OMTimes Magazine October B 2020 Edition

October B Issue

Vishen Lakhiani Unveiling the Spiritual Badass

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CONTENTS HEALTH & HEALING

86

50

5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

42

"IT'S IN MY GENES" NO LONGER AN EXCUSE FOR POOR HEALTH

Turiya

OMLIVING 58

RADICAL SELF-RESTORATION FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES

66

STANDING ON AND STANDING FOR

74

CAN FENG SHUI CHANGE YOUR DESTINY?

+

Spotlight

THE BUDDHA AND THE BADASS INTERVIEWED

BY LIANE BUCK

RELATIONSHIPS 82

Cover Photo of Mr.Vishen Lakhiani: Courtesy of ONKEN

FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH PAIN AND LOSS

METAPHYSICS 92

LIVING A LIFE OF VIRTUE: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

PERSONAL GROWTH 100

GRIEF AND TIMES OF CHANGE

106

ERASING THE FEAR FROM YOUR HEART

BOOKS 124

7 REASONS TO INVEST IN YOUR CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

WORLD VISION 112

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD THROUGH OUR GIFTS

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CONTENTS

October 2020 Issue B

BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

"IT'S IN MY GENES"

CHANGE YOUR DESTINY

RADICAL SELFRESTORATION

FINDING YOUR WAY

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

ERASING THE FEAR

TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD

OCTOBER B EDITION

THE FIRST AND ONLY SPIRITUALLY CONSCIOUS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PERSONAL GROWTH

98

HEALTH AND HEALING

40

WORLD VISION

110

OMLIVING

56 OMTIMES.COM

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Writers

Robyn M Fritz

Greer Jonas

Carrie Rutledge

Jayita Bhattacharjee

Veronica Lee

Darity Wesley

Kathy Biehl

Lisa Shaw

Kartar Diamond

Rene Wadlow Rene Wadlow

 OMTIMES *OCTOBER B

Columnists

THIS EDITION

Mark Nepo

Follow us Sharon Sayler

Johanna Kern

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Health & Wellness Innovative new approaches to Healing as well as holistic methods for dealing with health issues and personal growth

"It's in My Genes" No Longer an Excuse for Poor Health

W

by Carrie Rutledge

e have all heard

never have children to achieve a

about someone

healthy pregnancy, naturally in her

miraculously cured

mid-forties.

of Stage IV cancer

after every other treatment has failed.

This phenomenon happens more

A lifelong smoker and bacon eater

than one would think. The cause and

who lived to the ripe old age ninety-

cure of many chronic diseases are

five. The woman being told she would

beyond our genes. They could be due

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

to several different environmental

destiny of our health. In truth, gene

modalities, even the thoughts in our

expression is mostly regulated

heads.

by the cell's interaction with the environment and not just by its

The Human Genome Project was

genetic code. Environmental triggers

a research project aimed to look at

that can alter gene expression are,

all the genes (genes are made up

of course, diet, energy fields (EMFs),

of DNA) that make us human. Our

stress, prenatal nutrition, toxins,

bodies are made up of hundreds

chemicals, thoughts, and emotional

of thousands of proteins. Scientists

health.

speculated that humans would require over a hundred thousand

Histones (proteins found inside the

genes. Scientists were shocked to

cell nucleus) have the job of packing

find that humans are composed of

and ordering the DNA. These

around 25,000 genes, which led to

proteins are reliant on the proper

Epigenetics.

methylation, which stop genes from being expressed, or acetylation, which

Epigenetics is the study of gene

help the genes to become defined.

expression through environmental influences. Epigenetic triggers from

Proper methylation and acetylation

the environment do not alter the

are heavily reliant on nutrients. For

original DNA sequence, but rather

example, histone methylation is

the way the gene is expressed or

reliant on B12, folate, and choline.

not expressed. More specifically,

Acetylation relies on biotin (liver and

epigenetic triggers cause genes to

eggs), niacin, butyric acid (produced

turn on and off.

by the gut bacteria), turmeric (curcumin), and resveratrol (grapes).

Of all the genes we have, only a

Dietary habits that can impede

certain amount is expressed at

proper methylation and acetylation

one time, and some may never

include a nutrient-deficient diet and

be expressed at all. Because

a lack of variety in the diet. Lifestyle

environmental triggers can signal

habits that cause inflammation or a

gene expression, we can no longer

diet high in processed foods will also

blame our genes for being the

affect these processes.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Many scientists are now seeing that

environmental signals and then

DNA is not the central controller of

respond to them by allowing the

the fate of the cell, but rather the

transport of substances or chemical

environment of the cell. The cell

messengers across the membrane.

membrane is the actual "brain" of the

Scientists are just now starting to

cell. It encounters all of the nutrients,

recognize that radio frequencies,

toxins, wastes, and even the chemical

cellular phones, cell towers, and other

messengers, such as hormones. The

forms of electromagnetic frequencies

proteins of the cell membrane sense

can break and alter the strands of DNA.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Since medical science follows a

Energy healing such as Reiki,

reductionist approach, it doesn't

Emotional Freedom Technique,

take into account quantum theory.

sound healing, light therapy,

Scientists such as Einstein, Bohr,

acupuncture, and homeopathy

and Pauli observed that matter

all supply environmental signals

is actually made up of energy. It

that can change the way DNA is

is not always predictable in how

expressed or not expressed. In

it behaves. In simple terms, it is

modern medicine, we have come so

impossible to predict with certainty

far; however, we tend to fall short in

the outcome of any experiment or

thinking there is a "cure all" that will

invention because of the variable

work the same for everyone in terms

energy involved. Case in point,

of disease. They continue to come

a reductionist scientific view will

up with new pharmaceutical drugs

often predict that all biochemical

and surgeries in the hopes that they

pathways would act the same

may block or cure disease. However,

and guarantee that a specific

illnesses today are certainly not

pharmaceutical drug, vaccine, or

diminishing.

nutrient should have the same outcome in every human being.

When we look at disease from a

This is simply not true.

holistic perspective, we see that the origination of disease is usually

We now know that energy and

invisible and at a microscopic level,

matter are interactive. Because

mostly caused by environmental

microscopic matter doesn't exist

means as opposed to a type of

with certainty, atomic events will

physical matter. We must remember

not occur with certainty every

that food is energy and different

single time. Instead, they show

foods have different energies that

tendencies to happen, and this

can be used for a medicinal effect.

explains why different interventions

There are many factors that can

affect individuals differently. More

affect the energy of different foods,

specifically, a person's thoughts,

such as: how it was prepared, where

energy, emotions, and the emotions

it was produced, and even the

of the practitioner will all affect the

vibrational energy of the person

outcome of the treatment.

cooking the food.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

It's easy to see how the production

environmental toxins from a mass-

and preparation of food could

produced factory farm, into a truck,

have a significant influence on our

and finally into plastic packaging only

health when we look closely at food

to be dropped off at a restaurant or

production and illness. When we

school where it is overcooked and

frequent fast food, chain restaurants,

thrown into a microwave for a reheat

hospitals, or even public-school

would most definitely zap all of the

lunches, we can speculate that we

energy and nutrients out of the food.

may feel and work poorly afterward.

We are picking up the low vibrational

The journey of food being sprayed with

energy of not only the mass-produced

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

factory farms but also the energy of all

we can't blame our genetic code

the hands that touch the food when

for the illnesses we have. Instead,

we dine in this way.

we need to look more closely at the environment we are living in. The

Therefore farm-to-table restaurants

city we live in, its air quality, the stress

that buy from local farmers and grow

we endure, the foods we consume,

their own food are wisely trending.

the water we drink, the medicine

The chefs and cooks are hired to

we take, our beliefs and emotions,

put care into every dish, and many

they all influence the way our cells

restaurants do not have a microwave

behave. These are some of the most

in their kitchen. The food only passes

flexible and easily changeable areas

through a few caring hands before it

of our lives. It lies within each of us to

reaches our plates.

make more healthy decisions when it comes to our own wellbeing.

More importantly, our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs can act as epigenetic triggers that have a profound influence on cell function as well. This has a lot to do with how our minds can play a pivotal role in healing from chronic disease. In fact, one thought fires off thousands of neurons, which directly affects how our cells behave. Therefore optimism, gratitude, positive affirmations, Kundalini Yoga, prayer, and meditation

Carrie Rutledge is a full-time working mother who spent five years struggling with infertility and miscarriages. Through research and lifestyle changes, she put an end to frustrating doctor's visits and expensive pharmaceutical drugs that worsened her condition.

At forty, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Although she was diagnosed with Postpartum

can play a crucial role in our healing.

Depression, Anxiety, and OCD, she

What is precisely clear is that the food

through nutrition, exercise, CBT

we consume, and our daily thoughts have an epigenetic interaction with cells at the molecular level that affects our DNA and the way our genes may be expressed. Consequently,

continues to treat her symptoms therapy, Yoga, and meditation. She is devoted to helping women take back their health and heal their bodies on their own terms.

Follow Carrie on Instagram

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

5 Ways to Boost Immunity

By Ginger McBride OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

I

mmunity has always been

strengthens immunity and gives us

important, but due to recent

a fighting chance at getting better.

events of COVID-19, it is more

Two other fruits we want to add

essential than ever that we stay as

to our diets are papaya and kiwi.

healthy as possible. Our healthy body

Papaya is a powerful fruit that most

is our vehicle. It gets us from point A

of us probably do not eat regularly.

to point B and keep us enjoying what

However, it has anti-inflammatory

life has to offer!

properties partially due to an enzyme known as papain. Kiwi makes an

Our body allows us to provide for our

excellent addition to the kitchen

families, to spend time with our loved

by providing various nutrients

ones, to be active in our communities,

such as potassium, vitamin K, and

create art, and enjoy what life has to

vitamin C. As an added bonus, it is

offer! To do that, we need to keep our

highly recommended for aiding in

immune system healthy and strong!

respiratory issues.

One of the ways we can improve our

Specific vegetables that aren't always

immunity is by indulging in green tea.

our go-to can help as well. Some such

It is a plant that is full of wonderful

as Red bell peppers, spinach, and

antioxidants, which are believed to

broccoli make a list as good sources

have immune-boosting effects that

of vitamin C. Some of them are full of

we all can enjoy! As an added bonus,

antioxidants such as broccoli, having

green tea can be calming, which

specific enzymes that fight free

is helpful when stress lowers the

radicals that lead to illness. When free

immune system. Occasionally make

radicals occur in the body, they are

the switch from the daily coffee and

actively seeking out electrons to be

enjoy some green tea instead!

paired with. Unfortunately, this action can damage cells, proteins, and DNA.

Another way to give ourselves a boost is by taking citrus fruits in particular,

Good choices in our spice rack can

such as grapefruit, oranges, lemons,

help us out in our time of need. The

and limes. Many of us turn to vitamin

spices ginger and turmeric have both

C the minute we feel a cold heading

antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

our way. This is because vitamin C

properties that strengthen our

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

immunity! A simple, time-efficient

healthy lives, and help those around

recipe is to add a pinch of ground,

us. We cannot pour from an empty

organic ginger to a hot tea with

cup, and we can start by taking

lemon with raw, organic honey. Trust

better care of ourselves! Along with

that ginger is a potent spice, only

these healthy, helpful tips, try to also

a little is needed to feel the effects.

eliminate negative habits that may

We can also give turmeric tea a try!

be hindering our immune systems.

Combine ground turmeric, black

Practices such as excessive smoking,

pepper, and dairy-free milk, add a

drinking, caffeinated beverages, and

flavor such as cinnamon, vanilla, or

heavily processed foods!

honey, blend together, and let simmer for best results!

Ginger McBride is a certified

Many of us remember having chicken

entrepreneur, and raw food

health coach, nutrition expert,

soup as children when we were too ill to go to school. It doesn't surprise that poultry is one of the meats that have the mineral zinc that assists with proteins that help boost our immune

enthusiast. She is the founder of Raw Ninja – a nutrition coaching membership that provides affordability and accessibility to her clients. She is passionate

systems.

about helping others with their

As we age, our immune system

their goals through motivation

health, inspiring them to reach

weakens. Our job is to take responsibility for ourselves, try to lead

and education! To learn more, visit www.rawninja.net

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

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OM Living For those living a more Conscious Lifestyle

Radical Self-Restoration on Uncertain Times

By Jayita Bhattacharjee

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

W

hile grappling with

and collective level, as it is not just

uncertainty, the

an individual loss, but the loss of the

question often arises

nations, the countries, and the world

on how to get back

as a whole.

the restored sense of self. It's the awareness of self that we can develop

It is not startling for trauma

as time rolls by. Once we are hit with

responses to resurface for the loss

the realization that the ongoing

to creep in our minds and shake our

healthy feeling, the one that evokes

beliefs in everything we ever had.

authenticity, has long gone away. All

Global and community disasters

we are performing is the role of an

have put us in the crossroads of

existential living.

life. We are beginning to wonder how to continue living when

The simplest definition of loss would

they are getting strangled by the

be an encountered experience that

invading COVID. The feelings of fear,

depletes our capacity to process it,

frustration, and helplessness, and

overwhelms us beyond any word, so

at times they evoke prior traumatic

much so that our ability to cope is

experiences. With pour minds in

washed up. Given the havoc caused by

crisis, we can feel destabilizing.

the COVID to our daily living, our sense

Everyone is undergoing a staggering

of safety and trust, confidence, and

transformation but bringing back

control have been ruthlessly snatched

ourselves to what we were and who

away from the heart and mind. The

we used to be, raises an inevitable

spectrum of worldwide events, the

question. How do we do that?

impact of this COVID pandemic on them, has been undeniably

Below is a list of ways to restore

traumatizing on every living, breathing

the sense of self, once again, in our

being on this earth. In the process, we

broken hearts and shaking minds.

deplete the force of the spirit. But the

Predictability needs to be created

'giving out' has to be accompanied by

and, in the long haul, needs to be

a 'giving in' to maintain the balance

sustained for the sustenance of

of the self so we can have a renewed

our own selves. It constitutes an

restoration. The response to the COVID

essential part of rising through the

is experienced on both the individual

crevices of staggering confidence.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

To plan and purposefully engage

To begin a day with a positive

in activities would be a necessary

affirmation, to offer oneself with

step in managing uncertainty and

an uplifting message would be

unpredictability. While practicing

the essential bread for daily living.

this, it will empower us to have

Affirmations can lift the broken

faith in our own capacity and allow

hearts so they can validate their own

control in the areas where things

emotions and losses, acknowledge

have gone out of control. While it

their experiences. They set a purpose

cannot bring back the lost ones, it

of living, a well-built grounding, and

can revive what is almost about to be

with regular repetition, they become

lost if not taken well care of.

a part of us. The positive affirmation

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

becomes the sacred ritual of living. A

the block or take a retreat while

prayer, or a religious scripture, a song

walking in the forest trails as we set

or a poem that enters the deepest

apart the end of a working daytime.

recesses in us, begins to speak to our

In working, we do not have to wipe

hearts. We become able to translate

out the essentialities of nourishing

the loss into words and find ourselves

our spirits. We can stick to having

in the light again.

meals around the same time. Next, we can allow ourselves to have

To connect daily with sources of

a break every one or two hours

support is to tell the tales of sharing

while setting an alarm clock to give

and caring when life seems to be

ourselves the reminder that we need

so isolated, and loneliness comes to

relaxation. The notifications need to

invade the spirit. To set up a virtual

be turned off, so our eyes and minds

date with a friend and to do things

do not catch an addiction. We can

together would meaningfully break

impose a limit on checking the calls

out form the world of engulfing

and emails even during non-working

loneliness. To create something

hours. All these can be improvised,

together, to listen to music or watch

so we do not become computer

a heart-rendering movie together

addicts and perform as humans who

would bring back the times we once

very well have a body that demands

had. Or a weekly email to a relative

self- care too.

or a friend can revive the connection that we have.

To practice self-care, we need to be intentional about it in the first place.

To pay attention to the sleep is to pay

We can practice deep breathing,

attention to the self as during the

go for the quiet strolls in the heart

sleep, the body and mind are repaired,

of nature, indulge in activities that

restored, and cleared away, and the

nourish us with self-pleasure, delve

stressed minds are destressed. Thus,

into the fascinating readings that will

we become ready to be the fearless

evoke the more delicate feelings of

fighters for all the tomorrows to come.

life. We can begin to have a pet, find love in the flurry softness of them,

Working from home, we can engage

and believe that life can have its own

in quiet strolls in the evening around

tenderness and not just brutality.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Some time can be set aside for

When times are plenty at our hands,

practicing guided meditation and

we can indulge in long, reflective

indulge in nature gazing. As we are

walks that will heighten our senses.

enlivened shaking off the stress,

As we return home, we can willfully

we can indulge in dancing, as it will

engage in a home project. And

create a rhythm in our souls, raising

when the day comes to an end, we

it from static to a dynamism. Or we

can attend a social media platform

can turn up the favorite music or a

to connect with family and friends.

song that speaks to the pain and

Not all sources of connection are

find comfort in its releasing words.

depleted. Attending a virtual concert or taking a zoo tour or a trip to

We can even begin journaling as

the beach, listening to the waves

the words flow from our hearts to

crashing can set a rhythm in the

the paper. The things we struggle

restless minds. Or we can tune in to

with can all be released, beautifully,

a podcast on a topic that catches

and painlessly. We can jot down

our hearts and let it fill our curious

what makes something easy versus

minds.

what makes something stubbornly tricky. What are the lessons learned from this abrupt, earth-shattering COVID? To something that we were unprepared for, to the changes that we were unaccustomed to, what wisdom did it bring to our lives? We can create a list of things that we have accomplished even in these challenging, frustrating times to reward ourselves with some positivity. It can bring out what we could do, even when life threw us its hardest hit. Besides, we can engage in reading a blog that can cheer our spirits or resonate well with us.

Jayita Bhattacharjee was born in Calcutta, India. Later on, education from the University of Houston in Economics, she had chosen her career as a trustee and teacher.

Her Indian residence is in the vicinity of the famous Belurmath.

Currently, she is settled in Tampa, Florida. Her books " The Ecstatic Dance of Life," " Sacred Sanctuary," " Light of Consciousness," " Dewdrops of Compassion" " are among the many that she has authored. www.goodreads.com/ author/show/6850731.Jayita_ Bhattacharjee

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OMTIMES

October

STANDING ON AND STANDING FOR

BY MARK NEPO

29 | Flair

Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth. —Archimedes There are two perennial questions we need to ask in order to find each other and our way in the world. They are: What am I standing on? and What am I standing for?

Standing on refers us back to a timeless foundation, to some sense of Source, to all that is larger than us from which we’re renewed as integral beings. Standing for leads us into the heart of what we value and the ethics by which we live in the world. Standing on gives us a compass.

Standing for gives us a direction to stay true to by following that compass. The two perennial questions need to be asked of ourselves and everyone we meet. They are a basis for an honest relationship.

What we stand on is inextricably linked to what we stand for. Consider how a simple lever works. Using a pivot point known as a fulcrum, one weight can leverage the lift of another weight. With our commitment as the fulcrum, what we stand on gives us leverage to empower what we stand for. In this way, who we are leverages what we do in the world.

But without knowing what we stand on, what we stand for can become hollow.

Without knowing our foundation, we can become overbearing in our opinions.

OMTimes | October

There are always two sides to knowing.

One is the quest for meaning, the endless forging of what is essential in order to live.

The other is our attachment to a particular view, idea, feeling, or belief.

This is the trap of conviction: the stubbornness that turns truth into an assumption or conclusion.

It’s the trap of conviction that has Israelis and Palestinians distrust each other without ever having met while young Christians in the Midwest run with no reason from Islamic children.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn puts it, “If you’re too convicted in your opinions or beliefs, perhaps you are a convict, imprisoned within the confines of your own understandings.”

In this way, unquestioned convictions are old thoughts hardened into seldom-tested beliefs. Instead of bringing us closer to life and each other, our hardened views enforce patterns that keep us from reclaiming the common ground we all stand on.

Part of the riddle of being human resides in this question: If love and truth are in us, why are they so hard to find and grow between us? It seems that love and truth wait like seeds within us. If never watered, they never grow.

But if what lives in us is watered, the vastness of life enters our heart like rain soaking seeds waiting in soil.

OMTIMES

OMTIMES MAGAZINE

In time, there’s a fertile silence that takes the place of words as we break the surface, and living with that, our pains give way to joy.

How vastness enters our hearts is part of the human journey. For everyone will be dropped into the depth of life. What matters is how we meet that moment and who comes with us. Meeting that chance is how the deeper journey of life begins. For me, that chance was my journey through cancer. It changed my stance in the world.

It made me a student of all paths and all traditions. It made me a student of applied Spirit. It led me to what I stand on and stand for.

But it doesn’t have to be illness or catastrophe that grounds us. It can be wonder, beauty, love, or surprise. Great love and great suffering come to us all, to remind us how rare it is to be here at all.

Then it’s our job to stay awake and aware, kind, and loving. Ultimately, we’re challenged to find something lasting to stand on and something noble to stand for.

Being human is such a mystery, filled with blessings and hardships, often the one leading to the other. And through my own spin from blessing to hardship and back, I’ve learned that when all else fails, I’m often forced to stand where I am until the ground of being that lives forever comes up through my feet, making me a little more solid.

So,I invite you to reflect on what you stand on. What is your deepest, bedrock, your foundation? How does it solidify your place in this life? And what do you stand for?

What are the values and ethics that guide your truest actions in the world? In a personal way, how is what you stand on related to what you stand for?

I invite you to also reflect on your hardened convictions, obsessions, and excesses, as a way to diagnose what keeps you from what you stand on. I invite you to listen to your experience as a way to put down what’s in the way. For inner work begins with the vow to get closer to life.

Standing on and standing for are endless quests for how we, in our fullness, can keep the world together. I only know that when a flower finally opens, it accepts everything that comes from the sky. And when a heart finally opens, it accepts everything about existence. And when loving wholeheartedly, we can make honey out of anything. The river of who we are runs through every country. It ignores all borders. Our call is to follow that river.

OMTIMES• OCTOBER

Ultimately, we’re challenged to find something lasting to stand on and something noble to stand for.

Questions to Walk With In your journal, describe one way you are trapped in your own convictions, one way you are too stubborn about something you believe in.

How can you update and refresh this conviction or belief?

In conversation with a friend or loved one, take turns describing what each of you stands on and what you stand for. Then discuss one aspect of your personal history that you both have in common.

Standing On and Standing For is excerpted from The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters by Mark Nepo, published by St. Martin’s Essentials, May 2020.

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Can Feng Shui Change Your Destiny?

by Kartar Diamond OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

A

lmost everyone, except

all the Feng Shui remedies will not

the devout atheist or

make it so. In America, we have this

existentialist, believes or

strange phenomenon that some of

thinks it is plausible that

our U.S. Presidents have a genetic link

they have come into the world with

with each other, such as being very

a destiny. This word means different

distant cousins only revealed through

things to different people, however.

extensive genealogy reports. This

For some, it can mean their potential.

includes the unlikely pairing of former

We can say that a person is living their

V.P. Dick Cheney with former President

destiny or fate, which implies some free

Barack Obama.

will as if to say a person chooses destiny over fate based on their consciousness

In Feng Shui Theory, we believe that

or the choices they make. (i.e.

a person comes into the world with

Destiny=Good/Fate=Bad.)

a particular potential, like an outline of a story. But even that could be

Others believe the destiny is very set.

interpreted as free will if one ascribes

A person comes into the world with

to the theory of reincarnation and that

specific lessons to learn, and life is a

all souls make choices that affect them

pre-writ experience that is going to

from one incarnation to the next. Many

teach or expose a person to the lessons

people take advice from astrologers,

they need to learn or experiences

who often astonish their clientele by

they need to have. As the saying goes,

predicting accurately when certain

“it was destined.” Or another cliché:

things will or have happened in their

nothing happens by accident.

lives. This lends itself more to the belief that we don’t have much free will at all.

So, where does the practice of Feng Shui weigh in on the issue of destiny

Feng Shui takes a more relaxed view.

versus fate or free will? According to

If something is meant to happen,

the Taoist philosophy behind Feng

the remedies and alterations to the

Shui, it appears to be somewhat of

environment can make things happen

a blending of the two aspects just

faster. Or if the environment does

described. I always say in my classes

not support the destiny, then the

that if it is not your destiny to be a

true potential of a person will not be

top world leader or celebrity, then

realized, or at least not on the schedule.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

As an example, there are certain

of their lives, so the bedroom is always

energies related to love and sex. If

a critical area to look at in a Feng Shui

a person’s bedroom landed in this

Analysis.

defined area of their home, Feng Shui adherents would predict that they have

Now, if it is not in someone’s destiny to

a more substantial chance of meeting

be in a love relationship, or at least not

someone for a romantic encounter or

when the Feng Shui energies indicate

the beginning of a love relationship.

a great potential, then the combination

This is based on the concept of where

of negative and positive influences

you spend most of your time will affect

might cancel each other out. Or, as

you. Most people sleep about one-third

I have seen so often in my practice,

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

romantic energies can get stirred up for

could easily be varying the results is the

something short-lived. Still, if it is not

pre-writ destiny, which works together

the right time for someone to be in a

with the environment and physical

relationship (revealed through personal

surroundings that a person places

astrology), the most significant

themselves in.

potential will not manifest.

Author: Kartar Diamond Feng Shui remedies can work

The Philosophical and Metaphysical

powerfully or in a more subtle

Musings Series- Feng Shui

manner. They can appear to work

Solutions Ž fengshuisolutions.net

instantaneously or gradually. What OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Relationships The interconnectiveness among all human beings and, consequently, the relationships among us are the focus of this section. The dynamics of the web of connections we make is one of the most prominent aspects of human existence: how we interlace with each other’s existence in a meaningful way.

INTERVIEW

Finding your Way through Pain and Loss Interview with Claire B. Willis, co-author of Opening to Grief: Finding Your Way from Loss to Peace Claire B. Willis is a clinical social worker who has worked in the fields of oncology and bereavement for more than 20 years. A cofounder of the Boston nonprofit Facing Cancer Together, Willis has led bereavement, end-of-life, support, and therapeutic writing groups. She has co-taught Spiritual Resources for Healing the Mind, Body, and Soul at Andover Newton Theological School.

She maintains a private practice in Brookline, Massachusetts. As a lay Buddhist chaplain ordained

by Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, she focuses on contemplative practices for end-oflife care. For the past five years, she has been a student of Koshin Paley Ellison, a founding teacher at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Besides Opening to Grief, Willis is the author of Lasting Words: A Guide to Finding Meaning Toward the Close of Life. OpeningtoGrief.com

OMTIMES | OCTOBER 2020

OMTimes: What do you mean when you use the word Grief?

Claire Willis: We often think we know what Grief is, but it’s actually hard to describe.

Perhaps the first thing to say is that Grief is a normal and natural response to a major loss that occurs when a meaningful relationship is ruptured. And it is, for most people, immensely painful.

As humans, there are obvious losses that will come to most of us – parents, siblings, friends, and relatives.

OMTIMES

There are also more invisible losses that some of us may experience, losses that are less culturally recognized, such as infertility, the loss of a beloved pet, the loss of a home, innocence, health, or the loss of capacities as we age.

Then there are the losses that I call macro losses, the degradation of the environment, economic chaos, or the losses caused by war. While we may not know the people involved in these catastrophes, there is still a rupture of the relationship among humans.

Most recently, the glaring exposure of racism, police brutality, and systemic oppression of African Americans across the US has become a source of deep Grief and outrage to all people of conscience.

It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry.

We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song.

In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs, we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability, with helplessness and hopelessness.

These are the storm clouds of the heart.

Jack Kornfield

OMTimes: How does Grief manifest in our lives?

Claire Willis: Grief may manifest in intense physical sensations, such as loss of appetite, a feeling of anxiety, unrest or restlessness in the body, or a feeling of overwhelming exhaustion. Grief affects emotions, appearing as irritation, sadness, anger, depression, or numbness. And Grief affects cognition, too.

Many people experience difficulties concentrating, remembering things, or even thinking straight.

OMTimes: Is there a grief timetable or path so people know what to expect?

Claire Willis: No, there really isn’t a timetable or a single path. Grief takes as long as it takes.

There are as many different expressions of

OMTIMES|OCTOBER EDITION

Grief as there are people who are grieving. I spend a lot of time in my clinical work normalizing whatever someone’s experience is because there is no right way to grieve.

OMTimes: What would you say to someone who says that they will never get over losing someone they loved?

Claire Willis: I would say that is true. You may never get over losing the person you love. But that may be welcome news, since you may keep memories of the person you lost in ways that will comfort and sustain you.

It’s important to allow and feel the pain of missing someone or something you loved, to let the pain be the pain, not hoping that it will disappear, but trusting that at some point it will fit into your life.

Don't grieve.

Anything you lose comes around in another form.

RUMI

OMTIMES | OCTOBER

OMTimes: Both you and your coauthor, Marnie Crawford Samuelson, are practicing Buddhists. Opening to Grief offers several meditations; how can a mindfulness practice help someone through Grief?

Claire Willis: We introduce some basic ideas of being mindful: paying a kind of warm-hearted attention to life as it unfolds in the present moment; being aware of your thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in or judging them; relaxing and settling into calm and stillness, and feeling grateful for the life that is yours. We show you how it is possible to lean toward and stay with raw, uncomfortable feelings of Grief, even when you feel overwhelmed and want to run away.

One way a mindfulness practice helps is by drawing your attention to your breathing. This is a way of calming your body and mind. When we are grieving, we may be overwhelmed by fears of the future or memories of the past. The essential quality of mindfulness is about living in the present moment. Being mindful reduces stress, increases our emotional resilience to difficulties, and helps us cultivate more steadiness.

OMTimes: How does someone know whether they are grieving or depressed, and whether to consult with a mental health professional?

Claire Willis: Grief is characterized by a complicated mix of emotions, including acute sorrow, and is a normal response to a major loss such as death, disease, divorce, or violence in the world.

OMTimes | October

Sassy

Teen Magazine

Grief comes and goes with intensity so that peopleOMTIMES often find they can experience moments of relief and joy. Some behaviors that would immediately signal a need for help would include thoughts of suicide, isolating, and preoccupation with the deceased.

If feelings of sadness or hopelessness are persistent and blanket everything, that may indicate depression, rather than simple or even more Complicated Grief. If you feel you might be depressed, it would be wise to consult with mental health or medical professional.

OMTimes: What advice do you have for people who are suffering from Grief?

Claire Willis: Though this may be hard to believe or accept, especially when Grief is new and raw, Grief is an invitation to grow and eventually to find meaning in suffering and experiences of loss that you did not ask for and do not want. A heart that is broken open offers a precious gift—a chance to become more authentic with yourself and with others. In the case of the pandemic, it is a wakeup call to attend to the health of our planet and consider how we might live differently, and what we can do to help repair the rupture in our home.

Claire B. Willis is a clinical social worker who has worked in oncology and bereavement for more than 20 years. A cofounder of the Boston nonprofit Facing Cancer Together, Willis has led bereavement, end-of-life, support, and therapeutic writing groups. She maintains a private practice in Brookline, Massachusetts. As a lay Buddhist chaplain, Claire focuses on contemplative practices for end-of-life care. In addition to Opening to Grief, Willis is the author of Lasting Words: A Guide to Finding Meaning Toward the Close of Life.

OpeningtoGrief.com

Metaphysics

Living a Life of Virtue: The Pursuit of Happiness

H

by Jay K Ghosh

appiness in its many

changes in our personal world and in

different forms and shades

the world around us.

seems to be a lure for all activities of life forms.

A person's activities that produce

Human activities in the pursuit of

positive or beneficial actions also

happiness can produce unique status

produce "status changes," and they

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

seem to deliver happiness to the

positive changes can be produced by

person that is doing them. These acts

many different activities ranging from

may also produce positive "status

the extraordinary and dramatic to

changes" for the greater world around

regular humdrum activities.

them. Still, they may also be neutral or even negative for the world around

They can be physical and/or mental -

them. Thus, our impulses and acts

nothing spectacular is needed. The

in the pursuit of happiness can be

most important thing is the attitude to

divided into two types:

create a positive ending in whatever we are doing.

1. Efforts that try to create overall positive status changes for both

The next step is to support this attitude

the self and the world around.

with our efforts - whatever effort can be applied comfortably is adequate most

2. Efforts that try to create positive

of the time.

status changes for the self only, without any concern for their

The second type of "status change,"

effect on the world everywhere.

makes up the secondary sources of happiness, commonly known as

The first type of activity creates status

pleasures. These are basically the

changes that normally bring true

hedonistic sources of happiness, as

positive outcomes. These are the

classified by modern psychology.

primary sources of happiness that create a strong foundation through

The focus of this type of happiness is

activities that benefit both the self

self-gratification without much concern

and the world. They also constitute the

for the greater good or anything

eudaimonic* sources of happiness as

around us. They are generated from

defined by modern psychology.

activities that produce effects that are beneficial only for the self. Still, they

Generally, the activities in the pursuit

can be anything - positive, neutral, or

of this type of happiness try to uplift

negative for the world around.

not only the status of the person creating it but also the overall status

The activity of eating an ice-cream, for

of the greater world around. These

example, or watching an interesting

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

movie, delivers pleasure to us. Still, it

For example, eating an ice cream

may not generate any appreciable

produces "status changes" for the

amount of positive status changes for

self in positive sensation through the

the world around.

sense of taste. Still, it makes practically no status changes for the world

The hedonistic type of happiness can

around.

be further subdivided into two groups.

Participating in a group sports activity

Let's name them:

like playing soccer, for example, can a) hedonistic type A, and

be considered as another example of

b) hedonistic type B

the pursuit of mild hedonistic type A happiness, where the acts produce

The activities in the pursuit of

positive status changes for the self,

hedonistic type A happiness produce

and also some possible positive status

status changes that are positive for the

changes for the world around.

self and are also non-negative for the world around. That is, they are either

In similar situations where the

positive or neutral for their immediate

hedonistic activity creates positive

environment.

status changes for the greater world OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

around, the act can be in the transition

Thus, we can see a clear difference

zone, from hedonistic to eudaimonic,

between the eudaimonic* and the

depending on the purpose given to

hedonistic types of happiness -

the effort.

especially between the eudaimonic and the hedonistic type B.

The activities in the pursuit of hedonistic type B happiness produce

If we analyze the destructive activities

status changes, which are favorable

posing the most serious threats to our

for the self, but harmful for the world.

future survival, we are able to see that

Here the overall status change tends

most of them have been created by

to be negative. Sexual activities,

our actions to pursue hedonistic type

for example, have the potential of

B happiness. But that doesn't mean

producing tremendous amounts of

we have to skip all the hedonistic

hedonistic happiness. Still, depending

pleasures - the pleasures of our favorite

on the circumstances, they can be the

food or the beautiful music, etc. make

type A or type B. Inappropriate, or non-

life so rewarding. But, possibly, it will

consensual sexual behavior can provide

be wiser to avoid the hedonistic type

hedonistic type B happiness for the

B as much as possible for the obvious

self while creating significant negative

reasons. Perhaps, here lies the clue

status changes for the victims.

to solving some of our most pressing problems related to our evolution and

Business activities of corporations

our survival in the far future.

selling products which are harmful to the world while making monetary

Jay K Ghosh emigrated to the USA

profits can also be considered as

from India in 1968. He has a couple

examples of hedonistic type B

of master's Degrees in science and

activities. In this vision, some people

Engineering. Though his profession

benefit at the expense of the greater

has been in Technology, his real

world around them. Thus, selling

passion has been in Philosophy and

fossil fuels by the oil and gas industry

Spirituality.

without any effort to control the resulting global warming may be considered an example of hedonistic type B behavior.

*Eudaimonic well-being refers to the subjective experiences associated with eudaimonia or living a life of virtue in the pursuit of human excellence.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Personal Growth & Development

We grow as individuals as we face challenges and overcome life’s obstacles. This section is dedicated to helping you chart your course.

Grief and Times of Change

G

by Darity Wesley

rief is part of the human

situation that has or will change how

experience. We grieve

we live our lives. And many of us grieve

the loss of a loved one,

for all of humanity, the animals, the

a furry friend, a beloved

environment ... the collective in its

colleague, a career, a relationship, or

current state of existence.

the loss of something we have had in our lives for a long time. We grieve

Also, during this massive change on the

the onset of illness, trauma, or some

planet, we are all probably feeling some

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

level of grief. The pandemic has created

terminal illness or when we lose a

a dramatic shift in and around us all—

loved one.

the loss of how things used to be.

However, it also applies to the types Any time there is a shift in realities, and

of loss we experience in a changing

this is not the first reality shift on this

world, a transformational, paradigm-

planet, grief tends to accompany the

changing experience, much like we

experience.

are going through right now.

So, what is grief? Grief is deep sorrow.

The old world, the old energy, is

Deep, deep sorrow … and its depth

dying. What we thought of as our

varies depending on the connection to

"reality" is changing right before

what is lost.

our very eyes. The new world, the new energy, the New Reality, is

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss-

still unknown. It is amorphous. We

American psychiatrist who was a

cannot see it clearly and do not know

pioneer in the hospice movement and

what it will look like until the speed

wrote many books on death and dying,

of change has slowed down. Indeed,

introduced the five stages of grief. She

it will look much different. Our lives

later added two more stages of grief,

will never be the same. As a result,

making it The Seven Stages of Grief.

most of us are experiencing some

The seven stages are:

level of grief.

1. Shock

The experience of grief is different

2. Denial

for each person, and the Seven

3. Anger

Stages of Grief are not necessarily

4. Bargaining

pointing on some linear timeline. Not

5. Depression

everyone goes through all of them or

6. Testing

even in any prescribed order, as the

7. Acceptance

experience of grief is as unique as we are. The final stage of grief eventually

Kübler-Ross postulates that this is a

brings us to acceptance and the

series of emotions we all go through

knowledge that All Is Well with All

when we are diagnosed with a

That Is!

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Therefore, be aware that many of us

happening and then keeping our

are experiencing and moving through

wits about us. This will give us the

stages of grief. Understanding that we

wherewithal to calm our monkey

are all experiencing some form of grief

mind, open our hearts, and firmly

will enable us to have compassion for

ground ourselves in the immense love

each other. It provides us with a tool

that is All That Is. It is what allows us to

in our evolutionary toolbox that will

heal and move forward.

help frame and identify what we, and The healing comes when we allow the

others, may be feeling.

pain, the grief, the sadness to be felt.

This allows us to really feel and

We have to honor our emotions and

connect with the emotion that is

let them release. These tools apply

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

whether it is the loss of life or loss

Darity Wesley is an award-winning,

of a way of life. Or even the loss of

best-selling author, a lawyer, a speaker,

everything we have known before.

a Death Diva, and a Wisdom Sharer. She has traveled the spiritual, metaphysical,

We are vast, powerful beings ...

and personal development paths for

more than we really know. We

many decades. She has become a

can step out of our grief when

powerful resource for those awakening

we are ready and into creating

to their evolving consciousness. Her

the New Reality. Our grief, our

'Wisdom for the New Reality' message

feelings, our acceptance are the

goes out monthly to her international

steppingstones to an exciting new

community for free. Sign up on her

way of life.

website www.DarityWesley.com.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Erasing Fear from Your Heart

by Melvin D. Nix

What Are You Listening To?

A

to, attend closely, and wait attentively for." We have all been conditioned

re you mindful of what

to follow the latest trends and

you have been listening

happenings, so we shift our attention

to? The word "listen to"

rapidly from one thing to the next.

means" to give attention

It's easy to float through our lives with

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

no awareness of what we are giving our attention to. However, what we are lending our ears is the most significant source of the fears we

Keep your heart The Bible has a scripture that says:" Keep your heart with all diligence,

carry within ourselves.

For out of it springs the issues of

Listening and hearing involve more

that, out of your heart (mind) flows

life. (Proverbs 4:23)". Think about

than our ears. It's about receiving information through our eyes, experiences, and other senses as well. The information we receive gets planted into our minds and ultimately shapes how we believe and respond to the things that occur in our lives. In the grander scheme of things, we need to harness the power

the issues of life. The word issues allude to your source of life and the boundaries that surround your life.

What this verse implies is that we should be cautious about what we give our attention to because those things spring up and shape our lives and destiny.

of our attention.

If you reflect on any limiting belief or

Be Careful HOW You Hear - The Ear and Heart Connection

fear for you, I'm sure you can trace

situation that has been a source of it back to something you heard and gave your attention to even if it only started out as a conversation.

Isn't it ironic that the word ear is

Think of the things you have never

embedded within the words f(ear)

pursued because someone made a

and h(ear)t?

fearful suggestion to you. You never gave yourself a chance to see for

When I mention the word heart,

yourself because you allowed their

I'm referring to the conscious and

suggestion to be planted into your

subconscious states of our minds

heart, and it birthed fear within

that govern our lives, whether

you. It shaped your imagination

we know it or not. Our heart is

so that when you even thought of

susceptible to suggestions and must

the situation, you saw images that

be carefully attended to if we desire a

corresponded to fear rather than

better quality of life.

courage.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

What's In You In Abundance Comes Out

around you and cheer you on, but most of us don't have that luxury. Most of us are finding that we are often

Once you've given your attention to a

alone and dealing with the issues of

fearful suggestion, it shapes how you

life on our own.

perceive things. It even starts to govern how you verbally express yourself.

Finding a way to encourage yourself

Think of all the things you've avoided

allows you to build a stronger

and said.." I can't, it won't work, or it

foundation within so that as the

will fail" Most of those statements are

circumstances of life come towards

accompanied by mental images and

you, you will stand strong. It equips

emotions that are interconnected to

you to not be dependent upon others

what you've said. The fearful suggestions

that may never come to your aid when

have been planted into your heart,

you are facing an emergency. When

and now you are growing and giving

you infuse thoughts, emotions, and

life to them. Those suggestions are

inner dialog with ideas of confidence,

now becoming the "issues" of your

assurance, and success, you begin to

life because you weren't mindful of

remove seeds and thought patterns of

diligently guarding your heart. The

negativity and fear. Be mindful of what

good news is that once you have this

you give your attention to, how you are

understanding, you can pluck up those

listening, and start to remove yourself

fearful seeds from within and plant

from anxiety and fill your heart with

seeds of courage, hope, and power.

courage!

Encourage Yourself Think of what the word encourage means" to give support, confidence, or hope." To remove fear from your life, you must start by encouraging yourself.

It's not the easiest thing to do, but it's necessary for each of us to develop.

It's wonderful if you have the support of loving friends and family that circle

Melvin D Nix is a spiritual teacher, author, and motivational speaker.

He currently hosts a weekly broadcast called "Putting On The Pneu You," (pronounced New You) where he teaches how to apply universal spiritual concepts and principles in an easy to understand format so that anyone can use them and see tangible results in their daily lives. pneuyou.com

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

When you look at the view of Earth from space, you are immediately in awe of what you do see: the incredible beauty of Creation. It is not until you look closer that you realize what you do not see.

You do not see lines partitioning countries.

You do not see separation between races.

You do not see division between religions.

You do not see the walls people build to isolate themselves from each other.

There is only One Planet. There is only One Humanity.

This section is dedicated to introducing thoughts and ideas to foster a greater understanding of Humanity’s interdependence.

World Vision

Transforming Our World through Our Gifts

by Veronica Lee

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

P

ressure is often

• What is 2020 trying to offer me?

the catalyst for

• What can I learn, develop, or

transformation. Wood, fiber, metal, clay and

other raw materials become transformed – oftentimes into something useful or beautiful – with conscientious pressure, intention and skill. To say, “2020

transform within me at this time?

• What have I been avoiding that is beckoning my attention?

• What gifts do I possess to meet the current challenges?

• How can I care for myself more fully, gently?

has been a year of relentless pressures” would be a gross

These contemplations can be held

understatement. And the year is

lightly in meditation and allowed to

just two-thirds over!

rest, with revelations unfolding over several days. You can also address

We can easily identify several mass

them more directly: by writing each

challenges that have marked our

question at the top of a page, and

lives this year – at least somewhat

allowing the free-form “answers”

directly – but many of us are facing

to flow f rom your pen, without

more personal pressures as well.

hesitation or judgment. Another approach is to ask one specific

Death, divorce, depression,

question before bed, trusting that

division, and disaster come to

your dreams will offer insights.

mind… and that’s just a few of the

Recording the dream upon waking

Ds. No matter the personal effects

sharpens your recollection of it and

of 2020, one might wonder, “What

prompts your inner wisdom for

did I sign up for here?” And that’s

interpretations as details surface.

a good question, which deserves some openhearted contemplation.

Meeting the pressures of life with inquiry and contemplation

With a quiet mind and grounded

empowers us to find the wisdom

neutrality, contemplate this

and opportunities buried within.

unprecedented time as it relates

Using what we discover for positive

to you. Here are some good starter

transformation takes intention and

inquiries:

willingness.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

As much as we would love to rest on

and consciously unearth the rubble

our laurels with grace and ease, 2020

and trust we will find some gems.

(and the next few years, according to some astrologers) will be demanding

Many of our wounds have devolved

more of us – globally and individually.

into unconscious patterns: feeling

Our collective awakening is gaining

bad, closing our hearts, mistreating

momentum now. As infinite beings,

others or ourselves, acting carelessly,

we are always a work in progress, ever

and so on. The more traumatic

capable of growth with many innate

wounds may appear large and

gifts to support our evolution.

looming, like massive, immoveable stones, whereas smaller discords are

In times of intense pressure, how

more like pebbles that misshape

can we develop our capacities for

and weigh down our pockets.

transformation toward something

Unresolved wounds and feelings of

we actually desire? Not everyone is

unworthiness aren’t “bad,” per se, but

equally skilled, nor beholds the same

are not optimal for joyful authenticity

vision of usefulness or beauty that

and healthy empowerment.

transformation can accomplish. To

It’s reasonable to deduce that

apply a one-size-fits-all suggestion may

our wounds and beliefs about

not resonate. Or work. Yet a simplistic

unworthiness lead to destruction –

starting point is: know thyself.

and we have a chronic condition.

Currently, many of our shadows and

The spiritual evolution we are

unresolved issues are coming to the

undergoing is not asking for

foref ront. The things we don’t like

perfection; is it urging us to

seeing, feeling, or hoped we’d get to

resolve hindrances to our greatest

bypass are demanding our attention.

expression. What we transform

Awareness and understanding of

within ourselves inextricably affects

ourselves and our so-called issues

our world.

make room for acceptance and, if Fundamentally, we have a natural

willing, change.

aptitude for taking care of our needs, Knowing our “personality” is not

albeit sometimes only primordially.

enough. We must dig deeper – carefully

As babies, we either fulfilled our own

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

needs (sleep, elimination, thumb-

assessment, we can discover the

sucking) or cried instinctively to get

relation between obstacle and

them met (nourishment, comfort,

gift. For example, if hurt-feelings,

care). Metaphysically, our more

rejection, and abandonment are

subtle faculties also preserve and

wounds that became blocks,

protect us as we navigate through

we can “turn the coin over”

life. Our inherent remembrance of

to recognize caring, love, and

Oneness enables love. Our keen

connection as foundational gifts.

ability to empathize reinforces connectedness. Our capacity to sense emotions and potential volatilities help us decipher

Try this simple exercise using list-making to discover your hidden gems:

unspoken words or situations.

In the column of “Obstacles,” Yet, the wounds and traumas we

note what you consider blocks or

endure can morph into layers of

shortcomings (afraid, impulsive,

fear and protectiveness, obscuring

angry); you can also be more

our innate gifts, our expression of

specific (I am af raid to try new

our authentic selves, and our joy.

things, I don’t think before I act, I seem to be angry all the time).

By recognizing and cultivating our inherent gifts, we begin to dissolve

Before approaching the column of

the blocks that limit us and clear

“Gifts,” get centered in your heart.

the pathways that lead us back to

Invoke a simple inward intention,

our essence. All the way back to the

close your eyes, take some deep

origin of our power and joy.

breaths while focusing on your heart chakra, or place your hands

Whether working with a skilled

over your heart, softening your

practitioner, participating in a

defenses.

conscientious group, or choosing to work alone, understanding the core

As you contemplate each of the

of our obstacles can help us access

“Obstacles,” intend to see your

self-compassion and illuminate

underlying “Gifts.” Approach

our capabilities. With conscious

each item with, “What gift is this

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

shortcoming trying to protect?� For

cultivating your gifts can unleash

example, fear (to try new things)

interest, passion, and meaning.

may indicate your sensitivity

Whether tangible or metaphysical,

to harsh people, out-of-sync

developing new or neglected gifts

situations, and a natural tendency

takes practice. Yet, in reaction,

to find a healthy structure and

defiance, discouragement, and doubt

balance. Trust and write whatever

may also arise. Practice anyway.

come, digging deeper for nuggets.

Although we may not see immediate With your list of gems, decide

results, the shifts are profound. It is

which ones you wish to polish

time to consciously transform all that

first and brainstorm ways to do

has kept us in separation, pain, and

so. Do you want to take a class?

fear into the love-based reality we

Read books? Moreover, take note

envision. Fortunately, we co-create

of what you are already doing

it by applying our inherent gifts and

to preserve your gifts. If you are

becoming who we are meant to be.

naturally sensitive, fortify healthy ways to preserve your sensitivity.

You may decide to learn the art of clairvoyance, clairaudience, or mediumship. If your big heart loves deeply, but you’ve guarded it against intimacy, maybe you learn relationship-building skills in a safe and compassionate environment.

If underneath your criticism and judgment, you discover your affinity for peace and justice, perhaps art will be a joyful way to express and create the harmony

Veronica Lee is a Transformational Visionary, Speaker, Writer, Spiritual Mentor, and Intuitive. Through her work, she has shared lifechanging insights and guidance with thousands around the world. Believing joy comes f rom living an integrated life, Veronica focuses on embracing our whole selves, making peace with imperfections, taking transformative steps, or

you envision.

awakening spiritual gifts. Her

There may not be a universal

is both practical and deeply

empowering style of sharing

method for transformation, but

insightful. www.VeronicaLee.tv

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Books

Unreasonable Joy: Awakening through Trikaya Buddhism, points the way towards Enlightenment and liberation from suffering. We suffer through tragedies and the daily grind of eat-work-sleep, chasing happiness but finding fleeting pleasure. Built on the foundations of ancient wisdom, a new school called Trikaya Buddhism promises freedom from the suffering of this wearisome cycle. Unreasonable Joy captures Buddha’s advanced Tantric teachings and puts them into an American form of Buddhism designed for the modern world.

Unreasonable Joy contains proven techniques that the author, Turīya, has taught thousands of people over a 25-year career. The nine lessons explore the power of meditation, mindfulness, karma, emotions, and humility. Turīya provides essays, poems, and stories that ground the esoteric teachings in the world, and Practice Pointers show you how to incorporate them into daily life. Adorned with traditional Tibetan thangka art by Yoni Zilber, the pages invite you into the powerful practice of meditation instantly. Unreasonable Joy gently encourages you to do the work you will need to directly experience the ecstasy of existence and recognize who you truly are.

For more information, or to purchase the book, click the cover or visit:

Amazon.com

7 Reasons to Invest in Your Creative Writing Skills

By Omtimes Publishing OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

Y

ou can find several online workshops and a lot of free material to study creative writing, but what

1 – Creative environments will encourage you to write more.

does it mean to improve your creative

It is the main reason to join writing

writing?

courses, in my opinion. If you plan to

Grow Your Creative Writing Skills

go to classes and do the proposed exercises, you will write more than usual. That alone is worth the investment, isn’t it? But the many

Becoming a writer means being

advantages do not stop there.

creative enough to find the time and the place in your life for writing. ~Heather Sellers

2 – You will learn new planning techniques

If you intend to become a published

Yes, many writers work in the

author, developing your creatives skills

“gardener” mode. They start writing

is a must.

and change their projects throughout the writing but learning to plan

Of course, the best thing would be

important for everyone. After all,

to have a community of writers to

planning can help you better deal with

exchange information with. Therefore,

the infamous writing block. Besides,

most courses, even online, offer

different forms of planning give you

different platforms for you to interact

different points of view about their

with other writers, such as forums and

stories and have a lot to contribute to

Facebook groups.

your personal creative process.

So why, with so much content available, are so many writers still not taking Creative Writing courses?

If you are one of these, here is a list of reasons to start taking creative writing courses.

3 -You will learn new writing techniques Everyone lives, one way or the other, on a bubble, and in terms of writing and creativity, this is no different. You may not yet know writers you will

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

love and techniques that will help you

In the most complete workshops, you

create even more compelling stories.

will come into contact with different literary genres. Perhaps, you will end

The workshops can help you get out

up discovering a new area of ​​writing

of that literary bubble a bit and get

with which you identify. I, for example,

in touch with stories and styles you

always liked writing short stories

would never have known.

more. Still, participating in writing

4 – You will meet new literary genres

workshops, I realized that I need not be afraid of the long narrative and love to write chronicles. I did not abandon

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

the stories, but I started other projects

This is a time of great learning. You will

in parallel to writing more and more.

hear a lot of criticism – constructive, we

5 – Creative Writing courses will help you to develop your own narrative voice, your author’s voice.

hope. It is imperative to learn how to deal with them and evolve as a writer.

Having a group analyzing your manuscript is remarkably enjoyable to know what works and what does

We are often influenced by some of

not. At what points did you achieve

our favorite writers. There is nothing

your goals with the text, and what do

wrong with that. It is part of the writer’s

you need to improve. Do not be afraid

ongoing learning process. However,

to share your writing with others who

in the workshops, with exchanging

are also developing as writers. These

with colleagues and teachers, you will

exchanges are incredible and full of

realize what is yours. You will be able

learning.

to identify what you borrowed from your references and will be able to determine what makes you unique.

This is an important step in your

7 – You will build a community of fellow writers around you.

writing journey.

It is one of the most important Creativity is allowing yourself to make

elements for the growth of any author

mistakes. Art is knowing which ones

for several reasons:

to keep. ~Scott Adams

First, because you will end up finding

6 – You will learn to deal with criticism (with baby steps)

people qualified to give you critical opinions about your writings. Second, because, in general, the authors help each other in the dissemination of content, promoting, sharing, and

At some point during the workshops,

taking part in literary events and

you will be asked to write and share

launches. If you want to launch

your texts with colleagues so that they

yourself as an author, it is essential to

can give an opinion on your writings.

be among your peers.

OM TIMES | October B Edition 2020

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