Where do we find the beginning of your life or any life? Birth? Conception? Adulthood? Your job? Place? History? Ancestry? The Garden of Eden? Protoplasm? The big bang?

It really doesn't matter what you believe about the origins of life because there's a single fact that unites us: it is a mystery. The fact that we're here at all is a total, mind-boggling mystery. No matter how far back you can imagine, the arrow of time continues infinitely. Before everything that exists today, there was a Something that no one really understands. Many people call it God or Spirit. Theologians and religious leaders fumble with metaphors and poetry to convey the extraordinary enigma that is God, the Creator of all things. This great mystery we come from is also called Emptiness, Energy, or Consciousness. There are literally thousands of religious, scientific, and cultural terms for the Source and Force of all that is, and each is just as limited as the next.

The world of science is no further ahead than the world of spirituality in explaining it all. Not o...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/-In-the-Beginning:-The-Miracles-of-Life/855/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:11:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/-The-Difference-Between-Love-and-Loving/838/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:11:00 It is hard to admit but love and loving are not the same thing, and most of us are naturally good at love but struggle more with loving. To love someone is to feel that deep connection, affection, and even sense of completion with someone. We can love friends, family, lovers, coworkers, pets and more. Love is an inexplicable feeling that implies a quality of connection and enduring devotion, though not implicitly exclusively. For example, you might say, I dont always like them, but Ill love my family no matter what and for the rest of my days. Or you might say, I havent spoken to my best friend from high school It is hard to admit but love and loving are not the same thing, and most of us are naturally good at 'love' but struggle more with 'loving.' To love someone is to feel that deep connection, affection, and even sense of completion with someone. We can love friends, family, lovers, coworkers, pets and more. Love is an inexplicable feeling that implies a quality of connection and enduring devotion, though not implicitly exclusively. For example, you might say, 'I don't always like them, but I'll love my family no matter what and for the rest of my days.' Or you might say, 'I haven't spoken to my best friend from high school in ten years, but I still love her.' Some unfortunate times, we realize that we love our spouse, but may never really like them again.

Loving on the other hand is the active expression of love-rooted qualities in a relationship. People love others and can be cruel, critical, or jealous - but when you are Defining Faith

I think of faith, perhaps idealistically, as the absolute trust that there is wisdom and power beyond what we can measure, know or control, and that the mysterious nature of the universe (God included) can actually work in our favor if we welcome it. For some, this literally means they have faith that God will intervene or take over their situation for the better. For others faith is more of a sense of assurance that the world is ultimately not corrupt and that things will work out for the best - eventually. Still, for others faith is more ambiguous, it's just a kind of feeling, a felt-sense, or a knowing that defies explanation. Such people might say they have faith in someone, or something - it may not be a higher power, but its built on an inner knowing of something beyond the evidence presented.

Faith Is An Experience

In the end, faith can be linked to extraordinary things from outright miracles, to human endurance to the hope that gets us by. Too often opponents of 'faith' want to debate what exactly we have faith 'in,' while it is my experience that the act of faith itself is the most powerful healing dimension of any faith experience. Whether life goes your way, people are good to you, God lifts your burdens, or not, the true act of faith will always help in some way.

Beware Blind Faith

The only faith that I fear is the blind faith that is the opposite of an engaged act. It is the absence of a mindset and way of life, but instead is a form of abdication and justification. To use faith to further an agenda, seems a paradox. Faith is about listening to the deepest self, and highest calling. It is an intimate relationship between an individual and a higher vision or power. I don't see it as an exercise of will against others.

Five Forces of Faith

If you want to cultivate faith in your life, cultivate its core qualities. If you want to experience the miracles and peace of mind that faith can bring, try using these five ...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/The-Five-Forces-Of-Faith:-Creating-Everyday-Miracles-/773/ Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:06:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Sweat-Lodge-Expert-Answers-Important-Questions/706/ Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:06:00 Since the horrible tragedy involving 3 deaths and more than 20 injuries relating to a Sweat Lodge at a James Ray retreat in October of 2009, I have been contacted widely for commentary and education about sweat lodges and ceremonial steam baths. I continue to get questions by email and from the media and so I am posting here my answers to some of the more common and critical questions. You can read my answers and come to your own conclusions. If you know someone who has been hurt by a lodge or has fears about lodges and you think I can be of support, they are welcome to contact me through my website w Since the horrible tragedy involving 3 deaths and more than 20 injuries relating to a Sweat Lodge at a James Ray retreat in October of 2009, I have been contacted widely for commentary and education about sweat lodges and ceremonial steam baths. I continue to get questions by email and from the media and so I am posting here my answers to some of the more common and critical questions. You can read my answers and come to your own conclusions. If you know someone who has been hurt by a lodge or has fears about lodges and you think I can be of support, they are welcome to contact me through my website www.jonathanellerby.com.

What went wrong at the James Ray event?

Having not been there, nor had a chance to meet or interview witnesses or James Ray, there is really no way for me to be able to know for certain what when wrong. I don't know what tradition of Lodge James Ray was trained in and I don't know how long he has been running these lodges. I also don't know enough about the other events during the retreat that may have been even bigger factors in the deaths. All I can say is that there were many elements of the process that he led them through that appear, from the outside, to be extremely unusual from the perspective of a person who has been involved in wilderness fasting and ceremonial steam baths for over 20 years.

How did you become an expert on Sweat Lodges?

First off, I don't call myself and expert on Sweat Lodges. The media calls me that because according to western standards I have all the qualities of an expert: I have been personally involved in nearly a thousand sweat lodges for over 20 years, I have participated in a wide number of cultural variations of lodges, including in Mexico, South Africa and Zimbabwe. As a part of my graduate work in Comparative Religion I have studied the history and anthropological literature on ceremonial steam baths in cultures around the world. And, I was 'recognized' by an established Native American community and mentor as being 'qualified' to run Lodges about 6 years ago.

I run two types of Lodges, a traditional Lakota Inipi which I only do with and for my own Native American extended family and friends (not for non-Native people and never for a fee) and I run an Interfaith form of Lodge which is similar to a Native American Lodge, but is also distinctly separate and draws on my training in African Lodges and as an Interfaith minister. The Interfaith Lodge I run is for all people of all cultures and is not a simple copy of a Native American Lodge.

Who is an expert on lodges and what are the qualifications?

In the traditional cultures of the world, lodge leaders were usually either healers, recognized and well established spiritual leaders, or people who had been recognized by the community, tribe or a mentor as having been properly prepared and trained. Training and preparation just to run a lodge takes years. For me it took more than a decade of helping, training, learning, watching, and experiencing before I was even close to ready accepting such a responsibility. This is all in addition to my training as a chaplain, counselor, and Interfaith minister.

My mentor always reminded me of the dangers of being too ambitious spiritually or trying to rush into matters of energy and spirit. He would remind me, 'The power in a Lodge is not yours. You are just the facilitator, the helper. You are there to serve the people.'

Being able to run a lodge, however, still does not qualify a person as an expert. In the traditional cultures of the world where lodges are still common, such as in Latin-America, Africa and Native America, the title of 'expert' is not easily given and is usually reserved for people of advanced years. Because a lodge is viewed as something so complex and spiritually rich, it would seem naïve to suggest that anyone would really ever know everything there is to know. It's different every time.

Are all Sweat Lodges based in Native American culture?

No. Native American Sweat lodges are the most common and the original form of ceremonial steam bath in the United States and Canada, but there were ancient forms of lodges in Latin America, Africa, Greece, Turkey, Rome, Japan, Russian, Finland and likely other places I am not aware of. The use of a small setting of steam and darkness for physical and spiritual purification and mental clarity is a global tradition and as far as anyone can tell, its timeless.

Most Sweat Lodges in America today are Native lodges or are based on Native styles of lodges. There certainly are non-Native lodges and Interfaith Lodges.

Should non-Native people run lodges?

No and yes. (Generally) I personally do not think or feel that non-Native people should run Native lodges. Too many Native traditions have been borrowed and stolen from Native Peoples only to be misused, sold or poorly conducted. These are very powerful and culturally sacred practices and it's a deep act of disrespect just to 'copy' the practices of another tradition. You wouldn't see a group of Native people pretending to be able to read Hebrew, making up fake Hebrew sounding songs in a building they called a synagogue. It's absurd. Worse, Native People have been the victims of cultural appropriation and attack for 500 years. To take without permission, training or blessing is just an insult.

However, yes, I do think that ceremonial steam baths have something to offer all people and if done well, a non-Native 'sweat lodge' for non-Native people can be a very important, healing and beautiful thing. Just as its absurd to 'pretend' to run a Catholic mass if you aren't catholic, it's also absurd to tell people that they cannot or should not pray in groups, sing devotional songs, or meditate together. There are basic spiritual practice elements that are universal. The practices are universal - the culture of the practice is not. In fact, I think we need more properly trained and respectfully conducted Interfaith lodges. This way we'll have less people stealing Native tradition, or getting hurt doing things from other cultures. That's why I am always willing to train non-Native people to run a non-Na...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Sweat-Lodge-Expert-Answers-Important-Questions/706/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:49:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Sweat-Lodge-Deaths/Self-Help-Gurus:-A-Question-of-Accountability/591/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:49:00 A Tragic Call To AttentionThe recent and tragic events that involved three deaths and more than 19 injured and emotionally traumatized at a James Ray Spiritual Warrior Retreat deserves to be treated with some gentleness for this is more than a news item, but a horrific experience of loss and suffering that is impacting far more people than only those who were there. It is also a criminal investigation and a mans career under scrutiny. This event brings up some critical issues in our society, and this is one of those important times where we can either learn something

A Tragic Call To Attention

The recent and tragic events that involved three deaths and more than 19 injured and emotionally traumatized at a James Ray 'Spiritual Warrior Retreat' deserves to be treated with some gentleness for this is more than a news item, but a horrific experience of loss and suffering that is impacting far more people than only those who were there. It is also a criminal investigation and a man's career under scrutiny. This 'event' brings up some critical issues in our society, and this is one of those important times where we can either learn something that will serve everyone, or fall into the kind of blame and stereotyping that helps no one.

Sweat Lodges: Good. Cultural Appropriation: Bad

To be clear, ceremonial steam baths are a part of many traditions across the world and have been around for thousands of years. They are health promoting, safe environments for personal growth, spiritual reflection and physical detoxification - if done properly and according to protocol. There is an important place for this powerful tradition in the modern age. Each type of Sweat Lodge, however, has its own unique history, protocol and procedures that are essential to their impact and safety. Not just anyone should run a Lodge or make one up.

Interfaith, non-Native Lodges, must be treated with as much respect, reverence and care as traditional Native Lodges. The act of 'borrowing' or 'copying' Native traditions by non-Native people, without permission, guidance or extensive forms of supervision is just stealing and selling someone else's culture. Native American people have endured this kind of abuse for more than 500 years now and it needs to stop. A self-respecting therapist, healer, or spiritual teacher must find their own innovative and culturally appropriate ways to conduct ceremony - they don't have to fake it or steal it. That can be dangerous.

Recently, I asked a friend of mine who had lived and studied in a Tibetan Buddhist temple for five years if she'd come to my place of work and teach a session on a specific form of Buddhist mediation that she had learned. Her reply was worth noting: 'There are certain things I can and will share based on my experience, and something that I am able to teach, but don't. Just because I know how to do something doesn't mean it's my place to teach it to others. In the Tibetan tradition there are certain rules that determine who can teach what and when. I have to honor those because I honor the tradition, and myself. Being a spiritual teacher should not serve the ego.'

Who Is A Self-Help Guru?

All genuine meditation has no destination and you can't get there! This of course sounds like nonsense but is in fact the literal truth. Meditation teachers will talk about there being 'nowhere to get to, nothing to attain.' In my book, 'Return to the Sacred: Ancient Pathways to Spiritual Awakening,' I talk of the 'Pathless Path' - a phrase from the Zen Buddhist tradition that points to the same thing. There is nowhere to get to, nothing to attain, no-one to attain it. A revered Japanese Zen Master - Hakuin, put it this way in his 'Song of Meditation':

And if we turn inward and prove our True Nature,
That True Self is no-self, our own self is no-self,
We go beyond ego and past clever words....
Our form now being no-form,
In going and returning we never leave home.
Our thought now being no-thought,
Our dancing and songs are the Voice of the Dharma.

How vast is the heaven of boundless Samadhi!
How bright and transparent the moonlight of wisdom!
What is there outside us? What is there we lack?
Nirvana is openly shown to our eyes.
This earth where we stand is the pure lotus land!
And this very body, the body of Buddha.

Modern life is often about getting somewhere, achieving, being productive, showing that we are somehow worthy to be taking up space and consuming resources. This i...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Nowhere-to-Go.-Nobody-Going-There---Thoughts-on-Meditation/523/ Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:57:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Carry-the-Gift-of-Summer/370/ Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:57:00 It is awful to have to face it, but the end of summer is near. Most years people are dreading the end of beautiful weather and the grace of less commitments. This year is a bit different due to unusual uncomfortable weather in many parts of the country and the stress of a difficult economy. But summer is wonderful all the same - its a season most people wait all year for. In many cases summer is the one time of the year people expect the stress of life to relax a little. Which leads me to wonder, what is it about summer that we love so much and how can we carry those qualities without throughout the year?First of all, I suppo It is awful to have to face it, but the end of summer is near. Most years people are dreading the end of beautiful weather and the grace of less commitments. This year is a bit different due to unusual uncomfortable weather in many parts of the country and the stress of a difficult economy. But summer is wonderful all the same - it's a season most people wait all year for. In many cases summer is the one time of the year people expect the stress of life to relax a little. Which leads me to wonder, what is it about summer that we love so much and how can we carry those qualities without throughout the year?

First of all, I suppose we have to admit 'weather' is a big factor. But its really more than weather, its spending time outside. In the summer we go to parks, lakes, oceans, rivers, forests, RV parks, campgrounds, National parks, city parks, basketball courts, golf courses and so on. So the lesson I take is: spend time outside. Yes, in the middle of winter its not as easy, but its often just as beautiful and the air is just as fresh. Bundle up, dress for the weather and go outside! Stay connected to nature in any way you can and you'll stay connected one of the benefits of summer.

The second factor that comes to mind is how much we socialize in the summer. People have barbeques, picnics, family events with fireworks, theme parties and road trips. Socializing is a bit harder to organize and have the energy for when everyon...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Carry-the-Gift-of-Summer/370/ Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:36:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/The-Best-Spiritual-Practice:-Does-Practice-Really-Make-Perfect/314/ Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:36:00 Its seems almost silly to have to say it, but to improve at anything practice is almost always essential. Right? Even if you want to get good at doing nothing, you still need to do a lot of it! Most people know that if you want to be physically fit, you need regular exercise. If you want a university degree, youll need to study and apply yourself. If you want to be an excellent musician, actor, doctor, parent, friend, boss, or carpenter, you have to be prepared for a process of trial and error, constant intention, and practice, practice, practice.Why then do people not realize that this same rule applies to our spiritual life? Th
Why then do people not realize that this same rule applies to our spiritual life? These days I find that many people expect spiritual growth to come ease. Of course, I am more than happy to recommend my new book or my new CD set to help people on their spiritual journey -but, I'd be deceiving you and myself if I thought that one book, one CD program, or even an article or blog could change a person completely and forever. Could it make an impact? Yes. Could it make a change completely and forever? Not likely, you need to practice what you've learned for that to happen.

Did you ever notice how people who do yoga or meditation or even prayer on a regular basis call it a 'practice'? That's because they know that while each individual session has power, a long series of individual sessions add up to more than the sum of the parts. We have 'a practice' because in the moment we are experiencing it, it teaches us and gives us an experience of peace and connection. We also know that the real work happens when you get up and head into your day - that is when you practice what you learned in your practice! That's why we ...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/The-Best-Spiritual-Practice:-Does-Practice-Really-Make-Perfect/314/ Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:14:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Who-Killed-the-American-Dream/304/ Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:14:00 Recently, CNNs Situation Room Jack Cafferty wrote an article about the death (and dying) of the American Dream. I found myself surprised at the shock and insult that I felt when I read it. First, lets be clear, I am Canadian born US resident, a spiritual author/teacher and a pretty forgiving guy - so why the strong reaction?? The entire article was about financial collapse and set back. Sighting statistics about home foreclosures, job loss and income drops, Cafferty pointed accurately to a difficult time in USAs history, and there was nothing wrong with what he stated, but there was something awful about what was implied in two deep and
He confuses 'quality of life' with 'standard of living.' While millions of people will have their standard of living threatened or impacted these days (my family included) the 'quality' of our lives is not necessarily worse. I am certain that some of my lowest financial phases - cutting grass, hauling trash and painting people's homes - were some of the most joy filled and satisfying days of my life. I have also experienced economic security as a senior executive in a large healthcare firm and endured some of the greatest stress and imbalance I have yet experienced. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but my quality of life is really not attached to how much I make or what I have. In fact, I see quality of life as primarily my own responsibility and largely within my own control. It is about what I do with what I have and how I treat others and myself; its not about my 'stuff.' Quality of life has everything to do with attitude, purpose, kindness, connection and making a difference. If you think its about money, you'll never have enough.

This leads to the second stabbing pain I felt reading the article. If I recall, part of w...

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Read more blog entries by: 'Jonathan Ellerby' at: http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/ ]]> http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Who-Killed-the-American-Dream/304/ Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:15:00 GMT http://www.tokenrock.com/blogs/read/Is-Inspiration-Deficit-Disorder-Haunting-You/302/ Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:15:00 It is one of those words that just sounds good. Most of us hear it and know we want more of it - inspiration! To be inspired, to find something that is an inspiration to us, maybe to inspire others. But what does it really mean and how to we put it to work in our lives? Inspiration is fundamentally a feeling, and it is one that communicates a kind of wisdom. Its an exhilarating merging of intuition, motivation, and clarity. It can become the foundation of work, relationships, health changes, invention and change. Once it has taken root, if we feed it, it grows and eventually will bear fruit. To be inspired is more than just havin
To be inspired is more than just having a great idea, it is having a great idea and the feeling of energy, creativity and worth that goes with it. To be inspired is more than just being impressed with genius or natural beauty, it is also the feeling of connection and personal relevance that goes with it. Inspiration is a spiritual quality. Its source is impossible to define; it feels bigger than our minds, and deeper than our emotions. Frequently, when people feel inspired they say their ideas and actions are not their own doing. They are certain that 'something greater' has come to them, or through them.

When a person 'receives' an inspiration, they have a feeling of certainty and power, and yet also humility and faith. Inspiration comes with its own evidence.
As a spiritual counselor and healer I see many people that are successful and have accomplished a lot, but few who are inspired. Typically, it is the lack of inspiration that is at the heart of why they are still seeking happiness, peace, and meaning.

Recently a man came to see me; he was a very accomplished director at one of the world's most successful companies. Extremely intelligent, financially set for life - you'd think he could be anything but unhappy. Yet, he remarked, 'Despite years of therapy, and having tried all the spiritual techniques that science has corroborated, happiness and joy still evade me.'

I noticed his focus on what he had read, the things he could explain, and his tolerance only for things that science could measure. It was obvious to me what his real problem was: Inspiration Deficit Disorder! His heart and soul had almost zero role in directing his life. He lived in a world that looked good on paper, but was about as vital as a piece of paper: flat and cold. His choices were all approved by his mind, but disconnected from the most important source of power available to him: his own spirit. Without this connectio...

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