Dear Friends,

I have been reading a wonderful book Ordinary Mysticism, Your Life As Sacred Ground by Mirabai Starr, one of the presenters at Interfaith Awareness Week.I am finding it “extraordinary” in its ordinary mysticism.

We all, at least some of us, think of a Mystic as a person who is always in touch with God and lives an exemplary life. That may be so, however in Mirabai’s book she brings Mysticism, down the mountain and into ordinary everyday life. An ordinary mystic is YOU and ME.

Life everyday is sacred. The ground we walk on is sacred. Every activity is sacred and holy. Mirabai Starr says,”Mysticism is a way of seeing – beyond the turmoil, the rights and wrongs, the good guys and villains – to the radiant HEART of things. The mystical gaze reveals the miracle in the summer thunderstorm and the bowl of ramen. It glimpses the face of the holy in the withered dahlias and blesses the sound of the siren in the middle of the night. It quickens the heart and soothes the soul. A mystic gazes through the eyes of love and reveals itself as the only true thing.”

As I read the book I am looking at my life, not only the great things that happen, but also the frustrations of life, the anxieties of doing a job, preparing for an event or company. Everything is SACRED. The Mystic part is RECOGNIZING the sacred in the mundane. Taking a moment to breathe and bring God forth in your heart and mind.

• Can you do this when you are stuck in traffic and late for an appointment?
• Can you do this when a friend or family member just got diagnosed with a medical condition?
• Can you do this when you are frustrated with your computer and the irritating technician does not seem to understand or get the job done?

Can you take a moment to breathe in GOD, the Holy Presence, The One and ONLY into the life situation as LOVE for you, for your family and friends, for the technician or any other experience you are having that day? I have had to do this for all three situations above. I look out my window and gaze at the beautiful trees, hills in the back of our house and spend a moment in stillness. I may not be on top of a mountain, however the stillness permeates my body, my soul, my spirit and I can come back with a peaceful centeredness. Everything and everyone is sacred and when we realize all is meant to bless us, we become an ordinary mystic with a heart full of love and kindness.

All is Sacred. All is Holy. You are Sacred. You are Holy. You are a Mystic.

Dear Friends,

Have you ever been to a live performance on stage? Most of us have and sometimes our seats are way in the back or maybe in the balcony. Sometimesit is a long distance to the stage so we bring a pair of binoculars with us to focus better and get a clearer image. Have you done that?

Our prayers are like binoculars. If we don’t’ have a clear vision or feeling in mind, our prayer outcome can be blurry or scattered. Focused prayer is gratefully telling GOD, the Universal Spirit what our heart desires. We release this prayer knowing it will be answered. Affirming Divine Outcome is like watering a seed. It will grow into what we place into the ground. Our focused prayer can be an affirmation everyday, like watering the seed.

“The universe simply says YES to what we focus on and where we use the most energy. Your actions and your words need to be in alignment. Remember who you are (God in form) and that an abundant universe is always working in your favor.” Lauren Martin ( Science of Mind Magazine)

There are also times when our fears, and anxieties get in the way. They are not in alignment with our vision. Put them on the back burner and… Make Your Vision So Clear That Your Fears Become Irrelevant.”-Kerwin Rae