THE BEDTIME STORY

“Why are you reading a children’s book?” a seven year old daughter asked her father as he replaced a book on the shelf that had the picture of a child on the cover. He replied that it wasn’t a book for children to read but a book about children – all the ways they see and think about the world and then it was time to say good-night. “Oh, you mean like seeing angels?” she said. “Well yes, I guess it could be about things like that,” was the father’s reply since it was a developmental psychology book.

“I see my angel,” she announced matter-of-factly. “Do you see her now?” – Her father slowed his pace out the door for neither he nor his wife had spoken about angels. After about 5 minutes of deep breathing, she calmly said, “I see the angel now.”

“What does your angel look like?” asked her father (professor of psychology at the state University of West Georgia) “She is wearing a blue gown, with a golden crown and golden wings, has a freckle by her left eye, and its like she has makeup on, but she doesn’t; it’s just her. She has a small book in her hand. Not sure what was happening, the father asked if he could speak with her angel. “My angel wants to know why you want to talk with her.”
“I just want to learn about your angel.” A pause as if she checking the answer, and then she said, “OK, My angel knows your angel, they’re old friends.” Still surprised and uncertain about what was happening: the next question was, “What does your angel do?” Her answer flowed out effortlessly like some universal wisdom as I asked how she communicated. She said, “It’s like thoughts and pictures all together.” This did not have the feel of a child’s fantasy but wisdom given with crystal clarity, profound and insightful, not heard from my daughter before. “She tells me I am loved and helps me see things better.” Then she rolled over and went to sleep. The experience of Tobin Hart, Ph.D and submitted to Venture Inwarad, Virginia Beach, Va. (See www.childspirit.net).

THE FUTURE FOR CHINA

Edgar Cayce has sometimes been called “The sleeping prophet” because if the name and address of the person in need of advice was given he could see them from afar as in a dream and help with their problem. He never charged a fee for his services and after a nationwide magazine published a story about him thousands of people wrote him with requests for help. He was a photographer to earn a living for his family but worked so many hours a day doing both that he died of exhaustion while still in his sixties.

Rev. June Bro, who writes a column in Venture Inward, was a friend of Edgar Cayce was asked what he was like. “When Edgar Cayce walked into a room he commanded center stage. He had a presence about him – he caught your interest. He was tall and walked with a certain bearing and had a rich baritone voice that reverberated throughout the room when he spoke. When he laughed his full-throated laugh, everybody else laughed along. His son Hugh Lynn told about him speaking to a group of people and made a gesture lifting both his hands high into the air, the people stood up as though they were being called to some noble purpose. When he brought his arms down in the same grand manner, they all sat down again. Every word he uttered was like a precious pearl to be savoured and taken to heart. Some with pen and paper took notes to not miss a single word.”

He was once asked to comment on the future of China. His reply painted a scene of China’s future as a country that has wanted to be left alone and moved with caution through the centuries but would in time do something remarkable and become the “cradle of Christianity.”

EDITORS REQUEST LETTERS

With paper print losing coverage to the Internet, editors of magazines as well as dailies are requesting input from their readers with “We want your letters!” requests. Here is a letter to the editor of “Venture Inward” of Virginia Beach, Va.

“I had been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and started on medication. Shortly thereafter it was changed to bipolar disorder and was told that both were so severe there was little hope. I took the medicine that was prescribed with even more side effects and my mental health took a turn for the worse. The doctors tried different medications and doses until I was taking Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zyprexa, Trazoclone and whatever else they gave me to improve my symptoms. Shortly thereafter I found myself strapped to a bed in leather restraints and prayed to God to show me the way out. I started writing in a journal thanks to a good psychologist and felt God giving me the answers I had so desired. The universe gave me the name of Edgar Cayce and I looked him up on the internet and felt a safe haven for someone like me (I was raised in a Catholic home) to experience another part of my psyche. After all, the Edgar Cayce material was Bible based, safe, and most important, comfortable to my being.

I have continued to learn ways to learn to accept and use my intuition to help myself as well as others and to use my energy in positive ways to provide healing for all of humanity. I’m now drug-free, happy to be alive and thankful for the Edgar Cayce material and all the help from the A.R.E. and thank you all. Edgar Cayce once said, ‘In God there are no limitations, only limits of self by doubt and fear.’ Taped to my computer, it is a reminder every day that with God all things are possible.” This letter was sent to the Editor from Alicia of Windsor, Vermont.

GROW BRAIN CELLS THROUGH MEDITATION

While most workouts affect the body, a meditation workout affects the brain, and grows new cells. Past research has shown that meditation enables people to control their negative emotions and develop positive ones, leading to less stress and a stronger immune system. New research, conducted at UCLA, and published in the journal “NeuroImage,” has shown that meditation actually increases brain matter, developing new brain cells and connections.

When the researchers conducted brain scans on non-meditators, they found that the meditators had larger brain mass in the hippocampus region and areas within the orbitofrontal cortex, the thalamus, and the inferior termporal gyrus – all regions known for regulating emotions. Web Links: creativespirit.new/psiresearch.

A good start might be to dismiss negative thoughts or grudges against another person and replacing them with positive ideals of growing in grace, new hope and new learning.

COMMENTS FROM ANOTHER CAMPER

Now that camping season is winding down, at least in this part of the world, here are some words from another camper sent to the Editor of Venture Inward in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

From Anna, age 13: “Camp is the kind of place where everyone feels accepted and welcome, even the animals. We have seen deer many times just quietly munching their way through Camp. I have been coming to camp for six years and never want to leave. The entire place has a feeling of joy and love, which permeates everything. The people are awesome! The counselors always have great ideas and are totally cool. I have known some of the people at Camp for ages and am always really excited to see them. There are always people I have never met, but everyone fits in right away and next thing you know you have a new best friend.

There are some really special places at camp such as: the tree house, the meditation grove, the pond and the garden. Just this year at Family Camp my dad stood up and made an important announcement at breakfast. It was my parents’ 19th wedding anniversary that day! My dad gave my mom a bouquet of beautiful wild flowers and a kiss. It was a touching moment. One would think that something like that might be embarrassing, but no it wasn’t. Camp is like that. Throughout the day, other people came up to them and said congratulations! It was really sweet.”

TEXTING AND OTHER WAYS OF SENDING MESSAGES

With so many ways of sending messages as well as choices of words to cheer others, no matter what age you are. If you don’t have texting equipment (like me) we can always put pen to paper and send our thoughts to the editor of a paper or magazine. They love to get feedback. Lacking words, borrow an ancient message like this one that has come through the centuries: “Text about others as you would have them text about you.” If you don’t have e-mail help is available from the flyway since the birds will spare you a feather when you’re on a walk (shown at upper right). We can always use voice mail if you haven’t yet learned to write. Here are some cheering words from a summer camper to the editor of Venture Inward in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

From Lylah, age 10: “I like Camp because everyone is welcome and it’s very spiritual. People don’t laugh at you when you mess up. Everyone is real nice, it’s only my second day at Kids’ Camp and I feel like I’ve been here all my life. No one is mean and there are deer, bugs – no fancy swimming pools with chlorine but a really nice pond.”

And from Sara-Renee, age 13: “I’ve been coming to A.R.E. Camp for four years and first thing you notice is how beautiful the valley is, ancient trees and soaring mountains that make you want to fly right up to the top, and amazing flowers. Cooks make the most delicious healthy food known to mankind! Wildlife too act comfortable coming around us and a couple of deer visit often. We can do whatever we like as long as it isn’t dangerous. If you’re a singer, join the club. I have a wonderful time at Camp and when it’s time to leave I cry. Everybody does although they might not admit it. I hope to be a counselor there some day.”

FIGHTING FOREST FIRES

Most of the local forest fires have been contained but a careful watch is being observed. The forest fires in California are still active and a back-burn is in the works with hopes of keeping them away from residential areas.

The men and women who worked long hours to extinguish the fires are now enjoying a respite. Some days the smoke obliterated the sun and the elderly, fragile, the ill and young children were advised to stay inside. Looking at the ominous skies I hesitated to even go out to my water my plants. Their leaves had begun to hang low and heavy as they also suffered as they signaled for help. I was glad to accommodate them.

But there is an unseen area that remains with its challenges. For those who either smoked tobacco or worked in offices and other places where indoor smoking was permitted may now have sensitive lungs that need care. “Were you ever a smoker or worked in an area where there was side stream smoke?” is the doctor’s question. I replied that I had never even had a desire to smoke but during my working years in offices, fellow employees often smoked at their desks. Now many of these former employees have the problem of damaged lungs in their older years even though they never smoked themselves. No doubt those inside worker cells within the lungs are very busy cleaning each tiny protective hair that works hard to ward off emphysema or asthma. Widespread deaths from cancer may have their source in the lungs that can spread to other areas. Other cells may be moved into the lungs to help with the cleanup. The organs of elimination could be short of help so special care should be taken in this area.