This Blog formatting is off.
I want to express my apology.
I will fix this soon.
May 14, 2016
Johrei Was A Very Important Part of My Life Growing Up
The Church of World Messiahinity, Meshusama and Johrei were a very important part of my life as I was growing up in San Jose, California.
My parents were deeply spiritual people and they taught me their spiritual values from the time I was very young.
When I got sick with a fever - my parents would channel Johrei to me.
When I scratched my knee skateboarding - my parents channeled Johrei to it immediately.
If there was danger - we channeled Johrei in that moment - and the danger went away.
There were so many experiences with the healing light of Johrei that proved to me constantly that it is a great truth.
My parents started attending Johrei and became members of the San Jose Johrei Temple - as an extension of The Church of World Messiahinity - when I was just a toddler. We went to the Johrei Temple every Sunday for services and it was so wonderful. As a child sometimes I felt like I didn't want to go - but after my parents and my brothers and I received Johrei - we settled down and felt happy inside. It was just what we needed.
I remember how beautiful and refined church services were. Some of the Japanese women dressed in kimonos who were to be a part of the ceremony - they would carry bamboo trays to honor the sacred ceremony we all came together to participate in. They carried a Sangetsu Flower Arrangement to place it on the alter. Often they would include trays that had food and drink we were about to eat for the midday meal that always followed the service. Each tray was carried to the Alter at the front of the room in a silent and slow moving reverent manner - I will never forget how they calmly walked and gently placed each tray on the alter. I watched with the eyes of a child something I didn't bear witness to in my everyday life - and it was profound in a way I remember to this day. The alter had a sacred scroll with a sacred Japanese Prayer written on it that had been blessed in Japan - from the Mother Church of the Church of World Messiahinity.
We all sat quietly and in stillness until each of the offerings were placed on the sacred alter. Then we would sing the Amatsu Norito Prayer - Prayer of Heaven in Japanese. There were other songs that were very beautiful that would sing also - but the Amastu Norito Prayer of Heaven was the most powerful for healing and protection.
Then the Minister would stand and give thanks for all the offerings on the alter - and at the right moment he would pray for the light of God to come through him to bless us all with Johrei - and the healing that we needed and the peace we needed. He would then proceed to channel Johrei to the entire group attending the church service from in front of the room. He would stand in front of the alter because it was a protection and a channel for the white light of God to act for us all.
Then we would pair off with each other and channel Johrei to each other. My parents would always channel to my brothers and I - except that they had three children and there was only two of them. Often a person attending the service would offer to channel to one of us children - and my parents were always so grateful. The Japanese people were so wonderful to us. They loved our family and treated us always with great respect. It was a healing experience and we loved them in return.
At the end of the church service the same Japanese Ladies and Gentlemen would carry the bamboo trays from the alter to the kitchen. We would file out of the church room to socialize in another room. The Japanese ladies and all the women were in the kitchen preparing the food for our meal. The best part of this was the rice cakes wrapped in seaweed and sprinkled with some black sesame seeds - we also had sushi - and other traditional Japanese foods. My mother would always bring something to share for the meal - and it was always warmly welcomed and appreciated.
My parents were deeply spiritual people and they taught me their spiritual values from the time I was very young.
When I got sick with a fever - my parents would channel Johrei to me.
When I scratched my knee skateboarding - my parents channeled Johrei to it immediately.
If there was danger - we channeled Johrei in that moment - and the danger went away.
There were so many experiences with the healing light of Johrei that proved to me constantly that it is a great truth.
My parents started attending Johrei and became members of the San Jose Johrei Temple - as an extension of The Church of World Messiahinity - when I was just a toddler. We went to the Johrei Temple every Sunday for services and it was so wonderful. As a child sometimes I felt like I didn't want to go - but after my parents and my brothers and I received Johrei - we settled down and felt happy inside. It was just what we needed.
I remember how beautiful and refined church services were. Some of the Japanese women dressed in kimonos who were to be a part of the ceremony - they would carry bamboo trays to honor the sacred ceremony we all came together to participate in. They carried a Sangetsu Flower Arrangement to place it on the alter. Often they would include trays that had food and drink we were about to eat for the midday meal that always followed the service. Each tray was carried to the Alter at the front of the room in a silent and slow moving reverent manner - I will never forget how they calmly walked and gently placed each tray on the alter. I watched with the eyes of a child something I didn't bear witness to in my everyday life - and it was profound in a way I remember to this day. The alter had a sacred scroll with a sacred Japanese Prayer written on it that had been blessed in Japan - from the Mother Church of the Church of World Messiahinity.
We all sat quietly and in stillness until each of the offerings were placed on the sacred alter. Then we would sing the Amatsu Norito Prayer - Prayer of Heaven in Japanese. There were other songs that were very beautiful that would sing also - but the Amastu Norito Prayer of Heaven was the most powerful for healing and protection.
Then the Minister would stand and give thanks for all the offerings on the alter - and at the right moment he would pray for the light of God to come through him to bless us all with Johrei - and the healing that we needed and the peace we needed. He would then proceed to channel Johrei to the entire group attending the church service from in front of the room. He would stand in front of the alter because it was a protection and a channel for the white light of God to act for us all.
Then we would pair off with each other and channel Johrei to each other. My parents would always channel to my brothers and I - except that they had three children and there was only two of them. Often a person attending the service would offer to channel to one of us children - and my parents were always so grateful. The Japanese people were so wonderful to us. They loved our family and treated us always with great respect. It was a healing experience and we loved them in return.
At the end of the church service the same Japanese Ladies and Gentlemen would carry the bamboo trays from the alter to the kitchen. We would file out of the church room to socialize in another room. The Japanese ladies and all the women were in the kitchen preparing the food for our meal. The best part of this was the rice cakes wrapped in seaweed and sprinkled with some black sesame seeds - we also had sushi - and other traditional Japanese foods. My mother would always bring something to share for the meal - and it was always warmly welcomed and appreciated.
Important Links For Johrei, Sangetsu Flower Arranging [Ikebana], and Organic Gardening
The Johrei Fellowship Tuscon Center
http://tucsonjohrei.org/
Receiving Johrei
http://tucsonjohrei.org/receiving.htm
Services and Classes - Johrei
http://tucsonjohrei.org/services.htm
Sangetsu North America
http://www.sangetsunorthamerica.org/
Sangetsu Founder - Mokichi Okada
http://www.sangetsunorthamerica.org/#!founder/cebe
More links will be added to this post - especially about organic gardening.
Thank you.
Apr 17, 2010
About The Ancient Goddess
Long ago the ancient goddess was known to many - before men feared her.
It was a vision of men and women standing together - knowing that they are each to be honored. Man as ancient god and woman as ancient goddess. Each has their role as ancient male and female primordial energy.
Neither one or the other dominating - but rather sharing and respecting and loving each other. It is a significant role when one claims their power as the ancients did - because in it there is self-revelation and self-understanding - and that heals all that we have lived in our civilized society - and heals all that has disempowered our true identity.
We live weak lives - we live watered down fun and joy - and we have many moments of sadness and pain - and we feel so alone. It isn't necessary to live this way - for the ancient god and goddess are calling us to make the journey home - and we choose to return - we will learn to love again.
To love God I Am Beyond Duality [The I Am that God is that dwells beyond the battle of Light of Darkness - it is the presence of love that lives in our hearts] - to trust God I Am Beyond Duality and listen to it's loving voice and allow it to guide our daily lives - and as we do we will return to loving ourselves as the ancient gods and goddesses that we are - and in loving ourselves we will have an overflowing cup within to nurture and love others - and this journey prepares the foundation of the future to built.
To share partnership and union as man and woman - as an ancient god and goddess brings us into a state of harmony with life - harmony with self - harmony with the whole of creation.
Jan 15, 2010
About Unity Palo Alto Community Church And My Adult Spiritual Life
When I lived in Mountain View, California in the late 1980’s I attended Unity Palo Alto Community Church. Unity Church is based upon the teachings of Jesus – and the bible. It is a deeply spiritual movement that focuses on the Power of Positive Thinking, the Power of Love, and the Power of the Light of God within us to guide us and move us in ways we know not of.
One of the best things about attending the Sunday Services at Unity Palo Alto Community Church was that at the end of each service all the people in attendance would stand and hold hands and sing “Let There Be Peace On Earth And Let It Begin With Me.” I used to get goose pimples on my arms every time we would sing this song – it was exhilarating – and inspiring.
I enjoyed attending lectures given by many different speakers – got involved with a study group reading Wayne Dyers “You’ll See It When You Believe It” – and my parents became members of the Church.
Spending time with dynamic and positive people who were prospering and making a difference in the world was a life changing experience. I met and made friends – I learned so much about Positive Thinking – and the Powers of Love in it’s many forms. I knew it was the right thing to do because each time I would contemplate the materials or books I was immersed in – I kept having AHA Experiences! The ones that make you feel like the light bulb light up inside of you – and you are so inspired you just cant stop thinking about what you just learned.
I often felt the presence of the Christ Consciousness – the Magic of contemplating it – the excitement of applying it in my own life and the Miracles that would come as a result. I believed in them – and I believed in my spiritual life more because I was living in this wonderful way of thinking.
Here is a list of the things that I loved the most about attending Unity Palo Alto Community Church:
• Attending Church every Sunday and singing Unity songs during service
• Witnessing the Power of Prayer with the whole congregation
• Learning about what a Novena is
• Attending A Burning Bowl Ceremony: Learning about the Sacred, Symbolic and Spiritual Power of burning a piece of paper on which I had written about a spiritual or physical need - or maybe I wrote a prayer about something I wanted to resolve and make peace with in my life – or perhaps I wrote a prayer about a healing that was greatly needed. No matter what I wrote about - it was the act of writing - and then reading it - and then surrendering it to God. It was deeply spiritual in a way that I had never experienced before - and I was learning about giving things to God - and allowing the Power of God to move in my life in a way that I had not done before.
Most especially I want to love and acknowledge our Unity Minister, Reverend Stanford Hampson. His wonderful talks and heartfelt ministering to our congregation is WHY I ATTENDED and WHY I BENEFITED from my attendance.
• Attending weekday meditations and prayer time
• Witnessing my parent’s dedication and commitment to this church when they became members was healing and inspiring to me. Even though I did not become a member during that time – I look back as I write this and wish that I had – because I loved this church so much. It changed our family and gave us something we needed – the simple loving expression and experience of worshiping God and practicing what we feel Jesus came here to teach us all with people who loved the God the way we did.
• A very rewarding job was to work for Palo Alto Unity Church as their Productions Producer. I was responsible for: Sunday Service Programs, Monthly Newsletter (mailing of over 2,000) and the managing all volunteers to duplicate, stuff and mail it; All promotional materials for guest speakers, classes and musical performances – including event programs, posters, copies of class materials, tickets, and sign-in sheets, and the updating and maintaining of a bulletin board that had posters of our Newsletter.
I Am the person I Am - BECAUSE I attended Unity Palo Alto Community Church.
I believe in the possibility of the unknown – I believe that Miracles can happen – I believe in the Power of Love – and I will never be the same again because I allowed myself to get involved and be changed by the Spiritual Truth of what Jesus came to impart and that this Unity Church helped me understand.
It is with great love that I write this post – and as this blog progresses I know I will share in more detail about many experiences that I had that changed me – made me smile – and were miraculous.
I look forward to sharing my story about Unity Palo Alto Community Church.
With Kindness and Love,
Lori Hanson
505.859.3498
ancient.goddess321@gmail.com
• Attending Church every Sunday and singing Unity songs during service
• Witnessing the Power of Prayer with the whole congregation
• Enjoying the refinement of the music – having musicians playing for our services.
• Learning about what a Novena is
• Attending A Burning Bowl Ceremony: Learning about the Sacred, Symbolic and Spiritual Power of burning a piece of paper on which I had written about a spiritual or physical need - or maybe I wrote a prayer about something I wanted to resolve and make peace with in my life – or perhaps I wrote a prayer about a healing that was greatly needed. No matter what I wrote about - it was the act of writing - and then reading it - and then surrendering it to God. It was deeply spiritual in a way that I had never experienced before - and I was learning about giving things to God - and allowing the Power of God to move in my life in a way that I had not done before.
• Spending Christmas Eve and New Years Eve at Unity Palo Alto Community Church – and the wonderful spiritual activities we were involved in on those very special holidays.
Most especially I want to love and acknowledge our Unity Minister, Reverend Stanford Hampson. His wonderful talks and heartfelt ministering to our congregation is WHY I ATTENDED and WHY I BENEFITED from my attendance.
 |
| Picture from the Palo Alto Historical Society |
Reverend Stan Hampson is a man of heart and meaning - and he gave of himself to all people in ways that made a difference. He inspired and motivated his congregation to think about and apply the principles of Jesus in their daily lives - and in doing this he gave his love and demonstrated his dedication. Reverend Stan Hampson brought more light to that Palo Alto Unity Church when he opened his heart to them each Sunday Service - and when he did he drew more people to attend - and they were blessed - as our family was blessed.
• Learning about Treasure Mapping
• Learning about the Author, Catherine Ponder
• Singing in a choir
• Potlucks and Gatherings for fun
• Witnessing my parent’s dedication and commitment to this church when they became members was healing and inspiring to me. Even though I did not become a member during that time – I look back as I write this and wish that I had – because I loved this church so much. It changed our family and gave us something we needed – the simple loving expression and experience of worshiping God and practicing what we feel Jesus came here to teach us all with people who loved the God the way we did.
• A very rewarding job was to work for Palo Alto Unity Church as their Productions Producer. I was responsible for: Sunday Service Programs, Monthly Newsletter (mailing of over 2,000) and the managing all volunteers to duplicate, stuff and mail it; All promotional materials for guest speakers, classes and musical performances – including event programs, posters, copies of class materials, tickets, and sign-in sheets, and the updating and maintaining of a bulletin board that had posters of our Newsletter.
I Am the person I Am - BECAUSE I attended Unity Palo Alto Community Church.
I believe in the possibility of the unknown – I believe that Miracles can happen – I believe in the Power of Love – and I will never be the same again because I allowed myself to get involved and be changed by the Spiritual Truth of what Jesus came to impart and that this Unity Church helped me understand.
It is with great love that I write this post – and as this blog progresses I know I will share in more detail about many experiences that I had that changed me – made me smile – and were miraculous.
I look forward to sharing my story about Unity Palo Alto Community Church.
With Kindness and Love,
Lori Hanson
505.859.3498
ancient.goddess321@gmail.com
Oct 23, 2009
About Johrei And My Early Spiritual Life
My spiritual life started from the time I was born - I was blessed to have two parents who loved God – and they found a spiritual practice that appealed to them both.
The practice of Johrei came to America from Japan.
The founder, Meshusama, was a man humble with a life threatening illness - and in his quiet spiritual practices "Asked God to show him the way to heal himself."
Once Meshusama asked God to help him - the true spiritual power of love acted - and he was given a revelation of how he could heal himself through the use of Johrei.
Johrei is simply the spiritual power of the White Light – acting in and through the channeler – and it would bless the recipient with it’s healing power.
As a child my parents would take me to attend Johrei’s Sunday Services – we would chant prayers in Japanese. One of those prayers was The Prayer of Heaven – the Amatsu Norito. Another part of this sacred ceremony was to make a special offering to the altar of Flowers and Food – all to be blessed for the meal that followed. The Johrei Ceremonies are one of the most respectful acts of spirituality I have ever witnessed – I felt the people who attended loving God together as a group – in a refined way.
I will never forget the feeling of receiving the white light of God being channeled to me – and how relaxed and at peace I felt because of it. My family attended Johrei Church regularly and my parents were very dedicated as members. Our family always left uplifted, happy and smiling.
I will be writing about the many experiences that our family had during our time attending the Johrei centers in California and Oregon.
With Great Love and Respect to Meshusama - and his center in Japan,
Sincerely,
Lori Hanson
ancient.goddess321@gmail.com
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