A Suggested Read

Fiction Works

• The Magus by: John Fowles
• Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by: Richard Bach
• Memnoch the Devil by: Anne Rice

Philosophical Works

• By Emmanuel Kant:
• Thoughts on the True Estimation of Vital Forces
• A New Explanation of the First Principles of Metaphysical Knowledge 
• Universal Natural History and Theory of Heaven
• Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime 
• Inquiry Concerning the Distinctness of the Principles of Natural Theology and Morality 
• Dreams of a Spirit Seer (On Emmanuel Swedenborg)
• On the Different Races of Man
• First edition of the Critique of Pure Reason
• "Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics"
• "An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment?"
• "Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose" 
• Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science 
• Conjectural Beginning of Human History
• Second edition of the Critique of Pure Reason
• Critique of Practical Reason 
• Critique of Judgment 
• The Science of Right
• Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone
• Perpetual Peace
• Metaphysics of Morals
• Logic (Logik)

Anything from the ancient philosophers such as: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and just about any Philosophical work you find is probably worth a read. It is whatever you are interested in. I mention Emmanuel kant here because he did great work on the Metaphysics of Morals and Pure Reason.

Psychology Works:

• The Denial of Death by: Ernest Becker
• By Carl Jung:
• Psychology of the Unconscious (a revised version written by Jung is titled: Symbols of Transformation)
• The Psychology of the Transference
• The Archetypes and the Collected Unconscious
• Psychology and Alchemy
• Psychology and Religion: West and East
• Man and His Symbols
• The Undiscovered Self
• On the Nature of the Psyche
• Psychology and the Occult
• Psyche and Symbol
• Psychological Types 

And any other works you find that has been written by Carl Jung is worth a read

Any works written by Sigmund Freud, Soren Kierkegaard, and Otto Rank are worth a read as well, but really it is up to you what you want to read when it comes to this broad subject, these are just my suggestions.

Mystic Works

• Teachings of Don Juan series by: Carlos Castaneda
• A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
• A Separate reality
• Journey to Ixtlan
• Tales of Power
• The Second Ring of Power
• The Eagle's Gift
• The Fire From Within
• The Power of Silence
• The Art of Dreaming

Other works by Carlos Castaneda Include:

• Magical Passes
• The Active Side of Infinity
• The Wheel of Time

For this section I would be very selective of which books to read, because many may not contain the information you seek. But as always, just go with your heart when deciding.

Books on and/or based off a Religious Concept:

• By: Emmanuel Swedenborg
• Heaven and Hell
• True Christianity part I & II

Any work from Emmanuel Swedenborg is worth a read

• Basics of Eastern Religions
• The Bible
• The Dead Sea Scrolls

(more could be added to this section. I put these here because knowing the different religions around the world; you can see the connections in them. You may begin to see that they are not so different after all.)

Books Related to death

• Egyptian Book of the Dead (could be found online)
• Life after Life By: Dr. Raymond Moody
• By: Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross book
• On Death and Dying
• On Life After Death

Or any works written by her, she did a lot of work with grief and the dying process.

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Suggestions:

This list is just some ideas of what type of readings to look out for. Anything related to these subjects is good to read, but use your intuition. As much as there is good, there is also those books that are not so good to read. Just listen to your heart when searching for something to read to help on your spiritual path.

Many poetic works are good to read as well, poetry is good for the soul. Any form of art including music – all forms of it. Same goes for mythology, any mythology book is worth a read in my opinion as well.

Hope this list helped you some.            

Meditation and The Apple

Meditation and the Apple

                                                                                          

There are many forms of mediation, and many reasons for meditating such as:  such as a stress reliever, better health, and maybe finding an inner answer to a pondering question of yourself. The most commonly used meditation is the Transcendental meditation. Here is a quote of how it is done:

“The Transcendental Meditation technique allows your mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought — pure awareness, also known as transcendental consciousness, or the unified field. This is the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness — your innermost Self. In this state of restful alertness, your brain functions with significantly greater coherence and your body gains deep rest.”

For further reading see the link below:

http://www.tm.org/meditation-techniques

ANOTHER SUGGESTION ON HOW TO DO THIS MEDITATION

I hope you took a look at the link above, if you did not that is alright. It was just a brief summary on this mediation and its benefits.

Always do this meditation in a place quiet and peaceful, where positive energy flows. I advice not to do this meditation at your home. The best place you can do this meditation is somewhere in nature. Somewhere where you can find peace and not get distracted from outside noise. It has been said the best time to do this type of meditation is the hour before dawn. The reason why is that most people in your area are still asleep, there is less activity going on in the conscious realm that is shared by all, and when less activity is going on it is easier to get past the conscious and into your unconscious.

I suggest doing this meditation longer than the suggested fifteen to twenty minutes that the site states. Do this meditation closer to fifty minutes, if possible. Forty – fifty minutes. You will have a deeper experience that way, but its up to you and yourself. Do this meditation as long as you feel you should.

I know that many live in the city (as I do) and that to find somewhere surrounded by nature is difficult. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in nature, but somewhere where positive energy resides. Where you can be One with your surroundings. It also does not have to be done in the hour before dawn, but any time of the day that is convenient for you. Just make sure your head is clear when doing it, and that you are not too tired. I also advice to not smoke or take any other substances that can affect your thoughts. This is about knowing your inner self, and that means getting rid of addictions and your materialistic wants. This meditation will help you, if practiced regularly and consistently, with this.

Do not forget to try one of my tips in the previous post while doing meditation(s)!

The Apple and its symbolism:

“The apple is the symbol of the divine. Apple trees are symbolic of wisdom and guidance. Slice an apple in half horizontally, take a look, you will see a pentagram. The pentagram is a pagan symbol of power.

At some Samhain (sow-en) rituals the apple is sliced and the practitioners share both the apple as a symbol of life and the seed (which contain minute quantities of arsenic [an alchemy element I will post more about in a future post]) as a symbol of death.”

The quote listed above is the answer I got from online, on Answer.com. I agree with this. The apple has a history in many cultures for bringing power. It has positive energies and is a great protector. It is both a giver of life and death. It holds hidden knowledge…

“You are pure and delicate like the blossom flower, yet strong and complex. You will transform into the apple, which will fall to the ground and be consumed for nourishment. You will spread the seed of knowledge to all, where it will blossom to the flower and transform into the apple. It will grow and never end.” – Soul of an Apple.

I posted this with the meditation section because there is an apple meditation that was recommended to me from a friend. It is to help with past life regression, and of “Letting go” from the past. I have done this meditation and it helped broaden my mind tremendously.

                                                                                        

Meditation was suggested by Eurydice. To contact her send her an email at: da@inbox.lt

Apple meditation:

Enter this meditation with clear thoughts. If you feel as if you should not do the mediation please do not.

NOTE: This meditation is to be done an hour before the sun sets, when sun is low. The sun will give you great energy. I advice, if you are up for this meditation, to do it before the transcendental meditation. It is slightly easier only because you can do it at your home, but it must be in a place that is quiet.

How to do the Apple meditation:

1. Find the freshest apple you can find, preferably one just picked from the tree, but if that is not possible just find the freshest apple from the store.
2. Ten minutes looking at the apple, clearing ones thoughts
3. Ten minutes looking at the apples shapes, forms, features, ect…
4. ten minutes looking at the apple while thinking about your life and similarities to the apple
5. After meditation go for a thirty minute walk. During the walk take slow deep breathes (once you return from the walk it should be almost dark)
6. Come home and drink a hot cup of tea (any type, only add lemon or honey if you want to add anything to it) then sit by a window and look out to the world. This means you are letting your soul out to the world.
7. Do this meditation until apple begins to rot

This is an hour long meditation that consists of: thirty minutes of looking at the apple and then a thirty minute walk. Do not worry too much of time, though. Keep your concentration on the meditation and your goal: letting go.

If you begin to feel negative feelings while doing this mediation please stop immediately. Do not eat the apple either, at any time. Do this meditation consistently once begun.

A TIP: Keep track of the meditation through a journal with dates and times. Track your feelings, emotions, experiences, and dreams as you do this meditation (read my Tips Expanded). I advice not to voice out to many people of what comes to you in this meditation, not until you comprehend it yourself. Remember, it is to help find your inner self, to help get in touch with your Soul to better understand who you are. Follow your intuition, it’s a wonderful guide.

WARNING: The path of Spirituality is a hard and (sometimes) a lonely one to follow, but with patience and faith it can be conquered and will help you understand who you are as a person and why you were brought to this world.


A TIP (Added 4/3/12)

This meditation helps you conquer your fears, but that means facing them and reliving what you have repressed. It will bring emotions out of you that you may not be ready to handle fully, so be cautious when doing it if you do choose to do it. Be consistent with it too, you can not miss more than a day or two when doing the meditation. The longer you do it, and the more consistent you are, the clearer the images will come and the deeper you will go.

There is more to this meditation then even I know. I am learning it still, I am a student still. I am sharing what I know with you.

If you decide to do this meditation and complete it, and feel ok about it, you can do it again one year later. It will not be the same as your first meditation will be. Be patient with all that you do, do not rush anything, things will fall into place as it should.

Only people with an open and strong mind can do this meditation… You’ll know what I mean by this if/when you decide to do the meditation.

NOTE: Different apples have different personalities. The best type of apple to meditate to is the red apples (they are calmer), but any apple will do. 

The apple meditation helped me understand the inner images I see and speak to. I will post a little about them in the future.