Pope Benedict and the World of Art

Sistine Chapel

Pope Benedict XVI met with more than 250 artists today at the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The gathering of hundreds of painters, sculptors, writers, actors, and musicians, held beneath the vaulted ceiling of the chapel painted by Michelangelo, received inspiration from the Pope in his effort to “renew the Church's friendship with the world of art."

My cousin, Sylvia, in Vienna, Austria emailed me today to let me know of the event as it was being broadcast from the Sistine Chapel on her Italian television station. Sylvia wrote this:

“I just tuned into my Italian channel Rai Uno and there is the Pope in the Sistine chapel speaking to artists from all over the world. He is speaking in Italian so I looked it up and found he wants a closer relationship with all artists with the church or religion. He told them, we need you. It has been 45 years since the Vatican or the Pope has met with artists.

The cameras are frequently flashing on the art in the Sistine chapel, on the ceiling, on specific frescos.

The Pope has a white robe on and a huge gold cross on his chest.

The commentator just said il Pappa is saluting certain artists present at the meeting.

Now they are showing the outside of the chapel in the square. The sun is shining and it looks like a good day.

I see in the audience there are many men and a few women.

Now, he is giving his blessing. Patri et filitu et Santus. Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Now, they are inside the Sistine chapel again. The frescos look so bright and fresh. It is amazing. There must be artists touching them up to keep them looking this bright.”

Saturday's event marked both the 10th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's 'Letter to Artists' in 1999 in which he spoke of the Church's "need for art," and the 45th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's original meeting with artists in 1964. The invitation to today’s meeting went out to 500 artists regardless of religious, political or stylistic allegiances.

In recent years the Vatican has seemed to pull away from the art community and has had some controversy with artists including Dan Brown’s best-selling book (and resulting movie), The Da Vinci Code. In hopes for reconciliation with the artistic community, the Vatican's new culture commissar, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi seems to be driving the efforts for the Church to again support the arts.

According to a quote in the New York Times: “Benedict made ‘a cordial, friendly and impassioned appeal’ to the artists, calling on them to be ‘fully conscious of your great responsibility to communicate beauty, to communicate in and through beauty.’”

According to the Catholic News Agency:

“In a moving address he [Pope Benedict] challenged the artists, as ‘custodians of beauty,’ to be ‘heralds and witnesses of hope for humanity.’”

The Pontiff explained this phenomenon, "thanks to your talent, you have the opportunity to speak to the heart of humanity, to touch individual and collective sensibilities, to call forth dreams and hopes, to broaden the horizons of knowledge and of human engagement."

“He asked them to ‘be grateful, then, for the gifts you have received and be fully conscious of your great responsibility to communicate beauty!’

“The Holy Father expounded on the need for beauty in the world as a source of inspiration, happiness and unity.

“’Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart, and is that precious fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites generations and enables them to be one in admiration,’ he said.”

“Encouraging those who filled the Sistine Chapel to seek out opportunities to share this beauty with others, he advised them not to be afraid ‘to approach the first and last source of beauty, to enter into dialogue with believers, with those who, like yourselves, consider that they are pilgrims in this world and in history towards infinite Beauty!’”

“He added that they must not view this as a weakness, explaining that faith ‘takes nothing away from your genius or your art: on the contrary, it exalts them and nourishes them.’”


I did notice Sylvia’s comment that there were more men than women. Hmmm....



~Linda
P.S. Thank you Syl....

Love is the Word

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life:
That word is love."
–Sophocles (c. 495–406 B.C.)

Gothic Angels

At Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France,

Photo © Copyright 2009 by Sylvia Stites

My cousin Sylvia and her husband Tom were on a visit to Paris for a few days from their home in Vienna, Austria. Again, she was on the lookout for angels to photograph so she could send me one this time from Paris.

Yesterday she emailed me angels she photographed in the interior pinnacle of the Sainte Chapelle, and a photo of a statue of St. Michael with his foot on the devil. This was on a building in the city of Paris.

Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel"), 13th-century Gothic chapel located within the Palais de Justice complex on the Ile de la Cité in the center of Paris, was erected by Louis IX, king of France, to house the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross, precious relics of the Passion.

At Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France
Photo © Copyright 2009 by Sylvia Stites

She included this information on Sainte Chapelle from Paris, Eyewitness Travel Guides. Main Contributor: Alan Tillier 1997...: “Ethereal and magical, Sainte Chapelle has been hailed as one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the Western world. In the middle Ages the devout likened this church to a "gateway to heaven". Today no visitor can fail to be transported by the blaze of light created by the 15 magnificent stained-glass windows, separated by the narrowest of columns that soar 15 meters, 50 feet, to the star-studded vaulted roof. The windows portray over 1,000 religious scenes in a kaleidoscope of red, gold, green, blue and mauve. The chapel was built in 1248 by Louis IX to house Christ's purported Crown of Thorns and other relics. The Crown of Thorns decorates the pinnacle as the symbol of the first relic bought by Louis IX.”

I love that she is able to send me these angel photos from these incredible ancient European Gothic chapels. The last angel she sent was from Milan, Italy and I wrote about our Angel Connections.

Archangel Michael and the devil, by Francisque-Joseph Duret, centerpiece of the Fontaine Saint-Michel.
Photo © Copyright 2009 by Sylvia Stites

~Linda

Eyes on the Skies, Looking for Extraterrestrial Life

Last week the Vatican concluded a five day conference involving scientists and church officials on the subject of future discoveries of alien worlds and alien life, especially intelligent life, and the implications of those discoveries on science and religion.

Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome, said, "Just as there is a multitude of creatures on Earth, there could be other beings, even intelligent ones, created by God. This does not contradict our faith, because we cannot put limits on God's creative freedom."

Some of the media reports seemed to indicate that this was the first interest the Vatican had shown in alien life but that is not so. There has been a long-time interest by the church in the idea that intelligent life may exist in the universe.

In May 2008, in an interview In regards to extraterrestrial life in the universe, in the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

Here is the blog I wrote in January 2009, Extraterrestrials, Vatican’s Observatory, and UFOs. And again, I ask, “Are we being prepared to know the truth about extraterrestrial life as many in the UFO community believe?”

EYES ON THE SKIES

One cannot help but wonder exactly what the Vatican knows about extraterrestrial life, and is not saying. I’ve often wondered why for centuries now, they have been so interested in the heavens. I don’t mean Heaven, we all know they have interests there, but I mean the heavens: the solar system, the cosmos, the stars, the universe or universes ... and extraterrestrials? Yeah, those guys.

The Vatican’s Observatory, a few miles from the Vatican at the Papal Summer Villa, Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano, a small volcanic crater lake, is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world. The Vatican’s interest in astronomy can be traced to Pope Gregory XIII who had the Tower of the Winds built in the Vatican in 1578. Pope Gregory XIII had called on Jesuit astronomers and mathematicians to study the scientific data and implications involved in the reform of the calendar which occurred in 1582. It appears from that time forward the Vatican has manifested an interest in and support for astronomical research.

The Tower of Winds is a three-story building rising up from Vatican Palace, and decorated in celebration of the accomplishments of Pope Gregory XIII’s calendar reform from the Julian to Gregorian calendar, which took away ten days during the month of October and made adjustments to leap years and is now the favored calendar by most.

In 1891, Leo XIII founded the Vatican Observatory (Specola Vaticana) and chose the Tower of Winds as its seat, and its roof was substituted with a flat terrace to allow astronomical observations. For more than four decades astronomical research was carried out, including an international program to map the whole sky.

Pope Pius XI had the Observatory moved to Castel Grandolfo. There at the modern observatory, entrusted to the Jesuits, three new telescopes were added in the mid-1930s, the installation of an astrophysical laboratory for spectrochemical analysis, and expansion of research programs on variable stars, carrying on the work of mid-nineteenth century Jesuit Father Angelo Secchi, the first to classify stars according to their spectra. In 1957 with the installation of a Schmidt wide-angel telescope, research was extended to other topics. In recent years, month-long summer school in Astronomy and Astrophysics for a small number of students from around the world is taught by eminent scholars invited for the occasion. The school has become a biennial event in the Observatory’s programs.

Castel Gandolfo’s library contains more than 22,000 volumes and possesses a valuable collection of rare antique books including works of Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Kepler, Brahe, Clavius, and Secchi.

There is also a unique meteorite collection that is being researched for clues to the early history of the solar system.

As modern time increased the population of Rome, the skies above the Observatory again became too bright and in 1981, the Observatory founded another research center, the Vatican Observatroy Research Group in Tucson Arizona. They now have access to all the telescopes at Tucson’s Mount Graham International Observatory.

The 10,713 foot Mount Graham, northeast of Tucson, Arizona surges up from the desert floor giving the appearance of a giant island in the sky, the site upon which the Vatican Observatory has established its own powerful telescope to scan the heavens, operated in conjunction with Mount Graham International Observatory. The International Observatory also houses telescopes operated by the University of Arizona.

One may wonder if the Vatican is mounting a search for God–or maybe for the Virgin Mary as she travels the cosmos leaving a "sign" in the skies to be recognized by we humans here on the Earth plane.

It seems that the Vatican is searching for neither–or, at least, that is not their announced intention. However, according to a story in the London Daily Telegraph, the Reverend George Coyne, then director of the Vatican Observatory, is quoted as saying, "The church would be obliged to address the question of whether extraterrestrials might be brought within the fold and baptized. One would need to put some questions to him such as: 'Have you ever experienced something similar to Adam and Eve, in other words, original sin? Do you people also know a Jesus who has redeemed you?'"

In a syndicated Knight-Ridder News Article in late 1992, columnist Steve Yozwiak reports that the Reverend Chris Corbally, a staff astronomer and project scientist in Tucson, said that the possibility of encountering alien life raises profound theological questions. "Surely, it would be fascinating to have a real encounter with another intelligence," Corbally stated, adding, "We would be open to that sort of thing."

This has to be seen as a gigantic leap forward for a church which, in ages past, executed scientists such as Giordano Bruno (1600). Pope Clement VIII ordered that the "impenitent and pertinacious" heretical astronomer be burned at the stake for insisting that our Earth was not the center of the universe. Bruno believed in an infinite universe and a multiplicity of worlds.

In contrast, to show how far the Catholic hierarchy has come, Pope Pius XII, in an address in 1951, stated, "The more true science advances, the more it discovers God, almost, as though He were standing, vigilant behind every door which science opens."

And again: In 2000, Pope John Paul II had to issue a formal apology for all the errors of the Church over the last 2000 years which apparently included the trial of Galileo and the burning of Bruno, among other events. The Church was a little slow in recanting their sins, I would say.

Today, of course, our scientists are not at all reluctant to discuss the possibility of intelligent life beyond the earth and are even unashamedly seeking communications from those other worlds.

In regards to extraterrestrial life in the universe, in May 2008, in an interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

Monsignor Corrado Balducci (1923-2008) was a high Vatican official, a Catholic theologian, a parapsychologist, expert on Demonology and an author. He made several statements during interviews on Italian television about extraterrestrials and attended conferences. He stated, “There are already many considerations which makes the existence of these beings into a certainty. We cannot doubt. Even if we say that among a hundred of these phenomenon there are only... even if we said that 99 were false and that one was true, it´s that one that says that some phenomenon exist.”

He often proclaimed that extraterrestrial contact is a real phenomenon. Balducci provided an analysis of extraterrestrials that he feels is consistent with the Catholic Church's understanding of theology. Monsignor Balducci emphasizes that extraterrestrial encounters "are not demonic, they are not due to psychological impairment, they are not a case of entity attachment, but these encounters deserve to be studied carefully."

The Jesuit Father and astronomer Fr. Angelo Secchi (1818 - 1876) wrote: “It is absurd to claim that the worlds surrounding us are large, uninhabited deserts and that the meaning of the universe lies just in our small, inhabited planet.”

The apparent reconciliation between church and science seems to reflect the spirit of Albert Einstein, who once stated, "The cosmic religious experience is the strongest and noblest force behind the driving force of scientific research."

Ironically, the Vatican's six-foot diameter mirror telescope, one of the most accurate in the world, is poised near the New Mexico border, a mere 150 miles (or just a few seconds of supersonic flight) due west of White Sands–which has been a bee hive of UFO activity since the early atomic tests in that region–few more publicized than the incident at Roswell in 1947.

In 1992, as reported by the Dallas Morning News, a 73 year old Texan, Wesley Nunley, living on the outskirts of Dallas, built a UFO landing strip, which he proclaimed U-F-O LANDING BASE 1, with two-foot high letters painted on concrete.

So the Vatican and the scientific community had better watch out–they had a competitor. While the "eyes" of the scientific/theological world are focused so far out into the vastness of the universe, they may miss the fly-by of the extraterrestrials on their way to Texas or other places which give them a nice landing strip. There in Texas, less than a thousand miles distant from Mount Graham, that Texan had not lost sight of any bets, though. The landing pad on his property also reads, "WELCOME LORD JESUS."

So maybe the Vatican knows something we don't.

Or do we?

But it definitely seems the Vatican is dropping hints here and there that we are not alone, and they want us to know that.

Preparing us? Could be, but most will not be surprised. Will we?

Check out this newest video. The BBC has been allowed into the Pope's Observatory at his Villa Castel Gandolfo outside Rome. The Catholic priests who run the centre have strong views on everything from life on other planets, to whether the Star of Bethlehem actually existed.


~Linda

Our Path to Inner Peace

Photograph © Copyright 2009 by Ted Grussing

Our hearts know the path to happiness and inner peace.

Spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer remind us of what we already know.


When we forget our heart's message and fall into life's ruts and crevices, we feel unfulfilled and unhappy.


We get depressed and anxious. We have blurred our perspective, forgotten the bigger picture, and lost our way.


The remedy is simple. Take the time to remember your divinity, your spiritual nature. Remember why you are here.


~Brian L. Weiss, M.D.,


Author of Many Lives, Many Masters; Same Soul, Many Bodies; Through Time into Healing; Only Love is Real; Message From the Masters; Mirrors of Time

~Linda

"Every Corner of Creation"

In his sensitively insightful Earth In The Balance, former Vice President Al Gore wrote, “It is my own belief that the image of God can be seen in every corner of creation, even in us, but only faintly. By gathering in the mind's eye all of creation, one can perceive the image of the Creator vividly. Indeed, my understanding of how God is manifest in the world can be best conveyed through the metaphor of the hologram.”

~Linda

A Stand Against Hate Crime

"We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones but to break spirits. No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love." ~President Barack Obama, while signing the new Hate Crime Legislation

The new law adds acts of violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the list of federal hate crimes.

~Linda

Messenger: Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, New Book

“I believe that peace becomes possible when we choose to make peace an attitude and a habit. I believe that the reality of peace begins within each of us….”
~Mattie J. T. Stepanek, (1990-2004), Just Peace, A Message of Hope



I received an email this morning from Jeni Stepanek, mother of Mattie J.T. Stepanek, announcing her new book to be released Monday, November 2, with her appearance on the Good Morning America show. Her book, Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, is not a book by Mattie, but the first book ABOUT Mattie's life, written by the person who knew him best, his mother, Jeni, who shared him with all of us. Mattie was a young poet, philosopher, and peace maker, who lived a short life but while here he gave us the wisdom, the vision, the poetry and essays, from a brilliant, yet young, mind who knew about love, peace and joy, despite his struggle with a terminal neuromuscular disease.

Mattie left this world days before his 14th birthday, but not only did he leave us with his books of poetry, but with memories of his beautiful smile, his wisdom of an old soul, his humor, his love, and his belief that peace was possible.

I will never forget Mattie, will never forget his smile and the sparkle in his eyes. For those of you who do not know about Mattie, please read my review of his Heartsongs books, including the last one he wrote with former President Jimmy Carter, Just Peace, A Message of Hope.

Jeni’s book is now available at Amazon. The Foreword is by Maya Angelou. If you want to know more about an angel, visit Mattie’s website.

“Peace is possible. It can begin simply, over a game of chess and a cup of tea.” ~Mattie J. T. Stepanek, (1990-2004)

This video song, a tribute to Mattie, He Was Just Like Me, was written and recorded by his young friend, Madison Cross. Madison is the daughter of singer, songwriter, Christopher Cross.





~Linda

A Consideration of the Human Experience

“Why are we here and what is our role in the ever-expanding reality of being? To question is the basis of all understanding, so join in the search for meaning and find that place wherein all of your answers for all of your questions may be realized!” ~Greg Pendleton

Greg Pendleton has published his book, What About Me: A Consideration of the Human Experience. Available at Amazon in tradepaper and Kindle

“Why has our world become such a crazy, unmanageable place? What is my role in its current state of affairs, and how can I be instrumental in the needed changes ahead? This book seeks to provide you, the individual, with these and many other answers to be found in your investigation of the mystery of Life.”

Greg Pendleton is the son of Don Pendleton. Greg, like his late father, explores the human experience and the steps to reawaken oneself to the true realities of life in order to find love and happiness moment to moment.

Greg's blog

~Linda

The Cosmic Breath: Metaphysical Essays of Don Pendleton

“Is there a reason for the existence of the world? This is perhaps the most basic question of metaphysics.” ~Don Pendleton


Don Pendleton’s Metaphysical Essays dramatically explore the human experience and the spiritual meaning of existence. In Don’s inspirational examination of religion, science, and philosophy, his findings are thought-provoking, inspiring, and, perhaps, even transformational for the true seeker.

Don Pendleton (1927-1995) was creator of The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, Joe Copp, Private Eye and Ashton Ford, Psychic Detective Mystery Series. He published more than one hundred novels and has sold nearly two hundred million copies world-wide in more than twenty-five languages.

He wrote the nonfiction A Search For Meaning From the Surface of a Small Planet, and with his wife, Linda Pendleton, co-wrote the popular books, To Dance With Angels and Whispers From the Soul.

Don Pendleton considered himself to be a metaphysical scholar and although most of his writing career was devoted to fictional works he often wrote essays of his metaphysical ideas and beliefs.

Friend and fellow writer, Jon Guenther wrote a tribute on his blog to Don Pendleton on the 14th anniversary of Don's death, which was October 23, 1995.

The Cosmic Breath is now available at Amazon and will be available for the Kindle in a few days.

~Linda

Dumping Emotional Garbage

“Guilt drives people to be deaf, dumb, and blind to their own drives, hopes and fears and wants, bias and prejudices therein.” ~ Spirit, Dr. James Martin Peebles, from Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom by Linda Pendleton



I was speaking with a friend today about feelings and letting go of the past. You know, dumping the garbage that one can tend to hold onto. So that brought to mind the late Dr. David Viscott, Psychiatrist—his books, his radio show, and his TV show.

I very much admired him and did know him on a social level. I had read his first book, The Making of a Psychiatrist, published in 1972, and then a few years later, in the late 1970’s, I found Dr. Viscott’s book, The Language of Feelings, to be insightful and it gave me a greater understanding of the dynamics of feelings, of emotions.

“Anxiety is the fear of hurt or loss.
Hurt of loss leads to anger.
Anger held in leads to guilt.
Guilt, unrelieved, leads to depression.”
~David Viscott, M.D., The Language of Feelings

And here from my book, Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom, Chapter 12, Dumping the Garbage:

More than a hundred years ago, Dr. James Martin Peebles wrote in one of his many published books, "The oak remembers not each leaf it bore; and yet each leaf and bough and brawny limb help to make up the towering tree. Many of the acts and minor events of our lives have died out, or cease to echo in the memory chambers of our souls; still, their results live in our characters. Let then, be forgotten! It is not wise to brood over the broken rounds of the ladder our feet just pressed. The summit of the temple is to be reached. Direct the eye upward, and press forward towards the higher altitudes of heavenly truth and wisdom.

"The toiling seamstress remembers not each stitch she took in the garment; and yet, every stitch helped to make up that garment; and so each thought, word, purpose, and deed, help to make up the real life of the soul; and backward-looking memory, tracing the effects, may--ay, must construct a mirror before which we shall be necessitated to stand, face to face with ourselves...We weave the moral garments in this life that shall in quality clothe us when entering the future state of existence."

I asked Dr. Peebles about that and he told me: “Hmm, much wisdom there, indeed. I did not refer to events as lessons as I now do but I would suppose my meaning is exact. Life is an upward movement toward heavenly truths, a remembering so to speak of our spiritual nature, a fulfilling of our soul, and it is true that every thought, every movement, every action and deed, become part of our very soul, at least in a deductive sense. It is the reflection in the mirror which enables one to have new understanding of self. I still agree with all that I wrote as one has to let go of the backward-looking memories in order to continue on a smooth path toward enlightenment. There is no point in retracing or brooding over where one has walked. The movement is forward and upward. To stop on one broken round of the ladder and to not step beyond to the next, stifles. Do you understand?”

I said to him, “Perfectly. I also opened this chapter with one of your more recent heavenly quotes which I think you are familiar with.” (the quote at the top of this posting).

Dr. Peebles: “Ah, yes. When one becomes blinded to life, closed to the echoes, the beauty of life becomes absent, silent, and fear takes hold. Fear of diversity, fear of love and intimacy, and the illusion of separation becomes overwhelming. Guilt disables, lowers self esteem, reduces hopes, kills dreams, destroys creativity, alters the ego to the point that self worth suffers tremendously. So what do you do about it? You release it by realizing that you don't need it any longer. It becomes a lesson learned. When you accept that you created that place, you also realize that you can create another place, one free of guilt, full of joy, full of love.”

“When one is faced with looking at all that garbage, what many refer to as baggage, recognize that it no longer serves you. And in all probability, the person who may have been the reason for your baggage, that is, in your own mind, has probably not even given you any thought, or the event any thought, so why do you continue to carry it with you? Remember, your world is your very own perception. You have the choice to perceive it as you wish. And if you wish to be the victim, so be it. But if you wish to be the pilot of your life, the one at the wheel, so to speak, then consider that you can shift your perception, let go, forgive, and move forward.”


In this video Dr. Viscott reads from one of his excellent books, Emotional Resilience: Simple Truths for Dealing with the Unfinished Business of Your Past, published not long before his untimely death at the age of 58.

~Linda

UFO and Alien Information

Today I go from angel connections to UFO and alien connections.

UFO researcher Billy Booth is webmaster of one of the Internet's largest UFO web sites, UFO Casebook Website. It is an excellent UFO site overflowing with information, sighting reports, documents, research, videos, photos, a forum, and newsletters.

BJ Booth is often called upon to evaluate UFO sightings. He has also spent many years researching UFO photographs and video film. He is known as an expert on UFO crash accounts, and had given his opinion in several books on the subject. He has been a guest on many UFO radio and television programs. He has written more than 400 articles on UFO and alien sightings. He is a longtime member of MUFON, the Mutual UFO Network.

I recommend his website and there is so much information available I would suggest bookmarking it as you will want to visit often to discover all the information available there, and it is updated often.

~Linda

Angel Connections

Photograph © Copyright 2009 by Sylvia Stites

Do you suppose the love and appreciation of angels can be in our genes? I’m wondering about that.

I always felt connected to my first cousin, Sylvia when we were young, although we didn’t spend a lot of time together during those early years. And then our lives went in separate directions for more than forty years, and just this spring Sylvia got in touch with me via one of my websites (thank goodness for the Internet and email). She and her husband, Tom live in Vienna, Austria, and recently retired from teaching. Sylvia taught school for forty-two years around the world; early on in the U.S, but for the most part in places such as Pakistan, Indonesia, South America, and Vienna. They are now retired.

It so happens Sylvia has a love for angels like I do. They just returned home to Vienna from a vacation in Switzerland and Italy. Syliva took this photograph of an angel for me. It is on the exterior door of the Duomo di Milan, a Gothic cathedral in Milan, Italy.

Duomo Milan is the largest Gothic cathedral and the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world.

By the way, our grandparents were born in Sicily. Our grandfather, Calcedonio Spera came to America when he was about eight years old in 1882, and in 1895 went back to Sicily and married our grandmother, Antonia Barcia and they both came to America.

~Linda

Bombing the Moon

Photo Copyright 2009 by Ted Grussing

I just realized my last post was my Post 100 on World of Spirit! Where does time go? Already well into October and it seems like the holidays were just behind us a little bit.

When my husband, Don and I wrote our book Whispers From the Soul, we had a chapter titled

The Natural Acceleration of Change with the opening Section, The Quickening.

A quick review of the recent history of change in the last 60-70 years just in America, will reveal a current pattern of natural and manmade disasters girdling the nation, from civil unrest and violence, devastating earthquakes and fires to the hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and floods, occurring in virtually every region of the country...and even elsewhere within the world.

These are examples of the inconstancy of the human experience on this planet. It would perhaps be proper to state, then that change is the most compellingly natural state of existence throughout the universe. Without change we would exist within a totally static universe in which there would be no meaning to existence itself.

So why is it that most of us resist change with such tenacity and insist that "things" remain the same as they always have been? "Things" have never been "the same" in this world of time and space.

Change is a necessary state of being--whether we are thinking of a rock or a tree or a human being. Continual change is a mandatory state of all existent elements everywhere. The very planet beneath our feet could not survive without constant activity. In the cosmic sense, our planet is very much alive, very much involved in the process men call evolution--as is the entire manifest universe.

It is well to keep in mind that the basic stuff of which our bodies are made is precisely the same as the basic stuff from which was made the most distant star. We are of the universe and we are subject to the universal laws which keep the whole production functioning.

In speaking of the cosmos, I must say I do not feel good about NASA attacking our Moon in the coming hours. Is it always our nature to invade, to bomb? Think about it. What if some alien civilization out there in the universe decided to send a rocket our way to see if they could get a splash of water out of our blue planet? Don't get me wrong, I think man should have gone to the Moon again long ago, and call it conspiracy theory if you want, but I often wonder why we have not. What is it that our government does not want us to know, or to see?? But to send a $79 million dollar space craft crashing into the moon to stir up some dust to see if there is any water mist seems a waste of good money.

Some might say I'm not being visionary or looking for environmental answers for the future. Maybe not, but I'm not happy about this event. I am in favor of space exploration, but only with respect, and for some reason this does not feel like respect.

Do you have any thoughts on that?

Do you suppose this happened in Arizona when some off earth beings were looking for water in the desert? (well, they did find a 1,406 pound meteorite nearby, apparently not a rocket).

Meteor Crater, Northern Arizona

Photo Copyright 2009 by Ted Grussing

~Linda

History of Alternative Spirituality in America

“Self-trust is the first secret of success.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I read an interesting interview in the September 28 edition of Publishers Weekly Magazine with Mitch Horowitz, editor-in-chief at Penguin/Tarcher Publishing, and an author, and scholar. Tarcher’s list has always had a significant number of New Age, New Thought books. Horwitz has published some of the leading titles in world religion, metaphysics, philosophy, and spirituality. As a writer and speaker on metaphysical topics, he has appeared on television shows such as The History Channel, Montel Williams, and various radio shows such as Coast to Coast AM. His articles have appeared in various magazines.

He is author of Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation.

In the interview with PW, Horowitz was asked what political and religious values characterize today’s New Age movement. He spoke of the very diverse nature of New Agers, geographically and demographically but that they do seem to hold in common belief systems such as “liberal politics, the equality of all religions, body-mind-healing and the principle that our thoughts to some extent can influence outer circumstances.”

He went on to say: “they also believe that you can obtain spiritual understanding without belonging to a specific faith or religion, and there is a lack of emphasis on membership in a particular congregation or an allegiance to a particular doctrine. They move freely among religious movements and ideas, and believe that humans have some kind of intuitive faculty, and that it is possible for the mind to evolve to some kind of higher level. It is a theology, an ethics, a psychology and an outlook. In terms of politics, they tend to associate with various progressive political movements. And this is not a recent thing. Politics and esoteric spirituality grew up together in America. When Spiritualism began to sweep this country (in the 19th century), it created the first opening in the modern world for women to serve as religious leaders, in that case as trance mediums. So you had a tremendous crossover between the Spiritualist movement and the Suffragettes and voting rights activism. This was a civic, spiritual movement that provided an opening for women both politically and religiously. New Age has always been reformist.”

I discovered that to be so true while doing research on Spiritualism in the 19th century that I’ve done over the years and recently for my latest ebook, How Thin The Veil! 150 Years of Spiritualism. There was a merging of the Spiritualist movement with women’s rights but also with the abolitionist movement. Many of those leading Spiritualist, men and women, were interested in equality, religious and otherwise, were progressive and visionary and I believe a big part of the forward movement of America.

Although we often use the term New Age, there is really nothing new about it. Our country was founded on progressive and visionary ideals.

Mitch Horowitz had an interesting answer to this question by PW: “You also write about the positive-thinking approach that characterizes much of the esoteric, or New Age, philosophy. Do you see a vein of that in the mood that brought President Obama into office?”

His answer: “Yes. The positive-thinking approach is in the groundwater of our country. People who would never think of themselves as New Agers embrace the idea of positive or motivational thinking. This viewpoint arose partly out of transcendentalism. In 1870, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote an essay called Success in which he discussed the power of enthusiasm. That aspect of the American character is so basic it travels across all our religious or political lines. Barack Obama identified Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance as an influence on him. This tone of positivism is a key part of American spirituality.”

Horowitz’s book sounds like a good look at the founding of America around the mystical elements that have moved us forward through the years to today.

I believe you can read more of his interview here, and more about him at his website.

~Linda

New UFO Documentary, History Channel; and UFO eBooks

This Sunday evening on the History Channel is the two hour documentary on UFOs, I Know What I Saw. From the History Channel Website:

“Director and host James Fox assembles the most credible UFO witnesses from around the world to testify on the subject and share their experiences and observations. Air Force generals, astronauts, military and commercial pilots, government and FAA officials from seven countries gather at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to tell stories that, as former Arizona governor Fife Symington states, "will challenge your reality." These accounts reveal a behind-the-scenes U.S. operation whose policy, in the eyes of some observers, seems to involve confiscation of substantiating evidence from close encounters--to the extent that even Presidents have failed to get straight answers.”

“The most compelling film on the subject to date.” ~Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 Astronaut

It should be an interesting show. I’ve had two sightings, and a few more that were not very significant. But once you have a sighting, or in some cases contact of some sort, it does tend to make you a believer that we are not alone in this universe, and that we may be under observation by off-earth beings—or gads, even guinea pigs of extraterrestrials.

If the show sparks some interest of wanting to read more about the UFO phenomena you might want to look into the ebooks I recently wrote, The UFO Phenomena: The Cosmic SOS, and the free ebooks that go along with the purchase of The UFO Phenomena: The Cosmic SOS.

Are we alone in the universe? Many people do not believe we are. A recent U.S. National Roper Poll showed seventy-two percent believe that our government is not telling us all it knows about UFO activity. Another CNN-TIME Poll showed eighty-percent believed the government to be hiding knowledge of UFOs.

Nearly half of Americans believe UFOs have visited earth in some form. And a Roper Poll conducted by the SciFi Television Channel indicated one in seven has had a UFO Experience. What do you believe? What do you know?

The UFO Phenomena: The Cosmic SOS
Chapter 1 ~ Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Chapter 2 ~ UFO Flap
Chapter 3 ~ The Cosmic S.O.S.
Chapter 4 ~ Reverberations
Chapter 5 ~ To the Rescue?
Chapter 6 ~ Flying Triangles in the Skies
Chapter 7 ~ Amber Orbs Over the Red Rocks
Chapter 8 ~ Off-Earth Beings
Chapter 9 ~ Messages From Beyond?

Embark on an exploration and discussion of extraterrestrial life. Let this eBook serve as one of your guides. Could the Earth's much needed healing be part of another planet's mission? Do astronauts know of extraterrestrial life forms? Together, we can begin to unlock long held secrets and mysteries about extraterrestrial life.

Free with Purchase:

Crop Circles in the Fields, Objects in the Skies, and Creatures in the Bedroom
by Linda Pendleton

This 97 page e-book is packed with a collection of compelling articles and credible firsthand accounts of sightings and experiences intended to shed light and insight into Crop Circles, UFOs, and abductions. Articles by Dr. John E. Mack; Nuclear Physicist and UFO Investigator, Stanton Friedman; Crop Circle Researcher Nancy Talbott; and more. Also find astonishing photographs of recent crop circles, courtesy of Lucy Pringle and others.

Have we been visited here on earth? If so, since when? Could Crop Circles be a message to us? If so, what might that message be? What are crop circles theories? How is a hoax (i.e., man-made) crop circle identifiable from the real thing? Has anyone or thing ever been caught in the act making crop circles? This eBook examines these questions and provides intriguing responses, as it explores life beyond this planet and contemplates our connection to it.

Also Included:

Read about my UFO sightings Here and Here.

~Linda

Emotional Eating

Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward. ~Jasmine Heiler

We’ve all heard the term comfort food, and each of us probably have our “favorite” comfort food, such as ice cream, chocolate, or some favorite food that may have a significant memory attached to it. And with that warm memory comes a warm and cozy feeling when enjoying that particular food. Often that particular food may be a food full of calories—sugar, fat, etc.

Dr. Judith Orloff has an interesting perspective on over-eating. It is often said that emotional issues can play a role but I don’t believe I have heard it explained in regards to those of us who are intuitive and consciously or unconsciously use food as a buffer against negative energy.

Do you do that at times? ...maybe after a phone call from a family member or friend that seems to have lots of negativity...and after ending the conversation do you head to the kitchen for a “snack?” Or after a disagreement with someone?

~Linda

Comparison of Channelings From Spirit Guides, Part One

Truths and Other Truths
A Comparison of Channelings From Spirit Guides
By Linda Pendleton
Part One

Are you among the eighty-two percent of Americans who believe in an afterlife? In recent times, the numbers have been increasing for those who believe they have had communication from a loved one on the Other Side.

And what about angels and spirit guides? Nearly seventy percent of Americans believe in the existence of angels as messengers of God, and nearly half believe they have their own guardian angels or angels. Are you aware of your angel or guide? If so, do you communicate or receive signs from them?

It would seem the religious/spiritual instinct is innate within humankind, as though a template for the experience had been programmed into our genetic structures that govern human expression. Within the innate religious or spiritual instinct are experiences that might be classified as miraculous. But, are many of the events or experiences actually miracles or no more than ordinary occurrences?

Reports of extraordinary and astonishing events attributed to a supreme being or a divine power will be found in virtually every world religion, every culture, and probably within every human mind from primitive times right up into the modern age. Many cultures do not regard miracles or paranormal events as anything extraordinary but merely the natural workings of a natural world. Most cultures who share that idea have well-formulated spiritual beliefs that have been carried forward from generation to generation, throughout history, and many of these cultures have evolved highly sophisticated belief systems.

When one reads the history of cultures, it is very apparent that there has always been a “knowing” within mankind that evolves into understandings that we are, indeed, spiritual beings and that life does not end with the death of the physical body. Mankind has always looked to the heavens in a search for answers. I have often wondered why that is and the answer I have come up with is, no matter our religious upbringing or belief system, we have an innate knowledge within, a knowledge that we are much more than a physical body having a life experience. We are temporarily using a physical body for an ongoing spiritual life.

So in taking those ideas of an innate spiritual connection it should appear absolutely normal for one to have communication with the Other Side, with angels, spirit guides, and loved ones who have left this physical dimension.

Channeling spirit is the receiving of messages from the Other Side – the spirit world, through the various classic psychic avenues such has mediumship, trance-channeling, clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, and intuition. The receiver is an open line, a conduit, similar to what one could consider an open telephone line or radio receiver. Although channeling or mediumship has always been with us, in recent years it has gained more attention through various movies, literature, and television shows, featuring psychic mediums such as John Edward, James Van Praagh, Char Margolis, Rosemary Altea, and others.

Shirley MacLaine was one who helped to get the idea of mediumship, past lives, and even UFO phenomena out of the “psychic closet” and into the mainstream with her book, Out On a Limb, the resulting movie and other books, and her many television appearances. Even though there were often overdone jokes about her spiritual experiences, it did open the “closet” door, and for many, it was a “new” look at what was possible—and within the norm of the human experience.

We all have intuition, and for some it is more pronounced, such as it might be with the aforementioned psychic mediums. But all of us have the capability of communicating in various ways with those on the Other Side. Sometimes, all it takes is trusting in our intuition and being open to the possibility of contact.

I’ve put together a collection of quotations from various spirit guides through their channels/mediums. It is very noticeable how they “ring” of similar ideas, wisdom, and truths.
Probably of these listed spirit guides or the mediums who work with them, it would be Edgar Cayce who probably stands out as the most profound and the “clearest connection” to information coming from the Other Side.

I have noticed that many people either began or enhanced their spiritual journey by reading the fascinating story of Edgar Cayce and his psychic gift, There is a River, The Story of Edgar Cayce written by Thomas Sugrue, and published more than sixty years ago.

Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D., best-selling author and frequent guest on Oprah, had this to say about Cayce: "The story of Edgar Cayce has inspired me from the time I was 12 years old. As one of the first well-studied medical intuitives, his work and his life helped blaze the path for the future of medicine."

Not only did he blaze the path of future medicine, but he gave understanding and acceptance of mediumship, and also of reincarnation, as his readings focused very much on past lives. And with his work in that area, and several other books written about him, he awakened America to reincarnationist thought.


Read PART TWO, The Channelings


Copyright © 2008, 2009 by Linda Pendleton

Comparison of Channelings From Spirit Guides, Part Two

Truths and Other Truths
A Comparison of Channelings From Spirit Guides
By Linda Pendleton
Part Two

“The Three Principles: Loving Allowance for all things to be in their own time and place, beginning with yourself. Increased Communication with all of life everywhere and with respect. Self Responsibility, for you are the eternal creator, never the victim.” –Spirit Guide, Dr. Peebles

"For, each soul enters with a mission . . . we all have a mission to perform.” –Mediumship of Edgar Cayce

“Each of us has the opportunity to consciously decide who we wish to become as well as how long it's going to take us to get there.”–Mediumship of Edgar Cayce

“Mankind is growing beyond many of its leaders in willingness to find alternate solutions, alternates to war that is. Meaningful understanding between polarized religious systems and compassion has become imperative. And, bridges between the modern world and the third world countries must be built: in education, technology, science, delegating food sharing without (economic) financial motivation, and finally medical sharing that is sincerely caring for one's fellow man.” –Spirit Guide Gilgamesh of the Understanding Ones, Shawn Randall

"A journey into the NEW is always a journey into more of YOU."–Spirit Guide Torah, Shawn Randall

"Process is simply the amount of time for some reason you deem it necessary to take until you finally give yourself permission to see the obvious." –Spirit Guide Bashar, Darryl Anka

“Create the effect of being happy, and you will attract into your lives all of the causes to support the happiness you have created...just because you want to. And just because you say so. Because you are the creators of your reality, there doesn’t need to be any other why or how. What you say goes!” –Spirit Guide Bashar, Darryl Anka

“You have free will, and you can create any reality you desire; that is being made in the image of God. Act as such and you will have heaven on your Earth–guaranteed.” –Spirit Guide Bashar, Darryl Anka

“Nothing can match or even come near the miracle of who you truly are. Let this be the mantra of your life. A Being of Indescribable wonder has, has again, become a bearer of the Light on Earth. Let nothing dissuade you from this truth.” –Spirit Guide Emmanuel, Pat Rodegast

“Come home to your Selves. The journey is no more than a breath in time, no more than a heartbeat in distance.” –Spirit Guide Emmanuel, Pat Rodegast

“Every moment of your life you are offered the opportunity to choose–love or fear, to tread the earth or to soar the heavens.” –Spirit Guide Emmanuel, Pat Rodegast

"You must learn to listen to the voice of the inner self and work with it." –Spirit Guide Seth, Jane Roberts

"You create your reality according to your beliefs and expectations, therefore you should examine these carefully. If you do not like some aspect of your world, then examine your own expectations." –Spirit Guide Seth, Jane Roberts

“Choice is focused intent, and as such, it is critical to changing intent and thus the function and form of energy. It is critical to changing action and image. Choice is essential to all learning.” –Spirit Guide Lazaris, Jach Pursel

“In order to understand that you carry with you only an illusion of separation, to reach that spiritual truth, you have to first allow yourself to love God and then to love yourself. Only then, when you are comfortable with the truth of that love, can you then reach out to life around you.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Linda Pendleton

“Never be afraid. The greatest enemy of humanity is fear. Be confident in the love and wisdom of God, and remember if you go into shadow, darkness will not touch you if you are radiating light.” –Spirit Guide White Eagle, Grace Cooke

“Three things: You ask; the Universe gives; you let in. That's all there is to it. And if you're not living it, it's not because you're not asking. You are. And it's not because the Universe is not yielding. It is. It's because you are not in the receiving mode.” –Spirit Guide Abraham, Esther Hicks

“We are here to remind you that pain and fear are not the only methods of growth; that you can more elegantly grow through joy and love. . . that you can create your own reality . . . that there is a God/Goddess/All That Is who loves you, who knows your name. . . and that you love good enough.” –Spirit Guide Lazaris, Jach Pursel

“No longer technicians, you are the masterful magicians of the current and future age, the masterful magicians of the mysteries and the mysticism. And this is the dawning of your day. It is time to find your voice and then to lift that voice, heroic, lyrical, or celestial, so that you can be heard...so that your world can hear you. It is time to rise to the new dawn. Oh, we love you; we love you so.” –Spirit Guide Lazaris, Jach Pursel

“Humanity is gradually moving beyond the narrow concept of isolationism and secular ‘religion’ into the expanded and cohesive truth of spirituality whereby you turn inward and connect to your own Divine Source for Creator truth and universal laws to guide you, instead of turning to someone you think is more knowledgeable and powerful than you.” –Archangel Michael, Ronna Herman

“What gives you your Divine essence is that you have the freedom to embrace and experience whatever thoughts you desire. And that divine essence, called free will, is love. It is the gift of love from God to each of you. Each of you has the divine essence of will so that you have the freedom to create uniquely whatever ideal you envision through thought.” –Spirit Guide Ramatha, J.Z. Knight

“You did not come to earth to become perfect. You came to the earth to stop condemning yourself for not being perfect.”–Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Athena Demetrios

“There's no higher energy or power on Earth than you. There's no higher power or energy in the Universe than what exists and flows through you in a divine way.” –Spirit Guide Kryon, Lee Carroll

“You are never separate dear ones from the source of love, abundance, and joy. It is an illusion that you could ever be separated from your angels or God. You are like drops of water in an ocean, part of something so much greater and yet individual as well.” –The Angels, Ann Albers

“If one believes that he alone creates his life, all his experiences, his thoughts, his actions—and reactions—and takes full responsibility for that, then he can never be a victim. Fear, resentment, anger and hate fall away like the petals of a daisy caught up in the wind.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Linda Pendleton

“The entire universe is a loving and living experience of divine thought...a fabric that is intermeshed with all things.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Thomas Jacobson, To Dance With Angels by Don and Linda Pendleton

“Allow your fear, if only for a moment. Acknowledge the fear that the terrorists have created in you, and move through it, and then let it go, and know that there is nothing to fear. As you move within your own mind, and move to understand that separation is the factor that motivates fear, then you can recognize that you are never alone, and are never the victim, unless you choose to be a victim.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Linda Pendleton

“As you welcome change, as the creator that you are, you have the ability to move with that change in whatever way you wish. If you deny it, you will have pain. You will feel victimized, helpless. But if you embrace it then you have the opportunity to have a creative dance with it. And in that creative dance you can mold it, fashion it, to your own liking. If you want it to be an opportunity for new experiences, so be it. If you want it to be adventurous, so be it. If you want it to be mysterious, so be it. And if you want it to be denied, so be it. It is your ballet slippers that move across the stage, it is your melody that is strummed on the musical instruments, and it is your audience who experiences your song and dance. You are the choreographer, the composer, the arranger, the director. It is your show and you decide how you want to present it. But might I suggest, dear friends, that you hold no expectations of how others will receive it—just present it with an open mind and loving heart. And present it with joy!” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Linda Pendleton

“Peace and healing will come when you take action to diminish the illusion of separation within the self. Only then.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Linda Pendleton

“Find something to feel good about and get out of the way, and allow the cells to receive what they’ve been asking for. That is the key to healing.” –Spirit Guide Abraham, Esther Hicks

“You can’t fill up anyone else’s cup until yours is runneth over.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Summer Bacon

“You are spirit. The real you, the consciousness, is spirit. As you strengthen this realization through meditation and worship of your Creator your spirit will begin to dominate the physical atoms, until your body becomes irradiated with life, and every particle obeys the direction of spirit, the real you.” –Spirit Guide White Eagle, Grace Cook

“You are Beings who intend to come forth and to continue to expand and grow and change. What is the perfect age? “Well, it is the age where I finally understand my freedom, and I finally understand that I am free to create, and it’s the age that I am at my most beautiful.’ And we say, by whose standard? In other words, who gets to decide the perfect age? And we say, rather than determining what the perfect age is, why not decide what the perfect state of being is–and then discover that you can find the perfect state of being at any age.” –Spirit Guide Abraham, Esther Hicks

“Pain is a divine messenger. Your soul calls upon pain to help you locate your resistance to this and to that.” –Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, Athena Demetrios

"Your thoughts are powerful creators, and your words are even more powerful than your thoughts, but your actions are more powerful than your words or your thoughts." –Spirit Guide Abraham, Esther Hicks

“To increase your connection to your guide, you can consciously think of your guide or your guide’s name. You need not do more that [than] this to bring your guide’s light and love to you. You can also learn to call in your guide for brief moments by closing your eyes and asking for guidance and getting simple yes or no impressions instantly. You can do this whether you are standing in the grocery store line, driving your car or walking down the street. You can bring the essence of your connection to your guide through at any given time for however long you want–be it thirty seconds or three minutes. This type of connection does not need to be a lengthy one.” –Spirit Guides Orin and DaBen, Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

“Every decision you make—every decision—is not a decision about what to do. It’s about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do.” –Spirit Guide “God,” Neale Donald Walsch

“Death is only passing through God's other door.”–Edgar Cayce

"There is no death, there is only change." Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles

Copyright © 2008, 2009 by Linda Pendleton



Part One Here

Don Pendleton Essays

This is an excerpt from the soon to be published book, The Cosmic Breath: Metaphysical Essays of Don Pendleton. The publication date for the new book should be October 15th, and will be available at Amazon. Don considered himself to be a metaphysical scholar and although most of his writings over the years were fiction, he loved sharing his metaphysical beliefs. I love this quote by Albert Einstein and wanted to share it.

This excerpt is from Don’s Essay, The Basic Question, which is about just that—Is there a reason for the existence of the world?

All the great systems of human thought have conceded that all of science and all of philosophy and, yes, even all of religion cannot answer the unanswerable question of existence—yet we have done so, and we have done so negatively.

Okay, back to metaphysics. Why? Why is there not a reason for the existence of the world? Because you cannot see a creator, a God? Albert Einstein has seen him. If science is your religion, then listen to the testimony of one of the scientific greats of all time. “My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.” Is that science? No, that is metaphysics. It is also religion, and Einstein had something to say about that also: “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” And that, also, is metaphysics.

Indeed, all that admits or examines or even questions the great primordial mysteries of existence is metaphysics. Metaphysics is religion, and science, and philosophy—without the self-imposed chains of those inquiries. Metaphysics is ESP, it is mysticism, it is magic, it is spirituality—and it is the human mind pondering the imponderable.

~Linda

Spiritual Awareness

"O Reality, Divine Father Mother of all that is...I am your eyes, I am your ears, I am your voice in the land of time and space, I am your heart, I am your awareness, I am your consciousness of that which is, and I thank you that this is so. Accept me now, in my awareness, into that consciousness which gives rise to time and space. Accept me now into divine union with thee."
~Don Pendleton, Author (1927-1995)

What Love Means

“Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round;
Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
~Franklin P. Jones (1887-1929)

One of the blogs I really look forward to reading is Jeff ‘s blog, My life...lived my way.

Jeff writes about his deepest feelings in such beautiful ways. A husband, father, and a teacher, his writings always inspire. It may be a post about his girls, his wife Jenny, or his close friend Jill, who is no longer here except through the words and memories of Jeff, and her own words shared not long before she died, but who is very much alive in her young daughter, Katie, who is now part of Jeff’s family.

He wrote this beautiful blog on his daughter Laura’s tenth birthday and what it means to him to be a father, and what he has learned about love from fatherhood. I believe you will find it as moving and beautiful as I have.

It would be wonderful if every father could express his love like Jeff.

You might also enjoy his 9-11 Tribute, A Nation Remembers.

~Linda

Creative Tools

“The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people’s expectations”
– Julia Cameron, Author of The Artist’s Way

Julia Cameron is a poet, best-selling author, playwright, and filmmaker. Her book The Artist’s Way has sold over two million copies and has inspired many artists in their creative endeavors. Cameron collaborated with Emma Lively on the musical play, "The Medium at Large," a story set in 1938 New York about a reluctant gay medium who hopes to connect with his deceased partner but instead connects with numerous other spirits including the parents two sisters who want the best romantically for their daughters but can’t seem to make it happen from the other side.

Sounds like a great play.

~Linda

Authentic Power, Authentic Self

What is Authentic Power?

According to Gary Zukav, author ot the best-selling book Seat of Soul, it is alignment of the personality with the soul, and that can be achieved by looking inside yourself to create Authentic Power.

A few days ago, Mark at the Naked Soul Blog wrote an excellent blog (all his blogs are excellent and inspirational) about being your authentic self. He said, "Being our authentic self, being in alignment with who we truly are is attractive! When we are in alignment, we FEEL good about our self. When we feel good about our self we become confident, we raise our vibrations and in doing so we become attractive to other people, that is we become attractive to people who feel our vibrations and our aligned with our vibrations."

"Conversely when we are out of alignment with our authentic self, our energy is low or the energy that we emit is a 'bad vibe' and we repel people whom we would want to attract and we tend to attract people who are equally out of alignment with their true selves and therefore we perpetuate and grow the feeling of being out of alignment and unconsciously create a circle where as we are not attracting the people into our life that we desire to attract."

Read the rest of Mark's post.

~Linda

Harmony Brings Happiness

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
~Mohandas Gandhi (1869 – 1948)

Happiness, they say, is a state of mind,

but it is so much more. It is a state of being.

~Linda Pendleton

Live Large!

“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Note:

The term "Live Large!" is attributed to my late husband, Don Pendleton and his fictional character, Mack Bolan. Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II H-O.

~Linda

Soul Pictures

A Russian Professor of Physics at St. Petersburg State Technical University, Konstantin Korotkov has used rigorous scientific methods and research to come to new discoveries about the spirit or soul.

He is author of numerous professional papers and books and has given seminars, workshops both nationally and internationally. He is associate editor of the journal Consciousness and Physical Reality, published both in Russian and English.

He holds at least 12 patents on biophysics inventions. His technology includes the Gas Discharge Visualization technique (GDV), which is a breakthrough beyond Kirlian photography for direct, real-time viewing of the human aura. This fairly new technology allows one to capture by a special camera the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy emanating to and from an individual, plants, liquids, inanimate objects and translate this into a computerized model. This allows the researcher and client to see imbalances that may be influencing an individual’s well-being greatly facilitating the diagnosis of the cause of any existing imbalances showing the area of the body and the organ systems involved.

The Russian Ministry of Health accepts the GDV technique as Medical technology and hundreds of medical doctors, practitioners and researchers benefit from using this technology worldwide.
One of the greatest benefits of GDV is measurements of a variety of treatments for such conditions as cancer to determine which is the most appropriate for the patient. Its use for the diagnosis and treatment of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual conditions is invaluable in medicine, psychology, biophysics, genetics, sound therapy, forensic science, agriculture, ecology and other areas.

I heard a report last night on Coast to Coast AM Radio by George Noory that the GDV machine used by Dr. Korotkov is now able to record the spirit or soul leaving the physical body at death. The doctor referred to it as a transition that could be observed with his special camera.

Many intuitive people are able to observe the aura and soul energy without a camera.

This also reminds me of what Dr. James Martin Peebles wrote in his 1903 book, What is Spiritualism?... "...to show that this conception of the nature and power of thought is no empty flight of the imagination, it will only be necessary to draw attention to the photographic experiments conducted by the late Dr. Baraduc, the eminent nerve specialist, of Paris. If thoughts are things, he considered it should be possible to photograph them. He accordingly prepared a special apparatus, with an exceptionally sensitive plate attached, and under the most conclusive conditions obtained a series of strikingly distinct and, in some cases, most beautiful pictures of these thought forces and emotions. These pictorial wonders were reproduced in the Illustrated London News, and their publication caused a great sensation in the scientific circles of Europe. One of these photographs represents a column of prayer. By arrangement with half a dozen devout persons, a prayer meeting was held in an apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower. The special camera was arranged in position, and at a given moment Dr. Baraduc took the picture. The result was a very clear and impressive demonstration of the thoughts and aspirations of these intensely earnest souls rising like a column of incense as though ascending direct to the very throne of God."

"He has also taken good thoughts and bad thoughts of certain individuals, placid thoughts and stormy thoughts, and the pictures they produce are most remarkable–some beautiful in their sweet and tranquilizing aspect, whilst others resemble a veritable mental typhoon, according to the humor of the subject at the time the photo was taken."

"Dr. Baraduc further believed that psychic powers could be applied to the treatment of diseases, and in this connection the pictures representing the forms of benedictions and of a flow of curative force at Lourdes during the performance of a 'miracle' are certainly very suggestive. The wonderful cures wrought at Lourdes year after year have hitherto been regarded by the majority of people either as frauds or purely imaginary occurrences, but it is now known that they are well based scientifically and are too real to be any longer disputed. They are, apparently, due to that Spiritual 'gift of healing,' of which [Saint] Paul writes, and the potential curative agency is, seemingly, a mysterious psychic emanation which is sufficiently palpable to impress a sensitive plate."

"'I am not a Spiritualist, nor a doctrinaire,' says Dr. Baraduc, 'but speak from experience, and I declare I have found forces surrounding man which have been registered on photographic plates. Man is surrounded by an atmosphere of personal ether. Every human being has an impalpable double, which reproduces his form and which allows us to explain ghost stories and the phenomena of double sight. Call it soul, if you like, or astral body. I have photographed this ether double eighty hours after death. When my wife died I photographed a nebulous globe which escaped from her like a soul. You see, there are forces in this world and forces in the other world. When, in the name of truth, spiritual scientists unite with material scientists, we will arrive at a knowledge of the synthesis of the forces which regulate our life and our immortality, for man does not belong to this planet only, but to the starry spaces in which his thoughts revolve.'"

It seems that we are now moving ever closer to that union between spiritual and material science as it fashions a more realistic, holistic understanding of the forces that shape this universe. The pity is that it has taken more than a hundred years to reach anything approaching that level of understanding. The recent movements in both medicine and physics are a very hopeful sign that the gap is closing steadily and that many of us can now have the expectation that during our own lifetimes we shall witness a totally new awareness, within the scientific community, that the body, mind and soul are one.

~Linda

Crop Circle Messages

Photo by Lucy Pringle, 2000

I’ve always believed the Crop Circles have been messages to us, almost a symbolic notification that we are not alone, and I feel the reason for the messages has to do with our treatment of Planet Earth and the environmental and nuclear threats that we pose for the universe.

Are we alone? I think not. It has been an innate human nature, since the beginning of time to look beyond and above for answers to universal questions: What is this all about? Why are we here? What is beyond? Maybe at sometime in the not too distant future all of us will know the answers about life beyond this planet, and our connection to it.

We may think of ourselves as the “new kids on the block” but within the vastness of the cosmos could be far older civilizations active for millennia, greatly predating the human experience on Earth. And if we look at our own advances in technology in the last few decades, it only makes since that “others” could be far beyond us in understanding how all of this works.

Crop circles not only remind me of early cave drawings but also of the Nazca Lines of Peru. The Nazca Lines are a series of geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert, a high arid plateau that stretches between the towns of Nazca and Palpa in southern Peru. Etched in the surface of the desert pampa sand are about three hundred figures made of straight lines, geometric shapes, most clearly visible from the air. The aridness of the desert have apparently helped to preserve the markings.

The Nazca Lines are a mystery, as no one knows who made them or why. It is believed they were created between 200 BC and 700 AD. Since their discovery, the Nazca Lines have inspired various explanations such as they were made by ancient gods, made by aliens, is a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar created by the ancient Nazca civilization.

In the recent online issue of Kinetics Magazine, published by Kathryn Peters Brinkley, wife of Dannion Brinkley, known for his NDEs after being stuck by lightning, is an interview with former astronaut and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), Dr. Edgar Mitchell.

Katheryn asked him a question about crop circles:

Kathryn: You know, Dr. Mitchell, one thing that has fascinated me in the last ten years is crop circles. Has IONS done any real research into the crop circles? Do they have an opinion about those?

Dr. Mitchell: I know Colin Andrews quite well, and also Nick Pope, in England, both of whom have been very much involved in the UFO and crop circle area. It is pretty clear these are signals, from somewhere else, to help us see things in a different way. There have been crop circles hoaxed, but by and large, the real ones are not. They are created in this powerful ways we don’t understand, yet.

Maybe one day....

~ Linda

Patience

Patience is virtuous and most of us wish we had more, don’t we? So often in life we lose patience with others. Lack or loss of patience, is operating under one's own agenda and not affording the other person the courtesy or love that would give them the necessary things they need. In other words we are not giving them loving allowance.

Losing patience is being self-focused, rather than being other-focused. We all have been guilty at some time of judging others, and when we become impatient we tend to blame the other person, yet, it really is a lack of sensitivity on our part of not understanding, ignoring, or not caring about the needs of another.

Patience, in its best light, is affording the other person to be in their own time, place, or space, and to be accepting of that.

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." ~ St. Augustine

During illness, impatience can easily appear for all involved–the patient, caretaker, observer–as the stresses of the situation build up. If you are able to put into action and proper perspective the needs of another you may discover that impatience will fade away.

Another aspect of patience is patience with self. Often, we are impatient with self by not loving ourselves enough to meet our own needs and to allow new experiences. When we have needs and desires and set them aside and deny our authentic self, we are not happy, and may become angry, resentful, and stressed out. Anxiety builds and that is not healthy.

In both areas of patience we have to learn to be allowing, to give others their space–and to grant that same to ourselves.

~Linda

Knowing a Truth

“It is not easy to escape from a truth, once it has been presented to you. It has a way of itching your mental ear, once it has lodged there. For behind that ear is a part of you, hidden though it may be, by many sheaths, which knows-which KNOWS!”

~Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson), 1862-1932, Life Beyond Death

Contentment

“A little consideration of what takes place around us every day would show us that a higher law than that of our will regulates events; that our painful labours are unnecessary and fruitless; that only in our easy, simple, spontaneous action are we strong... Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which animates all whom it floats, and you are without effort impelled to truth, to right, and a perfect contentment.”
~ Vernon Howard, (1918-1992) American spiritual teacher, author, philosopher, The Mystic Masters Speak!

~Linda

Miracles of Poetry, Walt Whitman

“To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the
same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women,
and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.”
~Walt Whitman, Miracles

Dr. James Martin Peebles (1822-1922) wrote of his admiration for his contemporary and friend, the influential poet, Walt Whitman (1819-1892) :

“Whitman was literally a giant of soul impulse. There was not a shadow of sham about him. He was innocent of fashion and affectation. ‘I am,’ he said, ‘but an idea–a spirit–a new language for Civilization. What am I but you, and what are you again but this same I, the two halves of a circle in an infinite circle.’”

“Whitman was a child of nature. He loved alike the loneliness of the forest, the surging throngs along Broadway–the shoutings of children by the roadside and the singing of crickets in the gray of evening time. He was equally at home studying a sunset, riding upon the top of an omnibus, among the convicts of a prison, or sitting in a Quaker church. He was an all-around man, shunning the shallows of fashion and daring the roughness of life. His peerless presence was like a dynamo–radiating vigor and health, peace and good will.”

“He wrote of life as he saw it ‘on the road.’ Fame was to him a bubble to be shunned. Thousands admired both his personality and his verse. Some mocked. He heard the taunt–the jeer–the heartless scoff; but not heeding he continued ‘on the road.’ Now better appreciated, he is receiving unstinted praise from this and foreign lands.”

~Linda

Coming Together Through Music

“We have been born to associate with our fellow-man,

and to join in community with the human race.”

~Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

Today on my other blog I posted Inspiration and Peace Through Music about Playing for Change. Take a look and listen. I believe what Mark Johnson has created along with Jonathan Wells and the hundreds of musicians and singers from all over the world is so very inspirational and incredible.

Not only is their project an example of love but a testament to it. PBS is featuring their new DVD all of the month of August so check your local PBS station to see when it is available.

“Our true nationality is mankind.” ~H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

“True goodness is loving your fellow man.” ~Confucious (551-479 B.C.)


“As you give love, you will have love.” ~Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

I love this one, the first song Playing for Change did. Stand by Me was written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and originally done by Ben E. King and was at the top of the charts when it was first released in 1961.

On my other blog I have more videos from Playing for Change you may enjoy. I know I sure do.

~Linda

Inner Communication

“Every cell in the body receives a chemical message, when you fall in love, or feel God's presence or go into ecstasy.” ~Deepak Chopra

Jewelry: Wearable Sculpture by Liam Herbert

My dear friend, sculptor Liam Herbert of Sedona Arizona has a new spiritual jewelry collection of wearable sculpture. I have his first piece, Rising Joy in sterling silver and I love it. I have never worn a piece of jewlry that I have had so many complements on, from both women and men. Every time I wear it! Amazing how it catches people's attention.

Liam’s art inspires and moves the heart, as he explores the human spirit—family relationships, faith, anger, passion, grief, hope, and love. His sculptures alternately crackle with excitement or soothe the soul in a quiet embrace.

You can contact Liam at artbyliam@msn.com if you have questions for him.

Here’s Liam's new video!

~Linda

The Blending of Science and Religion

Dead Sea Scroll Exhibit, June 12 - July 5, 1965
Garrison Theater, Claremont Colleges, California

For 2,000 years a collection of nearly 900 ancient manuscripts, some in fragments lay concealed in the Qumran desert caves near the Dead Sea. It is believed that the Essenes had hidden the manuscripts in the caves, and they were not discovered until 1947.

Recently I read about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the controversy that appears to be going on over an exhibit in Toronto, Canada. And that brought to mind when I attended the Dead Sea Scroll Exhibit years ago that was held June 12 - July 5, 1965 at Garrison Theater at the Claremont Colleges in Southern California. The exhibition was arranged by the Smithsonian Institution in cooperation with the Jordanian government and the Palestine Archaeological Museum.

For many years I lived a few short miles from the Claremont School of Theology and the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions in Southern California. And there is located the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center (ABMC), a non profit corporation whose purpose is to serve as an archive for accurate copies of original source material of the Jewish and Christian Bibles. Their mission is preservation and research while seeking to foster greater accuracy in textual work on the Bible.

The ABMC holds the world’s most extensive collection of Dead Sea Scroll images and they distribute both digital and photographic images of the Dead Sea Scrolls in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

While reading about their program I was interested to see that in 1994, ABMC collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) in Pasadena, California, a few miles from Claremont, to use state of the art digital image technology to elucidate previously illegible text on the ancient and deteriorating Dead Sea Scrolls.

NASA’s Dr. Gregory Bearman used multi-specrtral digital imaging to identify the region within the spectrum of light in which text could or would be legible.

Apparently, in visible light both the ink and the blackened animal hide reflected equal amounts of light and therefore there was no contrast and the text was invisible. Dr. Bearman discovered the text would become visible at 900 nanometers into the infrared as a contrast occurred between the ink and animal hide.

In a 1993 press release Dr. Bearman stated in regards to the use of a solid-state sensor and computer image-processing in examining the fragments from the 2,000 year old manuscripts, "This approach allows us to see details that are invisible using traditional photography on film. Archeology is just beginning to learn about digital imaging technology, and it should prove to be a very powerful tool."

According to the ABMC website, “In its climate-controlled vault, the ABMC preserves one of the world’s largest photographic archives of manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament, or Tanakh) and the New Testament Scholars and students worldwide consult our collections, which can be used either on-site or by Interlibrary Loan. The ABMC also curates the films of the International Greek New Testament Project (IGNTP), distributing them to assigned collators in North America and Europe.”

They also house the John C. Trevor Collection. Dr. John C. Trevor was the first photographer of the Dead Sea Scrolls in February and March, 1948 . His photographs are still considered the best photographs of the Scrolls. In 1981, Dr. Trever gifted his extensive collection to the Claremont School of Theology, which in turn placed them in the ABMC’s custodial care.

When I saw the exhibit I do remember feeling awe in seeing the manuscripts and realizing these scrolls had been hidden away for safety, no doubt, for centuries and may have contained historical facts, opinions, and wisdom.

While science and religion have most often been in opposition, in this case, they married, and that marriage is very good for humanity, for we may have learned something we did not know before as the hidden text came into the “light.”

It would be a few years later before I encountered other things even older, about twice as old. In fact, the oldest living things on earth. And that was the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest of the White Mountains of eastern California. Some of those pines, with their gnarled and twisted branches and trunks, have for more than 4,600 years, fought the harshest of weather conditions to maintain life.

I wrote an article about the Ancient Bristlecone on my website if you'd like to learn more. And my poem about the ancient trees:

Bristlecone

O ancient Tree so gnarled and bold,
How strong you stand, how long you hold,
'gainst bitter winds across your face–
All perils that contest your place–
So much of life that you have seen,
So much of strife where man has been,
From tools of stone to fossiled bones,
You've seen the flames, you've heard the groans;
The Patriarchs have come and gone,
While you, O Tree, have struggled on.
To understand Eternity,
I need but talk with thee, O Tree.

–Linda Pendleton

© Copyright by Linda Pendleton, All Rights Reserved

~Linda

Pride and Forgiveness

It is important to forgive but not in the way we might first think of it. It is important to our well being, much the same as the impact that our angry or negative thoughts can have on us, as written about in my last post. Forgiveness is about reaching the point of peace within ourselves and has nothing to do with anyone else. It is about letting go.

The book, The Mastery of Love was brought to my attention. Although I have heard of Don Miguel Ruiz, Mexican New Age Author, Shaman, I had not read his book.

This chapter excerpt from his book is a reminder of how difficult it is to forgive. Love is the central focus of life but it begins with loving our self.

The path to healing: the truth, forgiveness and self love.


The complete book (17 audios) is on youtube and is read by Jill Eikenberry & Michael Tucker, husband and wife actors.

Our Thoughts and Their Power

“Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.” ~Buddha (563-483 B.C.)

In our book, Whispers From the Soul: The Divine Dance of Consciousness, my husband, Don Pendleton and I wrote a chapter about the body, mind, soul connection and the scientific research being done in that area. We called the chapter The Journey Inward. We wrote about the use of meditation for healing, as shown and suggested by professionals such as Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Dr. O. Carl Simonton, Dr. Bernie Seigel, and others. We wrote about addictions and disorders and how body memory can be the root cause. (And even soul memories of past lives). We wrote how the body was an information highway and within our bodies is a vast communications network.

It has long been understood that the brain communicates with the body but recent medical research is now showing that messenger molecules, the route through which intelligence moves through the body, are intimately linked to every cell and that a never ending stream of information in both directions is moving between the mind and body. The vehicles of this intercellular communications system are ordinary chemical elements such as peptides, endorphines and neuropeptides and their receptors and they are found not only in the brain but also in the immune system, the endocrine system and throughout the body. The communication is accomplished by the bonding of the peptide to the receptors which are dynamically attached to the surface of every cell in the body. The entire body is operated by these messenger molecules. Moreover, Professor of Neurobiology David Felten, M.D., PhD, of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and his wife, Suzanne Felton, PhD, are credited with discovering that nerve fibers permeate the immune system and are in direct contact with the immune cell receptors, allowing for cross-talk between the nervous system and the immune system. The understanding that the immune system directly communicates with the mind has startling implications when we are also told that even emotions and feelings are firmly linked into this same communications highway.

Neuroscientist Candace Pert, PhD, at Rutgers has reached that same understanding: certain neuropeptides and their receptors produce the physical manifestation of emotions.

In other words, emotions must be regarded as both physical and mental when we understand that there is intelligence, or mind, in every cell of the body. Emotions affect physiology and vice-versa, and this is the route through which mood-altering drugs have their effect and conversely how emotional states can greatly effect the physiology of the body. Dr. Pert explains, "We can measure the chemical reaction that gives rise to an emotion, but we can't look under a microscope and say, 'That's grief.' We can say that a particular peptide, for example, can create euphoria not only in humans, but also in rats and simpler animals. In other words, we can measure behavior...the receptor is the interface where behavior meets biochemistry."

Those comments were made in an interview with Bill Moyers for his Healing And The Mind, in which Dr. Pert went on to describe the mind as "some kind of enlivening energy in the information realm throughout the brain and body that enables the cells to talk to each other, and the outside to talk to the whole organism."

Practical applications of this body wisdom is being done with kinesiology, the science of human muscle movements. A skilled kinesiologist uses muscle testing techniques which can isolate particular muscles, organs or nerves for the treatment of various physical aliments. This is often related intimately to acupuncture meridians and the lymphatic system. If a specific muscle is weak or out of balance, it has been shown that the particular organ systems which share the lymphatic and meridian pathways with that muscle can be impacted. By restoring the proper flow of vital energies to the effected system, the organ that is sharing that system will receive relief as the proper balance returns.

About twenty-five years ago we watched a demonstration of the power of thought in a video by Chiropractor Dr. John Thie, who developed Touch For Health® which uses kinesiology and is now performed by many health professionals.

Applied kinesiology can show how emotions are quickly translated into bodily functions. A simple experiment, easily performed at home, can demonstrate the dramatic consequences of negative and positive thoughts on the body. Have a friend assist you in this experiment. With both parties standing, place your left hand with palm open on the center of your forehead while your right arm is stiffly outstretched at a 45% angle (straight ahead) at shoulder level, or out to the side, palm down. In this attitude, think about something happy and beautiful. While holding that memory, your partner will attempt to lower your outstretched arm toward the floor by pushing down on the forearm area while you attempt to resist that downward movement. If you are working with a happy thought, the arm should be able to strongly resist the effort to lower it. Try again, but this time think of something sad or very unpleasant. Now when your partner attempts to lower your raised arm, you will be amazed to discover that you have no resistance whatever to that pressure –your arm simply falls toward the floor. This is a dramatic demonstration of the relationship between body and mind. Our emotions do effect bodily states–this is where thoughts meet biochemistry.

This also is the place where meditation and visualization impact the wellness of the body through a conscious dialogue.

The journey within is the most significant and empowering involvement of our existence. Each thought, emotion, image, memory and deed effects the totality of our being, moment by moment. Within us lies the intelligence of not only mind but body and soul and we have the power to consciously influence every facet of that trinity. We need only the wisdom to recognize it and the will to exercise it.

The most meaningful and powerful medicine we can receive is to allow our inner intelligence to speak to us–and to listen to those whispers from our soul.



Wayne Dyer gives a demonstration in this video of kinesiology and the power of thought.

~Linda

Psychic Spies: Remote Viewing

Remote viewing was used by the United States Government for many years before being revealed to the public. Stargate, a top-secret psychic espionage program backed by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency was supposedly disbanded in 1995 after being in existence since the early 1970's. Apparently the program was established after the CIA learned several foreign nations, including the Soviets, Chinese, Germans, Israelis, were heavily involved in various aspects of the paranormal.

The military remote viewers were trained under the father of remote viewing, Ingo Swann, and a team of scientist, including Drs. Hal Puthoff, Russell Targ, Charles Tart, and others at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in Menlo Park, CA., in conjunction with the CIA. Several had psychic ability before undergoing any training. A number of the retired military remote viewers have become consultants in parapsychology and still do remote viewing for agencies, corporations, individuals, and train others.

These remote viewers also tell us that we all have psychic abilities and we all can do remote viewing. I do recall hearing one remote viewer (not one I listed) who has said that remote viewing has nothing to do with psychic ability. Several of those who retired from the Stargate program have gone on to private enterprise with the use of their gift/talent of remote viewing.

David Morehouse, Ph.D., highly decorated special operations officer in the US Army, trained at SRI. According to Morehouse as stated on his website:

“Remote Viewing is not a new phenomenon; the ability has been ours since the beginning of time. The formulation and systemization of theological doctrine as set forth in ancient records present us with countless examples of humanity's learned and inherent abilities to transcend the physical; to see in the mind's eye, people, places and events separate from their physical reality. From the ancient hieroglyphics carved into the walls of forgotten Egyptian tombs, to the "Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean, the Urantia Book, A Course in Miracles, the Old Testament, the Koran, the Kabbalah, the Talmud, and the New Testament−to name but a few−all give accounts of journeys out of the physical body, to night flights of soul, to projections of consciousness, et cetera. However, the most recent history began circa 1972 when the Central Intelligence Agency learned through various human intelligence sources that the Czechs, Chinese, Soviets, Germans, the Israelis and even the British, were all heavily involved in the study of various aspects of what would be called the ‘paranormal.’”

Morehouse also wrote that during the time of the CIA program which became known later as Stargate: “the Remote Viewing unit collected intelligence against a broad range of targets: strategic missile forces, political leaders—theirs and ours, counter narcotics operations, research and development facilities, hostage situations, military weapons systems, secret installations, technology developments, terrorist groups; the list was staggering, and the successes were many—as were the failures. Failures yes, sometimes with limited useable results, yes. Nevertheless, consider what we are talking about. We are talking about a military Remote Viewer sitting alone or with a monitor and entering an altered state of consciousness. In this condition, the Viewer copies a set of randomly assigned numbers (the coordinates), that represent the concept of the target in the mind of the collective unconscious. Then, using the protocols of the process, the Viewer begins detecting and decoding relevant visual and verbal sensory data pertaining to the target; and does this with an accuracy level averaging thirty to thirty-five percent—from absolutely nothing. Even on a bad day, this innate ability within each of us—is nothing but spectacular!”

Read more about what he has to say at his website. Dr. Morehouse has written books and is considered to be the world's leading teacher of Remote Viewing and Spiritual Transformation. It could be that the upcoming publication of his book, Psychic Warrior in 1996, may have, in some ways, forced the Army to admit they did have a Stargate program. (I enjoyed reading his book which became an International best-seller).

Lyn Buchanan, former trainer and remote viewer for the U.S. government's remote viewing unit, retired from military service in 1992 and continued training select people within the government who knew about the program and its capabilities for some time.

Remote viewer Mel Riley retired from the Army in 1991. He was brought into the Stargate program because of his innate psychic abilities in aerial observations and telepathy. He also has memories of a past life as a Native American.

Buchanan founded a remote viewing company and contracted Mel Riley to work for his company. Buchanan also wrote a book about his “psychic spy experiences, as have Russel Targ and Harold Puthoff, Ingo Swann, and remote viewer, Joe McMoneagle.

Joseph McMoneagle, is known as Remote Viewer # 1, the identity he was given within the program.

Joseph McMoneagle was in the Army Security Agency served 13 consecutive years overseas, with assignments that took him to more than twenty different countries. He returned to the United States and in 1977, accepted a commission as a Warrant Officer, along with an assignment to Headquarters, Intelligence and Security Command.

He states, “Less than a year later I was recruited as Remote Viewer #001 of the very black and very sensitive Psychic Spy unit now known as STARGATE. As one of the original viewers with that unit, I helped design and build an effective paranormal collection and support unit that serviced nearly all major Intelligence Agencies within the Federal Government for a period exceeding seventeen years.

He retired in 1984. He is married to Nancy Lea Honeycutt, stepdaughter of Robert A. Monroe, author of Journeys Out of the Body and the Founder of the Monroe Institute. Nancy was also the Director of The Monroe Institute, and had helped her stepfather design and build it.

Due to the success that was often achieved during the psychic spy era, I find it difficult to believe that our government no longer uses this type of intelligence gathering.

What do you think?

Here’s an audio interview of Joseph McMoneagle by Coast to Coast AM Radio Show host, George Noory.
Part One and Two of Nine. Remainder of the interview HERE.

~Linda

Reincarnation, Early Memories

"I am certain that I have been here as I am now
a thousand times before,
and I hope to return a thousand times."
~ Goethe (1749-1832)

There was a long tradition of investigating evidence relevant for the question of life after death. But Ian Stevenson, M.D. started a new field of inquiry, namely the investigation of phenomena that might give evidence for life before birth, the theory of reincarnation. A well-known and revealing study of reincarnation was conducted by Professor of Psychiatry, Ian Stevenson, M.D. of the University of Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Stevenson documented more than two thousand cases of children who have reported past life experiences and his works has been published by the University of Virginia Press and in numerous medical journals. Ian Stevenson died in 2007 and child psychiatrist Dr. Jim Tucker is carrying on the work of Dr. Stevenson at the University.

Dr. Stevenson’s Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation has aroused considerable interest around the world and is regarded as almost a textbook by serious students of the subject. The children reported in his studies cover the full range of ethnic backgrounds, about half from European heritage and with strong ties to the Judeo-Christian ethos where reincarnationist ideas are largely alien to the culture. He will be primarily remembered for his pioneering field investigations of children who claim to have lived before.

Dr. Jim Tucker’s latest book

My previous posts on Reincarnation:

Thoughts on Reincarnation

Creative Dance of Reincarnation

Past Life Memories of a World War II Fighter Pilot

Dr. Jim Tucker Interview

~Linda

Co-Creation, The Vibrational Energy of Life

Dr. James Martin Peebles (1822-1922), now a spirit guide, gives us his spiritual psychology and within his teachings are these very important Three Spiritual Principles.








“If one believes that he alone creates his life, all his experiences, his thoughts, his actions–and reactions–and takes full responsibility for that, then he can never be a victim. Fear, resentment, anger and hate fall away like the petals of a daisy caught up in the wind. Love begets love. And love begins within self. The illusion of separation dissipates, intimacy prevails, and the creative force of self shines.”
~Spirit Guide Dr. James Martin Peebles from Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom by Linda Pendleton


Deliberately setting your vibrational tone from Abraham.
This video is an excerpt from an appearance of Esther Hicks and Abraham-Hicks in Chicago, November 1, 1998.








More from Dr. James Martin Peebles

Power of Thought, A Major Spiritual Lesson

To Dance With Angels by Don and Linda Pendleton

Spirit Communication, Past Lives


~Linda

Self-Discovery

Today I was introduced to the excellent inspirational poem, The Journey by Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author, Mary Oliver who has published over 25 volumes of poetry and prose. She was born in 1935 in Ohio and studied at Ohio State University and Vassar College. For several years she lived at the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Her book, American Primitive, won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1984. She traveled widely, giving readings and workshops at various colleges and universities and teaching, and for five years held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College, VT. She currently lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Her poem for me is about the struggles we face along our journey of self-discovery. It speaks of letting go of things that have constrained us, and moving forward, and this may mean changing such things as relationships or careers. It may mean feeling for the first time and allowing what we have known about ourselves all along to blossom and grow. And in doing so, we reach a much deserved sense of freedom.

It can also be about those who have freed themselves from abuse, but whatever the situation one may have in life, it would be like stepping out of the box, which often may have been confining, suffocating, restrictive, and then delighting in the new found freedom and joy.

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver
Dream Work
© Copyright 1986 by Mary Oliver

I like her phrase, '“Mend my life," each voice cried.' It reminds me of how often, especially as women, we have been in the position of taking care of everyone else’s life, often at the expense of our own. We might come in last, if we even come in at all. Maybe no inner voice calls out for us, “mend my life.” It is up to the individual to discover his or her voice and in that new found voice say, I have mended my life. I am who I am!

Isn’t the time for self-discovery now? What are you waiting for?

~Linda

Fear of Psychic Gift

Photo by Eric Stephens

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear–not absence of fear.”
–Mark Twain (1835–1910)

Intuition is defined as the ability to perceive or know things without conscious reasoning, immediate apprehension or understanding. It is your inner voice, or psychic awareness, your spontaneous knowing.

Our intuition is innate and a natural part of our lives. But many of us ignore, block, deny, or simply do not tap into this valuable resource. But why would we do this with a resource that can be used to help us heal, solve problems, and make spiritual contact with deceased loved ones or spirit guides?

Do you have fear of using your intuitive and psychic gift? Do you keep your psychic stuff to yourself because you fear being vulnerable?

What do you risk by becoming “public” with your abilities? It might be that if you use it openly, naturally, it gives power to other people to validate or invalidate you.

Some people may think you’re “crazy.” Does that thought scare you?

If you read the books of some of the well known psychic mediums you will see as children they may have had challenges such as “we don’t talk about that,” “it’s just your imagination,” “people will think you are nutty,” “ don’t tell anyone what you see.” Or hear, or know.... Have you ever experienced that?

I do believe there is a “code of ethics” about spiritual work. Even though messages may come to us from beyond I believe it is our responsibility to have ethical boundaries about forwarding messages to others without their permission. To do so may be an invasion of someone’s privacy. But I also feel it is our responsibility as a receiver to try and deliver the message in a gentle and sensitive way. We do have to remember people can be vulnerable, especially those in grief. And many messages that come through are for those in grief.

I saw an invasion of someone’s privacy, an intrusion into their private life, happen once at a healing circle. A couple were there to hear from two recently deceased loved ones, and that was apparent. A message did come through for them from the other side, but then before it was over, two other psychics in the room bombarded them with embarrassing information to do with the critical financial situation they were enduring, the things wrong with their sex life, the lack of communication within their relationship, hurt feelings against family, and so on. It was painful to watch their reaction to hearing all this presented publicly in front of thirty strangers. I felt so bad for them as I saw their faces turn red in embarrassment, watched their slinking back into their chairs probably hoping to fade away, watching their emotional withdrawal as the psychics continued, and all the while I was enduring their public humiliation along with them. That was wrong. If these two psychics had personal information like that they should have given it to them privately. Before it was over I knew more about these two strangers and their lives, both good and bad, then I know about my next door neighbors. I’m surprised we didn’t have their Social Security number before it was over.

But I also knew something about these two psychics, both new to their found abilities: they were too enthusiastic and their ego was right up front, trying to impress everyone and apparently had not yet discovered or decided they needed to have an ethical code of conduct with their spiritual work.

What if spirit is banging on your head to relay a message? Have you had that happen? I have and I know others who have had that happen. Sometimes you may wonder why the message came to you in the first place. And then once you have the message you may have to figure out the best way to present it. What if you hardly know the person for whom it is intended? Then what? You may find in most instances, if you tell the person you have a message from the other side, they will want to hear what it is, even though it appears they may not be a “believer.” And then again, you may have someone not wanting to hear the message at all. But that’s okay as you’ve done your part as the conveyor of the message. Sometimes there is just too much static for a message to get through. You know how it is: you send an email and it gets lost in cyberspace and you never know where it goes if it goes at all. Same with someone refusing a message from the other side. It may be out there in the ethers, and some messages may get to the person it was intended for in some other creative way. But for you, you did your job, and your responsibility is over.

As we use our intuition and PSI abilities, we have personal and spiritual growth, we learn more about ourselves as well as about others, we become more compassionate, more loving, more attuned to the higher aspects of the universe, and all the good things about intuition and spiritual growth take away the fear of having and using any psychic gift you may have. It is accepting and acknowledging fear and moving through fear which gives us courage. And with that courage comes a sense of freedom and a self awareness. We also may learn how healing and inspiring our words may be to another and that is heartwarming and takes away any traces of fear we may have.


Four Classic Types of Intuition:

Clairvoyance is defined as clear sight, or clear seeing, beyond the physical. Clairvoyance would include visions, seeing images in the mind, seeing angels, seeing apparitions, seeing deceased loved ones. This can include precognition.

Clairaudience is defined as clear hearing, the ability to perceive sounds, voices, music, that do not have a physical source. Clairaudience includes hearing messages from those on the other side, such as our loved ones, spirit guides, guardian angels, and often with the personality and voice inflections of the deceased loved one, for instance. This could also include hearing voices, sounds, from past events at a particular location.

Clairsentience is defined as clear feeling. Someone with this ability is able to experience strong, empathetic feeling and emotions from spirit, or even from living persons. This would include persons who are very sensitive to energies and emotions of other people. Healers of various disciplines often have this ability.

Inspirational Thought is defined as receiving inspiration without forethought. It has a broad definition and is how many creative ideas come to be: thoughts, ideas, impressions, knowledge, and creativity. Many great artists, musicians, and writers of the past (and present) have utilized inspirational thought.


Additional subcategories of extra-sensory perception such as:
Prophetic Dreams
Spiritual Dreams
Automatic Writing, Psychometry
Channeling
Trance Mediumship
Seeing Auras
Remote Viewing


~Linda

Thoughts for Today and Every Day

He who knows his soul knows this truth:
"I am beyond everything finite; I now see that the Spirit, alone in a space with Its ever-new joy, has expressed Itself as the vast body of nature.
I am the stars,
I am the waves,
I am the Life of all,
I am the laughter within all hearts,
I am the smile on the faces of the flowers and in each soul.
I am the Wisdom and Power that sustain all creation."
~Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Man’s Eternal Quest






Dr. Deepak Chopra on Healing Body, Mind, Spirit.






This evening, my E-book publisher, June from Self Healing Expressions and Healing Ebooks sent me this uplifting video:



Abraham-Hicks speaking on 2012











~Linda

Roswell New Mexico, July 8, 1947, UFO Crash

"Talk of mysteries!... Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?"
~Henry David Thoreau

On this day, July 8, 1947 it was reported by a press release that a “flying disc” had crashed on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. It was reported in the Roswell Daily Record Newspaper and on a radio station but within hours the Commanding General of the 8th Air Force stated that the debris had been from the crash of a weather balloon.

Years later in 1994 the Air Force released a report that basically said the Roswell incident was nothing more than test balloons but they followed that up with a report in 1997, stating the aliens associated with the apparent crash were nothing more than test dummies. Case Closed.

The government closed the case considering all of us dummies in my opinion. There is too much credible evidence to the contrary. Eye witness reports, including credible military people, government memos, and many books written by credible researchers such as nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, Charles Berlitz and William Moore, Kevin Randall and Donald Schmitt, and several others.

My nonfiction UFO E-BookRead more about it, and the free ebooks with purchase.

~Linda

Opening Minds about Alien Beings, Dr. John E. Mack

Why are the aliens beings here? What is their purpose? Do we have any clues to that? How about evidence? Can we accept we are not alone and probably never have been?

Dr. John E. Mack, the late Harvard Professor, mentioned in one of the tapes below what Mark Macy had to say about communications coming from the astral and ethereal dimensions. Macy said, “For some people it doesn’t matter how good the evidence is, it won’t make any difference.”

Some years back, I talked with and later met Mark Macy and discussed his work, ITC research (Instrumental Transcommunication from beyond the veil). He also does work with spirit photography and angel communication and is an author. I agree with Macy's statement.

Dr. John E. Mack devoted his later years of his career to a merging of spiritual and philosophical traditions, and then his research into alien abductions put his long career on the line. In 1994, the Harvard Medical School Dean appointed a committee of peers to investigate Dr. Mack’s care and clinical investigation of patients who had alien encounters. Some of those people had been referenced in his best selling book, Abduction. It was said that it was the first time in Harvard’s history that a tenured professor was subjected to an investigation into his work. Finally, Harvard issued a statement reaffirming Dr. Mack’s academic freedom to study what he chose to study and to state his opinions without impediment.

He continued his important work in the area of UFO phenomena until his untimely death in September 2004 at the age of 74, after being hit by a car while crossing a London street after speaking at the T. E. Lawrence Society Symposium in Oxford.

I love his work. And I wanted to again share some of his lecture at the International UFO Congress in March 2002. The videos goes on in ten minute segments of his talk. After listening to this one, hear more

This was # 3. For More John E. Mack

~Linda

Have UFOs and Aliens Shattered the Western World View?

In 1995, while living in Sedona, Harvard University psychiatrist and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of T.E. Lawrence, Dr. John E. Mack gave a talk on his research of alien encounters. Dr. Mack was considered to be a leading authority on the spiritual or transformational effects of alleged alien encounter experiences, sometimes referred to as the Abduction Phenomenon.

In 1994 Dr. Mack went to Zimbabwe, Africa to investigate an unusual occurrence. One morning in September 62 children at a small private school outside the capital of Harare reported seeing oval shaped objects hover over their playground at recess and strange beings make their way across their schoolyard. His research was fascinating and his nearly three hour informal talk was rewarding.

In his best-selling book, Abduction: Human Encounters With Aliens, he reports on his investigation and treatment of nearly one hundred abductees and has reached the conclusion that such encounters often have positive effects. "I have come to see that the abduction phenomenon has important philosophical, spiritual, and social implications."

Dr. Mack further stated that as the experiences of the abductees was brought into full consciousness, they seemed to feel increasingly a sense of oneness with all beings and all of creation, and this is often expressed through a special love of nature and a deep connection with animals and animal spirits.

According to Dr. Mack, many, if not most of the abductees with whom he as worked extensively, had come to feel that their enhanced spiritual awareness must be translated into some sort of teaching or higher purpose. Although they were saddened, or felt hopeless about the ecology of our planet and continuation of life-forms, they believed that they must do something about preserving life on earth. It’s interesting that many of these subjects have changed their careers in order to fulfill their newly discovered purpose in life and that they feel a particular responsibility to inspire a new consciousness on earth.

Dr. Mack’s next book Passport to the Cosmos: Human Transformation and Alien Encounters, is a further study of the alien abduction phenomena and the spiritual implications.

Sadly Dr. Mack’s important work was cut short by his untimely death in 2004, although his Foundation is still active.

I personally believe John E. Mack’s work was, and is, of great importance in UFO abduction literature. And I’m sure his books will be considered classics for many years.

~Linda

Ennegrams, Truth of Your Own Being

“Peace is what’s alive in your heart.” ~Eli Jaxon-Bear

Isn’t it exciting when one thing leads to another in your spiritual search or research for broader understandings and investigations?

A couple of weeks ago it was suggested I look into Enneagrams which is a psychological/spiritual personality profile of Nine Types, which in itself is rather interesting.

The ancient wisdom of the Enneagram is a map of and for personal growth and spiritual development. It depends on an aspect of awareness of the I, the knowing of one’s inner self. It can awaken in each of us the inherent essence of discover of ourselves and each other in ways that are authentically spiritual, psychologically sound, and lead us ultimately to freedom and love.

Within the discipline various teachers/writers call the Nine Types by different names. For example at the Enneagram institute dot com they are described as:

Type One: The Reformer, the principled, idealistic type.
Type Two: The Helper: the caring interpersonal type.
Type Three: The Achiever, the adaptable, success-oriented type.
Type Four: The Individualist, the introspective, romantic type.
Type Five: The Investigator, the perceptive, cerebral type.
Type Six: The Loyalist, the committed, security-oriented type.
Type Seven: The Enthusiast, the busy, productive type.
Type Eight: The Challenger, the powerful, aggressive type.
Type Nine: The Peacemaker, the easy-going, self-effacing type.

Helen Palmer, a leading authority and preeminent teacher of the ancient wisdom system known as the Enneagram, has these names for the nine types:

The Profectionist; The Giver; The Performer; The Romantic; The Observer; The Loyal Skeptic; The Epicure; The Protector; The Mediator.

Helen Palmer and The Enneagram

I hope to get her book, The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life, as I was told by a psychologist her book is excellent and easily understood. Her website.

And then my friend Anne happens to have another book, The Enneagram of Liberation, from Fixation to Freedom by Eli Jaxon-Bear, which she loaned me. Eli presents a slightly different focus on the Nine Points of the Enneagram, more of an Eastern philosophy, I would say, but nonetheless, still interesting.

That book lead to this video of Eli Jaxon-Bear, which I enjoyed seeing.

~Linda

Beauty of Angels

“Listen for the flutter of an angel’s wing as it softly touches you with love. Embrace it and join in the dance.” ~Linda Pendleton

If you would like to know the name of one of your angels, take the time to ask. Find a quiet place, such as a garden or a special spot you like to be, and sit quietly. You may want to have note pad and pen with you to record any messages you receive. Ask for communication with your angel. And ask for the name. See if anything pops into your mind. If a message comes, write it down without questioning. Then read it back and see what you can make from it. Hopefully there will be some indication of a name, or a symbol indicating a name or word. If it does not come the first time, try this exercise often.

And remember, you may also hear a message, even a hello, from a deceased loved one. Usually messages from a loved one come very clearly in their own voice, even just when they call out your name.

~Linda

Michael Jackson's Creative Genius

Artistic expression begins as inspiration. Michael Jackson’s creative genius flowed into art and in his magical art he reached out to the world with love and healing in an incredible creative expression.

Michael Jackson peered beyond the finite into the infinite with a holistic view that apparently saw not only the big picture but many of the infinitesimal forces behind it.

I recall the 1993 exclusive interview Oprah did with Michael Jackson when she asked what he felt his purpose was and he said, “To give, in the best way I can, through song, through dance, and through music. I am committed to my art. I believe that all art has as its ultimate goal the union between the material and the spiritual, the human and the divine. I believe that to be the reason for the very existence of art and I feel I was chosen as an instrument to just give music and love and harmony to the world—children of all ages, adults and teenagers.”

To read more go to my other Blog

~Linda

A Course in Miracles Behind the Scenes

“There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~Albert Einstein, (1879-1955)

A few years ago A Course in Miracles received a lot of attention. It seems in more recent times the popularity, or at least all the talk about The Secret, may have temporarily replaced the A Course in Miracles movement. The Secret is really not a new idea at all, but an outgrowth of the power of positive thinking, and later what has become known as the law of attraction (especially through the channeling of Abraham by Esther Hicks).

But back to A Course in Miracles. The Course came to my attention while living in Southern California. I cannot recall who first introduced me to it in the 1980’s but I have several friends who have studied it for years. While living in Sedona, AZ, I did attend a few Course meetings.

But I was more intrigued with the inspirational story of how A Course in Miracles came about than I was the actual lessons of the Course.

Don and I wrote about it in our book, Whispers From the Soul: The Divine Dance of Consciousness by Don and Linda Pendleton:

One of the most intriguing spiritual channeling processes of modern times involves the development of A Course In Miracles, which is said to have been "given" directly to Helen Schucman by Jesus himself.

Helen's father was a chemist of Jewish decent but professed no religious affiliation whatsoever and considered himself an atheist. Helen's mother was the daughter of a rabbi but she had turned to Theosophy when Helen was very young. Helen had forever struggled as a child with her religious identity. She was very moved at the age of twelve during a visit to Lourdes with her parents, deciding that she should become Catholic but soon changed her mind. The following year she embraced Protestantism and was even baptized in a Baptist Church but that failed also. "I'd been baptized, but nothing was changed. I still couldn't see God." Eventually she decided on agnosticism while retaining a strong religious sense but later considered herself to be an atheist. Deciding on a purely rationalistic life even before entering college, she became an English Major, then more than a dozen years later, returned to academia for her 1957 Doctorate in Psychology.

Early in her college years, Helen encountered her first mystical experience while riding on a subway train. Feeling disgust with the display of human insensitivity so often encountered on New York subways, she was inwardly rebelling against those images when she closed her eyes and instantly encountered her epiphany in a blaze of blinding light, radiant with intense love and understanding. She was so overwhelmed that she gasped and opened her eyes. For a moment, that intense love engulfed everything in that subway car, to the point that she saw the entire scene through totally different eyes. What she had earlier seen as ugliness, she now perceived as beauty. It was like discovering truth for the first time. As the light faded, the earlier ugly reality returned but the contrast had so shocked her that it took awhile before she could regain her composure. However, the vision itself was not sufficient to alter her religious views; she continued to think of herself as an atheist.

It was in 1958 that Helen met forty-two year old William N. Thetford, Ph.D., fourteen years her junior, who hired her to assist him in special projects for the Psychology Department at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Thetford was a Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of the Psychology Department at Presbyterian Hospital. His parents were Christian Scientists until the death of his nine-year old sister when he was seven. Grief stricken, the parents renounced their religious affiliation. It seems that Thetford had no particular interest in religion as an adult and had not been involved in the paranormal until after meeting Helen Schucman.

The working relationship between the two was often strained even though both exhibited mutual respect. Continuing conflict eventually led them into a pact to resolve their differences. Shortly thereafter, in 1965, Schucman began to be disturbed by psychic manifestations that were then plaguing her. He became fascinated by her visions and joined her in an attempt to understand and further investigate the phenomena, supporting her even to the point of taking her to Virginia Beach where they met with officials of the Cayce Foundation's A.R.E.

On an evening in October, 1965, Schucman excitedly telephoned Thetford in somewhat of a panic to report that the "inner Voice" was insisting that she take notes of its message to her. Thetford calmly and reassuringly suggested that she simply take down the notes in her private shorthand. She began this way:

"This is a course in miracles. It is a required
subject. Only the time you take it is voluntary.
Free will does not mean that you can establish the
curriculum. It means only that you can elect what
you want to take at a given time. The course does
not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that
is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however,
at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's
presence, which is your natural inheritance. The
opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing
can have no opposite.
This course can therefore be summed up very
simply in this way:
Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God."

For more than seven years, Helen and Bill met in his office each work day morning on their own time and Bill, at the typewriter with Helen dictating from her shorthand notebook, would transcribe the information that Helen received the night before.

Even before the complete course had been set to paper, interested friends were sharing the unpublished 1,500 page manuscript and spreading it around the country, much like an underground press, and since its formal publication in 1975, A Course in Miracles has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been the subject of workshops everywhere.

Marianne Williamson has been conducting study groups and workshops, teaching the basic principles of the Course since 1983. In her Preface to A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, she explains that the Christian terminology in the book put her off a bit when she first encountered it in 1976 but a year later she found that, "...This time, I knew immediately that the Course had something very important to teach me. It used traditional Christian terms, but in decidedly nontraditional, nonreligious ways. I was struck, as most people are, by the profound authority of its voice. It answered questions I had begun to think were unanswerable. It talked about God in brilliant psychological terms, challenging my intelligence and never insulting it. It's a bit cliché to say this, but I felt like I had come home."

However one may feel about the source of the material, this work has touched millions of lives around the world so certainly can rest on its own power to enthrall.

© Copyright 2003, 2009 by Linda Pendleton

You may read more about the development of A Course in Miracles in the book, Journey Without Distance by Robert Skutch.

Linda

Mediumship and the Betty Books

The Betty Books

Stewart Edward White, Author, (1873-1946)

Mediumship, or channeling, as it is now most commonly referred to, takes on many forms and may be expressed in many ways. It has common bonds with various other psychic expressions which run the full range from deep hypnotic trance to inspiration and other subtle nuances. One must consider automatic writing, Ouija boards, clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience, physical "possession" by an otherworldly entity during trance states, dreams, physical manifestations, teleportation and levitation, mental telepathy and hypnosis, dowsing and pendulumology, meditation and visualization, visions and precognition, spirit guides and high teachers, psychic healing and other spiritual encounters.

In my latest e-book, How Thin the Veil! 150 Years of Spiritualism, I wrote about the New Mystics, those mediums of the 20th century such as Edgar Cayce, Eileen J. Garrett, Jane Roberts, and several others, including the medium known as Betty.

Some of the most widely read channeled books of the 20th century were written by Stewart Edward White, a very successful novelist of adventure and Western tales, relating material channeled from the other side by his wife, Elizabeth Calvert Grant White, who was initially identified only as "Betty".

The White’s experiences with the spiritual world began casually in 1919 when some friends visited their home with the Ouija board, considering it a mere toy and hoping only to entertain them with it. One thing led to another, though, and the board began taking on a mind of its own, repeatedly spelling "Betty" even though Betty had become bored with the game and had gone to sit beside the fireplace. At the repeated insistence of the board, she finally rejoined the others. At this point, the board became highly active and repeatedly spelled out, "Get a pencil–Get a pencil." But it was not until some days later that Betty did privately pick up a pencil at home and this launched her first experience with automatic writing which was to last for several months before experimenting with hypnotic trance. This produced the best results and Betty was soon a fully functioning trance medium.

The Betty Book (1) was published in 1937, the third of a series that began in 1925, followed in 1938 by Across the Unknown. Betty died in 1939 and that launched a whole new chapter in this amazing story; Betty began communicating with her husband from the Other Side, through a family friend, psychic Joan Darby (a pseudonym for Ruth Finley, who later, after her death came through Arthur Ford). The Unobstructed Universe (2) is Stewart Edward White's report of the messages from Betty as channeled through Joan.

(1.) Stewart Edward White, 1937, E.P. Dutton & Co.; Ariel Press, Columbus, Ohio, 1988.
(2.) Stewart Edward White, 1940, E.P. Dutton & Co.; Dell Publishing Co., 1970.

I quoted Steward Edward White in my book A Walk Through Grief, which I wrote shortly after my husband Don Pendleton's death, because I identified with what White had written following his wife’s death in regards to the connection and what he called a Presence of his wife after she passed. I also experienced that with Don, and am still aware of him years later.

~Linda

Famous Quotations of Wisdom

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau, Poet, Transcendentalist, (1817-1862)

"Live each moment completely and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each moment." ~Paramahansa Yogananda, Spiritual Teacher, (1893-1952)

“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.” ~Jiddu Krishnamurti, Spiritual Philosopher, Author, (1895-1986)

“Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.” ~ Edgar Cayce, American psychic, Reincarnationist, (1877-1945)

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” ~Joseph Campbell, Teacher, Author, (1904-1987)

“To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.” ~Kahlil Gibran, Poet, Artist, Writer, (1883-1931)

Khrishnamurti:

~Linda

Rose Photograph, Copyright by Linda Pendleton.

The Strength to Dream...

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels.” ~Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

If I Can Dream...
This beautiful and inspirational song, lyrics and music, was written by Walter Earl Brown for Elvis Presley in 1968.

“There must be lights burnin' brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in the sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand...”

Daniel and Stephanie, Photo Copyright 1993 by Linda Pendleton

“We're caught in a cloud with too much rain
We're lost in a world with too much pain
But as long as a man has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly
And fly.”

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

~Linda

Past Life Memories of a World War II Fighter Pilot

This new book is about a World War II fighter pilot, James M. Houston, Jr. who was killed in action when his Corsair plane was hit by Japanese fire and crashed, and a young boy, James Leininger, now eleven years of age who appears to be the reincarnation of the fighter pilot.

James Leininger’s memories of his past life dreams as James M. Houston, Jr. have now pretty much faded away as they tend to do as a child reaches the age of six to eight. But still with him is his love for airplanes.

James Leininger, who—a little more than two weeks after his second birthday—began having terrible nightmares that would not stop. When James began screaming out recurring phrases like, "Plane on fire! Little man can't get out!" the Leiningers finally admitted that they had to take notice.

When details of the plane, a Corsair, according to James, and the war tragedies that no two-year-old boy could know continued Bruce and Andrea Leininger began to realize that this was an incredible situation.

SOUL SURVIVOR is the story of how the Leiningers pieced together what their son was communicating and eventually discovered that he was reliving the past life of World War II fighter pilot James M. Huston, Jr. As Bruce Leininger struggled to understand what was happening to his son, he also uncovered details of James Houston's life—and death. Even another pilot who had been in the air in another plane when Houston’s plane was hit, verifies young James’ description of the event; a now elderly sister of James Houston also is convinced that young James knows facts about her brother that no one could know and she accepts the idea that he is the reincarnation of her brother.

According to a Harris Poll in 2008, approximately 24 percent of Americans believe in reincarnation while 68 percent believe in the survival of the soul after death. It’s my guess the percent is higher as with many spiritual ideas or mystical experiences, some people are reluctant to reveal their thoughts.

The story of the James’ past life seems to fit a lot of other research that has been conducted by the late Dr. Ian Stevenson, Dr. Jim Tucker, Dr. Brain Weiss, and others.

In 2006, Jim Tucker, a child psychiatrist and medical director of the Child and Family Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Virginia, one of the few researchers to extensively study the phenomenon of children who seem to have memories of past lives, and who is carrying on the years of work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, said that James' case is very much like others he has studied.

"At the University of Virginia, we've studied over 2,500 cases of children who seem to talk about previous lives when they're little," Tucker said. "They start at 2 or 3, and by the time they're 6 or 7 they forget all about it and go on to live the rest of their lives." He also said he has seen cases such as James’ where children make statements that can be verified.

Tucker is author of "Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives."

The book by Carol Bowman, Children's Past Lives has some interesting stories.

Here is a link to today’s interview on ABC with the family and below is a Prime Time

Interview from 2004.

Take a look at the book.

~Linda

Friendships

Friendships
by
Linda Pendleton

About four hundred years ago, Shakespeare said, “I am wealthy in my friends.” The dynamics of relationships, even from the child views we once had, teach us who we are. Are we lovable? Are we accepted? Do we have approval? Do we get along with others?

If we do not receive love, or fear that we may lose the love of others, we may then question our sense of self-worth. Don’t we learn early on from social and emotional experiences that love may be withdrawn based on how we behave or with the reaction of others to us?

Love comes wrapped in many packages of different sizes, shapes, forms, and intensities. There is love between parent and child, love between mates, love of family, love of friends, and love encompassing the whole of mankind. And of course, also the love of animals, or pets, which can be a very strong love bond.

I find it interesting how people come and go in our lives, and how some friendships endure time. Do you have that type of friendship where you may not see or talk with the other person often, and even months and years may pass, but the friendship does not suffer and perhaps picks up where it left off, without a skip of a beat?

Have you had friends who had an important impact on your life, and then they went out of your life? Have you learned lessons from the dynamics of friendships? Do you have friends that understand you better than family? Are friends there for you? Are you there for them?

Are you connected intuitively with a friend or friends? Do you feel you have had a relationship with a friend in another time, another place, another lifetime? Many of us do feel that way.

How wealthy are you? It does not have to be quantity. The quality of our friendships is what is so precious. Here are some thoughts on friendships.

“For in the sweetness of friendship
let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.”
~Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

"Tis pity not to have a dog, for at the
long day's end, The man or boy will
know the joy, Of welcome from a friend.”
~Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959)

“We have been friends together
In sunshine and in shade.”
~Caroline Sheridan Norton (1808-1877)

“My friends are my estate.”
~Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)


“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving

for my friends, the old and the new.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)


“The most I can do for my friend is to simply be his friend.”
~Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)


“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)


“Animals are such agreeable friends—

they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”

~George Eliot (1819-1880)


“A true friend is one soul in two bodies.”
~Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)


“A faithful friend is the medicine of life.”
~The Apocrypha, 6:16


“We’re quite a pair, my dog and me,
Friends, companions we’ll always be.”
~Linda Pendleton


“Your friend is that man who knows

all about you, and still likes you.”
~Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)


“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world,

and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.”
~Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)


“A true friend is the most precious of all possessions
and the one we take the least thought acquiring.”
~Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)


Friendship

A friendship
is a special, unique state of being–
an entity readily identified
without resort to vows, spiritual or intellectual,
and without recourse to sacraments, dispensations, or decrees...
A friendship is a private thing.

A friendship is not a casual thing–
nor, indeed, is it a thing at all:
it is an essence–a source of things–
yet more than an idea, much more than a suggestion,
and nothing at all like an inspiration;
a friendship is simply a movement, and a meeting,
and a recognition within pure spirit.

A friendship is a romance without flesh–
a love affair with no affair–
a blending of the best that we may offer one another:
it does not demand, it does not fulfill,
and it does not sustain the members...
But it is there, silent and unassuming,
happy and understanding, always ready for instant use;
and it need not be fed, requires no special shelter,
and is big enough to stretch across any distance.

So, say not farewell to me, my friends:
farewell is a strange word, spoken in an alien tongue,
and having no meaning in the framework
of the feelings we share together.

Say, instead: let’s meet again.

~ Don Pendleton (1927-1995)

© Copyright 2009 by Linda Pendleton, All Rights Reserved.

Thoughts on Reincarnation

Oak Creek, Sedona, Arizona

Photograph © Copyright 2009 by Ted Grussing

"The soul of man is like to water; from Heaven it cometh, to Heaven it riseth… And then returning to earth, forever alternating." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

"Every incarnation that we remember must increase our comprehension of ourselves as who we are." ~ Aleister Crowley (1875-1947)

“Know, therefore, that from the greater silence I shall return… Forget not that I shall come back to you… A little while, a moment of rest upon the wind, and another woman shall bear me."
~ Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

"My life often seemed to me like a story that has no beginning and no end. I had the feeling that I was an historical fragment, an excerpt for which the preceding and succeeding text was missing. I could well imagine that I might have lived in former centuries and there encountered questions I was not yet able to answer; that I had been born again because I had not fulfilled the task given to me." ~ Carl Jung (1875-1961)

“I adopted the theory of Reincarnation when I was twenty six. Religion offered nothing to the point. Even work could not give me complete satisfaction. Work is futile if we cannot utilize the experience we collect in one life in the next. When I discovered Reincarnation it was as if I had found a universal plan I realized that there was a chance to work out my ideas. Time was no longer limited. I was no longer a slave to the hands of the clock. Genius is experience. Some seem to think that it is a gift or talent, but it is the fruit of long experience in many lives. Some are older souls than others, and so they know more. The discovery of Reincarnation put my mind at ease. If you preserve a record of this conversation, write it so that it puts men’s minds at ease. I would like to communicate to others the calmness that the long view of life gives to us.”
~ Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
The soul that rises with us or life’s star,
Has had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar,
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But railing clouds of glory, do we come
From God, who is our home.” ~William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

To read more about 19th Century poets and philosophers and their thoughts on spiritualism you may want to read my article, A Meeting of the Minds --Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Martin Peebles, Walt Whitman, and several others.

~ Linda

Time to Laugh

“The most utterly lost of all days, is that in which you have not once laughed.”
~Sebastien R. N. Chamfort (1741-1794)

I’m missing an angel. Has anyone seen him? ~ Linda

An Artist's Mission of Love

“As an artist you need inspiration. I draw all of my work from the inspiration that I receive. Where does the inspiration come from? It can come from a relationship where you loved someone, or it can come from someone who's passed away, it can come from a traumatic experience one had in life, or just the actual beauty of life.”
~Liam Herbert, Sculptor

Sedona, Arizona Sculptor Liam Herbert's slender, angular wood carvings and limited edition bronze sculptures flow with inspiration, diversity, and beautiful expressions of love. His art explores the human conditions, such as fear, anger, grief, hope, faith, and love. Liam's hands are led by his heart and soul, and he believes his mission as an artist is to share the insight and inspiration he receives, so others may grasp a greater meaning to their own purpose in life.

Liam has been sculpting for fifty years and his art includes bronze, wood, and mixed media sculptures, and his latest, a jewelry collection. He has put together a series of twenty short videos of his sculpting processes.

In 1995 we commissioned Liam to do an angel for our yard. Here are photos of “Soaring Angel.”

Here are his short videos. There are three you may want to watch, one on Inspiration, one on Wood Sculpture Process, and one on Sculpting With Clay, but you may love to watch all of them. I enjoyed them all.



View his gallery of sculptures.

~Linda

Fear and Courage and Love

Photograph by Eric Stephens

This book was suggested to me by my psychologist in understanding my own courage. When faced with a serious medical situation, I had fear, fear of the unknown, but somehow I quickly moved beyond those fears. I was optimistic...and I was continually hearing from nearly everyone around me how courageous I was. I didn’t know how else to do it. It seemed natural to acknowledge fear and let it go, but I was told not everyone reacts to a life changing event and challenges in the way I did. I do see that now.

This might not have been a book I would have picked up on my own, but I am finding it rather interesting. One of my late friends admired this man’s work and while living in Sedona I knew a couple of others who had studied his spiritual philosophy. The book is “Courage, The Joy of Living Dangerously,” by Osho, an Indian mystic and spiritual teacher, also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s, He had taught Philosophy at a University for a number of years at one time. He took the name of Osho in 1989. I do recall when he was deported from his place in Oregon and sent back to India in about 1987, and there was a lot of rumor and controversy about his “group.” He died in 1990. There is an Osho Foundation in Sedona, Arizona.

This is an excerpt from the opening chapter, What is Courage?:

“Courage means going into the unknown in spite of all the fears. Courage does not mean fearlessness. Fearlessness happens if you go on being courageous and more courageous. That is the ultimate experience of courage—fearlessness. That is the fragrance when the courage has become absolute. But in the beginning there is not much difference between the coward and the courageous person. The only difference is that the coward listens to his fears and follows them, and the courageous person puts them aside and goes ahead. The courageous person goes into the unknown in spite of all the fears. He knows the fears, the fears are there.

“When you go into the uncharted sea, like Columbus did, there is fear, immense fear, because one never knows what is going to happen. You are leaving the shore of safety. You were perfectly okay, in a way; only one thing is missing—adventure. Going into the unknown gives you a thrill. The heart starts pulsating again; again you are alive, fully alive. Every fiber of your being is alive because you have accepted the challenge of the unknown.

“To accept the challenge of the unknown, in spite of all fears, is courage. The fears are there, but if you go on accepting the challenge again and again, slowly, slowly those fears disappear. The experience of the joy that the unknown brings, the great ecstasy that starts happening with the unknown, makes you strong enough, gives you a certain integrity, makes your intelligence sharp. For the first time you start feeling that life is not just a boredom but an adventure. Then slowly, slowly fears disappear; then you are always seeking and searching for some adventure.

“But basically courage is risking the known for the unknown, the familiar for the unfamiliar, the comfortable for the uncomfortable, arduous pilgrimage to some unknown destination. One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. It is gambling, but only the gamblers know what life is.” ~Osho

It takes a lot of energy to be caught up in fear, in negativity, in a depressed state. I am always reminded of the words of the late Psychiatrist, Author and Radio and Television personality, David Viscott, M.D., "If we each used our feelings as a guide to reach the path for becoming our highest selves, we would at least be on the way to finding fulfillment in our own life, and the greater world would begin to make sense." That is from Viscott's excellent book, The Language of Feelings. He also wrote:

"The light you are seeking is inside. The light is life, is love, is you. Find it, nurture it, share it. To seek it is to take part in the infinite." ~David Viscott, M.D.

~Linda

Is It Meant to Be? Intuition vs. Will

“Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” ~Jonas Salk (1914-1995)

Is it meant to be? Is it not meant to be? Is the time right? Is it destiny?

Disappointments are part of life. What are the emotional lessons, and how can we transcend negativity, and transform emotionally negative emotions into something better? How can we use our innate intuition to guide us on our path?

Psychiatrist and Intuitive Judith Orloff, M.D. gives an interesting prospective into empowering ourselves.

~Linda

Never Too Late for Education, 92 Year-old Graduate

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies,
can continue growing as long as we live.”
Mortimer Adler , American Philosopher, Educator (1902-2001)

This past week I heard about a 92-year-old woman who received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from California State University at Sacramento. According to school officials she may be the oldest graduate in the school’s history.

Weekly, for the last two years, Estelle Rees Arroyo would drive the 120 mile round trip from her home in Grass Valley to a Sacramento motel where she would stay will attending classes.

When asked why she had decided to attend college Estelle said, “I was watching too much TV. I decided if I kept it up my mind was going to go to mush.”

Her age often served as an advantage, according to Estelle, and earned her politeness from other students who thought she was an instructor, but she suspects her professors weren’t always thrilled to have her in their class. She said, “I think I spoke up too much in class because the teacher would get on something I had lived through.”

As Estelle reminds us, “It is never too late.”

She’s delightful. See a video interview of her here.

~Linda

Expanded Spiritual Awareness

Walt Whitman, among the greatest poets of our times, obviously was highly sensitive to inspiration from the spiritual realm. His epic work, Leaves of Grass, serves as the title piece of an extraordinary collection of his inspired works which emerge, finally as a self-portrait of the poet and his universal images of reality. The work presents numerous references to the immortality of the soul and, in particular, to reincarnationist thought.

In Song of Myself, written in 1855, Whitman begins the opening verse with this striking understanding:

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

* * * * *

Below is an Excerpt from my book, Whispers From the Soul: The Divine Dance of Consciousness by Don and Linda Pendleton.


ENGINES OF AWARENESS

Until modern science captured the human imagination on this planet, the engine of understanding was fueled by poets and philosophers, musicians and magicians, and other forces which unbridled human creativity. From the earliest recorded histories of mankind, the finer essences of human growth have been set free by the common assumption that our world is the abode of powerful spiritual forces with which we become intimate and join with them in the divine dance.

However, since every force within the natural world also seems bent into a common need for survival, the greatest fear of all is that death lurks behind every bush, and pain behind every joy. Since also it seems that the instinctive drive for procreation places us in an ever widening pool of activities which relate us all to one another inseparably, the common dilemma for every form of animate life is that every contact with every other life is undertaken at great risk. If love is woven into the very fabric of human consciousness, then the entire life experience continually intermingles us all into common bonds of joy and peril. It is that dance which has created and sustains the human experience on Planet Earth. Perhaps this is why there is no joy without some sorrow, no exaltation without some frustration, no growth without some pain.

It is clearly remarkable, then, that the human family has made such incredible strides forward instead of being engulfed by fears and competitions. If it is true that this universe was created some twenty billion years ago, as recognized by earth time, then the human presence on Planet Earth has been brief, indeed, and our species mere babes of the universe. The wonder is not, as some have said, that we have not blown our planet asunder by now but that we have developed the ability to do so and the wisdom, so far, not to. Obviously something more important than mere survival and more enthralling than mere power is moving the creative imaginations of humanity. Could it be true, then, that love is the magical ingredient? If not for love, then why do we put up with any of it and continue to believe that something more important than our own selfish needs and desires is at the root of this constant striving?

For all of us it seems that the need to understand and the willingness to seek our own destinies are the most powerful and moving forces behind existence itself. That drive did not begin in this century or any other but is that which drives the universe and empowers all sentient life. There were shamans and priests long before scientists, seers and soothsayers eons before physicians, oracles before preachers. All of the ancients spoke of a knowledge and wisdom beyond time and gifts beyond anything a materialistic awareness may envisage.

Our Twentieth Century equivalent of an expanded awareness will be found among the psychics, healers, mediums, astrologers, psychometrics and various others who tap into the spiritual dimensions of consciousness. But these special gifts of spiritual awareness need not be theirs alone. It may be possible for each of us, in our own way, to benefit from and enjoy the divine threads of the spiritual connection that links us all, through this dimension or another. Perhaps we need only to reach for and accept what has been ours from the beginning.

© Copyright 2003, 2009 by Linda Pendleton. All Rights Reserved.

* * * * *

~Linda

Soul Lessons

"The whole of life, from the moment you are born
to the moment you die, is a process of learning."
–Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986)

As we age, most of us can look back at our lives and recall the emotional reaction we may have had to an event and now realize that our reaction may seem to have been inappropriate. Was it inappropriate, or, for instance, were we then looking at our world through the eyes of a young child? Why would we expect the reaction of a child to have been any different than it was? We cannot now judge the reaction of that child we once were with our adult eyes. But how often do we do that to ourselves? Isn’t more logical to believe that in the past we were doing the best we could under the given circumstances, even with our immaturity, lack of world experience, irrational thinking, or even as the victim of abuse, real or imagined? The important thing to understand is that the past cannot be changed and when we hold onto it, it pulls us down and does not allow us the freedom to move forward with joy and passion.

Have we come into life to experience certain lessons and to grow from these? Are some of these lessons predestined, chosen by ourselves at some soul-level, to be experienced in this lifetime? Are these lessons part of our soul-growth?

~Linda

Life Lessons

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself
and now that everything in life has a purpose.”
~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926–2004)

Have you ever wondered if life here on earth is an opportunity for lessons to be learned? In other words, is earth simply a school for learning? Are we here to have many, many experiences that allow us new spiritual understandings as we journey through life?

Surely, there is no denying that life gives us many challenges, many surprises, and lots of opportunity to learn from our misconceptions, our mistakes, or from our emotional reactions to events. It seems that spiritual and mental growth is the main objective of life. Of course, we may not always accept an experience or event as necessary to our growth. But the result, most often, is that we do learn more about ourselves after such life experiences.

We also learn from others as we observe how they move through events in their lives. Even with the most traumatic of occurrences, some are able to move quickly through the trauma and go on.
How do people achieve that? I believe it comes from an inner-strength that we all have. Often we are not aware that we do possess that kind of strength within us and we may not even discover it until we are put to the challenge of having to deal with some kind of devastating event. It is at those times that we must believe in ourselves and trust that we can indeed do what we need to do.

“Sit in reverie and watch the changing colors of the waves
that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)

~Linda

Power of Communication and Sharing

"If something comes to life in others because of you,
then you have made an approach to immortality."
~Norman Cousins (1912-1990)

We never know when something you say to another may be life changing words or may give a person a new perspective, even after 50 years. And when that happens, it makes the heart feel warm and joyous.

I know.

~Linda

Resistance Creates Stress

"Change is not stressful. Resistance to change creates stress." ~Gary Zukav, Author

My granddaughter working out when she was young.

Friday morning I was at my physical therapy gym for my normal workout. I try to go three times a week for at least an hour or two. My more than fourteen months of three-hour sessions twice a week of physical therapy and gait training ended in February, and now I am on my own with an overview from my excellent therapist, John.

One of the other physical therapist was instructing her female patient of thirty years of age or less. I believe the woman was there for a shoulder problem from what I could tell. I could also tell from the energy this patient was putting out that she was not a very enthusiastic patient, nor a woman with a very optimistic view of life. In fact, I was on the mat table, and I was not too pleased when she sat down not far from my legs as I could feel her negativity. I have to laugh at that comment “my legs” as I am a below the knee amputee of my left leg, and wear a prosthetic, the reason for fourteen months of great physical therapy.

Anyway, the physical therapist was trying to cheer her patient by telling her about The Secret and the Law of Attraction. She told her it is not good to use the word can’t, or other negative terms of defeat. She told her it’s like driving down the street thinking every signal light will be red, and sure enough the universe hears that, and you will be stopping at all the lights along the way. She also told her if you decide your husband will be laid off from his job without any factual knowledge that it might occur, that again sets up a negative thought sent out to the universe.

I’m not sure the therapist’s message sunk in with this patient, but the therapist said to me, “Isn’t that right, Linda.” I said “Yes, it sure is. You have to be optimistic.” The woman looked over her shoulder at me, and I just smiled. She was still frowning.

Some get it, some don’t.

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” ~Mildred Lisette Norman, The Peace Pilgrim, Peace Activist, 1892-1971

Gary Zukav has a good Blog today on Change.

~Linda

Gardens of Love

"Enflower the pathway of humanity with the beautiful in life;

plant gardens of love in unhappy bosoms."~Dr. James Martin Peebles, 1869

~Linda

My First Blog Award

I received my first Blog award: One Lovely Blog Award. It was presented to me by California Girl at Woman of a Certain Age Blog. A Blog I very much enjoy and I’m sure you will, too. She received her award from Listen To Auntie.

I will be passing the award on to a few Blogs from my Favorite List. So please give them a visit and I’m sure you will enjoy their Blogs, also.

A Tidings of Magpies

One Soul’s Journey

Psychic Connections

Robert Frost’s Banjo

Adventures in Nature

There are no rules with acceptance of this award, expect to share with others.

Thanks, California Girl....

~Linda

"Different Drummers For Different Folks."

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” ~Confucius (c.551-479 B.C.)

I read some comments today about the use of the phrase “It is what it is.” Not all commenting saw the meaning of the phrase in a positive light. Some referred to it as being lazy, or depressing, and I suppose some took it to mean surrendering and giving up.

I don’t see it like that. When I use it, I’m using it as a positive statement. But then again, I often see everything in a positive and optimistic way. I really don’t know how to do it much differently. It’s the way I am. As I have read Adam Lambert of American Idol fame, say, "I am who I am." I like that. It’s nice Adam has figured that out at such a young age. I believe I spent a number of years of my life being more of who others thought I should be. And I refuse to do that anymore. Not everyone in my life may like it. But I do, and that is where it counts.

“You cannot please everybody, but to those souls who cross your path, give kindness and love.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952)

I have used the phrase “It is what it is,” of late, but in my use I am acknowledging and understanding that some things we cannot change, but we can only change our perception and reaction. And also some things just don’t matter and are not worth wasting energy on, worry, anxiety. And that can be a challenge. So for me personally, there is nothing at all negatively intended by using that phrase, It is what it is. I can’t help but think of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
~Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” ~Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)

I’m also reminded of the phrase, “rollin’ with the flow.” Not the flow of a follower of public opinion or whatever, but the follower of the flow of life, moving forward and not stuck, and doing it in a special and unique way.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” ~Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

I know I’ve often heard a different drum beat. What about you?

Charlie Rich singing Rollin’ With the Flow

~Linda

Tinker Bell, the Flying Dog and Lorrie, the Pet Psychic

Photo of Tinker Bell by Mark Hicks, Detriot News

Tinker Bell, a six pound Chihuahua, came up missing from a Waterford Township, Michigan Flea Market and it wasn’t the fleas who took Tinker Bell away, but a 70 mile an hour wind picked her up.

Her owners, 72 year old Lavern and Dorothy Utley were devastated after the dog’s disappearance on Saturday and the search by volunteers combing the area were unable to find her.

But a third generation psychic/medium came to the rescue with the help of a Michigan radio station. On Monday, Detroit-area radio station WKQI (95.5-FM) became involved in the search and contacted pet psychic Lorrie, who had helped the station in the past. Lorrie was sure Tinker Bell was alive and well and wandering on higher ground in the woods. She told the Utleys to return to a wooded area nearly a mile away from the flea market and "look up."

Lavern said volunteers had previously searched a low-lying swamp at that location, but not the wooded hilly area behind it. As he was climbing those hills calling his dog, Tinker Bell came running.

"She went nuts trying to jump into my arms," Lavern said. "She was all muddy and dirty. She was worn out but she wasn't hurt."

Flint Journal newspaper article, Tuesday April 28, 2009 by Jill Blondin, and posted on Lorrie’s website:

Lorrie, a third-generation psychic who says she can communicate with animals and makes her living as a pet psychic, said it's hard to explain how she does her job. "Every case is different," she said. "I can hear, see, taste or feel things ... however the reading is going to come through. This one was visual. I hesitated to say this, because I didn't know what it meant. But I told them to keep looking up."

Lavern said they tried to give Lorrie a reward, but she asked that it be donated instead to an animal shelter. Lorrie said she has pets and understands they are members of the family.

Lorrie said she also has an ability to communicate with animals that have died. "I contact deceased animals to give people closure," she said. "Pets greet us when it's our turn. They're up there waiting."

Oprah caught wind of the “flying dog” and did an interview on her show this week. In that interview Lorrie admitted she does people, too.







~Linda

It's In Our DNA, Sleepy Time

It’s in my DNA.

I have always been a night owl, and I dislike getting out of bed before 9:00 or 10:00 am, and some people have a problem with that and think it strange. I’ve always said it is just the way I am. I like to be up late, I feel creative at night, and don’t care to go to sleep early. But I do want my eight hours, or close to it.

Studies have shown that we have a series of genes which determine whether we are night owls or what some call early birds, those who rise early.

I’m pleased about the new sleep study recently done by researchers at Belgium University de Liege. Coauthor of the study, Phillipe Peigneux and colleagues used functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor the brains of individuals, half who were considered night owls and the other half, early birds.

It has always been said that the early bird gets the worm, but this study may show otherwise. It appears the early to bed, early to rise people run out of steam sooner than those who stay up to the wee hours and sleep in mornings.

The researchers discovered no difference in the attention levels of the two groups at one and a half hours after waking, but at ten and a half hours of being awake the night owls were more focused , more alert, and quicker than the early birds.

The fMRI showed increased activity in two parts of the brain of the night owls at that ten and a half hour period, while performing a task that required sustained attention.

The differences showed up in the inner actions of two regions of the brain, including the area that is home to the master circadian clock, the 24 hour cycle or rhythm of the body, the suprachiasmatic nucleus area and locus coeruleus—which regulate the circadian signal. And in the night owls, the circadian signal was winning out over the pressure to sleep.

Then in the early birds, the sleep pressure prevents the expression of the circadian signal, according to researcher Peigneux, and those people were less able to keep attention focused.

The study shows that night owls have been shown to be more cleaver, have better memories and quicker minds, an even make more money.

Now the drawback to being a night owl is having to get up very early and cut into sleep time. There will be times that sleep has to be made up. But for those of us who have the opportunity to stay in bed and sleep in the mornings and who have learned to ignore the comments of laziness thrown upon us by some, it is great to allow our inner clock to tick at our own pace and not have an alarm sounding in our ear and jolting us out of peaceful sleep. I’ve never thought it was good to be awakened in that manner.

I’m glad my DNA allows me to enjoy the late nights and the sounds of crickets, train whistles, owls, and the quiet. I agree with what the study has shown in regards to myself. I can’t imagine going to bed at 7:00 or 8:00 pm when the night is just beginning. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Isn’t it interesting what our DNA does for us? Life is magical.

~Linda

The UFO Phenomena and Coverup

Former Senator Barry Goldwater,
Dedication of Sedona Library, October 1, 1994,
Sedona Arizona, Photo by Linda Pendleton

“It is true that I was denied access to a facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, because I never got in. I can’t tell you what was inside. We both know about the rumors (concerning a captured UFO and crew members). I have never seen what I would call a UFO, but I have intelligent friends who have.”
~Senator Barry Goldwater, 1979

Excerpt from my e-book, The UFO Phenomena: The Cosmic SOS

“A 2002 Roper Poll indicated that three-quarters of the public claim that they are somewhat prepared for the discovery of extraterrestrial life and nearly half are very prepared. The poll also indicated that should the government make an announcement of the discovery of extraterrestrial life, only a small portion expect it to change their religious beliefs.

“So with statistics like that, why does our government continue this game of denial? So with statistics like that, why does our government continue this game of denial? Do they continue to fear what the 1960 Brookings Report concluded that people, especially the fundamentalist religionist, would panic and the world would be in chaos? It seems to me that the public is a little more realistic and accepting in this current age than we are being given credit for. Or does our government have other motives for keeping all this under wraps? Might it be that they don‘t want the citizens to know that they have no control, and there might be others out there with much more wisdom and advanced technology and have the well being of our planet and the cosmos as their first priority? Or does it come down to the usual―power and greed—and the need for superiority in our world? I‘ve got news for our government, the world is in chaos, and an acknowledgment that we are not alone in the universe may do a lot to give us hope that things might change for the betterment of all, not only American citizens but citizens of our world, and our space brothers.”

John Podesta, President Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1998 to 2001, is an advocate for government openness. At a national press club conference in 2002 he said the government should "open the books" on its UFO investigations. Podesta was co-chairman of the Obama-Biden Transition Project, and is currently President of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C.

“I think it’s time to open the books on questions that have remained in the dark; on the question of government investigations of UFOs. It’s time to find out what the truth really is that’s out there. We ought to do it because it’s right; we ought to do it because the American people quite frankly can handle the truth; and we ought to do it because it’s the law.” ~John Podesta

"I know other astronauts share my feelings…. And we know the government is sitting on hard evidence of UFOs." ~Col. Gordon Cooper, Mercury, Gemini Astronaut

‘I have taken special interest in these accounts [of UFOs].. I think there may be substance to some of these reports… I think we owe it to the people to establish credibility regarding UFOs and to produce the greatest possible enlightenment on this subject.”
~President Gerald Ford

"I can assure you the flying saucers, given that they exist, are not constructed by any power on earth." ~Harry S. Truman, Washington DC, April 4, 1950.

"I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real." ~Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 Astronaut

I can’t help but wonder if President Obama will have his hands tied, as it seems other Presidents have, or will he be able to give us some facts about the off-earth visitors?

~Linda

Our Earth and the Environment

"This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like the blood that unites us all.
Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
–Chief Seattle (1786–1866)

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." ~Ansel Adams

"There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet." ~Brooke Medicine Eagle

"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?" ~Robert Redford, Yosemite National Park Dedication, 1985

"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death." ~Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962

"Nature is an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if only we will tune in." ~George Washington Carver (1864–1943)

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." ~Shakespeare

Photos by Linda

The Eyes and Souls of Critters; Animal Intuition

Is your pet smarter than you?
You may answer the question, “Of course not.” Well, how about giving a little more thought to the question?

Does your behavior change shortly before an earthquake or a tsunami? Studies have shown that often the behavior of animals change—they become agitated, for instance, hours or minutes before an earthquake. Remember the stories of the animals, especially the elephants, who moved quickly to high ground shortly before the horrendous Asian tsunami hit, and some even called out a warning?

Have you known and given a warning when someone close to you is about to have an epileptic seizure?
Have you recognized by scent a cancerous tumor on someone?
Have you ever protected and saved someone in the ocean from a shark attack?
Have you ever saved a life by hitting someone in the chest and knocking them down and jumping on their chest as they were choking on a piece of apple?
Have you ever found yourself in unknown territory a thousand miles from your home and set out to walk your way home, and succeeded?
Have you sat at your front door in anticipation of the arrival in 10 to 30 minutes of a family member, although there was no reason to expect the arrival?

You may not have had these experiences but many animals have. We could call these types of events “animal smarts,” but the more appropriate term would be innate intuition. Intuition is natural, not supernatural; is normal, not paranormal; and is an emotional connection or even a close bond to nature, to animals, and to humans.

Scientific Animal Research

British biologist and author, Rupert Sheldrake has done scientific animal studies and has concluded there seemingly is an emotional bond and connection between pet owners and their pets. The highlight of his study is the anticipatory behavior that indicates dogs know when their owners are about to return home, often by 10 to 30 minutes. This telepathy occurs because of the close bond, an emotional connection, even an emotional need, that binds the sender and receiver. And I would conclude that the role of sender or receiver fluctuates back and forth between owner and animal: a telepathic receiver one time, a telepathic sender the next.


As reported in the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research (July 1998), a telephone survey of 200 households in Northern California conducted by Sheldrake found 132 of the households surveyed had pets. 45% of dog owners claimed their animal knew in advance when a member of the household was on the way home, compared with 37% of cat owners, and around 20% of these pets were said to react more than 10 minutes in advance. The survey indicated 46% of dog owners and 41% of cat owners stated their pets respond to their thoughts or silent commands. Also interesting were findings that more pet owners claimed to have had psychic experiences themselves than non-pet owners. A significantly higher proportion of the psychic pet owners claimed their pets exhibited psychic powers than the non-psychic owners did. The California findings were in close agreement with a previous survey done by Sheldrake in England. Sheldrake writes about his pet studies in his book, Dogs That Know When Their Owners are Coming Home, And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals.

The Gift of Intuition

Our own innate intuition is a valuable asset and can be a guiding force in our daily lives. By enhancing our intuition it appears it may enhance the emotional connection and deep bond we have with our pets. Enhanced intuition increases our ability for telepathic communication. It is a meeting of the minds—a sharing of wisdom—and often by being tuned into your pet, not only will you emotionally feel the unconditional love your pet has for you but you will be more tuned into his needs and desires. It is even possible a telepathic message from your pet could keep you safe from danger.

The Eyes and Souls of Critters

When I was young my family had a cocker spaniel, Paisano. Every week day, a few minutes before my return from school, he would go to the chain link gate and sit patiently awaiting my return. Have you had a pet who did the same?

My cat, Snickers is psychic and I am often amazed by his behavior. Nearly always, his actions tell me that someone may be knocking at my door in the next few minutes. His warning is usually about 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time. At times Snickers positions himself in anticipation a little further away from the front door, nearer my bedroom doorway, with an unrelenting stare at the front door. He apparently feels safer with more distance between him and the front door, in case he finds it necessary to run under my bed and hide until he is comfortable with the person who has arrived at our home. His bond, intuition, and telepathy with me comes out in other ways, also. I'm sure if you have closely observed your pet's actions you have similar stories to tell.

Dogs, cats, rabbits, and even dolphins, are often used for healing, such as in grief therapy, with ill or handicapped children, with those depressed, and for loving companionship, and it is often obvious the animal understands the person's situation and needs.

© Copyright 2007, 2009 by Linda Pendleton

What Angels Do.

“An angel of God will never give you a message of fear. It’s often one of liberation, escape, fulfillment, action instructions, or just plain joy!”
Kryon, Book Ten, by Lee Carroll

~Linda

Angels Are With Us.

"Listen for the flutter of an angel's wing

as it softly touches you with love.

Embrace it and join in the dance."

~Linda Pendleton

Each of us is a miracle. You are the greatest miracle ever produced by this universe. You are. You exist. And you know that you exist. That is the greatest miracle of all.

More and more people everywhere are searching for a richer understanding of themselves and their world. Many are turning from organized religion and finding satisfaction in a broader spiritual understanding.

One of the most troubling fears of every day is that we are alone and sometimes even isolated within ourselves. It can help to have a sense of spiritual connection within the self when these troubling thoughts surface and disturb us.

The awareness of an overshadowing presence which accompanies our every movement through life can profoundly influence our perceptions of who we are, where we are, and what we are. The entire universe is whispering into our souls and inviting an echo which confirms that the message has been received, understood and acknowledged. The entire whispering universe is at our beck and call. Respond to it, interact with it, and you shall never, ever feel alone again.

~Linda

Puppy Dogs and Angels

“Your tears show that you care, under any circumstance, and to hold back your tears is to hold back your love from life.”
~ Spirit Guide Dr. Peebles, channeled by Summer Bacon, 2009

A few years ago not long after my husband Don Pendleton had passed away, I decided I needed to have a dog. I took a couple of trips to the Sedona Humane Society but did not find a dog I wanted to take home. Then I saw an ad for Australian Shepard puppies.

You know how are puppies are. You fall in love with them even if it might not be an ideal breed. But I fell for her and she was eight weeks old when I brought her home. I named her Misty, bought toys for her, and a good sized carrier for nighttime or when I had to leave the house.

I soon found a trainer--actually three trainers all together. The first one, who primarily dealt with training German Shepards, I did not care for her roughness and attitude. Then the second trainer dealt in “touch training” (sounded more New Age LOL ) and she gave up working with Misty after only about three lessons. So the third trainer was excellent and she had worked with animals and birds at San Diego Animal Park. She and Misty got along just great. But give me the leash and it was a different matter. Misty was very smart and would have made an excellent obedience show dog, but not with me. She wanted to herd, constantly, and it was usually me she herded, nipping at my legs and feet every move I made. So in a few short months, I had to find her a new home. She found a happy home on a cattle ranch in Tucson and last I heard she was thrilled to be able to herd cattle all day long.

When I decided I had to give her up, I cried, and it stirred my grief issues, which were still raw and painful at times. One evening just before I gave her away, I was out in the backyard with her. We had a rock area and I was standing near it looking at the rocks on the ground.

Then I heard these words, “you need to paint angels on the rocks.” I was reminded of the pet rock craze in the 1960s when you’d see the funny faces or bugs, etc, on small rocks. So I found the best rocks I could, cleaned them up, and after saying goodbye to Misty the next day, I got out my oil paints and began painting angels. Not long after I sold a few at one of our local art shows.

The angels were exactly what I need to heal the sadness I was feeling, not only about Misty, but about Don. And in a small way, I found joy and a sense of purpose.

I always love dancing with the angels.

~Linda

Music for Change and Peace

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.” ~ Plato ( 428 BC-348 BC)

From "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", incredible renditions of the legendary Bob Marley song "One Love" with Keb' Mo' and Manu Chao. This is the third video from the documentary and a follow up to the classic "Stand By Me" and the uplifting "Don't Worry."

Thanks, John-Michael for reminding me....

~ Linda

ONE LOVE SONG AROUND L.A.





ONE LOVE SONG INTERNATIONALLY

The Beauty of Art

Yesterday’s post on Creativity and Potential moved me to do more on the subject. Sydney asked in her comment on my post if there was any chance of a photo of my sculpture. So here she is in the “alive” (and modest) clay form when I had been working on her a few years ago. I titled her “The Surrender.” Other than an eagle I formed in clay, this was my first bronze sculpture and I have never taken any art lessons other than oil painting, but I was determined to give sculpting a try. It’s like that quote from yesterday: tell me I can’t and just watch me.

I was living in Sedona Arizona at the time, surrounding by excellent artists and galleries, so that helped to give me inspiration, although just being in Sedona and the beautiful red rocks gives a lot of inspiration. It’s a special place.

I’ve included a few photos of the works of two of my talented friends who are sculptors, Liam Herbert, who we met in Sedona and who is still in Sedona, and Chester Comstock who was in Sedona but is now in Colorado. I have also various quotes on art and artists.

“Imagination is the eye of the soul.” ~Joseph Joubert, French moralist, essayist (1754-1824)

"Aligning Thyself" © Copyright by Liam Herbert

Wood, Mixed Medium



“Good art is nothing but a replica of the perfection of God and a reflection of His art.” ~Michelangelo, painter, sculptor (1475-1564)

"When Love Strikes" © Copyright 2009 by Liam Herbert

12" x 5.5" bronze sculpture Limited edition/50

“Unleash your creative power. Let it flow in all its beauty.”

~Don Pendleton, author (1927-1995)

"Heart and Soul" © Copyright by Liam Herbert

Bronze Sculpture

“The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.” Gilbert K. Chesterton, English author, journalist, (1874-1936)

"Rising Joy "
2" x 1.5" Sterling silver pendant © Copyright 2009 Liam Herbert.

I love my pendant! Very unique and classy.

"Soaring Angel" by Liam Herbert

Wood, Mixed Media

Commissioned by Don and Linda Pendleton

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”

Ansel Adams, Photographer, (1902-1984)

Nuptial Finerey © Copyright by Chester Comstock

25" high x 18" wide x 18" deep Bronze. "The Poetry of Nature gives inspiration to this graceful image of the egret preparing for mating."

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~Edgar Deges, French painter, sculptor, (1834-1917)

"Between a Rock and a Hard Place" © Copyright by Chester Comstock
26” High x 24” Wide x 24” Deep

“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.” ~William James, psychologist, philosopher (1842-1910)

~Linda

Creativity and Achieving Potential

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

~Walter Bagehot (1826-1877)

As a writer and an artist, I have often wondered from where some of my ideas originate. I do know at times they come from beyond me. A few years ago I sculpted from clay, for the first time, a figure of a nude woman. I loved working with clay. I found as I built up and formed the clay it was almost as if the figure itself took on a life of her own and was guiding me. I would watch her and see an aura, an energy, and it was fun to watch. Later when I had her cast in bronze something was lost of the energy that had been present in the clay…. The clay that was formed by my hands but guided from beyond me….

Too often we may think of creativity being a trait shared only by successful painters, musicians, writers, and other artistic people who are able to produce artistic works. But within each of us are powers of imagination and creativity waiting to be discovered, unleashed, and shared. It seems we think too often of creativity having to be some great masterpiece but creativity encompasses many things. It can as simple as making a beautiful flower arrangement, cooking a gourmet meal served with elegance, crocheting a pair of baby slippers, decorating a room in your home, landscaping a yard or planting a garden, making a child’s toy from wood.

Our simple accomplishments can bring a sense of pride and satisfaction. And that satisfaction may not be any less than the satisfaction felt by a great master artist of the past. If we believe we can create a world of possibility, a world of abundance, a world of vision, then it can happen. It’s our choice, it’s about attitude.

A Blogger friend and fellow amputee, Michael had this inspirational video today on his Blog and I wanted to share it, also. It is a little long, but humorous and well worth watching as Boston Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Benjamin Zander shows what a world of possibility is.

Benjamin Zander – From Pop!Tech 2008
The only conductor to ever lead the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Zander is a prophet of human potential and an unrivaled champion of joie de vivre. Watch as he helps unlock the boundless potential of a 15 year old cellist and teaches the entire Pop!Tech audience what it means to live in a world of possibility.





How is your world of possibility?

"Music is well said to be the speech of angels." ~Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

~Linda

Motherly Love Expressed

“The soul is not where it lives but where it loves.” ~Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

One of the most powerful words in our language is the word LOVE.

Love comes wrapped in many packages of different sizes, shapes, forms, intensities, conditions, and degrees of commitment. There is love between parent and child, love between mates, love of family, love of friends, and love encompassing the whole of mankind. And of course, there is our love of animals, our pets, which can be a very strong love bond.

And there is also love that crosses all boundaries and finds its expression in the divine dance of life.

“Love, I say, is the energy of life.” ~Robert Browning (1812-1889)

And love in Burlington, Iowa:






~Linda

Spirit Communication, Past Lives

In 1860, Dr. James Martin Peebles (1822-1922) wrote, “Invocations to spirits, angels, God, when bubbling up spontaneously from the inner depths, are vitalizing and strengthening to the divine forces of the soul.”

James Martin Peebles, about 45 years of age.

I believe my recent Poll results are rather interesting, and about what I thought they would be.
84 % believe in Past Lives. 9% believed it to be unlikely.
27% have seen a UFO, while 17% believe they may have, but 55% have not.
65% believe there is a UFO government cover-up and only 10% said no.

And these answers to this question really brought a smile to me. Have you ever had a message from:
An Angel? 50%
A Deceased Loved One? 64%
A Spirit Guide? 50%
An Extraterrestrial? 7%

Now I suppose many who visit my Blog do so because they have an interest in spirituality and spiritual ideas, but I am happy to see that people are listening to the whispers of love coming from their angels, guides, and maybe most impor