Initially, she talks about how to be a Role Model of Peace and Light, and it’s easy: continue that meditative peaceful state that you were in when you were meditating in the morning (or when you were doing your self-Reiki treatment.)

As well, simply ask for help and guidance. A great universal prayer is: “Lord/God/Universe, make me an instrument of your peace.”, and then listen to your intuition or guidance that occurs.

By being in this state of peace, you become a role model of peace, and you allow others to experience the peace through you. "Be the peace that you want to be in the world is how you create peace." says Doreen Virtue, and I believe she is 100% right on from my person experience.

This also means you must pay attention and make the mental, verbal and practical changes that are required for there to be peace in your life also.

(video source: Doreen Virtue on Angels at EastWest, CA)

As your mission is to be true to your dreams and desires, then put that to action filled with love and peace.

One way to get closer to what you want by looking at what you don’t like into your life and then address it, right now, today. Don’t ignore it, do it.

Follow the guidance to make your house, your body, a temple of bliss. Begin there.

Ask for help in the process.

Another thing Doreen specifically mentions is in reference to her relatively new book, Angel words. She is, like Louise Hay, reminding us to change our lives by changing our vocabulary.

Angel Words

I am not here to convince or convert anyone, I am speaking my truth, and this book sounds interesting.

It is about word graphs made by the computer when podcasting.

Doreen Virtue, with her typical Ph.D-kind of thoroughness, researched the sound vibration of loads of ‘universally agreed upon’ – positive words, like love, peace, harmony, kiss etc.  as well as limiting words, such as war, etc, and published the word-grams as physical demonstration that positive words carry big and beautiful energy.

In fact, as she is showing in the video above, the word ‘angel’ even LOOKS LIKE AN ANGEL in flight!

Or, if you prefer a; 365 day card set that matches the book, by Doreen Virtue, you can find it here Angel Words, 365 day cards .

Doreen Virtue holds a Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology; and is a lifelong clairvoyant who works with the angelic realm. Doreen is the author of Healing with the Angels, How to Hear Your Angels, Messages from Your Angels, Archangels & Ascended Masters, Solomon’s Angels, and the Archangel Oracle Cards, among other works.

For more books & DVDs, click here:

LOVE, LIGHT AND KISSES to all of you who read this.  May you use BIG AND BEAUTIFUL WORDS today,

Copyright , We Are One World Healing – All Rights Reserved. Therapeutic Reiki can promote wellness and improve health. Book your distance healing reiki session today.

Despite the fact that he passed away 6 years ago, in the minds of many, Pope John Paul II still remains the face of the Catholic faith. Many people I know here in Italy are still particularly close to him; Even those who do not frequent the church every Sunday.

A Spiritual Leader

It was his personal qualities that made him a spiritual guide for 1.1 billion Catholics in the world, and perhaps for non-Catholics also. This pope’s popularity has been based on his particular loving nature and the fact that he offered people hope and a connection to God. Many people consider their lives being changed by Pope John Paul II:

• was a charismatic leader who confronted communism;
• pointed towards basic moral values;
• emphasized the universal call to holiness;
• was a loving role model who forgave his would-be assassin;  
• was a strong & faithful soul who perseveres through Parkinson’s disease;
• has performed at least two known miracles since his death.

As part of his calling, he canonized a great number of people, again, many more than his predecessors.  Recognizing saints is a moral direction that shows people that virtues will indeed be recognized, sooner or later.

John Paul II was one of the most international world leaders, and I believe that his international openness significantly contributed to his overall popularity.  He was the only Polish pope, and the first non-Italian since the Dutch pope, Adrian VI, in the 1520s. During his reign, John Paul II  traveled extensively and visiting over 100 countries. This is more than any of his predecessors.   He also strengthened the  Catholic faith in the Third World. His ability with languages was amazing, and beyond his native Polish language, he was fluent in Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Croatian, Portuguese, Russian and Latin.

John Paul II reigned as the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 27 years later.  His  pontificate was the 2nd longest, after the 32-year reign of Pius IX.   

The Process of Becoming a Saint

The process of becoming recognized as a saint is a lengthy one, albeit that in recent times, it has shortened from taking centuries to just a few years.  It was in fact John Paul II himself who shortened that process, so that now a mere 6 years after his death, he is already beatified.

The act of beatification is the one but final step in the process of becoming recognized as a saint.   The beatification ceremony tomorrow will be a Mass and day-long prayers beside John Paul’s coffin in Rome.

More Reading:

Learn how to bring Saints into your daily life

There are many saints to work with.  Actually, the tally of just how many saints there are, varies.

The book by Rev. Butler called ‘Lives of the Saints’ counts over 2500 saints, however, the exact number of saints in unknown, and must far exceed this. This is, as the Catholic Church once explained, because the church doesn’t make anyone a saint, but rather recognizes a saint. And so it is in other religions as well. There must be many more saints than we know of. 

What Makes a Saint a Saint

In many religions, Saints are considered a step closer to the Divine Power than we are. Religions being man-made organizations rather than Divine-made organizations, the details of what it means to be a Saint varies from one to the other as well.

The Process of Recognition of a Saint

For example, the Catholic path to sainthood is as follows: 

In the Catholic church, canonization follows beatification. Canonization is a formal many-year process of investigation whether an individual is a saint. The first step is an in-depth investigation of the virtues displayed during the person’s life by the local bishop.  When sufficient information is gathered, the saint-candidate becomes titled a  "Servant of God". 

Upon further investigation and approval, the person’s then elevated to  ‘Venerable or Heroic in Virtue’.   At this stage, believers are encouraged to ask for miracles by the saint-candidate.  A minimum of two important post-humus miracles are needed for the saint-candidate to receives the title ‘Blessed’.  This step is called  ‘beatification’.  

The final step is the recognition as ‘Saint’ by the pope himself.  Once a person has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church, his/her soul is believed to be surely in Heaven while the body & personal belongings of the saint have become holy relics.

Some of the saints have one or more symbols that represent their life.   For example, Saint Teresa of Avila if often shown with a white dove flying towards her and a notebook and feather pen in hand.   She’s been an avid journal, book and letter writer on theology in daily practice. (Her most famous books: ‘The Interior Castle‘, The Way of Perfection and The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila.) 

Saints are meant to be honored & respected.  One can pray to saints to ask for help, just as one can ask another person to pray for them.

However, the power of saints is granted by God. Therefore,  worship however, should be reserved for the pure Divine, or God.

In some ways, the question still remains:

What Makes a Saint a Saint?

"A saint is .. someone through whom

we catch a glimpse of what God is like"

~ Kenneth Woodward,

"Making Saints:
How The Catholic Church
Determines Who Becomes A Saint,
Who Doesn’t, And Why"

 

Perfect quote on sainthood.

The Universal Saint

Embracing all kinds of religions and paths of spirituality (beyond the Catholic church), the attributes of what they consider a Saint seem to always:

1. Be an exemplary model

2. Be an extra-ordinary teacher

3. Be a source of benevolent power, or perform miracles

4. Be selfless, ascetic in our behavior

5. Have an especially close relationship with the Divine Power.

How Can We Work with Saints?

In several ways:

• 1. We can pray to them and ask for a miracle or otherwise support.  When we pray to saints, we can not help but be inspired by them also….. Which brings me to the second and third ways:
• 2. We can choose them as our role models: the typical characteristics of saints  offer lofty guiding principles to support our every day action.  
• 3. We can choose them as our teachers. Beyond these general characteristics, every saint has his/her own personality and character traits, which may inspire awe.

I think that over time as we work with a saint on our spiritual path, we gradually move from 1. ‘a source of support’ to 2. ‘an inspiration’ to 3. ‘teacher.

Which Saint Inspires You?

For me, there are several who really inspire me, each in their own way.  For example,  the words of St. Teresa of Avila seem to so befit the ‘We Are One World Healing’ initiative, and that’s why they are posted here.   Mother Teresa symbolizes compassion in action to me, and that’s why I wrote about her here.  Other sources of inspiration have been Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi. Mother Mary to me is one to turn to for family/mother-kind of affairs. I have been in several holy places dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, and found his energy touchable there.  And my journey goes on.

I think it does not really matter who you choose as your friend, role model & teacher in heaven.  The point is that you do work with saints. 

May you find solace in 
their encounter with you.

* Footnote 1

‘Oh When the Saints Go Marching In’ is a spiritual expression, an American Gospel hymn, and a slow funeral song sourced from New Orleans.  The traditional verses of the song are apocalyptic, with imagery from the Book of Revelations, e.g. solar and lunar eclipses; and the trumpet of Archangel Gabriel, announcing the Last Judgment.  The hymn expresses the wish to go to Heaven, which is appropriate for funerals. …. I thought to remind you of this, just before altered jazz versions of this song pop into your head.

* * * * * * * * * *

Footnote 2

Why I write about Saints on a blog about Reiki?  Most importantly, the ultimately Reiki goal is for us all to develop enlightenment, to become more Divine, to live in and give in unconditional love.  Reiki heals at four levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  The last one is at least as important as the first one.

Why not instead talk about Reiki hand positions or the Reiki clients I had yesterday directly? Because there is a time and place for everything, and I find that the spiritual aspects on many Reiki blogs is not that strongly represented.  It is also the most difficult.

Basic public information about Reiki is already written about on this healing blog and on my own (distance) Reiki website.   Reiki 1 or 2 training materials are provided in my Reiki manual.  You are welcome to obtain a copy of it for your personal practical Reiki training.

So, I thought it would be an opportune time to introduce a new tool on the blog ‘We Are One World Healing’ that would help you in your planning effort.

I’ve had this book, The I Ching, The Book of Changes, as translated by James Legge, I think for over 20 years, And I’ve diligently taken it along from country to country, and from house to house.   Last week, I was all of a sudden drawn to it and I used it again. It is very interesting.

What is the I Ching?

Throughout time, man has used a variety of tools for divination. The I Ching of ancient China is one of the oldest tool for divination.

Development of the I Ching

Actually, the I Ching or the Book of Changes is one of the most important books in the history of Oriental culture. The basic text of this book seems to have been prepared before 1,000 BC in the last days of the Shang Dynasty and the first part of the Chou Dynasty.  This book was one of the Five Classics edited by Confucius, who wished he had fifty more years to study it.   Since Confucius, it never lost its importance.

In essence, the I Ching is a manual of divination, founded upon what modern scholars like Wolfgang Pauli, the Nobel Laureate physicist and C. G. Jung, the psychoanalyst, have been called the synchronistic concept of the universe.  This means that all things happening at a certain time have certain characteristics features which can be isolated, so that in addition to vertical causality, one may also have horizontal linkages.  

According to tradition, King Wan and his son the Duke of Chou spent their lives analyzing the results of divination in terms of interacting polar forces and six-variable hexagrams, correlating an observed body of events with predictions.

I Ching Symbols

In an I Ching reading you are presented with two I Ching hexagrams (called ? guà in Chinese).  Each hexagram consists of six lines stacked on top of each other. The lines are either broken in the center (yin) or solid lines (yang). Each hexagram has its own meaning. There are 64 hexagrams in all.

A hexagram diagram is actually composed of two three-line arrangements, called trigrams (also called ? guà in Chinese).   The first three lines of the hexagram or the lower trigram reflect the inner aspect of the change that is occurring.  The upper trigram describes the dynamic outer (external) situation. 

The eight trigrams of I-Ching are Earth, Mountain, Water, Wind, Thunder, Fire, Lake & Heaven, and are depicted in this chart.

Your Online I Ching Reading

With some Divine encouragement, I created a new website section where you can get  your own readings.

If you go to this site section, you get to write down your question and by pressing on the button, the JavaScript algorithm will offer you the answer to your question by the I Ching oracle.

Try it. It’s free.

Click Here for Your Online I- Ching Reading:

How to Use this Tool of Divination

It is said that sincere use of the I Ching will help one make the right moves at the right time, minimize pitfalls and enhance one’s opportunities of success.

Do not ask trivia questions. Also, do not ask the same question more than once. If the answer is not clear to you, you can either meditate on it some more, or ask a clarifying question.

Get Your Own I Ching Manual

You may find that your initial reading requires you to reflect on it for some time.

Personally, I believe it takes some time and further study to obtain the full benefit from your readings.  If you indeed want to learn more, I highly recommend that you obtain your own I Ching manual, such as any of these books, as they are the more original, classic texts on the topic:

1. The I Ching or Book of Changes by Richard Wilhelm, Cary F. Baynes, Hellmut Wilhelm, and C. G. Jung (Hardcover – Oct 1, 1967)

2. The I Ching: The Book of Changes by James Legge 

But first, go check it out.

Click Here for Your Online I Ching Reading

Today, I want to share with you the submissions for this carnival of healing. There were a lot of new blogs represented. But rather than rejecting these and asking some of my veteran bloggers to submit high quality works, I thought to actually look at what’s there. And actually I could love what I found.

Granted, not everyone gave me their crown jewels to look at, and some are better writers than others, however, what’s special, what’s uplifting in all of these, is genuineness. Authenticity.

For those who know me a bit, one of my most commonly used phrased to clients, students, my family, my neighbors,… yes.. everyone, is: to be the best you can be is … TO BE TRUE TO WHO YOU REALLY ARE ON THE INSIDE. Authentic.

Being authentic is one of the Reiki principles. Often loosely translated from Japanese as ‘Do your work honestly’, this principle fundamentally makes you work from the honest, or authentic, you.

So, below you’ll find a collection of rather genuine writers, of real people who write their story.  Yes, I read all articles and provided commentary for your use. I welcome to discuss any article with you, through the comments below.

Featured Blogs

Note to article-submitters: if you are featured in my Best "Healing Holiday Articles" line-up, go ahead and show it off… Here is your badge, just for you, to post on your website. It will link back to this blog here.

The Healing Holiday Stories

LIFE CHALLENGES

• Melissa Greene presents Resignation Tendered posted at Get to the Inside.

A Lee: This is a ‘WOW’-article on spirituality.  I have to confess I nearly cried as I could so relate to it!  You see, living in Italy is not easy, even though it may sound like a wonderful romantic dream to you. It is that too. But there are indeed so many sacrifices and frustrations to go through for the sheer honor of living in this slice of paradise, following my dream of realizing a healing center of sorts.  Sigh… 

Thank you, Melissa, for your great biblical, spiritual and human perspectives offered in your article. The street I live in is called ‘The Martyrs of …’, which is about BEING the sacrificial lamb… I never liked this idea, so I have been studying what throughout time, it has meant to be a martyr… (not referring to nagging moms who give the best bits to the kids and then complain about it ).

EMPOWERMENT

• Laura Grace Weldon presents an article on empowerment, entitled Fostering the Flip Side of Gratitude .

A Lee: I want Laura on my team.   Great gal!  You can tell from the way she writes, and what she writes.  She speaks with conviction and kind heart. She takes random acts of kindness a step further and then goes on expressing gratitude-letters whenever she spots some goodness. And then, as a women on a mission, she take the next step … Read up what she does when services provided are ‘not ok’.

• Erin Pavlina presents How to Handle Public Criticism.

A Lee: An article from someone in our trenches. It makes me reflect that it really is not always easy for us clairvoyants, or any other person in the healing profession, for that matter. Erin gives us an honest account of how she has come to terms with prejudice & criticism for her work, even though she has just been giving from the bottom of her heart.

MEDITATION

• WP Ho presents a  Body, Mind, Spirit – article  How Do You Know You’re Meditating? over at The Conscious Life.

A Lee:   I like this article, or this thought rather. It ponders the difference between meditating and daydreaming… Long time ago, one of the ‘We Are One World Healing’-participants who has already passed to the other side of the veil, wrote an article on Meditation. Him being an elder from India, the article was quite advanced, I felt, and talked about ‘choiceless awareness’ and other such concepts.

Given that at that time, I had little on the topic of meditation, I felt the need to offer a complementary article ‘How to Meditate: Meditation is Simple’ oriented to a more beginning meditation audience. I think you will enjoy reading it, particularly after reading WP’s.  

 

• Axel presents Meditating In Japan posted at axel g.

A Lee:  Feels like a genuine journal entry by Axel about him going on a working/meditating retreat in Japan, complete with the aces and pains and joys. (This is an experienced blogger, btw, and you can tell by the quality of the work there.) I think he learned and contemplated a lot more than he is mentioning in this article, and I’m sure that’s elsewhere on his blog, which is all about meditation.

I lived in Japan for several years, so I know what it’s like, although I never worked in rice fields. What an experience! Japan is gorgeous and it’s a challenge. Seems like Axel witnessed both. Like him, I cherish the special Japanese moments one can spent in tatami-mat covered temples of peace and beauty. Now go check out what he has to say. You might like his blog.

• Charles Chua C K presents Be Mindful Every Moment posted at All About Living with Life.

A Lee: An short and sweet article on how to be mindful every  morning.  List of great tips. Will use.

• Charlotte presents Teaching Life Skills To Yourself posted at Inspired Being.

A Lee: Charlotte submitted several stories, and I am showcasing her best. It’s on self development, and presents six new helpful friends: 3 ‘what’ and 3 ‘how’ life skills.  She says: “The mental awareness state you get in using those skills is an integration of emotional and rational mind and goes beyond them. By adding intuitive knowing to emotional experiencing and logical analysis. The feeling can be described as “going with the flow”. Or we can call it a wise mind. “

I dig the title of this article, because it is about self-responsibility, i.e. we are response-able.

• Carole Gold presents SPF: Making Suffering, Pain and Fear Work for You posted at Carole Gold.

A Lee: A body mind spirit-article on how to be in the present moment to avoid suffering, pain and fear.“

AROMATHERAPY

• Liani presents Essential Oils for Christmas posted at Aromatherapy Blog.

A Lee: It’s an article on aromatherapy, or rather holiday smells.  Beyond the article, Liani actually has goodies on her blog, such as this wonderful recipe to make your own scented bath  salts . “Peace of Mind” it’s called: Love it.

 

 Actually, I LOOVEEE aromatherapy and work with it all the time.

If this is your interest also, here are some other Essential oil blend, recipes & tips: 

_ Aromatherapy for chakra healing

_ Romantic Rose Oil Recipe

_ Myrtle for bronchitis, coughs & other respiratory ailments

_ Mood-enhancing Blend Recipe  (no more winter blues)

_ Idaho balsam fir – what to do with that?

_ Lemon essential oil: GOOD for your health (and weight loss)

_ Fun article on how to use aromatherapy oils safely.

 

For the holidays, I recommend the mood enhancing & stress reducing aromatherapy suggestions above.

• Jennifer Mannion presents a very long Interview with Robin Easton, Author of “Naked in Eden; My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest” posted at Heal Pain Naturally.

A Lee: I had never heard of Robin Easton, and I visited her blog as well.  I like it!

FOOD & HEALTH

• Sean Burrows presents Vegetarian Complete Protein Guide posted at Personal Growth, Development, and Health.

A Lee: OK. After reading this article, you may wish to rethink your Turkey dinner for Christmas… In this article Sean shares his favorite plant-based complete proteins. There are many other great sources of protein for vegetarians/vegans, but this article will only outline the specific ones that contain all the essential amino-acids.
Furthermore, I want to let you know that this is a new blog by one young gutsy writer to watch! He writes passionately from the heart. And he seems to have a good brain too. Besides this ‘veggies are good’ article, he submitted another article for an adult-only audience. I think this article is very useful and I think also that it’s great that it’s written by a male. I can not post here as this is a family-friendly blog. However, consider reading his thoughts on root-chakra related issues.

• Susan Liddy presents an article on healthy living, This is what Grocery Shopping should look like  at her Secrets to Ultimate Living! Blog.

A Lee: Susan says that healthy eating is critical to feeling confident and empowered. As eating mostly veggies is what she basically suggests, I think I’ll stick going to my organic farmer. “Bruno” is his name. 15 km (say 10 mile) drive round trip, but my car is full, and so is my wallet, still, after shopping.  Yes, lucky me. 

On another note, this article is a reminder  to plan ahead and make a list for holiday lunches & dinners.  Include all you need.

This avoids you, at the last minute, rushing out and buying food for all the possible dinner ideas you had in your mind at one point or another, plus some extras… I know… happened to me before. 

Actually, I have a funny story about Christmas dinner that supports Susan’s case:

When we were still living in Canada, a month or so before Christmas, we were out of power for a long time while it was freezing cold.  We curled together around the fire place and all slept in the living room, one night, two nights,….   I cooked what would fit in 1 pot in the fire place…. Yes, quite a challenge when unprepared.  Fortunately not the entire town was out of power, just our neighborhood, so we went to warmer pastures after those first few nights.  However the drama of the event gave me the BEST CHRISTMAS DINNER TIP ever, and that is: MAKE IT AHEAD OF TIME, and just freeze it. It’s a complete avoidance of Christmas stress. I love it, and yes, I’m going to do it again this year, even though the weather is not as harsh as in Canada…. still, it’s nice to have ‘no stress’ for the holidays.  Prepping ahead also makes for slightly healthier choices and I’m sure you approve, Susan!

Al right.