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A publication of

Winter 2012Volume 4 | Issue 1Display until February 29, 2012www.CentersOfLight.org

What does it mean to be christian? Embodying the Virtues of Love

healing the broken heartCourageously Facing Yourself

are you happy?Tools for Bringing Joy into Your Life

The Evolution ofConsciousness

Co-DiReCtoRs oF the

oRDeR oF ChRist sophiA

Mother Clare watts

Father peter bowes

DiReCtoR oF oUtReACh

Rev. Margaret laveda

revmargaret@centersoflight.org

414.248.7405

Design & lAYoUt

grace tenner Design llC

DiReCtoR oF photogRAphY

Rev. Meira leonard

eDitoRs

Master leora bernard

sister Camille stikeleather

CopYwRiteR

Rev. timothy lin

the light is published four times annually by the order of Christ sophia and is

distributed through regional Centers of light.

For information on localClasses & events

at the Centers of light:

Ann Arbor: 743.864.2017boston: 617.990.7411

Charlotte: 704.526.8301Chicago: 312.623.4418Denver: 303.913.7053

Dolores: 970.882.2123Durango: 970.882.2123

Milwaukee: 414.248.7405Minneapolis: 612.205.5545new haven: 203.785.9085 new York: 347.884.1709oakland: 510.207.6593seattle: 206 525 8488

Copyright 2012 by the order of Christ sophia. All rights reserved. Facsimile

reproduction, including photocopy or xerographic reproduction, is strictly

prohibited under copyright laws.

The Centers of Light are Mystical Christian schools and

communities dedicated to consciousness, spiritual growth,

and empowerment. Much like the spiritual communities

that mystics such as St. Francis of Assisi and Paramahansa

Yogananda created, the Centers of Light are shining, warm

places for people searching for inner truth, meaning, and

direct relationship with God. In each of our 12 Centers across

the country, we teach, share, and cultivate spirituality through

sacraments, meditation, seminars, classes, and practical

instruction in order to bring people into real, deep experiences

of God.

CentersofLight.org

MotherClareWatts.com

FatherPeterBowes.com

Centers of Light

“The cave you fear to enter

holds the treasure you seek.”

— Joseph CampbellAmerican mythologist, writer and lecturer

What Does It Mean to Be Christian?

The title of Christ was applied to Jesus from the beginning. it was not Jesus’ last name. Jesus actually means “Messiah.” Messiah is the hebrew form of the greek word, “Christ.” Christ means “anointed savior.” Messiah and Christ are the same thing. Jesus became the Christ at his baptism when the holy spirit spoke in a thunderous sound that was audible to everyone standing around the Jordan that day: “this is my beloved son, in whom i am well pleased.” some said there were doves descending and some heard the sound like the blare of trumpets. i am sure it frightened people to have something so powerful happening at the scene and in their fear interpreted the event in different ways.

those who followed Christ were called Christians. to follow Christ means to become like Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. Mary was the first to completely embody the Christ, literally and symbolically. she was the first vessel that was pure enough to hold the living presence of god and thus she became the new Ark of the Covenant that was lost. the Christian becomes anointed with a holy similarity to Jesus Christ. we become another Christ as we follow Jesus and Mary closely and become like them. to follow is to love and model our behavior after theirs. to follow is to come under their discipline and to embody their love. if we love Jesus and Mary we will pattern our lives after them and do whatever they

order us to do. we will love because they loved us before we knew what love really was.

A Christian does not hate, kill, steal or act out the lusts of the flesh. A Christian is peaceful, compassionate and loving no matter how bad conditions get or how mean people become. A Christian has firm hope that god loves us and has patience to suffer persecutions no matter how long or how painful our lot in life. A Christ-like person strives to be like Jesus and Mother Mary, honoring all of life and respectful of what god has made. Ultimately, a Christian becomes a son or daughter of god with the full power to create like god and demonstrates the intense love for the Creator that only a human or an angel can give. to be like Jesus Christ is to think of others before you. it is to have the courage to stand for what is real and speak the truth no matter who likes it or who does not. the essence of being Christed is love and light which is what being a Christian is all about. it is about love of god and love of our brothers and sisters. Jesus said that the greatest love is laying your life down for your friends. this kind of love sacrifices personal needs for the benefit of others and holds no grudges. Forgiveness for those who offend us is necessary in order to be a real Christian.

What Does It Mean to Be Christian?

FAtheRpeteRbowes .CoM

For over 25 years, FAtheR peteR bowes

has devoted his life in service to god

as an ordained priest and Master

teacher. As Co-Director of the order

of Christ sophia, he teaches the

ministers and guides the Centers of

light around the country. known for

his sense of humor, Father peter is

also an accomplished musician and

author who has composed twelve

albums and four books about Mystical

Christian teachings. he holds a

Masters and a Doctorate degree in

educational psychology. Father peter

lives at the Center of light, Chicago.

bY FAtheR peteR bowes

4CentersOfLight.org

Clockwise from top left:

Rev Marcella, Juniper and Rev louise in seattle,

Rev timothy, Jason and David in Chicago,

Mother Clare and Father peter,

a sunset at the sophia peace Center.

5CentersOfLight.org

Most people know the child’s song that goes, “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands….’’ but now that you are an adult, the question is: “Are you happy and do you know it?’’

what actually makes people happy? what is the deep-seated feeling and barometer that will let you know how you will feel when you have the answer to this question? Most people are striving for a happiness that is unattainable. they say, “i will be happy when…’’ and, ‘‘You’ll make me happy when….’’ the right partner, the right number of kids, the right salary, house, vacation, clothes, body…the list goes on and on. All these things make happiness a state of being outside of you – unreachable and inaccessible. in other words, when something or someone changes, yourself included, you will be happy. but when you take a good long look in the mirror, are you happy with what you see?

For starters, what are you looking at and what do you see when you look in the mirror? A shape, a hair color, a wrinkle? how deeply are you looking and what are you hoping to find? Most people look in the mirror and see only what they want to change, from the feasible to the impossible.

true happiness is a deep and down-to-earth feeling that resides in your heart and experience. it cannot be formulated or invented. it is calm and gives off peace and patience wherever it goes. it isn’t a loud gong or showy. how to arrive at this state of being is what is next.

You must decide you want to be happy, peaceful and real. people are happy when they know they can make changes in their lives for the better. they feel empowered and connected to a drive and force within them that transcends possibility and connects them to reality. Decisions of any sort bring the real possibility of peace to your doorstep. these following steps will help:

1. look at your life and pick one thing you would like to transform. be kind to yourself; choose something small and do-able. You want to succeed at this. Your choice can be anything from an eating pattern to a habit you want to change. Remember, a habit is only a repetitive pattern that you have become accustomed to. that said, you use the same muscle to change it to another repeti-tive pattern – in this case, a creative and positive one that serves you rather than hurts you.

2. For your item, place three steps beneath it that will be your ladder toward your goal. Make these measurable.

3. Choose one trusted friend to share these with. Commu-nity means everything in achieving goals. this may even inspire them to try and make a change in their lives as well.

4. Commit to taking daily steps toward your goal and re-port to this trusted friend your achievements or fall-backs.

5. Decide ahead of time how you will show yourself appre-ciation for your new pattern and achievements.

6. when you complete this goal, celebrate! then, within one day, choose a new goal to begin this process with. when you become accustomed to steady improve-ments and changes, your attitude and gratitude will grow. You will become inspired to grow and change, to better yourself and feel more empowered to change deeper patterns that simply mean more to you.

it isn’t the doing of these things that will make you happy, but the process will help unfold you into a happy person. You can find pure, deep, lasting, peaceful happiness, inspired and motivated by your appreciation for your efforts and humbled by the work and dedication required to accomplish them.

Are You Happy?

bY MAsteR leoRA beRnARD

5CentersOfLight.org

MAsteR leoRA beRnARD,

priest & Master teacher, is the

Director of the Center of light,

oakland, serving the san Francisco

and east bay areas in California. she

served as a priest for almost nine

years before being initiated into

spiritual Mastery. she teaches and

counsels all levels of seekers and

ministers from beginners to priests. professionally, Master leora

worked for over 16 years in the field of childbirth as a certified

professional midwife, doula, and childbirth educator, and currently

works as a community health Rn in inner city neighborhoods.

6CentersOfLight.org6CentersOfLight.org

Christian Mysticism and the Evolution of Consciousness

Christianity and evolution have often had a hard time understanding each other. For many Christians, it is a matter of faith to take the creation stories from the bible as literal truths in a concrete and material way. From a conservative Christian perspective, the earth is merely 5,000 to 7,000 years old and came into being over a seven-day period. humans were present on the earth after that first week in mostly the same shape, intelligence and consciousness that we have now. Conservatives believe that god created us with all the capacities of heart and mind that we have today, and the choices have always been between light and dark, right and wrong. they believe that everything is as it was created and will be this way until the end. they hold that the end will be some form of fiery judgment day, and that there will be a heaven and a hell into which each of us will be sent according to our faith in Jesus or lack thereof. According to this point of view, if you go to heaven, you will be as you are now, only whole, happy and privileged to be in the blessed presence of Jesus and god. but you will not have essentially changed from the time you were a limited person on earth – only the place you are in will have changed.

how can one be a Christian and understand all of this in a different light? to begin, we will need to look at truth from an entirely different angle. Conservatives think of truth as bricks and mortar

to be understood in a concrete, very basic and literal way. that comes from a concept that what is concrete is the most real. however, when we realize that what can be concretely seen, heard and touched is the least conscious of all there is, then we look higher toward levels of symbolic teachings, into the language of visionaries and seers. we look for lessons of what is beyond our current ability to perceive and know, and stretch our minds and hearts up into realms of consciousness that we can only hope to begin to penetrate into.

we ask bigger questions such as: what does the biblical creation story mean to us as individuals? what is the significance of how god created and does it relate to how we need to learn to create? what does it mean inside myself that eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs? Does this tell me something about the feminine and masculine energies each of us carries within us?

it has always befuddled me that anyone would think less of a god who created the universe some 14 billion years ago with the long-term plan of having that initial blast begin a process which would eventually lead to conscious individuals who could reflect on themselves and take over the responsibility for their own evolution. how could anyone think that this god would be less than a god who created everything just as it is, with no long-term development plan in mind? it is similar to the Church thinking that god would be diminished if the earth was not the center of the universe during Copernicus’ time. but is not acknowledging the immensity of the universe a much greater tribute to the Creator of all than the thought that there was only this small system of planets?

but this point does not need more belaboring. surely that has been done enough. instead, let us consider not only where we have come from in terms of consciousness and how we had our beginnings as single celled life, but also where we are going. is the apocalypse that is foretold by Jesus the end of our development in consciousness, or is it perhaps the beginning of a whole new way of being as awakened and transformed humans?

bY MotheR ClARe wAtts

7CentersOfLight.org

MotheR ClARe wAtts is a mystic, ordained priest, Master teacher, and Co-Director of the order of Christ sophia. she has her Masters Degree

in Counseling psychology and practiced as a Jungian-trained psychotherapist. Continually drawing from her education and her experience, including 17 years working as a professional midwife, Mother Clare has garnered a reputation for her clarity of vision. she lectures nationally on Mystical Christianity. she has four grown children and lives in Dolores, Colorado where she oversees the efforts to expand and grow the sophia peace Center.

MotheRClARewAtts.CoM

that this world order would come to an end is clearly foretold. the word “apocalypse” does not mean the end of the world, as many think, but the end of evil. there will be a time when selfish, greedy, mean, perverted, angry, aggressive, murderous, fearful and despairing ways of being will no longer have a place on this planet. that will be the apocalypse. From that time forward we are told there will be a new heaven and a new earth – a place of peace and joy, of clear consciousness of the presence of god, of Jesus and Mary. A time when there will be the “communion of the saints” where all those of consciousness, light, love and peace will enjoy the company of like-minded and like-hearted people who will live and work cooperatively and communally with no one exerting power over another and no one holding anything but respect and love for each other.

when this new humanity gets established on the earth, what marvels will be able to come about! As our minds and hearts will work together toward the greater good and we will be infused with the consciousness of god and of all the great teachers of light and bringers of grace that have gone before, the expansion of our beings and what we can move into will be limitless. without wars and envy, without greed or shame, we will grow into the full capacity god meant for us to have when god made us to be god’s sons and daughters, created in god’s image. like our Mother/Father Creator, we also will become entirely light. we also will actually be love. we also will create through envisioning anything we choose, pouring our love into it and breathing it into being. we will become like Jesus when he said: “i and my father are one.” he also told us that we would do everything he did, and greater still. this will all become reality when we enter that new world of a consciousness that is entirely selfless and full of god.

Jesus told us to get ready, to light our lamps and stay awake for that day, because we won’t know when it is coming. he told us that very trying times would precede that time of apocalypse, and things would get so bad that unless we were deeply connected to god we might not hold up in faith, trust, love and truth. so we can’t just sit and dream of the great new dawn. we need to be actively working to develop ourselves into people who will be prepared to expand into a consciousness that is entirely positive, entirely empowered and entirely selfless. if we are not ready, how will we embrace and expand into that consciousness when it comes? to become ready, each of us has to do intense inner work to clear out of us all that is not of light. we need to have learned to focus, to pray, to love, to work ceaselessly and fearlessly. we need to know how to live and love each other, not just those

who love us, but everyone. we need to learn to control our thoughts and emotions so we no longer generate anything that is harmful and therefore of darkness.

the clock is ticking. because of all the ways we are ruining the earth and endangering our own survival on this planet, the time is speeding up to the day when the great shift into higher consciousness will need to happen. will you be ready? have you found a spiritual discipline and a conscious community of like-minded people with whom you can learn and train, where you can deepen into your own being and connect with the god- consciousness within? if you have, make sure you are diligently committing to the practices and letting yourself be taught by those who are ahead of you on the path into peace. if you have not yet found a community and teachers, make it a priority. Your soul is calling. the time is now.

8CentersOfLight.org

Bad Habits, Yoga, Depression & Relationships

Tips to Improve Your Life

Addictions and Bad HabitsMost addictions develop without much forethought.

Usually, we just slip into a pattern and before we know

it, we are in over our heads. it takes seven days to start

a habit and 21 days to establish a habit. At the core of

most habits is the desire to alleviate stress or to comfort

ourselves. the comfort is self-reinforcing and we want

more and more of that thing in order to feel better. An

addiction is a habit that has become entrenched and

resistant to change. the body, emotions and mind have

become used to a particular kind of comfort and is not

about to go without it even if it means using aggressive

means to acquire it. when you admit to yourself that

you are over your head and out of control, then you can

get help in changing the pattern. Unfortunately, most

people have trouble admitting there is a problem even if

co-workers and friends are conscious that it is a problem

for you. in your heart, you are aware that on some level,

you are a victim of your addiction and know you have to

change. but admitting that is the hardest thing on earth.

it is humbling to admit that we are weak and not that

capable of controlling our bodies, emotions or thinking.

the healing can begin if your assessment of the situation is

honest. honesty gets you to ground zero and establishes

a firm foundation for the beginning of the work ahead.

Yoga as a Sacred Practiceit matters what you put your mind on while practicing

yoga. our minds shape our attitudes, thoughts and

feelings. our bodies begin to fill with the energy of the

thought that our mind is focused on. our body carries

this energy and positions itself accordingly. if the mind is

focused on worry, our bodies will form around this and

reflect these inner thoughts. likewise, if your mind is

focused on peace and contentment, then our bodies will

emanate that energy. others can see and feel it because

we are all tuned to each other.

often, we focus our minds on our physical bodies and

begin to analyze our performance instead of just being.

the alternative is to connect deep within – far past

thoughts, feelings, emotions and bodily sensations is the

inner self, a place of contentment and wisdom.

Yoga, meaning, “union with the divine nature of all things,”

suggests that we focus on thoughts that are in harmony

with all of creation. some yogis emphasize that the value

of the physical postures are to exhaust us physically to

the point where we finally let go and just relax into a

quiet mind. this sense of quietude creates a space for

goodness and peace to come. when our mind is focused

and quiet, we can open up to a whole new set of feelings

and attitudes towards life. positivity, peacefulness,

patience and kindness can be cultivated through this

practice. Choose it and be glad. 8CentersOfLight.org

Lectures on these and other topics will be offered in the spring at the Centers of Light.

Depression and Anxietythe U.s. is one of the most depressed and anxious

countries in the world, despite having more resources than

almost any other country. there are complex reasons for

this pattern, but here are three simple things that anyone

can do to decrease the risk of developing depression and

anxiety, or to help relieve the conditions:

1. Connect to others. when we start to feel down or

depressed, we tend to want to isolate ourselves. this

makes the depressed feelings worse. human beings

are built for social connection and community.

seek out social connections that are positive and

nurturing to you. schedule socially positive activities

even if you don’t feel like it.

2. Seek out meaning and purpose. Focus on

activities and relationships that give your life

meaning and purpose. it is easy to restrict your life

to things that are easy and meaningless like tv. when

you don’t feel good, you start to believe that doing

something meaningful would take too much energy;

but the truth is, the less you do, the more tired and

worn-out you feel.

3. Give to others. As counter-intuitive as it may seem,

the more you give to others the better you feel. this

doesn’t work well if the people you give to are the

ones closest to you because we can’t help but to

hope for something in return. but, if we reach out to

others who are suffering or give our time to the less

fortunate, then we feel the benefits of giving and

often our mood will improve.

Healthy and Happy RelationshipsMost people try and try to make their relationships happy, strong and healthy. nobody wants a painful and messed up relationship. And yet not many people succeed at creating real happiness in their relating. the pain that we feel from unhappy relationships is powerfully strong and deep, and can make us feel unable to even function in life. Depression easily arises from relational stresses, especially from chronic troubles that just won’t seem to resolve.

in order for a relationship to be healthy it needs the following basic elements:

1. two people who have done some work to know themselves and recognize and own their shortcomings.

2. partners who have worked on developing good communication skills: how to listen empathetically and how to communicate honestly.

3. people who are committed to the relationship and can be trusted to be faithful.

4. partners who decide to not make the other person responsible for their own happiness, but holds themselves responsible for finding their own fulfillment.

5. both people give the other person freedom to find themselves spiritually and grow emotionally and psychologically.

there is more to do to have a healthy relationship, but if you work on attaining these goals you will be on your way to having a happy relationship.

9CentersOfLight.org

10CentersOfLight.org

FPO

On the first Wednesday of every month, the members of the Centers

of Light pray for peace, creating a surge of positive energy for people

all over the world. Open to all faiths, it is a chance for hearts and minds

to make a real difference in the world. People pray for the cause of the

month: healing, spiritual awakening, love, solutions to hunger crises, war

— anything that the world needs in order to become a place of peace.

Join us!

Join us in Prayers for Peace

11CentersOfLight.org

How can we stop being so concerned about our progress on the spiritual path and comparing ourselves with others? CAtheRine, ChiCAgo

i would be more concerned with whether you were relaxed and peaceful within yourself. Feel inside to the core of your being and know that all you ever will need is within. Be still in your mind – no worrying. You should be more concerned with being than progressing, be-cause what part of you will be evaluating your progress? Usually it is the ego and conscious

Ask Father PeterHow to stay relaxed, peaceful and connected

mind. that ego evaluation is always short-sighted, fearful and prideful. Your ego cannot know god or where you are spiritually on the path. As far as where others are, it is none of your business. Love people because god is at the core of each person. Celebrate their successes and accomplish-ments and do what is in front of you without criticizing yourself. if you are experiencing love for yourself and oth-ers, you are growing. if you are thinking about how far you have come, or how you are doing spiritually, you are sitting on the bench, out of the game, doing nothing but falling into laziness or worry.

What is the best way to stay con-nected inside of us during a busy day? I often think I have to close my eyes or be in a quiet environment to reconnect. gloRiA, oAklAnD

the first thing to do is to feel all filled up with your feelings and with your knowing. Visualize your whole being grounded and centered, completely relaxed and at peace and make sure your body registers these feelings and car-ries them. You have to be in touch with your body in order to have consciousness animate your body. When you get busy, you have to focus and concentrate or you will make many mistakes. But you can be present inside yourself and conscious that you are carrying out various activities with intention. Breathe in a relaxed manner and don’t float away into dreamland. Focus. then when you get a break, you can shut your eyes for a couple of minutes and fill yourself with the real part of you and let that soak into all of your parts. Ask god to balance and fill you with god’s presence for a minute or two and pay attention while it is happening. then look out at the various people and situations you experience from god’s eyes. ∞

Do you have questions? AskFatherPeter.com

Q

Q

A

A

FPO

11CentersOfLight.org

12CentersOfLight.org

SERVICES

Sunday ServiceOpen to All • Followed by Brunchnot your average sunday service! experience spirit moving through songs, prayers, and powerful sermons that bring you into closer connection to god — the god inside your heart, inside your soul, to the god within. each service begins with a silent meditation followed by a sermon relating directly to the spiritual needs of the community, finally culminating in a transformative Communion and personal blessing.

Daily Meditation & Communionthe beauty of god’s grace can be experienced with meditation and Communion every morning of the week. We offer a 30 minute meditation followed by a reading and Communion service, which is a wonderful way to develop and deepen your meditation practice. there is no better way to start your day than to receive the love, light and peace of Jesus and Mary. All are welcome.

Evening PrayersAll are welcome to join us at the end of the day with evening prayers and songs. Community members from the Centers of Light come together to thank god, Jesus and Mary for the blessings of the day and offer songs of gratitude and thanksgiving. Join us in spreading light into the world with this form of joyful devotion.

CLASSES

Introduction To Meditation &Christian MysticismUnderstanding the laws of the universe isn’t easy, which is why the Centers of Light offer six sessions that explore the foundations of Christian Mysticism. Open to all, this class gives an overview of what Christian Mysticism is and what mystics do, and, most importantly, it offers participants a chance to experience the spiritual world first-hand. there is no restriction on faith. You only have to believe that there is most likely a power and intelligence that is higher than human intelligence. no fee.

Bible Contemplationit is a fairly common experience to read a passage from the new testament and ask, “i wonder what that means?” Bible Contemplation at the Centers of Light helps unravel the deeper meaning in Jesus’ teachings by exploring our inner and outer life experiences and how they relate to the parables Jesus taught. As a result, class members discover how these teachings relate directly to their own lives and experiences. this class is open to graduates of introduction to Meditation and Christian Mysticism.

Tree of Lifethe tree of Life lessons are written for the purpose of unfolding the soul alchemically and opening up spiritual consciousness to the wisdom of god. topics such as “What is light?,”

“What is love?,” or “What is the Creator?” are presented in a simple, practical way that allows students to understand, discuss, and contemplate their meaning. these ancient teachings are paired with powerful hands-on experiences, giving students a tangible way to connect to the reality of god’s spirit and power. this class is open to graduates of introduction to Meditation and Christian Mysticism.

SEMINARS

Master Teacher Seminarsseminars from the Master teachers

of the Order of Christ sophia are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to receive spiritual teachings that can move mountains in your life. the old saying, “one day with a teacher is worth 200 years on your own” applies to these enlightening and life-changing events. experience it for yourself by checking the enclosed schedule of events or contacting a

Priest at your local Center of Light. ∞

Offerings

12CentersOfLight.org

13CentersOfLight.org

14CentersOfLight.org

In 1990, a group of Japanese physicians noticed that patients who had suffered severe emotional trauma often experienced the symptoms of a heart attack. they then discovered that these patients also developed the same patterns of heart muscle damage that occur following an actual heart attack. After intensive investigation these findings were validated and the phenomenon became known as “broken heart syndrome.” in broken heart syndrome, the damage can be so severe that it even leads to heart failure.

while most of us have not experienced a heart attack, we have all experienced emotional pain. sometimes it has been sudden, crushing and unbearable while at other times it has been tolerable but long-suffered. sometimes we have bounced right back and at other times we have wondered if we would ever recover. in one way or another, we have all had our hearts broken.

Despite our advances in medicine, we still have an extremely limited understanding of the relationship between emotional and physical health. For example, we know that a heart attack is caused when a clogged artery deprives the heart muscle of oxygen. but we only just discovered that emotional pain can physically damage the heart, and after years of study, how this happens still remains a mystery. this is because we have been looking for the cause in the physical world when it really lies in the spiritual world. the heart is both a physical and spiritual organ. Just as oxygen is what supplies the physical heart, love is what supplies the spiritual heart. without love, our hearts begin to ache. if the flow of love remains restricted,

our hearts become scarred, not just emotionally but also physically. we may be in the habit of ignoring it. but if we pay attention we will notice that when we don’t feel loved, our hearts hurt.

At the first signs of a heart attack, we rush to the emergency room to get help. this is not how we have handled emotional distress. the usual procedure has been to deny, suppress or run away from it. here’s a completely different approach: Rather than trying to avoid emotional pain, accept it and embrace it. be willing to feel it. if lack of love is the problem, shutting down your heart will only make things worse. keeping your heart open, even when it hurts, is the only way you will be able to understand what you are feeling. Understanding what you are feeling will start the flow of love back to your heart and begin the healing process.

next, you will need to bring your heart to a source of love that is much greater than you are. Many people get stuck on the painful seesaw of alternating between hating the world for the hurt they have suffered and then desperately hoping that someone or something will make them feel better. such an outer pursuit of healing will always fail. Just as your physical heart needs its own oxygen from the source of oxygen itself, your spiritual heart needs its own love from the source of love itself. seeking healing externally is like trying to breathe oxygen from someone else’s mouth -- you will be left gasping. Although it is the last place we look, the source of love dwells within each of us. some people think this is a trite concept and shrug it off. others

think it is an inspiring idea. but very few actually dive in and find out if it is true.

there are many aspects to devotional life. one of these is the practice of bringing our wounded hearts to god. god is the ultimate source of love because god is love. it takes courage to embrace your broken heart. it takes discipline to resist the temptation to run from your pain or suppress it through activities, addictions or substitutes for love. And it takes patience and practice to learn how to become still enough to go within. but it is possible for anyone to enter into the safety of the inner realm and approach the holy place where god resides. From this place of sanctity, if you open your heart wide, god will respond and love will begin to fill you. with continued devotion to god, miraculous healing will come about. love is what will heal your broken heart. this kind of devotional meditation is the way to that love. why not begin today?

Rev. DAviD

CoRvini

is a priest at the

Center of Light

in Warwick,

New York. He

also works with children and teens across

the country as a youth minister and with

students in various countries through

the Centers of Light Online program.

Rev David also works as an emergency

physician and an internist for St. Anthony

Hospital.

Devotion: Healing the Broken HeartbY Rev. DAviD CoRvini

No. 1Let the Christmas season be a holy process that happens with-in you and not just a historical event that happened long ago.

No. 2recognize that the Christmas season begins the sunday after thanksgiving, with the season of Advent.

No. 7see everyone as your brother and sister and pray for peace every day.

No. 8Ponder what gift we receive in Christmas, what gift we can give and what a gift really is. re-member that it is love, and not money, that makes a gift valuable.

No. 5Attend spiritual services as often as possible and dedicate yourself to growing closer to Jesus, Mary and god as the weeks progress and Christmas approaches.

No. 9stay connected to god in love and devotion and to others in the spirit of goodwill throughout the Christmas season. stay clear of the frenzy of commercialism.

No. 6take 10 minutes each day in meditation to cultivate the qualities of stillness, purity and humility within yourself. Lovingly intend that these qualities will prepare a place in your heart where the miracle of Christmas can happen.

No. 10Let Christmas eve and Christmas Day be a time when you focus the most on god, Jesus and Mary. Attend a Midnight Mass and let the miracle of Christmas happen in your heart.

No. 3Ponder what was happen-ing as Mother Mary’s preg-nancy pro-gressed and culminated in the birth of Jesus.

No. 4realize that you can pre-pare, as Mother Mary prepared, to receive the gift of the birth of the Christ.

10 Ways to Have a More Meaningful Christmas

15CentersOfLight.org

16CentersOfLight.org16CentersOfLight.org

I always thought my journey to god was going to be one i would do on my own. i was sure god would lead me and i could just pay close attention. An example of this about a year and a half ago was staring each morning at this postcard i found and taped to my mirror. i prayed it’s message was real, as it read inner peace is possible. After many months, my cherished postcard fell from the mirror to show me the backside of the card…what god was really communicating. Clearly, my paying close attention wasn’t going to be enough. i logged onto the Center of light website i found on the back of the card and attended my first Conscious Movie night.

Finding the Center of light completely changed my life. At that time, i was deeply considering moving into an ashram where i practiced. this idea quickly dissolved as i began to attend almost every Center event i could. i was so warmly welcomed by this

new family and my heart seemed to know the Center was my home. there was a huge contrast with the Center and other spiritual paths i had tried. i remembered feeling dissatisfied with the depth and clarity of the teachings of the other paths as

well as doubting the knowledge and devotion of the teachers. the priests and teachers at the Center answer every question with a commitment to loving me through all of the repetition it takes for me to open, understand, and live the teachings. their approach immediately ignited a certainty in me that this is the way, and i had finally found it!

becoming a novice was a prayer answered. i had considered how it would be to live in a community with others devoted to making god foremost in their lives. this was never a serious prayer until i considered making the ashram my home. At the last retreat i attended, the guru explained the many days of fasting, silence and meditation had caused the Divine Mother to draw near. And because of this, she would grant our deepest prayer. After some contemplation, i prayed to deepen my relationship with god in the next six months. within a few hours of the prayer,

god began to move things in my life to make this not only possible, but a reality. the speed at which things moved was shocking which ultimately took me a few months to fully accept and trust. god’s movement made novice life possible.

i am so grateful for the many things novice life brings. one example is the real sharing i experience with my brothers and sisters. the love of Jesus and Mary and my teachers have opened me to this which eliminated the plan of journeying toward god alone. thank god for that! novice life also brings the unending, loving support of the priests and teachers which humbles me. this support is immense and continues to exceed all of my expectations. Another aspect of this life is the chance to welcome new people who are finding the Center for their first time. it feels like an awesome gift that i could help in creating that warmth i felt when i first arrived at the Center of light. truthfully, all of this feels like an awesome gift which has left me very grateful.

Life as a Novice: In Their O

wn W

ords sophiA was raised in a small

community on the Southern Oregon

Coast, a perfect fit for her love of

nature. Drawn to the elderly at a very

young age, she set out to become

a nurse. Sophia has enjoyed nearly

twelve years of her career working

in the fields of rehabilitation and

geriatric medicine. She now lives

as a novice in the Center of Light,

Chicago where she seeks to deepen

in her love and service of God.

17CentersOfLight.org

our spiritual community is a place where real, meaningful conversation can happen, thanks to the high level of integrity and honesty in every relationship. spiritual community gives us the opportunity to learn, grow and support each other in our individual journeys to god, no matter how young or old you are, whether you are single or married, with children or not. Activities such as camping trips, movie nights, picnics and cookouts make spiritual community at the Centers of light an even more dynamic and vibrant part of life.

Spiritual Community

18CentersOfLight.org

• sign up for a no-cost 6-week introductory series: introduction to Meditation and Christian Mysticism.

• gather with us on sunday for a half hour of meditation followed by singing, a sermon, and holy communion.

• Call a Center of light near you (see page 2).

• see the schedule of events inserted in this magazine for all classes, seminars, services and community gatherings. event descriptions can be found on pages 10 and 12.

Centersoflight.org

wAnt to leARn MoRe?

Father Peter Bowes

Centersoflight.org

Present this coupon and receive $10 off your next Seminar with

any Center of Light across the country.

Father peter’s latest book, pearls of a Fisherman, is a compilation

of teachings that reaches into matters of the soul and brings

forth the truth. taking the reader through subjects ranging from

the mystical to the practical, pearls is a gem for any modern-day

spiritual seeker.

Father peter’s new CD, Christmas, a collection of Christmas

classics and his own originals, is sure to deepen your feelings of

devotion this holiday season.

greatest hits 2001-2009 is a compilation of Father peter’s most

beloved songs – reinterpreted and backed by some of Chicago’s

finest composers and musicians. see how everything is made

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2

books and CDs available for purchase at

Father Peter Bowes

Keeping Your Eye Single

The Light at the Top of the Mountain

January 12-16, 2011 & January 19-23, 2012

Please contact Rev. Gabrielle Fisher for registration information

312-623-4418 • revgabrielle@centersoflight.org

WINTER RETREAT 2012

The experience of light brings clarity to our lives, revelation to our minds

and understanding to the motives of our heart. If our devotion to God is

courageous and strong, the light of God will guide our lives and move us

toward the goal of union with God.