January 2016 - Volume 7, Issue 1

™
January
2016
What’s New
• Reminders: • Study Group Sunday: Jan 24 • Appreciation Sunday: Feb 21 •
• Recap • Once a month, typically on the fourth Sunday… instead of holding a
Celebration, we have Study Group Sunday with “close-reading” & discussion.
• Doors open at 10:30 AM – plenty of time for coffee & catching up with one another.
• At 11 AM, we’ll start with a guided meditation followed by the Opening Prayer. Then
someone will volunteer to read aloud in Journey of the Soul. From time-to-time we’ll
discuss and share our understanding of the text… and ask any questions we may have.
• At 12:30 PM, we’ll have the Closing Prayer and then enjoy cookies, pastries, coffee, and
one another’s company. Last time, we stopped reading on page 19 of JS 4.
• In this month’s Prefect’s Corner, Loren looks at how we “are constantly under attack
by the ‘darkness’ of the Earth [that] is like a virus”; some excerpts:
“Our task while on Earth is to gain knowledge and experience and to grow spiritually.
Sounds like an easy task. The reality is much different ….
“Our conscious physical mind is totally connected to the physical earth. Its function is
to keep us alive while we are here on our spiritual sojourn.
“We know we have an Ethereal Mind… which is … aware of and reading our Charts.
“The fact that the conscious mind isn’t in control… is a most difficult thing to learn.
…. We need our conscious mind to be open to the Ethereal. …. This is the struggle
of life. This is the true battle of ‘darkness’ and Light.
“Which mind do you want to be ‘in control?’ The mind connected to the Earth’s
negativity…? Or, the Mind connected to the Light and the Universal Spirit?”
• Azna’s Feast Day Talk is by Jimi: “How History Forgot Mother God” in 5 sections:
1. At first, Novus ministers were reluctant to mention Mother God.
2. In classical times, Mother God was still known, but grudgingly acknowledged.
3. Before classical times, mythology shows Mother God was highly respected.
4. More evidence of Mother God being adored in times long forgotten by history.
5. A “remembering” of an event shrouded by the mists of time.
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®
January 2016
Compilation: © 2016 by Society of Novus Spiritus Northwest — All rights reserved.
All contributions: © 2013–2016 by their individual contributors — All rights reserved.
Vol. 7, Issue 1
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v.7, #1 • January 2016 • 2
• The Bonus Talk is by Nancy: “'Tis the Season.” Here’s some excerpts:
“You hear people saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Especially for little
kids… it is a very joyful time. I feel that it is a time of the year when the little kid in all
of us needs to come out.
“In Journey of the Soul 4, Sylvia Browne tells us that life is work… and that we
have a right to be as happy as we can… to help us survive life. What is it that makes
you happy? It is different to all of us.
“If we don't get what we want, we can still go on and live in way that people are so
happy to see us… and so thankful that we took the time for them. When I feel like
I’ve done something good for someone…it uplifts my spirit.
“December is the time of the year when we can get the most stressed out ….
Remember to take a few deep breaths and to relax… and enjoy the fun activities…
and people in our life.
“We all have so much to be thankful for… we are blessed to just be here. I think I
hear a bell ringing right now — there are angels all around us.”
• Ministers tend to be infused when they speak. If you get the CD, you’ll hear the full
talks just as they were delivered; plus, the guided mediation too. [See p. 9 for how to order.]
• “A Soul's Journey - Society of Novus Spiritus Study Group Program
“The Novus Spiritus Study Group Program is a gathering of like-minded people who
wish to help discover and deepen their own truth.” Go here for full details & forms.
• Plus: • Azna’s Feast Day & Potluck photos [pp. 4–5] • Christmas Caroling and
Winter Solstice photos [p. 7] • Azna Group Notes [p. 9] • NOVUS MI news and
Pearls from Journey of the Soul [p. 12] • 9th Christmas Ball photos [pp. 13–16] •
Calendar of Celebration and Events
Jan. 3 – Celebration & Novena
Jan. 10 – Celebration & Azna Group meeting
Jan. 17 – Celebration & Birthday cake
Jan. 24 – Study Group Sunday: 10:30–12:30 (we start at 11 AM with a meditation)
Jan. 31 – Celebration
Feb. 7 – Celebration & Novena
Feb. 14 – Celebration & Azna Group meeting + Birthday cake
Feb. 21 – Celebration & Appreciation Sunday (ministers serve lunch) + Birthday cake
Feb. 28 – Study Group Sunday (10:30–12:30)
Mar. 6 – Celebration & Novena
Mar. 13 – Celebration & Azna Group meeting
Mar. 20 – Spring Equinox & Potluck + Auction + Birthday cake
Mar. 27 – Study Group Sunday: 10:30–12:30 (we start at 11 AM with a meditation)
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v.7, #1 • January 2016 • 3
● Prefect’s Corner ● Greetings and love to all. Welcome to the Prefect’s Corner.
New Year has come and gone. Resolutions have been made and most likely broken. Life is back to
normal — whatever “normal” is for any of us.
We are constantly under attack by the “darkness” of the Earth. This “darkness” is like a virus and
we’ve all been affected by it. No one’s totally immune from it… and the only real “cure” is physical
death. Knowing about “the virus” and the “darkness” gives us an edge just by knowing about it.
Our task while on Earth is to gain knowledge and experience and to grow spiritually. Sounds like an
easy task. The reality is much different — we’re bombarded by constant distractions… and our
Charts were designed and written to provide maximum experience.
The question is “how can we ease or lessen the effects that “the virus” inflicts on us?” We must try
to understand that we need not buy into the Earth’s negative vibrations. Sounds very easy. Our
conscious mind though has other ideas. Our conscious physical mind is totally connected to the
physical earth. Its function is to keep us alive while we are here on our spiritual sojourn.
However, the conscious mind has expanded its role. The conscious mind thinks it’s the “only mind.”
The conscious mind… all by itself… mistakenly believes it’s “in charge” of everything about us.
The information provided by Sylvia is the deal breaker. Her information provides the key for us
getting our freedom. We know we have an Ethereal Mind… which is always aware of and reading
our Charts. We know our Ethereal Mind is really in charge of our spiritual growth… and provides the
conscious mind information on an as-needed basis.
That is the reason Sylvia could provide so much hope. She constantly reminded us that all we had
to do was get up every day and go to bed every night — that was enough. The reason it’s enough
is because the Ethereal Mind is actually in control. We didn’t have to consciously think about any of
this. We “cemented our intellect and emotion”… and life was good.
The catch though… is we did not come to Earth at this point in history to “just get by.” We
Gnostics are here on a Mission to achieve maximum spiritual growth in an extremely difficult
environment.
This is one of the few times in history that we’ve had an opportunity for such rapid spiritual growth.
This opportunity cannot be wasted. We must push forward. In order to make that happen, we need
our conscious mind to truly accept and buy into that endeavor. That’s not an easy task — the
conscious mind must be retrained… and we must discard much of what we’ve been taught.
To make that happen, we have to constantly work through our conscious mind. We need to ensure
our thoughts… actions… judgments of self… patience, in most all things… contracts with self… and
our acceptance and forgiveness of self are in accord with our Ethereal Mind.
Our conscious mind must understand that it isn’t in control of where we go. It must learn to be still…
and to accept. Accept intuitive thoughts… become aware… understand… and then accept that it’s
not in charge — I repeat, our conscious minds are not in control.
The fact that the conscious mind isn’t in control… is a most difficult thing to learn. We have to learn
that our conscious mind is really being directed by the Ethereal Mind. And It is the mind reading our
Charts. We need our conscious mind to be open to the Ethereal.
The act of “going within” is opening the conscious mind to the Ethereal mind. That is how
meditation works. It opens the conscious… to the unconscious… to the Ethereal.
This is the constant battle that is going on within us. Our conscious mind is always striving to be the
“go to” mind. We are fortunate to know that how the minds connect and that the Ethereal Mind is
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the real mind.
Nonetheless, it’s an ongoing endeavor to continuously release control… and simply go with the
events that are happening around us. Learning and practicing acceptance and non-judgment is an
ongoing work in progress.
This is the struggle of life. This is the true battle of “darkness” and Light. “Darkness” has gained
control of the conscious mind while Light always guides the Ethereal Mind.
Which mind do you want to be “in control?” The mind connected to the Earth’s negativity…? Or, the
Mind connected to the Light and the Universal Spirit?
I choose the Light… the Ethereal Mind. And I strive to put in the work on a daily basis… to win my
own personal battle of Light over “darkness.” Each person gets the opportunity to choose… again
and again… on a daily basis.
I say, shut down the conscious mind… embrace the Ethereal Mind and cooperate with its guidance.
After all, the Ethereal Mind is fully interconnected with Spirit.
Blessings and love,
–Prefect Loren Lehnhoff
Azna’s Feast Day & Potluck Photos
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● Azna’s Feast Day Talk ● How History Forgot Mother God
Good morning Washington! How are you doing? I’m glad to be here and I hope you are too. Today’s a
very special day… Azna’s Feast Day: a special Celebration to honor Her. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a
potluck feast in Her honor as well.
I. At first, Novus ministers were reluctant to mention Mother God.
Recently, I learned something quite interesting… and surprising… from an unpublished trance aired
on the New Spirit Radio Show. This trance dates back to the earliest days of Novus Spiritus.
On the Nov. 4th broadcast (26–28 min) someone asked Francine (Sylvia’s Spirit Guide) about why
Azna wasn’t talked about very much at Novus Celebrations at the time. She said “there’s always been
a little bit of reticence… …. there hasn’t been a lot of fanfare… but I think with each Equinox”
Celebration, the congregation is more and more prepared.
Francine then said, “So many of the ministers… when Sylvia first let [the idea of] Azna ‘drop on
them’… as it where… and they talked amongst themselves” about this strange and unfamiliar idea of
there being a Mother God. But after a while, they got used to it.
Francine then shares what one minister said about it to Sylvia, “but I always thought I knew it… and I
can’t track back to exactly to when you said it… and when I began to believe it.”
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Does that surprise you as much as it surprised me? Things have definitely changed during the last
few decades… haven’t they? However, if you look in the back of any Journey of the Soul, you’ll find
that the Tenets of Novus stop at XVIII. It’s only recently… in this century… that the more controversial
ones have been added… like XIX which acknowledges the existence of Mother God.
II. In classical times, Mother God was still known, but grudgingly acknowledged.
Although none of us here today finds the idea of the Divine Feminine controversial… there are still
many people who would find it shocking… or even consider it to be “blasphemy.” And some of you
have run into such people.
However, Francine has told us it hasn’t always been this way… the “Church ruled out the Feminine
Principle is because it became a patriarchal society.” [JS 1, p. 24] So, today let’s take a look at the
highly controversial story on how this happened.
In the West, the drastic turning point was when the Roman Emperor, Constantine, instituted the
Council of Nicaea in 325 to formulate an orthodox Christianity that would be Rome’s state religion.
And so…God was decreed to male only. Any mention of the Divine Feminine… or any mention of the
highly diverse perspectives of Christian Gnosticism… was outlawed as heresy.
Many of you are already aware that 1st century Gnostics were aware of, and often spoke about,
Mother God… they referred to Her as Sophia. And to put it lightly, that was a very controversial idea
among the Jewish populations back then… but it wasn’t for most people in the Roman Empire.
If you take a look at the mythologies of Greece, Rome and Egypt, you’ll find there were plenty of
goddesses. However, patriarchal notions already had a firm foothold in the classical world. Just look
at the mythologies: the male gods were enshrined as being supreme.
In Greece, Zeus was the “King of the Gods”… who was always chasing after and forcing himself upon
mortal women. And according to the stories, Hera was merely his boring, jealous wife… who nagged
him about his countless infidelities — Hera wouldn’t accept the convention that “boys will be boys.”
You’ll notice that throughout classical myths, the goddesses where accorded secondary and rather
subservient roles. And this was reflected in the cultures as well. Consider the stories told by Homer…
ancient Greece’s equivalent of our Shakespeare.
They were widely seen as showing what it meant to be a man… and what a woman’s place was. Men
were expected to be fierce, cunning warriors who relished fighting over long periods far from home…
glad to be away from their wives. Remember that the Trojan War was said to have lasted ten years!
And while the men were expected to take their fill of wine, woman and song… something else entirely
was expected of their wives. This is made abundantly clear in Homer’s sequel to his tale about the
Trojan War. Its heroine, Queen Penelope, was seen as embodying what a Greek wife should be;
namely, subservient, submissive — and above all else — faithful even in the most extreme situations.
And that’s not much different than the way things were 60 years ago… when one of the most popular
TV sitcoms was “Father Knows Best.” The title alone, pretty much sums it up the attitude of the times.
In fact, it seemed “self-evident” that this was the way things had always been… and practically
everyone believed it was the way “things should be.” After all, doesn’t the Bible, the supposedly literal
“word of God,” tell us that it’s all women’s fault? (The Greek myth of Pandora’s Box says the same.)
Or at least… that’s what we were taught to believe… However, if anyone could find the motivation…
or the curiosity… to look more closely… it quickly becomes clear that there was a different kind of
“trouble in paradise.”
If someone reads the right, musty old books, they might find out that serpents in very ancient times
were seen as symbols of eternity… of reincarnation… and were sacred animals to goddesses.
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Likewise, apples were sacred fruits. And if you cut an apple cross-ways — the “wrong way” — you’ll
notice what looks like a five-pointed star… which ancient astronomers knew to be the pattern the
planet Venus traces out in night skies during its orbit around the Sun.
Earlier… as we just learned first-hand… that there’s a history built in to any mythology… which is how
many people would label “someone else’s religion.”
Early on, Novus ministers were cautious about mentioning Mother God. It was a shocking concept for
anyone steeped in a traditional religious mindset. As Francine suggested in that trance, most people
need to be “spoon-fed” ideas that are radically different than what they’ve been raised to believe.
And there’s an obstacle to looking back in the history of ancient mythologies… most of human history
is not recorded. And it certainly doesn’t help that a great deal of the knowledge that been recorded
was lost when the Library of Alexandria was destroyed toward the end of the classical era.
III. Before classical times, mythology shows Mother God was highly respected.
However, there still remain some hints… even though almost all scholars consider what I’m about to
say to be “too far-fetched” to be true. If you want, take a close look at Robert Graves’ two volume set,
The Greek Myths.
If you take the time to read the footnotes… you’ll discover that he finds evidence that the
importance… and roles of goddesses… were systemically diminished in Greek myths over time.
At the time, I wasn’t shocked or surprised by this… I had been regularly talking to Mother God for
several years… and this is before I’d heard of Sylvia Browne.
In fact, I was positively delighted to find that I wasn’t alone… I wasn’t the only one who felt something
vital had been deliberately left out of the stories we’d been told to believe.
And it didn’t bother me one bit to find out that most scholars had totally dismissed his analysis. It’d be
surprising if they didn’t reject his perspective that “mythology” is “a dramatic shorthand record of
such matters as invasions, migrations, dynastic changes, admission of foreign cults, and
social reforms.” [Gravesiana, 3.1, Sum. 2007, p. 57 (see p. 2 of this PDF)]
I’d already learned the hard way… that academia has little tolerance for “coloring” very far “outside
the lines” of conventional wisdom — it’s all about carrying on the accepted “conversation.”
And unfortunately… for those whose minds are still imprisoned in “the matrix” of socially sanctioned
“truth”… it does seem to be fanciful thinking based on scant “evidence.” For those who want to know
more, let me recommend another book by Graves: The White Goddess.
In it, he talks about how myths are/were created by poets/bards — nowadays, they’re typically
musicians and movie directors. And he says that in times prior to recorded history… people
worshipped the Goddess that is known by many names.
Graves also concludes that the source of the modern world’s woe is not “woe-man” but the all but
completely successful campaign by patriarchal religions and cultures to erase all memory of the Great
Mother Goddess.
And interestingly, he admits many of his ideas came to him — what we would recognize as “infusion”
— as impressions he received by opening his mind and meditating on times long past.
IV. More evidence of Mother God being adored in times long forgotten by history.
So, short of using the scanning machines back on the Other Side… it might seem we’ve reached the
end of the line. But there’s another source of evidence we can look at… and it goes much further
back than any recorded histories… namely, archelogy.
Not surprisingly… since I was actively looking with an open mind… I learned of the life work of a
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renowned Harvard archeologist…. Marija Gimbutas. Well… she was quite well respected until… she
wrote her last three books: The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe (1974); The Language of the
Goddess (1989); and The Civilization of the Goddess. (1991)
Although academics esteemed her earlier work, they dismissed her later work just like they did the
work of Robert Graves. However, Joseph Campbell… “Mr. Mythology” himself… wrote a foreword for
her book The Language of the Goddess. And he greatly regretted that her works weren’t written yet
when he penned his 4 volumes of The Masks of God in the 60s.
By the way, they’re not causal bed-time reading… by any stretch of the imagination… but they’re well
worth the trouble. Of course… your mileage may vary.
I picked up one of Prof. Gimbutas’ books… it’s interesting, but it’s also quite dry reading. But there’s
another book that builds upon her work and is a much more enjoyable read. It’s an international bestseller written by UCLA Prof. Riane Eisler… it’s called The Chalice and the Blade (1987).
To make a long story, very short… an open-minded look at the archeological remains of civilizations
long forgotten by history… tells a story much different than the ones we’ve been taught.
If we could go back in time 8,600 years, the archeological evidence says we wouldn’t find societies
and cultures in Southern Europe based in patriarchy: “Father Knows Best.”
And contrary to what we might typically think, we wouldn’t find ones based in matriarchy: “Mother
Knows Best” either. That’s arises from a mind-set conditioned by patriarchy — the idea there’s a
natural and ancient “war between the sexes” — either men will “be on top”… or women will.
There’s a third option… an “out of the box” option — what Prof. Eisler calls “gylany.” It’s a radical
(some might even call it “subversive”) notion that’s become increasingly embraced by Western youth
in the last few decades. It’s the idea of a full and equal partnership between the sexes… Just like
the full and equal partnership that Francine describes between Mother and Father God in JS 1.
But it’s going to take some time to assimilate… after all… practically all mention of Mother God was
erased from Western history 18 centuries ago. And Eisler’s story goes back even further in time.
Starting about 6,500 BC, what Gimbutas called the “Kurgan Invasions” began. They were a race of
nomadic warriors — also known as the Aryans — who worshipped fierce and capricious, tribal gods.
They emerged from the steppes of Eastern Europe… and swept down upon their southern neighbors.
Many times, they swept in… took what they wanted… and burned or killed everything and everyone
they didn’t want to take with them.
Eisler tells us that this didn’t happen all at once… it was a gradual process of peaceful, agricultural
civilizations progressively disappearing over the course of the course of next four millennia. And the
last advanced, gylanic civilization to fall was Minoan Crete around 35 centuries ago. A few centuries
later, another series of invasions resulted in the Greek Dark Ages.
If we had more time… I’d talk about this in more detail and outline the all archeological. I find it quite
fascinating myself. However, the clock tells me that it’s just about time for… a “commercial break.”
And I apologize for there not being enough time for you to ask questions.
There are two take-home lessons here. First, there’s tangible evidence of ancient peoples being
aware of and adoring Mother God… it’s only been in the last 2,000 years that She has been forgotten
by Western history. Second, societies do not have to be organized on the ideas of domination, war,
violence, and a “battle between the sexes” — the idea of “partnership” was once prevalent on Earth.
V. A “remembering” of an event shrouded by the mists of time.
And I’ll end by sharing an infusion… a gnosis… a “remembering”… that came to me a couple of
decades ago. I happened to sitting in the balcony of a Protestant version of a cathedral in Texas.
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As I sat up there watching the ceremony get underway… it all began to feel very surreal… as if I was
watching something that occurred way back in time.
Upon the raised platform in front, I saw a group of vibrant, young men dressed in their best finery. And
it was if I was seeing a triumphant warlord with his lieutenants at his side. Their high priest was
standing in between them and the group of young priestesses that would become the property… that
is, wives… of the war-chiefs.
Mirroring this arrangement… the audience was divided between the conqueror’s peoples on one
side… and those of the conquered on the other — more than a few were crying.
Then… the big moment everyone came. The queen of the conquered… who was also their high
priestess… appeared in the doorway and walked forward on the arm of their high priest... who
surrendered his office and sat down amongst the conquered as his queen stepped up on the platform.
She took her place beside the warlord and formally sealed the peace agreement — it would allow her
people to live — by forfeiting her sovereignty… and vowing… without any reservation… to henceforth
and forever… honor and obey… the conquering general… as her absolute lord and master.
And then, just as suddenly — I was back watching a modern, marriage ceremony. Yet… I was
profoundly struck to the quick by the surreal “remembrance” that I’d just experienced. And although, it
was only years later that I could fully appreciate its significance… there was no doubt at all that I had
just glimpsed the origins of the patriarchal institution of marriage.
And of course, it’s only my story… make of it what you will. But I can only imagine that most of you
women are quite glad that — to borrow a slogan from the 60’s — “we’ve come a long way, ladies.”
I hope you’re found this interesting. Again, sorry there isn’t time for questions… afterwards, I’ll be
happy to answer any questions you might have… or otherwise discuss this topic further. Just ask.
And we can all be thankful that we’re living in a time when we can openly acknowledge Mother God
without fear of being outcast… tortured… or killed. Thank you Mom for all that You do for us. And help
us spread the story of your Love to any who are willing to hear it. Blessed Be.
–based upon the prewritten text for the talk given by Rev. Jimi Ellison on 2015-12-06
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Dec. 2015 • Novus NW Inspirational Talks
Date
Talk Title
Speaker
Rev. Jimi
How
History
Forgot
Mother
God
6
Bishop Nancy
We Are Not in this Alone
13
Prefect Loren
Winter Solstice
20
Participants
Study Group Sunday
27
● Azna Group Notes ●
Everyone in the Azna Group is enjoying a bit of rest — our schedule of events at the end of the year
has always been a bit hectic. We’ve had our first meeting of the year and reviewed the traditional list
of events for the year. Our Gnostic community has grown much tighter over the last several years…
but it’s also grown a bit smaller too.
We don’t have another event until the Luau-themed Potluck in March. We’re debating if there’s
enough interest in holding the Auction that day as well. Let us know what you think. –Tony Zupan, President
v.7, #1 • January 2016 • 10
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Christmas Caroling
Photos from Winter Solstice Celebration
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● Bonus Talk ● 'Tis the Season
Good morning everyone! Well we are less than two weeks away from the big day. We say how can it
be but Christmas is on December 25th every year so that is how it can be.
You hear people saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Especially for little kids… it is a very
joyful time. I feel that it is a time of the year when the little kid in all of us needs to come out. The little
kid in me is here!
This time of the year, you hear the word “happy” a lot or… “merry” or “jolly,” etc. I have thought about
it and what makes people happy? Some people just seem to be naturally happy. And others are
grumpy and miserable no matter what. We can be in “heaven” or “hell” right here on Earth — I know I
have been in both places myself.
In Journey of the Soul 4, Sylvia Browne tells us that life is work… and that we have a right to be as
happy as we can… to help us survive life. What is it that makes you happy?
It is different to all of us. For some, they may be in heaven having 10 kids… but for others, two kids
would drive them crazy. Some people’s life desire may be to have a life partner… to own their own
home… to be famous… to adopt a child… or to have a bright red sports car.
Anyway… if we don’t get what we want, we can still go on and live in way that people are so happy to
see us… and so thankful that we took the time for them. When I feel like I’ve done something good
for someone…it uplifts my spirit.
When the nightly news comes on, I sometimes say that the “bad news” is on. It makes me wonder if
laughter can raise your serotonin levels in your body and be healing… what does all the “bad news”
do that we’re bombarded by do to us?
Well, the other night on the news they had a story about a man who called himself “Secret Santa.” At
Christmas time he gives $100 bills to a thousand unsuspecting people. The day he was on the news,
he was in Pennsylvania in a mall. He would go up to a person and say, “this is from Secret Santa.”
The people would be so surprised! Some would cry; they were so happy. Some told of being in the
hospital or out of work… but all were so thankful. It wasn’t that $100 would solve all their problems…
it was the fact that someone cared enough to want to help them. It just made you wish you could do
the same thing.
There is a lot of history to Christmas. It is celebrated by billions of Christians and non-Christians…
and it’s a public holiday in many nations around the world. Christmas Day was meant to be an annual
festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ… and it literally means “Christ’s Mass.”
By the early-to-mid 4th century, the Roman Catholic Church had placed Christmas on December 25th.
Francine, Sylvia’s Spirit Guide has said that Jesus was really born in June.
There has been controversy over Christmas over the years. In Wikipedia, it says that in 1659 that the
Puritans outlawed the celebration of Christmas calling it “a popish festival with no biblical justification.”
In 2009 the federal appeals court in Philadelphia enforced a school district’s ban on the singing of
Christmas carols. The US Supreme court declined to hear an appeal. I guess there has always been
a Grinch around… and probably always will be.
December is the time of the year when we can get the most stressed out with all of the tasks we need
to do: from writing cards… buying gifts… and going to events — to name just a few things that keep
us extremely busy. Remember to take a few deep breaths and to relax… and enjoy the fun
activities… and people in our life.
If I had knew that I would never have another Christmas with some of the people in my life, I would
have squeezed out more good times with them. I would have stressed less… and laughed more.
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None of us are guaranteed another day — much more another Christmas together — so relax and
make this the happiest and merriest one ever.
I know that just the words “jolly old St. Nick” make me feel happy. The movie A Wonderful Life really
sums it all up. We may not live in Bedford Falls, but if we look at the positive — instead of letting life’s
everyday hassles overwhelm us — it really can be a “wonderful life.”
We all have so much to be thankful for… we are blessed to just be here. I think I hear a bell ringing
right now — there are angels all around us. Blessings, love, and laughter to you and yours.
–based on the prewritten outline for the talk given by Bishop Nancy Hull on 2015-12-13
New Spirit Radio Show
The New Spirit Radio Show continues its weekly broadcasts of audio clips of trances with Francine.
Also, instead of every other week, Chris Dufresne will be the show every week to answers questions
from the phone lines and chat room for about 20 minutes. The one hour show starts at 6 PM Pacific
every Wednesday at www.blogtalkradio.com/newspirit.
Novus Spiritus Michigan ― January 2016 Newsletter
Taylor, MI: Celebration Held the 1st Sunday of Each Month at 11 AM
As 2015 draws to a close we can look back with pride at our Church in Michigan and in other
states too. We have said together and supported each other, growing in spirit and friendship.
Sunday, January 3, 2016 will be our first service of the New Year. Service will begin at 11 AM. I will
be giving a talk that includes the Winter Solstice, a meditation, and Communion which is followed
by our Novena which is done in a circle around Stonehenge for those that would like to join in.
Refreshments will follow. With the change in our weather, I am thinking soup.
From 12:30 – 1:15: Journey of the Soul Study Group — hosted this month by Cory (while a
board meeting takes place.)
From 1:15 to 1:45: there will be an Azna's Roundtable meeting to make plans for the coming year.
May God, our Mother and Father, and the Christ-Consciousness always be with us. On
this journey, let us keep the White Light of the Holy Spirit around us always. And even
though we have written our Charts, may we know that there are miracles.
—“A Comforting Prayer”, Prayers, by Sylvia Browne.
Blessings To All
–Rev. Anita Mahan, Cardinal
● Pearls from Journey of the Soul ●
For centuries upon centuries — at least twenty thousand years — Mother God’s worship, loving, and caring was
apparent. Only in the last two thousand years has there been a patriarchal rule. In that time of the patriarchal
rule ... there has been nothing but chaos.
–Francine, one of Sylvia’s Spirit Guides: JS 1, p. 21
Men, in those early days, not only feared the emotion and abilities [of the female], but they did not want any
woman to know that there could be a Feminine part to God. What would that do? That would empower the
female. And in empowering her, would give her the same spirituality. …. So what they should have done is
bring the Duality in — which, of course, is [Mother and Father God.] It is the same as if you just used [only]
one side of your brain. You would be all emotion… or, all dull intellect.
–Francine: JS 1, p. 25
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9th Annual Christmas Ball
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