ADEPTHOOD

Q. What is an adept?

MICHAEL: Someone who stands in essence with mastery over the body.

Q. How do you become an adept?

MICHAEL: Practice.

Q. Can you become an adept in one lifetime?

MICHAEL: Yes, but if there is interest in becoming an adept, there have probably been a number of lifetimes of work leading up to that ambition.

Q. Does soul age play a part in the ability to reach for adepthood?

MICHAEL: Yes. Generally, mature and old souls have the interest. Younger souls could achieve this, but, generally, are not interested because they have other priorities.

Q. Can you become an adept by yourself or does it require mentoring?

MICHAEL: It is far easier with effective mentoring. We know of no instances in which it has been achieved without teachers, although it is possible.

Q. What are the qualities to look for in choosing an adept as a mentor?

MICHAEL: If you have set this up as your life task, you no doubt have agreements with one or more teachers. Find them.

Q. What are the consequences of choosing such a path?

MICHAEL: It is not unlike the path of becoming a concert violinist—"normal" life goes out the window. All focus must be on the goal.

Q. Are unity and telepathy an integral part of the adept's path?

MICHAEL: Yes.

Q. Can one use Michael as a mentor toward this goal of adepthood?

MICHAEL:  Yes.

Q. What is the focus of an adept?

MICHAEL:  The present moment.

Q. Can you suggest exercises towards this goal of becoming an adept?

MICHAEL:  Meditation, concentration, and physical practices such as yoga. Martial arts and athletics can also be useful if they are done with mindfulness.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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ALCOHOLISM (Reasons for)

Q. As a former drug and alcohol counselor it seems to me that people have very different reasons for alcoholism. Can Michael comment on the various reasons people drink? In other words do different soul ages and overleaves effect the reasons for drinking problems? How about body types?

MICHAEL:  All these things play a part. Basically, many bodies find alcohol pleasurable because it interrupts the mind's ability to impose tensions on it. If a person has disciplined his mind not to impose unnecessary tensions on the body, alcohol will have little appeal.

Q. What percentage of human beings have achieved that discipline?

MICHAEL:  Few, but a large minority are free enough from excessive tensions for alcohol not to be particularly attractive.

Q. For those who haven't, please comment on using alcohol to relax.

MICHAEL:  This is a choice. In moderation, it is not a problem.

Q. What about the connoisseur and others who like the taste?

MICHAEL: That is also a choice, and often hearkens back to past lives in which the soul was a vintner.

Q. What about the use of "light libation" as part of true rest?

MICHAEL:  For some, drinking is not just about the drink consumed but is part of a ritual of creating a space for relaxation; it is the setting aside of time for self not unlike meditation.

Q. How much drinking results in a significant loss of brain cells? Health?

MICHAEL: One light drink a day does not result in a significant loss of brain cells and can actually aid health, especially in those who do not otherwise eat or drink enough fruit or other healthy acids such as apple cider vinegar.

Q. Which roles and overleaves have a greater problem with alcohol abuse?

MICHAEL:  Obviously, self-destruction; also greed. Jovial and venusian body types tend to be more indulgent. All roles can enjoy alcohol, especially in social situations, because it is associated with conviviality--one doesn't normally associate alcohol with work. Sages and artisans, who specialize in socializing, can be particularly vulnerable to overdoing it. Also, with their more sensitive natures, alcohol can be attractive for dulling unwanted feelings. On the other hand, warriors and kings tend to have sturdy constitutions and can enjoy alcohol in large quantities as a way to intensify feelings by allowing their defenses to come down.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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ALTERNATE UNIVERSES

Q. Are there alternate universes on the physical plane?

MICHAEL:  Yes. There are multiple dimensions on every plane. Because of the solid nature of the physical plane, you are usually able to be aware of only one at a time.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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ANIMALS

Agreements with

Q. Do some souls make agreements with animals prior to incarnating to work with them, care for them, or to better communicate with them? And, if so, how does this impact the soul, the animal, and the world?

MICHAEL: Yes, there are agreements with animals prior to incarnation. Animals are very much part of the spiritual ecology of physical plane life; they are not just add-ons. Animals like to be involved with human beings because it is "where the action is"; it stimulates their growth. Conversely, animals help and teach humans as well.

Killing Animals

Q. I have always been interested in the ramifications surrounding the choices people make regarding eating meat or not eating it, and being a vegan.

What about killing spiders, mosquitoes, and stepping on and extinguishing the lives of every bug our shoes come in contact with

MICHAEL: Killing animals is not ideal but you do not live in an ideal world. Dealing with the issues around this provokes much growth.

It comes down to one's attitude: it is a very different thing to kill out of necessity with respect than it is to kill unnecessarily and with cruelty and greed.

There is no absolute here, but a continuum. It really isn't a significant thing to kill an insect that has a very short lifespan anyway. However, giving thought to even that is good work.

Animals and Choice

Q: Could Michael talk about choice as it relates to animals. Are they able to make choices, or is everything instinctive? What would be required in order to "bestow" free will on a animal in order for it to experience being human?

MICHAEL: Animals make choices within a much narrower range than sentient souls. In general, companion animals have a slightly wider range than those in the wild. Being exposed to the choice-making of humans (in your case) helps them evolve faster. They get a taste of what is to come in their evolution. Still, their range remains quite narrow. Also, the range of choice is generally wider among animals who function more independently than for pack animals.

<LaurelB> This would be a cat.

MICHAEL: Again, their range remains relatively narrow. Yes, cats are an example of both. There are also differences in range among humans. Obviously, children have a narrower range than adults. Younger souls have a narrower range than older souls. One can only choose what one can conceive of. In general, older souls can conceive of more possibilities. This makes choosing more challenging; presumably, older souls are also better equipped to meet that challenge. The wider the range of choice, the more an individual can create his/her reality. From your point of view on the physical plane, evolution is painstakingly slow. Therefore, an animal would not realistically reach the point of sentience within time frames that are meaningful to you.

Each of us are students of the spiritual path. Consider how much you have learned about making choices just in this lifetime. Still, it is just a fraction of all there is to learn. That is why the soul seeks a variety of experiences-- to give you a more rounded education in choice-making.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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ASCENSION

Q. There is much speculation in the New Age community about the Ascension or Shift of planetary consciousness and of its peoples. Some say we are headed for the 4th dimension, some say the 5th, and some say there are/will be two Earths forming, the old energy world and the new. Michael, what is your take on this subject?

MICHAEL: Ascension refers to a rising of human consciousness out of the rather extreme negativity that has characterized it, as a whole. This is occurring because humanity, by and large, is ready to experience that--it has wrung just about as much growth out of the status quo as it can. Still, there are those so attached to the negativity that they will likely spin off a parallel where they continue to "play with" it longer.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: In Shepherd's book "Journey Of Your Soul" he mentions that the current ascension shift will not happen overnight, and will probably take a thousand years until the process is complete.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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Q. What does Michael believe people on earth should do in order to move themselves from
3D (third dimension)
to 4th dimension
to 5th dimension
to 6th dimension
to 7th dimension
all the way up to 12D

A. Guidance in this area is difficult to address due to the misunderstandings surrounding this movement. We will say that the ability to transcend current physical structures inherent in the human body, such that an individual could assume placement in other dimensional vibrations, is not likely to occur for quite some time. Many individuals who propagate ascension beliefs are guilty of fanciful thinking here. While there is merit in some of the theories, the majority of the concepts have been misinterpreted by those channeling the information. In short, the theory of ascension has been widely misunderstood. Ascension describes a spiritual evolution that occurs in nonphysical dimensions. It was never intended that these precepts be applied to physical plane paradigms. It is true that the vibrational rate of the soul will increase as the level of sentience sharpens, but an evolutionary progression where the human species uniformly advances is not likely to happen in this millennium.

Q. Is it true "old" souls are the only ones that will have the ability to ascend,
and, stay on/or cycle back into this place that is currently called earth ?

A. It is not true in the sense that you describe. Current views of ascension, with its obvious parallel to the Christian resurrection, often portrays a select group of individuals that will ascend to higher dimensions while others are left behind. But all souls walk the same path and all souls are granted the freedom to pursue the lessons or experiences they desire. It is a privilege to incarnate. The soul does not yearn to transmigrate before a series of fruitful incarnations have been completed. The physical is both school and playground for the soul.

True ascension is most applicable when compared to the shift in conscious required to evolve through the seven planes of existence: Physical, Astral, Causal, and so forth. In this case we are all ascending. But these are gradual shifts that occur during the natural progression back to the Tao.

On a personal level, we see ascension manifested when fragments spend more time in the positive poles of their overleaves and have obliterated their chief features.  When society learns to do this en masse, that's ascension.  Beyond that, notions that a human body can suddenly travel through radically different dimensions, even though it was genetically created to breathe oxygen, is simply a distortion propagated by the belief systems of various channels.

Q. What is the highest level of ascension any earth bound soul
has attained ?

A. Some souls have attained startling insights that allowed them to peek into worlds beyond the physical limitations of the human body. But this was not due to the process of ascension.

CHANNELED BY: Dave Gregg

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Q: It is my 'understanding' that the Earth herself, as a living organism, has chosen to ascend from the third dimension through the fourth to the fifth, and that this is occurring and will/could be achieved within the next six years. Will Michael please comment and/or provide illumination on this very hopeful event and how I and all of us here tonight can best assist?

MICHAEL: What many hopefully term as ascension is simply the shift in energy focus from one stage to another. This is all part of human development. That is not to say that this development has not speeded up to some extent in the recent past, because it has. Yours is beginning to show signs of becoming a dying planet, and all human development has increased in speed in order to come to a place at some time in the future where a decision can be intelligently made as to where to continue life for those still in mid-cycle. However, we see that the time frame of six years from now that you mentioned is quite premature. What is occurring now and will continue to do so within that time is as we said a continuance of a shift that has been occurring for approximately thirty-five years. That is not to say that many will not notice a difference within that time period, because many of the more astute will have awareness on some level of this shift. The best way to assist in this is to hold the knowledge, if you choose to, of stewardship for the planet on which you live. It will be impossible to maintain its viability without some dramatic changes. Many of you here have awareness of this and continue to hold your home in a place of expectancy. That is helpful. Send, then, your awareness around the globe to awaken others to this situation.

Q: In this new era we are creating or moving to, my understanding is
that we will be vibrating at a higher rate, both as people and as a
planet. Can you talk more about this? How does this happen? What
changes does this produce in one's life or in the world around us?

M: While it is true that changes are occurring to the human race on
a vibrational level, we would say that these changes are quite small
and, for the most part, imperceptible. Only a few fragments will
ever notice a change within their lifetimes, and these fragments are
rare indeed, having come equipped, you might say, with
the "apparatus" to sense such a change. It is true as well, as like
follows like, that the planet as a whole is also changing on a
vibrational level. This may be sensed by more than just a few,
although again only a very few will really know what it is. The
vibrational changes that are occurring are simply a part of the
generational and genetic changes that occur in a species over time.
We see that "lightness" is a quality that will be necessary for
humans in time to come, and the raising, ever so slightly, of the
average vibration will help enhance this quality. When we
say "lightness", we mean a difficult-to-quantify expression of a
term that occurs when a being holds the vibrational level at a
higher-than-normal rate so as to access enhanced levels of
understanding and awareness. Again, we state that for the most
part, changes in these levels will not be felt or sensed by the
majority of fragments. The purpose, then, of these changes, is to
further enhance the growth and understanding of the fragments still
extant on the physical plane. We should point out also that these
changes, or similar ones, have been occurring in the human race for
the past 20,000 years and will continue to do so until the last
fragments cycle off the physical plane from the planet known as
Earth.

CHANNELED BY: Karen Murphy

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ASTROLOGY

Q: Michael, please share your views about astrology. Is it something we are collectively creating and then becoming influenced by, or is there something real that we are discovering?

Is there any analogy between astrological sun/moon/AC -signs and the inner role/overleaves?

MICHAEL: We have answered this question in the past, but we are here to answer it again. Yes, there is something real in astrology as you know it. There are many factors that influence the human fragment and the timing of the birth is one of them. Unfortunately there is more to this than can be measured by your science. The moment of conception is more relevant to the pattern of a fragment's true personality than the moment of birth. We understand, however, that the moment of conception is not usually one that can be documented. Therefore, a second-best alternative is to set up the chart according to the tables that exist for the moment of birth. We repeat here that a professional astrologer with a strong connection with the work will interpret the chart himself, rather than relying on the fixed interpretations available in published materials.

The influences of the planets and their aspects is one of a particular type of energy. This energy is translated into words by the medium of astrology and can assist the fragment in undertaking to express certain elements in his true personality. There is an overlap, usually, between the individual overleaf chart and the astrological chart. Consider both as written symbols of an energetic reality. In this way you will not be tempted to make either an oracle.

If either your overleaves or your astrological positioning were indeed immutable in their effect on your ability to freely choose, then there would be no reason for your life. The circumvention of free will is anathema to your existence. All is choice. We cannot say this too often. Given that, what sense does it make to imbue something like your birth time with the power to interfere with that choice?

There is a very long history of sound astrological study and understanding in human history. Be wary, however, of the attempt to predict the future using this information. Many energies, not just those of the planets and their aspects, converge on any event, major or minor, and these energies may be in conflict with one another. Serious astrologers have accurately predicted events in the history of nations and of individuals. But this accuracy is predicated on the connection that the practitioner has with Essence, not with Venus trine Neptune.

There is a synergy in all areas of creation. This synergy is apparent in the workings of various methods of understanding the world beyond the senses. Astrology is a kind of bridge between this unseen world and the physical world. With the appropriate apparatus you can view the planets that appear on a piece of paper mis-named a 'star' chart. This is the physical, sensible occasion of astrology. The interpretations, which have been applied by yourself or another who is connected to Essence in a very particular way, comes from the meta-world, that which is beyond/outside the senses. Therefore, use it as you would any other aid in working out your life path. It is only one of the several available to you.

CHANNELED BY: Nancy Gordon

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ATHEISTS

Q: Why are some people atheists, denying any sort of higher reality?

M: Fear, and choice, as well as imprinting, all bring about this denial of what is. But do not be deceived into thinking that believing in, for instance, the Tao, or not believing in the Tao is better than the other. What is of importance, of course, is that Essence experiences all that there is to experience on the physical plane before moving on to other sorts of experiences. Denying the existence of the Tao is certainly one experience on the physical plane, one choice.

CHANNELED BY: Karen Murphy

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ATLANTIS

Q. Why have no physical remains of the Atlantean civilization been detected?

MICHAEL: Remains have, in fact, been found, in various ruins and excavations throughout the Atlantic. Atlantean influences can also be seen in their colonies in Egypt and the Americas.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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AUTISM

Q. Cause of autism?

MICHAEL:  Autism has many possible causes. One is that highly sensitive souls who have avoided incarnation are feeling a need to address their issues in this time of transition. They seek to develop strength to balance sensitivity. There is finally enough awareness of such things that they can hope to be met with understanding rather than ridicule.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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BASHAR & DENSITY

Q: Bashar and other beings have taught about the third and fourth
density. Is there a way to correlate this to the Michael teachings?

A: Third density is what you might call your default vibrational
setting for being human. We would not entirely equate it with false
personality, but there are inherent fears that easily manifest at
this vibration that make it more susceptible to false personality.
In short, the elimination of fear and its resulting Maya can help
one access the fourth density more frequently. In this case, the
regular attainment of the true personality is how we would correlate
the teachings to what Bashar calls fourth density. This attainment
is a goal of every civilization, by the way, but it is not an easy
task. It is also something that is rarely accomplished until the end
of the soul age cycle of a civilization.

Q: Does our civilization have overleaves?

A: Yes, figuratively speaking.

Role: Warrior with Artisan influence
Goal: Dominance
Mode: Perseverance
Attitude: Realist
Center: Emotional/Moving

Q: It has been said that the vibrational rate of a civilization will
eventually increase until it's no longer considered physical. How
will this work?

A: All civilizations span a grand cycle of evolution and this
involves experiencing slightly higher tiers of physicality that more
accurately reflect the overall state of sentience. There is also a
physical evolution that the body undergoes to support this gradual
increase in awareness. But the current timeline being projected by
many channels is off by a wide margin here. Your civilization is
still a long way from even manifesting its true personality on a
collective level, and actual evolutionary changes to the human body
are not likely to happen on a noticeable scale for quite some time.

The density shifts you speak of are not something that can occur on
a mass level until all fragments involved in the incarnational
process have sufficiently assimilated the physical plane lessons and
perspectives they chose to experience. After that time a
civilization can choose to evolve to a higher vibrational state.
This does not mean that a human body made of flesh and bones will
suddenly alter its molecular structure and transform into a light
being overnight. The choice to experience physicality at a higher
vibrational rate is a complex and mass decision that requires
cooperation on a grand scale. It should also be pointed out that
these various levels of density are still below the vibrational rate
of the astral plane. The evolutionary progression of a civilization
does not exclude it from assimilating the lessons and experiences
required in the incarnational game, which means progressing through
the planes of existence: Physical, Astral, Causal, and so on.

CHANNELED BY: Dave Gregg

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BODYTYPES

Q: Would the Michaels comment on the "natural" type of food for different body types? By natural I mean that since each body type is governed/influenced by a specific gland, they tend to have their specific, "typical" problems or weaknesses. What I am asking is: are there certain guidelines concerning food the different body types should keep in mind in order to stay healthy and balanced, and avoid the usual health problems of their type?

MICHAEL: Some general guidelines:

LUNARS should eat a fairly light diet in terms of carbohydrates, with moderate protein and fat. They should avoid hormones, as they are especially sensitive to such additives in meat and dairy products.

SATURNIANS can eat a hearty diet, with heavier foods of all types.

JOVIALS do best when they eat with the seasons, heavier in cold weather and lighter in warm, eating foods when they are in season.

MERCURIALS need to be especially careful with stimulants and sugars. A fairly high carbohydrate intake is often warranted for them.

VENUSIANS do well with a lot of fruits and vegetables, and not a lot of other foods.

MARTIALS need to balance themselves with ample carbohydrates and fat, and a steady amount of small servings of protein. The 40/30/30 diet is appropriate for martials.

SOLARS types have a delicate digestion and do best with foods that are easily digested. Food combining can be especially helpful for them.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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BUSH, G.W. PRESIDENCY

Q. What are the likely results of eight years of the presidency of G.W. Bush, on our nation? I¹m most interested in our system of checks and balances and the constitution and what the long term implications on those institutions might be, as a result of the Bush presidency.

MICHAEL: We don't expect that there will be permanent damage in that regard, but it might take a generation for things to rebalance themselves.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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CALDERA VOLCANO ERUPTING IN YELLOWSTONE

Q. Can Michael comment on the possibility of the Caldera volcano in Yellowstone park erupting. If the volcano does erupt what will the
implications?

MICHAEL: We do see a probability of a minor eruption.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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CAUSING HARM

Q. I understand Michael's teaching regarding the necessity of both causing harm and being harmed in order to evolve. The question I struggle with is regarding the magnitude of suffering being caused through wars, genocide, terrorism; why are these very harsh actions happening and why have we not learned, through so many lifetimes, not to hurt one another?

MICHAEL: Learning does occur, but it is a slow process. Until recently, there were always newborn souls coming along who needed to learn the lessons as the old souls cycled off. This is, by nature, an aggressive planet. It is a pressure cooker. Growth comes relatively quickly compared to gentler planets, but with more violence.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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CHARGING FOR REIKI
 
My question is does charging a fee for longer Reiki sessions by appt. in some way diminish the compassion and service aspect of being a divine conduit for spirit and the resonance of healthy chi or prana? Sensei Usui gave all Reiki freely until he witnessed beggars that continued begging even after being healed because they lacked commitment to work and community contribution. He stated that to charge a fee reminded people of the value of Reiki. I assume that Christ didn't charge for healing yet I am thinking that he did accept lodging, food, etc as he traveled. He also emphasized the role of the person's desire to be healed as imperative to the healing process. (I am employed in another profession and am also interested in providing Reiki treatments by appt. in addition).

MICHAEL: Just as any in good legend, there have sprung up some discrepancies in the Mikao Usui story between legend and reality. In reality, this man was poor and hoped to establish a money-making practice for himself using this method of hands-on healing (which by the way has been circulating the globe in many guises for centuries). His practice was unsuccessful, so he chose to instead make a name for himself by performing tricks of healing for people on the streets, many for little or no pay Word spread and a legend was born.

How can accepting money (energy) for a service performed (energy again) be anything but of divine service, if that is the intent? Would you not be performing some sort of exchange even if you collected no fee for the service? Which form of energy you choose to exchange is up to you, but it is still and always simply an exchange of energy.

CHANNELING BY: Karen Murphy

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CHOICE

Q: Talk about the integrity or lack of integrity in personal
choices, including any ramifications.

A: Personal choice is an instrument of learning that's used to test
the expression of yourself. From the stand point of growth,
individual choice can never be wrong since it powerfully reasserts
the pronouncement of your divinity and validates your existence in
the world. Choices are neither good nor bad, but when they
compromise the integrity of your higher purpose and negatively
impact the choices of others, they will have ramifications. And from
your perspective, the outcomes may not always be pleasant ones.

Any choice, either positive or negative, is reflected back to you in
all of its resplendent glory. Since the Universe reflects any image
you send to it, this can be a challenging lesson for some of you.
When your personal mirror becomes tarnished by enough unpleasant
experiences, you quickly learn to make different choices. Choices
that hurt other people are the Universal equivalent of the child who
learns not to touch a hot stove. Since the energy you expel is
always returned to you in the same way you expressed it, there is much to be learned from burning your fingers.

Q: How does our role affect choices?

A: The Server makes choices that benefit those around them (or at
least what they subjectively feel to be the most beneficial). In the
negative pole they may limit the choices of others in order to serve
them. This stems from the misguided belief that controlling people
is the only way to be their caretaker.

The Priest makes choices that, of course, inspire others to seek
greater aspirations and create a reflection from the Universe that's
radiant and pure. In the negative pole, however, the choices of
others may be dissuaded or circumvented until they match the
personal vision of the Priest.

Artisans makes choices that add subtle hues to the canvas of life.
Each choice is a soft brush stroke that adds layers of insight and
creativity to a work that will always be in progress. Artisans in
the negative pole will try to blur this canvas, as if they took a
finger and smeared the wet paint until the image was unrecognizable.
In this case the choices will only serve to obscure and delude.

Sages often make choices that are highly conspicuous in order to
draw attention to their personal truths, and they will find a way to
communicate something in just about everything they do. In the
negative pole, however, Sages might make choices based on how it
affects others, in both positive and negative ways. There is little
discrimination here; just a selfish desire to dramatize their
choices in front of a captive audience, pun fully intended.

Warriors make choices that break new ground and punch through
obstacles. They love anything that presents a challenge, and
personal choices will often be weighed on their ability to maximize
the benefit of a chosen ideal. In the negative pole, choices made by
the Warrior can be swift and brutal, with little regard for the
frail soul that crosses their path.

Kings make choices that can affect the greatest number of people.
For this reason there are fewer Kings in number than any other role.
Kings usually make choices that encompass the greater good of all.
In the negative pole, however, one errant choice by a King can
destroy entire nations and create wide-scale damage. Repercussions
from such an event will be felt for centuries to come.

Scholars makes choices that strengthen their ability to broaden their
understanding of the truth. These choices are often experiential,
however, leading to a slippery slope that does not always fare well
if too many risks are involved. Scholars are willing to take more
chances than most roles, and to borrow an old cliche from TV,
will "boldly go where no man has gone before." In the negative
pole, Scholars can make choices that distance others. There can be a
self-centered drive to obtain knowledge at all cost, even though
their quest may be more theoretical than factual.

CHANNELING BY: Dave Gregg

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COMMUNITY

Q: Would Michael please comment on what students could be more aware of at this time, of this year?

MICHAEL: we see that a more intense intention toward creating and maintaining connection with others, community, is mostly what is needed for this time. In a time of incredible disparity among peoples, it is well to remember that you are all one after all. You are all spiritual beings on this path, and there is no one person or group of people that is better than another. Soul age, role, nothing is any "better" or "worse" than another. This time of year traditionally brings introspection to humans. There is little to be done in the outdoors, and therefore the light is rekindled within. Balancing this is the opposite hemisphere wherein just the opposite function is being performed. There, the outbreath that is mid-summer is coming to full fruition. Light and dark, hot and cold, inward and outward. In all, there is balance. Remain, then, aware of your connection, not only to those you have awareness of, but also those nameless faceless "others" elsewhere in the world, in places you know little about. You are all one, you are all ONE. Feel this inward time, then, as the other half of the outward also taking place here. Feel yourself being a part of a living, breathing, organism known to you as Earth.

CHANNELING BY: Karen Murphy

Q: Please talk about your views regarding creating a Michael community, as well as how the community can apply the teachings more effectively.

A: The teachings as a whole are not dependent upon the formation of a community. We are interested in reaching those we have agreements to reach, but there is no timetable and no urgency. We offer the teachings as a tool, not as a way of life. But being with others is always a chance to enrich the quality of your lives, and opportunities abound to test out the principles being learned in the teachings.

We sense the channel dislikes the cliques that often develop in communities, but we do not see the harm in any endeavor that fosters more personal growth and positive interaction. We will add, however, that cliques are often attempts to avoid growth and they largely arise when the differences of others are looked upon with fear. Rather than succumbing to this easy way out through avoidance, we encourage more of you to face those you have difficulties with head-on. The teachings are most effective when you are confronted by those that challenge you. If you find yourself in a constant state of flight, forever avoiding fragments who are not your vibrational match, you are missing many useful opportunities to apply the teachings.

In simpler terms, the teachings help you learn to connect with the unconnectable. When you can do that with both compassion and tolerance you are truly doing good work.

Q: Tell us more about how students can apply the teachings in the community.

A: As previously mentioned, students will find the teachings more instrumental if they can learn to conquer avoidance. More specifically, the fearful avoidance of others, self, and life in all of its complexities. When you avoid anything out of fear or judgement, you are actually creating a void in yourself that lessens your opportunities for growth. Applying the teachings here will not only help you see the rest of humanity without a jaundiced eye, but a world once devoid of color will suddenly shimmer with a radiance never seen before. There is nothing more striking than the truth.

It is by no accident, by the way, that personalities have clashed in the Michael community. There is no better way to learn about the teachings than to experience them firsthand. This doesn't mean you need to be around other students in order to learn. Your friends, family, and coworkers are your greatest teachers in this sense. We have been amused by students who passionately wish to understand the teachings yet seem passionately unwilling to apply them to each other. Many of the conflicts we've sensed could easily be remedied if these difficulties were examined through the lens the teachings provides.

Greater levels of compassion and tolerance are within the grasp of all of you. When you learn to apply the teachings to those you perceive to be difficult, the answers will be there. It also might surprise you to know that fragments who upset you are often reflecting an image of yourself that you have yet to heal. This does not mean you should condone behavior that forcefully affects the choices of others, such as violence. But your knowledge of the teachings has given you a key to unlock the mysteries of the human psyche in profound and life changing ways. When you avoid or exclude others, however, either out of fear or judgement, you are really excluding a part of yourself. For this reason we encourage our students to open more doors than they close.

CHANNELING BY: Dave Gregg

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CONSCIOUS CREATION

Q. Do you have any thoughts on the seeming contradiction between Jesus having said "Ask and ye shall receive." (which I have trouble imagining the Church as later having added) and the metaphysical 'quip' that anything you ask God for you won't receive, because in asking you are affirming that you don't already possess it, and you will therefore perpetuate your current reality in asking? (This was also stated by God as I recall in the very beginning of Conversations with God Vol I.)

MICHAEL: The latter might be true if someone is charged about his perception that he doesn’t have the things he wants. However, if he asks in a neutral way, and is truly open to receive, he sets in motion the creation he desires. Asking here does not refer to a casual request, but to a focusing of one’s creative intent.

Conscious Creation and Seth

Q: In the many books by Jane Roberts, the spiritual entity Seth said there is only one rule of physical existence, and that is we create our individual realities through our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Events in our lives are physical reflections of what we think and feel. In other words, we cause events to happen, both good and bad, based on what we expect to see in our world and our lives.

Michael, what are your thoughts on this concept? Do you feel there are notable exceptions to the rule, and could you explain why so few people seem to be acknowledged masters of conscious creation? In other words, is there a component to the system that many are missing?

MICHAEL:  We all co-create reality. It is good work to recognize oneself as the primary creator of one's reality, but others are also creating reality, and obviously, there is overlap. The choices of others do affect one. The more mastery one has of physical plane life, which comes both with increasing soul age and with personality development within a lifetime, the more one can avoid becoming mixed up in the reality creations of others that one does not wish to take part in. But "no man is an island," and it is not possible or even desirable to create one¹s reality entirely independently of others.

Q. Here's a comparison between common metaphysical beliefs and those of Seth. Please share your views on the following:

Many metaphysical thinkers believe create our own reality sometimes, while Seth said "We create our reality, WITHOUT EXCEPTION."

MICHAEL:  It might be best said that each person creates his or her experience of reality, regardless of the outer form of things.

Q. Many metaphysical thinkers believe that we incarnate into the physical plane to become more spiritual, while Seth said we are already spiritual beings incarnating for deeper reasons.

MICHAEL:  It depends on your definition of "spiritual." It is, of course, true that the soul is a spiritual entity, so yes, we are all already spiritual beings. But one does incarnate for the purpose of spiritual growth and development, to expand the Tao's experience. The physical plane is a potent, challenging school and playground.

Q. Many metaphysical thinkers believe that the universe will teach us lessons (often through the school of hard knocks) while Seth contested that lessons experienced were manifested for our own personal reasons.

MICHAEL:  First, let us say that learning through the school of hard knocks (growing through pain) is usually the result of blundering around without much conscious awareness. The more conscious a person is, the more s/he can grow through joy. In either case, there will be lessons if there are gaps in development. If one is already well developed in a certain area, s/he will sail through an experience that might be difficult for someone lacking in that development. The experience of living tests the soul for weak areas, and thereby gives it the opportunity to fill in the gaps.

It is true that the specific reasons for a lesson vary from person to person.

Q. Many metaphysical thinkers believe that we can be impacted (or physically harmed) by the thoughts or actions of others, while Seth maintains we are not impacted by others unless we allow it.

MICHAEL: If a person were so strong and fully developed as to be invulnerable to anything that someone else might do to him, he probably would not see much need to incarnate any longer. Great souls such as Jesus and Buddha before their Infinite Soul incarnations came close to this ideal, but they could still be taken by surprise and be harmed. At that level of development, though, there is the ability to rebound quickly and grow from the experience without much ado.

You "allow" yourself to be harmed by others because of your lack of development. It is not so easy to blithely decide to be unaffected by others and make it stick; there is the need to grow in the gaps to make that possible.

Q. It has been taught that time happens simultaneously. Thus, linear time is an illusionary perception of our physical realities, and does not exist as a universal construct. Since this would mean that in a reincarnational cycle all lives are lived simultaneously, wouldn't this indicate that concepts of
karma or the spiritual evolution of the soul are meaningless?

MICHAEL: Progressive experience can occur outside of the rigid strictures of time. Evolution, by definition, occurs in a progression. How that aligns with the particular space/time continuum of a particular planet is somewhat negotiable.

Within the framework of time, events are not simultaneous; only when you move outside that framework is that the case.

Time is no more an "illusion" than space; both are valid, but only within their own spheres. On the astral plane, for instance, physical plane space and time are much more fluid and malleable, and on the causal plane, they are almost nonexistent.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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CROP CIRCLES

Q: In England we have the strange phenomenon known as crop circles, which are the most beautiful patterns which appear overnight in wheat and other growing crops. They happen in lots of parts of the world but particularly in SW England. The designs have become more complex and more subtle over the last ten years. Do you have any information about them, what causes them, or what their purpose is?

MICHAEL: The ones that are genuine - and we would say that over two-thirds are - are primarily designed to plant seeds in human consciousness that there are indeed other more advanced civilizations. The crop circles are designed to condition humanity to this understanding and to lessen the fear, preparing the way for contact directly. The crop circles come from benevolent sources. Most of them come from the same three races that are working together on this - we mean three different planets, societies - and each design is a communication; it is a thought form, it is like a mandala. It transmits understanding without relying upon words. You might say it contains a mathematical or geometric truth.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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CURSES

Q. Do such things as evil thoughts and/or curses really exist, and how do they play a role in the teachings and life?

MICHAEL: These exist. One can repel them by wishing all people well. Curses generally find their mark by resonating with like thoughts in the victim.

Skilled healers can identify and remove negative thought forms.

Curses are a fact of life on the physical plane. People continually curse
each other with greater or lesser intricacy and power. Ultimately, dealing
with them teaches love.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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DAY AFTER TOMORROW (Movie)

Q. What are the probabilities of a "Day After Tomorrow" and other scenarios?

MICHAEL: The probability of this scenario in your universe is currently less than 15%. The probability of some kind of environmental catastrophe is around 35%. The probability of an "enlightened" scenario in which sensible measures are taken is around 30%.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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DEATH

Q. Is death the ultimate goal?

MICHAEL:  No, living is the ultimate goal. Death is a doorway into another form of living. The Tao seeks to expand its experience of living.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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DEPRESSION (Severe)

Q. Can you speak a little about severe depression, in which a person can only think about not wanting to be on this plane any more, and what kind of help that person should look for in that situation?

MICHAEL:  There is usually a biochemical problem that can be corrected through diet, herbs, exercise, and perhaps pharmaceuticals.

When the going gets tough, most people will suffer from a certain amount of depression after a while, but when it is long-term and external
circumstances aren't, objectively speaking, all that stressful, it is likely
that the delicate balance of the endocrine system has been disrupted.

Sometimes severe depression accompanies repaying a heavy karmic debt. It can also result from taking on heavy energies from other people.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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EUROPEAN BIRTHRATES

Q: Europe is experiencing demographic decline with very low birthrates. Why are so many Europeans deciding not to have children?

MICHAEL: The trend you are seeing now is simply another part of the cycle which repeats itself over and over. While such trends are interesting to note, they are often misconstrued within the context of the larger trends, which tend to be those which have fewer disparities and large swings from one pole to another.

CHANNELED BY: Karen Murphy

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EVOLUTION (Theory of)

Q.  How accurate is the theory of evolution as man has defined it. Is it in keeping with the reality of species development on earth? How does the idea of 'intelligent design' fit in?

MICHAEL: Let us look at the last question first. All creation is intelligent. There is no grain of cosmic dust nor of the minutest cell that is not intelligent. Therefore the design is by its nature intelligent. Now, is there a divine being who has drawn up the blueprints for all of this creation? Not in the way that your scriptures tend to picture it. All of what you call creation comes from one source, the Tao. But the Tao does not create. The Tao allows energy to 'escape', to be cast from IT in its quest for the experience of parting with it. It is this energy that ultimately 'creates', that sets the intelligent patterns for matter to follow. If you wish to call this 'intelligent design', you may do so. Now as for the theory of evolution as understood and taught by your scientists, this is as near to the truth of things as most fragments' minds can encompass. The species that evolved on this planet to the point that it could be ensouled had to have certain physical qualifications: among them was the opposable thumb and a palate and larynx for speech. You may not think that the opposable thumb is primary to your humanity, but we suggest that you try to do the most ordinary gesture without being able to bring your four fingers together with your thumb. Upright gait was also part of the requirement for ensoulment. So in a manner of speaking, there is no argument between the Darwinists and our teachings. It is just that the theory of Darwin was not informed by the considerations that you and we understand. Ensoulment was accomplished some 60,000 years ago. The area that cannot be ascertained by science is the assistance that the evolving species had from the universe. When you have heard that your planet was 'seeded' by star peoples you imagine that humanity as it exists today was brought fully formed from a distant planet and introduced here among the animals that already inhabited it. But this is a misunderstanding of the 'seeding' process. It is much more usual that a promising form be identified and then 'helped along' in its evolution, a process that takes generations, by the way. The physical apparatus must exist in at least incipient form. You cannot make omelets without breaking eggs. If the species that became human had not had the potential for speech, for instance, a different vehicle would have had to be found.

CHANNELED BY: Nancy Gordon

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EXPECTATIONS & HOPE (The Difference)

Q: Michael has touched before on the difference between having expectations and having hope. Would they please comment further on these two elements, and how we can appropriately apply them to our lives?

MICHAEL: Expectations are demands. Demands are an attempt to limit choice. This not only diminishes the other person; it diminishes the one demanding, too. It creates a constricted field that says that "Only if life goes in the direction I think it should will there be okayness in the universe."

Hope, on the other hand, is an expression of intention. You desire an outcome. You are not requiring it but you are magnetizing it, opening yourself to it, watching for it. Hope is most useful when it is based on a certain amount of realism. To hope, for example, that a movie star you don't know will fall in love with you is a waste of energy. However, to hope that someone you know will fall in love with you may be quite useful when it is not yet clear what the other person's feelings are. The positive hope communicates to the other person, whereas being totally neutral does not--it might be read as indifference and doesn't magnetize the result you wish.

Once the other person makes a choice to either move toward you or away from you, hope is no longer useful in this context; then you are either pursuing a relationship or seeing that it is not going to happen, in which case you are best off letting go of the hope. Holding onto hope once the facts have been established causes heartache. On the other hand, there are instances in which hope may not seem justified but it is-- you can sense that the facts have not actually been established, even though the situation looks hopeless.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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FACE ON MARS

Q. Is the face on Mars an artificial artifact? And if so what does it mean and how does it relate to the human incarnation cycle?

MICHAEL: It is a natural form.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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FEAR

Q. What is fear composed of? What is it's essence? I have heard that fear is based in the perception of separateness.

MICHAEL: Fear creates a vacuum as one withdraws from what is feared. Anger consumes its object. Both are the result of a lack of equilibrium.

We wouldn't say that fear is composed of something so much as it is the
result of a lack of the presence of self.

Biological fear is part of the necessary survival instinct. Emotional fear
generally arises from a misinterpretation of that. Intellectual fear is more
complex--it is part of false personality's defenses. Spiritual fear is from
the knowledge that in facing self, one must change, and that thrusts one
into the unknown. That can trigger biological fear, which is designed to
avoid possible dangers lurking in the physical unknown.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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FOREFATHERS OF AMERICA
 
How evolved were the founders of the American constitution? Have any reincarnated to play other roles in modern politics?
 
MICHAEL: The founders of the American constitution were a mixed lot of Young and Mature souls, with a few Old souls thrown in for balance. Several have since then resumed a role in politics, but most of these have not enjoyed the notoriety they did at the time you speak of.

CHANNELED BY: Karen Murphy

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GOLDEN AGE IN EUROPE

Q. The archaeologist and anthropologist Marija Gimbutas ('The language of the goddess' etc.) writes convincingly about a Golden Age in Old Europe when the members of a liberal, matriarchal society apparently lived in peace and harmony with each other, in the total absence of warfare or competitive struggle and with great respect and love for Mother Earth. The Goddess culture these people created is supposed to have lasted from about 30,000 years ago to about 7,000 years ago, when it was destroyed by what she calls Kyrgan invaders (from Siberia), who rode horses and had metal weapons; after which a solar, patriarchal culture gradually absorbed the goddess myths into a baby soul-type society, established the first temples etc, and the rest, as they say, is history. Did this golden age really exist and, if so, how did that society manifest in terms of soul ages? That would seem to have been an old soul society, but if so it would seem to have been from a previous set of cycles from our current one - and even then how could it last for 20,000+ years?

MICHAEL: As is usually the case with history, this is oversimplified. There were pockets of Europe with peaceful, more matriarchal tribes, and also some more patriarchal tribes, some of which were also peaceful. The demise of this status quo came more from a significant increase in population than from a particular invasion. With growing population came growing frictions, which brought forth more aggression and tilted the tribes more toward patriarchy.

The years suggested are roughly correct.

One cannot generalize too much about the average soul age of this period; there was a mix, and societies cycled through all the ages. Even young soul societies can be relatively peaceful if the circumstances are right, such as a low population, in which case the young energies may be focused on building rather than competing.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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GLOBAL REAL ESTATE BOOM

Q. It appears that there is a global increase in real estate transfers with South Africa as the number one country and the US in 10th place. It's an almost frantic buying and selling spree for homes and vacant land to build on driving prices sky-high. What is causing this trend? Is it more than the obvious need to invest in something more secure than the stock market?

MICHAEL:  Part of the reason is that financing has become more readily obtainable by those who would not have qualified earlier, coupled by low interest rates. Once such a boom begins, people tend to jump on the bandwagon for fear of missing out.

CHANNELED BY: Shepherd Hoodwin

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HOMOPHOBIA

Q: What is the real reason for homophobia?

A: Let us first examine the cause behind any fear we have of things we don't understand. Fear in itself is the manifestation of a lack of love, and love is the key ingredient in understanding the differences we have with others. Since homophobia is essentially a fear of an unknown, a lifestyle that is foreign to another can lead to the passing of judgements, or in this case, a fear of expressing affection towards someone of the same sex. For many this is still a societal taboo (although in some ancient cultures the lifestyle was widely accepted). Today the restrictions are starting to loosen but the old fears remain firmly fixed in those who cling to belief systems that inflate their self worth through the castigation of others.

CHANNELED BY: Dave Gregg

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HUMOR

Q: Is there anything that could be presumed as humor on the plane where the Michaels are right now? I assume that humor is a universal thing, but I would like to get some picture of how it manifests on higher planes or what humor means for Michael, for example.

MICHAEL: We are amused by this question. Of course there is humor among our entity, and though we cannot speak for those planes above the causal, we can unequivocally state that we experience the pleasure of humor. Humor is, after all, an intellectual experience. It is not emotional. If it were, it would not be available to us. But the juxtaposition of incompatible ideas, which is what true humor is, is certainly part of our experience of the causal plane.

There is satisfaction in recognizing a play on words, on an unexpected result from an ordinary action, and on the distortion of events as they unfold. Bawdiness, btw, is not confined to the physical plane. It does not take a body to enjoy references to physical manifestations, only the memory of it. It may sound strange to you, but the fact that we can appreciate the humor in certain situations is definitely a bonus in our choice of mission. We do not say that it is necessary, only that it is there.

When we seriously say to you that we do not depend on anyone accepting and using the teachings we bring, that this is quite apart from our choice to do this, we speak nothing but truth. Quite beside this important point, however, is the enjoyment we get from our choice of mission. We would not choose to do other than we have, and much of that comes from our experience with the joy of connecting with you. Agape is without expectation, and we do not EXPECT any return from you. We do, however, receive return in abundance, some of which is robed in humor.

If we had not once been human as you are, with all the concerns, fears, and loves that you are now experiencing, we would not make very good teachers. As it is, we are learning as you go, and we enjoy the work. Joy is part of agape, and to enjoy something is to find joy in it. That is our goal, and yours, agape.

CHANNELED BY: Nancy Gordon

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"IF, THEN" GAMES

Q: Most people I've talked to played those "If, then" games in their heads as children. Example: if I get past that street light before that red car passes me, this or this will happen, or something I wish for comes true. Where does that come from since it seems to be so common and what is the significance of this, if there is any? Is it actually practice for something?

A: While there are innumerable explanations for this pastime, in general, these little distractions are relics, if you will, from astral games played between lifetimes. The astral can be a wonderful playground to test how thoughts and emotions shape reality, and while the results are often riotous and unexpected, there is much enjoyment derived from creating small Universes without fear that one misstep could lead to a cosmic catastrophe. Back on the physical, however, there is the illusion that more is at stake. This can instill an unwillingness in many fragments to take responsibility for what they secretly desire or wish to create. Thus, "If, then" games are a way to place the burden onto something other than themselves. If the light turns red before the intersection is reached, for example, it might be playfully said that a job promotion won't be obtained. But what fragments are really doing is giving away their power so they can't blame themselves if something goes wrong. We would not necessary say such games are a "cop-out" because most fragments eventually take enough responsibility for their actions to manifest the reality they've envisioned. We then see these diversions as a way of letting off steam or taking the pressure off something that will eventually get done in due time.

CHANNELED BY: Dave Gregg

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IMPACTING COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS

Those who govern or represent their people cannot go far beyond where those people are. Too often, they are behind them, but generally not very far. Of course, a group can contain people of a wide range of consciousness, but for every entity, be it a nation, a corporation, a school, or a planet, there is a collective consciousness that is formed by its members. That consciousness is not necessarily an average or mean, because each member does not invest the same energy into it. Generally, those who invest the most into the entity determine its consciousness.

Using the United States as an example, perhaps the majority are apathetic in relation to its consciousness; therefore, they do not determine its consciousness as long as there are substantial minorities who are passionately investing their energies into it. This is not to say that the majority don't care at all--they do. However, they don't invest a critical mass of energy into it to imprint it with their values.

Investing in the collective entity does not necessarily manifest in obvious
ways, although it might, and those who seem quite invested may not, in fact, be having much impact on it. Those investing much into the collective consciousness of the U.S. may be activists, or they may not be. They may be well-read, or they may not be. The main determining factor is how their caring is directed.

It is important to know what you don't want when forming a vision of what
you do want, but if it stops there, your caring becomes invested in what you don't want. If you focus it, instead, on your vision of what you do want--in this case, how you ideally see the U.S.--you are more likely to have an impact on its collective consciousness.

--Michael channeled by Shepherd Hoodwin 5/26/2005
 

INCARNATION

Q: For the whole of my life I have been searching for Spiritual Truths, sometimes being completely absorbed to the detriment of everything else in my life, and I have been unable to ignore the fact that most of the people who are Light Workers, People who channel, lecturers on the Metaphysical, Authors and others too numerous to mention seem to be urging all they come in contact with to dedicate their lives to spirituality.

My question then is: What then is the point of being Incarnate?

I thought the whole point of being incarnate was to experience first hand the whole spectrum of the physical world. After all isn't that the whole point of the "GAME"?
In the original Michael Books Michael said it doesn't matter what you do. All is experience and you will grow in spite of yourself. Nothing is lost.

MICHAEL:  It is true that many who channel us and other teachers, plus the very many who teach from other perspectives, have their own agendas and filters in place when teaching.  This does not necessarily negate the validity of the information in any way, but it is useful to realize that of course any channel or human teacher is as such fallible and subject to filtering and misunderstandings and mistakes.  We suggest over and over to students that they treat each piece of information with a healthy dose of skepticism and to validate for themselves before becoming too dependent on the words and truths of others.