Spirituality and Death

Being a holistic practitioner I am often curious about the body, mind, and of course, spirit. This curiosity lead me to many experiences in learning about life, death, and spirit. These experiences would transform my life. This past week brought several deep reminders of what death means. The subject of death and dealing with potentially terminally ill family came up at a meeting I host, Evolving Minds. Tomorrow, Saturday morning marks 20 years since my mother left this world. The past 6 months brought two eye opening experiences about my own mortality, and the past 10 years have been filled with surprises from the spiritual world.

I was only 20 when I lost my mother. She was only 41. As I sit here 40 years old and 20 years later I can not imagine being in her place. I can not imagine knowing I was going to die and leave my children. I have no idea how one prepares for such an event. I do not know what she would be like much past my own age now. I often wonder what kind of grandmother she would be and if she would be proud of who I grew up to be. And I even wonder what she would look like since I look so much like her. There is something that changes in a person when one reaches the age of their parent’s death. There is something that changes within a daughter when she loses a mother so young and spends decades wondering what it would be like to have a mother. The pain I felt eventually lead me to peace.

I have never believed in actual death. I have always believed that there was some part of me that would transcend this world. What that may look like or feel like I do not know, but I am receiving glimpses. My 40th birthday was in May and close to that time I had an experience that left me confident that there was an aspect of me that was not my physical body. That part of me was free. I spent the day crying and convincing myself that it was ok stay, I had things to finish here. I vowed to remember those feelings of peace and freedom and to carry them with me in this world. Then, late this summer I had an episode where I lost consciousness and someone had to revive me. I have no recollection of the event. Everything was black. And I wondered if that was what death was like?

Over the past 10 years I have had countless experiences that were not of this world. Some of them included loved ones who have passed. I do not have an explanation for this. I have tried to use science and that helps, but it can not really express the magnitude of such experiences. I am forever grateful to those loved ones that have reappeared reminding me that death is not real. Reminding me that some aspect of them is still with me. Thank you mom, Mr. Hennessey, Felix, and Ben Johnson. I loved you when you were here and I love you now.

These experiences allow me to have a greater respect for life. I take things a little slower, I am a little easier on myself, things that bothered me are easier to let go of, and I love people and experiences so much more deeply. I honor the experiences, even the painful ones like the loss of loved ones. Those experiences remind me of who I AM. Today, take some time to honor your life and your path and to also honor those that may no longer be here with you in the same way. Those loved ones may be closer than you thought.

Namaste,
Amy McCae
Holistic Life Coach
http://www.amymccae.com

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Religion and Politics

Yes, I chose a rather simple title. However, these two subjects tend to evoke a tremendous amount of emotion in many people. The writing that follows comes from my heart. These are my personal experiences and feelings and when I write I intend to inspire those reading to open their minds to other possibilities and to be aware enough to simply choose peace.

Well… Recently an event occurred and I wasn’t feeling to peaceful when I received a rather startling email related to my blog. Not only did this woman offer a great deal of advice to me in regards to religion but also in business or what we could call politics. The unfortunate thing was that this advice was written in such a way that my colleagues were even shocked. We did exchange a few emails and I really did try to explain myself and quite frankly was rather ticked that I felt I needed to. Her last email really did not make sense to me. However, her demeanor had changed drastically so…

I wish her well as well as all of you. All those who agree with me and support me and those who feel differently as well. I hope that this woman and anyone reading this will channel that intense emotion and energy that surfaces from debates on religion and politics and uses it for good. Using it for good means embracing that emotion and instead of choosing to criticize or ridicule someone, choosing to find out all you can about that person and their religion and politics in general. Choose to learn and explore and allow yourself to evolve. You don’t have to like them, what they do, or what they stand for. Just be open to possibilities as you never know where that road may take you. You also never know what road they have traveled or are traveling.Variety is the spice of life, right? How boring would it be if we are exactly the same?

You see, to me religion is really a business. Not that people do not find God through religion, they do. However, these are organizations that have to operate with rules, have staff, and pay bills so… Business it is. Everyone sticks to defending their religion like flies on fly paper. This does not make sense to me. I will use Christianity as an example only because I was raised Christian and because here in the United States it seems prevalent. As a child I never could make sense of it. As an adult I have the same questions. How can you defend a religion and make another wrong if one you do not have the entire story, two you are reading a translated version, three there is a huge amount of difference in the teachings depending on the church, clergy man, or even the part of the world, and fourth and most importantly how can you make another religion wrong? Does that mean that only “Christians” go to heaven? And if so what in the world is spiritual about that?

Notice all of the questions I have asked. I am extraordinarily curious AND I love it that way! I have no desire to sit back passively and assume anything about religion, health care, politics, business or anything else. There is nothing about that is empowering or inspiring to me. I choose to explore all of my options. I research everything that I feel passionately about. I do that because  it feels good to me and it has changed my life. Because of my knowledge and experience I have been able to help other people change their lives too.

If I had not been so determined and so curious I could have spent my life chronically ill feeling sorry myself. I did spend 10 years sick and I decided to “color outside the lines” and go against the norm and now because of that I am happier and healthier. My decision to explore holistic healing lead me down a rather lonely road initially. Many of my friends and family did not understand. There were many times when I was sad because I felt so much better and had learned so much that I wanted them to embrace my new ways of living. Eventually I gained confidence and am determined to let the world know all that I learned.

What I learned was that there are many paths to healing and many paths to God. Not one is right and not one is wrong. I believe that healing comes from God. I believe that knowledge and awareness will support you and empower you to create great things in this world. I believe that in this world we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I believe that if we all questioned everything our minds would evolve. I believe that if we spent more time playing like children and in awe over our amazing ability to create that there would be more joy in the world. I believe that when we remember who we truly it is then that we find peace.

Find God. Find peace. Follow your heart. Find a way to do good with what you know.

Thank you.

Amy S McCae

Wellness and Lifestyle Coach

http://www.creativewellnessomaha.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did Jesus Die So That You Could Be Forgiven For Your Sins?

Today I attended my Grandmother’s funeral. God Bless you Grandma, I know you are at peace. I, however, was not feeling peaceful during the service.  The concept that Jesus died so that we could be forgiven for our sins and granted eternal life never made sense to me. This minster was quite adamant that if you did not believe this that you will not be allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven and that you would suffer for eternity. I do not believe this and for multiple reasons.

First, my curiosity caused me to research many different religions and to attend a variety of different spiritual practices. Those experiences alone at the most basic level have me ask ; “What about Buddhist or Hindus?” Are they going to hell?  I found that many different churches (Christianity based) taught different things from the same Bible. Different ministers had different perspectives on Scriptures.  Some of the most influential courses I took were Silva Life System courses. I learned to really understand Quantum Physics, the mind and how it relates to spirituality, as well as religion. The first Silva class I took was taught my a Catholic priest. This man agreed that the Church messed up and that the Scriptures were not being taught as they were meant to be.

I have also watched a number of history programs and one stands out above the rest. Did you know that there are other books of the Bible? One being Adam and Lilith? You see, Lilith was Adam’s first wife. There was a group of people who decided you did not need to know that information. Lilith embodied that which all women should, she was sexual and sensual, and all woman.  This story should be one that was left in the Bible, as should they all really.  If select books are edited, left out, and what is remaining  is then translated into a different language and left for interpretation by the reader how can you really know?

I believe in God. I believe that God is everywhere and within each and every one of us and that God is a kind God.  I believe that we are eternal. You do not need to be saved. You and I are spiritual beings having a physical experience. You came here to learn just like a child does. You will not get it perfect all of the time, you are not supposed to. You are already forgiven.

That Energy that is of God flows through you is how you use your God-given gifts.  Your purpose here is to find God, and there are many paths, and do good with your gifts.  This could be an artist’s painting, the playing of a piano, the building of a home, the nurturing of a child, or anything that allows you to do what your passionate about that helps the world be a better place.

You need not worry about any religion telling you that you are less than God. You need not pay attention to anyone preaching ideas that feel threatening.  You simply need to follow your heart. You are of God and you are eternal.

Amy S McCae

http://www.creativewellnessomaha.com