The Spiritual Forum

Episode 120 - One Woman’s Journey in Ten Years of Ministry

This episode crowns the 10-year anniversary of host, Rev. Carol Saunders, as a minister/spiritual leader. She briefly walks us through her journey and shares 10 spiritual themes she has gleaned from it. These themes are: endings and beginnings, free will, create, vision, people, gratitude, boundaries, change, know who you are, and the journey. Each of us is on a journey, and milestones are a good time to reflect and discern who we are because of it.

Episode 119 - Who You Gonna Call?

As we enter into more unstable times, trust becomes even more important to us. Who are we going to call in times of uncertainty and instability? Many of us no longer trust those we've trusted up to now. Some of us are finding new people and organizations to trust. When it comes down to it, there really is just one play to make with our cards. That is, trusting the still, small voice within – trusting Spirit. With spiritual practice we learn to not just look to experts and the opinions/directions of others, but trust our inner resources and spiritual gifts.  In this episode we share where we are on trust, and how we learn to trust the Divine voice in us.

Episode 118 - Shake It Off

Our resilience comes from Spirit within. When the events of life dump on us, we can partner with Spirit and shake it off. We can choose to transform adversity (real or perceived), and step up to a higher level - to whatever is next. Sometimes we find ourselves in the wells of life over and over again. This happens when we focus on being victimized or don’t take the moment to allow for Divine ideas to come. Sometimes we never get out. An old fable, the Story of the Mule, illustrates how to overcome adversity and use it to our advantage. In this episode we share our stories about getting piled on, shaking it off, and stepping up, ultimately to find higher ground.

Episode 117 - Look for the Good

No matter how bad or wrong things may seem, it's important for our own well-being to look for the good -- to look for Go(o)d everywhere. Whatever we see or experience in another person or circumstance, we can also find good if we want to. We can also expect good to manifest in our lives. When we do, it will find us, and we will be happier, more effective people. Looking for the good doesn't mean that we ignore the bad, or spiritually bypass into a false or blind optimism. Instead, we can learn to see what is there, widen our perspective, and find our way to a sense of grounded appreciation or optimism. In this episode we share our stories of looking for the good and/or being stuck in seeing what is wrong and finding our way through.

Episode 116 - I Am Sovereign and We Are One

Spiritual sovereignty is our birthright. We are each created as a complete entity unto ourselves. When we exercise our sovereignty, we are free of the control and coercion of others. We have authority over our own body/mind and are free to direct our own lives. Does individual sovereignty conflict with the premise that we are all One? It can seem that way at times because “love one another” is often confused with feeling the need to conform with the group. But the Divine never asks us to abandon our sovereignty in deference to social pressure. In this episode we share how we express our spiritual sovereignty and balance “I am sovereign” with “We are One.”

Episode 115 - Reclaiming Innocence

We are each born in innocence, and as we grow to adulthood, we experience its loss. At some level, we want to reclaim this lost innocence, but don’t know how or whether it would fit in the adult world. We can't reclaim it by taking it from another, or living vicariously through our children. We actually have to do the inner healing work to find/integrate it. And we have to actively engage our child-like nature in our day-to-day lives. When we 'become as little children,' we truly 'know God.' We are able to see through outer appearances to the innocence of another. In this episode we share our experiences of lost innocence, what we do to reclaim it, and why this is so important today.

Episode 114 - Amazing Grace

Grace means good will, loving-kindness, or favor. It is that extra something that comes our way whether we deserve it or not, and often when we least expect it. We don't have to earn grace, nor do we have to be someone special to receive it. It is an unconditional gift from the Divine. Grace is also something we can give to others when we decide to be gentle, let annoyances go, forgive, or find some other way to give someone a break. It's easier to give grace to people we barely know, and much harder to those who seriously challenge us. In this episode we share our experiences of receiving and giving Divine grace, and we learn the historical story behind the famous song, Amazing Grace.

Episode 113 - Awakening Consciousness Now

We find ourselves now living in a period of great awakening. There is so much coming to light that had been previously held in darkness. Have you noticed? Generally speaking, people walk around in a state of slumber, choosing to see only what their perceptions allow them to see, and staying firmly rooted in one side or the other. Now is a time to pay attention, to notice what is happening around us and awaken our consciousness. Of course, the prime awakening is awakening to our Divine Truth - our God Self. Cruelty, exploitation, victimization and power structures would disappear if we did. In this episode, we share our experiences of awakening and how it is fundamentally changing us.