Oracle Omnibus Issue #1
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/24/2007 - 15:26
Issue #1 February 14, 2007
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Oracle Omnibus |
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Issue #1 February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine’s Day!
And welcome to the Premier Issue of the:
Oracle Omnibus
Our vision for this newsletter is to provide our readers with information regarding the ongoing programs of The Oracle Institute, to showcase additional resources our readers may wish to pursue, and to educate and enlighten our readers on issues related to our spiritual mission of Truth, Love, and Light. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback, as well as suggestions for topics you might like to explore in future issues.
Enjoy!
Note from the President
by Laura
Since forming The Oracle Institute in 2004 as an educational charity, our founders have worked diligently to offer written materials and classes which promote our vision of shared spirituality. Today, the world is fraught with religious zealots of every ilk, particularly from the three religions of Abraham: Jewish Zionists, Christian Evangelicals, and Muslim Terrorists all add to our collective nightmare of religious intolerance. Truly, orthodox religion is leading us down a path of pain and destruction.
The Oracle Institute was started with a simple premise: Truth, Love, and Light will soon usurp mythology, hatred, and darkness. But that day has not yet come and there is much work to do if we are to turn our world into a place of peace and harmony.
The religious tension we are witnessing is an indication, though, that humanity is at the brink of new spiritual paradigm. In our first book, The Truth, we explored the ways in which the five primary religions have shaped our reality for the past 4,000 years. Clearly, if these manmade religions held the answer to our spiritual quest, we would now be at peace. The Truth is that these manmade religions are flawed to the breaking point and are no longer serving us. And most of us are ready for a new belief system more in keeping with 21st Century science, philosophy, and spirituality.
In our next book, The Love, we will explore the core message of all God’s great messengers to help refocus our readers on God’s plan for mankind. We were granted life to learn about Love, to express Love, and to become perfect vessels of Love – that is the only road to salvation. Where you happen to pray or who your favorite prophet may be is irrelevant. The important question is:
How well do you practice Love?
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Losing My Religion
by Kay
Polls show that more people are turning away from organized religion in favor of alternative, often highly individualized, spiritual paths, which they feel allow a more authentic and profound connection to God. For example, in Britain nearly two-thirds of people say that they are not religious at all. According to a December 2006 poll by The Guardian, an overwhelming majority (82%) now believe that religion causes harm and creates “division and tension.” Only 33% of Britons describe themselves as religious, and only 13% visit a place of worship on a weekly basis.
Americans, however, remain far more religious, with nearly half taking the Bible literally and only about 14% calling themselves “theologically liberal.” About 8.5% say they are “seekers.” Yet, in this country, too, the number of people who say they have “no religion” more than doubled, from 14.3 million in 1990 to 29.4 million in 2001 – which constitutes about 10% of all Americans.
Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine, comments, “Many Americans have a powerful desire for loving connection, kindness, generosity, awe and wonder, and joyous celebration of the universe." For many, this need is no longer met by traditional religions. Last year, Lerner started the Network of Spiritual Progressives, with a stated goal to “challenge the misuse of God, religion, and spirit by the religious right.”
Thus, the clear trend is toward people defining their own spirituality. People have less confidence in organized religion and are more interested in finding or defining spiritual paths that allow a direct experience of God and embody principles like inclusiveness and true justice. Such a personal quest fosters “the individual’s innate ability and personal duty to use his power of reason and his conscience to arrive at sound moral and spiritual decisions," according to Laurel, author of The Truth: About the Five Primary Religions & The Seven Rules of Any Good Religion.
Food for Thought: Is Religion the new Racism?
He Desired Me So I came Close
He desired me so I came close.
No one can near God unless He has prepared a bed for you.
A thousand souls hear His call every second,
But most every one then looks into their life’s mirror and says,
“I am not worthy to leave this sadness.”
When I first heard His courting song,
I, too, looked at all I had done in my life and said,
“How can I gaze into His omnipresent eyes?”
I spoke those words with all my heart.
But then He sang again, a song even sweeter,
And when I tried to shame myself once more from His presence
God showed me His compassion and spoke a divine Truth:
“I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect.
Please come close, for I desire you.”
St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582)
Love Poems from God, by Daniel Ladinsky
Mayan Musings
by Glenn
I have been studying the work of Carl Johan Calleman and Ian Lungold in relation to the Mayan Calendar. Their interpretations add much to what was previously uncovered by archeologists. There are many implications for our time that may directly affect our lives. For example, the Mayan prophetic calendar suggests the possibility of turbulent periods but, overall, the calendar points to a spiritual renaissance in our lifetimes as opposed to a catastrophic end date for life on Earth, as some earlier Mayan researchers have interpreted, claiming an end date of December 21, 2012.
First, let us look at some basics about the Mayan Calendar. There are 20 Mayan calendars, but in this column I will be referring primarily to two: (i) the Tzolkin or personal spiritual calendar; and (ii) the Tun or prophetic calendar. Both of these calendars use only one astronomical reference – the solar day. Neither calendar refers to any other heavenly body to mark time. In essence, these calendars are not material but are based on spiritual energies. In fact, their primary purpose is to mark the unfolding of creation through changes in consciousness.
In future issues of this newsletter, I will give simple explanations of what the Tzolkin and Tun calendars reveal, their implications for mankind, and an updated interpretation of events from the work done by Calleman and Lungold. Next time, we’ll study the levels of conscious change and also explore why time feels like it is speeding up.
From the Editor’s Desk
by Pat
The desire to have a meaningful life reflecting our spiritual values and beliefs is a deeply felt yearning for most people. With the increasing sense of dissatisfaction with religion and the practices people have historically used to create a feeling of connection to Spirit, it becomes more important than ever that we find new ways to grow spiritually, to express our beliefs, and to change the world around us through positive action. For some, this means adopting alternative ways of worship, exploring different belief systems than those we inherited, or creating our own meaningful rituals to connect to Source.
In future issues, we will look more deeply at some of these options and offer suggestions to our readers so that they may explore new methods for themselves. We also will offer inspirational material to help our readers overcome the twin stumbling blocks – too little time and not enough money. It is easy to find excuses which delay us in our spiritual work. However, one person can make a difference – and that person may be you! As Mother Teresa once revealed: She never intended to pick up all the sick and starving in the streets of Bombay. She merely picked up one, and then another, and then another after that, until she accomplished a Mission that even she could not envision at the outset.
Like Mother Teresa, each of us can make a difference. It starts with small acts that spring from those things that touch our heart and call for us to “do something.” Every single one of us has the desire to change something in our life and make it more positive for those around us. What we do about that issue may include a number of options: You can contribute money, but an investment of your unique talent and perspective is an even greater gift. So volunteer some time to an organization that addresses your particular issue and educate yourself on the causes of the problem and the possible solutions. Contact your local politician and make him earn his money, or write a letter to your local newspaper. Whatever you do, just remember that it is important that you heed your inner prompting and put your values and spiritual beliefs into active practice.
Here’s a promise: By getting involved and expressing your passion and spirituality, you will find yourself becoming a more compassionate person. Love breeds Love
The Oracle Recommends:
1. That you immediately click on this link for reflection, peace, and Love:
http://mayyoubeblessedmovie.com/
2. That you read these incredible books:
The Art of Loving, by Eric Fromm. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1956.
The Book of Love, by Rumi. Translated by Coleman Barks. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 2003.
Gitanjali: A collection of Indian Poems, by Rabindranath Tagore. New York, NY: Scribner Poetry, 1997.
3. That you meditate on Love today.
Future Events of Interest
(Check the Oracle Website for additional details)
March 31, 2007: Past Life Regression Workshop by Pat Bernasconi
April 28, 2007: Preparing for the Coming Shifts by Carol Fitzpatrick:
May 19, 2007: Concert at Amethyst Acres
Thank you for your on-going interest in The Oracle Institute. We hope you enjoyed this newsletter and will join us at some of our upcoming events. As a non-profit organization, we are always looking for talent, expertise, and resources that can be used to further the objectives of our organization. The Oracle Institute requires the efforts of many people, so if you would like to help, please contact us.
Copyright 2007 The Oracle Institute
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