August A 2017
Cover Story
Metaphysics
22
90 94
Dan Millman: Return of the Peaceful Warrior
Spirituality 34 38
How to Trust Your Soul's Sense of Intuition What Are the Qualities of God?
OM Living 46 52 56 58 62
Crystals, Dreams and Reworking Your Nightmares The Three Times When is Beneficial to Box Up Feelings Program Spotlight - Shreem Brzee 4 Tips on Purchasing Liability Insurance for Your Yoga Studio Thriving With A Conscious Business
Relationships 70 74 80 84
Here's the Heart of Happy Human Relationships Do BFF* Spouses Have the Best Marriages? The Most Important Relationship Need to Gain Trust? Do It Smartly!
Are All Mediums Psychic? 9 Tips to the BEST Mediumship Demonstration Experience
Personal Growth 102 How to Live Our Dreams and Fly 106 Taking Responsibility is The Power to Change 110 Wisdom of The Hidden Knowing
Dan Millman: Return of the Peaceful Warrior Interview with OMTimes Magazine
Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, Stanford University coach, martial arts instructor and Oberlin College professor, has authored 17 books published in 29 languages, including his classic, Way of the Peaceful Warrior (released as a film with Nick Nolte by Universal in 2007). A popular speaker, Dan
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has influenced people from all walks of life. He speaks with OMTimes about his newest book, The Hidden School, and more. OMTIMES: Dan, though you’re an internationally bestselling author, with Way of the Peaceful Warrior reaching millions of readers since it was first published. But your life began on a very different trajectory. Can you tell us something more about your earlier sports career and how it intersected with a life of writing? Dan Millman: As a kid, I liked to climb trees, swing on ropes, and later, I discovered trampoline and acrobatics. I did not show great promise at the beginning, but loved somersaulting and improving each skill. That love eventually led to a national then world championship title on trampoline, and a gymnastics scholarship to college. Writing wasn’t in the picture. I felt intimidated by any writing
assignment longer than two pages in school. Other than a few creative (two-page) short stories in middle school, I showed no particular talent or penchant for writing. But I did enjoy improving on my work, just as I’d done in gymnastics. When I was in my late 20s, I imagined, for the first time, that I might write a book about an intriguing service station attendant I’d met and lifelessons learned just prior to my senior year in college. Seven years later, Way of the Peaceful Warrior was published. I didn’t write another book for ten years. But my coaching experience sparked a desire to influence and inspire others. This carried over into the realm of writing. I went on to write numerous other books over the years, culminating with The Hidden School. That impulse to teach, which began in the gymnasium, expanded into the larger arena of daily life OMTIMES: How would you personally describe the “spiritual” shifts in your life? Were you always interested in deeper questions of philosophy Omtimes.com
Understanding Our Soul’s Sense of Intuition If you want to tap into the power of the soul and live a life of purpose, passion and unlimited potential, then firstly you have to remember
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that you are a soul. I find it ironic that although we come from a place of divine source and inspiration, so many of us spend the majority of our lives trying to find it again! When you acknowledge that you are a soul and not purely just a physical body, then believe me when I tell you that there’s no limit to what you can achieve. When you begin living and viewing the world from a soul level, you’ll start to understand the nature and workings of the expansive ‘spiritual power’ of the soul. You’ll gain a higher perspective and a deeper understanding of your life purpose, the nature of the world, and your fellow mankind. I believe part of my purpose here is to teach you how to understand the soul, how to use and trust your soul’s sense of intuition and to appreciate that the power and energy of love are vital to your soul’s well-being. As you tap into this amazing source, you’ll
learn how to heal yourself as well as others, and find the tools to break free from the limitations of the past, so that your soul can continue to expand and above all evolve. Your journey certainly doesn’t stop when you read your first spiritual book, or if you’ve signed up for yoga or meditation class … for it’s only just begun. One Drop from the Ocean, We are Unique As we are all uniquely different, our spiritual practices and daily habits reflect that individualism, as ultimately when we learn to connect and embrace our soul, it’s a highly personal and private pursuit. Yes, I acknowledge that many people relate their spirituality to God, but to truly become one with the universe, then I believe it can only start from within. True peace ultimately comes from within, and not from the more materialistic outside world.
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Crystals, Dreams and Reworking Your Nightmares By Andrew Pacholyk
Nightmares are very common among children and fairly common among adults. Contributing factors to the cause of nightmares include illness, stress, troubled relationships, traumatic
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experiences, emotional difficulties, drugs or medication. However, some people have frequent nightmares that seem unrelated to their waking lives. Recent studies suggest that these people tend to be more open, sensitive, trusting, and emotional than average.
Reworking Your Nightmare It has been said that the “power of suggestion” is the power that brings about change. Considered a psychological process, by which a person can guide his or her thoughts, feelings, or behavior in the direction they want them to go. Similar to the power of positive thinking, planting the seed in your mind and repeating the process over and over allows the brain to start believing in the positive outcome. Of course, the suggestions you make can go in a direction that is negative, and that tends to be the mindset of those
who constantly walk around worrying, are in fear or only see their “glass half empty.” The power of suggestion works in the same way. Our nightmares are often the result of traumatic events or embarrassing situations. Often when we are unable to cope with the reality of a particular situation, it gets pushed back deep into the subconscious, where the brain deals with it in a manner that is safer for us to handle... and that tends to come out in our dreams. Severe traumatic events may need to be dealt with by seeking out a professional to help with your nightmares or in some cases night terrors. BUT, there is much YOU can do on your own. The original neuro-psychological theory of the power of suggestion was based upon the ideomotor reflex response discovered by James Braid and William Carpenter. Waking suggestions can produce
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The Three Times It Is Beneficial to Box Up Feelings by Jayanti Burst
Can We Box Up Our Feelings in a Good Way? It is important to feel our feelings-whether they are painful, joyful, or equivocalinstead of suppressing or judging them. There are times when it is both healthy and helpful to box up our feelings.
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Read on for three ways to do just that. To begin, we’ll start by gathering a few supplies. Although three small boxes are recommended, envelopes or folders work just as well. A writing utensil and a few pieces of paper will come in handy, too. Once we’ve done this, we find a quiet space and time for self-reflection. Letting Go Box - Time for Release This first box is all about things to release. We can think of it like a compost bin for the emotions, irrational mental patterns, and whatever no longer serves us. This is where we write down our worries, fears, doubts, disappointments, insecurities, anxieties, and anything we think may act as a deterrent to living the best life possible. Negative memories, experiences, and beliefs go in this box. Drawing our feelings can help us to be more free and honest with this activity. It is advantageous to do this spontaneously with little deliberation. When we’re
open to surprising ourselves, it is remarkable what the subconscious mind reveals. And the subconscious mind plays a big role in our behavior, even though we’re not usually aware of it. At the end of the day, or perhaps once a week, burn or rip up whatever is in this box. Gratitude Box - Clearly Thankful Now that we’ve taken steps to clear resistance, we’ll count our blessings in the second box. Thankfulness not only encourages a change in perspective, but also it is known to lower stress (ahem, letting-go-box stuff). Whether mundane or miraculous, we can be grateful for it all. From family, shelter and food to unexpected opportunities and synchronistic events, write down anything that comes to mind. It could be a sweet message from someone that made us smile, or a random act of kindness. This is also a great opportunity to show ourselves some self-love and appreciation. Dream Box - Highest Potential Wishes
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Here’s the Heart of Happy Human Relationships by Guy Finley
Harmonious Human Relationships ...How? The first step in harmonious human relationships is simple: We need only realize the spiritual truth that we cannot meet someone whom we are Omtimes.com
not like in some way, even if we don’t actively express what we don’t like in him or her. The deception is that we’re sure we’re unlike everyone except for those who match the images we have of ourselves. And so it goes, that we see our lives through the eyes of a certain false sense of “I” that always resists anyone we see as being “not like I am.” But love cannot grow where resistance rules. We have not been given this precious life to go through it resisting everything that doesn’t suit us; rather we are created to grow through whatever we meet along the way. Resistance devitalizes the possibility of our spiritual development, rendering useless the conditions in our lives that we are given to rise above them. When we resist what others show us about ourselves, we close the door on the possibility of transcending the undiscovered parts of us that are troubled by them. Freedom is not found by avoiding what disturbs us, but by illuminating
-- realizing and releasing -- whatever may dwell in the dark of us that can be disturbed. Divine Intelligence and the Soul The human being is created to develop in the “likeness” of the marvelous Intelligence that made us. This Divine Intelligence didn’t create anything that it fears or hates. It’s a ridiculous thought to walk around and believe that another person is our enemy simply because we feel enmity for him or her. Now, just so we’re clear on this, there are plenty of unpleasant people. Our world is packed with them! But, given the negative effect of resenting others, and the fact that for now all we know to do about those who disturb us is to resist them, could it be that when it comes to our human relationships we have been blinded to one of the main reasons for them? The answer is “Yes.” Just as the wind moves through a tree and carries its pollen to the blossoms of another tree, Omtimes.com
“Marriages are forms of super friendship” –John F. Helliwell, Senior Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Some of the best marriages begin with love at first sight. Usually, but not always, they fail
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after the initial buzz wears off. Others begin with a friendship that grows into love. This kind of marriage is more likely to succeed in the long run. [1] Love at first sight is based largely on fantasy and romantic longings. Don’t get me wrong - I love romance. It’s just that it’s not the main ingredient for an everyday fulfilling, lasting marriage. Romance is more like a condiment; it’s there to spice things up. Spice is nice...very nice! But it’s there to enhance what already is nourishing. If friendship is lacking in a marriage, romance and attraction won’t last or the relationship won’t be satisfying overall. What qualities do you value in a good friend? Are you
drawn to someone with similar values who supports, respects, and understands you? A trustworthy person with whom you enjoy talking, laughing, and just hanging out?
Best Marriages: Friendship Is Key for Lasting Happiness Ample research confirms that friendship is the main ingredient for a lasting, fulfilling relationship. When the British Household Panel Survey asked people about their closest friend, half of them said it was their spouse. For those who called their partner their best friend, the benefits of marriage were about twice as great as for those who didn’t. [2] Researcher John F. Helliwell states that happiness in marriage “has less to do with
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Need to Gain Trust? Do It Smartly! by Diane Wing
Are There Smart Ways to Gain Trust? Trust is the key to any healthy relationship. Whether it is a personal or business interaction, trust allows for open communication and mutual
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respect. It sets the participants up for a win-win and a higher likelihood that pleasant, peaceful, and productive dialogue can take place. Enjoyment also increases when there is trust. Yet, each of us encounter people who, either immediately or over time, erode trust by their actions, inability to followthrough, or by downright lying. The result is avoidance, suspicion, and distrust of anything the person may say going forward, even if it is the truth. Credibility is at stake, along with the quality of our relationships. When people trust us, we have credibility. People believe in us and we are willing to consider what the trustworthy person says. We come across as responsible, caring, and stable. When they do not trust, there is little
we can do to regain it once it is broken. Lying, cheating, acting for one’s own benefit, and not considering others, all lead to unhealthy and distrustful relationships. Given that we demonstrate trustworthy behavior at the outset, trust is then built and maintained over the course of the relationship. Even if we gain trust right away, ongoing honorable behaviors and interactions are essential to continue having trust in one another. So, what inspires trust? Consider the three Cs.... Congruency, where what the person or entity (like a company) says and does must be in alignment. Facial expressions are appropriate for the words, such as apologizing and having a facial expression of
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Are All Mediums Psychic? by Jill M. Jackson
A Question About Whether All Mediums are Psychic Have you ever heard this phrase from a spiritual expert, “All mediums are psychic yet not all psychics are mediums”?
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We will examine some thought-provoking influences against this. First, however, we need to establish the general definition between a psychic and a medium. What is the Difference between a Psychic and a Medium? A psychic perceives information on past, present, and future. Examples of connecting are ESP, clairvoyance, reading the auric field, or connecting to the spirit guide. A medium receives information directly from a loved one who has crossed to the spirit world. Receiving is “to be given or presented with something.” In mediumship, the loved one in spirit gives the medium specific information. The medium should be able to provide evidence to the client for the client to know their loved one is conversing with the medium.
Perceiving and receiving are very different actions. Perceiving is “a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression.” A perception may be based on the personal experiences or levels of understanding on a subject matter. Learning to separate opinion from valid psychic impressions emanates from years of experience and professional training. The information provided by a spirit guide may vary greatly from the information provided from a deceased loved one. When a spiritual expert makes the statement that all mediums are psychic yet not all psychics are mediums, this creates an energy or assumption that one is better or more advanced than the other. Both gifts are extremely beneficial but for very different reasons. What are Real World Examples of this Theory? Just because someone
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How to Live Our Dreams and Fly by Tony Samara
We Can Live Our Highest Dreams “Dreams are the touchstones of our character.” –Henry David Thoreau
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In South American communities that have preserved traditional ways of living, dreams are a large part of everyday life. When children begin to speak, they already work with their dreams and that becomes a way of life. People sit in a circle and honor, by relating, their adventures of the night. Whatever the message, it indicates what one should do during the day. If the dream says to leave one’s work, then they leave it! But if Westerners acted this way, people around them would think that they were insane to take so seriously “a simple dream.” Yet, we must relearn to live with the wisdom of our dreams. Our Dreams Can Change the Very Structure To foolishly limit our actions to a set of closed parameters
prevents the magical and creative world within from touching our lives. Maybe by leaving the work where we feel stifled and bored, we have a chance to discover a latent talent or a hidden potential never before considered. Changing the current societal value system could allow the focus to become more people-oriented. This would strengthen the independence and creativity of such a population. It is not only about a social structure that sustains everyone, but rather a social structure. A structure that creates incentives for people to move forward and give much more of themselves. Are We Ready to Accept Our Deepest Dreams? These days, it is easier for people to accept a job that pays them three times more, than to accept their deepest
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