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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Secrets of Deliberate Creation
Monday, November 8, 2010
Universal Life Church
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Universal Life Church
| Points to Ponder Universal Life Church Children of the Creator, Children of our Earth Mother:
******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. Ordination with the , is free, and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use. The ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Universal Life Church
ULC SEMINARY SERMONS
How to be a man
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don't agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
www.ulcseminary.org
How to be a man
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don't agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
www.ulcseminary.org
Universal Life Church Seminary
**********
#49 - How to be a Man
Steve Pavlina
How to be a man.
What does it mean to be a man today? How can men consciously express their masculinity without becoming cold or closed-hearted on the one hand...... or wimpy and emasculated on the other? What's the most loving way for a conscious man to express himself?
Here are 10 ways to live more consciously as a man:
1. Make real decisions.
A man understands and respects the power of choice. He lives a life of his own creation. He knows that life stagnates when he fails to decide and flourishes when he chooses a clear path.
When a man makes a decision, he opens the door he wants and closes the doors he doesn't want. He locks onto his target like a guided missile. There's no guarantee he'll reach his target, and he knows this, but he doesn't need such guarantees. He simply enjoys the sense of inevitability that comes from pushing the launch button.
A man doesn't require the approval of others. He's willing to follow his heart wherever it leads him. When a man is following his heart-centered path, it's of little consequence if the entire world is against him.
2. Put your relationships second.
A man who claims his #1 commitment in life is his relationship partner (or his family) is either too dishonest or too weak to be trusted. His loyalties are misplaced. A man who values individuals above his own integrity is a wretch, not a free thinker.
A man knows he must commit to something greater than satisfying the needs of a few people. He's not willing to be domesticated, but he is willing to accept the responsibility that comes with greater challenges. He knows that when he shirks that duty, he becomes something less than a man. When others observe that the man is unyieldingly committed to his values and ideals, he gains their trust and respect, even when he cannot gain their direct support. The surest way for a man to lose the respect of others (as well as his self-respect) is to violate his own values.
Life will test the man to see if he's willing to put loyalty to others ahead of loyalty to his principles. The man will be offered many temptations to expose his true loyalties. A man's greatest reward is to live with integrity, and his greatest punishment is what he inflicts upon himself for placing anything above his integrity. Whenever the man sacrifices his integrity, he loses his freedom... and himself as well. He becomes an object of pity.
3. Be willing to fail.
A man is willing to make mistakes. He's willing to be wrong. He'd rather try and fail than do nothing.
A man's self-trust is one of his greatest assets. When he second-guesses himself by worrying about failure, he diminishes himself. An intelligent man considers the prospect of failure, but he doesn't preoccupy himself with pointless worry. He accepts that if a failure outcome occurs, he can deal with it.
A man grows more from failure than he does from success. Success cannot test his resolve in the way that failure can. Success has its challenges, but a man learns more about himself when he takes on challenges that involve risk. When a man plays it safe, his vitality is lost, and he loses his edge.
4. Be confident.
A man speaks and acts with confidence. He owns his attitude.
A man doesn't adopt a confident posture because he knows he'll succeed. He often knows that failure is a likely outcome. But when the odds of success are clearly against him, he still exudes confidence. It isn't because he's ignorant or suffering from denial. It's because he's proving to himself that he has the strength to transcend his self-doubt. This builds his courage and persistence, two of his most valuable allies.
A man is willing to be defeated by the world. He's willing to be taken down by circumstances beyond his control. But he refuses to be overwhelmed by his own self-doubt. He knows that when he stops trusting himself, he is surely lost. He'll surrender to fate when necessary, but he won't surrender to fear.
5. Express love actively.
A man is an active giver of love, not a passive receiver. A man is the first to initiate a conversation, the first to ask for what's needed, and the first to say "I love you." Waiting for someone else to make the first move is unbecoming of him. The universe does not respond positively to his hesitation. Only when he's in motion do the floodgates of abundance open.
Man is the out-breath of source energy. It is his job - his duty - to share his love with the world. He must wean himself from suckling the energy of others and become a vibrant transmitter of energy himself. He must allow that energy to flow from source, through him, and into the world. When he assumes this role, he has no doubt he is living as his true self.
6. Re-channel sex energy.
A man doesn't hide his sexuality. If others shrink from him because he's too masculine, he allows them to have their reaction. There's no need for him to lower his energy just to avoid frightening the timid. A man accepts the consequences of being male; he makes no apologies for his nature.
A man is careful not to allow his energy to get stuck at the level of lust. He re-channels much of his sexual energy into his heart and head, where it can serve his higher values instead of just his animal instincts. (You can do this by visualizing the energy rising, expanding, and eventually flowing throughout your entire body and beyond.)
A man channels his sexual energy into his heart-centered pursuits. He feels such energy pulsing within him, driving him to action. He feels uncomfortable standing still. He allows his sexual energy to explode through his heart, not just his genitals.
7. Face your fears.
For a man, being afraid of something is reason enough to do it. A man's fear is a call to be tested. When a man hides from his fears, he knows he's fallen out of alignment with his true self. He feels weak, depressed, and helpless. No matter how hard he tries to comfort himself and achieve a state of peace, he cannot overcome his inner feeling of dread. Only when facing his fears does a man experience peace.
A man makes a friend of risk. He doesn't run and hide from the tests of fear. He turns toward them and engages them boldly.
A man succeeds or fails. A coward never makes the attempt. Specific outcomes are of less concern to a man than his direction.
A man feels like a man whenever he faces the right way, staring straight into his fears. He feels even more like a man when he advances in the direction of his fears, as if sailing on the winds of an inner scream.
8. Honor the masculinity of other men.
When a man sees a male friend undertaking a new venture that will clearly lead to failure, what does the man do? Does he warn his friend off such a path? No, the man encourages his friend to continue. The man knows it's better for his friend to strike out confidently and learn from the failure experience. The man honors his friend's decision to reach out and make the attempt. The man won't deny his friend the benefits of a failure experience. The man may offer his friend guidance, but he knows his friend must fail repeatedly in order to develop self-trust and courage.
When you see a man at the gym struggling to lift a heavy weight, do you jump in and say, "Here... let me help you with that. Maybe the two of us can lift it together"? No, that would rob him of the growth experience - and probably make a quick enemy of him as well.
The male path is filled with obstacles. It typically includes more failures than successes. These obstacles help a man discover what's truly important to him. Through repeated failures a man learns to persist in the pursuit of worthy goals and to abandon goals that are unworthy of him.
A man can handle being knocked down many times. For every physical setback he experiences, he enjoys a spiritual advancement, and that is enough for him.
9. Accept responsibility for your relationships.
A man chooses his friends, lovers, and associates consciously. He actively seeks out the company of people who inspire and challenge him, and he willingly sheds those who hold him back.
A man doesn't blame others for his relationship problems. When a relationship is no longer compatible with his heart-centered path, he initiates the break-up and departs without blame or guilt.
A man holds himself accountable for the relationships he allows into his life. He holds others accountable for their behavior, but he holds himself accountable for his decision to tolerate such behavior.
A man teaches others how to treat him by the relationships he's willing to allow into his life. A man refuses to fill his life with negative or destructive relationships; he knows that's a form of self-abuse.
10. Die well.
A man's great challenge is to develop the inner strength to express his true self. He must learn to share his love with the world without holding back. When a man is satisfied that he's done that, he can make peace with death. But if he fails to do so, death becomes his enemy and haunts him all the days of his life.
A man cannot die well unless he lives well. A man lives well when he accepts his mortality and draws strength from knowing that his physical existence is temporary. When a man faces and accepts the inevitability of death... when he learns to see death as his ally instead of his enemy... he's finally able to express his true self. So a man isn't ready to live until he accepts that he's already dead.
Talk to you next week!
**********
#49 - How to be a Man
Steve Pavlina
How to be a man.
What does it mean to be a man today? How can men consciously express their masculinity without becoming cold or closed-hearted on the one hand...... or wimpy and emasculated on the other? What's the most loving way for a conscious man to express himself?
Here are 10 ways to live more consciously as a man:
1. Make real decisions.
A man understands and respects the power of choice. He lives a life of his own creation. He knows that life stagnates when he fails to decide and flourishes when he chooses a clear path.
When a man makes a decision, he opens the door he wants and closes the doors he doesn't want. He locks onto his target like a guided missile. There's no guarantee he'll reach his target, and he knows this, but he doesn't need such guarantees. He simply enjoys the sense of inevitability that comes from pushing the launch button.
A man doesn't require the approval of others. He's willing to follow his heart wherever it leads him. When a man is following his heart-centered path, it's of little consequence if the entire world is against him.
2. Put your relationships second.
A man who claims his #1 commitment in life is his relationship partner (or his family) is either too dishonest or too weak to be trusted. His loyalties are misplaced. A man who values individuals above his own integrity is a wretch, not a free thinker.
A man knows he must commit to something greater than satisfying the needs of a few people. He's not willing to be domesticated, but he is willing to accept the responsibility that comes with greater challenges. He knows that when he shirks that duty, he becomes something less than a man. When others observe that the man is unyieldingly committed to his values and ideals, he gains their trust and respect, even when he cannot gain their direct support. The surest way for a man to lose the respect of others (as well as his self-respect) is to violate his own values.
Life will test the man to see if he's willing to put loyalty to others ahead of loyalty to his principles. The man will be offered many temptations to expose his true loyalties. A man's greatest reward is to live with integrity, and his greatest punishment is what he inflicts upon himself for placing anything above his integrity. Whenever the man sacrifices his integrity, he loses his freedom... and himself as well. He becomes an object of pity.
3. Be willing to fail.
A man is willing to make mistakes. He's willing to be wrong. He'd rather try and fail than do nothing.
A man's self-trust is one of his greatest assets. When he second-guesses himself by worrying about failure, he diminishes himself. An intelligent man considers the prospect of failure, but he doesn't preoccupy himself with pointless worry. He accepts that if a failure outcome occurs, he can deal with it.
A man grows more from failure than he does from success. Success cannot test his resolve in the way that failure can. Success has its challenges, but a man learns more about himself when he takes on challenges that involve risk. When a man plays it safe, his vitality is lost, and he loses his edge.
4. Be confident.
A man speaks and acts with confidence. He owns his attitude.
A man doesn't adopt a confident posture because he knows he'll succeed. He often knows that failure is a likely outcome. But when the odds of success are clearly against him, he still exudes confidence. It isn't because he's ignorant or suffering from denial. It's because he's proving to himself that he has the strength to transcend his self-doubt. This builds his courage and persistence, two of his most valuable allies.
A man is willing to be defeated by the world. He's willing to be taken down by circumstances beyond his control. But he refuses to be overwhelmed by his own self-doubt. He knows that when he stops trusting himself, he is surely lost. He'll surrender to fate when necessary, but he won't surrender to fear.
5. Express love actively.
A man is an active giver of love, not a passive receiver. A man is the first to initiate a conversation, the first to ask for what's needed, and the first to say "I love you." Waiting for someone else to make the first move is unbecoming of him. The universe does not respond positively to his hesitation. Only when he's in motion do the floodgates of abundance open.
Man is the out-breath of source energy. It is his job - his duty - to share his love with the world. He must wean himself from suckling the energy of others and become a vibrant transmitter of energy himself. He must allow that energy to flow from source, through him, and into the world. When he assumes this role, he has no doubt he is living as his true self.
6. Re-channel sex energy.
A man doesn't hide his sexuality. If others shrink from him because he's too masculine, he allows them to have their reaction. There's no need for him to lower his energy just to avoid frightening the timid. A man accepts the consequences of being male; he makes no apologies for his nature.
A man is careful not to allow his energy to get stuck at the level of lust. He re-channels much of his sexual energy into his heart and head, where it can serve his higher values instead of just his animal instincts. (You can do this by visualizing the energy rising, expanding, and eventually flowing throughout your entire body and beyond.)
A man channels his sexual energy into his heart-centered pursuits. He feels such energy pulsing within him, driving him to action. He feels uncomfortable standing still. He allows his sexual energy to explode through his heart, not just his genitals.
7. Face your fears.
For a man, being afraid of something is reason enough to do it. A man's fear is a call to be tested. When a man hides from his fears, he knows he's fallen out of alignment with his true self. He feels weak, depressed, and helpless. No matter how hard he tries to comfort himself and achieve a state of peace, he cannot overcome his inner feeling of dread. Only when facing his fears does a man experience peace.
A man makes a friend of risk. He doesn't run and hide from the tests of fear. He turns toward them and engages them boldly.
A man succeeds or fails. A coward never makes the attempt. Specific outcomes are of less concern to a man than his direction.
A man feels like a man whenever he faces the right way, staring straight into his fears. He feels even more like a man when he advances in the direction of his fears, as if sailing on the winds of an inner scream.
8. Honor the masculinity of other men.
When a man sees a male friend undertaking a new venture that will clearly lead to failure, what does the man do? Does he warn his friend off such a path? No, the man encourages his friend to continue. The man knows it's better for his friend to strike out confidently and learn from the failure experience. The man honors his friend's decision to reach out and make the attempt. The man won't deny his friend the benefits of a failure experience. The man may offer his friend guidance, but he knows his friend must fail repeatedly in order to develop self-trust and courage.
When you see a man at the gym struggling to lift a heavy weight, do you jump in and say, "Here... let me help you with that. Maybe the two of us can lift it together"? No, that would rob him of the growth experience - and probably make a quick enemy of him as well.
The male path is filled with obstacles. It typically includes more failures than successes. These obstacles help a man discover what's truly important to him. Through repeated failures a man learns to persist in the pursuit of worthy goals and to abandon goals that are unworthy of him.
A man can handle being knocked down many times. For every physical setback he experiences, he enjoys a spiritual advancement, and that is enough for him.
9. Accept responsibility for your relationships.
A man chooses his friends, lovers, and associates consciously. He actively seeks out the company of people who inspire and challenge him, and he willingly sheds those who hold him back.
A man doesn't blame others for his relationship problems. When a relationship is no longer compatible with his heart-centered path, he initiates the break-up and departs without blame or guilt.
A man holds himself accountable for the relationships he allows into his life. He holds others accountable for their behavior, but he holds himself accountable for his decision to tolerate such behavior.
A man teaches others how to treat him by the relationships he's willing to allow into his life. A man refuses to fill his life with negative or destructive relationships; he knows that's a form of self-abuse.
10. Die well.
A man's great challenge is to develop the inner strength to express his true self. He must learn to share his love with the world without holding back. When a man is satisfied that he's done that, he can make peace with death. But if he fails to do so, death becomes his enemy and haunts him all the days of his life.
A man cannot die well unless he lives well. A man lives well when he accepts his mortality and draws strength from knowing that his physical existence is temporary. When a man faces and accepts the inevitability of death... when he learns to see death as his ally instead of his enemy... he's finally able to express his true self. So a man isn't ready to live until he accepts that he's already dead.
Talk to you next week!
*******************************
The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.
Ordination with the , is free, and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
The ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Universal Life Church
ULC SEMINARY SERMONS
About Women
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don"t agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
About Women
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don"t agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
Universal Life Church Seminary
**********
#50 - How to be a Woman
Suzie Fleming
In the past hundred years or so, women have caused and experienced unprecedented social change. Whereas in previous years they were extremely limited in terms of their public power, they now have choices, experiences and opportunities. Many women are now playing multiple 'roles' - in addition to being a mother, a wife, and a daughter, they are also career women or running small businesses, writing, engaging in community work, active within politics, studying and many more things.
Steve Pavlina recently wrote a post in which he outlined his concept of what it meant to become a man. At the end he challenged his readers to write the opposing post - how to be a woman. Initially, I felt fairly excluded. What is there to stop any woman from meeting any of the points he makes? The answer is none, except possibly inclination. After some thought, however, I decided that there are some fundamental value decisions that women may have a different perspective on.
1. Take control, accept responsibility
Women tend to be raised to believe that group consensus matters. They will seek approval from their family and friend before major choices. They may give way to people they perceive as having more authority. All of this can be very positive at times - but it's important to understand that ultimately your life is your responsibility. The choices you make should reflect your values, not those of the people around you. If you want to trek across three continents on your own, then you should. Yes, it will be dangerous, and yes you may face dangers that are overwhelming, but that's life and that's how we grow.
To put this in perspective, when I was 18 I traveled to the USA (I'm English) to meet and stay with friends I had only spoken to online. I repeated this when I was 20, but in Europe. That first trip I made was the first time I had ever flown, and I made a transatlantic flight by myself with no guarantee of who I was meeting. It was very scary, but I would never take that experience back. I learned more about myself in those two weeks than I had done in the entire previous year.
2. It's okay not to do everything
There are women who manage to balance a very successful career with bringing up several children and being a loving wife. Usually they succeed, however, because they love what they do. If you hate kids then don't have them. If you hate corporate life then don't try and be a high-powered business woman. There is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing on your children and bringing them up well - and your kids will thank you for it.
I once heard a child say to his mother "We are not your children. Your business is your children". Don't do two things badly - do the thing you really want to do well.
3. It's okay to do everything
Long gone are the days when women, once pregnant, were consigned to a house. Now you have incredible opportunities. Most employers should offer flexible working options, so that you can work and raise your children. Equally, men are much more open to the idea that they are equally responsible for bringing up children and doing household chores.
Additional income from a second working adult can spell the difference between no investments and future wealth. Equally, a job means you can maintain independent friends, income and hobbies.
There are also plenty of options for the home business owner. The internet is an incredibly powerful tool - use it wisely.
4. Be honest, not manipulative
Women tend to be better at manipulating people. They are often more aware of social nuance, and can 'read' hidden fears and desires much more astutely than some men. Used wisely, this can smooth over potential conflict, and allow people to communicate more effectively. Used badly, this can result in manipulation. Taking advantage of people and their vulnerabilities for your own personal gain is never okay. Sometimes expressing yourself honestly is the best path, even if it does lead to conflict.
5. Speak out
Women were silenced for thousands of years. Their writing was consigned to the literary pulp bin. They were not educated for fear their brains couldn't take it. But they still managed to produce classic works, they still managed to make significant social changes, and they still managed to get and use power effectively. Right now we are the most educated and the most powerful that we have ever been.
We have also been ruled by a hierarchy of rich, white men for thousands of years. When they act according to their interests it is not in the best interest of everyone else. We finally are starting to see diversity in the people who make decisions that affect us all. The more diverse the experiences that make up a group, the more adaptable that group is. The more varied the skill set, the more varied the knowledge, the more resources a group has. Every group of people has a unique history, a unique perspective, and unique guidance to offer.
If you have something to say, then say it. Ask questions in class. Suggest improvements to your boss. Reveal corruption and crime to other people so that collectively we can deal with it. Be an example to other women - that we matter, that our problems are important, and that our suggestions are valuable.
6. Listen and learn
Part of speaking out involves listening. Dismissing male experience and male problems is as wrong as men dismissing female experience and female problems. Right now we are at a turning point of human social evolution. Everything the individual does impacts the larger social organism. Equally, the larger social organism impacts every individual. If China pollutes the skies, then we all feel the impact. If America declares war on a particular country, then every country has to deal with the aftermath - whether it is the refugees, or the economical downturn.
Therefore, someone else's problem is our problem too. If we don't help them create a solution that benefits everyone, then we may end up negatively impacted by their personal solution. On a smaller scale, if someone is abused as a child and does not receive help and attention from the people around them, they are very likely to abuse others when older.
In medical terms, prevention is better than cure.
7. Don't wait for someone else
Traditionally, it was men who began courting and who proposed, and it was men who made major financial and life changing decisions within the family unit. But do you honestly want to sit around waiting for someone else to make up their mind to ask the question? If you want something, you have to take action to get it. That means popping the question. It means deciding where your money goes. It means working out what is important to you, and taking steps to achieve it.
It all comes back to equal opportunity - and equal responsibility.
8. Be fluid
Women are cyclical. Their hormones change, their moods and focus change. Our cycles are not something we should fight and struggle against, as that is tantamount to struggling against your own body. Equally, our cycles should not be allowed to rule our lives. We have to make the decisions to understand our bodies and what they need. We need to take advantage of the different parts of our cycle.
I am only just starting to understand my own mood and focus changes, but already the difference it has made is amazing. Instead of struggling to complete tasks that I 'should' do, I do the tasks that are related to my focus. I've noticed that during the first half of the cycle I am very sociable, very outward orientated, and very goal focused. During the second half I draw inwards, I become more concerned with myself, my immediate environment, and my health.
Now clearly I can't quit working for two weeks out of every four, but what I can do is ensure that difficult and time-consuming tasks are completed in the first half of my cycle, and that easier or more personal projects are completed in the second half.
Listen to your body. It knows what it needs.
9. Eat Well
I've rarely met a woman who didn't have some sort of issue with food. From fad diets to binging and detoxing, from hyper-controlled portion sizes to complete chaos. Food is a very fundamental part of our health and our social lives. The media in particular is very fickle when it comes to how it talks about women and their body shapes.
We all know that being undernourished is unhealthy and that being obese is unhealthy. There are a vast range of ideal weights however, and we all have one that is appropriate for us. Far more important than our weight is our happiness, our confidence and our personality.
Food is here to be enjoyed. It is here to be colorful, interesting and to replenish us. Half a celery stick and a piece of lettuce is not enough. It is much better to eat lots of varied foods, and exercise than it is to restrict calorie intake and remain sedentary.
Aim for optimum health, not optimum weight.
10. Accept your sexuality and love your body
You are beautiful. You are a sexual being. Enjoy sex, don't do anything you don't want to do, experiment, and don't be afraid to take control once in a while. Sex is a wonderful thing, but it takes a bit of work and experimentation to understand it. Masturbation is a great way to gain confidence and knowledge before inviting someone else in. It's okay to have one night stands as long as everyone is honest with each other, and everyone stays safe (use condoms!) It's okay to wait for the one person you are sure about, even if it takes a while, as long as you are making yourself happy meanwhile. It's okay to have fantasies. It's okay to be single. It's okay to be in relationship as long as you feel loved and safe.
Talk to you next week!
**********
#50 - How to be a Woman
Suzie Fleming
In the past hundred years or so, women have caused and experienced unprecedented social change. Whereas in previous years they were extremely limited in terms of their public power, they now have choices, experiences and opportunities. Many women are now playing multiple 'roles' - in addition to being a mother, a wife, and a daughter, they are also career women or running small businesses, writing, engaging in community work, active within politics, studying and many more things.
Steve Pavlina recently wrote a post in which he outlined his concept of what it meant to become a man. At the end he challenged his readers to write the opposing post - how to be a woman. Initially, I felt fairly excluded. What is there to stop any woman from meeting any of the points he makes? The answer is none, except possibly inclination. After some thought, however, I decided that there are some fundamental value decisions that women may have a different perspective on.
1. Take control, accept responsibility
Women tend to be raised to believe that group consensus matters. They will seek approval from their family and friend before major choices. They may give way to people they perceive as having more authority. All of this can be very positive at times - but it's important to understand that ultimately your life is your responsibility. The choices you make should reflect your values, not those of the people around you. If you want to trek across three continents on your own, then you should. Yes, it will be dangerous, and yes you may face dangers that are overwhelming, but that's life and that's how we grow.
To put this in perspective, when I was 18 I traveled to the USA (I'm English) to meet and stay with friends I had only spoken to online. I repeated this when I was 20, but in Europe. That first trip I made was the first time I had ever flown, and I made a transatlantic flight by myself with no guarantee of who I was meeting. It was very scary, but I would never take that experience back. I learned more about myself in those two weeks than I had done in the entire previous year.
2. It's okay not to do everything
There are women who manage to balance a very successful career with bringing up several children and being a loving wife. Usually they succeed, however, because they love what they do. If you hate kids then don't have them. If you hate corporate life then don't try and be a high-powered business woman. There is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing on your children and bringing them up well - and your kids will thank you for it.
I once heard a child say to his mother "We are not your children. Your business is your children". Don't do two things badly - do the thing you really want to do well.
3. It's okay to do everything
Long gone are the days when women, once pregnant, were consigned to a house. Now you have incredible opportunities. Most employers should offer flexible working options, so that you can work and raise your children. Equally, men are much more open to the idea that they are equally responsible for bringing up children and doing household chores.
Additional income from a second working adult can spell the difference between no investments and future wealth. Equally, a job means you can maintain independent friends, income and hobbies.
There are also plenty of options for the home business owner. The internet is an incredibly powerful tool - use it wisely.
4. Be honest, not manipulative
Women tend to be better at manipulating people. They are often more aware of social nuance, and can 'read' hidden fears and desires much more astutely than some men. Used wisely, this can smooth over potential conflict, and allow people to communicate more effectively. Used badly, this can result in manipulation. Taking advantage of people and their vulnerabilities for your own personal gain is never okay. Sometimes expressing yourself honestly is the best path, even if it does lead to conflict.
5. Speak out
Women were silenced for thousands of years. Their writing was consigned to the literary pulp bin. They were not educated for fear their brains couldn't take it. But they still managed to produce classic works, they still managed to make significant social changes, and they still managed to get and use power effectively. Right now we are the most educated and the most powerful that we have ever been.
We have also been ruled by a hierarchy of rich, white men for thousands of years. When they act according to their interests it is not in the best interest of everyone else. We finally are starting to see diversity in the people who make decisions that affect us all. The more diverse the experiences that make up a group, the more adaptable that group is. The more varied the skill set, the more varied the knowledge, the more resources a group has. Every group of people has a unique history, a unique perspective, and unique guidance to offer.
If you have something to say, then say it. Ask questions in class. Suggest improvements to your boss. Reveal corruption and crime to other people so that collectively we can deal with it. Be an example to other women - that we matter, that our problems are important, and that our suggestions are valuable.
6. Listen and learn
Part of speaking out involves listening. Dismissing male experience and male problems is as wrong as men dismissing female experience and female problems. Right now we are at a turning point of human social evolution. Everything the individual does impacts the larger social organism. Equally, the larger social organism impacts every individual. If China pollutes the skies, then we all feel the impact. If America declares war on a particular country, then every country has to deal with the aftermath - whether it is the refugees, or the economical downturn.
Therefore, someone else's problem is our problem too. If we don't help them create a solution that benefits everyone, then we may end up negatively impacted by their personal solution. On a smaller scale, if someone is abused as a child and does not receive help and attention from the people around them, they are very likely to abuse others when older.
In medical terms, prevention is better than cure.
7. Don't wait for someone else
Traditionally, it was men who began courting and who proposed, and it was men who made major financial and life changing decisions within the family unit. But do you honestly want to sit around waiting for someone else to make up their mind to ask the question? If you want something, you have to take action to get it. That means popping the question. It means deciding where your money goes. It means working out what is important to you, and taking steps to achieve it.
It all comes back to equal opportunity - and equal responsibility.
8. Be fluid
Women are cyclical. Their hormones change, their moods and focus change. Our cycles are not something we should fight and struggle against, as that is tantamount to struggling against your own body. Equally, our cycles should not be allowed to rule our lives. We have to make the decisions to understand our bodies and what they need. We need to take advantage of the different parts of our cycle.
I am only just starting to understand my own mood and focus changes, but already the difference it has made is amazing. Instead of struggling to complete tasks that I 'should' do, I do the tasks that are related to my focus. I've noticed that during the first half of the cycle I am very sociable, very outward orientated, and very goal focused. During the second half I draw inwards, I become more concerned with myself, my immediate environment, and my health.
Now clearly I can't quit working for two weeks out of every four, but what I can do is ensure that difficult and time-consuming tasks are completed in the first half of my cycle, and that easier or more personal projects are completed in the second half.
Listen to your body. It knows what it needs.
9. Eat Well
I've rarely met a woman who didn't have some sort of issue with food. From fad diets to binging and detoxing, from hyper-controlled portion sizes to complete chaos. Food is a very fundamental part of our health and our social lives. The media in particular is very fickle when it comes to how it talks about women and their body shapes.
We all know that being undernourished is unhealthy and that being obese is unhealthy. There are a vast range of ideal weights however, and we all have one that is appropriate for us. Far more important than our weight is our happiness, our confidence and our personality.
Food is here to be enjoyed. It is here to be colorful, interesting and to replenish us. Half a celery stick and a piece of lettuce is not enough. It is much better to eat lots of varied foods, and exercise than it is to restrict calorie intake and remain sedentary.
Aim for optimum health, not optimum weight.
10. Accept your sexuality and love your body
You are beautiful. You are a sexual being. Enjoy sex, don't do anything you don't want to do, experiment, and don't be afraid to take control once in a while. Sex is a wonderful thing, but it takes a bit of work and experimentation to understand it. Masturbation is a great way to gain confidence and knowledge before inviting someone else in. It's okay to have one night stands as long as everyone is honest with each other, and everyone stays safe (use condoms!) It's okay to wait for the one person you are sure about, even if it takes a while, as long as you are making yourself happy meanwhile. It's okay to have fantasies. It's okay to be single. It's okay to be in relationship as long as you feel loved and safe.
Talk to you next week!
*******************************
The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.
Ordination with the , is free, and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
The ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Friday, September 10, 2010
Universal Life Church
ULC SEMINARY Spiritual SERMONS
Feng Shui
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don"t agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
Feng Shui
Hello,
Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don"t agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.
ULC Sermons
www.ulcseminary.org
Universal Life Church Seminary
**********
#51 - Feng Shui Elements
Author Unknown
Learn More About Feng Shui Elements Here...
For energetic and emotional balance in your space, fung shui includes the use of the Five Elements present in nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Incorporating the Five Elements enhances motivation, creativity, stability, and abundance.
Here are some Quick and Easy Tips on how you can change your space using Color with the Five
Elements:
WOOD: Greens and aquas; live or silk plants, wooden furniture, picture frames; wooden sculptures, images of leaves, trees, forests, flowers; cotton, rayon, linen fabrics.
FIRE: Reds and oranges; fireplace, candles, lamps; images of the sun, a lit fireplace; silk fabrics.
EARTH: Yellow and earth tones; pottery, stone, ceramics, natural crystal jewelry; images of landscapes; earth tones in upholstery and art.
METAL: Bronze, copper, silver, gold; metal jewelry and picture frames or other artifacts; images containing and metal and metal sculptures; metallic fabrics.
WATER: Blacks and blues; glass, mirrors, fountains, aquariums; images of lakes, rivers, the ocean, waterfalls; shiny, see-through, and shimmering fabrics.
The Feng Shui Elements
Wood
Wood is: Intuition.
Yang=tree, Yin=flower
Sense: Vision & seeing (Odin hung from a tree to get wisdom.)
Ch"i Qualities: Trust, openness, receptive, inner guidance, progressive in thought and action, flexibility, expansion, cooperation, continual new growth.
Symbols: Wooden furniture & accessories wood paneling, siding, roofing, decks, kitchen cabinets, wicker, bamboo, picture frames. Indoor & outdoor plants & flowers, (silk, plastic, dried) Art depicting landscapes, gardens, pants, flowers, carvings Floral prints, upholstery, draperies, linens, natural fiber, hemp, flax, rayon.
Shapes: Columns, tree trunk, beams, pedestals, poles, stripes.
Colors: Green and blue spectrum
Excess: Over-expansive, overwhelming, Type A behavior
Lack: Bonsai: undergrown, lack of trust, skeptical, scientific, stunted growth
Fire
Fire is: Emotional
Yang=blazing fire, Yin=oil lamp.
Sense: Touch. Digestion.
Ch"i Qualities: Dynamic vitality, enthusiasm, excitement, decisiveness, assertiveness, creativity, originality, leadership, motivation, emotional balance. Ancient fire ceremonies, gathering around a hearth, Acupuncture (touch). TV is our current "fire".
Symbols: All lighting, electricity, oil, candles, sunlight, fireplaces. Things from animals: fur, leather, bone, feathers, wool. Pets & wildlife, Art depicting people, animals, fish, butterflies, sunshine, light, fire.
Shapes: Triangles, pyramids, cones, stars, diamonds.
Colors: The color red & red spectrum, Heat, movement.
Excess: Aggression, anger, impatience, impulsive, overly ambitious. Burn out, crash and burn.
Lack: Lack of enthusiasm, lethargic, dull, cold, unmotivated. Lack-luster, cool as a cucumber.
Earth
Earth is: Physical
Yang=planet, Yin=mother
Sense: Taste (Ancient Masters tasted the earth to see if it could produce crops)
Ch"i Qualities: Fertility, practicality, stability, sensuality, being grounded, organized.
Symbols: Adobe, brick tile, ceramics, earthenware, pottery, soil. Art depicting landscapes, deserts, fields, meadows, grids.
Shapes: Square, rectangles, long, flat surfaces.
Colors: Yellow, earth tones
Excess: Overly disciplined, anal, serious, conservative.
Lack: Spacey, ungrounded, disconnected, lacking stability, shaky, barren.
Water
Water is: Spiritual
Yang=ocean, Yin= ponds, lakes
Sense: Hearing
Ch"i Qualities: Mystical, meditative, relaxed, calm, flowing, trusting the higher order, synchronistic. Water takes on the shape of its container. (like our soul which has no shape only the shape of our body) Water always seeks its lowest level.
Symbols: Streams, rivers, pools, fountains, water features. Reflective surfaces, cut crystal, mirrors, glass. Art depicting waterscapes.
Shapes: Asymmetrical, flowing, free-form, movement, natural forms.
Colors: Black, dark blue, charcoal gray, midnight blue, indigo,
Excess: No structure, passive, inconsistent, "wishy-washy", yin.
Lack: Anxiety, inability to handle stress, need to dominate, lack of flow, disconnected to spirit, dry, combustible.
Metal
Metal is: Mental
Yang=scaffolding, Yin=gemstone
Sense: Smell (Human skeleton is metal. Epitome of strength & endurance)
Ch"i Qualities: Mental clarity, determination, concentration, perseverance, wit, brilliant even during hardship or failure. Connective, quick, networks, communicates.
**********
#51 - Feng Shui Elements
Author Unknown
Learn More About Feng Shui Elements Here...
For energetic and emotional balance in your space, fung shui includes the use of the Five Elements present in nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Incorporating the Five Elements enhances motivation, creativity, stability, and abundance.
Here are some Quick and Easy Tips on how you can change your space using Color with the Five
Elements:
WOOD: Greens and aquas; live or silk plants, wooden furniture, picture frames; wooden sculptures, images of leaves, trees, forests, flowers; cotton, rayon, linen fabrics.
FIRE: Reds and oranges; fireplace, candles, lamps; images of the sun, a lit fireplace; silk fabrics.
EARTH: Yellow and earth tones; pottery, stone, ceramics, natural crystal jewelry; images of landscapes; earth tones in upholstery and art.
METAL: Bronze, copper, silver, gold; metal jewelry and picture frames or other artifacts; images containing and metal and metal sculptures; metallic fabrics.
WATER: Blacks and blues; glass, mirrors, fountains, aquariums; images of lakes, rivers, the ocean, waterfalls; shiny, see-through, and shimmering fabrics.
The Feng Shui Elements
Wood
Wood is: Intuition.
Yang=tree, Yin=flower
Sense: Vision & seeing (Odin hung from a tree to get wisdom.)
Ch"i Qualities: Trust, openness, receptive, inner guidance, progressive in thought and action, flexibility, expansion, cooperation, continual new growth.
Symbols: Wooden furniture & accessories wood paneling, siding, roofing, decks, kitchen cabinets, wicker, bamboo, picture frames. Indoor & outdoor plants & flowers, (silk, plastic, dried) Art depicting landscapes, gardens, pants, flowers, carvings Floral prints, upholstery, draperies, linens, natural fiber, hemp, flax, rayon.
Shapes: Columns, tree trunk, beams, pedestals, poles, stripes.
Colors: Green and blue spectrum
Excess: Over-expansive, overwhelming, Type A behavior
Lack: Bonsai: undergrown, lack of trust, skeptical, scientific, stunted growth
Fire
Fire is: Emotional
Yang=blazing fire, Yin=oil lamp.
Sense: Touch. Digestion.
Ch"i Qualities: Dynamic vitality, enthusiasm, excitement, decisiveness, assertiveness, creativity, originality, leadership, motivation, emotional balance. Ancient fire ceremonies, gathering around a hearth, Acupuncture (touch). TV is our current "fire".
Symbols: All lighting, electricity, oil, candles, sunlight, fireplaces. Things from animals: fur, leather, bone, feathers, wool. Pets & wildlife, Art depicting people, animals, fish, butterflies, sunshine, light, fire.
Shapes: Triangles, pyramids, cones, stars, diamonds.
Colors: The color red & red spectrum, Heat, movement.
Excess: Aggression, anger, impatience, impulsive, overly ambitious. Burn out, crash and burn.
Lack: Lack of enthusiasm, lethargic, dull, cold, unmotivated. Lack-luster, cool as a cucumber.
Earth
Earth is: Physical
Yang=planet, Yin=mother
Sense: Taste (Ancient Masters tasted the earth to see if it could produce crops)
Ch"i Qualities: Fertility, practicality, stability, sensuality, being grounded, organized.
Symbols: Adobe, brick tile, ceramics, earthenware, pottery, soil. Art depicting landscapes, deserts, fields, meadows, grids.
Shapes: Square, rectangles, long, flat surfaces.
Colors: Yellow, earth tones
Excess: Overly disciplined, anal, serious, conservative.
Lack: Spacey, ungrounded, disconnected, lacking stability, shaky, barren.
Water
Water is: Spiritual
Yang=ocean, Yin= ponds, lakes
Sense: Hearing
Ch"i Qualities: Mystical, meditative, relaxed, calm, flowing, trusting the higher order, synchronistic. Water takes on the shape of its container. (like our soul which has no shape only the shape of our body) Water always seeks its lowest level.
Symbols: Streams, rivers, pools, fountains, water features. Reflective surfaces, cut crystal, mirrors, glass. Art depicting waterscapes.
Shapes: Asymmetrical, flowing, free-form, movement, natural forms.
Colors: Black, dark blue, charcoal gray, midnight blue, indigo,
Excess: No structure, passive, inconsistent, "wishy-washy", yin.
Lack: Anxiety, inability to handle stress, need to dominate, lack of flow, disconnected to spirit, dry, combustible.
Metal
Metal is: Mental
Yang=scaffolding, Yin=gemstone
Sense: Smell (Human skeleton is metal. Epitome of strength & endurance)
Ch"i Qualities: Mental clarity, determination, concentration, perseverance, wit, brilliant even during hardship or failure. Connective, quick, networks, communicates.
Symbols: All types of metals, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, brass, iron, aluminum, pewter. All rocks and stones, marble, granite, flagstone, concrete, all natural crystals, rocks and gemstones. Art depicting metal or stone, sculptures of metal or stone. Floral prints, upholstery, draperies, linens, natural fiber, hemp, flax, rayon.
Shapes: Circles, ovals, arches.
Colors: White and light pastels
Excess: Rigid, unable to compromise, fixed, stuck, sharp tongue, isolated.
Lack: Weak, indecisive, procrastination, dull, cloudy, foggy, unclear, indeterminate, non-specific, spineless.
Talk to you next week!
Colors: White and light pastels
Excess: Rigid, unable to compromise, fixed, stuck, sharp tongue, isolated.
Lack: Weak, indecisive, procrastination, dull, cloudy, foggy, unclear, indeterminate, non-specific, spineless.
Talk to you next week!
*******************************
The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.
Ordination with the , is free, and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
The ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
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