Sheila Murrey Connections, Mind, Spirit

Why all the different religions?

Why the different religions?

Because people cannot agree. And because once a mind believes something, it’s difficult to change it. This is why it is easier to train a child than help a broken adult.

Why all the different religions?
Why all the different religions?

What I believe

I believe in Jesus, and the Christ consciousness that is crying out from within each of us to be Connected with God, however I no longer identify with the Christian label because it seems to align with a belief that Jesus is the ONLY son of God. Yes, I have an issue with the word “only.” I see that as an error in translation.
I follow Jesus’ teachings of:
  • Not judging. He who is without sin, cast the first stone. This also pairs nicely with my knowing that “everything has value.”
  • Forgiving. Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. We can learn just as much from those who hurt us, as we can from those who treat us well, though obviously, we all want to be treated kindly, be accepted, be loved.
  • Loving. Love thy neighbor as thyself. And… love thy enemies, which includes loving all mankind. And if you have an issue with this, read again the parable about the Good Samaritan which makes it clear that “love your neighbor” means to love all persons, everywhere – not just our friends, allies, people of our country or ancestry, etc.
  • We are to live life and have it more abundantly. This is not talking about greed, this is talking about being able to enjoy all of Earth’s abundance. We do not rob, we do not destroy so that the Earth does not provide to the next generations. We seed. We plow. We reap what we sow. We enjoy. We do not need to deprive ourselves. We should learn about other cultures and enjoy the art, music, culture, and all they have to share with us. There is nothing to fear.
  • Before Jesus ascended to glory, He said we would go on to do even greater miracles than He performed. We need to understand and use the POWER we’ve been given. We need to learn who we are and use our power for good.
Above all, I believe in the Omniscience, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent God.

God’s name

We may call God, The Presence, Source, Light, Energy, or The Creator of the Universe.

It’s humans who always feel they must label and name everything. God simply IS.
There exists an Eternal Presence that pulses and resonates through all. And it is Energy. Limitless, Ever-Living, and Filling-All-Space (which is really explains how God IS truly Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent). The Presence also works for me as a name.
God lives in each of us already, most just deny it.
Jesus was a representation of God living in us or He was expressing God fully. Expressing the truth of God in us!
God can shape-shift, choosing to be Jesus, any avatar, or merely a point of light!

Labels

I do not associate or align with LABELS of any kind, including but not limited to:
  • Christian. For the aforementioned reasons.
  • Paganism. I do not associate with symbols.
  • Mormon. Because the original Latter Day Saints church never called themselves that, only the Salt Lake City LDS members were known as Mormons. I have read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and believe it to be the Holy scripture of Jesus Christ’s visit to America. Some call it the Native American Bible.
  • Vegan. Because I consume honey, some dairy, and fish (to align more with my native American ancestors and my blood type).

Sacred texts

I have read other Christian materials like the Dead Sea Scrolls, Nag Hamadi, and the Urantia book, so who was ever to say one book was divinely inspired while another not??? What egos!!

I’ve heard that modern society has lost touch with rituals, however, perhaps this is because the word “ritual” is built into “spiritual” and just by way of Be-ing, that is all the ritual we need? When a person is spiritual, they know spirit is always with them, in fact, that spirit is IN them! There is no need to DO anything in order to know spirit is IN you. So, we’ve let go of religious rituals because we don’t need them. Isn’t that a freeing thought?!?
I do study. As I have a thirst for knowledge. And as the Bible declares, we are to study to show thyself approved. I believe we are here to learn and accumulate knowledge and experience. As we transition, our soul takes this knowledge forward in some way.

Teachings

I do appreciate and enjoy what each of the various religions have taught me over the years:
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now the Community of Christ (Mormon) church taught me:
  • God is living and ever present
  • Present day revelation
  • Healing via Laying on of hands
The Methodist church that my paternal grandfather and grandmother were members of, showed wonderful acceptance and honor of others beliefs. In particular, my grandfather read my mom’s Book of Mormon and had many deep discussions with her about it! He was very interested in it, saying it offered great wisdom and comfort! He never understood why others would put mom down for believing in it, much less persecute her for it! My aunt Gela also had conversations with my mom about it over the years and my aunt was a devout practicing Methodist!
So, I was taught tolerance of other religions from an early age, even though my church taught that it was “the one true church” and I found out by attending others that each thought they were the only true church.
Baptist churches taught me boldness and encouraged me to study my Bible to “show thyself approved.” They also taught me humility–by going to the alter on more than one occasion! As well, they caused me to question my faith because they said the Mormon faith followed a different Jesus! I remember how confusing that was as everything I had learned about Jesus in my church was the same as they were preaching!!
Pentacostal churches taught me music in church can be fun and fantastic and that dancing for the Lord is glorious and healthful! My daughter and I were even “praise dancers” for a year while attending one of these churches years ago. My second husband and I were baptized in the ocean by a Bible believing non-denominational pastor whom also counseled us before marrying us. Though our marriage ended I learned so many things from it that I cannot think of it as a complete failure.
Also, that specific pastor taught me:
1) he asked the congregation to raise their hands if we thought he should drive a Lexus
2) they put multiple christmas trees on the stage
3) he said if we truly “got” what he was preaching we wouldn’t need him anymore, because God could speak to us and we could choose to listen and follow God on our own!
As soon as I understood what that pastor was saying, I left the church! (My ex-husband quit after the Lexus question.)
One of my co-dancers told me to look at algebra like a puzzle (because I had asked for guidance about math classes in college that I was struggling with). This later all became very important to my career!
Jehovah’s Witnesses taught me how they control people (a friend of mine relayed his very personal story to me years ago) and how they taught that Christmas is a pagan holiday.

Truths

The Church of Christ says the Mormon church is a fraud, yet another friend I met years later (who was Church of Christ) said her particular church didn’t teach that. She invited me to attend her church–I always felt she had a hidden agenda to convert me!
So, no, I do not believe in ONE church, one religion, or one way. To me, those very beliefs are at the root of many of today’s societal problems.
I’ll take the “live and let live” approach over all of that divisiveness.
Remember who the father of confusion is. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
If I go to any place of worship, it will be where our Creator is celebrated as being ALIVE, and speaking TODAY, and where UNITY is being observed. But, I will not succumb to any one MAN’s teaching, as my ultimate teacher is our Limitless Creator Source God Divine Infinite Intelligence.
Any religion that uses the active vibration of human beings and teaches a practice of movement (dance, waving of the arms, etc.), and breath (such as the yoga breathing called Pranayama, or chanting and singing to open and move breath through the body) are wonderful ways to heal yourself and reach towards the Divine.
What’s wrong with “new age”, or “new thought” stuff really? What are we afraid of?
God is bigger than anything, certainly larger than anything we humans can devise! In actuality, I believe in a LIMITLESS, Source Energy Creator!
We humans are always seeking to think of God in our terms, that God has a gender or certain bodily appearance, and that God sees us the way we see ourselves. But the truth could be vastly different! How grouchy of us to imagine how God thinks! Or even that God thinks at all!
Perhaps God only KNOWS.
So, yes, I can enjoy, yes, “IN JOY” all the fruits of EVERY religion! Why? Because I believe God does!
All the people AFRAID of never pleasing God, they can let that GO.
The Limitless, Ever-Living, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipresence that exists is not sitting on a golden throne somewhere waiting to smack you upside the head!

Fear

And as for FEAR, as Jaime Foxx once said in an interview, “There is nothing on the other side of fear.”
I love the word “representation” oh yes! I read the book years ago also, and loved it. I feel a lot of people who judge the Shack book and movie, do so because they can’t see an Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient Creator God as appearing to anyone as a woman. I guess they forgot about that burning bush Moses saw.
I’ve heard it said that the Catholics only resisted Hitler marginally.
What can today’s religious people do to help preserve the universal freedom of religion?
Are Christians able to live their values under stress / temptation? Perhaps this is now their time of trial?
Admittedly, I align / identify more with Christians than Muslims, but I love the Zoroastrian, Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist religions / traditions and I do not count them out or less than because they believe some things differently than I–after all, I still contain my previous conditioning.

Where’s the love?

And what about all of the Peace and Love tribe? Where is all that peace and love when a president is elected of whom you do not approve?
How do you practice the first commandment? Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, etc.

I embrace Buddhism because I do not believe in evil. I have a knowing that what Christians deem as evil, is when we, each one of us, get in the way and block the light of God which wants to shine through us! We cast a shadow much larger than ourselves when we can’t get out of the way! Jesus knew this and called evil the “darkness” that blocks out God’s harmonic life-giving light.

I embrace the teachings of personal responsibility in Zoroastrianism–as they say to, think good thoughts, speak good words, and do good actions. And perhaps Ahura Mazda is not Omnipotent, but how do we know?

Spirituality, I believe, helps us get out of the way, so that our LIMITLESS God can can light the darkness and allow Divine Love to fill every heart.

References / Further reading:

Blessings to you in ALL ways.
Amen. Namaste. OM
❤️🦋🌀

Check out this original song, Dogma. My husband wrote this song and it’s one of my favorites. It was performed and recorded in a Nashville, TN studio. You can download it (it’s Track 1) from this link: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/chevyfordb26

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, available on Amazon.

Plus, the brand new book that’s been in the making for 13 years, Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, is now available for online sale and distribution (PDF format).

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Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

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Sheila Murrey Body, Connections, Mind, Spirit

Take what you need, leave the rest

I’ve gone to many churches (different religions) over the years and I have found some common thinking among them. I love learning about God and all means of connecting with our Creator. I don’t search because I haven’t found God, I search because there’s so many different ways to connect with God!

But there were some preachers who said things I didn’t like (meaning that I found some of the things they said were divisive and did not resonate as positive with me). Things such as:

  • “We’re right, they’re wrong”
  • “We are the only church preaching the true gospel”
  • “We’re the only ones baptizing the correct way”
  • “All other religions are wrong“

Those statements seemed contrary to my nature and what God put upon my heart and some were contradictory to what Jesus said (or have been attributed to Jesus) in the Bible.

When I asked some of the followers of these kinds of churches about the things their preacher was saying they replied: “I may not believe everything the church, religion, or my preacher teaches, but I follow the basic tenets and leave the rest.”

Then I asked, why would you continue to attend (or belong) to a church / faith that did not align with your beliefs? Most would answer something along the lines of:

  • “I stay out of respect for my spouse, parents, grandparents, etc.”
  • “The preacher is smarter, more studied, etc. than me”
  • “I’ve gone to this church my whole life and changing now would be too difficult”
  • “Perhaps I’m being convicted and have more to learn here”

Then I came upon the statement of: “Take what you need and leave the rest” when I attended several different 12 step recovery programs during a time when an ex-spouse was dealing with substance abuse and his doctor wanted the whole family to undergo therapy.

The concept reminded me of what those church goers told me years before so I began applying that concept to many things in life. Truly in all of my research and study I have not found anyone who “knows it all” so that phrase has helped me open to more. I have not found anyone who has a perfect life, or “has it all” no matter how you define the words, perfect and all.

I’ve written before about my maternal grandparents raising my mother and her siblings in a particular faith that believed in the Almighty Living God. One of the most challenging aspects of that Christian faith is how many other people, even other Christians, called our church a cult! But I would not have experienced the healing power of God via “laying on of hands” – the first and most powerful Source of Energy Medicine – had I not been attending that particular church. In fact, I was healed of colitis when I was young because my mom knew to call upon the elders.

To explain a bit about that experience, when I was about seven or eight years of age I experienced severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and difficulty eliminating (all symptoms of colitis). My mother took me to the hospital emergency room. During the doctor’s physical examination of me I became hysterical because of one particular method the doctor used which scared me to death and physically hurt!

I think my shrieks and cries of pain reminded my mother that our family typically prayed first and asked for laying on of hands by the elders (totally calming and non-invasive), before going to a doctor or hospital. So, she took me home and called the elders of the church to come and administer laying on of hands to me. I never experienced any symptoms of colitis after their prayer!

NOTE: The doctor had prescribed some paregoric Kaopectate that a pharmacist had to compound for me, along with an enema when we got home. The interesting thing to me now about his recommendation of the enema is that had we believed in having colonics / colon hydrotherapy or enemas on a regular basis and right ways of eating I never would have been in that situation to begin with!

I should also mention at this point that I recognize in some emergency instances intensive allopathic medical options may be necessary. I do not mean for anyone to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak and throw all allopathic medicine to the curb. All healing comes from God and God allows doctors, nurses, and healers (including allopathic practitioners) to possess abilities and skills to help people. However, in my experience, prayer is most powerful and now the Mind, Body, and Spirit sciences are proving this!

I have had friends and family who prayed and went to the doctor. I am not judging that. God works in all ways, often mysterious! God can heal you on the way to the doctor! The important distinction is: Ask God first! Ask and continue asking. Then be open to receive God’s answer.

Do not judge or condemn others who believe differently than you, as they have their own path. If you believe God lives in you, they may also believe God lives within them! When you argue with them about their beliefs the vibration of that interaction actually runs counter to what God wants which, is for all peoples to live in peace acknowledging Creator God.

If you want to open to receive more, the Bible teaches:

“Study to show yourself approved to God…”

“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

As for the church of my youth, while I feel it beautifully served me well for a time, I am continuing to seek wisdom by following the pulsing sensation (“God bumps”) I feel in my body when God, our Source, our Creator confirms I am on the path. I’ve learned that judgment does not resonate with me. Oneness speaks to me.

Now my “church” occurs anytime I talk with at least one other person about our LIMITLESS Ever-Living Filling-All-Space Creator. And I continue to research and study. I find much of the new science thrilling! To me it all validates God it does not negate God. Darwinian evolution theory is out – disproven. Science still does not know where we came from but chromosome 2 in our DNA proves we did not evolve from ape-man. Kids, your school books are WRONG.

Currently, I am reconnecting with things that interested me as a child. Because I used to love archeology and dinosaurs I began listening to Gregg Braden. One of his recent interviews about his book Deep Truth – (click on the words Deep Truth to watch his video on YouTube) or  watch the interview I saw on GaiamTV.

Gregg’s interview led me to explore this site, about heart-based coherence: Global Coherence

I follow and study the work and writing of many people though. To me, this is a topic I will be able to study the rest of my life. There’s soooo very much to learn!

In all things I wish you love, peace, and many blessings. In fact, everything you have and all that is around you right now (even any suffering you may be experiencing) is with you for a reason and to bless you.

Take what you need, leave the rest. Thank you and Namaste.

Sheila Murrey Body, Connections, Spirit

Just what is Reiki, Shamanism, and Qigong?

Reiki, Shamanism, and Qigong

I thought I would take a few minutes to plop down my thoughts about these healing modalities.

Reiki, Shamanism, and Qigong

Here’s some research and links, plus lessons from my personal experience:

Reiki

1) Reiki promotes self-healing by helping one relax and reduce stress. From Japan, Reiki uses beautiful symbols which a practitioner “paints” in the air / aura around the client. I have both been a client and attended two classes. It is amazing to feel the heat / warmth on specific areas of your body when you are seated, eyes closed, and have no idea where the Reiki master is until you feel the heat. Reiki is not magical but may be mystical depending upon your interpretation. Since my upbringing included a faith that taught “laying on of hands”, AND present day revelation, I have no fear of spiritual types of healing (because everything originates from God, Source, Divine) and in fact, I embrace all healing modalities! Reiki is often translated to mean, “Spiritually guided life force energy”.

Shamanism

2) A shaman is a person with a gift for healing, a person who has practiced bridging the natural and supernatural to effect change in one’s health. A shaman may also be a priest, monk, or tribal medicine man/woman. The shaman I met did not go into a trance, did not bang a drum, or dress weird. Too many times people let misguided perceptions of what alternative natural healers “may be like” and totally miss a blessing!! Profound health and guidance comes through healers not a pill.

Qigong

3) Qigong is a powerful healing and energy medicine from China. It dates back to between 2500 – 5000 years. There are different Qigong applications.

  1. Healing Qigong, sometimes called medical Qigong helps the client understand and know how to work with one’s own energy system to balance and prevent dis-ease.
  2. This is the one I experienced. External Qi healing funnels energy through the body, from the head to the feet – actually pushing or detoxing illness down the legs and out the feet!
  3. Sports Qigong – the one most familiar to those who practice the martial arts. Also, people learn this for improved golf games, increased agility, accuracy, and stamina while playing sports.
  4. Spiritual Qigong – most associated with spiritual and self-awareness, most likely evolving from Taoism and Buddhism.

Blending the modalities

I had an amazing visit with Dr. Laurie Zakresky. She performs a blend of modalities of healing. She intuitively learns what you have need of and applies what will help.

In the treatment room, you lay fully clothed, shoes off, on a massage table. Typically massage or meditation type music is playing in the background. The Reiki, Shaman, or Qigong practitioner will move hands near your body, and sometimes pull on your feet, or touch you lightly on pressure points. There is no massage or such happening.

You may experience a warmth / heat, tingling, or other physical feeling when the practitioner passes hands near your body. You will notice, often very soon, that whatever ill symptoms you had, will lighten or leave your body. I felt tingling in my legs and feet. I also was a bit lightheaded when I got up to leave. By the time the hour session ended, some sinus issues I had were completely gone and I felt quite relaxed. I was instructed to continue pressure point tapping for a couple of issues and to drink more water.

Dr. Laurie not only showed me where my pressure points were, and how many times to tap them, etc. but also provided me paper instructions of exactly where to tap on my body so I wouldn’t forget. There was no charge for healing services, however, gifts are always appreciated and of course, she has a store full of wonderful items so it would bless you both if you found anything to purchase.

I will be spreading the word about Dr. Laurie and the Divine Books store. The store sells books, crystals, soaps, natural candles and scented wax “melts”, a kind of pure room air freshener, cards, gifts, and more.

If you’re in the St. Petersburg, Florida area and have any health issue, I hope you will call her to arrange an appointment.

Peace, love, and unity. We are all connected.