This past weekend I made my way to NYC. I had made arrangements to be at a workshop being given by Dr. Brian Weiss.

 A very lovely friend of mine allowed me to stay at her place and even made sure I had transportation to and from the event. She also arranged a group of people that wished to receive readings while I was in town. Her name is Heather. Despite a busy family, hosting an exchange student, breaking in a new puppy and concentrating on her 800 hour level yoga training she made time for me.

While in NYC at the event, another lovely lady I met this past summer made sure I had a pretty marvelous lunch as she made and packed herself. She had plans for us during the lunch break. we ATE IN A CAB! — My first ever cab ride, that she arranged to share a marvelous place…. John The Divine Cathedral.

Her name is Christine Sparta and she teaches people how to use writing as a healing tool for themselves and others:

And the Cathedral was amazing –
   
 
It was possible while in the Cathedral and going through the many rooms to feel the intentions and the prayers of so many. The honest wish for connection, guidance and love to be shared between here and the Divine Realm. 
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Back at the workshop, where there were probably no less than 2000 people present, the theme of the day was that Love lives forever. Dr. Weiss is known for his work with the idea that souls never die, and that they live multiple human lifetimes. The workshop went to great lengths to share with others how we are all connected, that energy is the key and that energy can not be destroyed. This is basic physics, and yet it was demonstrated beautifully through the meditations, healing exercises and sharing of the day. It was brought to the group’s attention that since energy is the basis of all life and we share the same energy source, (God, Divine, Spirit, Universe) … it becomes really, really hard to fear death, or have a prejudice in any way against any other human soul. It becomes even more important to share the Love energy that we all share, through our words, actions and prayers.  
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I worked Saturday night after the workshop. There was a group of people whom I gave individual readings to bringing forth evidence from their loved ones in Spirit. Through these readings, the theme was again that Love never fades away and that healing does still take place after physical death. 
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The next morning I drove to my friend, Navin’s house. There was a ceremony there for his guru that had passed into Spirit 2 weeks ago. She had a very spiritual intimate connection with my friend and in many ways her passing has been more of a life adjustment than a passing of a parent.
 
After the ceremony we traveled to his friend’s house who teaches Hindi meditation and visited her meditation room and had a beautiful conversation about our different backgrounds. 
 
She told me that it did not matter our background or how we were brought up. It also did not matter what tradition we practiced today. What was important was to realize that we are all part of one and the same God. Her words totally echoing the workshop and the readings I had the day before. Even echoing the ceremony held for Gavin’s close friend, teacher and guru. The most interesting thing she asked me was about why I would want to ‘be a channel’ and ‘talk to the dead’ if it was understood that life was everlasting and that it was possible to feel love from loved ones on both sides of that equation. I explained to her that a lot of the people that come to me for appointments or the ones I meet through class or discussion do not always have that understanding. I explained to her that in being able to give evidence that people understand about their loved one that it helps those without an understanding like she has to lesson grief  and the fear of physical death and to also help others understand the continuity of life. I told her about the workshop I just attended and how there were a couple thousand people all searching in some form or another for that validation and to further that understanding. 
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Her thoughts on the understanding that there really was only one God was echoed through a Hindu priest I met later on in the day as Navin took me on an exploration of three different Hindu temples. 
 
After a time of chanting, he spent some time to ask me if I was of the Hindu faith. I told him I appreciated it as I do other religions. He said that it was all good. He went on to say as he pointed to the representations of God present that his God was the same as my God and that it was good we could all be together. He used the analogy of coffee. He said that some like coffee with sugar and others do not like sugar and yet it was still coffee and that the different ways we approach our own spiritual paths are the same in that it is all the same Source, and yet some prefer one type of ceremony, text, service or ritual over another. 

  

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The most interesting revelation to my entire weekend, however was in Navin’s explanation of the Hindu deities I had been taught about and experienced that day. He explained to me that they each had an aspect of humanity and an aspect of humanities search for enlightenment to them and that it was really this energy that was explored through the different deity representations. In effect making them archetypes. So, if one needed help in a certain area, and needed to come in touch with a part of self, they would explore the energy associated with that deity for understanding and healing. He said it was understood that humans sometimes need a focal point to focus thoughts and intentions and that the statue representations offer that.
From my perspective so many of us do exactly that when we pray or meditate. We have an intention. That intention may be for greater understanding, it may be for healing, it may be for personal growth or it may be to just spend time with Divine. In one temple, there were many people at many ‘stations’ all doing just that. There was no right or wrong in where they went for their intention. There was no set limit on how long they spent for their prayer or devotion. There certainly are traditions and understandings that I do not know or understand, and Navin took a lot of the day explaining different aspects of the history and how/why certain ceremonies and such take place …. but what I witnessed most is that there was an understanding that what they did and how they approached the different parts of the temple were correct for them at that time. Much like how we approach our spiritual lives are correct for us at this time. 
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I think it is a stretch sometimes for some of us to explore outside of our comfort bubble. Yet, I find that I achieve the most understanding when I am a bit uncomfortable. When what I think I know is being challenged a bit and I am in a situation to look at the world from another person’s experience. 
I had a student just recently ‘confess’ that she was also going to classes taught by another teacher. She thought she may make me irritated with that revelation. It is not possible for us to fully understand what rings true for us unless we explore. I have teachers that I do gravitate toward, and others that I attend a lecture or a one day workshop and that is enough time for what I need. I learn what fits and what doesn’t fit for my growth and understanding. The Bolts of Love calendar if filled will all kind of different speakers and different types of classes so that people have the opportunity to explore, learn and grow. We grow through exploring and learning from those we feel drawn, we also grow through someone rubbing up against our own understanding and then having to decide if we will take on that point of view presented or not. We solidify our perspective through being willing to share our own unique experiences. The more you explore the more you let Spirit know you are ready for more information, the more you will have the opportunity to grow and to share. 
Special thanks to all those who made my weekend of exploration, work and energetic reboot possible — especially my parents who play nanny for my youngest allowing me this freedom.
Remember…..whatever version it is for you ……………..
NO TIME WITH SPIRIT IS EVER WASTED
Below is a prayer/meditation I was taught by Radha Ma
My prayer for you today.
May all be happy. May all be peaceful. May all be free from disease,
May all enjoy prosperity. May no one experience sorrow. 
Om Peace, Peace, Peace

NYC Exploration and Reboot — “Peace, Peace, Peace”