is there a Santa Claus

Yes, Virginia . . .   We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of THE SUN. "DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, VIRGINIA, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, VIRGINIA, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Is There a Santa Claus? Editorial in The (New York) Sun Written by Francis P. Church September 20, 1897

.... this is the eve of the birth of the Christ ...

On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know...

....that this is the eve of the birth of the Christ is you.

 

It is a re-birth, of course, for the Christ has always been

there. On this special eve, may you experience that

Presence in you, as you, through your sharing of the

love that has been brought to you directly from God.

 

The wonderful gift of Christmas is that it is not a one

day or one time experience, but lasts the whole year

through -- thanks to you. You are the gift, and as

you give, so shall you receive.

 

BRINGING REIKI TO THE CHRISTMAS GATHERING
a seasonal article...have a great xmas and new year! Rachael xxxxx

BRINGING REIKI TO THE CHRISTMAS GATHERING

This time of year is special for a variety of reasons: ancient, old
and new. In addition it's a time of family gatherings, seeing people
you love, relaxing, enjoying life, celebrating, reflecting on the
year ending, new hopes, resolutions, and dreams for the year ahead.

Family time can provide a wonderful opportunity for strengthening
bonds, seeing others in a new light and healing old ground from our
past histories together. One way to enhance special moments is to
bring reiki to them, intuitively sensing when it's right to do so.

I use the following visualisation to bring out the best in people.
I've found this method has enabled people to talk in an amazingly
open, honest and trusting way.

When I use this technique I do so with complete attention, having the
intention of working with unconditional love for those around me to
receive reiki blessings, if their souls wish to, or to reflect it
with ease if it's not wanted at that time.

Everyone works differently but I choose to quietly bring reiki's
loving energy into group gatherings without fuss and without others
knowing.

I centre and ground myself, feeling the grounding energy running
through the soles of my feet into the earth. I open my crown chakra
to reiki energy and draw that into my heart and down into one hand.

I imagine a ball of reiki energy growing, glowing and expanding in
the palm of my hand. When doing this I find it helps to gently turn
my palm up, sensing and feeling my palm and fingers cradling the ball
of reiki light. I visualise the golden rays of the reiki ball shining
out like the sun and stretching to fill the room/car/restaurant /table
or wherever I am, thus bringing reiki to everyone in the vicinity. I
hold this image for a few minutes and then close the ball down by
closing my hand. This technique seems especially useful in times of
tension but can be just as helpful if you want to use it at quieter
times when it provides an opportunity for deeper conversation or
quiet quality time together.

I've used this many times with amazing results and would really love
to hear others feedback about trying this too.

Maz Williams

The Illusion of Separation

The Illusion of Separation

The illusion of separation not only symbolizes our self-doubt and alienation, it gives us a chance to work through the interior distress of various dichotomies by externalizing them. We see ourselves in others, hating in them what we hate in ourselves, loving in them what we love in ourselves. We contend with others because we are contending within ourselves. We punish and reward others as we would ourselves. The illusion of separation offers us the chance to resolve the interior inhibitions to unqualified love in a state of true union. Without this illusion and our reaction to other people, we might never even know such stresses existed.

As You Believe Barbara Dewey Page 82

Here are eight tips for finding miracles in your own life, and for helping others to find miracles in theirs:

Here are eight tips for finding miracles in your own life, and for helping others to find miracles in theirs:

1. Define Miracle. After all, we cannot find that for which we are not looking--and miracles are not always supernatural. According to the Midrash, the bush from which God called to Moses had been burning forever. The miracle was not that a bush caught fire and remained intact, it was that Moses noticed. What's your definition of a miracle?

2. Look closely. We have all been raised on stories of parting seas, resurrection of the dead etc. What is the "smallest" miracle you can identify in your own life? Why is it really something very big?

tips fpr a GREEN Xmas

For a season so focused on family, it’s amazing that, during Christmas, so many of us overlook our Mother Earth: We drive from store to store searching for presents, we travel long distances to attend parties, plus, we throw away an estimated one million extra tons of rubbish each week between Xmas and New Year’s Day! For those who want to celebrate in a more eco-friendly style, we’ve gathered some tips to help you green your holiday traditions.

Burn Cleaner Candles

 Most of us love the warm glow of candles come Christmas, in Advent wreaths, the kitchen, and everywhere else in the house. But did you know that some candles can contribute to indoor air pollution? Make sure any candle you purchase has a metal-free wick to avoid releasing lead into the air (that means tossing any you bought before October of 2003, when lead wicks were finally banned). Candles made from beeswax, vegetable wax or soy are also much cleaner burning than those made with paraffin wax, which is a petroleum product. And don’t forget to trim your wick to 1/4” before lighting to limit the amount of smoke that enters the air.  Buy bees-wax candles from The Bristol Green Store made by Bella Bees!

Be An Earth-Wise Wrap Star

 Stocking up on wrapping paper that ends up in piles on the floor and in the trash post unwrapping can be costly, not just for you but for the Earth, as well. Chances are, your friends and family won’t mind if you wrap your gifts in recycled brown paper bags, or newspaper, as it is what’s inside (and the thought!) that counts, right? For wrapping options that are a bit prettier, look for rolls made from recycled paper.

 Use Earth-Loving Lights

 Deck your house and tree with energy-saving LED (light-emitting diode) lights. You can now find them in every shape, size and colour imaginable and they use about 33% less energy than traditional incandescent lights, so they’ll save you money, too. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, if everyone replaced their Christmas lights with LED strings, in just one month, we’d save at least 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity—enough to power 200,000 homes for an entire year!

Green Your Evergreen

 Each year,  millions of Christmas trees are uprooted and sold. This year, try purchasing a tree that has its roots intact, then planting it in your garden once it has served its seasonal purpose. Another option is to recycle your tree. When you throw your tree into the rubbish, it ends up occupying valuable landfill space, whereas recycling turns it into wood chips which can be used to mulch gardens and parks.

 Car Share

 When driving to church, holiday parties, or even the mall for shopping excursions, why not do so with others? You’ll save on petrol and reduce your carbon footprint, while spending time with friends and family you may otherwise rarely run into during the hectic holiday season.

A Hostess Gift Worth Giving

 Looking for a useful, unique, and thoughtful host or hostess gift? Consider making a donation to an environmental charity. By doing so, you’ll be improving the world while reducing waste—after all, how many bars of soap, hand towels or holiday mugs does one person really need? At JustGive.org, you can search through more than 1 million different charitable organisations, learn more about each, and then purchase gift certificates that recipients can redeem as donations for their charity of choice.

Don’t Toss Old Toys

 Kids inevitably outgrow their toys. Instead of tossing what they’re tired of into the rubbish, why not donate your family’s gently used games, dolls, and other playthings to families who are less fortunate? Bring them to your local Salvation Army charity store or check with your church to find out if they will be collecting both old and new toys for families in need. Just be sure to only offer up items that are clean and that aren’t missing any pieces or parts.

Stay Green By Keeping Clean

 When the holidays are over and the houseguests are all gone, clean up with safer, less-toxic cleaning products. Most cleansers are loaded with chemicals that can be harmful to your health and pollute the water and air. Switching to non-toxic, all natural products (that contain ingredients your grandmother used to clean the house with) is a simple way to be green and clean. Visit The Bristol Green Store in Jan to stock up on Simply Natural Homes natural cleaners!

Cut Back on Cards

 Reduce paper waste by sending your loved ones E-Cards instead of traditional paper cards. Hallmark.com offers plenty of free options, as do sites like Bluemountain.com and Egreetings.com. If only old-fashioned Christmas cards will cut it for you, look for those that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council: Cards with the FSC logo on the back are made from recycled paper or from trees that were grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.

 

 

protect Barack Obama and our loved ones. from William Bloom
Dear Friends

Seasons Greetings and Love.

A quick announcement and then a longer piece on how we might be able to protect Barack Obama and our loved ones.


ENDORPHIN EFFECT: COACHES AND TRAINERS CERTIFICATION WEEKEND
March 21/22 - Glastonbury    More information


PROTECTING BARACK OBAMA

How can we protect Barack Obama? The new President of the United States is symbolically of huge importance. It is crucial that he does not fall victim to the same forces that assassinated Martin Luther King, Jack Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.

As spiritual people, as workers with inner energy, is there anything that we can do to help?

This is exactly the same question that we may ask when our loved ones are travelling in dangerous foreign places. At this moment in time a young friend of mine is working in Mumbai as there are riots and bombings. What can I do to keep her safe? What can I do to protect my own daughter from the cruelties and abuses of the world?

Even asking this type of question raises anxiety in me. I fear that just thinking about it may create the actual event I don't want to happen. Energy follows thought. As a wise teacher once said: 'Worrying - is to pray for something you do not want.'

But this leads to the first great lesson: All protective prayer work must be done from a personal space that is completely centred, confident and relaxed. If it is done with any worry, anxiety or tension, prayer work will have a negative effect, as it radiates psychic pollution and may indeed attract that which you do not want.

The second great lesson of protective work is that we must be fully connected to the love, compassion and benevolence of the universe. It is only when we are anchored securely in that benevolence that we can manage, without being overwhelmed or triggered, the suffering that happens on earth and in humanity.
These fundamental guidelines are not new. They have always been at the heart of healing and protection. We must be calm, grounded and fully connected to benevolence.


FULFILLED AND SAFE

From within that calm and connected space, we can then begin our work of protection. First, we can always call for help— from spirit, from angels, from spirits — and express gratitude for their presence surrounding the person we want to protect. Imagine him or her surrounded by their loving safety.

Then we can begin to contemplate, visualise and sense Barack Obama and his family living a fulfilled and graceful life. Their home, workplace and journeys are safe and secure. We see and feel them living into their senior years. We can imagine Barack with white hair, playing with his grandchildren and talking about his days in the White House.

Here in the inner worlds we are creating an energetic scenario of a long and fulfilled life. Always done with complete calm and dedication to the highest good. This 'thoughtform' of his fulfilled life  has the potential to disarm potential aggressors who will sense that in the dreamworld their nasty plans cannot be fulfilled and they therefore back off.


DEEPER SHADOW WORK

Some of us may then feel called to deeper work of protection, which can only be done if:

•    We are psychologically stable.
•    Our nervous systems are vital and strong.
•    We are totally connected to and soaking in the benevolence of the divine.
•    We have a quiet sense of courage and the willing, when appropriate, to self-sacrifice.

This more profound work starts with an understanding of the complexity and interdependence of humanity's collective karma.

Some months ago I wrote about the troubles I had as a parent with my teenage son's difficult attitude. I was always blaming him until one day I went over the top with anger and frustration. It was in that moment of highly charged emotion that I had to take responsibility for my own feelings. Suddenly I saw how I was implicated in his teenage problems. I had a past life memory of being a smug priest blessing young men as they marched off to war.

My own violence — my own karma — was now returning to me via my son.

In some way or another — if we accept the logic of ancestors and a collective human history — we are all in some way connected to all that is good and all that is bad. So when we are protecting Barack or our own loved ones, we are protecting them from aggressors whose violent attitudes might possibly be our own responsibility. Who knows what we or our ancestors did in the past or whom we harmed? As John Bradford said in 1555 as he watched a man being taken to his execution, 'There, but for the grace of God, go I.'

So it is possible to tune into these potential aggressors and assassins, apologise for our own part in creating their violence, and wish them healing and forgiveness.

Even more courageously, recognising our interdependence and the blessings of grace, we can offer to absorb and redeem their pain and violence. As an act of service, we can practice the classic healing meditation of breathing in their negativity, absorbing and transforming it, and breathing out a blessing towards them.

If you have never done a meditation like this before then try the technique just for a few seconds at a time, backing off immediately you feel any sensations of anxiety. In this way you can gradually acclimatise yourself to this profound work of service. But — this is a serious health and safety warning — do not attempt this kind of deep healing work unless you are one hundred per cent psychologically stable, strong and connected to the love of God, because otherwise it might emotionally disturb you. Rest calm in the awareness that there are others called and able to practice this alchemy, this transmutation of tarnished stuff into gold.

So let us hold Barack and all our loved ones in our hearts, grateful for the protection of angels and spirits. Let us hold too a clear vision and sense of them living long, fulfilled and happy lives. And let us also extend that blessing to all beings.

I wish you all my love for a Blessed New Year.

William


www.williambloom.com

support for Lammas
Apologies for cross points, please distribute widely

What the Soul Is After

What the Soul Is After

Stop making . . . judgments against yourself. Learn what is the soul's desire, and go with that. Go with the soul. What the soul is after is — the highest feeling of love you can imagine.     The highest feeling of love you can imagine. This is the soul's desire. This is its purpose. The soul is after the feeling. Not the knowledge, but the feeling. It already has the knowledge, but knowledge is conceptual. Feeling is experiential. The soul wants to feel itself, and thus to know itself in its own experience. The highest feeling is the experience of unity with All That Is. This is the great return to Truth for which the soul yearns. This is the feeling of perfect love. Perfect love is to feeling what perfect white is to color. Many think that white is the absence of color. It is not. It is the inclusion of all color. White is every other color that exists, combined. So, too, is love not the absence of an emotion (hatred, anger, lust, jealousy, covetousness), but the summation of all feeling. It is the sum total. The aggregate amount. The everything. Thus, for the soul to experience perfect love, it must experience every human feeling. How can I have compassion on that which I don't understand? How can I forgive in another that which I have never experienced in Myself? So we see both the simplicity and the awesome magnitude of the soul's journey. We understand at last what it is up to: The purpose of the human soul is to experience all of it — so that it can be all of it.

Conversations With God, Book 1 Neale Donald Walsch

December Newsletter
Mood:  bright
Topic: archive newsletters

December 08 Free e-newsletter From Rachael Hertogs Archive newsletters can be found at http://angel-healing.tripod.com   I just wanted to remind you that, today, 10 December 2008, marks Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So perhaps take a moment to think of those who are suffering, offer a prayer and give thanks for your own ‘safe’ life. “It is our duty to ensure that these rights are a living reality -- that they are known, understood and enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. It is often those who most need their human rights protected, who also need to be informed that the Declaration exists -- and that it exists for them.”  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon http://www.amnesty.org   We its been months since my last newsletter- and so much has happened, I walked part of the Camino De Santiago (what a wonderful, peaceful, amazing experience that was ), from there I went straight to the women’s 13 Moons Festival, and then back to reality of  working and teaching! My biggest news is that I have opened a shop- well a shop within a shop. We were unable to save our local Post office- but are hoping by opening our Bristol Green Store inside the old Chessel St Post Office we will at least save the corner shop from closure! So half of our shop is a very ordinary corner shop- with all your usual food stuffs and stationary supplies etc and then  on the other side is our Green Store- promoting local producers and sustainable green products- see below for the longer article and our website and face book link!   I have a new Angel Meditation- see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=c1A8XQSTA9w   and of course my usual Moon Times products (we have extended our range in to Moon Sponges and Cups!) see www.moontimes.co.uk we will be supplying bamboo and hemp nappies in Jan 09!   Phew, well I guess that’s me…do enjoy the rest of the newsletter-- as usual there’s some events listed, networking section, winter tips, an affirmation and inspirational quote! Much love, Happy Winter Solstice and many Xmas blessings, Rachael xxx
Courses and Reiki Shares:
New Year Reiki I Course Jan 10th & 11th, Montpelier. £150 Reiki is a powerful ‘self help tool’ ~ it helps develop a positive attitude to life, increases energy and  expands creativity. Reiki brings about deep relaxation, feelings of joy and well being, leaves you feeling calmer, content and serene; it helps you feel more optimistic and better able to cope with day to day stresses that modern day living often brings. This level allows you to channel reiki energy and thus treat yourself and others.   The class consists of an attunement and all the required information & practical exercises to allow you to understand and use Reiki.   For further information, please contact Rachael on 9537765 email info@rachaelhertogs.co.uk www.rachaelhertogs.co.uk   Reiki Share Dates for 2009- all Shares will be at Akousis  (Fairlawn Rd, Montpelier) Friday Evenings Feb 6th, April 24th, June 19th, Aug 7th, Oct 2nd and Dec 4th contact me to confirm attendance.
My New Venture- The Bristol Green Store
The Bristol Green Store has grown up out of my Moon Times business, and a need to provide access to my products beyond the webshop and fairs.  I was also fed up with not being able to get practical green things, from cleaners to natural beauty products, without a trip across town or spending a fortune on carriage from online stores! So I teamed up with Emma Winfield  (of Simply Natural Homes), an active member with me of Transition BS3, to launch Bristol's one-stop-green-store.  We are located within The Ghost Office (the former Post Office in The Chessels in Ashton / Bedminster), and share the space with his traditional corner store. We've got multiple ambitions for the store - in addition to providing sustainable goods and practical items to help us each lessen our impact, we want to build the Bristol-wide local economy.  We are inviting every local producer of sustainable goods in and around Bristol to get involved, offering their items for sale through the store.  We are also launching a services directory listing local trades people with experience of green trades & products.  We will also be contributing towards keeping The Ghost Office open as a corner store, a vital local service for the elderly and less able in our area especially. Please support us by coming in to the store, letting us know what else you'd like to see in there and bringing samples of your produce if you'd like to be part of the offering!. website  www.bristolgreenstore.co.uk facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bristol/Bristol-Green-Store/56935198168?ref=share Products on offer- natural cleaning products, Eco paints and varnishes, baby booties, baby and kids t-shirts, nappies, breast pads, grown ups t-shirts, tea towels, cards of all kinds, photos, Bella Bees wonderful balms, Moon Times eco sanitary wear, natracare pads, organic cotton wool (throw away and washable!), knitted hats, scarves, wraps, gloves, wool, felt purses, scarves, wooden plates, bowls, mirrors, green bike oil, books, Pure Nuff  beauty products, diaries, calendars, gift packs and so much more!!
Events and Networking 'Introduction to Massage' with Claire Day from Bella-Bees. Sunday 25th January 2009 10am - 4pm & Tuesday 27th January 2009 7pm - 9.30pm @ the Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, Bristol. For people who would like to learn massage but want a taster before embarking on a full course.  For therapists who need a refresher or to learn some different techniques - then this is the course for you. Booking essential as limited places.  Total fee £65 or book as a couple for £120 Make this a Christmas gift that keeps on giving! Contact@bella-bees.co.uk Moon Journeys: retreats, workshops, courses and pilgrimages, for personal and spiritual development. Mostly working in small groups, often with the resources of nature and our inspiring environment, we have a wide programme of events and trips (some local and some not so local!) to suite people looking to explore their inner and outer landscapes. See http://www.harvest-moon.org.uk/16.html ecojam.org, a new one-stop website for Bristol’s growing green and ethical scene, is taking a fresh approach to local environmentalism. Launched by researchers at the University of Bristol, it’s a place for you to discover local businesses and initiatives, search for ethical jobs, trade free stuff, and tune into local news, events and discussions. Your Community Clinic- see website for dates and venues! Provide yourself with an opportunity for rest and enhance self esteem, feel more peaceful, content, positive and better able to cope with day to day stresses!£10 for 30 mins. Treatments are 30 minutes- although 1 hour sessions can be booked. see web site for therapies, venues and dates www.yourcommunityclinic.com  Peace Dances in Bristol With Amida Harvey  Dances of Universal Peace offer a way to touch the spiritual essence of ourselves and of others through sacred chant and movement. Saturday 20 Dec 10.30 to 4pm doors open, drinks available from 10am Horfield Quaker Meeting House 300 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8PDTickets on the door £25 (£20 concessions)All welcome – no previous experience or pre-booking needed. Please bring veggie lunch to share. Ffi tel Celia 0117 924 1023 celia@beeson-1.demon.co.uk  Beautiful Therapy / Office Screens from Cambridge Futon: Shoji square pattern with paper backing ....Natural, black or red.  £75  plus £10 delivery per screen. Bamboo screens ....Natural, black or walnut.  £85 plus delivery, see http://www.cambridgefutons.com/sofabeds_and_screens.html or contact  cambridgefuton@btconnect.com Websites don't have to be expensive. They can cost as little as £50 to set up a simple one and are a great way to let people know about you and what you do. You can use them to promote your business or to share family photos with friends overseas.  Contact Lisa Cole info@nakedwebsite.co.uk  for more details. www.nakedwebsites.co.uk Green Finder- check out  www.GreenFinder.co.uk  the green directory showcasing the best eco friendly products online & at green events throughout the U.K. We are here to help you in your quest for a greener lifestyle whether you are making your first faltering steps in sustainability or you are a fully fledged environmentalist wishing to learn more about saving the planet. Here at GreenFinder we aim to provide you with all the information you need to make those all important steps (big or small) for a cleaner, greener and more ethical world.
Health Tips for Winter By  Kami McBride   1) Eat medicinal soups Soup keeps you warm and is easy to digest. If you are exposed to any sickness, your body can focus on healing instead of having to digest foods that take a lot of energy. Soups are easily digested and are the perfect winter food. Just load your soups up with LOTS of herbs  How to Make Delicious Medicinal Soup   2) Drink herbal tea on a regular basis     3) Keep your lymph moving We often move less in the winter so it is important to find ways to keep your lymph moving and clearing out stagnation. Your lymph system helps to carry your immune cells, so healthy lymph movement means a healthier immune system.  One simple thing you can do is to incorporate more massage into your life.  Massage is a great winter remedy. Working with a massage therapist is always nice, but you can also bring massage into your home on a regular basis.  Get a few nice massage oils and do ten minute massage exchanges in the evening with the people you live with. It is amazing how much you can accomplish in ten minutes several times a week.    Kami McBride has taught herbal medicine since 1988. Through her classes andpersonal wellness consultations she helps people understand how whole foodsand herbal medicine are an important aspect of everyone’s preventive healthcare plan. Kami has helped thousands of people learn to use herbs in their dailylives in ways that are healthy, safe and fun and she teaches classes in herbalmedicine and women’s health at her school and herb gardens in Vacaville,California. www.livingawareness.com
An affirmation for you - The light of God surrounds me; The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me; The presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is . . . And all is well! Prayer of Protection (1941) James Dillet Freeman (1912-2003) Poet Laureate of Unity	And to finish: On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know... ...that every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.   John Ruskin said that, and he was right. Life is not about our physical or material possessions, it is about the agenda of our soul. When material possessions serve that agenda, they can be wonderful and are to be celebrated. But if they come between us and the soul, then we may very well be delayed on our holy journey  Our journey is the path back to peace, to harmony, to deep inner joy, to love, and to God