Identify Your Theology: Does it Matter?

Identify Your Theology:
Fourteenth Question

In the past few days, starting last week, we've been talking about our physical world and how we experience and connect to it. In yesterday's post, I asked you what you believe about how the world was created.

Today, we are turning our attention to our fourteenth question, but before we do, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress. Or listen and relax right here...

Today’s Question…

Matter?

There was a scientist in the 1900s named Louis de Broglie whose work revealed that matter (all matter) has wave-like properties or characteristics. Wondering what that has to do with exploring spiritual beliefs? Read on...

"Every particle of matter has its own wave function, which can be visualized as a 'smear' or a representation of all the paths it may take. The scientist Richard Feynman theorized that the potential particle takes all possible paths as its wave moves from point A to point B, so that when the wave reaches point B, it contains information from every path it could have taken to get there. When the particle is observed, however, its wave function collapses and only one path becomes actualized." ~~Joyce & River Higginbotham

What do you believe about matter, and the universe and our relationship to it? Is it possible that this quote/paragraph above explains what we experience in our reality? 

Because we “observe,” by way of visualization, all day long. 

When we imagine (and thus, observe) the worst-case scenario our worried minds can create, are we then choosing it? And what might happen if we imagined the best-case scenario, instead?

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to close it and to see the journal questions and the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.   

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Identify Your Theology: Question Number Thirteen

Identify Your Theology:
Thirteenth Question

Last week, I asked about tuning into the physical and natural world around us.

We are turning our attention to our next question, today, but before we do, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress.

Or if you'd rather listen to the brief meditation here, here it is...

 

Today’s Question…

How did we wind up here? :)

What do you believe about how the world was created? Was there a big bang, an intelligent design, 6 days of orderly planned development or some other method? Were we sung into existence?

"Indigenous peoples & religious traditions all over the world are oriented to a primal myth of creation, an original story that provides an understanding of origins. This story often provides an experience of spiritual container, an anchoring point of identity, and an explanation for the existence of life in the beauty if mythic terms." ~Frank MacEowen, The Mist-Filled Path

"The Celts of old believed that the world was upheld & sustained by a single all-embracing melody: Oran Mor, they called it, the Great Music, & all creation was part of it. Perhaps this is why Celtic music possesses the power to move us in unexpected ways ~ it touches that place deep in our hearts where legends still live, and we hear again the strains of the Ancient Song." ~Stephen Lawhead

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to close it and to see the journal questions and the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.  

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Identify Your Theology: Twelfth Question

Identify Your Theology:
Number Twelve

In yesterday's post, I asked you if you are a mystic or have had mystical experiences.

Today, let's move on to the next question, but before we do, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress.

Today’s Question…

What do you believe about our connection to the physical world? (trees, the ocean, birds, etc.) Is it possible to communicate with it or have a relationship of some kind?

"Nature forms such an important focus of their reverence, that whatever beliefs they hold about Deity, all Druids sense Nature as divine or sacred. Every part of nature is sensed as part of the great web of life, with no one creature or aspect of it having supremacy over any other. Unlike religions that are anthropocentric, believing humanity occupies a central role in the scheme of life, this conception is systemic and holistic, and sees humankind as just one part of the wider family of life." ~Druidry.org

"Mitakuye Oyasin (All Are Related) is phrase in the Lakota language. It reflects the world view of Interconnectedness held by the Lakota people. The phrase itself, and the underlying belief of interconnectedness with all creation, is a part of many Yankton Sioux prayers, and is found in use among Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The phrase translates as 'all my relatives,' 'we are all related,' or 'all my relations.' It is a prayer of oneness and harmony with all forms of life: other people, animals, birds, insects, trees and plants, and even rocks, rivers, mountains and valleys." ~Wikipedia.org

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to close it and to see the journal questions and the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.  

What have you got planned for the weekend? I'm taking the weekends off but will see you back here on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Identify Your Theology: Twenty Spiritual Questions ~ Number Eleven

Identify Your Theology:
Eleventh Question

I asked, in yesterday's post, what else is out there in the world, in addition to the divine. And if there's more, can we connect?

We are turning our attention to our next question, today, but before we do, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress. Or listen to the relaxation meditation right here...

Today’s Question…

Is mystical experience possible? Do you think of yourself as a mystic or have you ever had a mystical experience as part of your spiritual path?

"A mystic is a person who has direct, personal contact with the divine or the universe, usually within a religious context. Mystical experiences, however, can occur in all times and places, even to those people who are not particularly religious. These experiences are not limited to persons of a particular faith, age, or spiritual development. Mystical experiences can happen without warning or any preparation on the mystic's part." ~Joyce & River Higginbotham

"You are a Mystic, known for your imaginative, intuitive spirituality. You value peace, harmony, and inner silence. Mystics are nurtured by walking alone in the woods or sitting quietly with a trusted friend. You may also enjoy poetry, meditation, wordless prayer, candles, art, books, and anything else that helps you connect with God.
 
Mystics experience God best through rich images and symbols. You are contemplative, introspective, intuitive, and focused on an inner world as real to you as the exterior one. Hearing from God is more important to you than speaking to God. Others may attribute human characteristics to God, but you see God as ineffable, unnamable, and more vast than any known category. You are intrigued by God's mystery.
 
Mystics want to inspire and persuade others, and need to live lives of significance. At times you push the envelope of spirituality, helping the rest of us imagine who we might become if we followed your lead." ~~The Upper Room

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to close it and to see the journal questions and the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.  

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Heart Wish Wednesday

Goddess Heart Wish Bottle

Welcome. Step into the circle of healing, where wishes come true. From my heart to yours, each Wish Wednesday, I offer you goddess blessings.

Just mentally add your wish here in the comments, and I will add it to my Heart Wish Bottle by blessing it myself, asking for a goddess blessing, and seeing it come true for you in my head and in my heart.

My wish this week is for the success of The Ultimate Blog Challenge. May it bring thousands of pageviews and new friends for each of us who is participating.

What is your wish this week?

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Identify Your Theology: Tenth Question

Identify Your Theology:
Tenth Question

We're at the halfway point today with our questions. What has this experience been like for you, so far? 

My son and I have been doing the same kind of exploration in our homeschooling and we have loved taking a deeper look at what we believe. And we don't agree on everything, so we've had some interesting conversations!

In yesterday's post, I asked you what you believe the divine expects of us as human beings. What the rules are, in other words.

Today, we'll move to a different question, but before we do, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress. Or you can listen to the meditation right here, if you'd prefer...

Today’s Question…

"Deity can be a catch-all word that includes gods, goddesses, angels, guardian angels, spirits, spirit guides, elves, faeries, elementals, higher selves, future or probable selves, and nature spirits, among others." ~Joyce and River Higginbotham

In addition to the divine, what else do you believe is out there? Is there another world or realm of existence? More than one? And are there other beings? Is it possible for us to connect with them, and if so, how?

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to close it and to see the journal questions and the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.  

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Identify Your Theology: Ninth Question

Identify Your Theology:
Ninth Question

Yesterday, I asked you what you believe about who Jesus is or was.

Today, we are turning our attention to another question, but before we do that, head on over to your retreat room so you can relax and let go of any of the day’s stress. Or listen to the brief relaxing meditation right here...

Today’s Question…

What do you believe the divine expects of us as human beings? 

Are there rules we should use to govern our behavior? And are we to think of ourselves as good or fundamentally flawed & in need of help or rescue?

"Most world religions teach that human nature is flawed, and that there is something fundamentally wrong with all human beings that must be corrected in order to reach that religion's idea of salvation or enlightenment. This wrongness maybe called original sin or ego or desire or free will or any other of a number of names, but the existence and overcoming of this inherent wrongness is the basis of the spiritual practices, sacraments, and ethics practiced by their members. In such religions, the wrongness frequently doesn't end with human beings but extends into the entire physical world so that we are seen to be surrounded by wrongness, to be spiritually unsafe, and are encouraged to feel that life is a very dangerous undertaking." 

 ~~Joyce & River Higginbotham, Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions

"The theology of original sin and the need to be saved and redeemed didn't sit too well with me. I didn't understand why Jesus needed to sacrifice himself to save us. I thought if I understood this was all rather silly and probably made up by religion, not God, then why didn't he? It never occurred to me that perhaps this was a difference between the historical Jesus and the one painted in the scriptures... I assumed if there was another view of Jesus, then of course, to be fair, the Church would present that." ~~Christopher Penczak in Jesus through Pagan Eyes

Journal Questions

Now that you’ve read today’s question and a quote or two to get you thinking, head on back into the mini-retreat to blow out the candle, close the retreat and to see the journal questions and hear the blessing I’ve written for you. 

Peaceful retreat closing

Want to see my book list for these questions? Visit my Twenty Questions store.

  

Have a great day!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

So many of us live our lives stuck in neutral.
Do you ever feel that way?
What if you could get yourself unstuck & finally heal
whatever is blocking you from the life that's waiting for you.
Announcing the Moon Healing eKit:
a 4-week eCourse for healing what's in the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~