Eyes to the Soul

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Eyes to the Soul

Ever look into a young child’s eyes and feel as though they are looking deeply into your soul? Perhaps they are… Children have a remarkable number of spontaneous memories from past lives. This is due to at least two factors:

1. They have just recently incarnated so memories of the between lives and past lives are very fresh and real.

2. They spend most of their time in the alpha-wave brain frequency (a light trance state).

The difficult thing for them is that they may have memories but they do not have the language skills to articulate them. Instead, some children act them out in dreams, nightmares, temper tantrums, allergies, and illnesses.

Between the ages of 5 and 7 they start to move into the beta-wave brain frequency (normal waking consciousness) so past life memories decrease. In addition, they are better able to discern this lifetime from other lifetimes. And if they are living in a family that does not believe in reincarnation, they will learn to suppress all past life memories and discussions about them.

And, sadly, by the time most young children transition to adulthood, they lose the ability to look you deeply in the eyes and really see you. I believe the ability gets buried in defense mechanisms acquired through programming and life experiences.

I relentlessly search faces of unknown people whenever I am in public, looking for eyes that might connect and souls that might recognize each other. I remember vividly every single encounter I have had with another soul who has looked so deeply into my eyes, I know they have acknowledged my soul. I remember every encounter no matter how many years ago it happened. Most of these encounters were brief, just a moment in time as virtual strangers, we passed one another. Virtual perhaps but I feel there is a deep, deep knowing of each other. I am puzzled by these glimpses of souls we must have known in another lifetime or in the between lives. Do these encounters become lost connections we are not supposed to pursue during this life even though we recognize each other? Or are they possibly connections that will happen sometime in the future when the time is just ripe? I am hoping whichever it is, that we may meet up again somewhere down the road.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Manifesting through Affirmations and Gratitude

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Affirmations, Gratitude, Manifesting

Affirmations are positive statements of acceptance and manifestation. By repeatedly vocalizing them, affirmation statements can shift the beliefs of the conscious and unconscious mind. These statements are released to the Universe to be fulfilled. Affirmations can be considered a form of prayer.

The theory of how affirmations work is that Thoughts Become Things. Scientists have observed this phenomena in working with quantum physics. Everything in the universe, including our thoughts, is energy. We can influence energy by our observations. If our observations come from an open, loving heart then they are positive and will have a positive influence on our world.

Each time you hear that voice in your head being negative, doubtful, or questioning, gently veer it back on course by saying an affirmation. Over time you will banish the negative thinking all together.

How to write good affirmations:

1. Always use the present tense and the first person.
2. Never use negatives in affirmations.
3. Keep them short but very specific. Remember that you are going to get what you ask for.
4. Believe. The more you believe, the stronger the affirmation.
5. Be repetitive and persistent.

How to implement affirmations:

1. Speak or sing your affirmations each day.
2. Record your affirmations and play them back while awake or sleeping. (You might also try affirmation software that is available at http://www.gotvision.com)
3. Write your affirmations down. Review them regularly. Post them in prominent places.
4. Journal your affirmations and experiences. Record affirmation successes.
5. Visualize your affirmations as living pictures. Visualize your affirmations as if they are true now. Visualization really amps up the power of your affirmations.
6. Create a vision board by pasting pictures of what you are affirming on a board.
7. Take actions toward receiving your affirmation.
8. And very importantly, give gratitude for all the blessings that have arrived and all the blessings still on their way to you.

When affirmations don’t seem to work and you believe you have done your very best, consider these reasons:

1. What you are trying to manifest is still on its way. The timing is not yet quite right for its arrival. Or this affirmation may not be in alignment with your highest good at this time.
2. The subconscious may still have some hidden agenda that is blocking your way. (Try some hypnosis to communicate with the subconscious.)
3. More clearing or personal work is needed to clear the way for your affirmation to manifest.
4. You may have a contract from a past life or your pre-life selection plan that is blocking the incoming manifestation.

One of the very best ways to manifest your desires is to be in a state of gratitude. You can give gratitude for blessings already received or for those still on their way. One great way keep gratitude in your consciousness is to start a Gratitude Jar.

1. Buy or decorate a container (jar or box).
2. Whenever you have something to be grateful for or every time something good happens, write it on a slip of paper and pop it in the container.
3. At any time you might feel down or discouraged, pull a paper out of your jar and re-experience the gratitude and joy you had.
4. Periodically, perhaps once a year, perform a ceremony of opening the jar and reading all of the wonderful things in your life that you are grateful for.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Reincarnation

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Reincarnation

When we have done all the work we were sent to Earth to do, we are allowed to shed our body, which imprisons our soul like a cocoon encloses the future butterfly. And when the time is right, we can let go of it and we will be free of pain, free of fears and worries, free as a very beautiful butterfly, returning home to Spirit. –Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Approximately 75% of the world’s population knows reincarnation exists however only 25% of Americans do.

Which religious faiths have a belief in reincarnation? Baha’i, Confucianism, Druids, Druze, Gnostic, Hinduism, Jainism, Native American, Paganism, Scientology, Rastafari, Shamanism, Shinto, Sikhism, Spiritism, Sufi, Taoism, Theosophy, Wicca, Yoruba, Buddhism, Judaism (in Kabbalah and some orthodox sects), some Spiritualism, some Unitarian Universalism, Christianity (pre-Constantinople).

Which religious faiths do not have a belief in reincarnation? Christianity (post-Constantinople), Islam, Judaism (reformed and conservative), Zoroastrianism, some Spiritualism, some Unitarian Universalism.

The existence of reincarnation is not something that science yet has the capability to prove however the following are strong justifications that is does exist:

1. Quantum Physics
2. Experiencing Dreams
3.  Experiencing Déjà Vu
4.  Hypnotic Regressions
5.  Existence of Birthmarks
6.  Existence of Prodigies and Genius
7.  Experiencing Spontaneous Memories

As Shirley Maclaine says “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”

Here is a list of 10 things everyone should know about reincarnation: (source and additional information is available at this link: http://personalityspirituality.net/2009/07/10/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-reincarnation)

1. The soul exists.
2.  The soul evolves.
3.  There is a law of karma.
4.  Each lifetime is pre-planned.
5.  The soul sticks to one species at a time.
6.  Reincarnation has a beginning and an end.
7.  The soul evolves most effectively in physical form.
8.  The soul has no nationality, creed, race or gender.
9.  There is no urgency to complete our reincarnation cycle.
10.  The soul undergoes the full range of meaningful human experiences and choices by reincarnating.

Common reasons to reincarnate are usually based on:

1. Service (to be in service to others)
2. Desire (perhaps to be with loved ones)
3. Karma (retribution, repetition, or compensation)
4. Growth through lessons (for the soul’s progression)

There is used to be a considerable waiting period between lifetimes with intervals of a 1000 years or more. Modern intervals range from 10 months to 800 years with the average being around 40 years. One reason there may be shorter intervals now is that the world changes a lot more quickly and the pace of life is much quicker. Life in ancient times remained basically the same for many centuries at a time so there would have been little for a soul to learn by returning immediately.

Our so called “problems” may be a result of one single reason but more likely they are a result of a complex set of multidimensional reasons. Finding the solution may require peeling away many layers to get to the core nugget. Once the core is known to us the problems transform into gifts of wisdom.

Doris Eliana Cohen says that we usually have at least 3 life themes that are our core lessons in one lifetime. I am sure that we all relate to many of them because they are universal and common to us all. They are:

1. Not fitting in
2. Feeling victimized
3. Feeling abandoned
4. Being unheard and ignored
5. Feeling helpless and powerless
6. Being overlooked for advancement
7. Feeling misunderstood by everyone
8. Choosing the wrong romantic partner
9. Feeling inadequate or not good enough
10. Lacking money, health, love, or friendship
11. Being angry; having difficulty managing anger
12. Feeling unworthy; experiencing low self-esteem
13. Fear of loss, commitment, intimacy, or being alone
14. Being abused emotionally, physically, and/or sexually
15. Being unacknowledged for one’s gifts or contributions
16. Having personal boundaries violated and disrespected

Each lifetime has Destiny Points. Every incarnated spirit has a preplanned life journey. The soul will meet people and face opportunities and obstacles that it has planned. Free is exercised as the soul reacts to these people, opportunities, and obstacles and the subsequent decisions made from the interactions.

Each lifetime also has Exit Points, which are possible escape hatches or opportunities to bail and return to The Other Side. If a soul decides that it has accomplished all it needs to on this trip, it can opt out at one of these points, or it can decide to stay and continue on. These exit points may be obvious or they may be so trivial that we are not conscious of them. The 10 most common ways to terminate a lifetime are:

1. War
2. Fire
3. Water
4. Attack
5. Suicide
6. Disease
7. Old Age
8. Accident
9. Starvation
10. Catastrophe

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Lightworkers & Lightwalkers

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Lightwalkers, Lightworkers

WWLWD? Before reacting, think What Would a Light Worker Do?

Lightworkers are old souls who have come back to Earth to be in service helping others rise to a higher dimension or state of consciousness. Lightworkers have lived many lives as monks, nuns, hermits, psychics, witches, shamans, priests/priestesses, etc. in which they were deeply involved with spirituality. Lightworkers have learned these concepts well:

1. Great Spirit/Source/Creator is Energy
2. Everything is made of Energy
3. We all have the Great Spirit/Source/Creator within us so we are all connected
4. Unconditional Love, the purest form of Energy, is the greatest healer of all

Lightworkers have a strong drive to spread light, love, knowledge, freedom, and empowerment.  They are attracted to spirituality, psychic work, counseling, mentoring, teaching, and energy work. All of this work contributes to the general rise in consciousness on the planet.

A wayshower is a lightworker that walks her/his talk. One who embodies the qualities that s/he wishes others to assume. Their light and energetic life-force can be assimilated by all who meet them. A wayshower is a person who lives at the highest level of ethical and divine qualities and is willing to share it with others.

Dedicated to their mission, lightworkers often feel different from other people. Nearly always solitary individuals, they are traveling their own unique path.

The Lightworker Prayer: Let my light be a beacon for you to find your way to my heart.

The Lightworker Motto: Do bee a Lightworker. Don’t bee a Darkworker.
Pollinate every living thing with your Light and in so doing sip the sweet nectar of Love.

A Lightworker Proverb: Light your fires before this life expires.

A Lightworker Tip: Don’t tame your flame. Let it glow wild!

A Lightworker Affirmation: If I must die before I wake, let me be a lightworker reincarnate.

Lightworkers Unite! Share your Light with the World.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Power Animal Retrieval

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Animal Totem, Power Animal, Spirit Animal

Power animals may be referred to by other names such as: spirit animals (Native American), guardian spirits (North America), helping spirits (North America), tutelary spirits (Siberia), nagual (Mexico and Guatemala), assistant totems (Australia), familiars (Europe), animal guides, animal totems, assistant spirits, and energy animals.

Note: Some Native American tribes have requested that non-natives do not use the term “spirit animal” in their work. They consider it to be cultural appropriation of a sacred and secret process.

The characters in Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials, had spirits similar to power animals that were called dæmons. Dæmons were the external physical manifestation of a person’s inner-self that took the form of an animal. Children’s dæmons could change form to but at adolescence an individual’s dæmon became permanent and assumed the form of the animal which s/he most resembled in character. Interestingly, dæmons and their humans were almost always of different genders.

A power animal is a entity that acts as a guide, ally, teacher, messenger, and/or protector. Power animals can be mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, or mythical. However, domesticated animals and pets are generally not considered power animals.

Power animals communicate through signs, symbols, words that you may receive through any of your senses (hearing, feeling, knowing, seeing, and tasting).

Each animal has its own unique medicine. Animals have a group soul so their power comes from the entire species not just a specific or single animal. Who your power animal is will be based on your emotional needs and the qualities that you need in this world. Your animal has a specific lesson for you. If an individual is without a power animal, s/he becomes dis-empowered and vulnerable to illness and bad luck.

Everyone has at least one animal guide even if you are not aware of it. Many have more than one. There may be one that is the primary while others may be secondary. Some may be permanent and others may be temporary. Some believe that you have 3 principle power animals, one on your left, one on your right, and one within you. You probably had one as a child. Remember that stuffed animal your parents gave you as a baby?

Shamans and shamanic practitioners are assisted by power animals on a regular basis. They meet during dreams, meditations, visions, and shamanic journeys to non-ordinary reality.

HOW TO FIND YOUR POWER ANIMAL

There are various ways to find out what your power animal is. The process is considered to be sacred. In traditional indigenous cultures, the animal would come to an individual in a dream, during a vision quest, walkabout, or pilgrimage, or through a physical encounter.

A power animal chooses you, you do not choose it. Also it is not recommended that you choose a power animal by pulling a card from an animal deck. Card decks are meant to give you messages but not identify who your power animal is.

Here are some ways that you could find your power animal:

1. Having an animal appear in your dreams.
2. Participating in a guided meditation by an experienced guide.
3. Doing a personal meditation, vision quest, walkabout, or pilgrimage.
4. Do your own power animal retrieval by learning how to do shamanic journeys.
5. Have a mentor, shaman, or medicine person do a power animal retrieval for you.
6. Observing repeated and/or unusual visitations from an animal in Nature within a short time frame. Be aware that any animal that appears to you, whether your power animal or not, is presenting a message to you.

Note, any quest for a power animal requires multiple appearances of that animal. A single encounter is not a clear indicator that the animal that appeared is your power animal. For instance, a single encounter may be an animal that will act as a guide to lead you to your power animal. When in doubt, always ask the animal.

Some believe that if you have a strong affinity for an animal, it is likely that is your power animal. There is an Animal Quiz you can take at this site: http://www.spiritanimal.info/spirit-animal-quiz/. However I highly recommend that you find your power animal through one of the 6 suggested ways above.

As an experienced shamanic practitioner, I do power animal retrievals for individuals through a journey to the Lower World for a nominal fee. I provide a certificate as shown above with the animal and a few of its attributes.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR POWER ANIMAL

Once you have a power animal, it is very important to honor it. Your connection to your animal must also be kept alive. The old proverb, “use it or lose it”, applies to your relationship with your power animal. You must maintain your connection with them or they will leave.

Following are ways in which to connect, communicate, and honor your beloved animal:

1. Pray or sing to your animal.
2. Give offerings of tobacco or corn meal.
3. Visit real life animals of the same species.
4. Invite your animal in to your body, mind, and spirit.
5. Express your love and gratitude to your animal regularly.
6. Ask your animal for advice, support, protection, and wisdom.
7. Prepare and eat a ritual meal consisting of your animal’s favorite foods.
8. Donate time or money to organizations that support and protect your animal.
9. Learn as much about your animal as you can. List the qualities of your animal
10. Wear jewelry or clothes that illustrate your animal. Perhaps even get a tattoo of your animal.
11. Find a picture and/or figure of your animal and keep it near you (in your home, in your wallet, on your altar, etc.)
12. Meditate or journey to communicate with your animal on a regular basis. Ask what your animal wants to be called.
13. Merge with your animal and “dance” as a merged spirit. (Always remember to disconnect with the dancing is done.)
14. Many keep the identity of their power animal secret. It is up to you whether or when you will reveal the identity of your animal.

Copyright © 2017 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Sacred Sexuality

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Sacred Sex

It over a year since the consciousness shift began in December 2012. As a result many of us are naturally shifting our spiritual perspectives. It may also be a time to shift our sexual perspectives as well and perhaps even wed our sexual activities with our spiritual practices.

The subject of sacred sex should not be taboo because it is an expression of love – love for another, love for one’s self, and even just the love of sex.

First let’s define what we mean by making love for the purposes of this article. When two people feel an affinity or powerful love towards each other, they want to express their love through touch. If the chemistry is right, especially in the limerence* stage, a couple may have the feeling of wanting to physically merge, swallow up the partner, or be swallowed up by the partner.

*Limerence was defined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe the near-obsessional form of romantic love. It is the involuntary cognitive and emotional state of intense romantic desire for another person. It is experienced in the initial stages of a new relationship.

TYPES OF LOVE

The ancient Greeks identified 5 different types of love:

1.   Eros – Romantic & Sexual
2.   Philia – Friendship
3.   Storge – Kinship
4.   Agape – Divine
5.   Xenia – Hospitality

The Chinese identified yet another category call Ren, which is benevolent love that focuses on duty, action and attitude. In Judaism, Chesed is a form of love described as loving-kindness. Impersonal love is a love for objects, causes, principles, or goals.

SEXUAL ENERGY

Sexual Energy is one of the most powerful energies humans can generate, reflect, and absorb. However, Sexual Energy doesn’t always have to be used for the sexual act or for the goal of orgasm. Many Eastern practices discuss the tantra of love, sex, and yoga. Many of these practices defer the moment of orgasm. Sexual energy can be diverted to be used in creativity, play, prayer, manifesting desires, and making affirmations.

Sex isn’t only about inserting Tab A into slot B. Much more is happening on the energetic level. In fact two individuals can merge energetically not even involving the merging of the physical bodies. The energetic body can be caressed, massaged, and made love to.

Think about how couples make love that do not have physical body parts that work together. The making of love takes place energetically and emotionally. For more information on how to transform your sexual life into a broader experience that includes the energy body, you may want to purchase the DVD, Path of the Sexual Shaman: Teachings on Energy, Orgasm, and Wisdom, available at http://sexualshaman.com/description.html#DPSS.

When the two energies of sexuality and spirituality are combined with one intention and one action, a tremendous amount of energy can be generated and released. The intention becomes the energetic expression and the action becomes the physical expression. This form can be used in solo sex or sex with partners. Think about releasing a wish to manifest something into the Universe with the energy of an orgasm!

In Judaism, the Shekhina is the Divine Feminine, the feminine aspects of G-d. At the beginning of the Shabbath, two candles are lit by the woman of the home, kindling great arousal in the upper world. It is a mitzvah (good deed) for a Kabbalist to make love to his wife on the Shabbath. This act of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine uniting makes G-d one [whole and balanced]. As above, so below. As it is on Earth, so it is in Heaven.

If you would like to explore your sexuality in safe and sacred space, here are a few ways:

1. Participate in erotic massage exchanges
2. Learn Tantric Yoga
3. Go to Sex Therapy
4. Use a Surrogate Sex Partner
5. Hire a Sacred Intimate

SACRED INTIMATE

A Sacred Intimate is a professional that works erotically and energetically with those seeking healing, guidance or transformation in their erotic and spiritual lives. The primary gifts a Sacred Intimate contributes are Presence and Service. They are of service by: listening deeply, doing whatever is asked (within their power), performing emotional clearing, fulfilling fantasies, countering negative self-talk with affirmations, and erotic healing. A Sacred Intimate helps others remove the stigma and shame from sex and associated body parts. The Sacred Intimate provides a safe and sacred space to heal, teach, and help others explore their sexual issues.

Some of their work may include: intentional hugs, erotic massage, role play, bondage, sacred S&M play or any other things that will meet the needs of the client while not crossing the professional and personal boundaries of the Sacred Intimate. Sacred Intimate work is about healing, reclaiming, rejoicing and celebrating beautiful erotic spirit.

A Sacred Intimate has been called by many names: Erotic Priest, Priest of Love, Sacred Prostitute, Qadishtu, Heriodule, Heteratae, Courtesan, Friends with Benefits, Healer, Sexual Shaman, Sex Worker, Sex Therapist, and Sensual Masseur.

SACRED SEX RULES

In any encounter between two people there should be consent and agreement on what the ground rules are. Too many rules will restrict your freedom of expression, but a few basic ones will protect the participants involved. An agreement on the ground rules provides a safe and sacred place have sex. Sacred Sex rules are:

1. Follow the Wicca Rede of Respect: If it harms none, do what you will.
2. Exorcise shame.
3. Go with the flow of the heart.
4. Use the mind as an erogenous zone, not as a referee or judge.
5. What happens in “intimacy” stays in “intimacy”. Keep your interaction sacred by not gossiping about it to others.

It is important to keep your own energy systems pure. Daily practices of grounding and protection is a must. In addition, carefully consider who you choose to exchange intimate energy with. There are two acceptable motives for intimate energy exchanges (IEE):

1. You are with a partner of equal or higher energetic vibration.
2. You are with a partner of lower energetic vibration as an act of service. In other words, you are volunteering to be with them for teaching or giving motives.

ENERGETIC SEX

When most people think about making love, they picture manifesting that love with their physical bodies. However, there is another body to consider in the use of love expression and that is the energy body.

If you would like to increase your receptiveness to energy or feel it more effectively, here are 3 exercises that may help:

1. Practice with yourself: Rub the palms of your hands together a half dozen times to awaken your hand chakras. Now hold your hands in front of you, palms facing toward each other and spread about 3’ apart. Slowly begin to move the palms toward each other. Note the subtle differences in the energy.
2. Choose a crystal and run it from your crown chakra to your base chakra. Note the feeling of energy movement in your body.
3. Practice with a partner: Have another person lie horizontally. Now do a body scan by holding your open hand, palm down, over your partner’s base chakra. Note what you feel. Try to detect the shape and condition of the chakra with your hand. Now move up to the next chakra and complete this scan for all 7 chakras

The mind is the most erotic organ you your body. That is why fantasy is so powerful. So making love energetically consists of using your mind to:

1. Set intention. Your intention will involve what you want to experience with your partner.
2. Set attention. Focus on the energetic exchange more than on the specific body parts.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

The Ancestors

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Ancestors

We, as descendants, are the phoenix of human life rising from the ashes of our ancestor’s lives. We return to ashes once again to become the ancestors of our descendants.

We must realize that the Earth is grossly overpopulated already and there is no need to continue churning out children at the previous rate. Perhaps if we were to embrace our “oneness” and recognize our eternity there would be far less need to perpetuate our personal DNA.

Do I regret not having children in this lifetime to carry on my blood line? No, even though I really wanted kids at certain times of my life, my consolation is that I will become a descendent of myself through future lives. So I strive to live this life, learning as much as I can, in order to enter my next life and take up where I left off. We cannot take any physical items with us when we pass out of this lifetime but we certainly will take the memory of the lessons we encountered and the wisdom we have learned from them.

We inherit the blessings and gifts of our ancestors as well as the baggage. The ancestors are always energetically supporting us as we travel our paths. As we heal ourselves, we should keep in mind that we are affecting the healing of at least seven ancestor generations backward and seven descendant generations forward. By healing the heavy energy of our souls we help lighten the load of future and past generations.

We are all connected, and what we do affects everybody. As we heal ourselves, we help heal others and the world. What we do for one person in the microcosm we do to the greater consciousness of the macrocosm.

THE VEIL

There is a veil that lies between incarnate and discarnate spirits. It’s there to help us focus on our physical goals while incarnated rather than be distracted by the activities in the spirit world. The veil is an aspect of our consciousness that keeps us from perceiving the spirit world. The other side is always there but we usually can’t see it’s there because of the veil.

There are specific times when the veil is considered to be thinner than other times. This allows spirits to pass through more easily. In other words, communication between the incarnated (physical) world and the disincarnated (spirit) world is more easily facilitated.

The veil is thinner during the in-between times. The in-between time is symbolically connected to ordinary reality and to spirit world reality. All places and times that are in-between are magically potent. In-between places are thresholds and gates. In-between times include: midnight, noon, dusk, dawn, Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Samhain/Halloween, and May Eve/Beltane.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ANCESTRY

An ancestor is any person from whom one is descended. An individual has a total of 2046 ancestors up to the 10th generation. A person has over a billion 30th generation ancestors. That’s a lot of ancestors. And it doesn’t even include ancestors from our past lives.

The ancestral group soul is the oversoul of all people of a particular heritage. For example, there exists a racial oversoul of all African people, of all Native America ns, all Europeans etc. Within the group soul there are subgroups, each having their own group spirit.

I would like to present the following three ancestor principles to consider:

PRINCIPLE 1: We have 2 ancestral lineages:

1. Our Physical Ancestors – Ancestors of our physical bodies that are connected to us through DNA.

2. Our Spiritual Ancestors – Ancestors through our past life bodies that are connected to us through our souls.

This means we have a lot of ancestors from many different cultures and if we go far enough back in history, it’s easy to understand that we all really are connected. Doing research for this article I read that all blue-eyed people have one common ancestor they evolved from 10,000 years ago. It is also known that all of us originated from a spot in Africa and then spread out across the world over thousands of years.

PRINCIPLE 2: We are our own ancestors.

1. We are the Descendants of ourselves in past lives.2. We become Ancestors when we pass over from this life.

PRINCIPLE 3: We should not only honor ancestors but open communication with them. Our ancestors watch over our shoulders. They are there for protection, assistance, and advice but only if we ask for it.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ANCESTORS

To open communication with your ancestors, it is a good idea to ground and open sacred space. Then clear your mind through meditation, chanting, deep breathing, shamanic journeying, or self-hypnosis. You can call upon the ancestors for help or guidance, silently or aloud. Learn to “feel”, “see”, or “hear” the presence of the ancestor. To contact a specific ancestor, call the ancestor by name 3 times. To contact an unknown ancestor, command that they be brought forth. You can work with guides or guardians as a go-between. When you are finished, thank the ancestors for their assistance.

A fun way to connect with an ancestor is to create a black and white line drawing from a photo. Then color what you think s/he would have looked like while thinking about this ancestor.

One of the best ways to commemorate ancestors is to create an altar. The altar should be visited regularly and can be a place to sit and converse with your ancestors. An altar is created by allocating a special area in your home and add some of the following items:

1. Cigars
2. Crystals
3. Flowers
4. Candles
5. Altar Cloth
6. Ancestor Mementos
7. Photos (do not put pictures of the living)
8. Small Toys (for spirits of deceased children)
9. Dirt from a deceased family member’s grave
10. Mirror (spirits live on the other side of mirrors)
11. Drink Offerings – water, coffee, milk, or whiskey
12. Food Offerings – bread, fruit, candy, rice, chicken, and other white foods (never salt)

Monday is the traditional day to feed the ancestors. Leaving the ancestors hungry means they cannot act on our behalf, which is likely to result in problems such as poverty and other troubles. Allow them to eat for 24 hours. Any food stuffs removed should be place outside at the base of a tree.

BEST TIMES TO CONNECT WITH ANCESTORS

There are different times when the veil between the worlds (the incarnated world and the spirit world) is thinner than usual. These times traditionally are:

1. Daily: In your dreams, just as you wake in the morning, and just as you doze off at night.

2. Altered States: Meditation, shamanic journeys, and hypnosis trances. If you would like to receive a really clear, strong message from your ancestor in the form of a dream, you can sleep in front of the ancestor altar or directly on top of the grave of a chosen ancestor.

3. Yearly: Winter Solstice (Dec 21), Summer Solstice (Jun 21), Halloween/Samhain (Oct 31), Dia de los Muertos/All Saints Day (Nov 1), and All Saints Day (Nov 2).

ANCESTOR VENERATION

People who seek providence from their deceased ancestors practice ancestor worship or ancestor veneration. Veneration means profound reverence, respect or awe.

Ancestor celebrations can be traced back as far as the ancient Egypt when departed souls were honored during the great festival of Osiris.

The core belief of ancestor veneration is that there is continued existence after death. Therefore, the Spiritual Scientific Research Foundation identified the following benefits that ancestor veneration can provide:

• Protection: Ancestors may be guardian angels, providing protection and guidance. They may have special powers that can influence events or control well-being.

• Intervention: Ancestors may be intermediaries between family members and deities.

• Fear and Reverence: Neglected Ancestors may cause disease and other misfortunes.

• Communication from the Afterlife: Departed ancestors may have the ability to communicate with the living through dreams and possession.

• Help in Life’s Decisions: Ancestors may provide guidance when contacted séances, mediums, or Ouija boards to help make important decisions.

Some cultures are more closely in touch with their ancestors than others. For instance, in Yoruba, families bury their deceased in the floors of their homes. Their beloved ancestors are literally under their feet living close to the family.

The Hispanic culture reveres their ancestors with a glass of water and a candle, thus giving their ancestral spirits luz (light: to guide their way), progreso (progress; advancement), and refresco (refreshment). In the United States, remembering ancestors occurs year round and at special times such as Memorial Day, Easter, Christmas, Candlemas, and All Souls’ Day people put flowers, wreaths, grave decorations, candles, or small pebbles on graves year-round as a way to honor the dead.

Many cultures have specific days set aside to celebrate and commemorate the ancestors. Following is a list of all the ones I was able to find:

Samhain (so’wen) – Celtic Pagan Oct 31. The dead are believed to return to the world of the living so offerings of food and light are left for them.

Kalan Gwav (Cornwall) / Calan Gaeaf (Wales) Nov 1. Autumn ancestor festivals.

Halloween / All Hallow’s Eve – Western Europe and North America Oct 31. Evolved from pagan festivals of the dead. Wearing masks and costumes provides a disguise that allows people to be unrecognizable to the spirits that wander the earth at this time.

Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead (Mexico) and Finados (Brazil) Todos Los Santos & Undas / Araw ng mga Patay (The Philippines) Nov 1 is the day to remember deceased infants and children. Nov 2 is the day to remember deceased adults.

Dia de los Ñatitas / Day of the Skulls – Bolivia Nov 9. The skulls of family members kept at home to watch over the family are crowned with fresh flowers and given offerings of gratitude.

All Souls Day and All Saints Day – Catholic Church Nov 1 is All Saints’ Day (Hallowmas). It is a day to honor all the saints, known and unknown. All Souls Days commemorate the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.

Gai Jatra – Nepal Cow Pilgrimage, where a cow leads the spirits of the dead into the next land.

Wag (Wahg / Wagy / Ouag / Uak) Festival – Egypt Aug 8. The Egyptian Day of the Dead celebrated in honor of Osiris.

Fet Tout Namn – Haiti Nov 1 & 2 is Fet Ghede, a vodou feast. Ghede are the family of spirits (Loa) associated with the death and fertility.

Chinese New Year – China Respect is paid to the gods and ancestors before the New Year’s festivities begin.

Tomb Sweeping Day / Grave Sweeping Day / Qingming Festival / Pure Brightness Festival / Clear Bright Festival / Ancestors Day / All Souls Day – China around Apr 5. Respect and homage is paid to all ancestors at the grave sites.

Hungry Ghost Festival – China 15^th day of the 7^th lunar moon. Ghosts of deceased ancestors come out from the lower realm to seek food on Earth. Their sufferings are absolved sufferings and offerings are made for comfort.

Double 9th Festival / Chong Yang Festival – China 9^th day of the 9^th lunar month. Respect is paid to ancestors and elderly.

Bon Festival / Obon Festival – Japan Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of the ancestors. There are 3 different times of Obon based on locality. Hachigatsu Bon (around Aug 15) – most commonly celebrated time. Shichigatsu Bon (around Jul 15) – eastern Japan. Kyu Bon (Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15^th day of the 7^th lunar month – northern Kantō region, Chūgoku region, Shikoku, and the Okinawa Prefecture.

Faun Phii – Thailand The spirit dance or ghost dance is a religious ceremony honoring ancestral spirits.

Tarpan and Pitru Paksha – India Month of Ashwin. Pitru Paksha (fortnight of ancestors) is a 2 week period when Tarpan is offered to all the ancestors. Tarpan is a ritual conducted 1½ years after a family member dies and then is repeated every year on the anniversary of the death.

Jerye / Jesa – Korea Ancestral rites fall into 3 categories:
1. Charye – tea rites held 4 times a year on major holidays such as the Korean New Year.
2. Kije – household rites held the night before an ancestor’s death anniversary.
3. Sije – seasonal rites held for ancestors who are 5 or more generations removed (typically performed annually on the 10th lunar month)

Munmyo Jerye (Apr and Sep) is conducted to commemorate Confucian scholars and Jongmyo Jerye (1^st Sunday of May) is conducted to commemorate kings of ancient times.

Chuseok / Hangawi is a day that people visit the tombs of immediate ancestors.

Feast of the Lemures – Ancient Rome May 9th, 11th, and 13th. There were two kinds of souls: the Lares (guardian spirits and family friends) and Larvae (restless and hungry ghosts). The Lares were honored in the household year round. The Larvae were fed black beans (a food for the dead) then driven away with loud noise and violent gestures.

Dies Parentalia – Ancient Rome A 9-day festival during which the burial rites of one’s departed parents were renewed.

The Anthesteria – Ancient Greece End of Feb. Great annual festival of the dead celebrated with wine.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

The Spiritual Warrior / Warrioress

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Peaceful Warrior, Spiritual Warrior

The term “warrior” is often associated with power, chivalry, honor, integrity, bravery, courage, and battle. However, there is a difference between a warrior and a soldier. A soldier is trained to follow orders and respect authority. A warrior is more autonomous and independent.

You have probably lived many past lives. And of those lives, there is a good chance that at least some of them have been lived as a warrior/warrioress. I know I have lived many lives as a warrior. As a result, I find it difficult to put down the sword and shield at times, even if they are not needed. So in this life I am learning to transition from a warrior identity to a spiritual identity. Rather than to completely suppress or deny the qualities I learned as a warrior, I can apply these qualities in living as a Spiritual Warrior.

Some very famous Spiritual Warriors are Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Too some, combining the concept of a warrior to spiritual realms may seem like a paradox. And those who are pacifists at heart may rankle at the thought of warriorship. However, a warrior can be passionate about peace. In addition to that, a Spiritual Warrior/Warrioress has the following characteristics:

• Is creative
• Never give up
• Seizes the day
• Are goal-oriented
• Embraces self-discovery
• Is committed to principles
• Is in touch with their heart
• Forgives and avoids revenge
• Able to share and give to others
• Use strength and power to overcome obstacles
• Takes responsibility for his/her choices and actions
• Serves with love and gives generously while giving to themselves
• Have a strong sense of justice and will defend what they perceive as right
• Are always ready to protect and save loved ones and innocent characters
• Is flexible and adaptable; able to act independently as well as be a team player
• Masters him/herself and overcomes moral issues and all weaknesses of character
• Challenges fear, lies, false beliefs, and judgments that create suffering and unhappiness

A Spiritual Warrior/Warrioress has a lifetime commitment to:

• Study, train and practice
• Develop persistence and mental focus
• Develop discipline both internally and externally
• Face difficulty, pain, discomfort, discouragement, fear without quitting

Following are some examples of the Spiritual Warrior/Warrioress concept:

BUDDHISM
The Buddhist definition of a Spiritual Warrior is one who combats self-ignorance, which is the ultimate source of suffering. The Spiritual Warrior’s practice is compassionately helping others with wisdom. In 1976, Chogyam Trungpa established the Shambhala Training program on spiritual warriorship. He wrote The Sacred Path of the Warrior.

JOCK BROCAS
Jock Brocas wrote a book called The Book of 6 Rings: Secrets of the Spiritual Warrior, which is about increasing intuitive abilities. He defines a Spiritual Warrior’s characteristics as:

• A warrior believes.
• A warrior is mindful.
• A warrior is humble.
• A warrior co-creates.
• A warrior is grateful.
• A warrior gives service.
• A warrior does not worry.
• A warrior is devoid of ego and desire.
• A warrior is relaxed and self-confident.
• A warrior forgives and is compassionate.

DAN MILLMAN
Dan Millman wrote a series of books about the Peaceful Warrior. The first one, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, was also made into a movie. It is an autobiographical account of an athlete, who is guided by a powerful old warrior named Socrates, while he is training.

CARLOS CASTANEDA
Carlos Castaneda wrote a series of books about Don Juan Matus, who was a Nagual shaman. He is a Man of Knowledge who teaches Castaneda much about wisdom, clarity, shamanism, and warriorship. Castaneda’s book, The Wheel of Time, is a compilation of quotes, mostly on warriors, from 7 of his books.

KIRK PRINE
In Erotic Body Prayer, Kirk Prine says that the basic definition of a Peaceful Warrior is one who is willing to know oneself and willing to face one’s fears. He says:

“Peaceful, a word of inner direction, compassion, mercy, negotiation, alignment, centeredness and tranquility, joins paradoxically, with the word warrior, which expresses the energy of outer directedness, protection, boundary keeping and fighting. Together they combine to produce harmony, freedom and wholeness. Queer folk often embody a 2-spirit worldview, and behave in a way that synthesizes these 2 energies.“

The Peaceful Warrior is the first of 6 Queer Archetypes that Kirk has created. The other 5 are: the Sacred Prostitute, The Lover, The Elder, The Prophet, and The Mystic.

Kirk defines the 5 themes of the Peaceful Warrior’s role as:

• One who is able to ask for help.
• One who is his/her own authority.
• One who deals with conflict heartfully.
• One who lives in their “yes” or “no”.
• One who sets or expands boundaries.

JOHN-ROGER
In Spiritual Warrior, John-Roger identifies 5 characteristics to exercise each day to bring a spiritual warrior closer to Spirit:

1. The Spiritual Warrior accepts all things.
2. The Spiritual Warrior cooperates with all things.
3. The Spiritual Warrior understands all things.
4. The Spiritual Warrior has enthusiasm for all things.
5. The Spiritual Warrior has empathy for all things.

He identifies 3 qualities are especially vital to the Spiritual Warrior:

1. Intention. Spiritual Warriors make sure their intention is very clear because they know that what they put out into the world is what they get back.
2. Impeccability. Spiritual Warriors use their energy wisely and purposefully, conserving and directing it so that they align themselves with Spirit.
3. Ruthlessness is the Spiritual Warrior’s Sword of Truth, the Sword of the Heart, which cuts away all that is no longer necessary or useful.

PAUL COELHO
Paulo Coelho, in his book, Warrior of the Light, defines a Light Warrior as one who appreciates the miracle of being alive, accepts failure, and becomes the person s/he wants to be.

PERUVIAN COSMOLOGY
While learning indigenous Peruvian medicine, we learn that the journey of the peaceful warrior is about the death of the Ego. In order to step beyond death and fear, the Ego must be surrendered. This can be done by creating right relationship and owning both the dark and light side of ourselves.

CELESTE ADAMS
Celeste Adams recognizes the Magician as the archetype that surpasses the Warrior and the Martyr. She says that Warrior struggles and the Martyr is a victim, but the Magician believes in infinite potential and possibility. The archetype of Magicians includes medicine men, wizards, witches, shamans, brujos, curanderos, doctors, and inventors.

MY ROADMAP FROM MARTYR TO MAGICIAN
As a synthesis of the various teachings on Spiritual Warriorship, I created the following 5 archetypes. They may seem like masculine archetypes and may well be well-suited for men. I believe that modern men are in search of strong archetypes that they can model from. But also, let us try to reduce the amount of gender-labeling we put on characteristics. Can we not just identify all characteristics as human rather than classifying them as either male or female?

The Spiritual Warriorship archetypes can almost be following as a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Martyr – We all begin at the Martyr stage, that place of being a victim to all that happens to us. Blame is placed on all the forces that are seemingly out of our control. As martyrs we are in a state of codependence because our boundaries are weak.

Warrior – Then we rise up out of Martyrdom by becoming Warriors. We step out of victimhood and into our personal power. We learn to establish boundaries and stand up for ourselves. We can distinguish between what is me and what is not me. We learn to develop powerful characteristics that are integrated into our personalities. We begin accept blame as a result of our own actions.

Pacifist – To balance this war-like nature, we must spend time as a Pacifist, learning the ways of the Heart. We learn to erase blame by forgiving ourselves and others. We no longer follow the crowd but instead follow our own beliefs.

Wanderer – Eventually we come to a point when we realize we need to synthesize all that we have learned. That sends us on a journey as a Wanderer, roaming the dimensions, on a spiritual quest for answers.

Magician – Finally as Magicians, we have learned how to integrate the Self with Spirit. We become whole, wise, balanced, and at peace within our own souls. We have learned that there is no such thing as blame because everything happens at the perfect time and place for the perfect reason.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

6 Books to Inspire

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Books about Survival, Inspirational Books

Are you feeling down, discouraged, defeated? Read these 6 books for uplifting inspiration and motivation! They can all be summed up by the following parable: Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up! And yes, miracles do occur…

Dying to be Me – Anita Moorjani
Autobiography of a woman that is dying from cancer and experiences a near-death experience where she realizes her self-worth. Upon regaining consciousness, her cancer rapidly and miraculously disappears.

Touching the Void – Joe Simpson
Autobiography of a man that fell while climbing a 21,000-foot peak in the Andes. Breaking his leg, he crawls on over cliffs and canyons for 3 days to return to base camp.

Proof of Heaven – Eben Alexander
Autobiography of a neurosurgeon who suffers from a rare brain disease that shut down his brain. During his 7 day coma, he experiences an amazing near-death experience, then completely recovers to write about it.

My Stroke of Insight – Jill Bolte Taylor
Autobiography of a brain scientist that experienced a massive stroke and the 8 years it took her to recover.

The Afterlife of Billy Fingers: How My Bad-Boy Brother Proved to Me There’s Life After Death – Annie Kagan
Story about the author’s brother, who was an addict that dies and shares after death communications with her.

Between a Rock & a Hard Place – Aron Ralston
Autobiography of a man hiking in Utah. Alone and 8 miles from his truck an 800 pound boulder pins right arm against the canyon wall. After 6 days, he realizes what he must do to survive.

(Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with any of these authors, publishers, or distributors. My recommendations are simply from books that I personally have enjoyed.)

The Hopi Prophecies: Will You Choose the Red Road or the Black Road?

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Hopi Prophecy, Red Road

Hopi is the shortened version of Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, which means “The Peaceful People” or “Peaceful Little Ones”. The Hopi Dictionary gives the primary meaning of the word “Hopi” as: behaving one, one who is mannered, civilized, peaceable, polite, who adheres to the Hopi way.

The Hopi have a prophecy from several thousand years ago that is a petroglyph near Oraibi, Arizona, called Prophecy Rock. There are no dates given but 9 signs:

1st Sign: The white-skinned men will come and strike their enemies with thunder. (interpreted as guns.)

2nd Sign: Spinning wheels with voices will come. (interpreted as pioneer covered wagons.)

3rd Sign: A strange beast like buffalo but with great long horns will overrun the land in large numbers. (interpreted as longhorn cattle.)

4th Sign: The land will be crossed by snakes of iron. (interpreted as railroad tracks.)

5th Sign: The land will be crisscrossed by a giant spider’s web. (interpreted as electric power and telephone lines.)

6th Sign: The land shall be crisscrossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun. (interpreted as concrete highways.)

7th Sign: The sea will turn black and many living things will die because of it. (interpreted as oil spills.)

8th Sign: Many youth, who wear their hair long, will come to join the tribal nations, to learn their ways and wisdom. (interpreted as the Hippy Movement of the 1960s.)

9th Sign: A dwelling-place in the heavens shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. (interpreted as the U.S. Space Station Skylab, which fell to Earth in 1979.)

The Hopi say that the 11th hour is now. And it is uncanny but synchronous that the North and South American indigenous people as well as the Tibetans have similar prophecies. Listen to these prophecies:

“When the iron bird flies, the red-robed people of the East who have lost their land will appear, and the two brothers from across the great ocean will be reunited.” –Hopi Prophecy

“When the iron eagle flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered over the Earth and the dharma will go onto the Land of the Red Man.” –Tibetan Prophecy

“Those from the Center make us unite. The Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South. We will meet with our Relatives because we are One, as the fingers of a hand.” –Hopi Prophecy

 “An ancient prophecy, shared by indigenous people throughout the Americas, says when the Eagle of North America and the Condor of South America unite, the spirit of peace will awaken on Earth. After waiting for millennia, many native peoples believe the time is now.” –Jonette Crowley, The Eagle & the Condor

“The time of the one wolf is over. Gather yourselves! All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” –Oraibi, Arizona, June 8, 2000

The Lakota also have a prophecy that was told by White Buffalo Calf Woman, who also brought the 7 sacred ceremonies to the Lakota. The White Buffalo will return in the way White Buffalo Calf Woman left: by rolling over 4 times, getting up each time as a calf of a different color: red, yellow, black, and finally white. At the beginning of Creation, a buffalo was placed in the West in order to hold back the waters. Each year this buffalo loses one hair and each age he loses one leg. When all his hair and legs are gone then the waters will rush in once again. It is believed the buffalo is on his last leg.

Hindu tradition has a similar prophecy. The bull Dharma has 4 legs that represent the 4 yugas (ages). During the cycle of the ages, spirituality decreases until the cycle ends with catastrophe. It is believed that the bull is also on his last leg.

This final Hindu age is called the Kali Yuga, which began approximately 5,000 years ago and it has 427,000 to go. Within this 432,000 year period, there is a Golden Age which lasts 10,000 years. In 2014, we are in the 5116th year of the cycle (based on the start date of Kali Yuga as 3102 BCE). It is believed that the Golden Age began in 1898.

The Hopi say we have a choice. We can choose to travel the Red Road of the spiritual world or the Black Road of the material world. Traveling the Red Road puts us in harmony with Earth, leads us to the Great Spirit, to higher dimensions of spirituality, and Oneness. The Black Road causes the ruin of Earth and leads to avarice, greed, and destruction. The further along the Black Road is traveled, the harder it is to rejoin the Red Road. Eventually a point of no return will be reached.

Which road do you choose?

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com