Steven Bancarz, Spirit, Science & Metaphysics
Waking Times

What happens to us when we die? Where does our soul go? Chances are, if you were brought up in a religious background you believe that there are only 2 places you can go: Heaven and Hell. If you are a good person and believe the right things, you spend eternity in Heaven. If you are a sinful person, you spend an eternity in hell. Thankfully, this is a false dichotomy.

On top of the fact that it doesn’t even make sense to think about only 2 options (both of which are eternal), there has been a lot of scientific investigation into what happens when people leave their bodies when it dies and then return after experiencing time in the spirit world. Thousands of near-death experiences have given us the information we need to form a more accurate picture of what awaits us on the other side. Some do report hellish realms, and almost all report heavenly realms, but there is another side of the coin here that needs to be addressed.

By Steve Nobel

Our ego mind prefers safety, routine, and the status quo. It does not want us to step too far out of the front door into anything too new or different. On the other hand, our essential self wants us to stretch, grow, shed what is unnecessary or heavy, and explore this life more fully.

A transition begins with an impulse from the soul to see new terrains and new horizons. We grow, become lighter, and see the world afresh by taking a step into the scary unknown. In a smooth transition, the desire to experience the adventure eventually outweighs the resistance, and thus the adventure begins. We leave behind an old life and move towards something new: we resign from the job to travel the world; we leave a long-standing stuck relationship and let our hair down and explore being on our own again; we move out of the city and experience living somewhere remote and different; we give up the 9 to 5 rat race and start our own business.

Ida Lawrence, Contributor
Waking Times

Peaceful, wholly contained moments: sometimes they come to us while in nature, sometimes when family is in ‘sync’, sometimes within an embrace. It’s as if a blessing descends, we’re in our body, and the body knows that everything is perfect: we feel uplifted and at home in an expanded, balanced center. “I am here, my heart is happy, this is real, love is here, and it’s eternal.”

As you might guess, we’re starting out with the ‘perfect moment’ because I recently enjoyed one. My six-year-old granddaughter was visiting, and for about an hour, daddy and a bunch of uncles were helping her play with some new, funny ‘sticky’ blocks. When the clowning around was over, I left the room for a bit, and returned to see an entirely different picture: she was engrossed in music with one of the uncles. I watched as they listened to the Japanese drums, then the didgeridoo, then the African drums.

An oil pipeline in Montana has burst, spilling more than 50,000 gallons of oil directly into the Yellowstone River, which prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency. In nearby cities, residents were told not to drink the tap water. Some locals said the water smelled like diesel.

The oil spill happened when a 12 inch pipeline ruptured about 5 miles up from the city of Glendive, says Montana’s Department of Environmental quality. The Bridger Pipeline company shut down the pipeline, but not before dumping as much as 50,400 gallons of oil into the river.

Glendive City Council member Gerald Reichert was among the residents who noted the terrible odor coming from the tap water.

Resistance is a sure way to continue what you do not want. Appreciation is a sure way to continue what you do want. It really is quite simple. Do you see? Both are amplified focus, and your amplified focus is your agreement with a situation. Simply choose what you feel deserves your attention and continuation in your life, and grow it with gratitude. ~Archangel Gabriel