KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

by Ernest Wentwhistle

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Author Richard Webster uses the interesting literary device of cogent, timely correspondence received by a fictional character. These brief letters from his former high school history teacher contain advice appropriate to each particular crisis, and arrive just at the moment of decision. Every missive is preceded by a question or statement encapsulating the high school teacher's guidance. While these snatches of wisdom may seem self-evident, their appearance within the context of individual situations and crises causes them to stand out in bolder relief.

Eight such pieces of amiable instruction seemed particularly appropriate to my own life. They are: "What's your passion?," "Be kind to yourself," "Follow your dream," "Enjoy the journey," "Focus on the positive," "Find something to believe in," "What is your purpose?," and "Choose your thoughts."

Webster defines "passion" as one's own inner truth—that which moves or inspires you. Existence without joy is the end of living and the beginning of survival. In our success-oriented society, we are too much caught up in the scramble for survival (i.e., security), although we will never have enough material wealth to feel impenetrably secure. I sometimes feel I'm wasting my life on the merry-go-round working and bill-paying. By remembering that my passion is the real meaning of my life, I can free myself from the less significant mundane aspect of mere survival, and get on with the high purpose of fulfilling my abilities, as mediocre as they may be.

"Be kind to yourself" is probably the most difficult of Webster's commands to follow. He does not, of course, tempt us with self-indulgence. The kindness of which he speaks is compassion for our flaws and sins, which we know all too well. It is easy to judge and condemn myself, keenly aware as I am of a lifetime of error and inappropriate behavior. Objectively regarding ourselves is difficult, but it can and should be done. Think of yourself as the child you once were. Do you despise that boy or girl? Of course not. That may be the first step toward being kind to oneself; to achieve a balanced appreciation for who and what we are. Too harsh a self-judgment erodes our will to make something of ourselves in this life.

"Follow your dream" is an admonition to exercise one's passion. It is easier said than done. If your dream is to someday own a fancy car with which to impress your friends and enemies, then such a goal may be achieved through a little hard work and an untouchable savings account. On the other hand, if your ideal is world peace and your passion is to strive against war, then your dream will probably be fulfilled, not, unfortunately, by achieving such an impossibility in this harsh world, but through the fight for its realization.

It is in following one's dream that at least something of its fulfillment comes about. Such an assurance is comforting to someone like myself, who, after long years of trying to make a better society (at least from my point of view), eventually concluded that changing one's life was more effective (and more possible) than changing the world. This is apparently what Webster means when he instructs us to "Enjoy the journey." Like most of my fellow human beings, I am too focused on hoped-for end results, desire outcomes, and bottom lines. Things do not always turn out the way we anticipate, and rarely in the manner we precisely envisioned, resulting in disappointment. With our eyes on the prize we are too often led to agree with Arthur Schopenhauer, the so-called "Philosopher of Pessimism," that our individual existence is nothing more than a life-long process of disillusionment. Webster's antidote to such dead-end thinking is a kind of yogic indifference to ultimate success or the lack thereof by making the most of our passage into the future.

I find that thus relinquishing worry for a future that can be, at most, anticipated but never clearly foreseen, a calm settles over my heart, as stress and blood pressure are lowered. Moreover, I am better able to achieve my task in a calm state of mind, than distracted by fears, most of which turn out to be baseless. An up-beat assessment of one's situation is the significance of Webster's "Focus on the positive." Its opposite, negativity, is the pitfall threatening everyone in modern America's fiercely competitive society. I find that if I dwell too long and deeply on the negative qualities in myself or around me, I want to just give up. There is no hope in capitulation, but a positive attitude at least keeps us going. Where we can still fight there is at least hope.

Webster tells us to "Find something to believe in." Faith is everywhere being undermined today, both in established leaders and institutions, from priests and politicians, to churches and corporations. I believe in none of these discredited and yet-to-be-discredited persons or systems. I believe in the eternal truths of nature and the human soul. That, I find the older I become, is the faith which sustains me.

Just asking, "What is your purpose?," must give us pause to consider the core meaning of our existence. After some reflection, I believe I know the answer; namely, to find out what talents or abilities one has, however humble they may be, and apply them. In so doing, I have found an inner sense of fulfillment unattainable by any other means.

Best of all perhaps, "Choose your thoughts" means that we are masters of our own mind. Under psychic attack as we all our during waking hours by skillful advertising and propaganda, it is important to know that we are sovereign at least over those things we may choose to embrace or disregard. Change the channel! Better yet, turn off the box! In a culture where individual human beings are feeling increasingly powerless, they still have final rights over their own thought processes. Like them, I cannot escape a growing feeling of being imposed upon by officials of various hierarchies who presume to tell me how I should think. The simple realization that at least in the realm of thought we are still masters is a dimension of liberty in a world of shrinking freedoms.

Webster's Success Secrets are the simple but eternally powerful truths which must remain secrets no longer.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. All rights reserved.

Many times in my dreams I can't see myself or anything else but I know that I am there. For example, last night I dreamed that I could only feel air. I had a sense of awareness, but nothing more. Is this an out of body experience? Also, there are certain times in my dreams when I see myself in some other body, as another person. I find all of this very confusing. Can you help?
Anamica

Astrea:

For centuries, shamans and mystics of various cultures have sought out of body experiences. You are experiencing the same kind of thing without deliberate effort or control - yet. With practice, you can learn to create the right state of mind for inducing a conscious OBE.

Out-of-body experiences typically involve sensations of floating or perceiving the body from outside of it. The sensation of air that you describe is pretty common in the realm of the OBE. An OBE can occur during sleep or while falling asleep, and often it is associated with near death experiences. Some anti-depressants have also been found to mechanically induce OBEs.

Astral projection and out of body experiences are not exactly the same things. Out of body experiences usually occur spontaneously, without any planning or expectations on our part. Often, as in your case, they go beyond any expectations we may have of being in such a state. During an OBE, we travel to other dimensions where a sense of physicality isn't as natural as it is in awake or dreaming states.

Most times, having an OBE is exciting, mystifying, and a bit frightening because it comes over us without much warning. While it's dream-like, it isn't the same as having a regular dream. During an OBE, we have the overwhelming sense that whatever we're experiencing is REALLY HAPPENING; we're sure we aren't dreaming or in an altered state of consciousness, though in many ways, we are, of course!

During astral projection, many of us are able to visit face to face with our Guides and Angels. If you've been longing to reach a point in your spiritual growth that includes astral projection, you're certainly on the right track now; the OBE's you're having can lead to some amazing Soul Growth.

Recognizing what is happening to you can carry you a long way toward gaining control of what's going on. As usual, with anything spiritual, it takes time according to your own learning curve to be able to use new skills in purposeful ways.

As long as you stay out of the altered states induced by drug or alcohol use (including cigarettes), you can learn to mentally create the right state of consciousness for astral projection once you get a handle on these spontaneous OBEs. The biggest hurdle is to overcome any FEAR involved, but then, that is true for lots of mystical practices.

*****

Susyn:

Dreams often deliver their messages in mysterious ways as the subconscious strives to gain access to the conscious mind. There are different types of dreams, and each has a specific purpose.

Dreaming of flying (being surrounded by air) or being in the body of another person does suggest an astral projection experience. Another common aspect of these types of dreams is when we experience a sense of falling and, upon landing, wake up with a jolt.

Astral projection can be difficult to control. If you're interested in developing the art of astral projection, you can open the door to conscious flight by practicing guided meditation before bedtime.

Upon retiring for the night, you may want to visualize a place, person or time in history that you would like to visit. Astral projection can also be accomplished while you are in an awake state, and this will offer you more control over your out-of-body travels.

We can also have dreams in which we appear to inhabit the body of another person, or do not see ourselves as present in the dream. Many dream theorists claim that all the people who appear in our dreams symbolize aspects of ourselves. For example, if you found yourself dreaming of a certain movie star or famous person, this theory suggests that you are relating to or trying to embrace some of the characteristics of those people.

When I conduct dream interpretations, I consider all possibilities from all angles. I have clients who find themselves visiting people they knew long ago, but they see them in their present state or location. Upon further investigation, the higher purpose of these dreams is almost always to simply reconnect with that person in a direct way. It doesn't matter if they admire aspects of that person or carry unresolved issues involving them; something is calling them to reconnect.

To discover if these dreams are forms of astral projection, premonitions, or designed to help you process old feelings and issues, you'd be wise to start a journal and record all of your dreams in it. Then you'll be able to identify various patterns from which to draw the significance of these experiences.

As you do this, your dreams will become richer and clearer, and you'll start to develop a greater ability not only to decipher them, but to direct them in a positive, purposeful manner.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.