Sept A Issue
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CONTENTS SPIRITUALITY 44
A WALKING MEDITATION TO CALM YOUR ANXIETY
50
SPIRITUAL BS, MATERIALISM AND THE TRAPS OF THE EGO
+
JUST LIFE 60
Kerry Rhodes
86
HOW TO HANDLE SPIRITUAL VALLEYS AND STRESS DURING QUARANTINE
AYAHUASCA : A HEALING JOURNEY
OMLIVING 66
EQUILIBRIUM: EQUALIZING BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT
74
8 NON-TRADITIONAL WAYS TO CLEAR YOUR MIND
INTERVIEW BY LIANE BUCK
Cover Courtesy of Photo by Ali Moghadas
METAPHYSICS
CONSCIOUS ENTRETAINMENT 82
5 UNEXPECTED INSPIRATIONAL THINGS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX
ANIMAL SPIRITUALITY 86
OUR ANIMAL FAMILIES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
96
WHERE DOES OUR INTUITION COME FROM?
WORLD VISION STAY OUT OF THE PLACES 120 THAT STEAL YOUR HAPPINESS
PERSONAL GROWTH 104
THE POWERFUL ROLE OF RESILIENCE WHEN IN RECOVERY
112
IS LETTING GO A FORM OF SELF-LOVE?
SPOTLIGHT
WWW.OMTIMES.COM
Exclusive Interview
Kerry Rhodes
Ayahuasca’s Healing Journey Photography by ©Ali Moghadas
OMTIMES
|SEPTEMBER A
There are all kinds of ways to challenge ourselves. Some people do it by climbing a mountain or scuba diving. The most profound and challenging ordeals is to drink Ayahuasca. It is in a way the ultimate adventure. Graham Hancock
Dealing with Spiritual BS: Spiritual Materialism and the Traps of the Ego By Cathedral of the Soul OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
S
piritual materialism is a term
That behavior leads us to impose our
that was coined for the first
ingrained structures of understanding
time by the Tibetan spiritual
onto our spirituality. Thus, we collect
teacher Chogyam Trungpa
courses, retreats, and practices like
Rinpoche. In his book "Cutting
medals, feeding our egos always
Through Spiritual Materialism," the
hungry. In the East, we started to think
Tibetan Master Chogyam Trungpa
about our spiritual evolution as self-
talks about his theories of how the
improvement, which is very good. But,
ego uses the spiritual path for its
we also turn to the Self of our Ego.
own priorities. He also talks about the consequent mistakes people make
We come to believe that the search for
in their search for enlightenment.
a spiritual path somehow makes us
His observations make us question
better than the person next door, who
ourselves on how the theory of
doesn't understand about meditating
spiritual materialism applies to our
every day, practicing an hour of asana,
personal spiritual journey.
or consulting with a guru. But, the spiritual path is ongoing in all of us.
The main point of any spiritual
Whether we are aware of it or not, our
practice is to step out of the
soul is growing and looking after its
bureaucracy of Ego. This means
evolution. When the ego appropriates
stepping out of ego's constant desire
this search and uses it to feed itself, we
for a higher, more spiritual, more
run the risk of falling into one of the
transcendental version of knowledge,
many traps of spiritual materialism.
religion, virtue, judgment, comfort, or whatever it is that the particular ego is seeking. One must step out of spiritual materialism.
THE LORDS OF SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM The problem is that ego can convert
Chogyam Trungpa
anything to its own use, even
The Spiritual Path
spirituality. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
In Western culture, from an early age, we are socially conditioned to
The author Chogyam Trungpa talks
individualism and material attainment.
about how our "spiritual mistakes"
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
How to Handle Spiritual Valleys and Stress During Quarantine by Brooke Chaplan OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
T
he coronavirus has brought
Try to check-in on things in the
many changes to life as
morning and then again in the
we know it. Before the
afternoon. Try to read positive news
virus came along, people
stories for the rest of the time.
eagerly hugged and gave each other handshakes. You rarely had to worry about coming into close
Get Reassurance About Your Circumstances
contact with people in your social circle. Now, quarantining requires
In addition to worrying about the
you to spend more time alone, and
virus, you may have concerns about
this happens during a time when
your career or financial standing. You
health and financial worries are
might miss your friends and family
also increasing. Spiritual valleys
or worry about whether or not a new
and stress are typical during this
romantic relationship will survive
time. Still, you do have options to
social distancing. In this challenging
overcome the effects of coronavirus
time, it is important to check in
on your mental and spiritual
with spiritual guides and leaders.
wellbeing.
See if you can join long-distance or
Limit Your Exposure to the News
remote meetings with meditation groups, yoga instructors, or spiritual leaders. Psychics can also help you work through your concerns and get
It is hard to open a news feed or
reassurance about your circumstances.
turn on the television without
Although many things may change,
seeing some sort of news about
getting a glimpse into how your
the virus. Unfortunately, most of
present circumstances can impact the
the news right now is negative or
future helps you make decisions with a
conflicting. Seeing constant reports
greater sense of certainty.
of illness wears on your positivity and inspires more anxiety. However, you do still need to pay attention to
Distract Yourself with a Hobby
what is going on in the world. Try to limit your exposure to the news
There’s not much good about the
about the coronavirus to twice a day.
pandemic, but there is one silver
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Equilibrium: Equalizing Body, Mind and Spirit by Darity Wesley OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
W
e have all recently
and maintain our physical strength.
experienced a
At a basic level, physical balance
whack on the
is a motor skill that is maintained
kaleidoscope of
and even improved with exercises,
life, watching our reality suddenly
particularly those that keep our hips,
change right before our very
knees, and ankles strong. All of us, no
eyes. And much more is to come!
matter how young or old, can benefit
Therefore, we must maintain a state
from integrating physical balance and
of equilibrium ... physical balance,
strength in our bodies, both of which
mental calmness, and spiritual
support our mental and spiritual
awareness.
equilibrium. They are all tied together.
Equilibrium is a conscious practice.
Our mental equilibrium is mostly
It supports us as we traverse these
about taming and training that
changing and mind-bending times.
monkey mind and living more at
It is another critical tool in our
the moment. It's about allowing the
spiritual toolbox. I think we can all
future to unfold naturally from our
agree that balance is pretty much
own Wisdom. Sometimes things
something we all need to have in
happen that can be disruptive to our
our lives all the time. And yet there
mental balance, or we hear our inner
are specific times, like NOW when it
voice telling us, "I'm not enjoying this"
needs to be our primary focus.
or "this doesn't feel right" or "this is uncomfortable for me." When this
Equilibrium involves our whole being
happens, it's important to make the
... the physical, the mental, and the
conscious effort to bring balance and
spiritual aspects of ourselves.
equilibrium to our thought process. Tools we can use include saying
Physical equilibrium is about taking
to ourselves, "I don't mind what
good care of our body... eating
happens" or choosing to be curious
nutritious meals, drinking plenty
about the experience we are having,
of water, exercising, and getting
or meditating with eyes open, and, of
enough sleep. It's also important
course, stopping that monkey mind
that we stay grounded in our
when there is a disruption of our
physical vehicles and work to build
mental state.
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Beyond the Om: 8 Non-Traditional Ways to Clear Your Mind by Mianna Korben OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
C
urrent circumstances,
spirit. They used it for healing, or as
upbringings, and interaction
a vessel that helped them unite and
with other human beings
communicate with their gods. Play
all contribute to our
something cheerful and dance to the
experience of stress. The good news
rhythm of your favorite songs.
is that we don't have to sit and wait for the stressors to take over our lives
Movement of the limbs will help you
and slowly destroy our peace and
get rid of the stress faster than when
wellbeing.
you're standing still and waiting for it to pass. After only a few minutes of
Meditation has always been known
dancing, your mind will be refreshed,
as the practice that helps us reach
and you will feel competent to move
tranquility and a better understanding
on with your daily routine. Dancing
of our inner selves. However, applying
can also improve your posture and
non-traditional techniques to clear the
make you more physically active. If
mind can also elevate the spirit. We all
some aspects of your life are stopping
have different needs and habits, which
you from going on walks regularly,
is why creating a universal relaxation
dancing for fifteen minutes a day will
technique has never been possible.
improve your health.
What helps one individual may not work for the other. Still, if you allow
Fill your life with colors
yourself to experience the variety of options, you will find your ideal routine
Have you ever wondered what will
for clearing the mind.
happen if you take your old art
Release your inner dancer
supplies and start working on a new painting? Engaging in creative and artistic pursuits will shift your focus
When you start to feel the fog taking
and improve your skills, for any form
over your mind, it's time to play your
of art can be therapeutic, both for
favorite tunes and start dancing if the
artists and observers. Instead of
circumstances allow you to act. Even
watching television or spending time
our ancestors were able to recognize
on the internet, dedicate some time to
the soothing power of music and
creation. Buy art supplies, start mixing
what influence it has on the human
colors, and smear the canvas.
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Nurturing Our Animal Families through the Pandemic
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
We’ve been so busy adjusting to our new reality in this pandemic, that we might not have considered how it’s affecting our animal families.
Animal Communication in Crisis Yes, animal communication is real. Even when you think that you can’t
Here are some tips on helping them
intuitively connect with your animals,
through it, which will help us as well.
they absolutely can understand you.
W
You already know this: for example, e’ve been so busy
when you tell them it’s time for dinner
adjusting to our
or a walk, they come running.
new reality in this pandemic that we
Turn that awareness up a notch when
might not have considered how it’s
communicating with them about the
affecting our animal families in body,
pandemic. Approach your animals
mind, and spirit. That’s a mistake
the same way you deal with your
since a crisis that affects us affects
human family: tell them what’s going
them as well. Here’s what we can do
on and reassure them that you’re
about it.
taking care of them the best way
How the Pandemic Affects Our Animals
you can. Assure them they haven’t done anything wrong, but a human illness has changed how we all live. Be precise and straightforward.
The pandemic has heightened
Reassure. Repeat. Keep it up as long
everyday misunderstandings. Our
as the pandemic lasts.
animal families live intimately with us; they know when something is up and
It’s important to ask your animals
respond to our emotions. They not only
what they want to do to help out. No
get upset and worried when we are,
one likes feeling helpless, and our
but they also try to comfort us. Plus, if
animals are no exception, so give
they don’t understand what’s up, they
them a job. My dog Ollie was grumpy
may think they’ve done something
when I went grocery shopping before
wrong and don’t know what to do
breakfast. “We all have to pitch in and
about it. Mindfully dealing with them
help,” I said, and asked what he would
supports the entire family.
do. He promptly chose the most
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Where Does Our Intuition Come From? by Gail Serna
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
O
ur intuition is an
Having a set time to pray every day
expression of our higher
is essential. Figure out how to make
self. It flows freely
prayer a habit in life.
through our psychic
senses once we develop them.
There is a difference between prayer
Without our breath, we would not
and meditation. When we pray, we
exist. Then, consider that developing
are telepathically communicating our
our intuitive abilities is equally as
wishes with our creator. Telepathy is
necessary.
a means of communicating between minds or with energy.
How do we integrate our psychic and physical senses? Indeed,
Prayer protocols are put into place
some people never unlock their
to make sure any conversations
abilities. Still, so many more of us
we have with the divine energy are
find ourselves without our intuition
loving. Here is an example of a prayer
functioning at all. The goal is to
protocol you can use:
integrate our psychic and our physical senses into those of feeling,
“I ask the angels and my guides to
sensing, knowing, hearing, seeing,
surround me in a seamless bubble of
tasting, and smelling.
Divine White Light.”
How Do We Integrate Our Senses?
May this bubble protects me throughout my day and only allow the
Our extrasensory perception will
energy that is for my soul’s highest
expand when we develop through
and best good to come through.
prayer, meditation, and practice. Intuitively we will become sharper
May everything I say, and I do come
and sharper.
only from a source of unconditional love.
If our psychic abilities coexist with our energy body or aura, then prayer
So be it, it is done. Thank you.”
is one of the key tools. When we pray, we are opening a conversation
A good time to pray is while we are
with the divine energy or creator.
still in bed at night and even in the
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
The Powerful Role of Resilience when in Recovery
T
by Jayita Bhattacharjee
o recover is to be resilient,
to their knees, the way to rise is more
as to be able to bounce
reliable than ever.
back is to be able to flow again like a running brook.
Emerging from all those yesterdays,
The glaring question is, how do they
the lost battles, leaving behind the
keep going in the face of adversity.
failures and regrets—that defines
Even when life brings them down
their Recovery and innate in that
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Recovery lies their resilience.
reinforced by profound values. They
Stretched to the boundaries of
hold onto their faith amid a chaotic
their resilience, they come back
dance, that somewhere on the other
conquering their spirits. Their
side of the darkness lies the beauty
brokenness did not rebound, rather
and from that staunch belief, comes
they were petering out conquered
an opening amid the darkness and
by the resilience, and that defines
they hold onto life. The pathway of
the broken spirit’s Recovery. It is a
Recovery is not by compulsion, but
triumph of their souls, as they hear
by learning how to fall in love with
the deepest call to rise from the dust
life in new ways, in another time
and begin again. They see the light
where loss becomes history and the
pointing to the unexplored wonders,
next chapter is about to begin. Those
to the invincible beauty lying ahead.
failures become pressed between the
Because somewhere when the rain
pages of their books, carefully folded,
falls, somewhere out there, a flower
at times looked back. Still, then, their
grows. The clouds break, and the light
hands tremble to write the upcoming
unfolds, while the spirit resumes its
moments with awe and wonder as
buoyancy.
new dreams caress their eyes.
Recovering from setbacks, being able
Those who have devotion in their
to adapt to changes, reveals to them
spirits quit crying out loud, instead
the light of growth and evolution.
make meaning of their existence,
A thousand possibilities unwind as
look for a purpose that goes beyond
they cease looking back and begin
the sorrow. It is from this search that
looking ahead. They learn gradually,
they feel the most profound need to
that dwelling on the yesteryears
stand again even when they cannot
merely stunts their expansion. As they
find the ground beneath their feet.
learn, the setbacks can be viewed
The loss creates them from scratch, as
as stepping- stones to success. They
they trust life again. They believe that
keep their eyes looking through the
failures left it slightly ajar to create an
darkness for that light, which may lie
opening for a new beginning. Some
behind the clouds. They are fearless
people have established themselves
in accepting the brutal reality as they
with success in the realm of business,
are deeply anchored in their beliefs
what made them successful while
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Is Letting Go A Form of Self-Love? The Importance of Letting Go By Robin Coventry
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
T
here is no such thing as
label onto a child. Perhaps they learned
a good person or a bad
the same thing from their parents or
person. Choices and actions
caregivers. Those same people may
lead people in different
find themselves feeling shockwaves
directions, through those choices and
of shame or guilt if they do something
actions, reality's created. Sometimes
to violate their upbringing or early
people choose or do something
programming. Or they may disagree
that takes them in the opposite
with their childhood discipline and no
direction of their desired results. Then
longer view it as wrong.
negative emotions are attached to the experience like "I feel bad," or perhaps
Conversely, an individual may
they feel uneasy, unhappy, unsure,
feel good doing something they
angry, or even guilty. They might go
learned was right. Early childhood
so far as to label themselves "a failure"
programming puts individuals in a
when a situation arises. By showing
straitjacket, as an adult, they become
self-love, they could acknowledge a
unable to expand out on their own
choice that led away from their goal;
guiltlessly. An essential part of
accepting the lesson learned, steps
spiritual unfolding requires growing
can then be taken to prepare for a
beyond what was learned, taking
new opportunity to choose and act
full responsibility for their liberation
wisely in a way that supports their best
and actions on their terms. Early
intentions.
programming runs deep in a person's energetic field of emotions.
Many people experienced childhoods where the words good and evil were
Everybody has a right to be here,
used as weapons of control. The label
learning, experiencing, and exploring.
of being good was attached to them
People who label themselves or
if they did what was expected and
people good or bad cast judgments
labeled bad if they became creative
or negative energy into their
and did it their way. This kind of
energetic field. Each person is a
discipline undermines a person's ability
decision-maker, a creator of life's
to find their moral center to trust and
experiences. Every moment provides
be guided by their inner self. It doesn't
opportunities to move in the highest
help to fault anyone who casts a wrong
and best direction with actions and
OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
Stay Out of the Places that Steal Your Happiness By Guy Finley OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
I
t is important to understand what
Something inside of us never
it means to be in the wrong place.
acknowledges, "You know what? You
The right place isn't just where
got here because you were asleep.
your body is sitting.
You got here because you were not attentive to what your heart and mind
Have you ever been in the right place
were saying and doing. You got here
physically, paid a lot of money to go
surrounded and pressed by these
there, and then sat there, resenting
ravening thoughts. You got here
the fact that there was pulp in your
because you gave your attention to
orange juice? You can be in the most
these punishing feelings when they
exquisite spot in the world and, at
called for you."
the same time, be inwardly in the most intense fear, worry, or pain,
All you have to do at the moment
despite what you have put together
where you find yourself stressed,
for yourself. When we're in the wrong
tense, worried, or irritable or in a
place inwardly, it simply doesn't
negative state, is to realize that you're
matter where we are outward.
in the wrong place. Don't think about what to do with where you are. Admit
What is it that must take place in our
to yourself you're in the wrong place,
life so that we can begin the process
and then‌ just don't go there.
of recognizing the simple truth of that idea? The most beautiful truths
We may, at any moment that we wish,
are the simplest ones. Our problem
become aware of ourselves sufficiently
is that we just don't know when
enough to know where we are inward.
we're in the wrong place. We can
To know that we're judging is the
be in the wrong place even while
end of judgment. If we know, if we
thinking we're in the right place.
are aware that we're judging, we will be conscious of the fact that we are
Do you know why we don't know
rendering that pain unto ourselves.
when we're in the wrong place? Because when we find ourselves in
When you find yourself living a
the wrong place, something in us
resentment over again, all you have
starts telling us how to get out of
to do is see that you're surrounded
there.
by thoughts and feelings that were OM TIMES | September A Edition 2020
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