Editor’s note: This article is so extraordinary that I obtained permission from its author to republish it here.  I suggest that you read it twice, then pause for an extended time to contemplate its wisdom.

A huge part of what is to propel our communal unfolding into a more harmonious society is our willingness to be aware and to be open to new ways of thinking, new possibilities.  So many of us were indoctrinated into believing lies about who we are.  We believed these lies because they were told to us over and over by people we trusted and felt dependent upon.  Consider this alternative way of thinking about a very important subject, please:

Why We Suffer by Wynn Free

Once upon a time you and I were part of God. It’s not that we’re not part of God now, because we still are. The difference is we knew it back then, so because we knew it, we could act like it was so. When we acted like it was so, we were able to have anything we wanted, after all God is the creator, so in as much as we were part of God, so were we creators too. As fast as we could conceive of something, it would manifest and exist. With one exception; since everyone else was also part of God, we couldn’t create anything that would violate someone else’s Godliness.

For a while it was great fun. But eventually it got boring. So we all made an agreement to forget that we were part of God. And since we were Creators, we had the power to do that. We would create a planet, put bodies on that planet and then inhabit the bodies. But we wouldn’t remember we did that, once we inhabited the bodies. Of course, when we died, we would remember, but the way we set up the game was that until we could remember who we were while we were in a body, we would have to keep returning to that planet in new bodies. But there would be endless chances. And as soon as we would remember who we were, we could transform ourselves and have anything we wanted once again, as we reconnected with the power of the God/creator self inside us.

Most of us didn’t remember. We did things the hard way. Nothing came easy. And we suffered. We had long ago forgotten our origins and were living in a state of amnesia. We made up our own rules and did our best, but unfortunately our best wasn’t very good. We got all kinds of aches and pains. There was always this sense of isolation, loneliness, and confusion. But there also were numerous clues. For example, every night we would go to sleep and in our dreams, we would return to that place of original creation where we could, once again, have anything we wanted. And so we did. In our dreams we could have it all. But every morning, we would once again wake up in our state of amnesia and have to do everything the hard way.

So the original creator God decided to give us a little help. Various reminder people were allowed to show up in bodies; people like Lao Tzu, Buddha, Muhammad, and Jesus. On one hand, this violated the original rules of our game, but as a group, we were suffering so much that we petitioned the Big Guy for help and this is how he gave it. These new guys could speak great wisdom. The reminder people told us “why do everything by the sweat of your brow” when you could “put the kingdom of heaven first and all other things would be added.” They were able to remember that they were part of God and could create whatever they thought as long as it didn’t violate anyone else’s reality. And people did listen. And they were inspired. Except, the people kept thinking that these new guys were part of God but they themselves weren’t, so they put them on pedestals and worshiped them, even when they were directly told that “these things I do, you can also do and much more.”

The people continued to suffer because they had very limited ability to invoke their God/creator self. They continued to doing everything the hard way. Oh occasionally they would pray to one of those reminder people who were now exalted on pedestals. But most of them missed the real message. They mimicked the words and lived in the constant fear that they were doing something wrong. And they were going to be punished. The Big Guy had become a wrathful Father, separate from them instead of a loving support system. And that was OK, because eventually they would figure it out. Perhaps not in this lifetime. Perhaps not even in the next thousand lifetimes. But eventually they would tire and pay attention to their dreams and get the idea. They would understand the real message of those who had come to remind them.

If you happen to be one of those people who is still suffering and perhaps don’t believe in God, or entertain the thought that God has abandoned you, or put others on pedestals above you, or live in fear and guilt that you’re doing something wrong, here’s a key to awakening the God/ Creator inside yourself. Act as if it’s so. Assume that it is true and see if there’s a shift in the world around you. You must prove to yourself beyond a shadow of a doubt that it works this way. This is the meaning of faith – acting as if it’s so before you know. Eventually you will get an experience and you won’t have to imagine anymore; that you can think about something and it can occur as long as you don’t violate someone else’s reality. (also you must create the physical circumstances where it has the possibility of happening.

For example, if you want a job, you must make yourself available where jobs exist.) Also, when your wish does manifest, it may not look like a miracle. It might just look like a coincidence. But you’ll recognize it and know what it is. Ask for things to happen that are in “the highest good of everyone concerned”. You were created in God’s image ultimately to be an equal partner with Him. But this equal partner business might take millions of years of training. After all, if you’re going to be equal, you’ll have to know how to create an entire Universe. But that’s down the road. For most of us, loving our wife and kids and earning a living is about all we can handle. But it’s all part of the training. Are you better than your children because you were first? The very first step is faith. Make believe it’s so and see what happens. And be patient. Sometimes it takes a while to break down the patterns that you’ve grown accustomed to. And perhaps, you still really want to do things the hard way. Perhaps you’re one of those who have grown overly familiar with their suffering and would rather stay in the reality, which is comfortable. After all, if you should ever finally succeed, at least you’ll know that you did it all yourself and you can take all the credit, without any outside help from the part of yourself we’ve identified as God.

But if you are one of those who are reaching the point of being sick and tired of your suffering and would like to try a different approach, perhaps a much faster track, try imagining that this story is true. Don’t believe it, but try it on for size. If part of you is also part of God and if you can call on that part of yourself, perhaps you’ll get an answer and something will transform in the physical world around you and you’ll have your own personal validation. Not only will the circumstances of your suffering shift, not only will you be able to see God inside everyone else, but step-by-step you will be able to create a life full of love, joy and miracles. And you might even get to be one of those reminder people yourself. And it won’t be much longer (give or take a million years) that you’ll be out there creating planets, solar systems and universes yourself.

For more about Wynn Free, see www.messageaday.net

As we move through these times of change and challenge, there has been much discussion about how to best respond to these changes and how to most gracefully create more harmonious local and world societies.  In what way is it most spiritually profitable to direct our energies if we intend to reach higher levels of spiritual empowerment?

While much of the world seems to be reacting to the civil, geophysical, governmental and financial system problems with fear, doubt and anxiety, others of us have generally taken one of three roads. Let's look at them one at a time:

1. Resignation

Those taking this approach figure  that an apocalypse is coming fast and that there is nothing we can do about it. They are convinced, generally through truly silly religious indoctrination, that the world is going to hell in a hand basket and that they are powerless to do anything about it. For them, it's just a matter of waiting until we either all fry or when "non-believers" (choose your deity) will fry while the deity lifts all the good folks into heaven or another, kinder-gentler planet.   This is no more sane than figuring that killing innocents will be rewarded with the eternal favors of 72 virgins in the afterlife.

This is the approach of the truly deluded who feel powerless.  Over the centuries, this kind of thinking has been perpetuated by those who would strongly prefer that the masses stay weak and afraid.

2.  Denial

Many people, particularly in the so-called metaphysical community, would rather not hear about the challenging realities of what is going on in the world. Their excuse is that by recognizing what is going on in our governments,in our monetary systems and in geophysical disturbances just gives energy to the negative, expanding it. They do not want to hear about government corruption or the anticipated monetary collapses, claiming that we can change the apparent course of these by ignoring impending disasters and focusing on what we want instead.

While this approach is certainly more productive than resignation to coming apocalypse, the other side of the coin is that from both an individual  and collective standpoint, it is impossible to escape from a prison until such time as you recognize that you are in one.  Acceptance of what is is much different than surrender to extended anguish.   This is the difference between the power of now and the futility of delusion.

Those who are in denial mode often go to great lengths to distract themselves from the truth.  Feeling depressed about relationships, money, war or the quality of our country’s leadership?  If so, it’s likely that you are addicted to something that helps you avoid looking at it: drugs, alcohol, television, romance novels, or yelling at your spouse or kids.  Where does that get you?  If you are on that kind of sinking cesspool, now is the time to hop out.

If you are in denial and want to bust out of it, watch this movie online for free.  If you are sorely pressed for time, start with the last segment and then decide whether you have the courage to watch the rest.  The movie is called Zeitgeist Addendum. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912#

3. Focusing on Group Consciousness:  Joining and Participating in Communal Meditations and Such

We have learned that there is some power in collecting our intents and focus on a peaceful goal.  The downside of this phenomenon is that so many of us have  conflicting visions of what true peace and satisfaction are.  For some, the "New Age of Love" or post 2012 world is one in which life will be free and easy, a hedonistic nirvana.  Others see it as one that will be much simpler, with less in the way of conveniences, more in the way of "chop wood/carry water".

Note: Because he says it so well, much of the rest of this article will consist of the words of author Keith David Henry as included in an email response to an article I shared with a mutual associate. For simplicity's sake, all the words below showing in bold italics are his.

Henry says, “The idea that there needs to be some conscious campaign toward the unity of us all, while conceptually sound, may tempt us to rely upon the group consciousness paradigm which is now passing away as a primary means of achieving this unity. This approach is misguided.

Attempting to recognize and embrace everyone and everything into our thinking as valid in a move to "create unity" will create chaos instead. The dark oligarchy is counting on this. The dark oligarchy, their plans and their aspirations will crumble along with the current world systems upon which they have relied for millennia. There is no need to defeat them, nor is there the need to attempt such a counterproductive initiative. Leave them alone. Their fate is sealed. Let us not become a part of their fate by giving them so much of our mental energy via fear, anger, worry, or anxiety.”

If either as individuals or collectively, we focus on the need to “defeat” someone or some entity, or if we focus on what we do not want we drain our energies and sustain that which is not wanted.  It’s like saying you do not want that pesky cat that has been hanging around your back door, but then choosing to put out a bowl of milk for it every morning.

4.  Recognition and Practice of Our Individual Power, Sovereignty  and Divinity

I see this as the true root of unfolding the depth of our collective power.

Again, from Keith David Henry:  “By reaching into our own individual internal connectedness with source - each of us on an individual and unique basis (following our own hearts in true acceptance of ourselves, our own individual sovereignty as agents of source, and similarly embracing that the same dynamic exists within each of us, i.e. embracing each person's path as valid and sovereign) - we automatically harness the unity that already exists.”

”Yes, this sounds counter-intuitive. Yes, this is a different message than the new world order, many religions, and even many new age disciplines have taught us.  But it is the only way.  Each of us is our own authority. Each of us is our own window of source. This is not a paradigm of separateness, but rather the quintessential expression of the infinite diversity of source.  It is by fully embracing this diversity that we connectwith the already existent unity of all things and all people.”

As a world culture, we have spent centuries looking outside of ourselves for happiness, calm, wisdom and power. And we are in the process of communally realizing the futility of making things outside of us the primary sources of what we think we need to be OK.

We are in the process of fully unlearning the notion that that which is external gives us validity, worthiness and strength. It is the growing embracing of the knowing that our nature is powerful, calm, happy and, yes, divine that will smooth our path into the coming era of harmony.

I am not suggesting that we abandon practices of community togetherness or group meditation/focus of intent.  What I am suggesting is that each of us contributes most effectively to the graceful, powerful unfolding of the collective when we recognize the vast and complete nature of the love that is within us.  From that recognition, and then from living it in powerful faith and humility, we literally change our world.

It is simpler than most people perceive it to be. Modern day shaman Carlos Barrios expresses it so well: "The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness.  It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free.  It's encoded in your DNA.  All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."

The well-spring feeding your spiritual empowerment comes from a place where so many do not look: Within.

Our individual and communal spiritual empowerment expands to the extent that we are not only aware of the lessons of our world, but how we respond to these lessons. The most productive response to life's challenges has to do with not an "action" response, but a "being" response. If you feel beset with difficulties, what you choose to be tends to be a much more positive response than what you choose to do.

As you may be aware, there's at least a partial "spin" to nearly all the news on television, radio and much of the Internet. With all the changes we are hearing about in our world--- our government, our monetary system, and the Earth itself---how can we know what is real news and that which is invented? If we want to respond appropriately to the news, how do we get to the real news?

As I watched a liberal news and commentary last week on the pending U.S. healthcare legislation, I had a deeper realization of the extent to which our government, our media and most of our religions put on something akin to a theatrical performance for us. Anybody who is paying attention and is willing to look into the history of these institutions will understand that they only pretend to serve us.  They exist to go where the money is and to get that money. The bankers hire enough mercenaries (sometimes called legislators) to help the rich get richer and let the people feel poorer.  How do these institutions maintain their power?

They do it with skillful fear mongering. It is done in both the so-called liberal and the so-called conservative media, with each faction speaking with righteous indignation at what the "other side" is doing. Each stirring up the pot of fear, futility and powerlessness. And neither offering any real solutions. Solutions?   I?ll get to that at the end of this article.  Let's first address the question of where we can find "real news". The Internet is a great source for finding real news. Spend about 5 minutes each on http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/ or http://www.inteldaily.com/ and then ask your heart if it would serve you to get some of your news through sources like these. You can also search "uncensored news" or "real news" and come up with other sources.

Like much of what you see in the "regular" media, much of what you find on sites like these will challenge you. It will seem to contradict concepts and ideas that you learned as truths. When this happens, you can hit your "pause button" and consult your internal BS detector, your intuition.

Most women tend to have a high-quality intuitive sense. For many men, it takes some practice to develop it. Oftentimes, you can just look at someone and know they are fibbing. As you practice using it, you will learn to more and more trust your intuitive sense. As you use it more and more---and trust it--your intuitive sense will expand.

Our communal world is not going to be magically changed overnight by sending letters to legislators, protesting in the streets, or taking your frustrations out on your loved ones. In these times of accelerating change, people are looking for solutions to our financial, government and geophysical challenges. What can we do to fix it? some people ask. Some people deny the importance of society's and the earth's sickness symptoms. Others avoid dealing with the challenges we see by numbing themselves with their favorite drugs,from alcohol to TV to escapist novels to endless venting.

For your consideration, I would pose an alternative question. Rather than ask what you can do about your perceived problems and those of society, consider asking "What can I BE to productively respond to life's challenges?" By exercising your options to BE more calm, happy, aware, intuitive and wise, you boost your individual---and the communal consciousness.

As more and more choose more with trust to BE conscious, we promote the unfolding of the world into what it can be, a loving, harmonious place for truly living. The solutions to the plethora of problems we perceive is not to be found outside of us. Our spiritual empowerment---the only real empowerment there is---starts and grows with how we respond to life, the level at which we trust it and with what we choose to be. Please be wise in how you choose to respond to life.

We're all depending on us.

Note: Many of the first questions in this FAQ are answered on the purple card that comes with the CD. I will be the first to fess up that for many products I have purchased, I skip the instructions and dive right in to figuring it out myself. This may not be the most productive way of approaching the CD!

How often should I listen to the CD?

It is suggested that you move though the CD in 35 to 45 days, taking only one track per day. You might listen to that track more than once, maybe even 5 or 6 times if it feels right to you. As you follow through on commitments, your power grows. So maybe you will commit to doing the practice daily, or maybe Monday through Friday. Choose what you know you can and will do. Following through builds your personal power.

How long should I pause when I hear the tones during a track?

However long feels right to you. It might be 10 seconds. It might be an hour. Trust yourself.

Are there other times that would be good to pause?

There are several times in some tracks where there is an audio quiet stretch of time. It is recommended that you hit your pause button whenever it feels right for you, for as long as you like. Some media players make it easy to pause by hitting your space bar. Please familiarize yourself with the options for that with the equipment that you have.

How do I know when a track is over?

The gong sound you will hear tells you that the track is complete.

I suggest that, if you have a programmable CD player or computer that lets you compile playlists, you tack on one or more of the last two tracks (music only) on the CD to complete your pause session. You might add three or more of those short ending tracks to ensure that you are complete. These music tracks help you to maintain your inner focus.

What's with all the "oomph" sounds on a couple of the tracks?

While these were not intended as part of the original production, they can be seen as gifts: you might see these as opportunities for patience. Since you can easily understand the spoken words, the "oomphs" can be experienced as non-consequential. If you make them important, then you will be distracted. Your choice. I have young children, so there is no time during the day when I can have uninterrupted quiet time.

What should I do?

This may take you a little longer. Some tracks can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Others may take an hour. Take advantages of opportunities to have a visiting friend or mate watch the kids for a little while as you move through a track. Be creative! If you make your spiritual empowerment a priority, you will find many benefits showing up in many areas of your life.