Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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The Phenomenal
January 24, 2024
Something phenomenal must have occurred for Jesus to be considered the son of God. Maybe it was his miracles that made people believe in him. However, one thing is sure: people were so profoundly affected by and believed in what he did and said that many were willing to die for their beliefs. Christ’s ministry so transformed the eyewitness believers that his ministry continues today.
The Phenomenal
January 23, 2024
Heartfulness meditation begins by sitting in a comfortable position and then relaxing the body. Relaxation is vital because tensions indicate a disturbance on some level that can distract us during meditation. So, loosening the tightness in our body overrides potential distractions. Once relaxed, the body is a vehicle in which we enter a new state of consciousness.
The Phenomenal
January 22, 2024
It is phenomenal that we can live rich and exciting lives. Of course, we all have troubles; these are part and parcel of life. However, none of us are doomed to live dull, boring, unsatisfying, or monotonous existences. When we live "the spiritual life," as Henri Nouwen calls it, we are on an exciting journey, but what makes it so?
The Phenomenal
January 21, 2024
My English grandparents had died by the time I had kids of my own. Several of my aunts and uncles had also passed away. So, the English family I knew as a child was fading away. But in my thirties, Lark and I went to England with some dear friends. Beforehand, I phoned my English cousin David, with whom I had shared beautiful times when we were kids. We hadn't seen each other since I was fifteen years old.
The Phenomenal
January 20, 2024
On our journey into wholeness, we encounter the phenomenal every time we enter a higher stage of consciousness. Everything appears in a different light when we exit one stage to live in the next level. We have all experienced leaving and entering new stages at different maturity levels or when we encounter life-altering shock points.
The Phenomenal
January 19, 2024
In the spiritual life, we continually encounter the phenomenal, those profoundly extraordinary, and uniquely outstanding people, events, and stories that shape our souls. The remarkable is sometimes the starting point for our spiritual journey; we unexpectedly encounter someone who guides and strengthens us like no one else, or we suddenly come upon and experience that which opens up a whole new world and transforms us.
Learning
January 18, 2024
Ego Type Eights' way to learn spiritually is to be weak. A person covered in armor and poised for fighting doesn't typically rely on spiritual development as a first-line approach. For them, weakness is a liability. However, when an Eight faces their weakness, they become conscious of their inborn compassion and humility. Fortunately, defeat and weakness are the only things that help the Eight to see themselves in a true light: they are just like everyone else — they have strengths and weaknesses.
Learning
January 17, 2024
Ego Type Ones learn spiritually by seeing themselves as works in progress instead of as being right and perfect. They switch to seeing themselves as works in progress by returning to their essence of hopefulness and optimism. Unchecked Ego Type Ones cannot learn spiritually if they think they are already perfect. When we monitor others to ensure they are doing the right thing, it is difficult to focus on our own liabilities.
Learning
January 16, 2024
Ego Type Nines optimize their spiritual learning by first believing in their preciousness instead of debasing themselves. With healthy self-love, they come into their own with a voice that helps them interact with others instead of blending in with them to avoid conflict. Their healthy self-worth spurs curiosity, self-respect, interaction, inquiry, and exchange of information and experiences.
Learning
January 15, 2024
The ego is a part of our entire being; therefore, though it is a mental structure, it is part of our wholeness and complete soul. Some of our most tremendous suffering is caused by the ego, which wants to override our higher self to move us through the world in the way it seems is best for us. However, the ego's way is not the best because, as a mental structure, it cannot achieve the peace and soul satisfaction we seek.
Learning
January 14, 2024
We learn from our body’s messages that alert us and help us understand our needs, fears, and desires. When we are hungry, it lets us know by a growling stomach. If we are sick, it gives us fever and pain. When we are scared, it gives us goose pimples or raises the hairs on the backs of our necks. When we are desirous of affection, our body reaches out for touch.
Learning
January 13, 2024
You may have heard or said the expression, "I know it by heart." Like a poem, piece of music, or a recipe, we do not require a book, teacher, or written recipe, because we know that thing by heart. It is deeply within us and occupies a place in our hearts because our hearts receive that information and keep it.
Learning
January 12, 2024
Spiritual learning does not depend on our Intelligence Quotient. Being cognitively adept at perceiving, synthesizing, storing, and utilizing information is a wonderful capacity without which the world would not have advanced in medicine, technology, and all the integral fields that depend on cognitive ability. Yet, we cannot rely solely on our intellects.
Beginnings
January 10, 2024
According to holy scripture, our origin is in the Divine. There are vast implications to having divine origins. But have you ever stopped to think about yourself as divine? If we acknowledge our divine origin, we must accept our divine qualities, and all of us have them.
Beginnings
January 9, 2024
We may hesitate to apply a spiritual approach to our circumstances and relationships because we are so comfortable with our "normal" way of handling these. To begin a new spiritual approach is scary because there will be great regrets if we fail. But if we muster up the strength and courage to apply our spiritual teaching, we are on the road to a new beginning at a higher level of consciousness.
Beginnings
January 8, 2024
In soul work, we continuously begin again by shedding the old and embracing the new. So, we move through the world in a self-renewing spiritual temple. Many old things that used to serve and protect us are no longer needed because, through spiritual work, newer ideas and understandings replace them.
Beginnings
January 7, 2024
Beginning impressions usually stay in our minds. For example, I recall meeting my first friend, Freddie, when we were five. After our friendship had been going on for years, we often talked about how we met while riding our bikes in the neighborhood.