Developing methods to determine the answers to our spiritual questions and prayers is both a personal journey and a shared experience. Honestly seeking truth demands our devotion, time, intelligence and patience. Answers to the questions we seek can be found anywhere: direct communion with God, the bible or other books, magazines, news, conversations with other people, advertisements, movies -- nearly any stimulus in our lives can conceal direction to our seekful prayers and spiritual hungers. However, not all 'answers' to our questions come from God. Some 'answers' come from evil sources which seek only to detour us from truth in order to promote confusion. It is our individual and personal responsibility to discern good from evil. The world's inability to discern righteously is why chaos exists.

The world is filled with seemingly random stimulus as described above. From dreams to messages under soda caps, people are flooded with information all the time. Since the world is a wicked place, many people refuse to believe any answers they would find anywhere other than a holy book. While the bible is a book of insight, we must not limit God's ability to provide answers to our questions in terms which we may relate to better than 2000 year old scripture. Finding patterns in the chaos enables us to look almost anywhere for the answers we are seeking of truth.

The fears of many people to accept any hidden meanings in the plethora of information the world throws at us does have merit. Should evil not be so prominent in this world, people might not have such fears. But evil does encircle this world and people know it even if they refuse to admit it; and the messages found from any source can be distorted or twisted. Faith is required to ensure a seeker of truth remains clearly on the path. While it is sadly possible for evil to manipulate both religious and secular information, and distort our searches for truth, we must never underestimate the power of good to overcome this obstacle.

When we allow ourselves to test all things which come along, our resolve becomes stronger. When we put away our foolish games and humbly ask God for direction, does God not have the resolve to ensure we will find the answers we seek? Although evil seeks to distort information, we have the ability to see through the deceptions. It is that ability which must be honed and developed. In doing so, we open ourselves up to massive amounts of communication in regards to discerning truth.

 

 

Exercise 4: (By yourself) Analyze the information which comes to you daily from various sources. Write about these in your journal. Watch them especially in response to your prayers to God. Watch them in response to your particular searches for particular truth. Be persistent in looking for the truthful answers to your questions. Be courageous and cautious if you decide to accept any answers you discover as truth. Does the message change over time in response to your persistence? Did any answers come from unconventional sources? After testing the answers you discovered to the best of your ability, do you feel confident you really have the truth regarding a particular question? Do you think evil tried to stop or distort your searches for particular truths? Do you think God helped protect you?

Next and most importantly, keep testing the answers you have found. It is not only practical but necessary for us to ask God about the answers we have found. This is not a matter of doubting God, it is a matter of knowing the world is very deceptive and our ability to discern truth rather weak. So keep your dialog with God open. Not only do we need the skill to find such answers in a world crammed full of information, we need the maturity to discern the RIGHT answers from the WRONG answers. Sometimes the answers we find ARE NOT what we expect, and sometimes we have a hard time believing the truth. Try to develop your Faith further by believing God will help you find the truth, no matter how long it takes. The truth is not something you simply believe in, it's something you would bet your life on.

Here are a few examples of what to look for: TV ads or shows, books, movies, billboards, magazine articles around your house, radio ads, the lyrics of music, bible verses, phone calls, conversations with a friend, flyers, mailers, 'convenient' situations or 'random' happenings.

 

 

PERCEPTIBILITY

 

Our senses allow us to perceive those things around us both seen and unseen. We can see and touch the beauty of a flower. But if we were blindfolded, how could we perceive it? We could still smell it. We could still feel it. We might hear a bee buzzing around that flower which helps us determine what it might be. You must learn to use your senses in concert to discern more of your environment if you are to sincerely become a truth seeker. Still, relying only on physical senses is limiting, especially in dealing with the supernatural. Since God is supernatural, as are many other things, you must learn new ways to communicate.

Many of us rely on our visual sense as the only means of testing and discernment. Without visual verifiability, most of us feel lost in chaos. Without our eyes to verify what is before us, we tend to become vulnerable and insecure. But what of the individual who is blind? Do they not have the means by which to discern what is around them? Do other physical senses not accelerate and help that blind person actively participate in the world around them? In many ways, you are blind -- whether your eyes are functioning or not. You are blind to supernatural realms.

Ironically, in discerning spiritual or supernatural matters, the visual sense is the least trusted of all of our senses. Our eyes can be easily fooled by illusions. If we only trust our eyes to provide us truth, we are setting ourselves up for disaster. Our eyes will show us what the mind wants it to see; or what we have been programmed to expect; or worse yet, an illusion or deception of evil. Many things can't be seen, just as there are many things you have never seen before. It would indeed be lovely if our only encounter with the supernatural was positive and with God - but sadly this is not the case in this world due to the fact evil exists and rules over this world. The answers to your questions may or may not be found with the assistance of visual clues. Just as we should not limit the power of God, so must we also not limit the full scope of senses given to us.

The sense of hearing also requires thoughtful analysis because our ears could be easily fooled by deceptions. The deceptions I speak of could be your own, or an intrusion by a supernatural force. Our ears often lead us hear what we want to hear; or what something else wants us to hear. A clear mind can overcome such noise. However, given the same 'noise', different people can hear different things. There are many reasons for this: guilt, tension, imagination or fear. Our fears can also trigger reactions within us which are difficult to perceive, and can lead us to hear things that only amplify our concerns. A clear mind unfolded into the truth of perceptions can overcome troubling situations and break free from fear and wicked supernatural influences.

There are many things having no basis for known scientific measurement. Things like ideas, imagination, love, trust, hope, fear, joy, creativity and beliefs cannot be verifiably measured. This does not mean these things do not exist, it simply means we can't see them. We can measure their effects on the physical body when subjected to them, but we can't measure the source. The supernatural realm is largely the same. Most people can't visually discern or measure the supernatural, yet it still exists.

What many people call the Holy Spirit is a wonderful example of a perfectly positive and powerful supernatural force existing all around us, but which can't usually be seen with the eyes. There are both things of good and evil which dwell in the supernatural realms, and likewise cannot usually be discerned with physical senses. It takes time, effort, devotion and patience to develop a clear enough mind in order to hear or see or feel either good or evil supernatural forces. The first steps toward developing clear perceptions begin within yourself. Confronting inner strengths and weaknesses, and the truth of who you are begins to set you free. Once you begin taking those steps, you can start focusing your discernment outward to perceive more Universal Truths. After proper training, your senses will expand significantly.

Simply because we see an apparition does not mean it is a good thing or a powerful thing which we should fear. Submission to the unknown is senseless and ignorant if there is any doubt as to its intentions. The deceptions of illusion can actually be quite incomprehensible to a unclear mind. Focusing our own powers of perception with a clear mind help us to test all things which come unto us. Perceptual testing helps us find order in chaos.

The human soul is quite a mystery to this world. Since it is supernatural, it cannot be seen. But since we are beings of both the natural and the supernatural, it would be logical to conclude we have the ability to see both -- although it might take practice. Be forewarned, however, because gazing into the dark side is not the same as looking for the light. There is a fair amount of ugliness in the supernatural realms. Compounded with a real possibility of encountering bizarre illusions and treacherous deceptions, searching recklessly for 'anything' supernatural is immature and will most likely cause you harassment. There are wicked supernatural beings waiting to be empowered by your unclear beliefs. Do not fear them, but do not beckon unto them just to prove your doubts about the supernatural. Some things are better left alone. If you seek boldly, this you will discover.

 

 

Exercise 5: (With a group of friends) Most people have had contact with the supernatural at one time or another. Many people have had very personal experiences with God or other supernatural good and evil things. Most people have experienced 'things' which they do not know how to describe and feel uncomfortable sharing with others. Talk about these experiences with friends or family members. Try to be honest and not to embellish the experiences. Go beyond describing what you saw or heard or felt, using all senses (including your inner senses) in concert to explore the experience. What senses are applicable? Do any of their experiences seem to match yours? How? What do you think you experienced? Them? Were they positive or negative experiences? Do you think you could have been fooled or deceived? How about them? Were you frightened? Why? Did the experience help you learn anything valuable? If so what? Share.

Write down these experiences in your journal. From this point forward in the workshop, it is important for you write down any future supernatural experiences which may occur - especially those you think involve God or something positively supernatural. Also write about your negative or evil supernatural experiences. Know that by honestly communicating these experiences with others and by talking openly about them, you are helping yourself to establish a stronger foothold in truth. When we do not share these experiences because we are scared of what other people think, or because we are fearful for any reason, it stifles our soul and discourages us in being honest about anything. Acceptance is a key. If the experience still frightens you, communicate this to God and ask for direction or help.

The purpose of this exercise is to help you develop your inner senses and hone your physical senses to better discern and test the supernatural. Try to discern patterns, similarities, behaviors and attitudes regarding all future supernatural experiences so you, yourself, can determine if you are dealing with something good or something evil. This is critical.

 

 

BEYOND CONFUSION

 

The study of real spiritual energy appears to be a very complex subject involving varying degrees of understanding - but it is much like learning a new language, and as with anything, this simply takes time, study and patience. If you are to succeed in gaining a firm understanding of your soul and the supernatural you must exercise these three things with faith and devotion to God and all things which are positive. You can not and will not succeed in gaining this understanding by courting negativity or pagan ideals, or by occasionally making choices to support evil or negativity - you will fail, and find yourself lost and miserable. What this world calls good is often evil, however, so it will also not benefit you to follow the ways of the world. When it comes to discerning the reality behind the illusion, negativity knows nothing of truth because it does not share in Love. Period. Those who pick and choose good or evil depending upon what mood they are in are wickedly foolish and spiritually suicidal.

Dealing maturely with how spiritual energy relates to this world, to us and to others on any level is likewise a complicated task -- which does not make us popular. And taking action with that knowledge has a price, although the rewards outweigh anything you can imagine. People, for the most part, are ignorant to their abilities in discerning spiritual energy. Quite often people are mistaken or misguided in their efforts - often blinded by their own greed, lust or desire for power. The ways in which people discern spiritual energy vary and the ways they describe it are even more numerous. If you are truly devoted, you will discover multitudes of people in this world seemingly choose evil over good because they have decided to put their faith in illusions rather than in a search for truth. Yet they know not what they do. Going further, you will also find multitudes who have apparently made the choice for God because they are religious - yet you will find religion to be corrupted and compromised by evil, itself.

From the depressing revelations above, you might wonder how you could ever begin to take a stand against evil and ignorance since they seem to have the world enslaved in deceptions. At first glance, things may appear gloomy with few alternatives for the positive. You have been brainwashed to fear both God and evil, which is a paradox; and also to underestimate the power of God's love and the conviction of His truth. This is not a religious statement, because God is not religious. By the same token you need not grab your nearest bible and begin to worship it in awe because the bible is a book, not a god. The narrow road is not easy to find, but once found you will wonder how you missed it.

Venturing beyond the confusion is largely a matter of rationally dealing with your own fears and conquering doubt. Read this sentence again because chances are you underestimated the importance of this statement. Sensing your fears and doubts, and dealing with them as best as you can is an important aspect of discernment which will usher you into truth because of what you are then free to discover. Before we can adequately discern anything, however, we must be aware and prepared to deal with our fears and doubts because we are captive to them. Stating you are ready to conquer your fear and doing it are two separate issues. Having doubts about God and really seeking to find the truth about Him are equally two separate issues. One requires apathy, the other requires action. The world teaches you apathy under a banner of ignorance. We typically do not begin sensing good or evil supernatural until we are ready to deal with it on a cognitive level. Once you begin to sense the supernatural, you may not be able to discern its natures for quite some time. We all move a step at a time, but sometimes quickly. If you don't know yourself, you will not know how you will react in a challenging situation. Positive or negative. Should you find yourself in bold disagreement with something at your church, are you confident enough to take a stand? Should you find a supernatural being appearing before you claming to be God or an angel, are you completely sure that is what they really are? How? If an evil supernatural being were to threaten to kill you if you don't stop seeking truth, does it really have the power to do this? If a witch or evil human being were to threaten you with a curse, does that curse really have any power over you? Coming to solid terms with questions like these are critical because of your own fears. Conquering your doubts about the power of good or positive energy to overcome these things (and more) is equally critical.

It must be made clear at this point in the workshop that most people who can sense the supernatural are also often fooled by evil's deceptions. Personally, I know of a large group of people who pay homage to a particular supernatural presence weekly. They even call it by name and feel it guides them deeper into a powerful understanding of the universe. It is a demon.

Most people are easily fooled by the illusions of evil, or welcome them wholeheartedly, believing the world does not understand such things and has wrongly given them a bad name. A person who has given themselves over to the influences of evil will defend their choice with hateful passion -- proclaiming it is you who do not understand. A seeker of truth must find comfort in accepting the fact most people have given themselves over to ignorance and proclaim anything "powerful" simply because it is supernatural. There are many people in this world who are not only very dark, but ignorantly blissful to that fact. Any light they have inside has never had the opportunity to shine because of the choices they, themselves, have made and continue to make every day. There are also many confused individuals who may be on the right path, but are making terrible choices along the way-- defending their mistakes with anger and impudence.

Confusion is a difficult thing to deal with in other people, and can be found in places where we least expect it. An example of this confusion is a person calling themselves a Christian, but who rant and rave with bigotry and judgment -- obviously not knowing the importance of love and the directives of their own Savior. The same could be found in any religion, however, so I am not saying Christianity is the only religion filled with this type of hypocrisy -- for they all are. Religion is a prime target of evil. Another example would be a modern-age or pagan spiritualist who claims to know secrets of inner peace and the path to wisdom, yet who worships foreign or multiple gods. When confronted with the fact there is only ONE God, they will most likely loose that inner peace and replace it with rage. In both of these examples, people are claiming to have a solid relationship with an eternal spirituality of truth, yet they are denying God.

Many people are very lost and do not possess the ability to encourage you whatsoever in your path to seeking truth and a deeper understanding of Love. A truth seeker should not expect those around him/her to encourage them. We do, however, find encouragement from unexpected sources; and those times our friends or family do provide encouragement we should relish it. For the most part, people DO NOT know the difference between what good and evil feels like. Often they will confuse the two, believing the feeling of evil is the feeling of good and visa versa. People do this because they have never taken the time to free their minds into truth, nor do they yet have a desire to do so.

There are many tools available to help us look beyond illusions. Tools can be used to help us look deeper into ourselves and deeper into the spiritual realms. There are many tools available, but if misused promote spiritual blindness. Tools alone possess no spiritual energy of themselves, it is how we use them which determines their helpfulness. Tools can be used for good or for evil. For example, used in conjunction with spiritual energy at a night club or rave, light and sound help open the doors of our perceptions. Or, they can be used to shut the doors and make us feel illusions. Learning about such contrast leads to clarity, which leads to improved discernment of all that is around us.

 

 

Exercise 6: (By yourself) Here's a scenario for you to think about:

A girlfriend excitedly tells you about a new religion she has found. It is an ancient religion which worships the goddess Hectate. She claims to have seen and heard the goddess Hectate at a ritual meeting last night. She said the goddess appeared to her group as a radiant being of Light. The beautiful spirit of Hectate levitated in the room and touched each member of her group. Hectate also used a booming voice and told the entire group the truth about reality: "God is a myth, but there are many beings which can bring enlightenment, such as myself". Hectate asked the people at the ritual to give themselves over to her, so they may be 'as one'. Your friend likewise urges you to join her group, so you too, can feel the power of Hectate. The goddess really wants more people to come forward!

What has happened here? What is Hectate? Does your friend have the truth? Could your friend be onto some "new" way of truth?!?

 

Write down your thoughts about this scenario now, before reading ahead.

 

After thinking about this scenario, let's ponder the conclusions together based upon this workshop: Hectate is most likely a demon or some sort of being separated from God. We know this because it denied God, claimed to have a higher truth, and seems to need the energy of people to fulfill its role as a goddess. Since evil often masquerades as Light, it is no surprise this 'being' used the illusions of beauty to fulfill its goal of theft.

Supernatural evil may or may not deny God, but we have found they tend to always deny Christ. Regardless, you must find the strength and resolve within yourself and from the tools God provides you to test these things and to FIGHT against them at any cost. Do you think what Hectate is doing is harmless? This demon is literally sucking life energy from human souls, raping their minds and attempting to murder them slowly. When it is done with that particular group, it will move on to another. Then another. The hosts in this scenario will slowly become completely blind to truth, deny God and grow to live in such fear their souls will be eternally separated from Love and they will wonder aimlessly forever as a wisp of what they once were - without purpose, without knowledge and without Love. If you think about this carefully, there is no crime on earth which can compare.

The 'friend' in this scenario has been deceived by illusions, did not have the tools of perception to see clearly in this situation, and has denied God all at the same time. That person really needs some help! The reason the 'friend' in the scenario wanted you to join is because Hectate needs more energy off of which to feed. And if you validate what your 'friend' is doing, she will not question it. There can be no political correctness when dealing with supernatural evil. There is no truth or righteousness to be found in what this malicious demon is doing. Can you help save your 'friend'?

 

 

The important idea to embrace from this level of the workshop is NOT to be afraid to seek the truth from uncommon sources and not to be afraid to take a stand for the truth you have learned. Finding patterns in the chaos is an important tool which helps us to differentiate between good and evil. Developing your own senses of perception will require your efforts and conviction.

Seeking positive energy over negative energy at any cost will enable you to begin your journey to find patterns in the chaos.

 

 

 

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