The month of July 2024 is a time to rest, relax, and regenerate. We are presently between two bookends of intensity, the previous month of June and the coming month of August. It is important now to restore our reserve strength, as this will allow for a greater sense of resiliency while navigating the second half of the year.
Community Articles
Communities need a purpose. Spiritual communities need an elevated purpose. All communities need "buy in" leadership with the correct cause, a community which follows the community protocol. When the community elders no longer take living the purpose primarily, the community begins it’s decent into individual purposes. Community spirit is lost. The community may continue to exist, but it’s relevance has been diminished.
There is a quickening in the air, and a desire to rush forth in the hopes of experiencing that which has previously been denied or withheld this year. We want to hurry up and get to the good stuff, as the number 6 of June represents the themes of love, home, and beauty. New romance, beautifying the home, and connecting with community are all keynote themes now.
Unta Beant, true self-worth. What’s your life worth? Some time ago, some cultural scientists who wanted to know, arithmetically harvested anything of monetary value in our bodies, like the minerals in our bones, then added up it’s total value. It was estimated that the value of a human life was 78 cents, and that’s before taxes. Today, inflation might have pushed up the value to two or three dollars. Wow! That’s it? I thought I’d at least get ten dollars for my body.
By Colleen Murphy
Peanut butter, balanced with a little soy sauce and vinegar, makes a delicious and kid-friendly sauce for broccoli and other vegetables. Giving the broccoli a head start by steaming it before sautéing it with the other vegetables ensures that all the vegetables are nicely cooked at the same time. Prep Time: 15 minutes
The month of May generates within us a new enthusiasm to move forward in a direct and decisive way. Number 5 is adventurous, experiential, curious, and most of all wants change! There is a frisky and free-rolling energy at play now, and we can use this new frequency to our best advantage as long as we keep the risk/reward ratio in balance.
I and Thou. The classic book, I and Thou, by Martin Buber and published in 1923, set the standard of the day for many in relationships and communication (including with God). In this book, I and Thou, is an insightful answer into the deep questions of the time. It is, and shall remain a classic. In fact, I reread this book every decade or so to remind myself of Mr. Buber’s great insight.
I’m a Sikh, so I have a slightly different take on I and Thou - not the book, but the reality. Please allow me to explain.
The month of April is a time when we can make a bold step forward, as long as we temper the tempo with logic and reason. The number 4 represents the Neutral Mind, and it is a neutral, steady, and balanced plan that will win the prize. This is not always an easy approach to maintain, as we are presently navigating a time of an increasingly intense reactivity towards any differing opinion that is expressed.
Sat Nam Beloved Community, Who is this guy God? What can He really do? I can hear the cries now, “This much I know, He’s not doing me any favors. Why should I believe in Him anyway? More wars, dishonor, you name it, have been committed in His name than any other. That’s not right. And, there are those who are so very often offended by intimate relationships that intimacy is to be avoided.” O.K. I get it.
Authentic communication cannot exist without respect, a respect that acknowledges the right of others to hold differing views and beliefs. Yet, in our collective ignorance, we often dismiss those who do not share our perspectives, labeling them as misguided or simply ignorant. This divisive approach severely limits our capacity to communicate effectively.
