Posted by Karen Hadalski at 6 November 2013

Category: reincarnation/karma

Since the beginning of recorded history, man has created just three major theories to explain existence.

The first, that of the Materialist, being that the only “real” thing about life is that which is physical.  Therefore, when the body dies, the mind dies, and the individual being is no more.

The second is that we are souls, created at the moment of our physical birth, and meant to live on as souls after the death of our flesh and blood bodies.  The Christian expression of this is that, depending on how “good” or “bad” we are during our one lifetime on earth, our souls will spend eternity in either a perpetual state of bliss (Heaven) or eternal punishment (Hell).

The third, reincarnation, asserts that our essence is spirit (energy) which assumes physicality while living on Earth.  Spirit/energy cannot die; however, it can “transform.” I agree with the physicist, Raynor C. Johnson when he states:  “The idea of reincarnation presents no logical difficulties whatever the emotional reaction to it.  What the soul has done once by the process of incarnation in a physical body it can, presumably, do again.”

A vast number of people on Earth embrace this third worldview, which expresses itself in many world religions and philosophies including:  Hinduism; Buddhism; mystical Judaism (Kabalists) and Christianity (Theosophists & Rosicrucianists); the Sufi sect of Islam; tribal religions world-wide; and the many New Age teachings by Ascended Masters, Deepak Chopra’s “Chopra Center,” channeled information from well-known psychics such as Edgar Cayce, hypnotic regressionists, and more.

At the time I wrote Karma: How To View it, Use It, and Lose It the most recent polls conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corporation and The Harris Poll concluded that approximately One Third of Americans, from various faith expressions, believe in the possibility or probability of reincarnation.

Inherent in this world view is the belief that each soul is a unique expression of its Creator and will enter into many physical bodies/life experiences in order to learn, grow, and express its individuality until it attains spiritual self-actualization.  In Cayce’s words, the goal of successive lives is coming “To know ourselves to be ourselves and yet be one with God.”

These cycles of physical death and rebirth will come to an end when we have finally attained the perfection and wholeness of our original, immaculate conception. “Rewards” and “punishments” come by way of experiencing the effects of all we have caused through our thoughts, words, and deeds–our Karma.

Eventually, all mankind will attain union (re-union) with God.

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 30 October 2013

Category: reincarnation/karma

Though these terms might appear to be mutually exclusive, they are all parts of the same WHOLE of human experience.

Karma is both a natural and a spiritual law.  And, while we occupy our bodies we, like every other material thing in existence, are subject to the laws of nature.  In the observable universe, everything has a cause and every cause has a determinate effect.  And “Nature” includes not only the universe with all its phenomena, but the laws and principles which guide that universe, as well.

While we a part of this natural world, how could it be that everything under the sun is governed by the same laws and principles–except human beings? The concept of karma is simply the extension of this law of universal causation to include man’s moral and spiritual life.  It asserts that every decision we make must result in determinate consequences.  As an impersonal, impartial, natural law, it has nothing at  all in common with the man-made ideas of “predestination” or “luck.”

Most of the world understands and–to some extent–takes seriously the law of cause and effect/karma–even Americans! How often have you heard:  “What goes around comes around,” “You reap what you sow,” “Do unto others as you want others to do unto you,” or, “Sow a thought to reap an act, sow an act to reap a habit, sow a habit to reap a character, sow a character to reap a destiny.

Destiny represents the results (effects) of our thoughts, words, and deeds throughout our current and past incarnations on Earth. This is very different than the belief that an outside Source determines our life experiences for us–what many refer to as “predestination.” In all lives and in all circumstances we have freedom of choice and possess Free Will. 

Even if you find yourself in a situation you believe you had no hand in creating, and believe you in no way deserve, you will be able to deal with it in a much more constructive and effective manner if you accept the fact that even if you don’t remember the cause you created to set these results in motion–in this or a past life– you can be sure that nothing “just happens.”  The only other plausible explanation for your predicament would be that you chose your experience/situation as a learning or teaching opportunity to fulfill your soul purpose for being here. And, don’t forget that no matter how unable you might be to change a circumstance, there is always free-will and free choice regarding how you think about and react to your circumstances as well as what you choose to learn and “take away” from each experience.

When life is viewed from this perspective, it becomes easy to understand why, among Easterners and those who clearly comprehend karma and reincarnation, the concept of “victimization” is non-existent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 23 October 2013

Category: reincarnation/karma

My book, Karma: How To View It, Use It, and Lose It, published in 2011, has run its contract and gone out of print with the original publisher.  Though I have had an offer from another House for a second printing, I have decided to try something different.

Though writers own the copyright to their words;  when published, the publisher owns rights to everything else:  the physical book, how it is listed/promoted, sale price, how portions of the content may and may not be used, etc.

Therefore, I have decided to retain all rights to my work and republish on Amazon.  This printing will be available for sale, at a lower price, in the near future. In the meantime, I will use it as the subject for my blogs at least until my next book–dealing with the human-animal connection–is completed and published, probably a year or two from today.

To begin, I will present the definitions I assign to terms which will be used frequently in upcoming entries:  Words like karma, destiny, reincarnation, free will, grace, soul-purpose and others. I will attempt to be as concrete and clear when discussing these terms as possible so that we can then move on to various topics within these broader and integrated categories without the need to backtrack or repeat myself as we move along.

So, if you find a definition or explanation unclear or troublesome to you, please contact me via the “contact Karen” tab on my website– in an open forum– so that all will have access to our discussion. If you have a question, chances are high that others do as well.

I will attempt to post on Wednesdays of each week; but cannot provide the guarantee that some have asked for, as time must be spent in many competing quarters and forums these days.

We’ll begin next Wednesday, October 30th.  Welcome along!

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 24 August 2013

Category: karma

What is “boredom,” really?  Its one of the excuses the do-nothing sluggards who shot in the back and killed an innocent Australian college student out for a run this week.

The victim, Christopher Lane, clearly wasn’t bored.  He was experiencing a new country and culture.  He was studying numerous interesting subjects in college.  He was an accomplished baseball player.  He had established close, meaningful relationships.  He was working to keep his body in shape by jogging.  He had created for himself a life of meaning, value, and direction.  Now he’s gone and society is left with 3 murderous monsters to support in prison for the rest of their useless lives.

Nothing can justify this.  Certainly not the murderers’ race, or socio-economic status, or lack of opportunity, or “poor role models.”  But I’m sure we’ll hear every one of these excuses and more before their trials are over.

The main reason I wrote Karma: How To View It, Use It and Lose It was because I had become sick of hearing so  many make excuses for their own behaviors and choices in life and shift the blame onto others when things “don’t go well” or they are held accountable for their actions.

If Westerners understood the facts of reincarnation and karma–the law of cause and effect–they would realize:

1) We choose our life circumstances before each incarnation.

2) These choices are made either to balance karma created in previous lives, to learn, or to teach.

3) There is no such thing as good fortune or bad luck.  We all enter into earthly life  with a soul purpose.  Therefore, every single life carries within itself direction, meaning, a goal, specific lessons to learn and goals to accomplish.

If we understood how the law of cause and effect works and  how to uncover our unique, specific purpose for being here, how could anyone “lack direction,” be “bored,” or lie to themselves about personal accountability?

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 8 August 2013

Category: Uncategorized

This week’s Time Magazine cover story, as well as the discussion topic on various TV talk & news programs, has been the updated “childless” statistics.  It seems that, since the 1970’s, the number of American women and couples making a conscious decision to remain childless, or not being able to have biological children due to health problems, financial concerns, or other social/circumstantial issues has increased from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5.

Public conversation around this issue has run the gamut: From couples who don’t miss the “parenthood experience” and have no desire to change the dynamics of their fulfilling, productive lives; to women who don’t believe the hype that everyone can, indeed, “have it all:” immersion in a meaningful career as well as successful parenting, and feel a deep commitment to spending their time, talents, and energy outside the home in fields such as education, social service, law, medicine, the arts, science and the many other necessary and important jobs that serve society as a whole–including its children; to those who simply can’t afford to raise  children as they want to or who are drawn to nurturing humans who have grown-up already.

To me, this hesitation to procreate just because you can, with no forethought to what life will be like for all concerned after a baby arrives, demonstrates a much higher level of consciousness, morality, and enlightenment than simply viewing “parenthood” as a biological imperative; a rite of passage through which women justify their existence and men prove their virility/fertility.

I mean, when you think about it, serpents and lunatics “give birth.”  There are thousands upon thousands of  children in foster care and adoption networks who were born through someone, but are still parentless. The mental health system is replete with children and adults who are raised by unstable, narcissistic, incompetent ” mothers and fathers.”  Social Services are overflowing with child-clients who have been physically abused, neglected, or virtually abandoned by a “parent” whose own lack of education and financial resources placed them in a bad neighborhood and forced them to work in several low-paying jobs just to meet their children’s material needs for food, clothing, and shelter.  The only “parenting” these kids receive is from social workers and teachers– if they’re lucky; street gang leaders who act as surrogate parents and role models if they’re not.

Perhaps the next Time Magazine cover story should be entitled:  ” Parenting.  What Does It Mean and Who Should Do It?”  Now this would be a discussion worth having.

 

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 2 August 2013

Category: Body-Mind-Spirit

If you have LINK TV I’m sure you know about the great series:” Global Spirit.”  If not, I’d like to share a little about it.

Introduced by John Cleese of “Fawlty Towers” and “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” fame and moderated by Phil Cousineau , this “first internal travel series” brings together both Eastern and Western scientific and spiritual traditions and presents unique conversations on each.

Guests are phenomenal and topics covered include:  “The Art of Living and Dying,” “The Shaman, the Spirit Healer, and the Earth,” “Music, Sound, and the Sacred,” In Search of Ecstasy,” “Forgiveness and Healing,” among many others.

Last night (Thursday) at 10 p.m. on my local PBS station, I watched the episode: “”Exploring Consciousness: East and West.”  This hour-long conversation, punctuated by a couple short film clips, flew by and I hated to see it end.

The participants were Sraddahu Ranade, Scientist, Educator, and Scholar at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in India and Peter Russell, Scientist and Author of From Science To God, and The Consciousness Revolution.

Such programming demonstrates the lofty heights television broadcasting can aspire to and, by comparison, the junk food most networks feed us 90% of the time.

You can check-out LINK TV, information about this series, PBS broadcasting schedules, how to purchase DVD’s, and much more at www.globalspirit.tv.  I hope you will!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 24 July 2013

Category: Uncategorized

Including all the world news of the week, the birth of Will and Kate’s new son still tops the lists of many. Even of those of us living “across the pond” who claim to have no interest in the U.K. Monarchy and customs.

Never mind that many viewed Prince William’s mom, Diana, as a fairy tale life run amuck and followed her sons’ lives with compassionate interest since her death–a baby’s birth always evokes special interest, hope, and happiness.

Religions mark a birth in special ways:  By baptism, christening, circumcision, and customs not so familiar to Westerners.  For example, in Islam the new arrival is welcomed by his or her father who whispers a special message in the infant’s right ear, calls his child to prayer, and awakens its sense of taste by placing a bit of something sweet on his or her tongue.

On the 7th day, the baby’s head is shaved, weighed, and an equivalent amount of silver is donated to charity.  Hindu’s also shave the baby’s head but, in India, the hair is sprinkled into the Ganges River.

In all cultures, gifts are presented to the infant, birth announcements are sent out, and great care is given to the choice of a fitting name.  The Chinese wrap baby gifts in red–to portend happiness–and spend a lot of time choosing just the right name.  They place so much emphasis on naming because they believe this–along with the number of letters/characters in the name’s spelling–plays a significant role in determining a child’s  fate and direction in life.

I think that, to a greater or lesser degree, we all believe this.  At this writing, the Royal’s are still poring over the new Prince’s name and very many of us check-out the traditional meaning of a name we like before ascribing it to our baby’s birth certificate.

As far as determining our future goes, perhaps once we learn the meaning of our names it plays at least a subconscious role in determining our self-image.  I’ve known some people who absolutely hated their names–even to the extent of legally changing them. Some dislike being given a family, rather than a uniquely individual, name while others find inspiration in being named for a relative or famous person who achieved great things. And some do, indeed, live up (or down) to the names bestowed upon them.

In my case, “Karen” is the Norwegian form of “Katherine,” which means “pure.” However, it is my middle name–“Patricia”–which holds greater significance as I have always identified with the Irish side of my heritage and was born on St. Patrick’s Day. If you don’t know the traditional meaning of your name, look it up! You might be surprised at what you find.

Finally, those who receive the sacrament of confirmation in their church are given an opportunity to choose a third name for themselves.  Some, like my husband, stick with their middle names.  His is “Michael” and what could top an archangel’s energies?  I, being an animal and nature lover, was thrilled to be given the opportunity to choose and add “Francis” to Karen Patricia.

Even if your faith expression doesn’t celebrate such a rite of passage, you can always go the secular route and legally change or add-on to your given name.  A friend, one of those named for and by a relative she didn’t especially admire, changed her first name along with her last on her wedding day.  Another–a “VI” in a long line of “Roberts”–legally added “Erhard” to his name.  This means “honorable and brave” and gave him something higher to aim for than simply producing a “Robert VII.”

As I finish this, I just received a news flash that the new Prince of Cambridge has been named “George.” Obviously his parents took their time in choosing a name that befits both his status and the kind of person they wish him to become.  William was raised to be among and was socialized with “commoners.” Kate, herself, comes from a “regular” middle-class family. And, the infant Prince is, of course, third in line for the throne. “George” means “farmer, earth-worker ;” additionally, St. George the Dragon Slayer is Patron Saint of England as well as the name of five former British Kings.  Right on! What’s in a name?  Quite a lot, I think.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 18 July 2013

Category: Body-Mind-Spirit

The other night, when I couldn’t fall asleep, I got up and did some channel surfing.  Nothing of interest is on in the wee hours of the morning; but, the televangelist, Joel Osteen, attracted my attention.

Though I know little about him, I was impressed by the size of his audience–ENORMOUS–and found his message interesting; probably because it was so compatible with my own: Become clear about your personal Ideal and soul purpose.  And, employ this,rather than any outside influence, as your moral compass, motivation, and touchstone in life.

He focused on how many allow themselves to become side-tracked, dispirited, and far less than God intended them to be by trying to “fit in” and become extensions of a family “group soul” rather than the full expression of their unique Self.

The examples and teachings he used to clarify his point were King David’s life and Jesus’ teachings.  The former, though shunned and denigrated by his father and siblings for being “different,” was recognized by those outside his immediate circle for his extraordinary qualities, talents, and uniqueness.  He eventually became King.

Jesus both exemplified and taught his Disciples that, more often than not, one must break free from grasping family “bonds” and “shake the dust” from one’s feet  while moving beyond one’s home turf to find a nurturing, receptive, compatible environment in which to flourish and become the full expression of the Individual you were created and meant to be.

What a nice surprise to hear this message from unexpected quarters!  It served to remind me:  There is only one Truth, but many ways to express it.  There is only one Mountain Top, but many paths to reach it.

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 11 July 2013

Category: Spirituality

A friend was feeling especially “disconnected” from life today; something we all feel at times.  After we talked for awhile I forwarded to him today’s “Thought For The Day” which I receive from the Association for Research and Enlightenment each morning.

Its message reminds us that we are always “connected”– even when we are feeling a little lost and alone–to our Creator:  “Know thyself, then, to be as a corpuscle, as a facet, as a characteristic, as a love, in the body of God.”

It’s amazing how personal, how spot-on these messages seem to be on certain days–if not for me for someone else in my life.  (If you are interested in receiving this free service, go to the www.edgarcayce.org  home page, scroll down to the last line, and click on “Edgar Cayce Readings Thought For The Day.”)

I first became aware of the A.R.E. when in my late teens. Through the years I have found its publications, seminars, and study groups to be informative and inspiring in a “non-sectarian” kind of way. If you are at a point where religion/religious affiliation cannot answer all of your questions or fulfill your deepest spiritual nature and longings, the A.R.E. is a good stepping-off point.

Spirituality has nothing to do with being “religious.”  In fact, it is often the case that the most “religious,” church-going folks are often the least spiritual, and vice-verse. In any case, whatever your needs and sensibilities might be, the only way any personal path can be natural and authentic is if it is one you employ your God-given free-will to choose for yourself.

The most confused, shallow, unfulfilled people I’ve known are those who have unconsciously, unquestioningly continued on in the faith expression of their parents–the religion they were “raised in.” While there is certainly nothing wrong with eventually choosing the same path as your ancestors, I firmly believe that authentic, free-willed choice must be born of deep thought, exploration, prayer, and counsel.

My quest began around age 12, and I eventually settled-in to an amalgamation of truths/beliefs/disciplines–including a mainstream religious affiliation–which provides a unique “fit” for my individuality and soul purpose. But, this is not static.  I continue to follow inner promptings to learn, grow, change, expand when these present themselves.  To me, this is the natural way; kind of like the difference between a fresh, clean, lively, babbling- brook and a stagnant, smelly, polluted pond.

If you are at a point of beginning or continuing a spiritual quest, I’d like to leave you with a practical bit of advice given by Tom Kenyon in his “Prelude” to The Hathor Material, p.vii:

“Never swallow or accept as truth anything anyone says without sifting it through your own life experience, your own sense of logic, and, very importantly, your own personal values.

There are those who say you should leave your sense of logic and rational thinking behind when entering into spiritual realms of experience–that you must fully and completely surrender to faith and not let reason enter into the picture.

Personally, I think this type of thinking is dangerous.  We need all our wits about us and all the intelligence we can muster if we are not to become deluded on our way to spiritual illumination.  It is, after all, the true light of self-awareness that we seek, not the false luminosity of personal fantasy and desire.”

 

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 28 June 2013

Category: Body-Mind-Spirit

Last night, while walking our dogs around the neighborhood, they suddenly became agitated and began to bark.  At first, we couldn’t see anyone or anything that might cause this.  Soon, however, a girl in her late teens/early 20’s appeared across the street.

She was clearly angry: huffing, mumbling, and stomping the ground as she walked. Both dogs became especially perturbed each time she stopped, looked-down, and stomped her foot forcefully on the sidewalk.

Once she had passed us, we crossed the street and saw that she had been “taking  a walk” with the clear intent to kill as many toads as possible.

Though not pleasant to look at, their custom of coming out each night to feast on the prolific mosquito population in our hot, humid, summer climate makes toads especially welcomed, honored, and protected residents.  Odin and Serena had learned to quietly circumvent them when walking and seemed to understand that their humans liked these odd looking creatures.  So, when they observed a stranger determindly killing them, they loudly voiced their disapproval.

Animals are in touch with their immediate feelings and emotions and express them easily and naturally.  Humans, on the other hand, have developed numerous methods of suppressing, ignoring, and projecting anything unpleasant that “comes-up” for them.

Since our physical and mental states of being are so closely entwined, it is crucial to our physical health that we learn to acknowledge, name, face, and deal with the source of our negative emotions. Otherwise they become trapped and left to fester in our bodies, ultimately causing energetic imbalances–dis-eases–which diminish our health and vitality.

The Hathor teachings remind us that this dysfunctional habit also impedes our spiritual health and development.  They call these suppressed, negative emotions the “underworld” and counsel us to go down into the catacombs of our unconscious before seeking to uncover higher spiritual mysteries.

Why?  “If you go too high in consciousness without balancing your hidden depths, including your own unconscious, then you are potentially dangerous, as you are acting without awareness of the crucial parts of yourself that are in your underworld–those aspects that are NOT evolved–such as your anger, your hatred, your jealousy, your rage, your fantasies, even your death wishes.”  (The Hathor Material, ORB Communications, 1996, Tom Kenyon, pp. 85-86)

These are all a part of human nature and our task is to integrate and heal all levels of our human experience while living on Earth.  Though this might seem a gargantuan task, these wise Spiritual Guides also remind us that our nature is “profoundly capable” of this assignment, as human consciousness encompasses the Light and Celestial Realms  as well as darker realms– and everything in between.  This is just “what’s so” about being human. To hold both polarities in balance and to heal darkness through the light of awareness is the path of evolution they see for our level and dimension of Being.

A far better path than toad-stomping, me thinks!

 

 

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    TEN DIFFICULT WOMEN: THEIR IMPACT AND LEGACY is selling well on Amazon, Kindle, and through various book sellers.
    If you would like your local bookstore to order you a copy (especially Barnes & Noble stores which have a very quick turn-around) simply provide the title and ISBN #: 978-1-4626-9549-2

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