Master of Metaphysics

This blog is for the comments regarding the Master of Metaphysics - Spirit Quest program offered through the Universal Life Church and their online seminary program.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Spirit Quest

Master of Metaphysics by Chuck Rackers
Grounding with the Master of Metaphysics Course

I took the Spirit-Quest Master of Metaphysics Home Study Course. I very much enjoyed it. Every week I looked forward to the new course email and the thought-provoking ideas it contained.

Over all, the course was excellent. There were some things I learned that, although I have read many books on metaphysics and similar subjects, this is the first time I'd seen them presented in such an elegant and simple way.

There was, however, an idea or set of ideas, that I did not agree with. I will discuss this and then go forward into a few of the many things that I did agree with.

The General concept of Lesson 8, ‘Getting What You Want’, is the series of ideas I most disagreed with in the course. These ideas are similar to what I found in a book I read in high school, called ‘Think and Grow Rich’, by Napolean Hill. I was captivated by the idea that I could make things happen by my thoughts and actions.

It is true. As stated in the course and many other books and schools of thought, we can ‘make things happen’ with our thoughts and behavior. There are few times, however, when I have ever seen the drawbacks of this philosophy discussed.

It is quite simply the truth that we often don’t know what is good for us. What we often want is usually not what we need, and focusing narrowly only on our own wants and needs can lead to selfishness, narcissism and arrogance.

There was a period in my life when I concentrated on ‘making’ things happen (usually through visualization), and they frequently came about. But the shallow goals we merely think we want often fall short once achieved, like ripened fruit that rots in our hand once we have grasped it.

On the positive side were several things in the course that are absolutely life-changing. The first thing was something I had already spent years learning, and that was about ‘forgiveness’. Had I seen this subject matter discussed earlier in my life, it may have saved me a lot of pain. I had often been told that it is ‘good to forgive’, but never about why. I didn't know that forgiveness is for the one who forgives, for the freedom that forgiveness brings. That is one of the single most important things, I believe, that any person can learn in life. It was well-presented in this course.

One of the other great ideas presented in the Spirit Quest course, that really did change my life, was the idea of the ‘Grounding Cord’ presented in Lesson Three. I had also seen similar visualization techniques presented in other places, but I rejected them with a simple thought: ‘Am I really connecting to the center of the Earth…?’ I thought, ‘No, that’s a ridiculous idea’.

I tried the visualization, however, and I have to admit that it completely changed my meditation practices ever since.

For some reason, when I did the visualization, I felt more ‘grounded’. Now, how could that be, unless it was some kind of illusion or self-hypnosis? Yet, I could not argue with the fact that the technique worked and the effects lasted, in most cases, for the rest of the day.

This led me to a long thought process, through which I could interpret the experience. I think that (and note, this is only my own interpretation), that when I visualize the ‘center of the Earth’, I actually am making contact with the unconscious center of me. That idea makes so much sense and seems to tie in with many systems of philosophy and mythology. Although I would like to explore this idea at length, due to time and space constraints, I don’t think that would be practical here.

I did notice, however, that the experience of meditative depth occurred whether I visualized a cord or cable connecting me to the center of the Earth, a stone dropping to the deepest level of the ocean floor, or myself going down an infinitely deep spiral staircase. Please note again, this is only my interpretation, and my own private experience.

I also noticed, based on ideas I found in the metaphysics course, that if I visualized (realistically, with touch, sight, smell and sound) releasing and watching a helium balloon rise, I come in touch with, in a sense, my ‘higher’ self. After holding this image in my mind, I felt buoyant, happy, and free.

So I incorporated these two simple visualizations into my daily meditation routine. It is my way to connect with and acknowledge my higher and lower self. My way, if you will, to ‘integrate’ myself on all levels. As the first part of my meditation each day, I take deep breaths while dropping a cord or coming into contact with my ‘deeper’ self, and then I take a few more deep breaths and acknowledge and greet my ‘higher’ self. I do not use words, since I think these parts of myself are beyond words. The visualizations work perfectly, every time.

For that gift of insight and the many ideas and concepts presented in the metaphysics course, I give sincere thanks to Amy and ULC.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


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Monday, May 23, 2011

Spirit Quest

Master of Metaphysics

Spirit Quest Final Essay
By Reverend Rob Kenneway

I thought today would be a great day to write my final essay for the Spirit Quest course that I have just completed. There's nothing like Christmas day to inspire ones faith to grab hold and take you for the ride of the year. The birds sing louder and the breeze blows fresher.

Ever since I was a boy I heard people say that you should watch what you say and do, because it will always come back on you. Well, karma has always been a big part of my life and the lessons that came with it. After reading about karma in this lesson, and practicing or applying those principles, I'm even more of a believer than before. I can notice a change in my life when I'm more careful of how I say and do things each day. Karma has a big part in the happenings in our lives. I think it's Gods way of telling us to do that which is right.

The meditation part of the course was a little too bizarre for me. I guess that I'm just not ready for that. I did get a lot out of sitting quiet and still and just thinking about all the negativity and bad things that go on in my life. I've been having some difficulty getting over a divorce for the past two years. When my ex-wife remarried, she moved 3,000 miles away with me five year old daughter Miranda. I was beating myself up pretty badly. I created a glass bulb with all the negative and energy zapping stuff, and smashed it into the walls. My daughter Miranda is my golden sun, the best thing in my life. I've had some personal healing energy that keeps me from putting the blame on and carry on like the wayward son.

By not reacting, like I used to, to a very aggravating, pompous and obnoxious supervisor at work, I took away the energy that used to make me want to punch his lights out. Now I understand that I was feeding the energy by reacting to his insults. A lot of people are controlled by the big green monster, and treat others badly when under it's spell. Insecurity also plays a big role in such behavior.

I learned quite a lot from the Spirit Quest course, and am a better person because of it. I try to better myself in any way I can and try to be a better representative of the lord above. By knowledge and understanding myself and other people around me, I will be better to myself and the rest of the world. There's much that we don't understand about our world and life itself, but I do understand that we are here for a reason. The biggest part of it is for the good of people and the lord above. Merry Christmas.
Reverend Robert A. Kenneway


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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Spirit Quest

Dear Rev. Amy:

There have been so many ways this course has enlightened me. Learning about a better way to treat myself was an area that I never ever thought about. I had always been hard on myself, thinking I have been stupid, a failure, a bad person and incompetent. I learned that my life is a journey and all the "mistakes" are lessons I need to learn in this lifetime. Learning to recognize when I have moved out of love, has been difficult and rewarding.

On being true to myself and keeping my word, I have come a long way as well. I have researched, meditated and searched inward for my "true" beliefs. I have avoided blindly following "popular" beliefs, views or doctrine on spirituality for several years and have more recently become comfortable being different and self-thinking. I still adhere to the teachings of Jesus, as I was raised Christian, but  I have learned for me, that the Bible opens as many questions as it answers. I feel it is more of a guide than a law, as with all other respected religious material.

I have benefited daily from newly learned meditation techniques. Before starting Spirit Quest, I already grounded and opened chakras for meditation. The huge gold sun, protection rose and sticky sun integrated smoothly into my routine. Having the ability to fill my life with golden sun energy has increased my inner happiness, along with creating and destroying roses greatly reduced my stress levels. The ability to destroy even the smallest of annoyances creates more room for positive energy. The sticky sun has taught me that I can re-capture lost energy and re-claim it for my use.

I learned to look at situations and ask what am I being asked to learn from this situation? How does this fit into the "big picture" of my life?

Functioning in a negative frame of mind or surrounding oneself with negative people and energy was normal for me until this course. I rarely recognized I was hardly ever operating out of love.

Life is complicated and does require that one is constantly paying attention and be aware. Daily miracles go easily unnoticed if operating in a robot lifestyle.

I have taken time to really look at my beliefs. They are still changing as I learn. Learning that the voices I hear are not mine was a great affirmation. Speaking in the positive to tell the universe the right thing. The importance of asking the right questions.....all great concepts I can use as tools now.

I have discovered I am a mature soul. There really are so many questions that need answers. My soul is focused on relationships and bonding. The great spiritual awareness is over-whelming and difficult to handle at times. I try to take baby steps or the one-day-at-a-time process to help focus on the present.

Please forgive me for my error in sending this essay in 2 parts. I hit the wrong key...and not being computer knowledgeable, I did not know any other way to get it to you. My sincerest apologies.

Yours truly,
Kimberly Shaw

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Spirit Quest

Master of Metaphysics Essay by Rev. Jeremy Barker
Spirit Quest Course through the ULC Seminary

Master of metaphysics is a good course for people to understand better of having a calm and true peace within ones self. Having stress affect us everyday in multiple different ways, and learning to cope with it is a struggle each of us have on a daily basis. But this course shows ways to channel stress and stressful situations. Putting things into bubbles and watching them burst after floating away are great techniques.

Also grounding is another tool that is a great idea because it gives you a start to find your inner peace. Its like having your own little space no one can enter, where you can think things all the way through before acting upon them.

Those are a couple of tools to mention that worked for me, but only for a while. At first I was meditating and studying the Bible everyday. I felt great and was learning a lot. When I was reading a lesson it asked or said that people from your past might show up. Sure enough someone from my past showed up and it sent me on a whirl. My emotions were out of control until I grounded myself. And all I could think of is that some things sent for you to deal with could be from God or satan. To tell you the truth I was scared. My life until now was a roller-coaster ride from Hell. I had made a relationship again and was asked to walk away. I was confused, and I also remembered the lesson saying something like this would happen.

It is very hard to tell if what was presented to me was right meaning "God sent" or wrong meaning from satan. After that happened I decided to stop meditating for awhile, and studying the Bible. Confused and lost once again is a horrible feeling. I still used grounding an bubbles techniques to deal with things. Finally that person left my space and Thank God for that.

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar