The Universal Language of Healing

by | Aug 17, 2016 |

Throughout the ages, a diverse cast of philosophers, poets, mystics and musicians have all hailed the beneficent energies of music. The Greek philosopher, Plato once wrote, "Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind and flight to the imagination." For Plato, music is a sonic gift from the gods intended to educate and enlighten the soul to its highest virtues. Some two thousand years after Plato, Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, echoed...

read more

Understanding Spiritual Understanding

by | Aug 10, 2016 |

The first idea to understand about spiritual understanding is that no one ever attains it without first striving for it. As Charles Fillmore emphasizes in The Twelve Powers, each of our creative faculties of mind is a potential power. The development of these powers to their fullest expression is not an automatic process, nor is it even guaranteed. In short, if we don't look for it, we will never find it. If we do not ask for it, we will not receive it.In the Hebrew scriptures, we learn that...

read more

The One and Only Unbreakable Creative Rule

by | Aug 3, 2016 | ,

For the most part, the “rules" of creativity are more like guidelines than strict rules that cannot be broken. Indeed, one will never be at a loss to find exceptions to the rule of rules. History is strewn with creative masterpieces that have ignored conventional and contemporary forms to rise to new creative heights and, in some cases, altogether establish new creative forms and standards. Picasso’s Guernica, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, James Joyce’s Ulysses, Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue,...

read more

Vanquishing Creative Block Forever

by | Aug 2, 2016 | ,

How would you feel if you knew that you have the creative power within you to vanquish creative block forever? Think about it for a moment. What would it feel like to know that every time you sat down to be creative, inspiration would be right beside you providing you with an endless supply of creative ideas?If you're a creative of any stripe, you will likely feel positively euphoric at the prospect. Well, guess what? You do have that power. What's more, you have always had the power and have...

read more

The Power of Power

by | Jul 24, 2016 |

In Charles Fillmore's metaphysical classic The Twelve Powers, he delineates twelve inner creative faculties with which each one of us is divinely endowed. Among these are the powers of love, faith, imagination, understanding, wisdom and will. We also have powers of strength, order, renunciation, zeal and life. The last of these twelve powers is the power of power itself. No, that is not a misprint. As Fillmore sees it, you and I have a power called power. He also associates the power of...

read more

Saying No, To Say Yes

by | Jul 16, 2016 | ,

Insofar as we often find ourselves in transition and facing the paradox of change in our lives, encountering resistance is inevitable, but not insurmountable. Fortunately, we come equipped with a powerful capacity for renunciation, the power to release and eliminate anything we believe does not serve us. In short, we have the power to say, "No!" In Charles Fillmore's metaphysical classic The Twelve Powers, he delineates the power of renunciation, or elimination, as one of the twelve...

read more

My Favorite Word is Peace

by | Jul 15, 2016 | ,

Considering every possible word I could choose, without a doubt, peace is my favorite word. For me, peace is not only an efficient, pleasant sounding word; it is the end game, the very purpose of our lives. Peace is the condition and experience we seek most in every situation, circumstance and relationship in our lives.As we go about the activity of making choices in our lives, we are not really choosing the thing itself. Rather, we are choosing it, because of what we believe it will bring to...

read more

Be Like Water

by | May 10, 2016 | ,

In the midst of any interpersonal or personal struggle among or within humans, inevitably there comes a moment when we realize with crystal clarity there is only one sure fire, never fail way to resolve the conflict and restore the peace. Surrender! We immediately recognize and intuitively know the power of it's truth, because, quite frankly, it's the same answer every time and has been for time immemorial.No matter the nature or form of the conflict, and without respect for whether the urge...

read more

Stephen Doster’s “Arizona” Is One For The Ages

by | Apr 10, 2016 | ,

Stephen Doster is one of Austin music’s secret weapons, at least outside of Austin. Around here, it’s not such a secret. Not counting his collaboration records with Will Sexton and Bill Carter, Arizona is his first solo album, since Rosebud, his power pop chestnut from 1996. However, Arizona is an altogether different affair. Where Rosebud employed the rock muscle of chiming guitars as its principal brushstroke, “Arizona” offers a more diverse, subtle use of guitar sonics. Added musical color...

read more

The Greatest Discovery of All Time

by | Sep 10, 2015 | , ,

In the "Foreword to the 40th Anniversary Edition" of Eric Butterworth's spiritual classic, Discover the Power Within You, the esteemed poet Maya Angelou acknowledges her affinity for the compelling idea at the very heart of Butterworth's teachings. Namely, that "the power of God, the essential spirit, is within each of us." This idea is also at the heart of what Butterworth would call the greatest discovery of all time, and is essentially the foundation upon which his celebrated metaphysical...

read more