Brother and Sisters

I heard there are rumors floating around town related to concerns about me and witchcraft. Here is my response.

First of all I would like to say that if you question my character do the adult thing and communicate that to me, rather than spreading rumors that you do not know are true. I am open to discussing my opinions and beliefs and will never try and hide my truth.

The focus of my life and the Healing Arts Community Center is to help people in need. That is who I am and what I do. I believe it is my spiritual purpose in life.

It is not enough to read spiritual text like the Bible we must strive to live what is taught.
Romans 1:28-31
"28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; ...WHISPERS, 30 BACKBITERS..., haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

I personally don't know anyone that practices "witchcraft". Witchcraft being: calling on spirits to do magic on others with a negative intent. I know a few pagans. Paganism is not witchcraft. There are some similarities but the guideline for current Paganism is "Do no harm". Ancient paganism is
a different story and in some cases can be linked to witchcraft, but I do not know any witches. Pagans use "magical articles" such as candles in rituals to focus their intent to help others, help heal an illness, help their crops, etc.

Rituals are a way of focusing one's energy or a group's energy (intent) into something. Most churches used to have much more rituals. Catholics still have strong ritual practices.

I was asked if I believe in witchcraft. I do not believe in any ritual that focuses on the negative. However, I do believe ritual has power. A prayer is focused intent and can be used in a negative way just as any ritual can. I believe that ritual can and is used in positive ways to help people.

I believe it is important to be open-minded to what others believe. You do not have to agree with people but you can allow them to be themselves. I don't know any two Christians that practice, interpret the bible, or live exactly the same way.

I try to follow the example of Christ and love (accept) everyone. If I see something that harms others I will step in and help, but I still do it from a loving place.

My suggestion to everyone is, if you find yourself judging another sit down with them and get there point of view. The Bible tells us as do others sources how we got to the fallen state we find ourselves. The bible explains it as eating from the "tree of knowledge of good and bad" – translation
"taking on judgment/duality/polarization". The truth is that the Garden of Eden isn't some place on the Earth it is the entire EARTH. We lost touch with that fact (got kicked out of the garden) when we started judging ourselves and others. When you judge you live in fear and when you live in
fear you cannot see and experience the Garden of Eden we live in. Every day can be heaven!!

I personally believe that there is only one lesson to learn and that lesson is that we are all connected to one another. All the illness, pain and suffering you see in life is a symptom of the illusion that we are separate. Just like physical pain the symptom cannot be healed until the false perception is healed. False perceptions cannot be healed until we start seeing each other as we truly are – BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF A SPIRITUAL FORCE CALLED GOD OR THE OTHER MANY NAMES USED! If we continue to argue over petty issues like religion we only prolong the ills of the world.

Peace not war (We Are Right),
Jon


+The following is quoted from some of my personal writings.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF RELIGION

Religion is meant to reconnect us to God and our fellow man. The word religion means, "To rejoin, to put together what was separated." It is ironic that religion actually adds to the separation of people through the judgment of other's religious beliefs. When everyone is pointing their
fingers at everyone else and saying things like "it should be this way", "you are wrong", "this is the right way to believe" it only serves to drive a bigger wedge between mankind. It's not about others preaching how "things should be," it's about our personal relationship with God. The truth is that
it does not really matter how you reconnect yourself to God and your fellow human beings, but that you JUST DO IT.


RELIGION vs. SPIRITUALITY

Religion is an "external practice" and spirituality is an "internal practice". Religion is a possession and Spirituality is a way of being. Being "religious" might look good from the outside, but can fall short of how Christ would want us to be. Religious practices point a finger and say this is the way "it should be done." Spiritual practices work at making the person better, more loving, etc. Spirituality has no need to point a finger at others -- for their life is the example. It is unfortunate that usually those who promote church and "Godly ideas" are religious, not spiritual. Their message is one of separation because they focus on judgments rather than being better people. That goes for every religion from Baptist to Zen. Buddhists, Catholics, Baptists, Wiccans, etc; can all be religious or spiritual practices. To me whatever you label your religion is like skin color. Great people can be found in every race/color.

One last thought, if God is Omnipresent (everywhere), then s/he must also be in all of us. If s/he is not in all of us, then how can God be Omnipresent???