This past weekend (4/6/08) I was asked to give the Sunday lecture at the Church of the Living Spirit in Lily Dale, NY. It was a wonderful opportunity and I've transcribed a rough version of the text, written in the casual style it was delivered.

Before I really get started here today I just want to tell you, this is only the second time I've stood behind a pulpit and it brings up some weird childhood memories for me. See, when I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be a TV evangelist. It looked like a great gig to me. You get the fantastic gospel music, the flashy suits, the huge congregation, the big house, the wife, the lover and the drug problem – all the trappings and perks of fame, and while I've (mostly) grown out of that, I still have the overwhelming desire to stand up here and tell you that "Jesus Loves you . . . and he NEEDS MONEY!"

It wasn't just all the accessories, I also liked the idea of preaching. Seeing those preachers talking with such conviction about God and faith and salvation appealed to me. Drew me in. I bought, sought and swallowed the whole rot. My mother still tells the story of how, at the age of three, I "gave my heart to Jesus" in front of the TV one Sunday . . . with Pat Robertson apparently. Eww. But that childlike idea of faith and devotion stuck with me for a long time. The idea that you could, and should, give your heart to Jesus. The deep and innocent faith where you screw up your eyes so tight, and you pray so hard, asking God to take care of everyone and everything you love, and the blind, trusting faith that he will.

I am a book junkie, and proud of it! Every so often one of our members' posts a book review or passes on a recommendation of some favorite and up until now there hasn't been a single place where all these books, tapes and movies were gathered. Problem Solved! Our new Bookstore gathers all these great books in one place. Do you have a favorite you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the Forum!

New Forums!

American Metaphysics is proud to announce our brand new Forums! we have snazzy new software and a great, easy to use interface that is just waiting for you to fill it up! You'll also notice that all articles now have a new comment interface that is linked to the forums. Comment on an article and start a discussion today!

Ouphe and goblin! imp and sprite!
Elfe of eve! and starry Fay!
Ye that love the moon's soft light,
Hither-hither wend your way;
Twine ye in a jocund ring,
Sing and trip it merrily,
Hand to hand, and wing to wing,
Round the wild witch-hazel tree.
-Joseph Rodman Drake
Continue Reading
April is Nation Poetry Appreciation Month. Share your favorite poems in our brand new Forum!

MARCH GEMSTONES

Welcome to all. Are you ready for Spring yet? This will be the last of my year of monthly gemstone lists. I don’t know yet what I will address next month and am open to questions or suggestions. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

As you can see from the list, there is a large price range in one’s gemstone choices. Please remember to trust your instinct but be aware of your budget when acquiring that special stone. The raw gem may not be as pretty but the energies remain the same and they are usually a fraction of the cost of a finished piece. Perhaps I will go into the lengthy process of cutting, polishing and finishing a gemstone at a later date. Most do not realize the process and length of time it takes to get a fine gemstone finished into the beautiful jewelry which appeals to us.

Wow, the new title and cover of the new edition really suck. I never would have read a book with that cover when I was a kid, and the added tag line "and his Magical Powers" is on the twee side... but this is a great book. Christopher was out of print for years. When I was in college I managed to track down a hardback copy to replace the battered paperback that had long since disintegrated from love and, mild, abuse. This caused a dilemma for me, I loved this book so much I wanted to share it with everyone I knew who was starting down a spiritual journal into psychic awareness, but since the book was out of print I was scare to lend it out for fear of never tracking down another copy.

Christopher is a young man who, on a dare, rings the bell of the creepy old house in his neighborhood. Inside, instead of the abandoned wreck he was expecting he finds an older gentleman who identifies himself only as the Headmaster – a teacher of mental or psychic talents and abilities. Christopher finds himself studying lessons in mind reading, telekinesis, teleportation and other mental powers.

What could have easily been a Harry Potter-esque fantasy or silly magic school story is actually a very well reasoned look at what a magic school would be in our world. Not flashy or off the wall, but based on concentration, mastering your own mind and personal responsibility. Christopher's personal struggles with the temptations of having abilities no one else around him has are very real as are his slip-ups and failings.

At some point everyone who discovers they have skills and abilities outside the norm has to make some ethical decisions. When is it ethical to read someone's mind? If you see a flash of the future for a stranger on the street, do you tell him? What are the limits of personal responsibility of a psychic? These are the types of questions Christopher struggles with and finds his own answers.

I love this book and I could not be happier that it is available again and I'm glad that I can once again put it on my recommended reading list for all my psychic development students.

Check Christopher out now in the new American Metaphysics Bookstore.