Subject Index:
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Questions follow this short introduction from Shamani:
Welcome to the universal family, you are not alone. In the beginning, a
child was born of two parents: the essence of female and the essence of
male. Conceived from the light of the spirit, a family was born. The
child spirit was completely positive and completely surrounded by love.
From a spirit of true love, all others were conceived.
Think of a feather gently caressing your face, much like a baby’s
breath. The naiveté and the innocence of birth and the young. The child
grows to be an adolescent, a young adult, an adult, and finally an
elder. Do wisdom and knowledge make us stronger? Is our family enriched
by the beauty and love we have and share for each other?
Questions and answers about the family, why have we all come together?
We are all beings of light with different personalities yet we are all
connected. How can this be, you ask? Soon you shall know, but until you
transform knowledge into awareness and wisdom, you shall only know what
someone else has told you. So, as you read this chapter, ponder the
question: what does the word “family” mean to me? Is it just a word or
do you truly feel part of a family?
Many of you seem to think that family values are a thing of the past.
But, you can revive the concept of a family by loving all things in the
universal family.
Remember we are all one. You may encounter difficulties with certain
members of our family. I ask you to project feelings and thoughts of
love, peace, and harmony toward that person or thing. Have patience with
one another and above all love and respect one another.
We all share one universe, so let us join as one family in love. (Shamani)
Questions:
Why do we come together—on this plane—in family or cohabitational units
(communities)?
How can parents and children improve their relationships?
How can we become less critical of others?
How can we help our children develop a good self-image?
How can we become better listeners?
How can we help our children feel a sense of belonging?
How can we help our children during adolescence?
Why is it difficult for many fathers and sons to get along?
Why is it difficult for many mothers and daughters to get along?
How can we nurture our own self-esteem as well as that of others?
What do you think about adoption?
What would you say to those who have been adopted?
What would you say to the parents of a “handicapped” child?
How can people deal with dependency issues?
What do we learn from being children?
What do we learn from being parents?
What can we learn from our grandparents?
Why do we come together—on this plane—in family or cohabitational units
(communities)?
Like feathers floating through the air, they find a place to call home.
So too do we yearn for that place, a place to join others on a similar
life path. To share the wind’s whispers, the gathering of ideas
presented in a forum.
Snowflakes accumulate with like snowflakes, although different sizes and
shapes, fit perfectly. So too it is with the family, collective souls
joined to share life’s truths. The journey may be arduous and long but
the benefits are rewarding. Cataclysmic events can be endured with a
love of the heart. Perpetual forgiveness may be sought. Divine guidance
is often necessary to traverse troubled waters.
The glistening howl of the coyote symbolizes the call of a new day,
reborn of the spirit, devoid of doubt. Bring forth your brothers and
sisters, bring them into the light of day. Choose a path, a path of
fortitude, a place to call home. Live within your means, and create a
means to an end.
Struggles are on the forefront, destitute mothers, fathers who know not
what to do. Plant a seed and watch it grow. From that seed, a family may
be born.
Birth, the giver of life.
Cloudless skies, catch a rainbow, the gold awaits in all its grandeur.
That elusive pot of gold, it is there, if only in your mind’s eye. Eyes,
the windows of the soul, the keeper of legend. The legend of a man’s
journey, the journey to oblivion. He went there and came back to tell
all that he saw. But no one believed him, so a legend was born out of
truth and not belief. So it is with you, I tell you, believe in
yourself. For you are the truth and the light.
Wisdom comes to all who seek it. Forsake those who cross your path,
there are windows that can be opened. Do not mock them, all who come to
hear you come with their own set of eyes. They see what they want to
see. In all their glory, they have a purpose. A purpose to be fulfilled,
a cape to put on to mask their own truth. A masquerade ball of the
heart, so serene and so deceitful that no one knows how to read it. To
this I say, read only what you can see and cast out what you can not.
The altar lies before you, a symbol of two points meeting (a cross). If
two life paths cross, then share the journey and honor the other
person’s life path. Respond in kindness. (Shamani) [top]
How can parents and children improve their relationships?
Build a bridge together and meet in the middle. The river divides you
but the bridge shall bring you together. Cast your doubts, fears, anger,
and mistrust into the waters below. The currents shall carry them away.
Hug each other, become close again. Embrace each other’s ideas. You’ll
be surprised how much you have in common. There is a common link that
binds you.
You were brought together for a reason. The reasons are not always
clear.
Be sincere in your gestures of good faith. Communicate your differences.
If something is bothering you, speak up. No one can hear your silence.
Relationships are built upon love. Is this not what brought you
together? Love is not an abstract idea. It is one on one, an expression
of each other unified as one. Speak kindly to each other, kind words are
often what was lacking previously.
Respect each other’s life path and purpose. Celebrate the differences
between you. Share ideas and concepts—listen to one another. Be open to
new ideas.
Challenge yourself to improve the relationship.
We can sit around and talk about what we envision as a perfect
relationship. But there comes a time when we must do something about it.
Fantasies never become reality, until we act upon them.
No matter what has divided you in the past, there is one thing you can
find in the other person that is good. Take that one thing and build
upon it. Once the seed of love is planted, it can’t help but grow. Your
relationship can be as beautiful as pink, red, and white cherry blossoms
in the spring. The choice is yours. (Asmuth) [top]
How can we become less critical of others?
Your criticism of others is based on that which you do not like in
yourself. You must acknowledge and understand this simple truth first.
The road to forgiveness is often paved with reflections of yourself.
It is easy to be critical of others, most often you need someone to
blame for your choices. If you have high expectations of yourself and
others, you are more prone to be the subject and object of criticism.
For that which you give, you get back.
If others met your expectations, would you be less critical of them? Of
yourself? Expectations are only good for the person who creates them. By
good I mean the expectations fit perfectly for that person. But I ask
you to realize that each one of you has different expectations.
If you would like to become less critical of others, then identify what
you do not like in yourself. Many of you try to find security in money.
Most often, if you feel you do not have an abundance of money, you are
critical of others who seemingly have an abundance of money. The reason
you are critical of others is that you are insecure with the amount of
money you have.
I give you another example. You are in a place where there is a lot of
noise. You expected that this place would be peaceful. Your expectations
have not been met, so you become critical of others. I ask you to see
this as a lesson in balance. Ultimately, you can find peace in noise. If
you are uncomfortable in a situation, then remove yourself from it.
Before you criticize other people and things, try to understand both
extremes (peace and noise). Some people enjoy peace and quiet while
others relish loudness. There is a time and place for each.
Ultimately, you must learn to accept each other’s life paths. For some
of you, the path to the truth is disguised in noise, and for others, the
truth is disguised in peace and quiet. Learn to respect each person and
thing. The bird in the tree has as equal a right to life on the earth
plane as you.
You can learn much from the other inhabitants of the earth (the plants,
trees, insects, and rocks). Ask yourself, are the plants, trees, birds,
insects, and rocks critical of each other? No. Why, you ask? Because
they respect each other.
It only takes one of you to initiate criticism of another. Break the
cycle of criticism and replace your critical thoughts with thoughts of
love. Learn to love the reflection of yourself in another person.
(Asmuth) [top]
How can we help our children develop a good self-image?
Help them to develop themselves. Allow them to develop their own
self-identity. Nurture that spark or glow that lies within them.
Allow them to be independent, do not control them. Control of your
children diminishes the potential which lies within each one of them.
Children will make mistakes along the way, we all do from time to time.
Give them mental exercises to do. Give them a rose or another object,
have them describe it, then have them compare its qualities to
themselves. You will also find out how your children view themselves.
Give them responsibility, a little at a time. By allowing them to be
responsible for their actions, they will see the consequences of their
actions. This will help them develop a good self-image.
Love your children and allow them to love you. Love is the center of all
things. Show them you care, not just on the surface, but deep down in
your heart.
Encourage your children, applaud their merits. Everyone needs to feel
appreciated and loved. Always strive to do your best, the best lies
within each of you.
Teach your children kindness. Kindness can be far-reaching, even a
simple hello or thank you can make a difference in someone’s day.
Through kindness to ourselves and others, we develop a better
self-image.
Reinforce these ideas and most of all, let the concept of individuality
remain at the forefront in your child’s development.
Though individually we grow, collectively we prosper. (Asmuth) [top]
How can we become better listeners?
When an acorn drops from a tree in the forest and no one is there, does
anyone hear it? An abstract thought, I grant you, but there is truth in
what I say. If no one listened to what I say, all of what I say would
fall on deaf ears.
Listen to the whispers of nature. Take a moment to become still and
listen to all the sounds around you. So much of your lives are consumed
with sound (the sound of your vehicles, radios, televisions, and
conversations). How much do you really listen to and absorb? How much
goes in one ear and out the other?
How much falls on deaf ears? You must ask yourself these questions.
By being more aware of your surroundings, you will develop a greater
sense of what is really important. Take time to go within and listen to
yourself. What does your “heart” tell you?
Allow peace and tranquillity into your life. If you constantly surround
yourself with noise, you will never hear yourself. Stop running, take a
moment to be with yourself, and just listen. (Shamani) [top]
How can
we help our children feel a sense of belonging?
Dreams. Teach them to dream. Relish the thoughts of eternal destiny.
Encourage them, nurture them, bring them a new set of ideals. See each
day as a bright new day.
Bring out the spark in each child—the thing that makes them happy.
Nurture that aspect of them. (Asmuth) [top]
How can we help our children during adolescence?
There can never be a substitute for love. Respect and honor your child’s
life path. During the period of adolescence, the fabric of your child
will be challenged.
The child faces many challenges, some easy and some difficult. The
difficulty lies in how the child deals with the problems he or she
encounters. There may be encounters with the deep, dark side of
themselves. You must let them fall and get back up again.
The children are well-guided and protected. But, they must open
themselves. Only those who look up can see the birds in the sky.
Remember the mother bird must watch as her fledglings try to fly from
the nest. She must believe instinctually that the young birds will take
up flight.
So the same should be with parents. Your children will fall but they
must get back up on their own. The greatest gift you can give your child
is independence. Help them to foster independent thinking and reasoning
abilities. Share your thoughts and abilities with them. Teach them the
way of the warrior and the peacemaker. Let them make their own choices
but guide them along the way.
Remember, you were an adolescent at one time. You had feelings,
thoughts, and urges that seemed foreign to you. Use what you have
learned and share your wisdom with your child. Also, remember that
through love and understanding, all things are possible.
Be a friend to your child. It is important for a child to know that you
are someone they can confide in. Help your child to understand this
stage in their life.
Encourage them to embrace love and life. In turn, embrace and hug your
child. Teach them to trust the natural flow of life and to seek the
truth.
Nurture their need to find their own identity. Do not place value
judgments on them or their actions. You may not agree with what they do
but I ask you to honor and respect their decisions. Decisions, whether
“right” or “wrong,” foster learning and growth. See that it is important
to grow with your adolescent child, instead of away from him or her. (Shamani) [top]
Why is it difficult for many fathers and sons to get along?
One mountain is higher than the other. The smaller mountain will never
measure up to the grandest mountain. The smaller mountain feels
inferior. The taller mountain seemingly speaks down to the smaller
mountain.
The son does not realize that it took a long time for the father to grow
that tall. The son wishes he could be like his father. I say, no matter
how hard you try, you (the son) will never be like your father. You are
your own being, an individual, custom-designed.
Egos, power struggles, competition—who can reach the highest point? When
the son is young, the father always seems to win at everything. But as
the father gets older, the son soon finds he can win at some things. But
no matter how old the son gets, he will never have the wisdom of his
father. There is a balance which can be attained. Do you wish to find
that balance? (Asmuth) [top]
Why is it difficult for many mothers and daughters to get along?
The two rams lock their horns. They step back and face off again.
Although they are of the same family, they compete for food, territory,
and love. Soon they tire of this endless battle and one retreats. They
both go their separate ways, find a place to lay down, and think.
For mothers and daughters, this analogy fits. Differences in opinions,
ideas, feelings—who is right? You or I?
Differences of heart, this is what I see. But you must ask yourself, do
I love myself? If you do, then celebrate your differences. There is no
need for argument.
The purple flower is a symbol of healing. Heal the wounds. It is all
right to have a difference in opinion, it is what makes us individuals.
Individual thoughts and actions unite us as a whole.
Find that which you do not like in yourself. It is often what we see in
others that we do not like in ourselves. Celebrate the self.
Why do two female cats taunt and fight each other? One cat is aggressive
while the other is non-aggressive. The aggressive cat is possessive and
feels the need to stake out a territory, an area to exercise power and
dominion over, while the non-aggressive cat wishes not to fight but to
stand firm. Aggression vs. non-aggression, where is the boundary line?
Who is right? In your mind, you may say that the aggressive cat is
wrong. But then you are influenced by your idea of aggression and your
ideas of right and wrong.
I say to you, try not to find fault in yourself or others. It is a fine
line to walk and not very easy to do. Stand firm, for what you believe
is right. But also acknowledge another’s right to do the same. (Shamani) [top]
How can we nurture our own self-esteem as well as that of others?
Build a monument of love to yourself. Love is the greatest healer. When
you feel good about yourself, you love yourself, and when you love
yourself, you feel good about yourself. So you see, love and self-esteem
walk hand in hand.
I ask you to believe in yourself also. You are only limited by your
beliefs. If you believe in success, then success you shall embrace.
There is nothing you can’t do, your mind is a very powerful tool and
often underutilized. The power of love will help heal the scars of the
past. The scars are symbolic of your “failures” as a person. But, I ask
you not to view your life as a “failure,” remember that you only
“failed” to realize your own potential. There is so much good that lies
within you, if only you take the time to become one with yourself.
Feel good about yourself. I ask you to think about one thing today that
you felt good about. Take that feeling and build upon it. Build a
foundation of love and on top of that love, build a structured network
of self-esteem. Each time you feel good, take that feeling and add it to
the network. Always remind yourself to keep adding to the network.
In order to nurture self-esteem in others, you must first develop
self-esteem in yourself. Share the information I have given to you. By
sharing how good you feel with others, you will build a universal
network of self-esteem. Remember that all of you are full of love, allow
yourself to express it. If you learn to love yourself and others,
self-esteem will flow naturally within you. (Asmuth) [top]
What do you think about adoption?
Adoption is truly a blessing for the adopted child and family. There is
a balance of love here which is so necessary. The magical bond between a
child and parent can never be broken. Adoption creates opportunities for
growth for all of those involved in the adoption process. Once the
adoption is final, a new family is created. A sense of security and
stability is once again re-established in the minds of the child and
parents.
Peace and prosperity fill the hearts of those who are willing to give
the gift of life. It is not so important that you bear a child but what
you give that child after it is born. Many of you forget this.
Conceiving the child is the easy part, raising the child properly in a
warm and loving environment is more challenging. Every one of you is
capable of both giving and receiving love.
If you are willing to adopt a child, or even an animal or a tree, be
prepared to accept the responsibility of properly caring for them.
Whether an infant or adolescent, both require a lot of love. Spend time
with your child and if they ask questions about their adoption, be
honest with them. The skies may not always shine brightly and you may
have to weather storms of emotion. But remember who and what you are.
You have given life to someone who so richly deserves it.
Always remember that there are many children who may never be adopted.
If you choose not to adopt a child, then support the people that do.
Remember them in your meditations and prayers. Send them an abundance of
love. You have a family, now think what you would feel like if you never
had a mother or father. Always count your blessings, for there are many
who have far less than you. No matter how much or how little you have,
you always have yourself. (Asmuth) [top]
What would you say to those who have been adopted?
The magician uses many tools to produce an illusion. Is your life mired
in illusion? Do you see your adopted parents as not being your “real”
parents? There could be nothing farther from the truth. Your parents are
those you have chosen for this lifetime. As difficult as this may be for
you to accept, it is the truth.
When you were a baby or child, a decision was made by your mother and/or
father to give you up for adoption, in hopes that another family could
provide you with love and understanding.
For whatever reasons, your mother and father chose to give you “a better
life.” They may have regretted the decision then or later on.
The important thing to remember is that you were conceived in love. You
may not remember those who conceived you, but they surely remember you.
The memory of a baby is forever ingrained in their hearts. They think of
you often and wonder what might have been. In their soul, they did what
was just and right at the time. They gave you a new lease on life. Now,
you must honor what you have been given.
Your true parents are those who have unselfishly given their life to
make a life for you. So I ask you to honor, love, and respect them. Do
not find fault with them. For if you do, you only find fault with
yourself. Love is the most beautiful and plentiful feeling in the world.
You are surrounded by love each and every day. I ask you to recognize
what you have.
If you dwell in the past, you will surely stagnate. Remember, you have
chosen a seemingly more difficult path than others. Be assured that an
abundance of love surrounds you, if you are only willing to accept it.
Acceptance is your most important lesson. You can choose to remain mired
in illusion or you can look in the mirror and say, “I love you, Mom and
Dad.” (Asmuth) [top]
What would you say to the parents of a “handicapped” child?
To each end, there is a new beginning. I can sense that your heart and
mind are worn from the journey. But I ask you to be strong. Your child
needs you and you need your child. Together, you give each other
strength and courage. It takes a lot of courage to stand in the light
and “see” the truth. This applies both to the child and parents.
Do not punish or blame yourself as parents. The life lessons we choose
are often riddles of mystery. But, if you can solve the riddle or
mystery, then you have mastered the lesson. In order to master the
lesson, you must first understand what you have chosen to learn. Some of
your most difficult lessons are disguised in fear. You fear what you do
not understand. I ask you to face your fear. Fear enslaves you, but you
can escape. How, you ask? To this I say, love comes in small packages.
It is up to you to open the package and realize the great gift you have
been given. A child is the greatest gift of all, he or she is a creation
of two souls united in love.
No child is “handicapped.” Often the people who see someone as
“handicapped” are handicapped themselves. Their handicap is guilt,
anger, and fear. They mask their insecurity and judgments in these three
feelings.
Your child is much more evolved in mind, body, and spirit than you might
perceive. Your child has unlimited potential—nurture that potential.
Teach yourself and your child that the beauty of love is not limited to
the physical body. The body is only a shell for your soul. The soul is
truly beautiful and defies judgment.
Love the child you have been given, for the miracle of creation is truly
a miracle of love. (Shamani) [top]
How can people deal with dependency issues?
Dependency is that which keeps you a slave to yourself. The issue is not
dependency itself, but what type of behavior in you facilitates
dependency. In order to deal with dependency issues, you (people) must
identify the behaviors in you which create patterns of dependency. Do
you not trust the ground you walk on?
Do you let anger, depression, and fear control you? In essence, you
become dependent on these feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Your
learned behaviors foster dependency.
I ask you to believe that you have all the abundance you need. The
universe will provide for you, but not in a dependent way. The universe
will give you what you need, it is up to you to use it wisely.
Think of yourself as a fabric woven of dependence and independence. Each
thread of you is independent from the other, but all the threads are
dependent on each other to keep you together. Each thread has its own
purpose. Each thread is strong. When the threads are woven together,
purpose is dependent on strength and strength is dependent on purpose.
You see, there is a balance. Both strength and purpose, and dependence
and independence, are equal. So, I ask you to find both strength and
purpose in dependence and independence. Do not be a slave to either.
If you erect a fence or fortress around yourself, you will always be
dependent on yourself and others. When you open the gates and venture
outside the walls of dependency, you will find the truth that will set
you free from dependency. You will see that dependence and independence
can walk hand in hand in your life. (Shamani) [top]
What do we learn from being children?
You learn the power of love in all its innocence. As a child, you are a
symbol of innocence. Being a child allows you to freely express love.
Love is the center of your being, you were created out of love. As a
child, you learn the healing power of love. Love is often based on faith
and belief in yourself.
The bells chime to signal the birth of a child. The purple fruit of
passion is passed from hand to hand. All who witness the birth rejoice
in the creation. For the baby is a symbol of love in its most precious
form. Isn’t childhood what many of you return to during the middle of
your life?
If you could only remember the moment of your conception, both on the
earth plane and at the beginning of life. You were conceived in the
brightest beam of light. The light was not blinding, but very
comforting. The warmth you felt came from the enormous love that
surrounded you. You were aware of everything around you and yet you were
at peace.
When you incarnated onto the earth plane, you had a complete memory of
your conception. As time progressed and as your soul
settled into the earth plane, your memories of conception faded. But as
a child, adolescent, and adult, you still retain some memory though it
is repressed. It can be likened to having a vision, thought, or idea in
your mind, then losing it. The vision, thought, or idea is still there
in your mind, but you can’t easily recall it.
Being a child teaches you many things. One of these things is the
natural progression of learning. Learning takes place in stages. Why,
you ask? So that you may survive. You, like all animals, are born with
instincts. Instincts are necessary for survival. As an example, a fish
stays in the water because it “knows” that it can’t survive on land.
But, did the fish always know this or did it learn this from its
ancestors? The truth is the fish learned to stay in the water from its
ancestors. As I said, learning takes place in stages. In every stage,
there is a natural progression or order. As a child, you build upon that
which you have learned previously, both earlier in this life as well as
in past lives.
As a child, many ideas and concepts are forced upon you. But you have
the ultimate choice whether to accept or reject the ideas or concepts.
Through the choices you make, you develop a sense of who you are—your
identity. As you become stronger in your identity, the choices become
easier. Also, as a child, your thoughts and feelings are challenged.
Challenges make you stronger, though at times you feel weaker.
Most importantly, as a child, you learn to be yourself. You are a free
expression of love in its most innocent form. You embody what many adult
souls wish to return to.
I ask you (adults) to remember where you came from. You were and always
will be a purple fruit of passion (a child). From love you were
conceived. Remember, the love that surrounded you at your point of
conception is not a distant memory. The child inside of you never dies,
it is forever reborn. (Asmuth) [top]
What do we learn from being parents?
Parents, you are a reflection of your children. For you were once
children. As a child, you looked to your parents for love, guidance,
answers, and care.
Parents are the providers, you provide what your child needs to function
as an adult. It is a big responsibility which many of you do not
realize. When you bring a life into this world, it is your
responsibility to provide that child with love. Love cannot be selfish,
it must be shared. And this you must teach your children.
So many of you are still children, yet you are parents. What happens
when you put two children together? You know what I speak of. Most
often, two children (adolescents) conceive a child. Remember what I said
about what you learn from being a child. You might re-read the
information I gave you. There is much truth in it.
Pay close attention to what I say about learning taking place in stages,
following a natural progression. You must always build on what you have
learned previously. If you take shortcuts in your life, you will only
return to the lessons that you have skipped. This is a simple truth
which I place in a language which you can understand.
As parents, you have the opportunity to share the wisdom and knowledge
you have acquired. Wisdom, knowledge, and love are the greatest gifts
you can give your children. What you give your children will be passed
on to their children, and so on. So, I ask you to be careful with your
gifts, know that what you are giving your children is the truth. The
truth is that which can stand in the light.
Be a symbol of love and truth for your children. Guide them along their
chosen life path. Respect their choices and teach them the power of
love.
Remember, in this life, you have been both a child and a parent. The
cycle of life will continue. You as a parent will be a reflection of
your child, and your child will be a reflection of you. (Asmuth) [top]
What can we learn from our grandparents?
Like the elders of the tribe, wisdom is passed down to the young. Those
who listen will prosper from the words. The ancient wisdom and teachings
give us hope for today as well as tomorrow. The eldest trees in the
forest hold the secrets of life. They have seen, they are the
visionaries of the past. If you are silent and listen, you can hear them
speak.
So I say, it is the same with your grandparents. Go to them with
questions. They do not know everything, but what they do know, they will
be willing to share.
You who are midway between youth and old age are very fortunate. You
have the energy and vibrancy of youth and the wisdom of old age. It is
like being on an accelerated path, but only if you are aware of it.
There are many books in the library, all the resources you’ll ever need.
But, unless you are aware of them and use them, the ideas lay dormant.
Again in middle age, you can see where you’ve come from (youth) and
where you are going (old age). You have the option of not making the
same mistakes as your elders and at the same time learning from the
mistakes of your youth.
You, one day, will be one of the elders. When you reach that point, may
you share the wisdom and embrace the future. (Shamani)
[top]
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