Shamans tend to be men {Women have more of these abilities in their natural state and require less altered consciousness.}, though women also can become shamans; some women shamans are extraordinarily powerful. In some cultures, shamans are involuntarily chosen by the spirits; they realize their calling in a transformational experience, often a serious illness that brings them close to death {For example Damion Brinkley of today.} and is self-cured. In other cultures, persons with natural shamanic gifts are selected at a young age, trained and initiated.

Many of us have been taught that it is wrong to be angry. This thinking weighs heavily in both the sacred and secular domains. Is that thinking right or wrong?

Whether we admit it or not, we operate by emotion. Our comfort level, attitude, and efficience are largely determined by how we feel. Getting the feel of your faith enables you to be confident and comfortable with your spiritual condition. It determines your influence, where and how often you attend church services, and what you do for the Lord.

There are times when we want to feel special inside. And most of the time this world won’t give us that hug or encouraging word at that right moment when we need it. But no matter where we go or what time it is we can find that lighthouse shining on us through the love of Jesus Christ.

Advice on living a humane and compassionate life...

Vanity - it’s easy to mask, easy to forget, and easy to justify. We hide it behind dignity and poise. The sins connected to this weakness aren't quite as severe as those associated with pride, gluttony, and lust. But it can eventually lead up to some serious problems. And it can keep us from becoming an instrument of Christ...

Why should I believe in God? I, not knowing the answer, am seeking one from you. Do you have one? Feel free to comment.

The desire for enlightenment arises out of a yearning from deep within the soul. It is not a physical, emotional or intellectual quest. Consequently, it’s difficult to explain.

Do you ever wonder if a life of faith is worth it? I once read that is a mark that you're living right, and perhaps it is. Still, it's difficult to look around and see people getting away with acting in ways that are clearly in defiance of our faith - and getting away with it! Fortunately, we know that the Lord also sees this, and we are assured that He will deal with it in His way and timing. This story tells how to find humor in such frustrating situations, and how to rest in knowing that in the end, it will all work out for good.

An out-of-wedlock pregnancy causes this woman to turn to God in desperation -- and she finds only unconditional love.

Where do you look for an experience of the Divine? Religion? Your inner guides? Your higher self? Do you know that the experience of the Divine is not only inside you, it is you? In this article I lead you on a short journey that helps you begin reawaken this divine being that is you...

There are always three voices in every ones head at any given time; God's voice, the devil's voice, and the voice of our own flesh. So, how are we to be sure to hear from God with all the noise going on?

Do you ever feel that what you read in some Christian books is not really God’s truth at all, but is merely the opinion of the writer, dressed up in the clothing of truth? One such teaching is that we have to work very hard to please God, because he is just about fed up with us because of all our shortcomings. This is a teaching that is just plain wrong, according to Darin Hufford, and in his book, “The God’s Honest Truth,” he sets out to correct it.

God has written into divine providence a kind of payday-someday theology.

For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts; For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

I once read a story about a Catholic priest who was a godly person. He was so godly that when he died people believed that his bones had healing powers. Yeah, right...

Uriel is the least known of the four leading archangels. Uriel is the angel of Ministration, Repentance, Prophecy and Tranquillity. Uriel will help you find the peace that passeth all understanding.

Is spirituality always about the happy and good and the light? Or does spirituality have a dark side?

I waited all my life for my soul mate. I always knew, somewhere deep down inside myself, that the perfect mate was out there somewhere, waiting for me just like I was waiting for him. His absence had been noticeable for as long as I could remember; it was always as though a part of me was missing...

Many people have a longing for a slower, perhaps fuller life and are beginning to look inside themselves to find out what they truly desire. Learning to pause periodically during the day to re-group and replenish our energy can be a helpful first step, and can make an enormous difference in our hectic lives.

A Canadian Scientist, Hans Selye (1907-1982), observed that individuals who suffered from chronic diseases revealed some symptoms related to it. This time, the experiment on rats was done. When rats are exposed to various physical trauma factors - shock, poison, high temperature, and noise, their glands enlarged, and thymus gland and lymph nodes shrunken. Selye then created the three Stages of Stress Response consisting alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

Today, I looked out the window while the world slept and watched the moon. It is the water of our lives. It causes tides, and menstrual cycles, and emotions and stock market crashes and fills our hospitals with mental breakdowns when it's full. We, in our mind driven lives forget the moon. We listen to the guru talk about self mastery and think we are the master, and therefore accuse others of deliberate unconsciousness, but we are wrong in this. The moon pushes and pulls us, and we must not fight her. We must learn to play with her. This is the human heart.

Everyone knows that chronic stress is not healthy, but what can a person do about it? This article explains what happens when the body is overstressed, and lists 12 practical solutions for reducing chronic stress.