Tag Archives: spirituality

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I Will Walk Easy


We are at a place in time when we can no longer view ourselves as separate from our planet. Each of us has inner spiritual work to do, but we must accept that we are totally part of the living Mother Earth. Healing ourselves and working to resolve the ecology of our planet is the same work. Healing involves making ourselves and our planet whole again. If we can destroy Gaia with our actions, then we can also heal her and ourselves in the process. We are fields of energy integrated with our world. We can reestablish the balance on our planet and allow for her to heal herself.  The balance will allow us to heal also.

“I have come to terms with the future.

From this day onward I will walk

easy on the earth. Plant trees.

Kill no living things.

Live in harmony with all creatures.

I will restore the earth where I am.

Use no more of its resources than I need.

And listen, listen to what it is telling me.”

—M.J. Slim Hooey

” My help is in the mountains

Where I take myself to heal

the earthly wounds

That people give to me.”

  —-Nancy woods

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Strangers and Sojourners


Photo by Barbara Mattio

For my house shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples.
—-Isiah 56:7

The builders of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem followed the instructions of the prophets and their vision. It was designed to be a house of worship for strangers and those journeying through Israel.

The Temple was constructed with an inner area where only Jews were admitted to worship. Within this area, was the Holy of Holies. The High Priest was the only one allowed here in the presence of G-d.The High Priest only entered on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. There was another important area in the Temple. It was “The Court of the Gentiles.” History shows us that there were often Gentiles worshiping with Jews in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Jews considered the Gentiles, G-d fearers. The combined worship of Jews and non-Jews was the hope of a world where all peoples and nations would worship together. This hope would join all peoples in praise of the One who created them.

Outside of Paris, France is a structure called the “Universale” and it is also a building designed for all peoples regardless of race, religion or gender to come inside and worship the One God. It is in Surrennes and all are welcome to come and pray and worship together. I feel that the gathering of peoples of different races and religions to share the experience of being in the presence of Divinity is freeing. To experience the One together is healing and makes the presence of G-d, the Beloved, the One a reality in the life of each of us. I love the concept of the energy of all the prayers of all the strangers and sojourners wafting up to Divinity. What an amazing experience.

Photo by Barbara Mattio

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If I Told You the Truth About God


Many people claim to have the truth about God. Millions of people on our planet are determined that they know God and that they are the only ones who do know God. They are so sure that wars are fought to prove their point. I think it must get difficult to be Divinity because you are supposed to guarantee both sides victory because they know all about you and you want them to win. Where do we go from here? Many mystics, over the millenniums, have had intimate experiences with God, cosmic consciousness, Divinity or whatever name is used, on the inner landscape. The following poem was written by Kabir, a eastern mystic centuries ago. Typically, he and his work were not accepted until after his death. He understood that most people wanted God on their terms; not its. He experienced the presence of the Beloved and was ridiculed by Muslims and Hindus alike until his passing. There is a unique irony in his poems. Many mystics have used poetry, music and nature to help explain the God experience. The following poem is one of my favorites.

I Just Laughed

“If I told you the truth
about God,
you might think I was an idiot.

If I lied to you about the Beautiful One
you might parade me through the streets shouting,
‘this guy is a genius!’

This world has its pants on backwards.
Most carry their values and knowledge
in a jug that has a big hole in it.

Thus having a clear grasp of the situation
if I am asked anything these days

I just laugh!
—Kabir

Photo by Barbara Mattio

Photo by Barbara Mattio

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Spiritual Unity


Throughout history, there have been many different religions. Religions have destroyed many lives. The reason is that they focus on the differences between religions. “My religion is the only correct one so everyone’s else’s beliefs are wrong.” “If you are different you are wrong and God doesn’t love you.” This disharmony causes much suffering and even the wars we have gone through. Everywhere in the world unity is lacking.  There is now a new spirit afoot to “rise above the differences which divide us”.

All of the scriptures given to the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Christians have unity as the common thread throughout their sacred writings and beliefs. Mankind has forgotten the inner meaning, the inner voice that can be found in these writings. All scriptures contain words spoken from the same Source. The reason scriptures are given is to promote the unity of the spirit.

Billions of people believe in Divinity but very few actually make God a reality in their lives. Part of the problem is that God is infinite and as humans we tend to attempt to make God understandable. In doing so, we make God finite. We then miss the full experience of the God of the Universe. Humans can only perceive so much and then they let the rest slide by. As human beings having a spiritual experience we need to rise above our imaginations, what we are used to and what we can not reach. Our finite minds can’t easily perceive the hidden secrets of God. The unity of God is a hidden secret.

What a blessing to humanity to experience nations, races, and religions coming together in unity and love for the Divine.

Photograph by Barbara Mattio

Photography by Barbara Mattio

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Everyone can have Peace


We all want peace in our world. My hope would be that one day every sentient being will live in peace and light. We hope for it and we pray for it. Doesn’t seem enough. You can’t make people be peaceful.

I believe that creating peace in the world begins with each of us. Yes, I know it sounds like a cliche, but it is true none the less. We all have reasons in our lives that cause us not to have peace.

The past is one set of problems. Statistically, 30% of the average persons’ time is spent thinking about the past. What has happened to us, what we feel guilty about that perhaps we can’t fix. We have old tapes that run from the past and create triggers in the present. People push the triggers and our bodies and minds remember. Meditation is a big help and thousands of us are today using meditation as a means of being centered and balanced. The inner landscape also brings us into communion with the Divine. Quantum scientists now tell us that every cell in our bodies carries all of our memories.
That is staggering to me. They also state that with just 1 human cell that they can recreate the entire Universe. Why? We are all within each other. I am in the butterfly and the butterfly is within me. The Beloved is within me and I am within the Beloved. It is recommended that everyday, you make some silence and with intent give your past to the light. To the Universe, God, Goddess, Divine Energy. Whatever you are comfortable calling it. But doing it does loosen the “ties that bind” us to the past and the negativity which is part of why we lack inner peace.
If each sentient being would do this everyday, we would each have peace within our souls. That peace would radiate outward spreading peace to all who come into our own world. As they feel more peace, it will radiate from them to others in their worlds. The pattern happens millions of times over and over and the result is World Peace.
I don’t mean to make this sound like some easy peasy gimmick The first time I gave my past to the light—just having the intention and saying the words, I felt something loosen in my chest. It was a physical response to what my mind was doing. There is no magic formula for world peace, but each day, it can begin with each of us.

“Dear God,
I won’t spend one more day in fear,
Today I will not be limited by negative thoughts,
I will recognize the beauty you have surrounded me with,
Today I will be free of unrealistic expectations of myself and others.
Today I will stay in the present moment and practice gratitude for all
of my blessings, large and microscopic.”
—-Barbara Mattio
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