Why Me?

We've all heard the idea that you can look at a glass half empty or half full. Well in the same sense, spiritually speaking, you can look at your troubles as a blessing or a curse. It's all up to you and how you choose to veiw life. So, next time you find yourself asking "why me?" replace that thought with "what lesson am I suppose to be learning here?"

Our attitude toward life is our biggest spiritual tool. You can face each obstacle with a positive thought if you remember that everything in life happens for a reason. Each event or person in our life is there to teach us a lesson or to allow us to touch another person and help them to learn their lesson. If you've read some of the spiritual literature out there, you're already familiar with the concept that nothing in life is a coincidence. Each situation is placed before us by the Light (that is the energy of God) for a reason. Our attitude and choice in each situation is our gift. It is our God given freedom of choice.

Try to think of your life as a movie with several possible plot lines. All the plot lines have already been written. It is the choice you make at each scene change that determines which plot line you take next. You can run through the maze of plot lines in total chaos while hoping that you reach the end without taking the same wrong path over and over again, or you can stop at each crossroad and think about your next move so that you can choose the most sensible route.

In other words, the key to the question of "why me?" is the ability to stop yourself within each drama in your life in order to see why the Light has put you in your present situation. For instance, if you are in the middle of an arguement with your neighbor, you need to learn how to take a few seconds to stop yourself and ask why are you so upset with this person. What are you here right now to learn?



Often you will find yourself upset during a dramatic scene with your spouse, children, friend, boss or coworker. Your blood pressure is up and your adrenalin is pumping. There is a reason for this. Your body is reacting to a difficult situation that you have been placed in so that you can become aware of your choices and come out a better person on the other side. Are you are upset with the other person because he or she is pointing out something within yourself that you need to change? True maturity comes when you learn how to stop yourself before reacting, and in those few precious seconds, place yourself in the other person's shoes. Where are each of you coming from and what can each of you learn?



So, next time you find yourself thinking why me, try to be thankful for this very situation because it is in the most difficult situations that true change can take place and the most valuable lessons can be learned, but only if you can step back and look at your troubles as a spiritual opportunity for growth. It's not easy, but then it's not suppose to be. However, with practice the habit or restriction and proaction can become your normal way to handle life's stresses, and this my friend, is one of the keys to a happier life. Remember what your parents told you. "Treat others the way that you want them to treat you."

What Does Kabbalah Teach?

As we ended 2009 we continued to see and hear things about Kaballah. It seems that such stars as Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, Winona Ryder, Jeff Goldblum, Courtney Love and Roseanne Barr were all the latest devotees. However, how many of us really know anything about Kaballah? For those of you that don't have a clue, here's a very brief introduction.

Kaballah is based on an ancient book called The Zohar which predates the birth of Christ. A matter of fact, many scholars believe that Jesus was a student of Kabbalah, and he drew many of his teachings from its wisdom. Basically, Kabbalists believe that everything was created from energy referred to as The Light. The Light constantly filters down to man at the lowest level through Sefirot, or attributes of the Light.

Kabbalah in its simplest form teaches that the Light is in each and every man and woman, or in other words, God is in each one of us. We were created so that the Light could share, but in receiving endless Light, mankind (the vessel of receiving) wanted to give back in the likeness of the Light. The Light's sole desire is to fill the vessel with endless Light. Mankind, the vessel, needed to feel a lack or desire in order to be filled up. Thus, man was given his ego. The ego is the key to all desire.

Now, here's the key. Man was given free will in order to give back in the likeness of the Light. Each of us can choose to receive the Light in order to fulfill our own ego or in order to share in the likeness of the Light. Basically, Kabbalah teaches that mankind must exercise restriction. Each of us must stop and think what we want to do with the endless Light as we receive it. It is our choice to use the Light for the selfish desires of the ego or for sharing with others.

Here's a great way to think about this in simple terms. Picture each person (the vessel) as a light bulb. Energy has a negative charge and a positive charge. If the two are restricted from meeting through the filament of the light bulb, the result is light. However, if there is no restriction between the positive and negatively charged energy, the result is that the bulb blows out causing it to turn black, prohibiting the light. Kabbalah teaches that there is positive energy flowing into our right side and negative energy flowing into our left side. It is our choice to use restriction in the center by choosing how to use this energy.

The bottom line is that this energy of creation flowing through every atom is Love. Kabbalah, the ancient wisdom that has lately been attracting stars and average folk alike, in its simplest form teaches us that the world can be changed if each and every one of us chooses to use The Light (God's Love) to share with each other rather than for our own selfish desires of the ego. Want to change the world? Then reject the selfish desires of your ego, and love your fellow man. That's Kabbalah's most basic teaching. Of course, there's a lot more that can be learned and thousands of books on the subject. If you're intereted, www.kabbalah.com is a great place to start.

Feeling the New Wave of Spirituality

I turn on the television, and I find all the stars talking about their new found spirituality. Everyone is preaching their own version, but there seems to be one common thread ... Love will conquer all. Now you have to admit that you really can't argue with that.

However, there's a little more to it. I've spent the last 20 years reading every book that came my way on this very topic. There's the religious version, the mystic version, the yoga version, etc., etc. They all seem to agree with various ancient books stating exactly what science has recently proved; everything is pretty much an illusion formed out of atoms - protons, electrons, and now even smaller particles like quarks - and energy bonds.

So, what makes it all work in unison. Ah, that's the age old question. Is it God? Is it spirit? Is it coincidence? The latest findings show that if a particle is disturbed in one place, it actually effects a particle elsewhere. The scientists have even proven that our thoughts can change the energy pattern in common water. What could this mean?

Most of the ancient books written in the pre-Christian era, state that all particles are actually connected, and that one universal form of energy flows through them all. If this is true, can this really mean that each of our thoughts can effect the entire world?

Look around you at all the destructive events in the world today. Could the ancient books be right? Is our negativity the cause of all the pain in the world? If this is true, then the current spiritual paradigm is the only thing that can save us. I often wonder what would happen if each of us could simply follow the "Golden" rule; "Love thy neighbor as you would have your neighbor love you."

One little problem with this, though. What about man's ego? According to many of the ancient books, man was put on this earth with an ego that provides the opportunity for each individual to choose between good and evil. Our body wants everything for itself, while our spirit yearns to share with others because we are all connected. The secret ingredient is to make a conscious choice each and every second to use the positive energy for the good of others or for our own selfish desires. Choose to share for the glory of God (or the Light or universal energy or whatever you choose to call it), and the world will become a place of peace and love.

It sounds simple, doesn't it? Just imagine a world where everyone put their fellow man (or woman) first. According to both religious and non-religious sources, we are heading to this glorious time. The Zohar (the ancient book of Kabbalah), The Bible (both Isaiah in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New), and Nostradomous (just to name a few) all predict that after much trial and tribulation, there will be a spiritual awakening here on earth that will lead to such an age of peace on earth.

Interested in this topic. Check back regularly, as I continue with my thoughts from my research into the rise of spirituality in the coming years.