We have tended to think of matter as solid and of thoughts and feelings as invisible and insubstantial More like air than like anything physical

There is an awakeness that comes from a clear mind, unobscured by wandering thoughts and preoccupations, and there is an awakeness that comes from a clear heart, willing to engage with life as gift and as an ever-unfolding revelation of the purpose of Creation Such an awakened heart cannot respond indifferently to life because it sees the outstretched hand of the Creator at every turn and in every particle of experience

America's love for a display of might and power, of triumph over the adversary, and of a 'winning strategy', is not only evident in her foreign policy and conduct of war, but also in her presidential campaigns Here, aggression, while disapproved of by many at one level, is also admired by others, and seems almost to be a necessity of political life – one that applies to political rivals at home as well as to adversaries abroad

The oneness that is shared by all of life can be perceived on many levels – in the whisper of a beloved, in the smile of a child, in the fragrance of a flower, in the graceful dance of a leaf as it falls from a tree – all of these gestures of life can touch the heart and cause it to embrace life in its fullness, to experience something of the mystery of connection that resides within all living things

The complexity of the human heart allows us to hope for something and to expect that we will be disappointed in it at the same time, to maintain ideals, and believe that they will never be realized at the same time Holding these dual views defines the nature of disillusionment – the profound sense that one's most cherished hopes will not materialize in one's lifetime or in the space of time in which the heart feels things should or must happen

Spiritual purification is not an intellectual process, but one that is initiated by the creative power of light - the very force of Creation that was manifested at the beginning of time and that furthers Divine intention throughout time Spiritual light travels across all dimensions of reality, both physical and non-physical, affecting one's body as well as one's consciousness

There are certain times in life when one wishes that the limitations of self could be other than they are, and that the personal characteristics and attitudes that have been troublesome in the past could simply disappear Often, efforts of will to eradicate these undesirable emotional habits and tendencies are found to be unsuccessful, and after a short time of seemingly positive improvement, one reverts to the old patterns and ways of being

All relationships need love in order to flourish Whether it be within a marriage, a family, a community, a government, or a corporate Board room, without the bond of love being present, individuals cannot feel their oneness with others and cannot sufficiently empathize with the needs or perspectives of others in order to find harmonious solutions to problems that inevitably develop

'Alpha' and 'Omega' – Christian symbols that carry with them essential features of the Christian mysteries, belong not only to the Book of Revelation and its prophesies concerning the Christ They also belong to the world at large and to its need to develop a picture of the goal and purpose of human experience

Springtime for the soul brings with it the beginning of new possibilities for awakening, and for realizing the greater expression of the deeper self on all levels of manifestation It uncovers dormant perceptions and allows them to flourish in the new warmth of the spiritual sun