The Spirit of America and More Spirituality Matters

Dr. James Kwako’s upcoming class in his ongoing The Light of Healing series comes just in time for the nation’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. “The Spirit of America” is described as the presence and power that guides and encourages us to fulfill our highest yearnings for the good that can be done in our lives in this country. That spirit, he says, is comparable to the human spiritual core in that both act as the essence of the purpose and plan for inspired action as well as a repository of powerful potential of wisdom, love, and strength to sustain and guide the character of both the individual and our national culture.

“This is a time to be grateful for its guidance, for the opportunity to live and thrive here, and look for ways to add to its efforts to help us fulfill our missions for living,” Kwako says in his emailed invitation. “We are here to grow and learn, to master the instincts of the body, heart and mind, and to be inspired to reach for the best ways to serve family, friends, and those we meet in many ways.”

Of course, there are obstacles to us finding and following the guidance that is available to all of us from The Spirit of America, including fear, worry, guilt, greed, anger, ignorance, stubbornness, selfishness and arrogance. Obstacles also include groups, albeit perhaps well-intentioned, that emphasize extreme ways of viewing society that focus more on what is wrong than on solutions.

Ways to increase attunement to the best within us include frequent attention to and expression of gratitude and gracefulness, choosing to pay attention to new ways of thinking and feeling, and ways of being creative with people and projects we are connected with. Among the benefits: Maturity of our character and the development of our strengths and virtues are most rapidly developed by being placed in situations where there are hardships to overcome, challenges to our knowledge, skill, and courage, and other problems to solve, Kwako suggests.

“The Spirit of America is available to all of us. We need to be curious by asking for help and understanding from those who are competent in loving life and being creative in bringing us together,” he says. 

At the event, which takes place 10-11:30 am on Saturday, June 27, in his offices at 3015 State Street, Suite B, Kwako will share stories and examples of individuals making a difference in small and large ways as well as a prayer for invoking and blessing The Spirit of America. There is no cost to attend, although an optional “love offering” would go toward covering expenses. 

Email [email protected] to RSVP. 

Channeling Near the Santa Barbara Channel

Sacred Space in Summerland has sent early notice about a couple of events in July that the shop and spiritual gathering space believes may sell out before the end of the month. In this three-hour event on Saturday, July 11, andmoderated by Heidi Clements, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman will provide a group channeling experience offering insight and clarity as well as facilitating a powerful conversation with “Higher Self & Guides.” The session begins at 11 am with an introduction about the general teachings of his guides, followed by a guided group tuning in meditation. JBC, as he is known, will then connect with his Higher Self in a meditative trance state and facilitate a conversation with the group answering any questions that arise through the lens of karma, intuition, and reincarnation, on such subjects as life, love, spirituality, and universal consciousness. The idea is that we all have questions about the human experience that at times seem impossible to answer. What is our purpose here as human beings? What is our intuition? How do we remember who we are? How do we gain access to our spiritual team, guides, and higher self? How do we identify between ego, fear, and intuition? 

As part of the program, Bowyer-Chapman will offer practical tools, insights, and practices you can incorporate into your own daily life to gain access to infinite wisdom. The channeling session will be followed by a one-hour Q&A moderated by Clements, allowing the audience to integrate everything they just experienced and leave with more insight, connection, and a higher state
of consciousness. 

During Sunday’s private one-hour sessions, Bowyer-Chapman will guide each participant into a meditative state to tune into your vibrational alignment, strengthen your intuition and help to release emotional and karmic patterns. Those sessions will be recorded, that participants may have private perpetual access. 

Get more details at www.middlefrequency.com, or visit www.thesacredspace.com

Mindfulness in Motion 

Also at the Sacred Space, Radhule Weininger’s new in-person meditation class in Summerland teams her with Carla Tomson, a graduate of Weininger’s Mindful Heart Programs’ facilitator training course. June’s monthly Effortless Mindfulness and Field of Care meditation class will be held 12-1 pm on Friday, June 26. No fee, but donations gratefully accepted. 

The following day, Weininger is joined by Donald Rothberg, a leading teacher and writer on meditation, the intersection of psychology and spirituality, and socially-engaged spiritual practice. Rothberg, who is a member of the Teacher’s Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, has taught and practiced Buddhist meditation since 1976, and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World. Participants in the day-long “Loving Kindness and Developing a Field of Care and Compassion” retreat on June 27 will explore care, kindness and compassion for ourselves and others. Participants will develop skills and practice in loving kindness (metta) both as a meditation practice and as integrated in daily life, as well as other fields through guided and silent meditations, short talks and group discussion. 

The event is a hybrid, both for the leaders – Weininger will be in her Santa Barbara home, while Rothberg will join by Zoom – and participants, who can choose to be in-person or online over Zoom.  

Email [email protected] or visit www.mindfulheartprograms.org/special-events