36 results for tag: Spiritual Development

Spiritual Retreat at Portsmouth Abbey

This past week I had the opportunity for a two-day spiritual retreat at Portsmouth Abbey in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. If you have never been there, Portsmouth Abbey is on a beautiful campus next to the ocean sharing its property with Portsmouth Abbey School....

Overcoming Fear is Not as Easy as a Bumper Sticker Slogan

I bumped into this article today by accident: Overcoming Fear is Not as Easy as a Bumper Sticker Slogan. I am very grateful for this and the many accidents I make that guide me to where I need to be, not always where I want to be. Overcoming fear can be paralyzing to some people in certain circumstances. Fear is the four-letter word that begins with "F," which can feel like a much dirtier word than its profane counterpart F**K. I remember hearing something annoying, cute, and comforting many years ago: FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. ...

First Degree Reiki Training in Providence – April 12-13

I am very excited to be offering another First Degree Reiki Training in Providence. This training will take place from April 12-13 from 12:00-5:00. No experience is necessary; only willingness and commitment are required. Please contact me directly for more details, including location; either leave a comment or send me an email at [email protected]. The fee for this two-day Reiki Training in Providence is $125. If you cannot afford the fee, please contact me privately. More about Reiki and Reiki Training   Michael Swerdloff Providence Life Coaching and Reiki Counseling

Do We Have To Make Meditation Entertaining?

I have to admit that when I first saw the headline, David Romanelli set out to make meditation entertaining, and I cringed. I really did. The last few years have challenged me, observing many of our Sacred and Venerable rituals and practices become watered-down and made cute or sexy by Mother Culture. My immediate thought was simple, "Oh no, not meditation; please do not do this to meditation." This phenomenon has manifested in Reiki, Hatha Yoga, Qi Gong, Acupuncture, and many other traditional healing practices. Isn't it enough that almost every image of meditation has a very thin, white female with perfect hair and skin with no pores? Please, not meditation too!...

I Am Not a Healer

It’s now been forty minutes in an altered brain rhythm, slipping from below ordinary consciousness, even below psychic, all the way down to spiritual healing.  It is a state where the ego does not completely rule words, thoughts, and actions.  The shadow has quieted enough to allow the True Self to speak and be present.  The answers are usually simple: a word, a phrase, or maybe even just a syllable. In this case, very simple: “Yes”.  This is my life as a Reiki Practitioner.

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Should Spiritual Teachers Be Paid?

Whether Spiritual Teachers should accept payment is an issue that's been a point of inner conflict for me for many years. I have shifted from a firm "No"; I then adopted the principle that "I need to get paid, and my work is incredibly worthwhile". Most recently, I have shifted to somewhere in the middle, accepting that I am very valuable as a resource to the community at large and that work is important. With that said, there is some work for which I will not accept payment. Of course, anyone who has done any real spiritual work knows that there is always some form of payment that the student "pays". Payment may be in the form of servitude, Karma, or a sense of responsibility to others. The payment may not be directed to the Teacher, but a karmic exchange must take place....

Tibetan Buddhist Anyen Rinpoche to Visit Rhode Island

Tibetan Buddhist Anyen Rinpoche to Visit Rhode Island at the Westminster Unitarian Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, will host the Tibetan Buddhist Tulku, Anyen Rinpoche, on Friday, April 4th, and Saturday, April 5th....