MARK NEPO THE NEUROSCIENCE SPIRITUAL LESSONS

ON FRIENDSHIP OF MANIFESTING FROM THE BEATLES

JULY/AUGUST 2024

Amandla
SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM

Stenberg
, CHANNELS
,
The Force
 Immerse yourself
Confront the roots
Improve energy flow and
slow your aging process. of disbelonging.
with Zen priest and
with qigong master
Transformative Change founder
Mingtong Gu
Rev. angel Kyodo williams Roshi

Cultivate somatic
abolitionism.
with psychotherapist and
cultural trauma navigator
Resmaa Menakem Move, nourish,
and write.
with authors Katy Bowman
Deepen your connection to and Sarah Selecky
nature and water.
with Indigenous author and activist
Sherri Mitchell and others

Explore a more expansive

understanding of the soul.
with renowned mediums Tony Stockwell,
Dianne Thomas, and Susan Hughes.

in learning.

Explore workshops, retreats, conferences, online learning + membership opportunities here

Rhinebeck, NY (90 miles north of NYC) eOmega.org | 877.944.2002
 CONTENTS
18 FEATURES
18 THE NEUROSCIENCE OF
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
By Stephen Kiesling
Achieving lofty goals doesn’t guarantee happiness. James Doty,
M.D., the head of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism
Research, found a better way.

22 UNLIKELY LIGHTWORKERS FROM LIVERPOOL

By Philip Goldberg
When the Beatles embraced meditation after a trip to India, they
started a spiritual revolution in the West that is still going strong.

26 ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVES:
AMANDLA STENBERG CHANNELS ‘THE FORCE’
By Karen Brailsford
As the actress takes on the Star Wars mantle, she reflects on
the balance of light and dark and on how spirituality helps her
navigate life.

26 30 OVER THE MOON ABOUT HELPING ANIMALS

(AND THEIR PEOPLE)
By Jill Angelo
Dogs were always her safe space. So she decided to return the
favor and give them a safe space with her.

38 RECOGNIZING AND TUNING

INTO MEDICAL INTUITION
By Victoria Westerleigh
One woman’s precognitive dream urged her to get a breast biopsy,
which detected early-stage cancer her mammogram missed.

42 BRIGHT LIGHTS: QUEEN DIAMBI KABATUSUILA

SHEDS A NEW LIGHT ON AFRICA
By Annie L. Scholl
She had no idea she was royalty. But once crowned, she was
determined to be so much more than a figurehead.

44 THE ESSENCE OF FRIENDSHIP

By Mark Nepo
In our closest relationships, we feel safe enough to listen with our

44 hearts to the spaces between the words.

Cover Image © 2024 Ramona Rosales. All Rights Reserved. JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 1
 CONTENTS

5 In the Spirit

6 Contributors

8 Roadside Assistance
for the Spiritual Traveler
By Rabbi Rami Shapiro

10 The Soul of Therapy

By Kevin Anderson, Ph.D.

12 The Joy of Texts

By Jacquie Fernández

14 Love & Justice for All

By Ogun Holder

16 Healing, Science, & Spirituality

By Sue Morter, D.C.

48 The Heart of Happiness

By Paul Sutherland

50 Bookmarked
By Rochelle Bourgault

54 Classic & Contemporary View

By Kelly Isola

56 Toolbox
By Hunter Liguore

58 Creaturely Reflections
By Sarah A. Bowen

60 Lasting Impression
2 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024
 JULY/AUGUST 2024 | VOL . 1 NO. 1

Our mission at Spirituality & Health: A Unity Publication is to

explore the rituals, practices, beliefs, and ideas that enhance
the health of our mind, body, and spirit, as well as the health
of our communities and of the earth that supports us.

Vice President of Publishing

Ellen Debenport

Editor in Chief
Katy Koontz

Art Director
Laura Carl

Raise Your Frequency, Managing Editor Digital Art Director

Transform Your Life David Penner Mark Szymanski

How to Respond with Love Contributing Editors Digital Editor

YT1NKJѣX)NK‫ܪ‬HZQYNJX Karen Brailsford Brenna Lilly
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Selina Maitreya Annie L. Scholl Graphic Designer
$19.99 • Paperback • 208 pages Beth Barnett
ISBN 979-8-88850-046-0 Editor at Large
Stephen Kiesling
“Contains powerful wisdom for
Lead Copy Editor Production Manager
how to use everything in your Ryan Gibbs Alecia Spainhour
life, including the challenges,
as the catalyst for creating a Copy Editor Director of Advertising Sales
truly abundant life.” Mallory Herrmann Tabetha Reed

HeatherAsh Amara, author of

Warrior Goddess Training, Editorial inquiries: [email protected]
The Warrior Goddess Way, Advertising inquiries: [email protected]
and Warrior Goddess Wisdom Customer care: [email protected] or 816-251-3561;
Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT)
Subscriptions: spiritualityhealth.com/subscribe

Spirituality & Health is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November by Unity.
©2024 Unity World Headquarters. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means without written permission of Unity. The publisher assumes no liability for any
Available at .SSJW9WFINYNTSXHTR material published herein. All statements are the responsibility of the authors. The subscription price for U.S.A.,
and possessions, is $35.95 Print only; $40.95 Print + Digital; and $9.95 Digital only. For Canada, $42.95 Print only;
and <MJWJ[JW'TTPX&WJ8TQI $47.95 Print + Digital; and $9.95 Digital only (GST included). For International, $45.95 Print only; $50.95 Print +
Digital; and $9.95 Digital only. The single copy price is $7.99. Send address changes to Unity, 1901 NW Blue Parkway,
800-246-8648 Unity Village, MO 64065-0001. Canada BN132529033RT. Customer Care 816-251-3561 or [email protected].
From time to time we make our mailing lists available to selected reputable organizations that may be of interest
to our readers. If you do not want to receive these mailings, please contact our Customer Care Department.

4 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

IN THE SPIRIT
A NEW BOOK FROM
Welcome to the first daughter on strong spiritual principles
New York Times bestselling authors
issue of Spirituality that the actress says continue to help her
D AV I D F E I N S T E I N P h D &
& Health: A Unity navigate life. Working on this project,
DONNA EDEN
Publication. If you Stenberg notes in the interview, gave her a
subscribed to either new perspective on the spiritual force that
Unity Magazine® or
Spirituality+Health®,
you’ve probably
governs the universe.
Elsewhere in the issue, editor at large
Stephen Kiesling profiles James Doty,
Tapping
heard Unity World M.D., head of the Center for Compassion
Headquarters purchased Spirituality+Health and Altruism Research at Stanford
earlier this year. We’ve since been working to University (page 18). Bestselling author
craft a new hybrid magazine that offers the and poet Mark Nepo shares an excerpt
best of both award-winning publications. from his new book, You Don’t Have to
What will that look like? We’ll cover Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship
subjects such as holistic health and wellness, (page 44). Philip Goldberg delves into
the mind-body connection, metaphysics how the Beatles met an Indian guru and
and healing, the intersection of science and embarked on a spiritual path—which
spirituality, inclusion and social justice, ultimately inspired millions to study
caring for the environment, and spiritual Eastern mystical traditions (page 22). And
ideas and practices from a variety of faiths Victoria Westerleigh explores medical
and ancient wisdom traditions. You’ll find intuition, including the story of how a pair
interviews with respected spiritual leaders of precognitive dreams may have saved her Self-Healing
and other prominent figures, book excerpts life (page 38).
from bestselling authors, inspiring essays, with the
and articles designed to enlighten, enrich, One final note: You may have noticed we’ve
and empower. (And you can read everything brought back the ampersand in the name of Transformative
in print or on our new digital platform at the magazine. We felt it was iconic, for one—
emagazine.spiritualityhealth.com.) and visually intriguing. The purpose of the Power of Energy
We’re excited about the results, and we symbol is to combine separate entities, which
hope you will be too. Let us know what is pretty much what we’ve done with this new Psychology
you think; you can contact us at editors@ publication. We hope you’ll find the union
spiritualityhealth.com. to be a source of insight and inspiration for
many issues to come. A Revolutionary Guide
Inside this first issue, our cover story with Proven Techniques to:
(page 26) is a Q&A contributing editor —KATY KOONTZ, EDITOR IN CHIEF
Karen Brailsford conducted with actress Overcome
Amandla Stenberg. Stenberg shot to Troubling Emotions
stardom at age 13 when she played
Rue in the 2012 film The Hunger End Harmful
Games. Now 25, she has the lead Habits
role in the Star Wars series The
Acolyte, premiering June 4 Awaken Your
on Disney+. Brailsford,
Greatest Potential
who happens to be
Stenberg’s mother,
brings a unique
perspective to the AVA I L A B L E AT Y O U R
interview. Long F AV O R I T E B O O K S E L L E R
a practitioner
with the Agape
International
Spiritual Center,
Brailsford raised her
 CONTRIBUTORS

LEAD STEPHEN KIESLING (“The Neuroscience of Getting What

AND LIVE
You Want,” page 18) is a founding editor of Spirituality & Health
magazine and is now editor at large. A lifelong journalist, he was
a Scholar of the House in philosophy at Yale University and an
Olympic oarsman. His passion is building parks and playgrounds.
AS ONLY YOU CAN His current project is a whitewater park and sculpture garden
at Ti’lomikh Falls on the Rogue River in Oregon. Visit
goldhillwhitewater.org.

PHILIP GOLDBERG (“Unlikely Lightworkers from Liverpool,”

page 22) is a writer, public speaker, workshop leader, spiritual
counselor, meditation teacher, and ordained interfaith minister
living in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. His latest book is
Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm,
Clarity, and Courage. Goldberg hosts the Spirit Matters podcast on
mindbodyspirit.fm and serves on the board of the Association for
Spiritual Integrity. Visit philipgoldberg.com.

JILL ANGELO (“Over the Moon About Helping Animals (and Their
People),” page 30) spent two decades in business management before
deciding to pursue an inner calling. She’s since studied and worked with
many spiritual self-help authors (including Caroline Myss, Marianne
Williamson, Matthew Fox, and Andrew Harvey). In 2016, Angelo
founded The Moon Dog Farm, a nonprofit animal rescue organization
near Chicago, and in 2023, she became an ordained animal chaplain.
Visit themoondogfarm.com and jillangelo.com.

VICTORIA WESTERLEIGH (“Recognizing and Tuning

Into Medical Intuition,” page 38) is a pen name for a freelance
journalist whose work appears in several national publications
under her real name. She uses a pen name to write about
sensitive content, including her cancer adventures, to keep
Get 30% OFF at her health information private and to avoid identifying herself
with the disease. This is her second story about navigating
BakerBookHouse.com! cancer’s minefields.

MARK NEPO is a poet, philosopher, storyteller, spiritual

teacher, and author of 26 books, including the No. 1 New York
Times bestseller The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You
Want by Being Present to the Life You Have. His work has been
translated into more than 20 languages. Nepo offers readings,
lectures, and spiritual retreats around the country. An excerpt

W of his new book, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of

Friendship, begins on page 44. Visit marknepo.com.

6 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 ENLIGHTENED
PERSPECTIVES

KAREN
BRAILSFORD
(“Amandla
Stenberg
Channels
‘The Force,’”
page 26), is the
author of Sacred
Landscapes of
the Soul: Aligning with the Divine
Wherever You Are, the inspiration for
her workshop at Omega Institute in
Rhinebeck, New York, June 7–9, 2024.
She’s a practitioner with the Agape
International Spiritual Center and a
literary agent with Aevitas Creative
Management (where she co-agented the
Pulitzer Prize-winning biography His
Name Is George Floyd). Brailsford has also
worked for Newsweek, Elle, and People.
Visit karenbrailsford.com.

BRIGHT LIGHTS

ANNIE L.
SCHOLL
(“Queen
Diambi
Kabatusuila
Sheds a
New Light
on Africa,”
page 42) is a
HuffPost contributor and Artists on
Craft editor for the literary journal The
Sunlight Press. In addition to being a
writer, she’s also a Reiki master teacher
as well as a Sacred Passage End of Life
Doula and Conscious Dying Coach
(certified through the Conscious
Dying Institute). An Iowa native and
University of Iowa graduate, Scholl
now lives in Dayton, Ohio. She recently
finished her first memoir. Scholl blogs
at anniescholl.com.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 7

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE SPIRITUAL TRAVELER

WOULD THE EARTH

BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT US?
My friends and I are beekeepers as part of our devotion I’m a retired business consultant
to the well-being of planet Earth. We often wonder who now sits on my church
whether humanity is a net positive for nature. What do board. At a recent meeting, I
you think? asked what business we’re in.
People felt insulted. Was my
RABBI RAMI: Humans are as natural to planet Earth as bees. The question inappropriate?
difference is that bees, as Earth’s great pollinators, serve the well-being
of all beings, while we humans seem primarily to serve only ourselves. Not at all. Looking at religion as a
Sure, we create great art, music, and literature, and we achieve amazing business helps clarify the mission of
technological, scientific, and medical breakthroughs, but we do so largely one’s religion and assess one’s success at
for our benefit and often at the expense of other species and the health of achieving it. Broadly speaking, and taking
the planet. just a few religions as my example, I’d say
To test this, imagine what would happen if all bees went extinct: Plants the missions of Hinduism, Buddhism,
would die out, herbivores who eat them would starve to death, followed Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahaism,
by carnivores who live off herbivores. While humans might survive for a and Unity are ending ignorance, ending
time, living on Twinkies, Cheetos, and Soylent Green, our quality of life suffering, ending injustice, ending hatred,
would plummet and we, too, would eventually go extinct. Now imagine ending egoism, ending human division,
if all humans died out. Would the nonhuman world be any poorer? On and ending negative thought, respectively.
the contrary: Except for dogs who are dependent on us, it would thrive. I Since all these goals enhance human
grieve the end of humanity because I’m a human, but I applaud the future thriving, I urge people not to restrict
of life on Earth when humans are no longer around destroying it. themselves to one religion but to learn
from them all.
I’m a food addict. I binge on When you binge eat, just notice
junk food often until I vomit. yourself binge eating. Then notice My guru claims she can be in
I keep turning my addiction that the “you” who is noticing is two places at the same time. Is
over to my Higher Power, not the “you” who is binge eating. this possible?
but my Higher Power The “you” who is noticing is the
doesn’t care. What can I do Greater Power, and this Greater Most of us are in two places at the same
to fix this? Power—this Greater You—isn’t time: Our bodies are in one place and
binge eating. Don’t stop binge our minds are somewhere else. My guess
I, too, am a food addict and what I eating, just identify with this is, however, that your guru is claiming
share here, and in my two books on Greater You, and the binge eating something more profound. I have read
12-step spirituality, comes from my will stop by itself. Don’t judge many accounts of Indian gurus manifesting
experience working the 12 steps in the smaller addicted you. There their physical bodies in two places at once.
Overeaters Anonymous. First, there are reasons you are an addict, Since I have no way to test the validity
is nothing to fix. You are a food reasons beyond the control of of such claims, I have no interest in the
addict. Period. Accept that. Second, your smaller self. Just realize debate over whether the claims are true. My
there is no Higher Power. Step 2 you are also the Greater Self, response to such magical powers—what
of the 12 steps speaks of a Greater the Greater Power, the Greater are called siddhis in Sanskrit—is So what?
Power not a Higher Power, and that You. Love your smaller self and I have enough trouble trying to “be here
is very different. A Higher Power is live from the Greater Self that is now.” I have no desire to “be there now” as
separate from you; a Greater Power always free from compulsion and well. What I want from a teacher is wisdom,
embraces you in a larger reality addiction. I know this isn’t as easy justice, and compassion—and a way to live
free from addictive thinking and as it sounds, but neither is it as wisely, justly, and compassionately. Magic is
compulsive behaviors. difficult as you might imagine. beside the point.

8 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 INSIGHTS TO HELP FUEL YOUR JOURNEY

 RABBI RAMI SHAPIRO is Nothing real can be threatened.
an award-winning author Nothing unreal exists.
of more than 36 books on Herein lies the peace of God.
religion and spirituality. For
—ACIM
more than 50 years, he’s
been devoted to a single
teaching: Alles iz Gott,
“Everything is God.”
Visit rabbirami.com,
and send questions to
[email protected].

Humans are as
natural to planet
Earth as bees. The U Dream, Inc.
difference is that bees, as Earth’s Vlado Rahal, Ph.D.
great pollinators, serve the well-
being of all beings, while we
humans seem primarily to serve
only ourselves.
My friends and I play a game we call “If I Were God” where we try
to solve a global problem like racism, crime, or war as if we had the
power of the Almighty. It turns out solving such problems is easy if
you are willing to erase human free will. Short of doing that, these
problems are unsolvable and may well be permanent features of
human life. Is that why Almighty God doesn’t solve these problems:
God doesn’t want to rob us of free will?

No. The reason the Almighty God of your game doesn’t solve our problems is because
the Almighty God of your game doesn’t exist. An all-powerful God who could create a
just, loving, and peaceful world but who chooses not to is either amoral, immoral, or a
figment of your imagination. To avoid having to entertain these possibilities, we invent
the notion that God wants us to have free will. But why? What benefit do we derive U Dream, Inc. is a ranging
from free will? anthology whose stylized stories
Imagine your Almighty God is real, and She created a world where humankind delight in seeking meaning in
lacked the freedom to do evil. Would you feel any less free because you couldn’t hate all that is around us and work to
and discriminate? Would you feel any less human because you couldn’t commit murder bridge the gap between temporal
and genocide? Would you feel any less special because you couldn’t rape and abuse or and spiritual realms.
bully and humiliate? Would you feel any less beloved by God because you couldn’t kill —Foreword Reviews
or damn to hell those who imagine God differently? Of course not! You wouldn’t even
know such things were possible. You would just be a kind and decent human being.
The next time you play your game, pretend God solved all the problems humans Now Available at
cause by recreating humanity without the capacity to cause them. Then start living as if
this were true.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 9

THE SOUL OF THERAPY

I SEE IT smaller and larger versions of the “self.” Acceptance and

Commitment Therapy (ACT) contrasts the “fused” mind

IN YOUR EYES (I am my thoughts) with the transcendent, observing

Self. Internal Family Systems (IFS) posits that every
human being has a central true Self and many parts
(subpersonalities) that reflect our various strategies for
SOMETIMES IN A THERAPY SESSION WITH A dealing with life. In this model, the true self has access
PATIENT, I scribble on a notepad: “i am anxious, but I to the eight Cs: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity,
am not” or “i am depressed, but I am not.” It’s a quick way calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness.
of exploring how we live with a small-i self that is prone to I keep a Lite-Brite in my office. Wikipedia says it’s
myriad forms of suffering in the National Toy Hall
and a large-I Self that can of Fame so you probably
observe our thoughts and remember that it has a
emotions and not become “All matter perforated screen through
entangled in them. Thomas which you can insert pegs
Merton’s expression of this originates and of various colors to create
dual consciousness in us is
the most beautiful I know:
exists only by virtue designs. When I plug it in
during a session, a capital “I”
“The only true joy on earth of a force which appears in purple, orange,
is to escape from the prison yellow, red, and white pegs.
of our own false self, and brings the particle of “I’m going to let you in on
enter by love into union an amazing secret,” I tell the
with the Life Who dwells an atom to vibration patient in a playful voice:
and sings within the essence
of every creature and in the
and holds this most “Even though it looks like
each peg is a separate light,
core of our own souls.” minute solar system there’s only one lightbulb
It’s surprising to me, behind the screen!” We laugh
having trained in the of the atom together.” and talk about the possibility
1980s when exploration that we’re all flowing with the
of spirituality was not —Max Planck one light of consciousness.
encouraged in psychology, Perhaps our individual
that two of the most minds are tributaries of the
influential therapy models today make use of this idea of Great Stream of Consciousness.
In a 1944 speech, Nobel Prize–winning quantum
physicist Max Planck said something astonishing about
KEVIN matter and consciousness:
ANDERSON, “As a man who has devoted his whole life to … the
PH.D., is a study of matter, I can tell you … this much: There is no
psychotherapist, matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by
poet, and writer. virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to
His books include vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the
Now Is Where atom together. We must assume behind this force the
God Lives, Divinity existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind
in Disguise, Noble is the matrix of all matter.”
Nature, and The If we allow the possibility that every atom has a
Inconceivable rudimentary consciousness, perhaps the approximately
Surprise of Living. 500 trillion atoms that make up the average human
He is father to brain create a sort of super-receiver for the one mind,
five and grandpa the Light behind the eyes of each of us many-colored
to one. Visit human beings. If we could keep this Lite-Brite view
thewingedlife.com. of one another in our awareness, the us-versus-them

10 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 SEEKING WISDOM IN THE PLAY OF WORDS

 I see it in your eyes.

I see it in your eyes—

the indwelling Divine made it.

I see it in your eyes.

The indwelling Divine made it
easy to behold in you and everyone the same.
conflicts of the world would no longer make sense. As
the Beatles sang in “I Am the Walrus”: “I am he as you I see it in your eyes.
are he as you are me and we are all together.” In the The indwelling Divine made it
2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables, Jean Valjean easy to behold in you and everyone, the same
puts the same idea more succinctly: “To love another Jewel sparkling.
person is to see the face of God.”

Information in this column is for general

psychoeducational purposes and is not a substitute for
assessment and care provided in person by a medical or From Now Is Where God Lives: A Year of Nested Meditations to
mental health professional. Delight the Mind and Awaken the Soul © 2018 by Kevin Anderson

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 11

THE JOY OF TEXTS JACQUIE
FERNÁNDEZ is an
award-winning
filmmaker and

WHEN BEING writer who serves

as senior minister
at Unity Church
IS ENOUGH of Overland Park.
She is the founder
of Folx with Faith,
FOR DECADES (ARGUABLY CENTURIES), an LGBTQIA+
Western culture, particularly in the U.S., has been quite affinity group
obsessed with performance, achievement, beauty, and that gathers
success. In recent years, with the rising popularity of yoga for spiritual
and meditation practices paired with luminary voices discussion and
like Brené Brown, Ph.D., helping us unpack shame and healing from
Deepak Chopra, M.D., guiding us into focus on the power religious trauma.
of thought, there’s a strong current inviting us to release
the performance and “doing” of life and instead connect
with our own sense of being. that being to know we are marvelous works of creation—
While older generations might still smirk at the like the starry night sky, the expanse of snowcapped
“everybody gets a trophy” fad of the self-esteem mountains, the massive ocean, the sunflower fields in full
movement, it was a disruptive trend that created a bloom, or the sacred and silent desert.
positive impact. People, especially children, began to
be valued for participation and effort more than for The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
winning. This gave space for the multiple intelligences The skies display his craftsmanship.
theory to take root and to broaden the scope of value Day after day they continue to speak;
beyond the winning (i.e., conquering) culture that left night after night they make him known.
most feeling worthless and few feeling valued for specific They speak without a sound or word;
performance rather than for the totality of being. their voice is never heard.
The shift away from valuing only designated Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
winners has allowed individuals more freedom to and their words to all the world.
choose what winning looks and feels like for them. —Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT)
For those dealing with physical or mental health
challenges, simply getting out of bed or out of the As hard as we might try to capture a cell phone
house can be a major victory. For others, learning a photo of the perfect sunrise or sunset, or the swollen
new language, overcoming the fear of public speaking, full moon, or, worse, a favorite constellation spotted at
or saying yes to a date would signify triumph. The night only to be disappointed in the resulting image,
greatest achievements are often about overcoming fear, the stars, the sun, and the moon make no performance
doubt, and feelings of worthlessness that are so easily of being. Yet, as the psalmist writes: “They speak
cultivated in a culture focused on winning. without a sound or word … Yet their message has gone
throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve had entire conversations
Celebrate your with the moon. She’s a great listener, and when I am
still, she speaks a language I sometimes forget I know.
personal victories Novelist Alice Walker wrote in The Color Purple,
“In nature, nothing is perfect ... Trees can be
authentically ... contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still
beautiful.” Let this be a reminder, in all your beingness,
With nearly any Bible that contains both Hebrew and you need not make a performance of yourself, and
Christian scriptures (Old and New Testaments), if you you are perfect in all your imperfection. Celebrate
open to the middle of the book, you will find yourself your personal victories authentically and in the full
in the Psalms. There is a simple joy revealed in the 19th awareness that your mere existence proclaims the
Psalm, one that affirms our perfect right to be and in skilled craftmanship of the Divine.

12 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 METAPHYSICAL MEANINGS BEHIND SACRED SCRIPTURES

This four-part seminar is a
continuation of Christopher’s
NEW
The One Mind ™ Series — to THINKING
expand individual and collective
consciousness and awareness of
ALLOWED
what the future holds for us all.

The Evolution of Religion and

Spirituality: One Step Beyond …
A FOUR-PART SEMINAR SERIES
HOSTED BY CHRISTOPHER NAUGHTON

OUR GUESTS:

Leslie Kean
Investigative journalist, author of the book &
Netflix series Surviving Death: A Journalist YOUR HOST:
Investigates Evidence for an Afterlife

Christopher Naughton, Esq.

Author and Emmy® Award-Winning Host,

Daniel Sheehan, Esq. New Thinking Allowed Guest Host

Executive Producer of The One MindTM Series
Harvard Divinity School–trained
Constitutional/Civil Rights Attorney,
Actively Involved in UFO Disclosure Sign up and learn
about early registration
discounts:

James Tunney ¯ unityrenaissance.org/onestepbeyond

Irish Barrister, Writer, Painter & For more information contact
Speaker On Marian Apparitions Ó[email protected]
and Mysticism
WHEN
WEDNESDAYS @ 7 PM ET
SEPT 18 | SEPT 25 | OCT 02 | OCT 09
Alan Cohen, M.A.
Inspirational Best-selling Author, Teacher,
WHERE
Speaker, Director of Foundation for Holistic
Life Coaching • BY ZOOM
• IN-PERSON AT THE UNITY
RENAISSANCE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Speakers subject to change due to world events and
emerging issues. CENTER IN CHESAPEAKE, VA
LOVE JUSTICE FOR ALL

ANTI-RACISM IS
A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
GROWING UP in very charismatic and evangelical Rush Limbaugh—let me assure you that I’m not. We have
Christian spaces, I was told that the Devil’s greatest all internalized some of the traits of these systems, and
trick was convincing us that he didn’t exist. I feel a they unconsciously influence our words, thoughts, beliefs,
similar vibe when it comes to the big three systems and actions.
of oppression—capitalism, patriarchy, and white Let me throw myself under the bus for a moment.
supremacy—in New Thought I am a man who has
and other spiritual spaces. These internalized traits of
systems managed to convince patriarchy that I always
some of us that they don’t exist, need to be aware of, like
we are immune from them, a sense of entitlement
talking about them isn’t helpful, around sex, assumptions
or we will overcome them just by around gender roles, and
doing our spiritual practices. equating my masculinity
In hindsight, it might not with sexual and romantic
be the best comparison since prowess or physical
the Devil isn’t real. Systems strength and appearance.
of oppression, however, not My internalized traits of
only do exist but also—and capitalism include equating
this is always the hardest part my worth with how much I
to hear much less admit—we earn, judging my creativity
perpetuate them as individuals by how much it can be
and communities. Now before monetized, and assuming
you think I’m calling anyone what my financial status
racist—like a recent reader who, should be at my age. And
in response to my March/April yes, even as a Black man,
feature “Decolonizing New I have internalized traits
Thought,” actually called me racist and compared me to of white supremacy: paternalism, colorism, valuing
the expertise of white people over people of color, and
feeling more comfortable in white spaces.
Years of spiritual practices like meditation did not
OGUN HOLDER diminish these traits or even make me aware of them. It
is an ordained wasn’t because I was bad at meditation, it was because
Unity minister, that’s not what meditation is designed to do. We all know
certified spiritual supposedly spiritual people who also inflict devastating
coach, teacher, harm. Whenever an abusive misogynistic guru is outed,
and podcaster. we’re shocked that such spiritual avatars could behave so
He is the author heinously. Unless they were actively doing the work to
of Rants to identify and shift internalized and unconscious traits of
Revelations and oppression, we shouldn’t be.
is also the cofounder Many spiritual practices have themselves been
of an online spiritual corrupted by systems of oppression. Yoga, for example,
community called is often reduced from an ancient all-encompassing
project_SANCTUS system of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines
(projectsanctus.com). designed to still the mind and rest in detached
Visit revogunholder.com. awareness, to poses in a class that you dare not attend

14 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 EXPLORING SOCIAL JUSTICE AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

 Doing conscious
work to become
an anti-racist,
anti-capitalist
feminist is
spiritual work ...
it forces us to
investigate,
deconstruct,
and transform the
parts of ourselves
that hinder us
f rom realizing ...
our divine nature.
without fashionably expensive gear (and
in which you sometimes have to contend
with trendy distractions like goats and beer)
without a mention of spiritual awareness.
Thanks, capitalism!
Spiritual practices do not automatically
make us anti-racist, anti-capitalist feminists.
However, doing conscious work to become
an anti-racist, anti-capitalist feminist
is spiritual work because it forces us to
investigate, deconstruct, and transform
the parts of ourselves that hinder us from
realizing, experiencing, and expressing the
fullness of our divine nature.
The first step is to admit that these parts
exist—a challenge for many spiritual seekers
who see themselves as “good people.” The
second is to find resources and safe spaces
to do the transformative work—it’s both an
individual and communal journey. Third, do
the work—slowly, humbly, gently, patiently,
always extending grace to yourself and others
on the journey.
It’s uncomfortable work. Mistakes will
be made. And it’s the only path to creating
a world where we feel Oneness both inside
and out.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 15

HEALING, SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY

SUE MORTER, D.C.,

SERENDIPITY OR is an international
speaker and
ENTANGLEMENT? bioenergetic
medicine
practitioner. She
is the founder
HAVE YOU EVER had a moment in which something
of the Morter
coincidental happened that made you stop and wonder
Institute for
how it could be explained? Maybe you were thinking of
Bioenergetics in
an old friend when suddenly they called, or you stumbled
Carmel, Indiana,
upon the perfect solution to a problem just when you
and the author
needed it most. When this happens, it’s as if the universe
of The Energy
is saying, “Hey, pay attention! There’s something special
Codes. Visit
happening here.”
drsuemorter.com.
These seemingly random occurrences, known as
synchronicities, refer to meaningful coincidences that
defy chance. When two particles of energy of any size So when we talk about particles becoming entangled, we’re
become entangled, their states become correlated, talking about the fundamental building blocks of the universe,
such that the state of one particle instantaneously dancing to the tune of a cosmic symphony, weaving together
influences the state of the other, regardless of the the fabric of reality in ways we’re only just beginning to
distance between them. comprehend. It’s a reminder that the universe is
Imagine the tiniest building Recognizing far more magical than we could ever imagine.
blocks of the universe, so small Think about it: If our thoughts can influence
that they make atoms look like our role as the behavior of entangled particles, what
giant skyscrapers in comparison. else could they be capable of? Maybe those
These are particles—tiny, energetic creators within moments of synchronicity are more than just
entities that make up everything
around us, including the air we
this vast and happenstance. Maybe they’re signposts guiding
us along our path, reminding us to pay attention
breathe, the cars we drive, and the interconnected to the subtle dance of the universe.
stars in the sky. In the realm of Recognizing our role as creators within this
quantum physics, particles play universe vast and interconnected universe underscores
by a whole new set of laws in the profound impact of our actions and
which location and momentum
underscores the decisions, emphasizing the interconnectedness
blur into probabilities.
Enter entanglement, a quantum
profound impact of all things and the ripple effects they
generate—shaping our reality.
phenomenon. When two particles of our actions So the next time life throws you a curveball or
become entangled, it’s as if they’re a stroke of luck, pause for a moment. Is there a
cosmically linked, sharing a bond and decisions ... deeper pattern emerging? Is the universe trying
that defies the limitations of space to tell you something? By paying attention
and time. Imagine two dancers performing a perfectly to these synchronicities, we open ourselves up to a world of
synchronized routine, no matter how far apart they possibility. We become more attuned to the rhythm of the
are. That’s what entangled particles do—they move in cosmos, aligning with our power to create our circumstances
perfect harmony. and impact the world regardless of time and space.
But here’s where it gets more interesting: When Embrace the magic of these moments and let them serve as
one entangled particle is observed or changed, its reminders to stay present, to stay curious, to stay open to the
partner reacts instantly, no matter how far away. This wonders of the universe, and most of all to stay intentional.
instantaneous connection challenges our understanding Who knows what treasures (and gifts within) you might
and opens new possibilities. The intrigue deepens when uncover when you start paying attention to the cosmic
we contemplate human consciousness. Studies suggest symphony playing all around you? The cosmos invites you to be
consciousness may interact with quantum phenomena. your creative self with the power to choose what moves.

16 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 HOW SCIENCE IS UNITING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT
 The Neuroscience
of Getting
What
You
Want

AND WHY YOU MAY NOT WANT TO

SEEK WHAT YOU WANT AFTER ALL
18 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024
BY STEPHEN KIESLING

A
bout eight years ago a brain surgeon and neuroscientist folks like the Dalai Lama. Not such a bad life! The second
named James Doty, M.D.—the head of Stanford book is a workbook for getting to such fulfillment without
University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism the raggedy roller-coaster ride. Even if you feel on top of
Research—wrote a best-selling memoir called Into the Magic the world and confident in your ability to manifest stuff,
Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the you’ll likely enjoy the books. If you’re feeling in a rut or at
Brain and Secrets of the Heart, and you should put down this a loss, the stories and workbook provide the tools to build
magazine and get on your bike and ride to your local bookstore a new path toward such a life. But that’s not the magic
and buy the book. Go ahead, get the between the lines.
book and make it a quest—even if
you order it at the bookstore and it
What it takes to hit Doty’s version of
manifesting is appropriate
comes by mail. all your goals is a for the leader of a center for
While you’re out there, buy altruism. “Manifesting is a
Doty’s new book, Mind Magic: The f ierce dedication process whereby you utilize
Neuroscience of Manifesting and the power within yourself
How It Changes Everything, which to your quest over to have an intention occur
just came out. Seriously. You are
going to learn about Doty and
time—and that means that ultimately is not pure
self-interest,” he says. In
both of his books over the next sinking your goals other words, this recipe for
few magazine pages, but you’re not manifesting comes from
going to get enough to manifest so deep into your within you—it’s your brain
what you want. That takes time at work—but is not just
and practice and what seems like subconscious that about you. As he explains,
magic, but Doty shows that it’s
actually neuroscience that you can
your conscious mind “Plenty of others say that
manifesting is a way to
use systematically. automatically tracks get anything you want.
What it takes to hit all your That’s the more traditional
goals is a fierce dedication to your paths to take you to message of The Secret and
quest over time—and that means the prosperity gospels: The
sinking your goals so deep into your those goals ... narrative, ‘I want, I want,
subconscious that your conscious I want, I deserve, I should
mind automatically tracks paths to take you to those goals have. The Universe wants me to have.’” That’s not what
like a bloodhound on the scent of synchronicities. Real effort this is about.
is key. So is having a talented guide take you by the hand.
Such hand-holding through stories and practices is the A WORLD OF WANT
reason for buying and reading and rereading Doty’s books. Doty had good reasons to start off wanting. “My father was
In the meantime, the next few pages can help you clarify an alcoholic,” he says. “My mother had had a stroke when I
your goal for whatever magic you choose to muster. was a child, was partially paralyzed, had a seizure disorder,
But here’s a twist: If you are reading this magazine, you was chronically depressed, and attempted suicide. We were
are probably already seeking something other than what you on public assistance and evicted from various residences. And
want. That’s the real key. Then you’ll be reading Doty for the of course, that is not the typical narrative of a person who
magic between the lines. We’ll get to that in a bit. has success in our society. When you have experiences such
Into the Magic Shop is a narrative from rags to riches, and as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, poverty, et cetera,
back to rags (or as close to rags as one can get and still be a the likelihood of you being ‘successful’ diminishes. And the
brain surgeon at Stanford), and then to fulfillment—the sort obvious fact is that many of the children who grow up in those
of fulfillment that includes having a happy family life and environments have drug and alcohol abuse issues and often
running a center for compassion and spending time with end up in poverty or have mental health issues.”

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 19

 In short, young James Doty
needed a miracle to get much
“And after that period yourself, what people nowadays call
psychological safety. That was Ruth.
of anywhere—or at least a of reflection, I changed We began a conversation, and after
significant intervention. This is several minutes she said, ‘I’m here for
how it happened: my perspective. another six weeks, and if you show
“I would frequently get on my
bicycle and ride as far and as fast
And the perspective up every day, I think I could teach
you something that could help you.’
away from home as possible,” change was, ‘It’s Now I should preface that by saying
he says. “And on one of those that she was asking me very personal
excursions, I ended up at a strip not about me.’ The questions. And normally I would not
mall where there was a magic have shared the answers because I was
shop. I walked in and I was important thing is, ashamed, frankly, and embarrassed.
greeted by a woman named Ruth
who had no knowledge of magic
how can I do things But with her, I did.
“And I think that stimulated her
per se. Her son owned the store, that are of service to ask me to show up every day. And
and Ruth was minding it. I did. And she taught me a practice
“She greeted me with a or helpful to others where I could overcome the negative
radiant smile. And I’m sure all voice that was going on in my head,
of us have met people who are
outside of myself?” and also made me realize that I was in
so inviting that their presence
makes you feel good about
—James Doty, M.D. a constant state of trauma, and people
who are constantly traumatized are
always tense. So the first thing she
taught me was a relaxation technique, very similar to a
typical mindfulness practice. I had never realized how
tense I was. Every muscle was
always tense.
“After that, she made me
realize that the negative
dialogue that was constantly
going on in my head was
not me. And that was very
important because I used to
think it was truth. And so
she gave me the tools, if you
will, to change that narrative
from one of negativity to one of
positive self-affirmation. And that
made a very huge difference.”

THE IRONY OF MAGIC

Young Doty made a list of 10 things
a 12-year-old boy in 1968 would want,
and he put the list in a box, what proved to
be his magic box. On the list was a million
dollars, a mansion, a Porsche, a Rolex, and all
the things he thought were really important
and would make him happy. And not only did

20 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

Doty make his million,
he got himself into the
stratospheric position
of being able to lose
about $80 million in
the dot-com crash.
He had a mansion
in Newport Beach.
He had a Porsche,
a Ferrari, a Range
Rover, and a
Mercedes. He was
flying around in
private jets and had
a villa in Italy and
was buying his own
island and dating
model/actress
types. He got all
the things on his
list and more, and
his friends from
childhood thought
he had the life
fantastic, but …
“Deep inside I
was miserable,” he says.
“There was nothing that was
making me feel good. I kept
waiting to feel good about myself.
When I ended up losing everything and being $3 million in the doesn’t give a f*** about you. It may not sound like it, but
hole, I went back to the house in Newport Beach before I sold this is good news. The universe doesn’t give a f*** about
it. I was sitting on the steps and trying to understand what the you not because you are not worthy or are out of alignment
hell had happened to me. And then I went back to these lessons with the cosmos or have been put under a curse for 10
that Ruth had taught me. And I suddenly realized that although generations. No, the Universe doesn’t give a f*** about you
I was a doctor and was helping people, every step I was taking because it has no f*** to give.”
was to have people tell me that I was okay. And it wasn’t working, But you do,
do, Doty says. The better you understand
and it had not worked. And then I reflected on the lessons, and how you work, the more effective you become. And if
then I had an insight. And the insight was that all the actions I you are the person reading for the magic between the
was taking were about me. I wanted this, I wanted that. And I lines in both books, you see that these books are not
thought by having all these things, that that was my purpose, and about manifesting stuff or even finding some lost key to
that would make me happy. And after that period of reflection, I happiness. The two books are about becoming Ruth, the
changed my perspective. And the perspective change was, ‘It’s not person who changes everything.
about me.’ The important thing is, how can I do things that are of “You see on a very powerful level how you can be that
service or helpful to others outside of myself?” person,” Doty explains. “And when you’ve experienced the
Another and perhaps jarring revelation that Doty had would power of what it does to change a person’s life, you sit there
become the very first lines of his second book: “The Universe and go, ‘Ah! I am so blessed!’”

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 21

 Unlikely Lightworkers
from Liverpool
BY PHILIP GOLDBERG

The Beatles were

more than musical
masters—they were
spiritual pioneers.

22 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 HARRISON LED THE WAY
“I
n February 1968 the Beatles went to India for an
extended stay with their new guru, Maharishi Mahesh It started with George Harrison. Musically, he was always in
Yogi. It may have been the most momentous spiritual the shadow of the songwriting superstars John Lennon and Paul
retreat since Jesus spent those 40 days in the wilderness.” McCartney, and on the cuteness scale he lagged behind Ringo Starr.
That’s how I opened my book, American Veda: From Emerson But spiritually, he was a trailblazer. When he heard a sitar for the first
and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation: How Indian Spirituality time during the filming of the 1965 movie Help!, he became intoxicated
Changed the West. When it was by the sound and purchased an instrument. That led
to the famous opening bars of “Norwegian Wood,”
published in 2010, I braced myself
for blowback. Nothing happened.
Like most young which introduced the sitar to much of the world,
Not a single angry email. No one
accused me of demeaning Jesus.
people, especially eventually giving rise to a genre known as raga rock.
Harrison then enlisted the renowned sitar master,
No one tried to convince me I was in times of war Ravi Shankar, as his mentor. Not only did Shankar
mistaken. Instead, I received dozens become a superstar, bringing Indian music to major
of messages from people whose and social unrest, venues like Woodstock, but the mentorship brought
lives had been transformed by the Harrison to India for an extended visit, during which
Beatles’ India sojourn.
they started to his spiritual life took a Hindu/yogic turn that would
In fact, over time, millions of
lives were affected by that event. It
wonder who they largely define the rest of his life—and his music.
Consider “Within You Without You” on the
was as though the earth tilted on were and what life Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. I
its axis, allowing India’s ancient think of it as the first rock ’n’ roll Upanishad, as
wisdom to flow more easily to the was all about. it teems with nondual insights (“When you’ve
West. The media, always in pursuit seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of
of the Fab Four, descended on the quiet, holy town of Rishikesh mind is waiting there.”) The album, with Paramahansa Yogananda
in the Himalayan foothills. Photographers and reporters, and his guru lineage on the cover (Harrison’s choice), was released
banned from the ashram grounds, tried everything from on May 26, 1967, just in time for the Summer of Love. But while
bribery to perching in trees with the monkeys to get something psychedelic drugs had offered Harrison and his mates a glimpse
to publish. As a direct result of the nonstop coverage, formerly of the transcendent, the East now beckoned with safer and more
esoteric precepts and practices quickly went mainstream. dependable methods, including meditation.
But let’s back up a few years to get a better grasp on why The opportunity arose back in London, when his wife Pattie took
this happened. him, McCartney, and Lennon to see Maharishi Mahesh Yogi speak
The lads from Liverpool started out as a ragtag band in a hotel ballroom. The diminutive guru had been circling the
playing local clubs and in time became bigger than Elvis globe for about a decade, teaching his Transcendental Meditation
Presley and Frank Sinatra had been when female fans (TM) mainly to metaphysically inclined adults, many of whom were
screamed and wept at the sight of them. Mass media had engaged with New Thought. Then the technique caught on among
become truly massive since those previous crazes, and there college students and the budding counterculture, and on August 24,
were four Beatles to go around, each one photogenic and 1967, the London Hilton was packed with youngsters. Afterward, the
lovable in his own way. As for their music, the beats were rock stars were ushered backstage.
danceable, the harmonies infectious, and the lyrics told Within days, all four Beatles plus Mick Jagger, along with
simple tales of youthful love and heartache. their wives and girlfriends, hopped a train to Wales to learn the
Then they grew up. Maharishi’s form of mantra meditation. The practice took hold, and
Like most young people, especially in times of war and social the lads—Harrison and Lennon especially—became public advocates,
unrest, they started to wonder who they were and what life was describing how meditation changed them for the better.
all about. They were also sensitive enough to be disturbed by To some degree, the new awareness was reflected in their music.
the suffering and emptiness (not the Buddhist kind) among Listen, for instance, to “The Inner Light,” the lyrics to which Harrison
those who had done everything society said would make them took from the Tao Te Ching, or McCartney’s “The Fool on the Hill,”
happy. By the mid-’60s, the band’s music had become more about a guru-like hermit who perceives things the rest of us do not, or
sophisticated and their lyrics deeper and more meaningful. “Across the Universe,” Lennon’s paean to the meditative experience
Listen, for instance, to the trenchant observations about life in with the refrain “Jai guru deva” (glory to the divine teacher).
the modern world in “Nowhere Man” and “Eleanor Rigby” (“all
the lonely people”). MEDITATION HAS A MOMENT
This kind of maturation became an on-ramp to the spiritual Flocks of young people emulated their idols by learning TM or
path for the Beatles and many of their contemporaries. finding their way to other gurus and Eastern disciplines. And the

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 23

media couldn’t get enough of the story: Teens were rejecting But, as immortal as the musical output was, the truly game-
drugs in favor of introspective practices that had formerly been changing result of their India sojourn was an enduring spiritual
of interest only to ascetics, eccentrics, and other weirdos. When revolution. It accelerated an East-to-West transmission that had
1968 rolled in, Look magazine ran a cover story titled “The Non- been slowly changing the way we understand religion and engage
Drug Turn-On Hits Campus” and Life declared it the “Year of the the spiritual impulse ever since the days of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Guru.” Then, in early February, a fresh wave of media madness and the transcendentalists. The constantly growing cohort known
greeted the Beatles’ arrival in India along with Mia Farrow, the as “spiritual but not religious” would not have been possible
Beach Boys’ Mike Love, and folk rocker Donovan. without the contemplative methods we imported from Asia.
It would have been easy to dismiss the frenzy as just another
pop culture craze. But this was different: four fun-loving A LEGACY IN LYRICS
youngsters, wealthy beyond imagining, who could go anywhere The Beatles broke up about two years after their India
and do anything, hunkered down in an austere, vegetarian, experience. During that time, they gave us some spectacular
non-air-conditioned compound on the Ganges River to spend songs, at least two of which (“Let It Be” and “Here Comes the
hours with their eyes closed. Thoughtful reporters and social Sun”) have spiritual overtones that have made them standards
commentators asked why. What was the appeal of this meditation in the pop music hymnal. As a solo performer, Lennon gave us
thing? What could impoverished India offer celebrities who “Instant Karma”—an unforgiving rant that planted the concept of
seemed to have everything a human being could want? Questions karma in the public mind—and “Imagine,” perhaps the era’s most
like those turned what might have been a brief media burst into a beloved spiritual anthem.
watershed moment in history. But Harrison carried the spiritual torch highest. For the rest
Before long, scientists became curious about whether of his life, he took seriously his role as a proponent of Indian
meditation was producing something more than auto-suggestion wisdom. He produced The Radha Krsna Temple, an album of
or a placebo effect. They began to investigate and discovered Sanskrit chants by Hare Krishna musicians that crashed the
measurable, quantifiable physiological effects. An explosion pop charts, as well as Chants of India, traditional sacred songs
of research followed, and within a few years, hundreds of rendered by Shankar. And his own lyrics could easily be edited
articles had appeared in scientific journals with implications for into a concise synopsis of Hinduism. Check out the devotional
healthcare, psychology, and neuroscience. As a result, it wasn’t “My Sweet Lord” (“I really want to see you …”); “Beware of
only acid-head hippies who meditated; it was also their valium- Darkness,” with its warnings about worldly attachments; “Give
popping parents. And now, of course, physicians and therapists Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth),” which evokes the eternal
routinely recommend meditation, mindfulness, and yoga postures longing of the seeker; “Awaiting on You All,” in which he advises
for wellness purposes. us to chant the names of God; “Art of Dying,” in which he makes
And when they weren’t meditating or attending discourses, the case for reincarnation; and “Brainwashed,” the title song of his
the lads composed more than 20 new songs, most of which ended final album, in which he calls God “the lover that we miss,” quotes
up on what came to be called The White Album. Oddly, none the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (“The soul does not love, it is love
of the lyrics were explicitly spiritual. Some songs, like “Dear itself ”), and closes with a hidden-track invocation to the deities
Prudence,” “Get Back,” and “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Shiva and Parvati.
Bill,” were about people at the ashram, and “Sexy Sadie” was The Beatles’ place in musical and cultural history will no doubt
about Maharishi himself. Lennon penned it in anger after he and be commemorated forever. In the long run, however, their role as
Harrison left in a huff because of rumors of guru misbehavior. unlikely spiritual pioneers might have an even bigger impact.

24 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 
 
 

Armor 
   
10-20

I T’S A RARE ANCIENT SECRET — and vastly more potent than

guided meditations, mindful practices or tedious e
orts to

“watch your breath.”
The potent OJAYA Deep Meditation
“Armor” technique quickly settles you into an ultra-deep state

of calm, blissful, rejuvenating rest. It’s soothing and deeply
relaxing — and so powerful that you don’t need to meditate

long hours. Just 10-20 minutes  and 
 the

  
deeper roots of anxiety, lethargy and stress. Brain fog

evaporates. Your vital energies get recharged within
OJAYA    minutes — the perfect antidote to the fatigue and frenzy

of life in the real world . . . and a rare ancient beauty
   
secret for healthy, youthful aging. OJAYA 
 
        to make you strong
   from the 
 — to empower you to do something
 
great for the world. Closely guarded for centuries,
the timeless secrets of the OJAYA “Armor” technique
are now yours on our exquisitely beautiful videos —
produced with love in the Earthborn Rainforest.

 OJAYA   


  

OJAYA.com
The OJ

Our mission is to revive and restore the forgotten secrets of true, classic,
ultra-deep “Armor” meditation — rare teachings which have been long-lost
amidst the high seas of today’s commercialized self-help marketplace.
ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVES:
Amandla Stenberg
, The
CHANNELS
,
Force
BY KAREN
BRAILSFORD
Journalist KAREN BRAILSFORD
was over the moon when
actress and musician AMANDLA
STENBERG agreed to meet
her over Zoom for this heart-
to-heart about spiritual matters
for Spirituality & Health: A Unity
Publication. Brailsford, a lifelong
seeker who feels blessed to be
Stenberg’s mother, once captioned
an Instagram photo of her daughter
with Michael Bernard Beckwith of the
Agape International Spiritual Center:
“When your master teachers run into
one another at a Hollywood event.”
Brailsford says she has learned a
great deal from each one.
Stenberg’s latest project, The
Acolyte, an eight-part series
airing on Disney+ starting June
4, marks her launch into the Star
Wars universe. Stenberg plays the
titular character. It’s an adventure
she was destined to take after a
string of acclaimed roles in The
Hunger Games, The Hate U Give,
Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, and more.
“Amandla” means “power” in Zulu,
and George Lucas’ world is all about
“The Force.” Talk about a match
made in heaven. Here is their
mother-daughter exploration of
the spiritual underpinnings of
Stenberg’s life.
© 2024 Ramona Rosales.
All Rights Reserved.
 ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVES

KAREN BRAILSFORD: I thought it KB: What does your spiritual practice see how that seed was planted in you by your
would feel centering to begin by playing look like? mother, and I see how you planted that seed
the Gayatri Mantra [considered the in me.
most powerful of all Hindu mantras] AS: Because I was taught how to meditate There’s a quote by Audre Lorde from Zami:
because it encapsulates what I think of as a kid, it’s a place I can drop into very A New Spelling of My Name: “I have felt the
you and spirituality. I remember trying easily now. I don’t put any pressure on age-old triangle of mother father and child,
to memorize the words, but you listened myself to achieve any particular result. with the ‘I’ at its eternal core, elongate and
to it once and, boom. You got it. It’s just I don’t have the intention to find inner flatten out into the elegantly strong triad of
one example of how magical and mystical peace. I’m not trying to make my mind grandmother mother daughter, with the ‘I’
you’ve always been. as quiet as possible. If that is the result, moving back and forth flowing in either or
fantastic. But it’s more like investigation. both directions as needed.”
AMANDLA STENBERG: Aww, you’re It’s a way to feel each part of my body and With my favorite writers, including
going to make me cry. what each part does. It’s an opportunity to Toni Morrison, there is a very important
see how I’m feeling, and that can exist on acknowledgment of the nature of ancestry
KB: Crying’s okay. It’s healing! multiple planes: physically, emotionally, and the relationship between generations of
mentally, psychically. Or maybe to see women, and how those generations of women
AS: Crying’s great! I love crying. It’s very those things that are coming up that carry wisdom and pass it down. Even though
important to me. don’t belong to me but to my ancestors. I never had the chance to meet her in this
Meditation gives me so much perspective plane of existence, I feel very connected to my
KB: So, why did you say yes to this and gratitude for what it is to be alive. grandmother. You have done such a beautiful
conversation with me? If I were not actively engaging in this job of making her alive to me, of allowing me
practice, I wouldn’t feel I knew myself or to connect with her spirit, of teaching me I
AS: Recently I’ve been reflecting on my that I was being as loving toward myself can always call on her.
relationship to spirituality and what I deem as I could be.
my higher power. Life accumulates with I would also use the process of KB: While pregnant, the word sentry popped
responsibilities and events that can decenter creativity and fantasy to envision and into my head. I realized Mommy was on
you from a sense of groundedness. This create visual manifestations in my head the other side waiting to usher you into
past year I’ve realized there are practices of energetically working through things. life and protect you. During your birth, I
indispensable to my being fully connected This was something I did a lot as a kid, had a vision of women standing in a circle
to my reality, to my body, and to my loved but as a teenager I lost touch with it for a holding bundles. I joined that circle with
ones, and ultimately, they service my bit. And now it is a vital practice for me. my own bundle—you—and began singing
ability to navigate my life. This spotlight aloud “Bringing in the Sheaves.” I’m sure my
is an amazing way to reflect on this with KB: You mentioned surrendering. I carry ob-gyn thought it was the drugs! So, it’s only
you because spirituality has fundamentally in my wallet an index card that says, natural you would be aware that we come
shaped me as a person because of how you “I surrender my life to God.” This was from this lineage, this spiritual lineage, that
raised me. passed down to you. is very powerful and very knowing and very
I feel very blessed to have grown up deep and very ancient, and palpable.
within a spiritual community and to have AS: It’s been proven we hold memory You said as a teenager you moved away
had these practices instilled in me from the in our DNA. I think about how you, from all this a bit. We take on our parents’
jump. I have a persistent sense of faith and Grandma, and all of the ancestors have beliefs, and then we step away ...
surrender, even in moments when I don’t carried memory, have carried wisdom,
necessarily recognize it. It’s kind of a North have carried joy, have carried pain in AS: And then we reject it a bit! [Laughs]
Star for me—the concept of surrendering. their DNA and passed it on. With each
So, when I think of moments of being generation, we have the opportunity KB: Exactly! So that we can learn and
able to learn something quickly, or write to look at generational trauma and embody it for ourselves. In one interview you
something, or share something, or express shower love and try to heal them. What’s said you believe in divine order.
love, it feels like I am just allowing whatever amazing is that work cannot be done
is meant to come through me channel in one generation. It is a collaboration AS: I’ve always had a deep sense instilled in
through me. Whether that is the art I create, between different generations. A lot of me that the way things unfold is how they’re
the things I have to say, or the love I have the work you do in your life has led me to supposed to. And so I let that sense guide
for others. understand how important that work is. I me toward the things that I’m supposed

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 27

 to do, and away from the things I’m KB: I notice you’re wearing a yin and that it’s my job to make myself the conduit
not supposed to. When I first read yang T-shirt. through which whatever is saying “hi” to
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, me right now can express itself. And that
I started to think about the nature of AS: It was given to me by the stunt was the reason I decided The Acolyte was
time not being linear. I related that to department as a wrap gift. Eastern going to be my path. That sensation kept
this triad. I think my ancestors exist philosophy is important to the Star coming back to me in preproduction. It
with as much realness and fullness as Wars universe. There’s the light side really did feel like something ancestral was
you and I do in this flesh reality. of “The Force.” There’s the dark side trying to speak to me. And we do have a
One of my other favorite books is of “The Force.” It felt important for lot of those themes in the show. There’s an
The Order of Time by physicist Carlo me to incorporate that imagery in a exploration of womanhood, of ancestry,
Rovelli. Time bends around planets in literal way. I ended up coming up with and of communities of women sharing
the galaxy. I think about it more as a a symbol—a yin and yang combined spiritual information with each other and
river or current we experience going with a spiral. I don’t necessarily think passing it down. So, all these things I felt so
at different speeds at different times, in terms of dark and light in my own naturally connected to were already baked
depending on where you are. That to me life, but I do think in terms of there into the project.
is God. Octavia Butler says in Parable being forces of energy that can feel
of the Sower that God is change. And polarized at times. They’re in a constant KB: What an affirmation!
for me, that is what “The Force” is. relationship with each other. And the
It is this current of energy that shifts way I relate to that the most is through AS: Absolutely. One hundred percent. Very
and transmutes and becomes different yin and yang. early in preproduction, I came up with a
things but always returns to a place of sort of theorem around “The Force” called
homeostasis. This is a concept integral KB: What’s the principal message of “Force Balance.” I shared it with our team. It
to Star Wars. There’s a lot of spirituality, Star Wars? became a way to open up this conversation
religion, and philosophy baked in, which around how we could explore the natural arc
is why so many people around the world AS: The Star Wars universe is really of justice or balance in the universe.
love it. It embodies a lot of fundamental about spiritual force and how different
concepts around power and the balance communities, including the community KB: You’ve spoken out about various
of “good” and “bad.” of monks called the Jedi, relate to political issues, including Gaza. How exactly
the spiritual force that governs the do you see the relationship between the
KB: How did you prepare? universe. Star Wars also explores how spiritual and the political?
politics engages with spirituality and
AS: During preproduction, I had time how spirituality can be corrupted by AS: Spiritual principles are the
to ponder the spiritual essence of “The political systems and groups trying foundation for my political principles.
Force” and to track its entire trajectory to enforce particular ideas of how The North Star of my political principles
over the whole course of the Star Wars “The Force” should be used. I knew all is the concept of intersectionality and
timeline and through its different TV this before I started The Acolyte, but the idea that prejudice or persecution
shows, books, and movies. I had time to working on it allowed me to enter a is a structure, and our self-identifiers—
think about how the Star Wars universe reflective spiritual place around what gender, race, class—are a network.
embodies this concept that “The Force” I thought of these concepts. That was In order to understand the persecution
always returns to a place of balance. such a great gift. I had a feeling I was of one group of people, we must
What I also find magical about the Star going to engage in this exploration of understand the persecution of all
Wars universe is that it’s a network of myself through the projects, but I could people. Angela Davis has provided a
different concepts many different people not have foreseen the degree. comprehensive perspective on what’s going
have contributed to. And yet there is I remember feeling this tingly on in Gaza by highlighting that you cannot
such a continuity in ethos and that sensation come over me. It felt very address xenophobia without addressing
has fascinated me because oftentimes, powerful and was vibrating through anti-Semitism and vice versa. We can’t have
sci-fi is just a way to explore concepts my body. This was when I was trying a conversation about genocide without
we all think about consciously or to decide whether or not I was going acknowledging the history of genocide
subconsciously. It feels easier to digest to do the project. I knew it would for Jewish people and the fact that it is the
because we’re looking at those things potentially shape my life in a lot of same evil at play, which is the othering and
through fantasy. different ways. It became clear to me targeting of a group of people.

28 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVES
What really hurts my heart is when people
aren’t able to have room for the complexity
of that because I feel it’s so integral to
there being any sort of resolution, or just
validation of human experience and pain.
It’s something that happens when a group
of people have experienced such pain and
persecution—they continue along the
trajectory of embodying some of the ethos
of the oppressor. Jamaica Kincaid’s book
A Small Place, set in Antigua, is about how
the structure of colonialism is so pervasive it
affects and shapes the ethos of the oppressed.
And that is something I think about a lot in
moments like this.

KB: I always go back to spiritual principle: There is no

other. We are one.

AS: Yes!

KB: Is there anything that we haven’t discussed that you’d

like included?

AS: Spirituality is such a crucial lens through which

I navigate my life. From the moment I wake up to
the moment I go to sleep, it’s how I process things
happening in my life. I often do that through music
too. Music is a spiritual solace for me. I’m really happy
that most of the music I’m making right now is an
exploration of my spiritualty.

KB: I hope people get that what you’re embodying we all

have access to. It may not look like a Star Wars project.
But we’re all part of this fabric, this tapestry.

AS: I love the idea of the fabric and tapestry. You are
such a powerful guiding force for me. I feel comfortable
surrendering to the idea that I can let what is meant to come
through me come through me because you have given me the
confidence and the freedom to do that as I have grown up.
I am excited to share more music with you and with
the world because all the things we’ve spoken about I am
exploring with my music. I wrote a song called “Butterfly”
yesterday. I’m going to be corny and just read it. It goes,
Mae (Amandla
Trees never weep for dead leaves in the snow. Seeds never Stenberg) in
stop to wonder if they’ll grow. Change is the only constant Lucasfilm’s
we can know. Faith is to surrender control—butterfly. It’s The Acolyte,
exclusively on
me contending with the fact that sometimes changing or Disney+. ©2024
growing can feel really uncomfortable. But that change is Lucasfilm Ltd.
what God is to me. & TM. All Rights
Reserved.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 29

 Over the MOON About
Helping Animals
(and Their People)
BY JILL ANGELO

S
ince I was a child, I’ve had a ritual: Every night, I go outside
and search the sky for the moon and stars. I marvel at the
magnificence of a dark, crisp, clear, midnight blue sky and its
symphony of constellations, occasional meteors, and the glorious
moon herself—each illuminating the vastness. This simple
practice always gives me the deepest peace and centeredness. It
aligns my internal compass every night before bed.
I also love animals. Their presence gives me a sense of peace,
calm, and acceptance, and we communicate with a different
language than the one I share with people. As I grew up, the
awkwardness of childhood and the insecurities of adolescence
would fade to insignificance when I was with our family dog.
It’s been the same with my own pets as an adult. My furry,
feathered, or finned creatures have always seemed to welcome
and accept me.

CHYNNA’S LOVE
I was 21 when I got my first dog on my own—an incredible,
fluffy, snowflake-white Samoyed I named Chynna. She was
perfection. (Aren’t they all?) She had shiny, dark, olive-size eyes
with a jet-black nose and the main characteristic of Samoyeds,
the “Sammy smile.” She was lively, friendly, and social. Chynna
would traipse through the mud on rainy days, come in
dripping wet, and then play a game of chase with her muddy
paws all over my townhouse carpeting. Somehow, I always
readily forgave her.

30 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 FIND YOUR CALLING

She opened my heart to the unconditional

love that animal companions have for us
humans. The spiritedness of this incredible
breed inspired me to get involved in animal
rescue once I discovered the great need it has.
Because of Chynna’s loving nature, I went on
to rescue and welcome two male Samoyeds—
Sammie and Gabriel—to our pack. Both had
endured terrible living environments before
arriving at my home.
For 13 years, I was blessed to share life with
Chynna’s love: her head tilt when I spoke to her
(as if to say, “I hear you Mom”), her smile, and
her countless other endearing traits. But then I
came home one evening—a night “something”
told me not to go out, and I disregarded it
and left anyway—and found Chynna on the
floor, bloated and hanging on by a thread with
labored breathing and gray gums. I rushed her
to an animal hospital where the staff wanted
to race her to surgery and attempt a lifesaving
procedure that promised little odds of survival.
But I knew—and more importantly, she knew and told me with
her eyes—that it was time. She wanted to rest and be out of pain Then, thanks to a mutual friend, an old friend and I crossed
and suffering. In that moment, a lifetime of all she had given me paths and met for a martini to catch up. She had worked in an
was palpable and I knew I had to give her what she needed, her open intake shelter, and she told me they were hiring. Open
eternal peace and comfort. Anything else to me would have felt intake shelters can be like MASH units because they see the
selfish. Looking back, this moment of advocating for my beloved worst of trauma, pain, suffering, neglect, and starvation—as well
companion to be put to sleep became part of the path that led me as the joys of survival, healing, birth, and adoption—for myriad
to my calling, or life’s purpose. species. In these shelters, no animals are turned away. They take
Chynna’s passing opened many doors for me, including the all animals coming through their doors, giving them care and
deep pain of grieving her loss and the reflection that comes with shelter. I applied and was immediately hired. I ate, slept, and
it. I was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who drank shelter work, absorbing as much as I could and loving
understood my love for animals and knew that she had been every minute.
a best friend to me as many, many animal companions are to Many animals arrived in terrible shape, and those were the
humans. I hear often now of people who grieve more deeply for creatures that spoke deepest to my heart. My husband Scott and
their animal companions than they do for even some friends or I began fostering them. We would take them into our growing
relatives, and I believe them. home of animals and provide them a very soft place to land and
heal until we found them adoptive homes ourselves or until
we returned them to the shelter, where they were eventually
ANIMAL RESCUE WORK adopted. We cooked special meals and hand-fed when
As time passed and my pain healed, I dove into animal necessary, slept on bathroom floors, changed diapers, expressed
rescue and its community through a series of what seemed bladders and bowels, and carried them when they were either
like serendipitous moments. I crossed paths with other rescue too weak to walk or couldn’t walk because they were paralyzed.
groups, seminars, animals that needed help, and adoption With patience and commitment, we were even able to help
events at stores while shopping for goodies for my own pups, all many walk again.
leading me step by step toward something that didn’t quite have Our greatest honor was hospice. We welcomed those animals
a name yet. I had a knowing that it was coming, even if I wasn’t in for their final days—no matter how little time they may have
sure what it was yet. had, and we loved them as if they had been with us forever. We

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 31

FIND YOUR CALLING
stayed with them as they crossed over—to this day, not one One day, on my way to a spiritual conference, I had an
has ever crossed alone as I have always been with them. For intuition to learn more about what animal chaplains were.
those that were too ill or injured to leave the shelter for foster, I was familiar with chaplains as my professional life is
I made sure to be with them too. anchored in spirituality, yet “animal chaplain” was a title
In 2017, Scott and I moved to a modest ranch I had never heard of until this thought downloaded. As
home on an acre of land, where I founded The Moon the weekend continued and additional guidance came,
Dog Farm—named after that night sky and all the various signs led me to a booth where I met Sarah Bowen,
amazing dogs that we had the pleasure of fostering. cofounder of the Compassion Consortium, which offers
I’ve continued to do what is my most favorite work a robust animal chaplaincy training program for people
and privilege in the world, helping the creatures that who feel called to spiritual service on behalf of the more-
come through our doors. We are a small 501(c)(3) than-human world. I couldn’t sign up fast enough. I felt
charitable organization near Chicago. We provide at home in a world I have loved and thrived in for the
rescue and foster care for homeless companion majority of my life, now with an even greater calling.
animals with physical challenges, short- and long- I enthusiastically began the consortium’s nine-month
term medical needs, or hospice. program to become an
We also rescue guinea pigs and I’ve continued to do ordained animal chaplain.
I grounded myself in a
rabbits. Our home includes a sea
of dog beds in designated areas what is my most vocation where I would
so that each sanctuary resident serve people, as well as their
has a place that is theirs. The favorite work and animal companions. I dove
into the program, soaking
floors are lined and decorated
with rugs and foam mats to help
privilege in the up the curriculum, study
those that cannot walk and must
drag their bodies, and for the
world, helping the materials, guest speakers,
and camaraderie of my new
seniors or hospice dogs to have creatures that come cohort friends.
some extra support and comfort In June of 2023, I joined my
when their bodies move slower through our doors. cohort in upstate New York’s
and their legs and bottoms Catskill Mountains, where we
might be a bit unsteady. took a vow to serve animals and the planet. This program
Quality veterinary care, food, and a stable, calm injected new life force into me and into The Moon Dog
environment are our top priorities, as is honoring each Farm. As I reflect on all the steps I took over the years that
animal’s needs and dignity. Some of our adopters who have eventually led me to become an ordained animal chaplain,
had their pets cross over call or text to let us know, and in I continue to give great gratitude for the opportunity to
the world of social media, we see many who have struggled live up to the Compassion Consortium’s motto: “We honor
through illness, trauma, and the dreaded moments of “it is animal lives and heal human hearts.”
time.” People write openly of their pain, seeking help and
support, and the underlying universal consensus is the same:
We never have enough time with our companion animals.

ANIMAL CHAPLAINCY
In my daily spiritual practice, I always ask for guidance
and direction in this calling of mine. This guidance has
been with me throughout my life, although trusting
what I receive has taken some practice. The messages
(intuitions) come from a gentle, calm, quiet voice—the
soul, which guides all of us if we tune into it. I had to
learn to differentiate the soul’s voice from the ego’s
voice, which is anxious, loud, and pushy. Many times, I
have followed those ego noises and learned some most
valuable lessons in what not to do.

32 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 FIND YOUR CALLING

Sofia University
Costa Mesa Campus Palo Alto Campus
Ph: (888) 820-1484 | www.sofia.edu | [email protected]

3333 Harbor Blvd 1069 E. Meadow Circle

Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Palo Alto, CA 94303
C O S T A M E S A & P A L O A L T O

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Welcome to Sofia University, a premier institution at the PROGRAM SCHEDULE
forefront of spirituality and health education. With campuses At Sofia University, we operate on a quarter system,
nestled in the vibrant communities of Costa Mesa and Palo Alto, providing flexibility and accelerated learning
California, Sofia offers a unique opportunity for students in the opportunities for our students. Our courses are offered in
Bay Area and Southern California to immerse themselves in hybrid, in-person, and online formats to accommodate
transformative learning experiences. Rooted in the principles of diverse learning needs.
transpersonal psychology, our programs blend rigorous academic • Summer: July 1, 2024
study with spiritual inquiry, fostering a deep understanding of • Fall: September 30, 2024
the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
TUITION
Discover transformative psychology programs rooted in the Tuition varies per program, scan the QR code for details.
transpersonal foundation of Sofia University, catering to those
who seek to explore the intersections of health and spirituality. APPLICATION PROCESS
Our diverse range of programs offers a holistic approach to Scan the QR code for details or email [email protected]
understanding the human mind and spirit, preparing students for more information.
for impactful careers in counseling, therapy, research, and
beyond. With a focus on personal growth, consciousness studies, Psychology degree programs
and spiritual inquiry, our curriculum fosters deep introspection • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Completion Program)
and empathy, equipping graduates to address the complex • Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP)
needs of individuals and communities. Explore our offerings, • Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology (MATP)
ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels, and embark on • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Transpersonal Psychology
a journey of self-discovery and professional fulfillment in the
field of psychology. Join us at Sofia University, where academic Psychology Certifications
excellence meets spiritual exploration, transforming lives and • Dream Studies Certificate
shaping the future of psychology. • Leadership & Transformative Life Coaching Certificate

“What I really enjoyed about attending Sofia University was the strong sense of community, fostered by the
congenial and gregarious staff. The strong focus on professional development in a way that made ample
and necessary space for concurrent personal growth, and I think that pedagogical intimacy afforded by
the smaller class sizes.”—Dr. Paul Kiritsis, Sofia University Alumni (MACP ’17 & PhD in Clinical Psychology ’18). Licensed
psychologist, and bestselling author of Tales of a Spiritual Sun.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 33

 FIND YOUR CALLING

Animal Chaplaincy Training

from Compassion Consortium
COMPASSIONCONSORTIUM.ORG/ACT

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Seventy percent of homes are interspecies! Humans have practical COURSE SCHEDULE
and spiritual questions about what to do when animals are injured, 3-month, 6-month, and 9-month program durations are
sick, lost, or die. The stress and grief we experience during these available. Choose the option that best fits your desired
heartbreaking moments are real. Yet it is often denied because the commitment and learning outcomes. All programs begin
loss is “not human.” each September.

Beyond our homes, how do we address the heartbreak we feel Learn from anywhere on the planet. Our program features live
seeing a deer lying on the roadside or the extinction of species on cohort-based online classes, curated reading and reflection, film
our shared planet? discussions, peer-supported practice groups, 1-on-1 mentoring,
and community-based experiential sessions. Our easy-to-use
Animal chaplains provide support for both animals and humans digital classroom encourages connecting and networking
by using deep listening skills, sacred ceremonies, interspecies between classes. An optional in-person and virtual retreat is also
spiritual practices, and compassionate companionship. available at the conclusion of the course.
Compassion Consortium’s Animal Chaplaincy Training helps you
fulfill your heart’s call to honor and celebrate the lives of all species, PROGRAM COST
including how to support them through life’s joys and challenges, Learn more about program cost, scholarship options, and
including end-of-life decisions and grief support. payment plans at compassionconsortium.org/act.

Our curriculum combines chaplaincy fundamentals and APPLICATION PROCESS

bereavement basics with best practices from the innovative fields Easily apply online at compassionconsortium.org/act.
of interspirituality, humane education, animal theology, nature
spirituality, and human-animal studies. We offer a flexible, real-
time, online program that develops the professional skills you • Know what to do and say to help people navigate grief and loss
need to: in a meaningful way
• Channel your passion for animals and the planet into a caring • Lead individuals and groups in interspecies practices designed
and supportive vocation. to increase well-being and compassion
• Develop creative rituals to support individuals, animal • Expand your healing business, therapeutic practice, or volunteer
sanctuaries, nonprofits, veterinary practices, meditation centers, activities to include conscious and compassionate life transitions
yoga programs, or religious communities. for animals

“I love connecting with others who feel the same way I do about animals and habitats.”
—ACT Cohort Member, Class of 2022

34 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 FIND YOUR CALLING

A Six-Week Scientific Journey

to Spiritual Awakening
AMI MEDITATION®
Foundation Course of Yoga Science
with Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)
COURSE ELEMENTS: AMI MEDITATION • YOGA PHILOSOPHY & PSYCHOLOGY • DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING • AYURVEDA • CONTEMPLATION • PRAYER • WHO AM I?

CERTIFICATIONS
American MEDITATION Institute All attendees will receive a completion certificate.
     
  
The American Medical Association will award 18 AMA PRA
Category 1 credits (18 CMEs) for Physicians, PAs and NPs.
AmericanMeditation.org/FC
FOUNDATION COURSE WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
[email protected]
Sunday evenings 6:30-8:30pm ET (3:30-5:30pm PT)
(518) 674-8714
Jul 7–Sep 8; Sep 15–Oct 20; Nov 3–Dec 8
Live on Zoom, and at the AMI Home Center in Averill Park NY
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Let’s face it. Being a human being is a challenging assignment. RGISTRATION PROCESS & TUITION:
And today, in the 21st Century, we face many personal and global Visit our website to learn more. Take the first step in a rewarding,
challenges that affect our lives. The stress of these unresolved scientific journey to spiritual awakening. Payment plan available.
concerns saps our energy. It limits our creativity. It compromises our AmericanMeditation.org/FC
relationships, and poisons our bodies.

RECENT CLINICAL STUDY FINDINGS:

But if the only tool we have is a familiar hammer, we’ll treat every
This AMI Meditation Foundation Course Curriculum
problem as if it were a nail. And that’s what we’ve been doing each
time we try to resolve our internal human challenges the same way REDUCED INCREASED
REDUCED
we move chess pieces on an external chessboard. Yet when we learn Secondary Compassion
Burnout
how to employ the Super Conscious Wisdom of our Conscience, we Traumatic Stress Satisfaction
are re-educating the mind of the chess player (ourself), to access the

23.3%
19.9%


11.2%
hidden intuitive key that solves all of life’s challenges.
“My appeal to every caregiver would be to love yourself. Express
The AMI Meditation Foundation Course offers an education for the same compassion to yourself, as you would for those you care
enlightenment. It’s a transformative curriculum developed over 47 for. And look in the mirror and ask yourself: ‘Are you happy?’ ‘Are
years of my own personal study and experimentation with the world’s you thriving?’ And if not, why is that? The AMI Foundation Course
oldest health and wisdom tradition. This curriculum provides a is news to use! It is the antidote to so many of our day-to-day
complete set of practical tools that empower you to make conscious, challenges.” —Mark Pettus MD
discriminating and reliable choices in every personal and professional “Just as food satisfies hunger, your teaching has filled my need
relationship. to nourish the soul.”—Judy Murgitroyde
“Taking this course with my wife deepened our spiritual
Regardless of how challenging your circumstances might feel today, connection. We’ve gained a path that will continue to guide
AMI’s Foundation Course can open the door to enhanced creativity, our entire life.”—Neal Martin
health, purpose, self-confidence, and spiritual well-being. The “A transformational experience of wisdom and enlightenment!”
practical wisdom you’ll receive is the greatest gift you’ll ever give —Kallanna Manjunath MD
yourself. PLEASE JOIN ME. “Each class provided a wonderful spiritual instruction book for life,
incorporating the essential human experiences into a meaningful
With love and respect, Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) package of care for mind, body and spirit.”—Patricia McNamara

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 35

 FIND YOUR CALLING

Conscious Dying Collective

303-440-8018 LEARN MORE
consciousdyingcollective.com AND REGISTER

ABOUT US
In addition to our core certificate programs training
End-of-Life Doulas and Conscious Dying Coaches, we
offer enrichment courses for our community at large.
S&H READERS RECEIVE
These programs prepare caregivers and community A 15% DISCOUNT
members from all disciplines and walks of life. Discover ON ALL COURSES!
what it means to befriend death, surrender and trust USE CODE S+HFRIEND15
deeply in each moment and restore death to its sacred
place in the beauty, mystery and celebration of life. We PEDIATRIC DEATH | 4-Week Course
focus on building communities of compassion and 8/1/24 – 8/22/24
healing, benefiting everyone involved in care at end- Cost: $450
of-life. By entering these innovative courses of study, This enrichment course is for bereaved parents, healthcare
you will be supported by faculty-led LIVE Zooms and professionals working with children and their families, plus anyone
teaching assistants, immersed in a new body of training who is or wants to support a child and/or their family through a
in End-of-Life Literacy. pediatric chronic or terminal illness. Don’t miss this important
opportunity to safely explore the tender topic of pediatric death and
UPCOMING PROGRAMS the grief that accompanies those circumstances.
THE DEMENTIA JOURNEY | 5-Week Course
7/8/24 – 8/5/24 GRACE & GRIEF VIGILS
Cost: $450 Every Second Monday of the Month
How can you positively assist people through the Cost: FREE
language, visual, auditory and physical changes that Vigils are devotional times for engaging with our sorrows, worries
will happen on the dementia journey? What are the and losses. These monthly gatherings will tend the hard parts of
challenging behaviors that can accompany various our personal and collective grief through the soft expression of
dementias? This course will assist you in building your intentional space, guiding invocations, imaginal activities and tender
end-of-life education and dementia knowledge through closings. This is your invitation to pause and attend to the parts of
Dementia Care Principles, and empowering you with your broken and aching heart and generate a frequency of grace and
foundational skills. healing for yourself and the ailing world.

36 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 FIND YOUR CALLING

The Haden Institute

PO Box 8039, Asheville, NC 28814
828-693-9292 TWO-YEAR CERTIFICATION COURSES:
HadenInstitute.com Spiritual Direction Training and Dream
Work Training
We teach Spiritual Direction and Dream Work, IN PERSON: Small Group Cohort with Mentor,
offering our participants a space for developing a Six 4-day weekend intensives over two years,
robust relationship with their unconscious. Lectures, distance learning
small group work, creative embodiment practices VIRTUAL ONLY: Small group cohort meets
all lead to the unlocking of the rich wisdom within every other week, 22 weeks a year for two
each individual. years, Faculty-led discussions of video content,
mentors.

LOCATION: In Person Kanuga Conference Center in ENTRY DATES FOR IN PERSON: fall and
spring, annually
the beautiful NC Blue Ridge Mountains or Virtual Only.
ENTRY DATES FOR VIRTUAL: fall, annually

DATES AND TUITION: See website

COURSE OVERVIEW
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION TRAINING DREAM WORK TRAINING
• Study mystical and contemplative practices of Christianity • Learn Jungian concepts such as archetype, complex,
and other religious and spiritual traditions individuation, personality typology, and the psychology of
• Learn seminal ideas from Carl Jung’s teachings and their dreaming and dream work
application to the personal and spiritual growth process • Deepen inner awareness with regular personal dream work
• Gain experience and skill in spiritual direction through practices and through work with a dream counselor
practice and case study presentations • Develop understanding of the symbology of dreams through
• Be introduced to dream work, including the function of amplification, poetry, dream theater, active imagination, role
dreams, and how to use dream work with both individuals play, fairy tale and myth
and groups • Work with individuals to translate their dream messages into
• Develop tools for self-discovery and transformation such, as conscious meaning
the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram • Gain skills in dream work through facilitated and self-led practica
• Deepen spiritual literacy, interfaith awareness, and the use of • Explore the nature of dream work within/across cultures and
contemplative practices as tools for personal discernment religious traditions
• Learn how creative expression and embodiment exercises • Participant groups are led by trained mentors who serve as
facilitate spiritual growth and understanding guides throughout the course.

“I honed my muscle with curiosity and my ability to live in the questions.”

—Graduate from Va.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 37

 Recognizing
and Tuning Into
Medical Intuition
BY VICTORIA WESTERLEIGH*

How one woman learned

to trust her instincts
and heal her body

Days later, I had a dream about getting a mammogram. After

the exam, I went to the room where my family was waiting. I
thought I was done until a doctor said I needed more testing.
Even though I was writing an article about precognitive

I
n December 2021, I awoke dreams at the time—women who dreamed about their breast
from a vivid dream in which I’d taken a cancers before they were diagnosed—the symbolism packed
ferry to an island off the coast of Maine where my dad grew inside these dreams eluded me. Marlo later told me she had
up. As I walked along the shoreline dotted with yellow wildflowers, a a sinking feeling when she read my first dream. She already
supersize hummingbird swooped down, landed on my left shoulder, suspected what I was just beginning to discover: I, too, had
and began pecking at my sweatshirt near my breast. I turned my breast cancer.
head toward my shoulder, and in that moment our eyes met. He was It was as if the universe, synchronicities, and my subconscious
shockingly pink with purples and greens on his chest and underbelly, mind converged to deliver important messages to my psyche.
and he was inches from my face. I tried to contort my body so I Larry Burk, M.D., a holistic radiologist in Durham, North
could snap a photo but failed. Carolina, says my experience isn’t unique. In a 2015 study Burk
I was so struck by the dream that I asked Jungian psychoanalyst published in Explore, more than half of the 18 breast cancer
Helen Marlo, Ph.D., to help me decode it. Marlo, dean of the School patients he surveyed had warning dreams leading directly to
of Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University, explained that a diagnosis. “Many of these women had no family or personal
ferry is known to be a journey symbol. “A vehicle in water can mean history of the disease,” says Burk. “The dreams were their first
a journey into the unconscious/less conscious waters,” she said. Then clue they had cancer.”
she peppered me with questions: Which image stands out the most? Dreams are an expression of our intuition. They’re one way
What does Maine mean to you? How do you feel about pink? the subconscious mind communicates with our psyche. And
The standout image was the hummingbird’s playful and protective research suggests that intuition—our own or someone else’s—
nature. “I’ve always associated hummingbirds with my late father and can inform how we heal. In a 2020 study published in the
the only time I’d been to Maine was with him—just weeks before I Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, participants
had surgery to remove a massive tumor,” I replied. “And pink? I’ve rated trained medical intuitives as 94 percent accurate in
never liked pink.” locating and evaluating their primary physical complaints and
What is the hummingbird trying to make me see? I wondered. What 98 percent accurate in intuiting specific events from their lives
am I missing? related to their health issues.

38 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 *Victoria Westerleigh is a pen name.

 According to Wendie Colter, founder of The Practical Path (a “We may have a memory of when a health issue began,
trademarked intuitive development program for health professionals) and our medical records may corroborate it, but our bodies
and author of Essentials of Medical Intuition: A Visionary Path to may have a different story to tell,” Colter says. In fact, the
Wellness, intuition permeates every aspect of our lives. Some call it tales our bodies spin are the basis of medical intuition.
a gut instinct. Others call it a hunch. Still others receive messages But sometimes we silence the body’s wisdom, often with
from their higher self. But whatever the name, that sense of knowing, encouragement from health professionals who see only
feeling, or sensing can guide us toward healing. a clean scan or normal labs—or a patient who doesn’t fit
Medical intuitives like Colter are their algorithm.
trained to identify what a person’s I didn’t fit the algorithm. I
mind, body, and spirit need to heal It was as if had no family history of cancer.
and help them devise a path to
wellness. “My practice of medical
the universe, I was underweight. I started
my period late. And I birthed
intuition is systematic, deliberate, synchronicities, and nursed three children—all
and methodical,” Colter explains. protective factors against breast
“That’s what transforms it from and my subconscious cancer. I did have dense breasts
what people understand as intuition, though, and when I requested
such as a flash of insight, into an mind converged to an ultrasound, my doctor said it
integrated practice intended to
promote healing.” Colter believes
deliver important wasn’t indicated. “You’re young,
healthy, and you don’t have any
everyone is born with this ability. messages to risk factors,” he said.
“With correct instruction, practice, According to Colter, one
and time,” she says, “we all have the my psyche. of the biggest challenges with
opportunity to learn how to tap into modern healthcare is that even
our inherent intuition to support with the best intentions, this
vibrant health and well-being.” algorithmic approach may obscure professionals’ ability to
sense and feel energy, to intuit what might be happening
OPENING A DOORWAY for their patients—or even to see and hear the person
TO THE SUBCONSCIOUS standing before them. In fact, most of Colter’s clients are
I felt something “off ” in my left breast before I had my first people who have been told “there’s nothing wrong with
mammogram. The sensation began a few months after my son’s you.” But something is wrong, and medical intuition is
repeated hospitalizations due to a congenital heart defect that designed to help illuminate the problem.
constricted his airway. Only a toddler at the time, he frequently “Becoming conscious requires getting into relationship
choked on his food and had escaped death several times. with the contents of the mind, which can take the shape of a
During those harrowing months, I ignored my needs in favor fantasy, image, daydream, thought, feeling, bodily sensation,
of sleepless nights, what-if mind tricks, and large glasses of narrative, or memory,” Marlo says. “They’re the raw material
Chardonnay. Looking back, I suspect that’s when the first cell of our unconscious and a source of
decided to go rogue. But I had been putting myself at the bottom our intuitions.”
of the list and shunning my femininity for decades. I shared my
concerns with my son’s doctor, who ordered my first
mammogram. It came back clear, but the area above
my left nipple continued gnawing at me for seven
more years.
A premonition? A gut instinct? It’s not clear.
But nearly every year, when it was time for my
annual screening, I emailed my radiologist, who
was also a friend: “My left breast is bothering
me again. I can almost feel a pea-size lump
near the nipple, but it moved and now it’s
nowhere to be felt …” And every year, my
imaging exams came back “normal.”

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 39

 GIVING VOICE TO YOUR BODY in response to our thoughts and emotions. “One reason
When you’re engaging with the subconscious mind, it’s healing may be elusive for people is not only because of what
important to consider whether the information you receive is a was hidden in the past, but also because of how their minds
by-product of what’s happening and emotions may be interacting
in your life, an expression of with their bodies in the present,”
something you don’t want to “Becoming conscious Colter says.
know, or a premonition. So several weeks after that pair
One way to access the requires getting into of dreams, when a breast biopsy
subconscious is by dialoguing
with your body, Marlo says, a
relationship with the revealed I had early-stage cancer,
I decided to step into neutrality.
strategy I unwittingly used in contents of the mind, Once treatment was underway, I
regularly conversed with my body
the days leading up to my breast
biopsy. When I put pen to page, which can take the about which treatment options
my body—and more specifically felt right and which didn’t support
my breast—had a lot to say, not shape of a fantasy, my needs. I asked my parts how
only about what was brewing
inside my cells, but also about
image, daydream, they’ve been wounded and what
they needed to heal. And I paid
what it needed from me to heal. thought, feeling, attention to my dreams and
synchronicities. Sometimes I
In a letter to what I called “my
little breast bump,” I wrote: “I bodily sensation, struggled with the ambiguity of
hear you! I see you! I’m getting the information I received, but
the message … you want me narrative, or memory.” when I allowed myself to engage
with my body without judgment,
to understand that this is my
one body, my one set of breasts.
—Helen Marlo, Ph.D. patterns began to emerge. By
They’re built for, and they thrive the time I completed treatment,
on, joy. My job is to give them more joy and less stress … You’re both conventional and complementary, my body showed no
reminding me to take deep breaths. To be in the moment. To evidence of disease.
remain in a state of awe and wonder.” Marlo pointed out that my first dream contained all the
According to Colter, the key to unlocking the wisdom of information I needed, even down to the colors of my messenger
the body is to ask questions with an open mind and a sense of hummingbird. The pink pointed to my breast. Purple is the
neutrality. “When a person is energetically neutral enough to color I see behind my eyes when I’m connected with Spirit. And
receive information from their body, that may help move them green is the color of health and vitality. The fact is, my higher
toward healing,” Colter says. self, my intuition, knew what my body needed all along: joy,
Unfortunately, the body is not neutral. It’s afraid of death compassion, love, and attention. I’d written it in black and
and suffering. And it’s constantly sparking, acting, and reacting white in a letter to “my little breast bump.”

40 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 'LDPEL
4XHHQ .DEDWXVXLOD
SHEDS A NEW LIGHT ON $IULFD

I
n 2016, before she became queen of the Bakwa Luntu people When her father shared their family history in 2016, she also
of the Dimbelenge territory of the Democratic Republic of learned that he was supposed to sit on the throne but refused.
the Congo, Queen Diambi Kabatusuila was a 48-year-old What he didn’t tell her was that someone from his bloodline
therapist going through a difficult divorce, living in Boca Raton, would have to be chosen—and the elders had their eyes on her.
Florida, and having a recurring dream about an old woman in an When she visited her father’s village, she received a blessing
African village. to honor her as the princess of the royal house. When she was
That dream, which spanned years, sparked a yearning to learn asked, “Are you ready to take responsibility for your people?”
about her ancestors, who were part of the Luba, one of the largest she immediately said yes.
ethnic groups in the Congo. When she was making plans to visit “It seemed like I was ready for that question for my entire
the village in the Central Kasai region where her father was born, life,” Queen Diambi says. Still, she had no idea what being
he told her she was named after her late great-grandmother—the queen involved. “At first I thought it was like the queen of Mardi
first wife of the late king of the Bakwa Indu, which made her Gras—I was going to wave on the float and there would be a big
great-grandmother the queen. party and then I’d take my beads off and go on living my life.”
“My brain just exploded,” she recalls. “I said, ‘What are you
talking about?’ He said, ‘You are from the royal house—you APPOINTMENT LEADS TO DESPAIR
and your sisters are princesses.’ I was thrilled to find out I was She soon learned that what was required of her as queen was
a princess, but I wish he told me when I was 5 so I would have not what she expected.
known that a girl who looks like me could be a princess. I “A queen in our tradition is not a ruler or a governor,” she
remember watching all of the Disney movies where little Black explains. “I am more like a sacred being—I represent the legacy,
girls were never represented as royalty.” the history, and the door to the ancestral realm. I just had to
hold that sacred space and they would be satisfied with that.”
CHILD OF A DIPLOMAT Queen Diambi returned to Florida with one simple
Her father was born during the Belgian colonization of the instruction: “Just do what your heart will tell you to do.” But
Congo—a period marked by forced labor, murder, torture, and back home, she fell into despair.
other abuses of the Congolese people. Colonial rule ended in “I was in shock. I cried every day,” she says. “It was too big
1960, and when her father then went to Europe to study, he met for me. I told my dad, ‘I think they made a mistake. Don’t they
her mother, a Belgian European. know my mother is white?’ I was trying to get rid of it and
Diambi Kabatusuila was born in Belgium where her father thought that would disqualify me. It didn’t.”
worked as a diplomat in the Congolese embassy in Brussels. Amid her despair and confusion, she heard from a Nigerian
When she was 6 months old, her family moved to Kinshasa, the king who had been a friend before she knew she was a princess.
capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They left “He asked how I was doing,” she says. “I cried and told him I felt
Kinshasa to return to Europe when she was 16, and she later they made a mistake. He asked, ‘What did your people ask you to
moved to the United States for college. do for them?’ It dawned on me—they asked me for nothing.”
Queen Diambi, now the mother of two adult sons and At the king’s invitation, she visited Nigeria—the first time
grandmother of three, holds a bachelor’s degree in business as a queen. There, she was seated among kings. “Here I was,
finance and economics from the College of Staten Island, City no longer a young woman, beaten down because I had gone
University of New York, and a master’s in psychology and through this bad divorce,” she says. “Now I was seated with the
mental health counseling from Lynn University in Boca Raton. kings of Africa.”

42 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 BRIGHT LIGHTS
The kings met with her in private and told her not to be
afraid—they would help her. While shadowing the kings at a
conference, one deferred a question to her. She was terrified but
spoke from her heart. When she put down the microphone, she
received a standing ovation.
“After that moment, there were many people lined up to invite
me to events,” she says. “I went from being a girl with an empty
dance card one day to having a full dance card the next. One thing
led to another and another, and I became who I am today.”

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
Not content to just be a figurehead, Queen Diambi got to work.
When she returned to visit the territory one year later for her
enthronement rituals and ceremony, she learned that the villagers
wanted clean water, schools, medical centers, and motorbikes to
get around on the dirt roads. She wasn’t paid to be queen—and she
knew she couldn’t make that happen on her therapist salary.
“I knew I needed to become somebody in this world,” she says.
“I needed to come out there and trust life so that people would be
compelled to work with me and hear me out.”
Since embracing her role as queen, she has worked as an economic
consultant and on various advising boards. Her goal is to present
Africa in a different light and to create equitable partnerships that
result in long-term benefits for her country and its people.
“I make sure that people understand that the way they
approach Africa really has to change,” she says.
Because of her accomplishments, she was also crowned
traditional queen of the African descendants of Brazil
in 2019 and, in 2022, traditional queen of the Congo
descendants of Panama, who are part of the historical
African diaspora.
She is also an environmental activist who
has been outspoken about issues like plastic
pollution in the oceans. She founded the Elikia
Hope Foundation, a New York City-based
not-for-profit organization that raises funds to
address needs like building wells in the Congo.
“Whenever I was scared, that inner voice
would say, ‘Just trust and keep on going,’”
says Queen Diambi, who was included
in the new Netflix docuseries African
Queens,, which highlights the stories of
Queens
prominent African female rulers.
Her background as a therapist helps
her in her work, she adds: “You have
to have empathy and you have to love
to listen, communicate with people,
and generally like to see people
happy. I was like that from the time
I was small. I always want to bring
people together.”
To learn more about Queen Diambi Kabatusuila, visit queendiambi.org.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 43

 The Essence of
BY MARK NEPO

A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT MAKES

THE BEST FRIENDSHIPS

44 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

 steadfast for all the right reasons and,
one day, it all slips into a life-draining
entanglement that we don’t know how
to get out of. Yet, it is the commitment to
see each other completely that returns us to the
Unity of Souls, while the entanglements we dare
not speak of prevent us from finding and knowing that
bond. Still, being human, there are many turns in the
road that will lead us into life-draining entanglements.
Often, when we ask for someone’s opinion, we
really don’t want it. We just want to be mirrored and
validated. When
feeling insecure
I spent many or needy, we
often want to be
years trying so seen when, to
know our worth
hard to be good
I
spent many more completely,
years trying
so hard to
that I wound up we deeply need to
see. In this cross-
be good that I wound up
ignoring how to be authentic.
ignoring how to purpose, we often
mislead our loved
Eventually, the cost was that being good be a uth e nt ic. ones, asking for
became a burden, which precluded my being one thing while
authentic. Part of what kept this cycle going was Eventually, the cost secretly hoping
how I worked especially hard at maintaining my
illusion of relationships (what I wanted them to
was that being for another.
There have
be like), regardless of what happened between
me and those I loved.
good became a been countless
times I meant to
I have come to understand that relationships, b u rd en, which protect myself
like everything else in life, have their natural when all I did
cycles. If we don’t evolve and grow, if we don’t precluded my was isolate
allow ourselves to change and stay true to those
changes, we wind up expending our vitality
being authentic. my deeper
nature from the
trying to prop things up that are no longer relationships
vital. Not letting one way of being run its course can and resources that would have made me stronger. I’ve
prevent the relationship from evolving to a deeper level. learned when protecting the garden of our soul, we
In essence, propping up a relationship is like misting a need a fence to keep the deer and fox and raccoons
flower once its root is cut. It won’t last very long. from eating our tender leaves before they can grow.
Over many years, it became painfully clear that But we also need spaces in our fences large enough to
my insistence in denying that certain friendships let the rain and runoff reach our roots. Keeping this
had changed drained those relationships of whatever balance is a never-ending effort that lets us stay safe
possibility they had. My denial became an insidious yet growable.
form of vampirism through which my stubborn Sometimes, we just keep painting the fence we put
image of certain relationships sucked the life out of around us. This occupies us and distracts us from taking
me and them because I desperately wouldn’t let the the fence down. I have a friend who can’t
relationships change and grow. sustain an accurate notion of
There is a fine line between the persistence of himself. He is constantly
friendship, regardless of what happens, and the painting the fence of his
entanglement of friendship by which we tighten our insecurity. Many times, I’ve
expectations of each other. Often, we start out being listened to him only to say,

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 45

 “I wish you could see yourself for five minutes as I see and grief that who we love has changed, our faithfulness
you. Then you would never doubt yourself again.” in being a friend depends on staying in relationship to
Recently, he left me a voicemail in which he sang his the deeper nature of our friend that doesn’t change. In
familiar chorus of self-doubt. I sighed and thought, I’d be fact, it is often the deepening of our core that leads us to
impatient with him if it weren’t for the change course in our lives. And no
recurrence of my own insecurity. Upon matter the change, we are asked
reflection, I sent him an email saying, If we don’t evo l ve to stay in conversation below the
“Our job is to ground ourselves like a surface, soul to soul. Then, the
flagpole and unfurl in the open. The
and grow, if unexpected changes in our lives
pole goes nowhere so the flag can
dance. And all our dreams and fears
we don’t allow make more sense.
To open a conversation with
of what goes on the flag are of no ourselves to your own unchanging depth, I
interest to the wind. We have loved invite you to begin three separate
each other this way: taking turns as ch an ge and stay journal entries, each with the
pole and flag, hoisting each other up, beginning phrase:
recentering the pole, and trusting the
true to those
wind. Above all, trusting the wind.”
What, then, are the qualities
changes, we wind My suffering comes from …
My joy comes from …
of relationship that lead us to the up expending our My work going forward is …
Unity of Souls that waits at the heart
of every true friendship? They all vitality trying to Explore each open-ended
begin with presence—our complete conversation wherever it might
presence to whatever befalls us. prop things up go. A week later, reread all three
We don’t need to agree with every
stance a friend takes or with every
that are n o journal entries, looking to see
what your suffering, your joy,
belief a friend holds. We simply need longer vital. and your work going forward
to be there for each other at each have to do with each other. After
step in our journey. Sharing our experience is always another week, share all this with a friend, asking about
more important than sharing our ideas or opinions. their journey.
The reward for being so present with another is that When struggling to be present to each other, we are,
we uncover and inhabit our common ancient Center. above all else, challenged to listen. We begin by listening
Meeting the outer world from our common ancient to the words of another. But we are quickly asked to
Center enables us to endure almost anything, the way listen more deeply, with our heart, to the spaces between
the roots of an ancient tree enable its many limbs to the words—to listen slowly and closely to the feeling and
endure almost any storm. questions that give rise to a friend’s words. Then we find
Still, people we love change. They grow in unexpected ourselves listening as we do when we are deep in the
directions. And we feel surprised, even betrayed, that woods or standing along a meandering stream. Listening
they are no longer the same. But beyond our surprise this way opens us to the wild and silent nature of Spirit

46 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

that fills every soul. Listening that far in brings us to the that never lets me forget you. It made me write to you
Unity of Souls, the way we might sit together on a cliff in now. If I could find the money, I would pay for you to
silence after a day’s hike to the summit of a mountain we visit me. I have never stopped loving you.”
have always wanted to climb. Allambie cried upon reading the letter and rather
Consider how light dances on the surface of water, than write back, he traveled the songline in his dreams
though it is slow and steady once we go below. Likewise, to visit Akama, who now had the most vivid sense of his
the actions of a friend may seem mercurial and old friend, just out of view while he was driving to work
inconsistent, but when we can go below their agitation, and later, while eating in a quiet restaurant. And more
the depth of their nature slows all concerns. Being such and more, he felt Allambie whenever he would be still,
a friend, knowing such a friend, requires us to be present no matter what was going on around him. In these quiet
to each other’s agitation and to listen beneath the noise of moments, Akama began to speak to his old friend, as if
our concerns. he were sitting next to him.
There is an Aboriginal tale of two friends who grew One time, when Akama was troubled and unable
up together in the northern region of Australia. One was to ease his mind, Allambie touched the center of his
named Allambie, which means “quiet resting place.” The trouble, showing his old friend how to access his own
other was named Akama, which means “whale.” They resting place. This is the gift of true friendship, regardless
learned the songlines of existence together, the dream of what happens: that the songline of existence is
tracks that connect all people and all times. They learned revealed between us, and that by honoring each true
how to hunt together. They learned how to chant together. nature, we can always be near, even when a thousand
As they became men, Akama went to school in Sydney, miles away. When truly believing in a friend, we can
while Allambie stayed in the sparsely settled region of even show them how to touch their own resting place in
Kimberley. Once in the world, they led very different the midst of trouble.
lives. Years went by but they never forgot their deep and
early bond.
At home, some made fun of Akama for
becoming a modern man. Many criticized him for
forgetting the songlines and moving to the city.
But Allambie would always defend his boyhood
friend, saying, “Akama is a whale. It is his
nature to migrate and to come up and
go down.” And though they went years
without contact, Akama in his new
and busy life would pause in the
middle of the city, as in the eye of
a storm, and feel his old friend
Allambie in the center of
every quiet moment.
After many years, Akama
sent a letter to Allambie,
saying, “How are you, From You Don’t
old friend? I’m sorry so Have to Do It
much time has passed. Alone: The Power
At first, I was afraid of Friendship
to write you. I feared by Mark Nepo.
you would think that Copyright 2024
I had abandoned by the author
our ways. But, and reprinted
strange as it sounds, with permission
I feel the songline of St. Martin’s
sent me here. And Publishing Group;
it is the songline marknepo.com.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 47

THE HEART OF HAPPINESS

WHY IS THIS?
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I wrote
a poem titled “Why Is This” that ended with the
question, Why is this? The poem was just another
assignment in English class, but I still remember
it because for the rest of the year whenever my
English teacher would make a point, he would
smile and look at me until I squirmed and then ask
the class, “Why is this?” It spread like a pandemic.
Soon friends (and then some) ended
conversations with me by loudly
asking, “Why is this?” Emotions help
us remember.
What are
Back then we studied history spiritual folks
without realizing we were in the
middle of history. The Vietnam War to do with all
was raging, injustice abounded,
and Martin Luther King Jr., Betty the evil, social
Friedan, Malcolm X, bell hooks,
Muhammad Ali, and Nelson
poison, and
Mandela were busy demonstrating fear out there?
courage and the desire to create
justice and express love. We watched Why don’t we
the protesters but did not know the and its need for our engaged presence. My
deep reasons for their discontent, seem to do poem “Why Is This” was about all that.
nor sometimes did they. Granted,
there was a lot going on. Drugs were
anything? Today, as a professor at Nelson Mandela
University in South Africa, I look out my
abundant and feelings of melancholy window and see red-shirted protesters and the
and hopelessness justified the choice to drop out, get same disconnect. What are spiritual folks to do with all the
drunk, get high, or move to a life unengaged from society evil, social poison, and fear out there? Why don’t we seem to
do anything?
Why do we think we are exercising spirituality when we
go to church, join meditation groups, face east, read uplifting
PAUL
books, do yoga, or attend a book club or movie-and-popcorn
SUTHERLAND
night? Why does it seem we can always make choices for our
is a professor at
own comfort while billions of humans need our love and
Nelson Mandela
support? Why is this?
University and
I suspect some readers will find this uncomfortable. I also
chairman of Utopia
know that we must love ourselves, and being a member of
Foundation &
society sometimes compels us to attend religious or cultural
STEPi, which
rituals and community acts. Nevertheless, the world is burning.
works to create
Why don’t we take a few breaths and think about our choices?
a world where
I, too, find this uncomfortable. My muse says to hit delete on
every child and
this essay and start over with something happy and inspiring.
every adult can
But discomfort is okay.
go to bed feeling
I live in my nice, safe home a few miles away from extreme
happy, well fed,
poverty. Last night, the founder of a children’s hospice in
safe, and optimistic
about tomorrow.
PHOTO BY MZEE BWANIKA J

48 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 REFLECTIONS OF A WORLD-TRAVELING PHILANTHROPIST

 THE A GE OF THE H E A RT
The Birth of a New Heaven and a New Earth
A quantum leap is occurring in the
history of humankind. This leap has
already begun, is divinely ordained, is
unstoppable, and is already being felt.

Why does it
seem we can
The Age of the Heart was received from Jesus through
always make Sebastián Blaksley revealing that higher consciousness will
choices for our usher in a humanity of unprecedented splendor—a living
expression of love—personally, socially, and globally.
own comfort
while billions NEW—now available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, and your
favorite booksellers. $16.95 ISBN 978-1-58469-703-9
of humans
Take Heart Publications
need our love Publisher of Choose Only Love and A Course of Love
www.chooseonlylove.org and www.acourseoflove.org
and support?
Why is this?
South Africa spoke to a local Rotary club I was Find your inner peace.
attending. She came in search of funding and
explained how, with a staff of two, she takes
care of 283 children dying of cancer, HIV,
tuberculosis, and a host of other painful and
ugly sicknesses that will take these children
“home.” She spoke of the sadness and the
attempts to support the siblings, parents, and
extended families—people plagued by poverty
and a lack of education and time. As the
meeting broke up, and the last Rotarian was
walking out, she turned to this caregiver and
said, “I just have to go home and relax. Your
talk was so overwhelming, I just want to cry.”
I stayed because I was curious, and I asked
the woman what keeps her going. “It is who
I am,” she said. “God did not take me when I
got sick; I am here for a reason. How can I not
serve those children?” I wiped a tear from my
cheek and thought, Why is this?
“A truly life-changing book!”
Paul Sutherland would love to hear
your “why is this” comments; email
him at [email protected].
Now available on Amazon.
DeniseGanulin.com
Inspirational books and music

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 49

BOOKMARKED

RAISING KIDS
WITH HEALTHY BRAINS
RAISING MENTALLY healing trauma through the body’s wisdom. His life—filled
STRONG KIDS: with disruptions, harsh awakenings, repressed suffering,
How to Combine the Power of and liberation—and his work are beautifully entwined in
Neuroscience with Love and this portrait of a “wounded healer.”
Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Autobiography is partly mystical, partly cerebral,
Responsible, and Resilient always colorful, and rarely didactic. Levine is candid
Children and Young Adults about the most private, primal emotions and experiences.
By Daniel G. Amen, M.D., Through this candor, readers understand how our lives
and Charles Fay, Ph.D. are embodied. Our bodies create the very structure of our
Tyndale life—and the body is our life.
What if we vowed to love and protect our brain instead of This book pays tribute to many of Levine’s influences.
letting it hum along in the background? The key to a high- His mentors include household names, such as Ida Rolf
functioning life, the authors of Raising Mentally Strong (founder of Rolfing) and Bessel van der Kolk (author of
Kids posit, is brain health. We are empowered: Brain The Body Keeps the Score). Levine’s tone can be insular, but
health is optimized through diet, lifestyle choices, and his willingness to go there—beyond many people’s comfort
repatterning our habits, not genetics. Daniel G. Amen, level, with raw vulnerability—carries distinct power. He
M.D., and Charles Fay, Ph.D., write, “When your brain shares the hope that his story “might be useful … to all
is healthy, parenting is easier. We promise.” They deliver who seek wellness.” This book could be a secondary source
much more than parenting tips: We get an avuncular, for healers, psychologists, and anyone who works with
neuroscience-backed guide to becoming better humans. traumatized children.
Their trademarked Love and Logic parenting
philosophy is for both parents and children, grounded HAPPY WARRIORS: THE LIVES AND IDEAS
in mutual dignity, shared control, shared thinking, OF THE POSITIVE-MIND
empathy, and loving relationship. One gem: Love and MYSTICS
Logic does not put all the onus on parents, like many Mitch Horowitz
other modalities. Kids have work to do too. Packed G&D Media
with worksheets, sample scripts, and charts, this book is Capitalism fatigue, economic
designed for action. woes, and social unrest have
The authors respect the monumental responsibility always inspired “fringe” spiritual
resting on parents’ shoulders; we must believe in ourselves movements. From “mind cures”
first. If we can teach our kids to resolve their challenges, and metaphysics or the “practical mysticism” of 12-step
discover their innate talents, and let motivation and programs, we have always found alternative ways to heal.
curiosity guide their learning, we can change the course of The Western medical model insists that healing
our own lives too. must be evidence-based and scientific. But in
Happy Warriors, Mitch Horowitz sets the stage for a
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY challenge: “Whether a spiritual, ethical, or therapeutic
OF TRAUMA: A HEALING philosophy is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depends not on whether
JOURNEY someone likes or approves of it but whether it works.”
Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. The tenets of manifesting wealth, reciting
Park Street Press affirmations, and conjuring up a miracle are timeless.
Peter Levine, Ph.D., is a celebrated Happy Warriors is an immersion into early 20th-
therapist and teacher who created century spirituality and self-development, full of
Somatic Experiencing, a modality for brilliant profiles of influential authors from the New
Thought spiritual movement. Coming after the

50 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 NEW AND NOTABLE BOOKS

 ROCHELLE HERBAL REMEDIES FOR
BOURGAULT SLEEP: How to Use Healing Herbs
is a writer, and Natural Therapies to Ease Stress,
editor, and book Promote Relaxation, and Encourage
coach specializing Healthy Sleep Habits
in wellness and Maria Noël Groves
spirituality. She Storey
loves nature, Sleep has become another bit of biology to optimize. Herbal
building Remedies for Sleep helps us explore the causes of sleep
community, disruptions and gives readers a deeper understanding of
ashtanga yoga, how sleep works. Clinical herbalist Maria Noël Groves is a
and parenting confident teacher who can read the room: We want solutions.
her young Her book offers best practices for shifting your lifestyle
children. Visit and addressing medical conditions that affect sleep. Readers
rochellebourgault. learn how to work with plant allies and think about their role
com. in maintaining optimal balance. Groves stresses the highly
individualized nature of responding to any herbal regimen and
recommends caution and professional advice.
Transcendentalists and before the Age of Aquarians, this era With so many ways to experiment with herbs, this book
ushered in a unique form of pragmatic spirituality informed by has something for everyone. Seasoned herbalists can skip
the booming changes of the modern era. The wisdom of these the basics but readers newer to herbalism will love learning
writers is profoundly relevant today. how a tincture works and what differentiates an infusion
Happy Warriors delivers literary criticism, history lessons, from a decoction. Learn to make your own versions of
robust reading lists, and guided self-reflection—manna for popular adaptogen-packed, herb-infused drinks. Daily tonics,
mystics. A rare, powerful book for scholars and seekers who refreshers, and stress busters will have you feeling radiant and
want a deeper understanding of contemporary spirituality. rested quickly.

“John Maxwell Taylor has been For more information visit

given much and is a wonderful conduit johnmaxwelltaylor.com
for its expression” Eric Butterworth

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 51

 Self-Guided
Retreat Kit

Affirmation
Card Decks

unity.org/shop
 Affirmation
Generator

SPIRITUAL TOOLS
FOR EVERY STEP
OF YOUR
Inner Voice
Tarot
JOURNEY
CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY VIEW
KELLY ISOLA is

TIME TO a teacher, Unity

minister, and

TAKE THE RISK consultant who is

certified in various
leading-edge
models of both
We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. organizational
If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to and human
its endangerment with passion.—Hildegard of Bingen, 12th-century development. She
Benedictine mystic, medical practitioner, writer, and composer is the coauthor of
Who Have You
HAVE YOU EVER FELT as if you’re living in Come Here to Be?
two different worlds simultaneously? Sometimes Visit kellyisola.com.
this happens for me because there is “too much
life” going on. By that I mean death of loved ones, experiences as part of the wholeness of creation, thereby
illness, depression, feeling lost and not anchored, missing the falling in love with it all, rather than pushing
weariness, loneliness, scattered brain, oppression the “too much life” away. If I don’t risk falling in love
of groups of people everywhere I look—home and with what’s going on in my world, I will miss the chance
abroad … you get the idea. to rise vigorously to meet my life with great passion.
While not all these challenges belong to me, Creation begins in those dark cracks in life.
they are present in my solar system right now— It’s time to awaken and risk being in the places and
like planets circling on different pathways near me relationships that need rebuilding. This is where life
and through me. Yet I know by yearns to be revived, where I find
tomorrow, or next week, all these If I don’t risk the harsh deserts and dullness
experiences will have shifted their within me that long for watering
orbits. This is when it feels like I’m falling in love and awakening. Evagrius Ponticus,
living in a separate world at the
same time.
with what’s going an early desert monastic, said, “First
pray for the gift of tears, to soften by
It would be insane for me to on in my world, compunction the inherent hardness
think these shifts wouldn’t ever of your soul.” Weeping is a life-giving
happen. Still, we fear change at I will miss the experience to break the dullness and
times, especially the “too much help my soul to rise vigorously.
life” kind. I believe this is part of chance to rise If I do not weep in my own life,
what Hildegard is referring to—if I
stay in denial or push against shifts
vigorously to I shall never understand other
human beings. It’s one way I can
in my world, I am asleep in my meet my life with “rise vigorously toward justice.”
dullness. I am avoiding the vitality It’s empathy and compassion.
of life in all its forms, unable to great passion. Although justice carries with it
expand myself to “fall in love with consequences or punishments,
creation deeper and deeper.” wrapped up in justice is the idea of social well-being.
Our soul within, though, can stand and rise I’ve learned it’s not necessarily who am I being, but
vigorously to break the dullness within which we rather what medicine I carry that emerges when I stand
have kept ourselves asleep if we allow it. If I let tall, breaking from sleep to passionately risk justice,
myself stand tall and fall in love with my world, compassion, and loving all life.
with all its glory and depravity, as Hildegard says, As I read what I’m writing, inside I feel a little
I will “respond to its endangerment with passion.” nervous, as though it sounds like a big ask of me. That’s
Who doesn’t want more passion in the world? because it is. So I ask you, what medicine do you carry
What does that mean though, “its that risks vigorously standing from your sleep to fall
endangerment”? Endangerment is putting deeper and deeper in love with creation for the well-
something at risk. The risk is not embracing all life being of life?

54 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 A FRESH TAKE ON FAMILIAR TEACHINGS

MARKETPLACE
START LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE TODAY!
GATHERINGS OF THE FEW
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH
A GUIDE TO GLOBAL PURPOSE AND INTENT
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING The BEST of
Are you concerned about the Intentions is based
future of humanity and our celestial on the belief
home? This book reveals a way of that thoughts
individual spiritual awakening and are things, that
explores little-known principles our minds build
enabling us to be changed “in the and create our
reality, and that
twinkling of an eye.” The good news
we can have our
is that it only takes a few of us.
life events turn
out successfully. It
jimrosemergy.com includes how to handle worry and
fear and deal with cancer.

thebestofintentionsbook.com

FIND THE PERFECT PIECE TO

EXPRESS YOUR FREE SPIRIT
ONE-OF-A-KIND
HAND-FABRICATED
SPIRITUAL JEWELRY
The sacral chakra is connected
to emotions, creativity, and
sexuality. This meaningful
one-of-a-kind piece features a
carnelian gemstone. Carnelian
is a stabilizing stone, restoring
vitality and motivation while
stimulating creativity. Hand-
fabricated from sterling silver
and copper, with a sterling
silver chain.
jennszencreations.com
YOU ARE TOTALLY UNIQUE,
ON A UNIQUE JOURNEY,
INTUITIVE ABSTRACT ARTIST
WITH UNIQUE ENERGY
MEDICAL INTUITIVE ROSIE WOLF
AND MEDIUM WILLIAMS
Every person has an aura Art by Rosie Wolf Williams
and complex energy fields is never predetermined—
that contain a vast amount of it begins with you. She
information about your body and uses intuition, meditation,
spiritual path. While scanning clairsentience, and
your fields, channeling your claircognizance to create
soul’s highest template and your unique abstract
purpose, I receive details about painting—and it is never
misalignments, weaknesses, and shared or copied with
imbalances. Healing strategies others. Visit her website to
and remedies are tailored to you. learn more.

be-joy.com
503-805-7403 alwaysrosieart.com

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 55

TOOLBOX

BUTTERFLY
BLESSINGS
CURATED BY HUNTER LIGUORE

NO MATTER
WHAT AGE FLUTTERS IN THE SOUL
YOU ARE, Watercolor painter Dean Crouser suggests you invite the
butterflies can magic of butterflies into your home with this hand-textured
magically instill plaque. Inscribed with an inspirational quote, “Faith is
your life with a beautiful thing that flutters in the soul,” it serves as a
awe and beauty. reminder of the beauty we’re capable of carrying to others.
They serve as messengers $19, demdaco.com
of blessings, whether they are
delivering a much-needed sign
of good luck or a cherished
reminder of a loved one.
Butterflies are also peacemakers,
inspiring people to come together,
regardless of our differences, to support
and treasure these colorful creatures and the natural
spaces they inhabit the world over. Here are some
helpful ways to both appreciate and spread the love
of our faithful friends.

HUNTER
LIGUORE
is an award-
winning writer,
professor, and
historian. She
is the author
of The Modern
Art of War: Sun BECOME A STEWARD
Tzu’s Hidden Supporting butterfly education and hatching efforts is easy
Path to Peace to do through The Butterfly Place. Pay for two live butterflies
and Wholeness to be released into their indoor garden or purchase your own
and The Whole hatch-and-release kit that comes complete with food and
World Inside Nan’s instructions. $25 for the butterfly release gift card or $16.95
Soup. Visit for the butterfly hatching kit, butterflyplace-ma.com
hunterliguore.org.

56 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 OUR FAVORITE FUN AND USEFUL FINDS

CHASING BUTTERFLIES TATTOO YOU
Remember what it was like Take a butterfly with you
to chase butterflies with this wherever you go by applying
heartwarming story about it as a tattoo. Unity offers a
a homeless child who lends set of temporary tattoos with
a hand to others in her spiritual themes, including
community with the help of a bright blue butterfly—a
her winged friend. Where symbol of transformation.
Are You Going, Butterfly? Here and Now Wearable
by Hunter Liguore features Affirmations also include
illustrations by award- birds, flowers, spiritual symbols, and lettered affirmations
winning Italian artist Glenda to help you express your divine spirit. Includes two 5.75" x
Sburelin. $20, bn.com 8.25" sheets. $12.99, unity.org/shop

WELCOME HOME BLUE HEALER

Bring Home the Butterflies The butterfly pea wildflower
with this 27-seed bonanza looks just like a butterfly
designed especially for in the garden. As a tea, it’s
them. Includes such radiant known for its blue hue (purple
flowers as sweet William, tall when you add lemon). Its
verbena, coreopsis, as well as healing properties are said to
classic favorites like black- support the nervous system
eyed Susan and borage. and promote calmness. Can
A unique mix of seasonal be made iced for a refreshing
growth times allows for summer brew to sip while
flowers all season long. $4, watching butterflies! $34,
botanicalinterests.com shamansmarket.com

MILKWEED LANDS
Ecologist Eric Lee-Mäder PUZZLE TOGETHER
explores the incredibly Spending time together
diverse ecosystem of the over a vintage butterfly
milkweed plant with puzzle can be a lot of fun, as
engaging tips on how well as a great way to spark
to grow it successfully conversation about the
to support a variety many species of butterflies.
of insects like the Contains 1,000 thick pieces
monarch butterfly. The and measures 20" x 28"
illustrations by botanical when complete. Set up a
artist Beverly Duncan table on the porch or by a
are both beautiful beloved garden and enjoy!
and informative. $20, $21.95, beeweaver.com
roundaboutbookstore.com

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 57

CREATURELY REFLECTIONS
SARAH A.
BOWEN

LET’S NOT is program

director of

LIMIT NATURE the Animal

Chaplaincy
Training
program at
“NATURE IS MY CHURCH!” she exclaims. And
Compassion
I cringe. That may surprise many of you, what with
Consortium, the
my constant ecological and spiritual musings about
first interfaith,
squirrels, monkeys, and other nature-y creatures.
interspiritual,
My conundrum with this often-uttered sentiment is
and interspecies
the artificial boundary the word nature creates. Let
community. Visit
me explain. sarahbowen.com.
The ancient Greeks had no word for art. Many
indigenous people have no word for religion. Art and
religion were inherent to human life until outsiders
needed to critique and study these concepts—so they migrating blackpoll warblers and other winged ones. Could
named them. The legacy of the word nature is similar. New Yorkers be living in nature too?
We speak about nature as if we are separate from it— According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, nature
as if, like a starkly delineated shadow on a sidewalk, is first defined as “the external world in its entirety,” with
you can stand with one foot in nature and one foot etymological roots from multiple cultures and originating
outside of it. meanings including “growing” or “birth” as well as the
What does a place need to have for you to consider it Aristotelian idea of the “essence of things.”
nature? Trees? Greenness? Animals? If you answered all With the creation of churches with walls, an interesting
of the above, let me offer up New York City as nature too. paradox developed in human language: Nature
After all, we have stunning Callery pear trees that flower simultaneously meant that which is outside—creation—
in the fall, thin fescues persevering along concrete slabs, as well as that which is inside—our moral character.
and plentiful pigeons nesting in brick-lined alcoves. This generates an intriguing juxtaposition: Our nature
Urban gardeners train ivy to weave along fence posts, determines how we will coexist with the natural world
and rooftop gardens provide temporary havens for (what some call Mother Nature).

58 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024 TRUTHS TENDERED FROM THE ANIMAL WORLD

 When we decide nature is our church and go fence between our yard and our neighbor’s to make a
bounding out into it, are we taking away another safer wildlife corridor for deer passing through.
creature’s right to silence and solace? If you live in an apartment,
I once wondered this while traipsing
down a trail, trying to “leave
I intentionally you can take different steps, such
as caring for window boxes that
only footprints.” I realized those removed the provide habitat for birds or plants

word nature
footprints could squash little beings for pollinating insects. What action
living under the soil. And I began might you take so that you could
thinking about my relationship with say, “My habitat is my church”? Or
so-called “wild” spaces.
f rom my even better, drawing from Merriam-
I intentionally removed the
word nature from my vocabulary,
vocabulary, Webster, you could say, “The external
world in its entirety is my church.”
replacing it with habitat to replacing it If we are willing to go that far, we’ll

with habitat to
emphasize the fact that every enter into even more reflection about
location on our planet is a home care for the earth’s congregation.
for someone. That means I need to If we pull on the word nature
be sensitive when I enter another’s
emphasize the enough, we will find it must include
home. I wondered what I could do to
make the habitat I inhabit a sacred
fact that every every being we can perceive as well
as those who remain hidden to us,
place of solace for many. location on our under rocks and in building crevices,
I sought out plants that provided high up in treetops and nesting in
food for local wildlife and added planet is a home old air shafts. Nature simply cannot
a fountain to provide water for be subjected to the limits many of us
migratory birds. We took down the for someone. assume exist on it.

JULY/AUGUST 2024 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM 59

LASTING IMPRESSION

“Life is a journey,
not a destination.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

UNITY VILLAGE, MISSOURI | UNITY.ORG

60 SPIRITUALITYHEALTH.COM JULY/AUGUST 2024

EGYPT
Pilgrimages for Personal &
Planetary Transformation

S acred spaces within the temples of Egypt were built

specifically to energize the sacred spaces within
ourselves. Here lies answers to our destiny and meaning in
this life.
Join Egyptologist and guide EMIL SHAKER, internationally
acknowledged as the world’s leading expert on the esoteric
wisdom and mystical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.
In addition to the Great Pyramid and the awe-inspiring
Sphinx experience:
• The temple to Isis, goddess of medicine & healing.
• Hathor, the goddess of love and joy at Dendera
temple.
• The Valley of the Kings
• Karnak- greatest temple complex in the ancient world
• Exquisite Luxor Temple
• Plus many more!
Sanctuary at Isis’ temple at Philae

ATTENTION MINISTERS:
Let us curate a private, spirit-centered journey through
Egypt’s mystical temples and sites just for you and
your congregation. Contact [email protected] for
more information.

Enjoy sailing on privately chartered luxury yacht NILE LILY.

For DETAILS: [email protected] | Yacht: https://luxurynilelilycruises.com

 Unity
1901 NW Blue Parkway NONPROFIT ORG.
Unity Village, MO 64065-0001 U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Y
UNITY

EXCITING NEWS!

Unity Magazine
has merged with
Spirituality+Health.

Continue to enjoy the

best of both worlds
with the same focus on
mind-body connection
and spiritual awareness.

For a short time, get

three digital issues for
free with a subscription.

spiritualityhealth.com/3free