--- Opening Your Mind ---

As part of our being, we all have need to believe in something greater than ourselves. There is a part of us that "has to belong." Many people fall deeply into organized religion because it provides camaraderie and a focal point for their community as well as a basis for moral code of community. These, in addition to faith-based answers to "big questions", provide a comfort zone and a foundation for many. However, by opening one's mind and examining many facets behind these "big questions", one can develop and acquire true answers within one's own context.

What is key? Context-free rationalization. Of course, "context-free" is a little strong as we must all have a context, or a point of reference, that we can use to compare information and apply our rules and belief systems. However, open experience and vast knowledge can provide us with multiple contexts that we can use to devise a wider view of a particular piece of information. This wider view is what is called an "open mind". The open mind has no safety zone as it is always risking it's "comfort zones" in search of new information and new ways of examining situations and other beings.

--- What's next? ---

Acquiring this knowledge and ability to move across many contexts is not a simple task as it requires ability to acquire, accept, and process information outside of our current context. It is a "chicken or egg" situation; however, it is a decision that we make as humans to initiate such a move.

By opening our minds and perceptions, we allow our conscious minds ability to communicate more freely with our subconscious minds. In doing so, vast amounts of information available in collective unconscious, "The Grid", "The Universal Library" is available to us, simply by "looking." Consider idea of opening mind as a primer for what follows once you are able to use your mind to its fullest capabilities and acquire immeasurable knowledge from all entities across Universe and throughout time.

This is true meaning of spirituality. The knowledge and desire to exist with and within Universal essence. To accept and acquire knowledge that is freely available to you through time and space. Finally, knowledge to use this information in a way that is beneficial to you, as protecting and projecting yourself, you are providing a pathway for others and betterment of your communities. --- About Author ---

Edward B. Toupin is an author, publisher, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, technical writer, and PhD Candidate living in Las Vegas, NV. Among other things, he authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his recent print and electronic books as well as his articles covering various life-changing topics!

For more information, and to find out about his upcoming title on book publishing, e-mail Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his site at http://www.toupin.com!

They can and do intervene only when there is a need to modify certain experiences to make them bearable so that we can make it through life without failing completely to reach our goals.

If you think you have never received any help from your spirit guide, question is: Are you absolutely sure? Our guides, along with other cosmic forces, have infinite but often unobvious ways of delivering assistance, knowledge, and information to us.

For example, say you’ve spent time and effort planning a trip but because of a feeling of unease, or because something unexpectedly comes up that interferes with your plan, or for no reason that is apparent to you, you cancel it. Because you did not take trip, it is easy to not even consider what might have happened had you taken it. It is quite possible that something was at work making sure trip never took place – for your own life and safety. That something could well be your spirit guide.

How about that sudden idea or surge of inspiration that led you to solution for a problem? Yes, idea or inspiration came to you, but where did it come from? As I stated earlier, cosmic forces, including your guide, have infinite ways of transmitting information.

A thought may have come to you, but it may have originated someplace else. In case of finding an answer to a problem, it is most likely that your guide transmitted some information that guided you to a solution. If you petitioned or prayed for help, your guide may have been consulted or asked to respond.

If you petitioned for help using techniques discussed in my book Seeds of Luck: The ABCs of Creating Your Heart’s Desires, your guide may have been one of recipients of petition since it was not directed to a particular entity or deity. Again, once our problems are solved, it is easy to take solutions for granted and not think about their source.

Perhaps you remember a time you were distracted and pulled in a certain direction only to discover later that had you not been distracted and led away, you would have been exposed to danger.

Continued in "Origin of Certain Thoughts," Part II