Kabir...Karma quote!

Kabir - respected Master and inspired Prophet - once said on the subject of Karma and the issue of reaping what you sow:

"If you plant cactus, how do you expect to grow mangoes?"

Dreams...Clinton scandal on horizon?

I awoke with a start...

Disturbing images from the night before were still vivid in my mind and they troubled me. After all, I'm not one to take such matters lightly.

In a dream years ago, I recalled falling back against a wall. As I slumped to the cold pavement, I glanced upward, and spied a man firing a pistol straight at me.

When I was riveted back into consciousness, there was a nagging impression in my mind that someone famous was going to be murdered in the street; unfortunately, I was unable to catch a glimpse of their face in the dream sequence.

A couple of days later, John Lennon was shot!

In one segment of the surreal montage the other night, a chauffeur was driving me to the airport where I was expected to catch a plane to journey on to Washington to receive an Honor at the White House.

The driver, an Afro-American male, turned and smiled through the open glass partition.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, he handed me a brand new copy of Bill Clinton's book on "Giving"...

I glanced down at the white cover; suddenly, the outside flap turned pitch black!

The two of us reacted in shock...

The livery service employee quickly noted that there was a bookstore down the street. At this point in the surreal dream, he scrambled out of the vehicle purring at the curb, and dashed up the bustling city street to pick up a fresh copy of the book so the Clinton's wouldn't be upset.

As soon as he departed, I glanced down in wonder at the publication resting in my shaking hands. At that precise moment, the outer jacket transformed back into its original shade of pristine white. Then, I woke up, perplexed.

The next night, I was savoring an invigorating shower. Suddenly - as the steaming-hot jet of crystal-clear water shot forth from the nozzle all over my naked flesh - a dark, muddy pool of liquid began to flow into the basin at my feet.

A voice in my mind said, "Don't drink it. It's contaminated!"

As I wrestled myself from the deep, hypnotic state, I bolted upright in my bed trying to fathom the symbols.

In my estimation, both nightmares were prophetic dreams.

First, it should be noted that dreams never speak to you in a language that you do not understand.

If you're afraid of swimming, for instance, then such an image in a dream sequence may be a warning - a message to pay heed to. If a snake represents evil, the appearance of one is in reference to that.

Both Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung - two leading dream analysts - identified dreams as a dramatic interaction between the unconscious and the conscious minds.

Basically, there are three types of dreams...

First, there is the purely prophetic kind, which essentially peer into the future.

In Biblical times, Joseph was inclined to have profound dreams, which often foretold of cataclysmic events.

In one, he noted to his brothers...

"...behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo [behold], my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf."

In another, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed to him.

God often used him as an instrument to forewarn about events on the horizon to pay heed to. Forebodings such as these are not easy to interpret.

The idea of "prophetic dreaming" becomes compelling when déjà vu is experienced.

After all, déjà vu generally conjures up a feeling of having previously seen or experienced something which may be attributed to having been dreamt about in a similar situation or place, and forgetting about it, until one seems to be mysteriously reminded of the situation or place while awake...

The second kind of dreams arise and spring from daily tension and anxiety.

During waking hours, sentient beings are prone to toil at work, watch television, and listen to the radio...so, cries from the subconscious are often blocked out.

At night, the lower levels of the psyche try to communicate what is amiss, or offer up clues as to what may be irking us, with the ultimate aim of calming our fears and attaining peace of mind.

Some argue that dreams cleanse unhealthy thoughts from the mind during sleep.

On occasion, such a process may be interrupted due to "dream incorporation". This occurrence takes place when an external stimulus - usually an auditory one - becomes a part of a dream, eventually awakening the dreamer.

"Dream Incorporation" is used in research to examining the degree to which preceding daytime events become elements of dreams. Studies have determined that events the day preceding and those about a week before have the most influence.

The third dream state pertains to the individual on a deeply personal level and is connected to personality traits, changes in the offing, and unique aspects of the person's life - not inconsequential, at all.

According to Carl Jung, there is a collective unconscious which a person taps into, at a basic level of the mind, which is common to all races and cultures.

Jung theorized archetypal symbols reside in the universal, myth-making part of the mind, and that myths and dreams stem from the same profound imaginings.

This argument supports the idea that individuals across the "board" are capable of having relatively similar dreams, especially in respect to universal truths. This may account for the ability of a handful to experience prophetic glimpses into the future and discern events that may affect all mankind.

Call it a kind-of primal instinct in the lower reaches of the mind.

The celebrated psychologist doubted that the images were solely related to the subject's personal experience.

To Jung, a fairly insightful, open-minded doctor - symbols of dreams were an efficient language, comparable to poetry, uniquely capable of revealing hidden, underlying personality traits.

Fritz Perls, who coined the phrase "Gestalt Therapy", expanded upon this point of view to say that even inanimate objects represented aspects of the dreamer. For this reason, a subject was often asked to imagine an object in the dream and describe it in order to bring an awareness of the characteristics that corresponded to the dreamer's personality.

Houses, on the other hand, usually refer to the "house" or temple of the individual, or their soul. If the structure is white, then the person may be experiencing a period of cleansing, since white represents purity.

Meanwhile, Sigmund Freud - a leading analyst in the field - conjectured that all human experience was subject to cause and effect.

In his opinion, dreams sprung forth as an aspect of the unconscious mind.

Through a technique known as free association, he surmised he could interpret dreams.

For instance, in a therapy session, subjects were asked to articulate sequences of spontaneous and random connections, using dreams as their starting points.

In his book, "Interpreting Dreams", he further theorized the mind operated on two levels - the primary and the secondary.

The id consisted of the primordial, inherited instincts; while the EGO, was focused on morality, rationality, and logic.

In the dreaming mind (primary process) unconcious desire and fears were turned into symbols; in the waking mind (secondary process) impulses and symbols were repressed through the operation of reason and conscience.

Id acted as a wish-fulfillment, couching them in symbolic form, so that they did not become urgent yearnings; hence, the symbolic musings did not disturb the dreamer.

Dream symbolism was facilitated by the complex mind to permit sleep, he theorized, by allowing the id to express the animalistic desires of the individual without forcing them into consciousness.

He further asserted that dreams functioned on two levels - consisting of manifest content (what dreams seem to mean) and latent content (what they actually mean).

The manifest content disguised the latent by dream sequences such as condensation (multiple dream meanings condensed into one symbol) and displacement (visual metaphor).

Using free association, he felt he was able to make connections that patients made between the symbols, to reveal a dream's content and arrive at a true interpretation

Freud formulated many theories about sexual urges and the id, but others who followed in his footsteps, challenged those ideas vigorously.

Some concluded that far from manifesting the power of some inner demon, dreams were a continuation of and a response to, waking states and events - as I noted earlier.

Not to be left behind, Freud proceeded to make a distinction, too, between those dreams prompted by id and those arising from day-to-day mundane matters.

In contrast, Jung felt dream work was an essential tool for psychoanalysis because dream symbols represented common humanity.

In this capacity, Jung noted they had a religious function; each one led to a path of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

In view of the foregoing, the dream images of the limousine driver and the book transformations, conjure up many intriguing clues - but no cigar, yet!

Maybe there is a "black" scandal on the horizon for Clinton pertaining to issues of "giving", as suggested by the book imagery.

But what of the Afro-American limo driver?

The water sequence drew a blank until this past week when it was announced that Bush vetoed the Water Bill(s).

Ah, the water!

Something about the water.

Don't drink it!

Prophecy...a gift from God!

In the Business Section of the LA Times, a writer for "Consumer Confidential", reported that he threw caution to the wind recently and jauntily stepped into a "storefront" establishment that offered "psychic readings" - to, as he demurely put it:

"Take a look at those who employ other-worldly means to help people prepare for the inevitable."

After lamely noting that an initial consultation for sixty dollars became a prolonged sales pitch for a five-hundred and seventy-five dollar "psychic cleansing" - which the young woman, Crystal, insisted was needed to restore his gloomy aura to its previously golden hue - he proceeded to cast aspersions on the "forecast" industry populated by psychics, astrologers - and the like - who use their talents to tap into the mysterious spirit world to conjure up messages from the other side.

If Mr. Lazarus departed the young seer's shop with a bad vibe in his aura, it's obviously due to his own negative "karma", in my estimation.

After all, he clearly was remiss in his duty as a journalist.

Judging from the ramblings of his expose, it's evident little constructive research was carried out; nor was there a fair open-minded approach to the subject.

In sum, Lazarus took an unkind swipe, which was unjust and uncalled for.

But, I guess a "Witch Hunt" is to be expected at Halloween.

When I was a teenager, I was fascinated by the occult.

Because of my own unique, childhood experiences - and due to an obvious uncertainty about the future - I became a seeker.

At first, my spiritual travels led me into the arcane arts.

The field of palmistry was particularly intriguing.

One of the best texts to use for a guide on the topic is by noted palmist, Cheiro.

He was one of the most famous and colorful occult figures of the early Twentieth Century - a clairvoyant who used palmistry, astrology, and Chaldean numerology - to make startlingly revelations about future world events.

Cheiro was often coached into summoning forth predictions for a handful of celebrity clients - stage legend Sarah Bernhardt, literary giant Oscar Wilde, and the highly-regarded, Duke of Windsor - to name a few.

Yes, he predicted the abdication from the Throne!

Did you know that psychologist - Carl Jung - examined the hands of tots to verify the presence of "Down Syndrome" ?

When I mapped the squiggly lines creasing my own palm, and compared them to diagrams in texts, I was startled to discover that so many of the principles and theories in his slim book held up.

Not content to base my conclusions on one set of mutts, I plucked up the sweaty palms of numerous friends, and was taken aback when they assured me my insightful dabblings rang true.

My foray into the I-Ching was equally as productive.

The I-Ching, is a calculated method of identifying order in what seems like chance events, and is central to a philosophy at the heart of Chinese cultural beliefs.

The Querent tosses three coins - or yarrow sticks - in logical sequence.

By way of a hexagram, the subject is able to fathom improbable influences - and hence - plot a course to wisely effect a positive change in harmony with the forces of nature.

In sum, the I-Ching is a tool of Divination, capable of tapping into the synchronistic undercurrent that touches and orchestrates all life.

The ritual is not a parlor game and should be approached with solemn respect.

Eventually, when the word spread around the neighborhood about my own psychic stirrings, I was forced to set aside appointment dates to meet the demand for private consultations.

In time, the Vancouver Sun wrote a feature on me, and delved into the fascinating topic with remarkable insight.

On the heels of this article, a National Tabloid mailed me prints of three anonymous hands to peruse; when my analysis was right on the mark, the editors excitedly published a report on the results.

The phone rang off the hook, after that.

A short time later, I was invited to appear on a popular morning TV Show - "Tomorrow's Fortune" - at CKVU in Vancouver, B.C.

Anonymous callers dialed in each day and asked a question; at which point, I'd offer up responses based on a three-point Tarot card lay-out on the podium before me.

Oftentimes - callers let out a gasp - or cried out, "Yes, that's true!"

Within minutes the switchboard would light up and operators invariably struggled to keep on top of the onslaught of frenzied calls.

Of course, the Tarot cards are only a focal point for the concentration; ultimately, the messages are triggered by, and spring from, the deep recesses of the all-knowing subconscious mind.

When the popular morning show finished its run - I continued to coach clients spanning the far reaches of the globe - usually on issues pertaining to pressing business deals or those intimately related to the secrets of the heart.

One day, without warning, I was blessed with an epiphany of sorts.

As a matter of record, it should be noted, that I studied Buddhism and Yoga for a number of years.

I gleaned much from the teachings of the Great Masters; in particular, Lao Tzu, the father of Taoism.

But, after much soul-searching - and an awakening - the Holy Spirit urged me to return to the Catholic faith.

In a startling, mystical encounter last fall, the Holy Trinity descended upon me late one dark night and blessed my heart.

At this juncture, I was forced to reevaluate my involvement with the esoteric and other-worldly pursuits.

I came to the conclusion that - shuffling cards brimming with symbolic meaning, peering into ominous swirls of tea leaves, and the reading of "limbs" - simply amounted to a lot of tom-foolery in the black arts.

Shortly after that revelation - during a reading of the scriptures one day - there was a moment of illumination.

It hit me like a bolt of lightning, in fact.

The gifts of prophecy, of healing, and the speaking of tongues, are precious gifts from God.

In the scriptures it notes as follows:

1 Co 12:8

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1 Co 12:9

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1 Co 12:10

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

However, the "gifts" must be used wisely.

The gifts of prophecy and healing, for instance, are not to be used for profit, to acquire fame, or to set into motion motives for selfish gain.

Just as surely as the precious gift may be bestowed upon a disciple - by the Divine Grace of the Lord - it just as swiftly may be snatched away from a young prophet because of misuse.

In addition, it should be wisely noted, that the gift must always be attributed to the Lord.

A case in point.

Last fall, the Church of the Good Shepherd sponsored a healing mass.

A firm believer in the "healing arts", I attended with great enthusiasm.

But - I was jolted into reality when the "faith healers" laid their "hands" on the subject - without undertaking proper precautions.

Moreover, it was evident to me by the dramatic "showiness" of the occasion - and the bold assertions by the practioners that the subjects would be "healed" - that I was forced to admit their efforts were entirely misguided.

To give false hope to the sick and needy is a mortal sin!

In essence, the Healing was a "sham".

When placing the "hands" on a subject, there must be a prayer to the Lord requesting that the "healing" be granted.

Notwithstanding - during the "laying-on" of the hands - the "disciple" must concentrate on Christ and the healing power of the Saviour's Love.

When spiritulists allege verbal communications with the dead - it annoys me somewhat - too.

For instance - some celebrated "mediums" step into the spotlight on a myriad of slick, enticing TV Shows - alleging to have had conversations with "spirits" who have passed over to the other side.

In spite of the fact the loved ones departed this realm decades ago!

According to Buddhists, when a sentient being passes away, the soul is reincarnated immediately into another body.

So, in this scenario, it would be impossible for "sensitives" to realistically engage in such an activity.

However, in some instances, it is wholly possible to make contact with a spirit for a brief period shortly after a release from the physical body.

The reason for this is quite simple.

In the scriptures, it states quite emphatically that the spirit hovers between this realm and the next for seven days after death.

Some assert, that during this time frame, the soul is permitted to contemplate its acts, reflect on earthly existence, and prepare for the next plane.

At times the transition may be difficult, though; especially when the individual died in a sudden, tragic, or shocking manner.

A trauma such as this, requires a period of adjustment, before the soul is able to move on.

Until such time, the spirit may be unable to release "ties".

But the Bible is firm on one issue.

In seven days, the soul rises up, to come face to face with God.

To meet the maker?

So, today, I use my gifts quietly.

After all, I'm only dancing on this earth for a short while.

I lend a healing hand to one in need, or offer up advice to a stranger when there is a window of opportunity, to do so.

As much as possible, I endeavor to be an instrument of God; ultimately, allowing his invisible hand to work through me, whenever possible.

Amen!