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Did you ever wonder where the Authentic Matters
logo
came
from?
I was sitting in church on a
Sunday
morning in a deep
meditation at communion time. I confided to God that I
was feeling lost in my faith and could hardly get myself
out of bed to mass on time, let alone volunteer for any
ways to serve Him.
The year before I was
active in
fund raising, disbursing money for charities and
several other ministries. What had happened to me
now? Why did I go from active service to barely
attending mass?
At that moment, I had a
vision.
I saw myself lying on the ground, not able to get up in
sadness and despair. I whispered, “Lord, help me” in
my darkest hour and then someone was standing
over me and lovingly helped me up to my feet. I felt
stronger and stood up straight and saw the sun
shining on me again.
The next image
showed ME
standing over someone who was lying on the ground
and could not get up in sadness and despair. I
reached down with love to pick him up and help him
get to his feet. The message came to me that
sometimes when we are in a dark place and think that
we cannot get up, He hears us and sends someone
to help us back to our feet. Other times we are feeling
like His strong and empowered servants and we can
then be the angels sent to help someone else.
The next day, while looking for a logo, I found this
one straight away. I knew that this was the one to
represent me and my vision for Authentic Matters.
Be conscious of when someone helps you up from
your dark place- it might
be someone sent just at the right time to assist you.
Be aware, also, of when you can help someone else
get back up to their feet.
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We all have had times in our lives when we were
waiting for an important decision on something that
was out of our control. Whether it was a medical test
result, an acceptance to a school, a large sales
proposal to a big customer or any other important
decision, we had to just wait and be patient.
The
waiting is often the most painful part!
What
do you
do while
you are waiting for this monumental decision to be
handed down to you?
How do you cope with
the fear of
the unknown and feelings of helplessness?
I can
tell you firsthand, as I have had this anguish filled
experience recently.
You must do three
things
to keep your sanity while waiting:
1)
Force
yourself to not focus on the outcome and do other
things to distract yourself. Be active and busy with
other things. It does no good to wait around and feel
like a victim.
2) Surrender the outcome to the
Universe and believe that whatever the outcome is – it
will be for your greatest good. Whether you believe it or
not, everything in life happens in Divine Right Timing
or DRT.
3) Ask God for guidance and
strength to make it through the challenge of the
waiting game and you will find strength that you did
not think you had.
When you finally do get the
decision, it might be the one you wanted and then you
can show gratitude for your great fortune.
However, It might be bad news or the answer you did
not want.
Step back and know, that even if this
result is not what you wanted, there is a REASON
for this to happen. Try not to despair at the outcome.
You might not know what it is, at the moment of
receiving the news, but believe that everything does
happen as it should and in DRT (Divine Right Timing).
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Everyday Spirituality Workshop (3 hours)
April 27th and May 24th, 2007
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Pamper Your Inner Self Day (Full Day Event)
June 9, 2007
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Uplifting Spiritual Sites |
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Everyday Spirituality E-Newsletter
Celebrate the Spiritual in You
March 2007, Volume 2, Issue 3
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Greetings!
Many readers of this e-newsletter
have come back to
say that they really enjoyed last
month's article on
the LAW OF POLARITY and the 5 MINUTE
MEDITATION. Over the next few
months, I will present
more spiritual laws that I hope will
help you in your
daily life. This e-newsletter is as
fun for me to create
as it is for you to read! Talk about
divine guidance; it is
in every word of this e-newsletter.
This month we focus on a few funny
concepts of
modern day spirituality that I hope
you find amusing
and insightful. Things don't always
have to be serious
with our inner work and development,
do they?
I have scheduled 3 workshops for April, May and June.
If you have not been able to attend either the 3 hour or
the full day workshop, please consider to attend. They
are always fun and educational and good for your
spiritual self!
With warm regards and loving support
for you, on your journey.
Barbara
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Feature Article: Amusing Anecdotes With a Deeper Meaning
By Barbara Rogoski
I have reviewed my growing, spiritual library for several
amusing and insightful stories to share with you this
month. Here are three of my favorites: the
PETTY TYRANT, the DONKEY and GOD SAID, NO. I
hope that they will make you smile and also
contemplate their meaning for your own life.
PETTY TYRANT
Two men were sitting crossed legged on the top of a
mountain. One was a great and wise teacher and the
other was his student. The student said to his
teacher, “O, wise teacher, I am very troubled. I work for
a man who makes my life miserable. He is harsh and
mean spirited to me at every interaction. I do my best
to be a good worker and it is never good enough. He
criticizes everything I do and makes my life a living
hell.”
The teacher jumped up and danced around
and hugged and kissed his student with great joy. The
student was very surprised and could not understand
this reaction.The teacher said, “My son you are very
lucky indeed! Because you have been given a petty
tyrant. A petty tyrant is a difficult person who has been
sent to us to teach us lessons that we must learn
while on
this journey. Step back and see what you are meant to
learn from this experience with one who was
specifically sent in order to give you trials and for you
to grow spiritually.”
Think about your life’s journey so far. We all have
antagonists in our lives at some point. Who have been
your petty tyrants and what have you learned from
them?
If you have one in your life now, step back
and recognize them for what they are, bless them for
their presence in your life, and contemplate what you
are supposed to learn from them.*
* Taken from A Return to Love, by Marianne
Williamson
THE DONKEY
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The
animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to
figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal
was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway.
It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He
invited all his neighbors to come over to help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt
into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was
happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's
amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads
later, the farmer finally looked down and was
astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of
dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something
amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As
the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top
of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of
dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off
and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a
stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells
just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and
take a step up.
And don't forget to bless the
farmer and his friends for being petty tyrants!
GOD SAID, NO
I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child
whole again.
God said, No.
His spirit is
whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said,
No.
Patience is a by product of tribulations. It isn't
granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said,
No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to
you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and
brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said,
No.
You must grow your own!, but I will prune you
to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, no. I will give you life, so that you may
enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me love others, as much as He
loves me.
God said, Ahhh, finally you have the
idea!
These stories are well known and perhaps you have
heard and read them already. What is important to
remember is that we need reinforcement and
reminding from time to time as to what really matters.
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Five Minute Meditation
This month’s 5 minute meditation is called THE
VISITOR. It is meant to help you connect to
someone that wants to visit with you. If you are not
familiar with this type of communication meditation,
please read the text before you click on the audio.
We are inviting someone to visit you, whether it is
someone you love who has passed over, a spiritual
guide, Jesus or the Holy Spirit in a form that you can
recognize. You can reach them by reading the
meditation and then sitting still and allowing them to
come to you or you can listen to the audio.
Have a notepad and pen next to you in order to record
any messages you receive.
I refer to the visitor often as “THEY” simply to avoid
gender reference.
If you are comfortable with this concept of making a
connection, then click the audio and go with it. If you
are not, you are welcome to go on reading the next
section.
If you read or listen to the meditation and no one
comes to be with you, it does not matter. Perhaps try
this written meditation or the audio version again at
another time and just relax and allow them to come.
For if you are open to their presence they will
come. I am simply making the space for you to have a
deeper spiritual experience.
Let me know if you like this technique to tap into
your higher self to gain wisdom and insight from our
helpers and guides.
Let us begin with
THE VISITOR.
Sit deep in your chair with your back straight and your
feet flat on the floor.
Hands gently resting on your lap and relax. Close your
eyes and focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath
in, hold for a few seconds and release. Again. Breathe
in deeply, hold for a few secondsand release.
Continue to breathe in this manner as best you can as
you listen further to this meditation exercise.
Concentrate on your breathing.
It is very important to be aware of your breathing
during meditation as it helps you relax and form a
rhythm. When those little nagging thoughts creep into
your mind to distract you, gently brush them away and
concentrate on your breathing. All your other worries
and concerns will be taken care of in good time. Put
them aside for the moment and listen to my voice.
Breathe in deeply, hold a few seconds and release.
You open your eyes and you are sitting in a
small boat
on a lake. The air is crisp and cool and the water has
a slight mist over it as you look around you in your little
boat.
The sun is setting and late afternoon
shadows are creeping into view over the wooded area
that surrounds the lake. It is peaceful and quiet here
and you hear birds singing softly in the background.
You are not far from the shore made of green
grass above the banks and you turn and see that you
are very close to a small wooden dock. You bring your
boat close to the dock and slowly climb out onto it. You
survey the scene and see at the end of the dock and a
bit to the left side that there are two large white
wooden lake chairs side by side facing the lake. You
walk towards them and sit down comfortably in one.
You look out over this beautiful lake as the sun is
setting and relax. You take a moment to surround
yourself with a white light of divine love and protection
and feel God’s love all around you.
The mist
is
rising higher over the dock a few feet away from where
you are sitting and as you watch the dock, you see that
someone is standing there. You are happy to see this
person but cannot yet clearly see who it is. You strain
to see who it is and they start to move toward you.
They come onto the grass and stand before you.
Now you can see them clearly and you have great
feelings of joy and happiness to meet this person.
Who is it? Can you see them? Can you feel
them? Is it a family member or friend who has passed
over that you dearly love? Is it someone new that you
have never met that is your guide and has a message
for you? Is it Jesus or the Holy Spirit in a form that you
can recognize? Who is it?
Take a few
moments to
say hello and express without words how happy you
are to see them. It is safe for you to meet this person
here because they have something to tell you and
offer support to you. You do not know it, but they are
around you in daily life but you do not see them.
Invite him or her to sit down next to you on the
white lake chairs. Sit quietly and speak to them in your
mind and ask them a question. Why are they here and
what do they want you to know?
Sit very still
and
listen to their answer. Share what is in your mind and
heart and listen to their answers. I will be silent for a
few minutes to give you time to converse with them
without words.
After you have had some time with this person, it is
time to for him or her to leave. But know that you can
meet them here at the lake chairs again if you wish.
Thank them for coming to visit with you. They begin to
move toward the dock and turn around to smile at you
one last time. What do they say as they are leaving?
What do you want to say as they are leaving? They
start to walk onto the dock look back at your one last
time, nod with a smile and at the end they disappear
in the mist.
It is time now for you to return. Walk onto the dock and
take the rope where your small boat is connected and
climb in. You turn the boat around mentally and it
starts to slowly move out into the water.
You
contemplate what just happened and remember the
important messages you have received. You are
happy and grateful for this experience and thank the
Universe for allowing you to have it. Your boat starts to
go into the mist.
Soon you recognize yourself
back in your chair where you are now sitting. You open
your eyes and feel happy for this experience. Record
any messages feelings, thoughts or sensations you
experienced.
This type of meditation takes some practice to
visualize the scene and to allow your visitor to enter to
meet you. Do not feel bad if you did not meet anyone
this time. Try again at a later time. What you are
supposed to receive from this exercise, you
will.
Please share your feedback on the content as well as
any experiences you had.
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What's New?
Pamper Your Inner Self Day to be held again
on June 9th, 2007 at the American Women's
Clubhouse in the Hague. Full day event that will focus
on:
- Finding Soul Purpose
- Spiritual Life Laws
- Intuition and Inner Guidance
- Meditation
- Sacred Tools
Only 20 seats available.
Register now on our website!
Testimonials from the Pamper Day:
"This course is insightful, fun and interactive. It gives
guidance and realization to what really matters in life
and encourages the participants to go forth on
achieving and living life to the fullest." Lyn
Margarette
"A very good encapsulation of an often complicated
subject, yet offers a simple way of being in the world. It
was a comfortable and enjoyable refresher." Karin
Doucette
The Everyday Spirituality Workshop to be held
again on April 27th and May 24th, 2007. To be held at
the American Book Store Treehut in the Hague.
3
hour event that will focus on:
- Learning about Intuition and Inner Guidance
- Hands on exercises for meditation and learning
about self
- Sacred Space
- Sacred Tools
- Everyday Spirituality Principle
Testimonials from the Everyday Spirituality
Workshop:
"This workshop is perfect for
a busy person like me, who needs to find simple,
quick ways to put spirituality into everyday life. Hugely
professional. Well done!" Jo Parfitt
"I can highly recommend this aptly named workshop
to anyone - especially if, like me, you make excuses to
avoid listening to your inner voice. In a trustful and
safe environment, Barbara is a practical and inspiring
guide to the path and the tools you need to tap into
your spiritual higher self." Maureen Sullivan
Spiritual Study Group postponed due
to family
illness. As soon as a new schedule can be organized,
it will be started.
Check out my monthly column on the Hague Online
called Everyday Spirituality.
Go to
http://www.thehagueonline.com and type in
SPIRITUALITY as the key word.
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Closing Thought
What do you really want from life? Are you asking for
too little from the Universe that has unlimited power to
make your dreams come true? Stop playing small and
ask for what you want, believe it will come to you and
receive it through the law of attraction. It does'nt just
fall in your lap - you have to work for it and throw in
some gratitude, reciprocity (giving to others to also
receive). It is possible
to change your life and achieve your dreams.
So go ahead and commit to THE BIG
YES!
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For more information or to give feedback, contact:
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Barbara Rogoski | |
31 626 898 717 | |
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The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. 