how unpromising a prospect they appeared. If I had not been willing to consider “the highest good for all”, or tried to connect to the Source, I would only have had an impatient “business” conversation, or a very short meaningless one. Perhaps because of connecting to the Source, I was able to put aside any “fragmentary” personalities, and just relate as one human to another, in a relaxed way.   A real human connection, even if short, is a blessing to all….a blessing that may go on to multiply. 

Perhaps the best blessing we can give one another is relaxed, respectful listening while remaining grounded in reality.  How much less alone we would all feel if we were able to do this constantly with true compassion.  I agree with Beth wholeheartedly that aloneness for human beings is fundamentally unnatural….as unnatural as a train engine or a single train car rolling down the track alone and unconnected. Even small children notice the lone train engine or the lone person and remark on it.

So perhaps the next time we are stalled by the long train rolling down the track before us, we can be thankful for this very real reminder of what our true connections should be like: individuals connected to reality and each other AND to their (power) Source, co-creating a functioning and mutually supportive collective, all going the same direction (toward higher consciousness and a more relaxed reality) without the ridiculous ego notion that a train car should be in front trying to direct the engine!! 

May we all become more connected to the Source and to each other.

Many of us have travelled to escape something–most often pain, or its fellow travelling companion, fear. But no mode of transportation, not even a Concorde or a light rail, can outrace our feelings of pain or fear. As Beth accurately puts it in the Chapter:The Human Condition: The Pain & Fear that Drive Us: “much of our pain is self-created…. but much of our pain is simply the result of the way life is.”

The Way…Life…Is…..is this: we’ve finally gotten on the train to Somewhere, sit down, breathe a sigh of relief. Just as we prepare to relax finally, we observe with horror that the boogie man we thought we’d left under the bed or locked in the closet at our old home is walking up the aisle and preparing to sit down next to us!! We realize we are “alone” on the train, no mom or dad or friends, not even our trusted teddy bear–just cold-looking strangers and the boogie man! (This would be a good time for Gregory Peck, as Atticus Finch, to enter the picture and introduce the boogie man as our friend, Boo Radley!)
That is the scenario that Beth describes in better detail–especially our pain of aloneness and the gripping fear of being even more alone, with no one to help us. And so much of our being alone is our own doing; we don’t ask for support. It is so hard to ask for help, when one has never been taught to do that.

I offer this example from my own experience:
Over a decade ago our family business was the victim of a violent armed robbery. After all the broken glass was cleared away, endless forms filled out for the police, and endless interviews by the FBI, one of the social workers asked if we had gotten psychiatric help for ourselves and our staff. I replied that there had been no time to even think of this while answering all the questions from the various agencies. It hadn’t occurred to me or my husband to ask for help, but we should have. We have all been emotionally scarred by that event because I tried to handle it alone, without human or divine guidance.
It has taken me over 10 years to quit nearly jumping out of my skin with fear when I hear a certain type of voice, or see certain behaviors. If I had gotten help, I might have been able to apply what I’ve already learned in Living with Reality, that even with the violent robber, “I AM that.” I might have been able to feel my compassion for his desperation and what might have driven a person to such an act. I might have been able to really feel connected to the Source/God and feel relaxed, allowing for the reality that bad things might happen, but even if they do, I can relax. If I really integrated all this learning, I might have even been able to connect to the robber energetically and felt that I could send him chi (taking positive action always makes us feel better). The ultimate is, of course, being able to relax even when we are physically threatened, knowing that if it’s “my time” then it’s my time; I might as well relax into it. Sound far-fetched?….well, I don’t say it’s easy, but it’s what I’m striving for. I want to be as relaxed as I can every moment, no matter what!

Then, two days ago, an individual walked into my store and refreshed all my old fears. Fortunately, I had just read this chapter–so I had to ask myself Beth’s questions: Is this a real fear–or just a programmed one?? And even if it’s a real fear, how do I want to respond to it?
I’m still not sure how to distinguish between the two and how to respond: the person in question definitely behaved in a suspicious manner for a “real” shopper–after 35 years in retail the “fake” shoppers stand out! He fit the profile of someone “casing” a store–and he certainly did NOT fit the profile of my regular clients. But he could have just been a nervous nut! I AM that, too! How about you?

So I have decided to do the best I can to implement the LWR principles, to not stress about this and just take normal precautions, including talking to the police and fellow jewelers (we established an info relay system after our robbery). I am also talking to my family and co-workers. I can’t say that I felt truly relaxed yet, but I’m acknowledging that reading LWR did help me to handle it better than last time. Didn’t I hear somewhere that “it’s progress not perfection?”

And I am definitely trying to follow Beth’s advice and NOT make the situation worse by doing anything reckless or thoughtless that would only fuel more fear and pain. Most importantly I am trying to stay connected to God/the Source. If I feel overwhelmed by fear I will stop, breathe deeply, envision my connection to God, and ask for help and guidance from angels and the Source. And I will keep reading onward for more guidance from Beth through “Living with Reality.”
After all, a train ride isn’t smooth all the time–and even when it is, the cars sway from side to side going down the track–one learns to adjust to the rhythm and the stops and starts. The changes are part of the ride, a necessary part of the real live experience. And we did say we wanted to live, didn’t we? So let’s continue reading and learning together so that we can live in as great a state of wellbeing possible! See you soon on the train ride of our lives.

Mary Stine

The train ride of a lifetime is again moving after a few unnerving jolts.  But then, isn’t that how Beth defines reality–an unnerving jolt to our comfortable fantasies of wants, needs and desires? Oscar Wilde once noted that “Life is what happens while you were busy making other plans!” It is helpful that Beth points out that we sentient beings, ruled as we are by our five senses, cannot help our constant denial of reality: we are programmed to pay attention to our senses and to crave comfort and avoid pain. How can we possibly face reality with a mandate like that from all our instincts?

What Beth is proposing, as I see it, is DE-programming of our sensory overloaded immature ego, the lizard brain, and installing an override capacity.  This is essential for survival. Imagine what would happen if a high-powered train lost its ability to stop; in essence the forward thrust would have no override and would soon begin to mow down anything in its path, heedlessly, until a truly damaging heavier force was encountered.

In many ways, this is what humans do to ourselves.  We want to keep barreling down the track to “progress,” even though we may whiz by it and not even recognize it!  Because of our “limited perceptions,” as Beth puts it, we may not recognize the truth or a true resource, even when it is staring us in the face!  Or, we may  be experiencing shame (which, according to Beth, is always uncalled for).  Part of this inability to see the truth is our refusal to stay focused on any real problem.

After reading through this chapter “What is Reality and Why is it So Hard?”, I began to ask myself if I were truly focusing on the real nature of the problems in my life.  I felt guided by the Source to honestly answer “no.” One of my ongoing life problems I had defined as “fragile health”.  While true to a certain extent, that was not the real “problem:” the problem I wasn’t admitting was that I felt very limited, physically, in both energy and athletic ability.  I have always had enough shame about this to block out reality.   All our bodies have needs and requirements:  I had been refusing to look at the reality of my own unique body.  I had looked to various physicians and healers for answers, but ultimately there were only partial answers: I am the only one LIVING in my body’s REALITY.

So, one of my goals for this year is to truly acknowledge the reality of my body’s needs and be compassionate and accepting of these.  Beth’s writing has made me realize that what might have appeared at first to be a drawback, might in fact be a resource: having a “fragile” body makes me more compassionate, aware and respectful-of my own and other people’s bodies. It makes me pay attention, be conscious, in other words, of things that others may completely take for granted. I HAVE to pay attention to everything I eat and everything I do with my body. It would behoove us all to do so, but many lack any incentive to have this kind of consciousness.  I’m beginning to feel blessed to have such a sensitive body. I also feel energies and other people’s feelings and I know it is a function of my sensitive body; so, thank you God. I am overcoming my ego’s desires and am appreciating reality as a gift.

A body can survive the jolts and bumps on the ride through life better if we have more respect for the limitations of riding, as well as a reality-based view of the road being travelled.   I like to think of Beth’s plan (the program of Living with Reality) as a train heading toward Oneness, with a lot of travelers beginning to get used to the better idea of being at peace with each other, and not alone.

Now these are reasons that I want higher consciousness! It makes reality NOT seem so hard but able to be experienced as a gift, shared with all the others on the train.

Until next time,

Mary Stine

There has been a real expansive energy in The Stream, as we met some old friends and made new friends at both Southern California expos. We felt a harmonious blending of the energy of the New Age Community and The Stream. People are attracted to our community in a new way; they are drawn to the energy of the people and the teachings and they are showing up to connect and to learn more about us and what we have to offer. Beth has been invited to speak at the Temecula Unity Church on May 8, Mother’s Day, at 10am (more later). New faces appeared at the last Spiritual Service. We welcome the expansion and are ready for it! friends.

One recent LifeForce Workout’s (LF) message was that the world has changed and so have we and it feels palpable wherever we look. At a recent Sex and Spirituality workshop, there were 20 people feeling a powerful healing  together, culminating with an energetic experience of feeling God’s longing for us. We all felt changed by this experience and the rest of the collective seems to be feeling the impact of that energetic shift. Try focusing on feeling God’s longing for you and see how it changes the way you think and feel about your relationship with God, each other and yourself. Doing LF can help you feel it every day!

Explore the many services and events that we have to offer and go The Stream’s website regularly to stay connected to the latest happenings. Also, those of you who haven’t seen Beth’s brief video about why we need higher consciousness, it’s right on the front page of our site. Check it out and please pass on the link to others. It has been very popular with people who know nothing of The Stream. The direct YouTube link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLwClLXQtBE.

Peace and Love,

Helen Hillix-Di Santo, MA, MFT
Stream Spiritual Director
Intuitive Counselor

 We all have forgotten or never knew that western towns like Tucson did not become better, more inclusive, safe, civilized places to live by the force of a single gunman:  western towns became civilized when many diverse people, as a collective group, decided to evolve into a place where families, businesses, ranches, farms, nature could all thrive together. Or, as Beth would put it, they flipped the switch collectively.

 Sometimes, especially with the rancorous nature of our national political debate, current switch-flipping seems impossible.  Yet, we have done it many times before in human history, switching the flip on some pretty intransigent patterns; somehow we managed to give up human sacrifices at religious ceremonies. Most of us have also given up slavery as an evil practice.  What Beth is asking us to give up, basically, is our denial of true reality, which is our oneness.  Since our immature egos have been defining “reality” for a long time, since our infancy, this is rather like asking a child to hand over their most favorite snuggly bear.  Screaming and head shaking will ensue. Denial is our security blanket. This is why the first step, self awareness is so difficult–I have to identify and admit my old attitudes and behaviors that cause misery-for me and others. 

 I was personally brought face-to-face with this during the recent holiday season.  A close family member went into meltdown: raging, accusing, cursing, accompanied by unreasonable hours of activity and little sleep.  Only when a wise family friend said the word “bi-polar”, did the light dawn.  In one fell swoop the ice curtain of denied feelings and intuition fell away and I was confronting the reality that someone I deeply loved might have been suffering with this disorder for a long time…and that in my denial of that possibility, I had also denied my higher self response. My ego had taken over again! I was angry and felt victimized by this person’s behavior, unable to see ourselves as one and explore the pain. So, I guess we both had a meltdown, both of us dominated by something other than our higher consciousness, that’s for sure. I denied the compassion, understanding and help needed by both of us. 

 I must now try to embrace that reality, move beyond my immature ego response and apply the other steps Beth suggests; compassion (understanding our motivations without judgment), intention (intense focus on overcoming our resistance so we can change), support (tools, techniques and especially like-minded people to help us) and the accessing of Higher Consciousness.  I want to be part of what flips the switch for humanity, of the ego twice born, instead of part of the problem.

 Send me good thoughts and an engineer skilled at turning trains around!

 Mary Stine