The Meditation Room

Posted on March 17th, 2008 in Daring | No Comments »

We have developed a new space at trans4mind.com to present the Inspiration for the Soul poems by Wallace Huey: the Meditation Room. It’s a beautiful multi-media experience and we feel sure that you are going to love it.

Each of us (from both sides of the Atlantic thanks to the Net) played a part… Wallace’s poems are profound and insightful; Jessica Coffey reads them brilliantly I feel; the music of Shirley Cason is ideal; and I had some fun putting it all together in iMovie, with panned images from stock libraries (which turned out much, much better than I had imagined) and my own shots. As a sample, here’s the “Expressing yourself creatively” video:

The videos are all included in the Meditation Room of course, as well as available at YouTube, plus you can download hi-res mpeg4 versions, which look better full screen or on a HD TV.

If you like this project, please do spread the word.

Judge me not… oh, go on then!

Posted on February 22nd, 2008 in Metamorphosis | No Comments »

In Metamorphosis magazine articles recently there has been quite a lot of use of the word “judgment” that could easily be misinterpreted. The dictionary definition is clear: it’s a rational appraisal, opinion or conclusion and as such a necessary cognitive process. But there is this use of the adjective “judgmental” in particular when referring to a faulty judgment…

of or concerning the use of judgment : judgmental errors.
having or displaying an excessively critical point of view : I don’t like to sound judgmental, but it was a big mistake.

So making a judgment (which can and should be open minded) is easily confused in meaning with a “judgmental” condemnation (which is prejudiced and close minded). We need discernment; we don’t need prejudice and intolerance of another’s differing point of view.

Equally we don’t need to be told by a person who can’t discriminate these two meanings that any conclusion we have reached is “judgmental” and unenlightened. Nor of course, to be told that discriminating between two qualities as different in some way necessarily means we are “discriminating against” one of them in a prejudiced and unfair manner!

And that’s before we start on acceptance (”I agree, yes please”) vs. acceptance (”OK, that’s how it is, no point resisting, pretending it isn’t, worrying about it and all that stuff”). Old agers who are accustomed to one meaning of a word obviously think new agers - who emphasize the other end of the spectrum of that word - are somewhat batty and off the wall. The new age view is that to accept something doesn’t mean that you agree with it, or will do nothing about improving the situation, but that you’re not going to beat yourself up about it or try to twist things away from the truth: what is. Love replacing fear, basically.

“Ego” is another frequently misunderstood term. Freud coined the word to mean the individual identity, the “I” of the person, with no differentiation from the spiritual soul. But so often nowadays the meaning of ego is linked too closely with “egotistical,” a compulsive and selfish egoism, whereas that in fact is the result of a weak ego, dominated by fears and ruled by conditioning. A strong and well developed ego is independent, aware and mindful, and outgoing love replaces that introspective fear. So we don’t achieve a more enlightened state by eradicating the ego, instead we do best to care for our personal growth. This is fully explained in the article Ego Autonomy and Overcoming the Superego.

Ah, language. But we do need language, since without it all our thoughts would remain at the concrete, emotional and instinctual level, and abstract concepts that were outside our direct experience would be forever beyond us, as they are for cats and dogs. Concepts like freedom, equality and fraternity. We wouldn’t be able to learn from other people’s experience and ideas, or from history and literature. Language is essential to organize our memories, to think about what is going on in one’s own mind. In contrast to animals, humans can use inner speech to call to mind previous states of awareness; previous thoughts, feelings and actions. So words have value, but we should never be blinkered by too narrow a definition.

It is an essential part of our education to learn to appreciate the nuances and expressive power of words. We need to read and read well - or listen and listen well - to explore ideas, other people’s as well as our own, and to exercise our imaginations as we recreate the literal descriptions and connect the abstract concepts, playing with the pros and cons of any issue. Otherwise our thinking is limited by a map of small size and little resolution, even to the extent that we become that map - we are our beliefs - and self-awareness is only glimpsed rarely. Then we are in trance, easily influenced and manipulated, and not at all mindful of our options and choices; indeed we do not perceive change is possible.

Since at school we often don’t learn to read with full comprehension and insight, and to listen and discuss with open minds, these are skills that are worth developing now in our adulthood, as part of the process of deculturation - breaking free of the bounds of our culture and upbringing - and ongoing self-directed learning that is necessary for personal growth. That is why Tools for Transformation is pleased to offer the Mind Development Courses - they play a valuable role in our forward path.

The range of basic Mind Development courses cover reading, concentration, perception, communication and studying skills. Always the emphasis is on developing a mindful, independent intelligence that is not easily fooled and misled. The courses are available as a Special Package on CD accompanied by the New Life Course and all of the Tools for Transformation 2-CD Set contents, all for $150 including postage worldwide. There’s enough to read and study for a lifetime on these CDs, a whole mind-body-spirit education really!

Free Goals Report

Posted on February 6th, 2008 in Recommended | No Comments »

I’ve just put a great new questionnaire on the site that let’s you coach yourself, and get really clear about your top three goals! While it normally costs $9.95, I’ve been able to negotiate free access. Just take 5 minutes to fill in the questions, and then you’ll get your own customised Goals Report. It’s sent to you in PDF format so you can print it out and put it where you’ll see it! Best of all, it’s free. Get your Free Goals Report for 2008 now.

From the Past to the Future

Posted on December 23rd, 2007 in miscellaneous | No Comments »

As you know, Christmas is a religious and also a family festival where, for a few hours, people have the opportunity to forget their anger, their troubles and their resentments.

It is the solstitial time of the winter when the Sun moves farthest from the Earth. Traditionally, people were afraid that it would not return in the following days to provide light and heat. To avert this fate, they lit fires to illuminate the places where they lived. Today, the modern materials and sources of power transform this tradition into illumination of the town centers. Homes sparkle with candles and fir trees are adorned with brilliant objects. It’s the festival of Light.

On a spiritual level this Light is the flame which ignites inside every individual. So we see gestures of generosity, the desire for sharing and helping others, and the wish to come together to give and receive. Whether it’s pagan or religious, the collective festival exists to remind us we are of spiritual origin, to help us not forget it. The idea is to keep life this flame alive, which otherwise tends to decrease with the distractions and stresses of daily life - to keep it always present in our hearts.

It is actually a message of Love which since ancient times is fundamental to our nature and which will never cease, so long as its flame is kept alive.

Another symbolism which is often now forgotten is that of Father Christmas. This ageless man who ‘comes down’ to bring us gifts is the symbol of ‘the ancestor’ who transmits his knowledge in the family circle. He tells myths and legends about the history of humanity, lessons about good and evil, that illustrate the behavior of Man. The ‘gifts’ that he gives to the youngest at the time of Christmas are the experience gained and integrated during the year, intended to help the young people cross over into maturity in the best possible way.

The festival also connects with Janus (January), the god with a double face, one turned towards the past and the other facing the future. We can, during this period, assess the last year, learn from our experience and make new resolutions to change our life for the better.

I wish a happy new year to you all. Remember to kindle your flame of Love, as this will help you to discover your true purposes and realize them.

New Year Message

Posted on December 17th, 2007 in Daring, trans4mind | No Comments »

There is a large group of enthusiastic students of the trans4mind materials that meet each week in Libya, to discuss and learn. I started my New Year Message to these students with the following message:

“I am so happy that you all, a sincere group of seekers after truth, have made so much progress the past year, even in the face of obstacles that your society has presented to your free thought and activities. It’s not just in Libya; this is typical of all human societies, where vested interests suppress new visions.”

I then continued with a passage extracted from my book, ‘Daring to Be Yourself.’ You can read the message here…

The Spiritual Path

The Gift of FIRE

Posted on December 14th, 2007 in miscellaneous | No Comments »

Tina Olivero wrote the following poem in her discussion group, The Power of Words at Facebook…

The Gift of FIRE

Fires come into our lives for all the right reasons
Out with the old world, this fiery time for change calls the new
As it ignites we realize we have also been ignited
and in so we have been granted permission to move forward

What was, is no longer, what is to be… awaits
New doors open and new realms become available
Is it not fascinating to witness nature clear the past on our behalf
Curiously we may now ask, where to from here?

Completions rest in the ashes and the past disappears in the wind
Speaking to us we hear, “we are not our possessions”
“We are not our former knowledge”
“We are not our circumstances”

Suddenly we have a seed deep beneath the rubble
one that pushes to the surface like phoenix it whispers softly
“The power of this fire will never exceed
the power of community, love and kindness”

Seen so clearly when we get to nothing
When everything is burned to the “ground”
We are finally grounded in the greatest gift of knowing
from nothing we can create anything

The fire has spoken, taken and given
all that was is gone, all to be is now here
and who we are is a new set of eyes that clearly sees through flames
Sparks from nothing, we are the light and the possibility of anything.

In response, the following words came into my head… Life is like a mirror to us and whatever happens, if we are open to learning, we can discover more about ourselves. The more we truly know ourselves, we find our essence is actually a beautiful loving quality, fallible but pure, dependent on nothing, and capable of creating anything. And the more we see that in ourselves, the clearer we recognize that inner source in others too.

Finding your life’s purpose

Posted on December 11th, 2007 in Site News, trans4mind | No Comments »

Announcing the launch of a sophisticated new service at trans4mind.com…

Do you want to dream dreams that will inspire both yourself and others - dreams that correspond to the most pressing needs of our age? Wallace Huey, the site’s Heart to Heart Coach, has devised an upgraded service on Tools for Transformation designed to meet the particular needs of people who wish to find their life’s purpose. This new service has many innovative features to assist readers’ find a direction in their life that is their heart’s desire – these include:

There is also a ‘Send to a Friend’ button at the bottom of most service pages, so if you know a friend who wants to live life with a powerful sense of purpose please do let them know about this wonderful support facility. Wallace and Peter know the joy that is gained from living a purposeful life and they are keen to help and support others in this situation through this new service.

To learn more about these services: Begin Here.

Spreading Peace and Goodwill for the Holidays

Posted on December 8th, 2007 in Recommended, miscellaneous | No Comments »

Wondering what you can do to spread peace and goodwill for the holidays? How about saving a life? Doesn’t get more significant than that. So how?

Already endorsed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and even Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun Gandhi, a project called “10 Million Clicks For Peace” gives everyone a chance to make a difference in the world, to express their love and compassion - their true inner nature. Just click on the Little Yellow Tag and you’ll be able to participate.

This “Little Yellow Tag” thingy also gives every website and blog owner a chance to save lives too. All you do is put the image on your site or blog, linked up to your personal account so you can see exactly the impact you are having. For example, Tools for Transformation has now reached 6354 people in this way.

Each tag shelters and feeds (on average) a war refugee for 3 days a month, and every month, the good you do increases, because friends are telling friends about this project at a phenomenal rate. The monthly pledges given increase every month as more and more people click on the tag.

The measuring tool provided allows you to actually see how much good you’re doing. So why not put a Little Yellow Tag on your site this year? You just might save a life, and you’ll be providing much needed hope to people who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Guardian Angel

Posted on November 29th, 2007 in Daring | No Comments »

I received this beautiful message in my email and passed it on to friends and family; you might like to do the same…

Guardian Angel

The Kybalion

Posted on November 28th, 2007 in Daring | No Comments »

I was recently introduced to an amazing book called The Kybalion, originally published in 1908 by The Yogi Publication Society. The book is the key to unlocking the mysterious ancient teachings of Hermes, the God of Wisdom of ancient Greece. Hermes is also known in ancient Egypt as Thoth, and is reputed to be the father of science, mathematics, astronomy, language and alchemy.

This book is a study of basic hermetic teachings that outlines an ageless wisdom. In ancient times (and even today) these teachings were not understood by the lay person, but were readily understood by students, after the axioms and principles had been explained and exemplified by the Hermetic Initiates and Masters. The ancient mystery schools presented mythological stories that were understood only literally by the majority; but those who were prepared for deeper understanding were initiated into the true meaning and the allegorical significance of the myths. The line passed from Egypt to Greece, to the Gnostics and secret fraternities. The inner truths unfortunately passed by the orthodox religions and sciences, who - in order to maintain their power structures - really did not want to know.

The book contains Hermes’ famous 7 Spiritual Laws that, once understood, opens the door to personal transformation as well as happiness, good health and wealth. Without the explanation given in this book, it is difficult for the lay person to fully understand its secrets to transmute lead (gross mind) into gold (enlightened mind).

I strongly recommend you to read it. The link below includes the full Introduction and of course you can order it. It’s in PDF format for immediate download and at very low cost.

The Kybalion