A few lessons I learned this year

It has been a landmark year for me. Indeed, you could say it's been like being in the final year of college, when you're reviewing material, preparing for a comprehensive exam, or researching for a thesis... whew.

This may or may not be because of certain astrological factors. As far as I know, I'm almost out of the loop of the tough aspects that adults start to face in their mid 30s, until their mid 40s... so I expect energies, for me, to start "settling down" within the next few years.

Yet I expect to be more secretive than ever, and to continue being a "hermit in the city," being choosy whom I socialize with, and generally becoming more of an oddball in terms of social convention (progressed Sun in Aquarius, that quirky, uncompromising and crazy sun sign!). You've all been warned :-) this makes me even more psychic, both a blessing and a curse.

In no particular order, on a boring Sunday evening, I'm listing the lessons I've learned this year (more like, "applied" in practice as oppose to simply theoretical learning) that I hope to remember for the rest of this lifetime, and next. Most of them are rooted in "A Course in Miracles," (ACIM).

1. My real family is spiritual, not physical.

2. Healing happens in the mind, not in the body. Heal the mind so the body is healed.

3. Forgiveness isn't easy, but it can be done.

4. Faith is a choice. You either choose to trust in the goodness of our Source, or you don't.You'll know if you made the right choice if you continue to experience peace or not.

5. There is always hope. Judge not.

6. Ask for blessings, guidance and help, and you will receive. Never be afraid to ask.

7. Willingness is important. The Source respects free will. But the moment you WILL to align and unite with the Source, everything else follows.... healing, blessings, awakening...

8. Because the Source respects our free will, we have to respect others' willingness. Never force, never manipulate, never demand from others.

9. Always watch the ego, the false self, acting within you and in others. When the egos of others are working against you (or even 'with you"...to your detriment!), understand and forgive.

10. Learning never stops.

In Luna's light: some thoughts to wrap up 2009

It's Full Moon in Gemini tomorrow, 730 am, Manila time.

As we begin the first day of the last month of 2009, the moon is waxing full in my House of Deep Change, Renewal, and Secrets... providing me with great enlightenment and emotional energy.

This is the year I really started to enter a happy dream. For a while there it seemed like I was plunging into a nightmare until I remembered to call out to Spirit for help... and slowly, gently, with noticeable shifts in energy especially in the early mornings (sometimes, accompanied by the purest of light golden yellow light!), my happy dream has started to dawn. It's not just for me. I hold it for everyone...no exceptions.

And that is simply put, my life mission. To dream happily. Not to "really awaken", because it is not yet possible to awaken fully, when others are in deep sleep, but to reach that threshold so precious, between sleeping and waking... when you become aware that you ARE actually dreaming, and can wake up anytime...and you can direct the dream so it turns out well. I'm sure some of you have had moments like that, in your sleep, when you realize, hey, I'm just dreaming....and I can have a happy dream...

This year and all its myriad events serve to show me that everything is a lesson to be learned, and I always have a choice to respond. I choose to go deeper into a happy dream... where everyone remembers their Oneness with the Source, Who is Pure Love, Pure Holiness, Pure Peace. The thing is, the remembering is only possible by seeing the Oneness with EACH other, not with some abstract divine being... but in relationships filled with respect and kindness for one another.

By the way, we end 2009 with a lunar eclipse... so expect major enlightenment this month :-)

Would you study "A Course in Miracles" with me?

I'm looking for at least one other person to meet with me maybe twice a month, or just exchange emails, on his or her own study of "A Course in Miracles" or ACIM.

My fellow learner and teacher would be someone seriously "doing" ACIM, either studying the Text, doing the Workbook lessons, or both. Or, maybe he or she has not yet started ACIM yet, but is willing to hear me give an intro about it, and then give it a try :-)

ACIM is designed as a self-study course,especially the Workbook portion, but it does allow for a set-up of students learning from each other. In the ACIM world, learning is teaching, and teaching is learning. That is why, as a student of ACIM, I also teach it, and as a teacher, I also learn it.

Consider this an invitation :-) you may send me a text message at 0929-181-9758, or PM, or email me at soulsearch6@gmail.com.

Choosing to see the innocence

When I was doing the Workbook portion of "A Course in Miracles" (ACIM), I got stuck with particular lessons. The Workbook offers 365 lessons, one lesson a day, and ideally, one could finish it in a year's time. But the instructions are clear. It's OK to stay with one lesson for more than a day.

So, I ended up doing the Workbook for almost two years. I think the longest time was for a month, when my biological father left his body unexpectedly, and I had to do the very human duty of grieving the loss of his physical presence, even if mentally, I could affirm, "There is no death" and just knew my dad had simply moved on elsewhere.

Another time that I also got stuck with a Workbook lesson, but I forget which, was during December 2000, when the entire nation had a "reality TV" show to watch almost everyday: the impeachment hearings at the Philippine Senate against then President Erap Estrada.

All I know is, during the entire time the hearings were being telecast live on TV, I was just as riveted as many other Filipinos. Yet... being diligent as an ACIM student, I had to practice what I was studying, and clearly, the Universe gave me a rather interesting test. I had to view the man, then President Erap Estrada, being declared by others as GUILTY as the guiltless, innocent Son of God. I had to see his inner light, to affirm him as the Christ.

In ACIM, you cannot see yourself as the Christ if you cannot see others as the Christ too. You can only become truly enlightened by seeing the light not in yourself but in others, especially those who make it very hard for you to see them as being enlightened. This is forgiveness, this is healing, this is the miracle.

Definitely, those weeks of the impeachment trial, up to the time that Erap was being forced out of the presidential palace, were my very interesting practicum of how to practice ACIM. However, I admit, since then, I have not been consistent in my ACIM practice.

These days, however, I have been delving deeper back into ACIM and remain determined to become the best Course learner and teacher that I can be... And here I am, entering a practicum again, of seeing the innocence in another person, and letting go of judgment. It's not even as easy as it was with Erap, whose ego simply loved money and women too much. This is a much harder test, for which I am grateful, because it means I can do this. I have been prepared for this by Spirit.

There is that part of me that is horrified at the recent massacre of around 50 unarmed civilians, many of whom were women and journalists, in the Maguindanao province in southern Philippines. There is also that part of me that chooses to suspend judgment, because nothing violent in this world came from the Source, but from the egos of human beings. Violence is a meaningless act in a meaningless world, and I am glad it is part of the illusion, not of reality.

Today, as I browsed the Net for my daily fix of current events, I consciously chose to see the inner light of one man in particular, whenever I would see his picture online. He is the man whose ego or false self is believed to have ordered the recent massacre. He is the man I choose to see as the Son of God, guiltless and innocent. His reality is pure love. He is the Christ.

Such is the life of being an ACIM student and teacher. It's all about consciously choosing, all the time, to see differently, with the eyes of Spirit, Who alone is real. I'd like to think that with more practice, I can do this consistently and courageously.

Muppets perform 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (video)

:-) have a nice day everyone!

More Kuya Efs out there... please :-)

Since I am basically noncompetitive, I really do not give much attention to competitions such as film awards, sports events, etc. etc. However, recently two male Pinoys have prominently figured in major contests abroad...and honestly, I am more impressed by CNN's Hero of the Year winner, Kuya Efren Penaflorida, rather than the latest win by Manny Pacquiao. I am not belittling the boxer's feat. But, I think a much much better message to our youth and children today is: aspire to be like Kuya Ef.

There is hope for humanity after all. I look forward to more Kuya Efs out there, not necessarily awarded by CNN, most likely unsung, but still slugging out to help others out of the purest goodness in their hearts.

Wouldn't it be nice if Datu Manny donated a share of his pay-per-view earnings to Kuya Ef's group, and maybe have kariton classrooms in Mindanao too?

The Enneagram Journey for Self-Development

The enneagram is an ancient system for self-development, believed to have been an oral tradition of the desert mystics called the Sufi. I learned about it almost 20 years ago, through a series of weekend retreats by progressive Catholic nuns, the Cenacle sisters. Since then I've been using it for my own personal growth, and because I find it rather effective, I want to share the enneagram to sincere and willing seekers.

My approach to the enneagram is different from the popularized one used by Western psychologists who just look at it as a personality typing tool. The enneagram is basically ego-work, and the ego is the false self, which is not to be feared.

Ego-work is not an easy task. I only offer the Enneagram journey to seekers who are at least 25 years old, because by then, one has more or less become familiar with the ego, the false self who gets caught up in fear, guilt, anger, etc. etc. all that stuff we prefer to hide and ignore but there will always be a point in our lives when it's time to face the garbage and deal with it.

I'm using the oral tradition mostly, which means, conversing and lecturing and reflecting out loud. Seekers are free to research on their own, since there's lots of info online about it. I am mostly just a guide, starting up the journey and helping the seeker navigate through the intersections and seeming dead-ends.

The Enneagram journey can be done one-on-one in personal meet-ups over a cosy meal or healthy snack. I can also teach it to groups. I'm hoping to come out with workshops and retreats next year... as guided by Spirit.

If you feel ready to journey with me and the Enneagram, please TEXT me at 0929-181-9758 or 0917-608-9625. I avoid voice calls on my mobile phones as much as possible.


I'll also be announcing my color therapy services soon... which can be taken up by those below 25 years old :-)