by Michael Mamas | Friday, April 8, 2011 | Spirituality |
The Will of God comes in two forms: Karma and Grace.
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That simple principle answers many questions that have puzzled theologians throughout the ages.
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The laws of physics are laws of karma. For every action, there is an equal reaction. What goes around comes around.
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Why does God allow bad things to happen? Because karma lies in the domain of God’s Will. Simple… see?
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Grace is the omnipresence
of God,
of love,
of Oneness,
of the unified field, infinite harmony, forgiveness, freedom.
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Pick the word of your liking. A rose by any name is still a rose.
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Ultimately, your will and God’s Will are one.
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The only question: Is your will Karma or Grace?
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The answer is up to you. You cultivate the life of your choosing.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Thursday, April 7, 2011 | Spirituality |
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Karma is like a propulsion engine on an orbiting spacecraft.
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Truth acts like gravity from the nearby Sun… Shiva Ram.
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In time, all things enter the infinite dominion of Truth, fight it as they may with their propulsion engines.
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The wise and fortunate use that engine to speed toward Truth…God… the Sun.
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Yet the best trajectory is highly elusive, easily misunderstood, overshot, undershot, misinterpreted,
the eye of the needle.
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The Guru sees and shares what he sees in a manner subtle,
in accord with what can be heard,
pushing the envelope while not crushing the spacecraft.
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© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, April 6, 2011 | World View
Does this quote apply to what is happening now in the world? If so, how? If not, then how is that so?
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“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves, not as exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. “
~ John Steinbeck
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There is a mechanic to group consciousness, no matter how large or small the group. We need to take a step back and look at it. Otherwise, we are hopelessly lost to it.
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The most effective way to heal the planet is to move the group consciousness in a more evolutionary direction. This is not done by imposing a belief system upon others, but by freeing people from the limitations belief systems impose.
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This may bring up more questions for you than answers. That is good. i leave it to you to ponder.
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Finding truth within is what life is all about. That is no small task.
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Truth is not born of belief systems but by learning to look beyond them to the depth of your being… where truth dwells eternally, though often buried beneath your samskaras – impressions, conditioning, programmed thoughts and emotions, belief systems – call it what you will, provided you understand the meaning.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, April 3, 2011 | Mount Soma, Spirituality, World View |
This blog was written as a collaborative effort of Michael and the women of Mount Soma.
Vedic knowledge is easily lost. The question is, “Why?” If the knowledge is so valuable, why would it ever go away? Wouldn’t it be held, cherished, and protected no matter what?
There are many reasons why, however an issue has come up that illustrates one way the knowledge is lost that actually touches our own lives in a very personal way.
I understand that the following is a delicate topic and may, at first glance, be difficult for some to receive. I ask that those individuals take time to ponder the matter.
What if you were to learn that women should not attend pujas, homams, or yagyas, during menstruation? Certainly, there would be an understandable disappointment. But would it go further than disappointment?
Would you be inclined to disregard, reject, or rebel against the notion? Would you take offense? Would you choose to believe this is an invalid, sexist, cultural distortion? Would you cast it aside or rationalize it away?
How many examples of knowledge are lost in this way?
This knowledge is not an arbitrary or cultural matter. There is a physiological basis to it. Like gravity, it is simply a law of nature. It just is…
Women, during menstruation, are open channels to energy. They become more susceptible to the energies of the environment. Negative energies can enter and positive energies are easily dissipated through them at this time. They are particularly sensitive to all energies, but especially spiritual energies. They receive, hold, and radiate spiritual energy in a very powerful manner.
This time naturally affords women the opportunity to go inward and rest deeply. It is a window to advance spiritually if your relationship with it is healthy and wise.
Women’s energies are so fine during this time that those energies need to be nurtured and allowed to radiate out to the environment. They are sacred temples in and of themselves. The physical energy of groups is simply too crude for them to be immersed in. Similarly, they best support the group by remaining inward and restful.
During this time, women may find it difficult to be active. Their body’s inclination is to rest and relax. At Mount Soma we intend to accommodate and support that natural inclination during classes and retreats.
The physiology is so fine that it is best to not even listen to mantras. They are simply too imposing on the physiology. During classes and retreats when we meditate as a group, these women are encouraged to leave the room while Sama Veda and Rig Veda are being played to let their physiology rest in a manner that is best suited for them at this time. Women are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity.
We bring this aspect of the Knowledge forth at this time because the group consciousness has come to the level where it can hold it with the respect and dignity it deserves.
I have witnessed communities where this is honored. Women have a most profound aura about them during this time. Their energetic quality is similar to that of a reclusive saint. It is a time for them to honor themselves and to be honored by the group.
We encourage women to attune with their individual needs during menstruation by trying these suggested alterations to their daily routine:
- During the first 3 days of a woman’s cycle rest and pampering are advisable. Activities that allow women to enjoy time alone are the most life supporting.
- During the first 4 days of a woman’s cycle she should not go to a temple, puja, yagya, homa, or near sacred objects.
- Traditionally, women may choose not to cook or serve food during the first 3 days. In married homes, husbands take care of their spouses during this time to support the wife’s inclination to rest.
- The use of mantras should be discontinued during first 3 days because they are too imposing on the physiology.
- Group meditation is beneficial, just not while a puja is taking place on the property. As with the mantras, certain Vedic chants (like Rig Veda and Sama Veda) are too imposing. When meditating with the group, women may leave after the 5 minutes rest and give themselves space to remain in silence for 10 minutes.
- Women are encouraged to attend classes as usual.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, March 29, 2011 | Spirituality |
Human behavior is fascinating. By taking a step back and witnessing how humans function, you take a huge step forward in your personal development. Observing how people select their spiritual discipline is a great place to start.
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I have said before that I needed a better reason to be Christian than that I was born to a Christian family in a predominantly Christian nation. However, you do not need to look too deeply to see that is the primary way people do it. If you were born in a predominantly Muslim nation, very likely you would be Muslim. This is of course true for all the major religions. You would think that fact alone would give people reason to pause and reflect deeply. As some Catholics have said, “Give me a child for the first five years of their life and I will give you a good Catholic.”
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I have also been fascinated to observe that people select a Guru and that is it. The idea that only their Guru is the real deal is incredibly common. Even more incredible is to see some of the people that are put in such a position of Guru and how they attained it.
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First being from a foreign country, often particularly India, helps. There is something about the cultural norms of behavior and dress that enraptures westerners.
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Speaking with a strange and enchanting accent is also a very effective way of being promoted to the title of Guru.
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The performance of miracles is another favorite criterion. As Einstein said, “There are only two ways to look at life, one is that everything is a miracle, the other is that nothing is a miracle.”
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Remarkably even to this day, people are quick to think of things they do not understand as miracles. Whether or not it is true, I have, many times been offered to be given mantras through which one can perform miracles. I have turned them down every time. Such things are, more often than not, manipulations of energy and of people.
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Someone once commented to me that they felt people were more willing to listen to me since my hair began to grey. I responded by saying that I would like to think that people were not that shallow.
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Indoctrination into a cultural or sub-cultural norm, and subsequently finding someone who aligns with that criterion for a spiritual teacher, is the number one way people select their Guru.
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Where is the growth in finding someone who conforms to your current world view and clinging to that? Once a Guru is selected in that manner, the cake becomes baked and no one else can be accepted as having that stature.
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I realize that I am in delicate terrain here. I say this in all humility and sincerity. To evolve beyond your current state, you will do well to get clear on the nature of that state. This is not easy to do.
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So how to wisely pick a Guru? It requires an integration of thought, feeling, and reflection.
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The challenge with thoughts is that you can justify anything with the intellect.
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The challenge with feelings is that they can be based in personal bias and distortion instead of deep inner truth, each of which feels pretty much the same.
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Reflection means taking time to be with thoughts and feelings with the willingness (this is rare) to question the source and motivation of those thoughts and feelings, and thereby evolve/move beyond them.
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The ability and act of doing this in an ongoing way throughout life is called a life of discernment.
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As Adi Shankara said, that is, in and of itself, the path to enlightenment.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Monday, March 28, 2011 | Spirituality
Everything is all about balance. You have all the ingredients you need. The question is, do you balance them well? Proper balance of heat and cold is required to temper steel. The subtler something is, the more delicate and elusive the process of balancing becomes.
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For example in physical fitness, diet, rest and exercise must be balanced. Even with the scale and mirror to monitor progress, this is a great challenge. Few are able to navigate those waters to achieve a great physique. Imagine an arena, where no such monitoring is readily available.
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Personal evolution is such an arena. As well as being the most subtle of endeavors, evolution requires great attention be placed upon proper balance. So many factors must be balanced.
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Two such factors are activity and rest (meditation). Balancing these two things is critical if you are to temper the steel of life.
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Those who live in the world tend to be dominated by activity at the expense of meditation. In the ashram, meditation dominates and must be balanced with sufficient focused activity. Habit must be overcome, be it the worldly habit of outwardly directed activity, or the ashram habit of the stillness within. The tail and the kite must function as one for evolution to happen.
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The bliss of the Absolute is so charming that it becomes an annoyance to have to focus in the relative aspect of life. If left unchecked, this leads to imbalance.
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Of course, the individual does not think they are out of balance. They feel they are enlightened, or at least getting there. Yet unchecked, it becomes clear to everyone else that they are becoming dysfunctional! It is the responsibility of the head of the ashram to temper the steel.
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In a case such as this, the instinct of the student is to avoid the process of integration. After all, basking in the transcendent feels so good. Why, they wonder, must it be disturbed with activity?
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However, to integrate (balance) the absolute with the relative within the physiology of the student is what evolution is all about. Yoga means union.
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If you are in the world, the opposite is true: The question becomes “How can I take time to meditate with so much to do? I can not even sit still for a moment.” Once again, yoga means union.
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Everything is all about balance.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, March 26, 2011 | World View
The Key to Success – Point your nose in one direction and keep walking.
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oh, yea, there’s a new VIDEO…
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© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Thursday, March 24, 2011 | World View |
I have been asked to say more regarding my recent blog. I wrote the recent blog The Year of Change: More Upheaval Imminent, because I felt it would be irresponsible to not speak it out.
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Earth changes for this time have been predicted by many people for years. Numerous other predictions about various things are offered in the media. Most I feel are silly and do not turn out to be true. However, I did (and do) feel things including earth changes, coming for 2011, will occur and felt the need to say so by calling it the Year of Change.
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I found the responses to the blog fascinating. Interestingly enough, my concern that some would think I was fancying myself to be some sort of prophet appears to have been baseless.
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In fact, overwhelmingly I received emails from people saying they were feeling the exact same way. Even more interesting, many if not most of those people, are living in California or Alaska or somewhere else along a major fault line.
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This shouts out a very glaring question: “Why then are they still living there?”
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Perhaps they just feel lucky – like it can’t happen to them. Veterans of WW2 say that was a common belief among many of the soldiers before they perished. Perhaps the momentum of their own karma overshadows their own good sense. It is a fascinating matter to reflect upon. Of course, these earth changes are not going to cover the earth, just local areas affecting only a fraction of the population.
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My specific sense that June is a month where earthquakes could occur on the west coast is based, not only upon a feeling, but is also echoed by the idea that many long term residences of the area think of this time of year as “earthquake season.”
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Note that as with all future events, we are just talking about statistical probabilities. However, the likelihood seems to be so high as to make it essentially inevitable this year.
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If you do stay in such areas, some basic precautions make sense. Have extra food and water stored. That is a good idea anyway with food costs continuing to rise.
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Also, keep in mind that in a larger sense, what is happening is a purging of negative energies that have been accumulating for a long time. It is a cleansing time.
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To summarize, these are not my thoughts alone. This is the time that many have foreseen. However, unlike many predictions, statistically, the likelihood of this is very high. I feel this prediction will likely come to pass in 2011, The Year of Change.
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It will lead to a new and more evolutionary way of thinking and living. Fantastic times are coming after the earth lets off some steam.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, March 22, 2011 | Spirituality |
Duality is separation. Separation is painful.
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Union is bliss. Love unifies.
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If we feel separate from someone or something, it’s unsettling. We might look up at the star-filled sky at night and feel melancholy, as though we are incredibly far away from someone.
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Connection, on the other hand, is blissful. We might talk with someone and feel as though we really joined up with that person, and there’s a joy and fulfillment involved.
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The natural tendency of life is to move back to oneness.
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We long to unite, we want to feel a communion with our fellow humans, we long to understand, and we want to merge with life.
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The force that propels us takes the duality that we’re functioning in and brings us back to oneness.
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This force, which brings duality back to oneness, is love—it’s God’s love flowing through us.
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The force that pulls duality back to unity is called love. It is the driving force behind everything we do.
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Love makes the grass grow – it makes the birds sing.
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Love is the only force that exists in the entire universe.
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It is the energy of healing. It makes the galaxies move and it makes our hearts beat. God’s love is your love.
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It’s the only force in the universe.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, March 20, 2011 | Mount Soma, Personal Growth, Spirituality, World View |
A number of questions have come in lately that will be addressed here.
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Some people have been attending classes for years and others are new to the school and only know of it by the website. That is all great. I would like to provide as much information as I can on the website so that even people without the time, money, or inclination to travel to classes can still receive the knowledge.
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The challenge is to write in a manner that is understood by those who are new to the school, while still saying things that are engaging to the long-term students.
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I welcome the challenge and appreciate your emails asking for clarification if concepts and terms are used that you are not familiar with. This will help make the website user friendly for everyone. Some of the concepts are as subtle as they are important so please bear with me as the information is provided over time.
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Several such questions will be addressed below. However, understand that each is a lecture or series of lectures in itself. More thorough explanations help insure that the words are not misunderstood. Let’s move forward together in that spirit, understanding that each answer may well create a number of additional questions. I will address all these things in more depth in future articles, blogs, and videos on the website.
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One question asked why Mount Soma is safer than other places during these times of earth change.
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It is important to understand the interconnection of all things. The environment affects your consciousness and your consciousness affects the environment.
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The transcendent is a field of pure conscious (is-ness, being, the unified field, God…these and other terms are used for the transcendent) underlying and radiating harmony and coherence into your awareness and through you, to the environment. As you do a meditation through which you transcend, this becomes stronger.
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As you do this in a location where others are also doing this mediation, the effect becomes exponentially stronger.
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At Mount Soma, additional technologies are employed to enhance this even more such as vastu, Sri Somesvara (see SriSomesvara.org), etc. This harmony, radiating out to the environment, has a stabilizing and healing effect on the environment. It becomes a solid ground that supports life.
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Research has shown this sort of phenomenon to be true. At Mount Soma, we take great care to implement this with precision and purity. Cultural and personal biases make that a very rare thing on the planet. The knowledge is profoundly subtle and therefore quite elusive.
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A second question refers to a previous blog where I stated that to perceive something is to heal it, asking how that is so.
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This involves the concept I have discussed at length called “Being, Merging, Knowing, and Doing.” In a nutshell: Today when something is to be accomplished, the first question is, “What do I do? How do I DO it?” In other words, the ‘doing’ comes first. This is a superficial and I would have to say upside down approach. Doing comes last. How to do it, comes last.
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True knowledge of anything starts with Being. Become established in your being (the transcendent) or at least in the short term, settle down and rest into yourself… get ‘centered.’
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From there if you have something to deal with, Merge with it. On the level of being, you are one with everything. Find that thing within youself and merge with it. That is what true perception is all about.
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From that ‘Knowing’ naturally follows. Once you have merged with something, you come to truly know it.
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After that, the proper Doing is clear and spontaneous. You know what to do, because you have clearly perceived from the deepest level of your being. To perceive is to heal.
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Third question: “How do we tell our children about the upcoming earth changes?”
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Every person is unique. Therefore what is best said depends on the individual child. To know what to say comes from the same principle as above… being, merging knowing, and doing.
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Take the time to understand your child and then you will know what to do/say.
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To my experience, children are often satisfied with short responses that bottom line the subject. They often go deep within naturally and receive your words on that level. They are capable of filling in many details deep within their own hearts.
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With respect to earth changes, simply saying that the world is purifying and as it does so, it naturally lets off steam here and there may be enough.
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Regarding their safety, it is important for them to know that they derive a great deal of support in life quite naturally (Many adults would do well to understand that better).
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By resting in your arms, they rest in the arms of Mother Nature and thereby receive the support of nature. That is simply how life works and kids drink up the energy they receive from that quite naturally.
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The unrest in the tectonic plates is born of the fear and negativity in people’s hearts. By resting in your own being, your children will learn how to rest into there’s.
As a result, Nature will hold and support them and you.
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Living from that place within your own being will be to best way of communicating all this to your children.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
