CCDT – Team Members

The Co-Creative Design Team is composed of several elements:  General team members, TR (Transmitter-Receiver), Recorder, Facilitator, and “the unseen Spiritual Consultant.”  Today, I would like to discuss the role of the general team member.

While the general team member (GTM) may seem upon first blush to be a position without a specific role, collectively the general team members are the brains of the Team.  Their work, individually, is multi-faceted, and multi-dimensional, with one goal in mind.  That goal is to develop the topic of sustainability to where there is a finished, published summary of the Team’s work for that topic.  Developing that finalized summary, however, may take many weeks and months of regular meeting time.

All through the work of the Design Team there is a dual flow going on:  the linear procedure for developing the discussion and exploration of the topic; and, the multi-dimensional process that allows the GTM to explore the topic 1) by themselves in their own mind, 2) with other GTMs, 3) with the Spiritual Consultant as they are able to silently dialogue with it; and 4) with the Spiritual Consultant in an open discussion through the TR.  ***

***[NOTE:  You can now see how and why the Mystics Circle deep meditation groups are a very useful support for all the team members, no just the TR, novice TRs, and emerging TRs.]

The Team is a team of equals, without special rank, authority, privileges, or rights.  There is no presiding leader of the CCDT.  Each GTMs is responsible for leading the Team through the topic’s development — the reason being that each member can and does receive spontaneous “insights’  as part of the process of the Team, which need to be presented.  [The Facilitator is simply on hand to facilitate the Team process, discussion, and to ensure all options offered for discussion are not lost.  The Facilitator is not the team's leader and is not to assume that role.  The role of the Facilitator will be discussed in a separate Post.] [Further, the Spiritual Consultant acts as both a consultant and a facilitator of the overall work of the Team as it engages the topic with the intention for the work of all CCDTs from the overarching perspective of the Correcting Time Program.]

Team members are responsible for following the Schematic for Sustainability, which will be discussed in a separate Post.  This document provides the superstructure for the procedure the Team will develop as the topic is explored.

Throughout the development of the topic of sustainability, the work of the GTMs is to assume (empathize with) the position/situation of any individual globally and discuss it from that individual’s life.  No small task.  GTMs must be very much in touch with the heart-energy of life, their own life, and the lives of others to competently discuss an empathized role.  They should neither be too logical, reasoned, and linear in their work, or fanatical in their attachment to the topic or to others who are affected by the topic.  Taking and holding either position makes the team less than effective, while moving through those positions allows the Team to appreciate those positions without becoming stuck in process.

And while much work is done during sessions of the Team, a great deal more work is developed by each GTM away from the sessions.  Down time away is a time for letting the topic and process percolate in your mind during those times.  Lastly, each team will develop its own signature for team process and the linear development of topics.  You will find that your participation and contribution to the Team will help it grow, along with the esprit and camaraderie each of you will enjoy.   //Daniel Raphael

Non-Denominational and Then Some!

DISCLAIMER:      The work of “Continuity Beyond 2012,” the Co-Creation Design/Working Teams, Mystics Circles, Teaching Mission, Magisterial Mission, and all other activities of this blog and related sites (www.starbridgetrust.org, etc) are non-denominational.  That is, they are not based upon or use any authority derived from the religions or related books.  Though The URANTIA Book was mentioned as a reference for its excellent and comprehensive cosmology, it is not the ultimate authority for guiding the work of this blog or related activities.   These sources are tertiary.

The first source of our co-creative work is direct mortal-Divine contact.  The second source includes conscious contact with other beings of light in the grand hierarchy of God’s universe management, administrative organization, and ascension programs.  The difficulty with using the primary and secondary sources is that most who bring through revelations do not apply the rules of discernment for determining the validity of the source, the message, and the messenger.  Too many people who have contact with the Presence of God, angels, or other celestial and divine personalities do not take the necessary step to discern how and what they received through this mystical contact. (The art of discernment was discussed in detail in an earlier post.)

Another problem arises in the art of discernment.  When people begin to explore and progress into the realms of mystic practices, they are often unconscious of the influence of dualistic thinking.  (See Wikipedia: dualism)   For this blog, dualistic thinking refers to using two sources of authority, God and their religion, in one’s thinking.   This is no small topic, but has consumed theologians for centuries.  However, this does not cause a great deal of conflict for many people because they have not examined and carefully discerned their own thinking, or the beliefs of their church.

For traditional religionists, accepting God and their church’s authority does not cause any conflict because they almost always consider the church as the proper authority for understanding the authority of God, based upon ancient texts.   Rarely, do major churches examine contemporary revelation from their own mystic sects and rarely do they update the authority of their ancient texts or revise erroneous theological concepts. Thus, these religious authorities are caught in circular thinking that becomes even more antiquarian with time.  God-centered religions are supposed to be evolutionary religions — evolving to match the maturing development of its believers so that they may accept more advanced and evolved concepts of their Creator.

It is understandable, then, that so many thinking and believing church members have been dropping out of their religions:  Because the faith of their church is unable to grow and mature, some find themselves compromising their integrity. There is then a disconnect between church doctrine or practices and what they truly know about their relationship with God, the Creator and they must leave!  In some mysterious way, these people have already begun a personal, mystical God-relationship, and now yearn for more.  They are ready to become conscious and engaged mystics, candidates for participating in the Mystics Circle.

Further, I believe that there is a huge population of these drop-out God-believers who are yearning for more.  And, further, they would probably become some of the most eager individuals for participating in projects of sustainability guided by a spiritual consultant.  Mystic contact and a working God-mortal relationship is at the heart of the co-creative process and will provide the energy needed for designing and implementing projects of social sustainability.  Doing so, we can be assured there is a continuity beyond 2012 for our societies and civilization.

You will find a wealth of similar thoughts about traditional religions and “the church” from the writings of John Shelby Spong and other controversial thinkers.    //Daniel Raphael

The Mystics Circle: 2

Introduction

It is only natural for people of similar interests to come together in associations.  The commonality of mystics that stands out among several is that mystics often feel self-exiled from their religious group.  This almost always occurs because of the inner spiritual growth they have achieved from individual meditation and contemplative practices.  Their growth almost always has taken them far past the ritualistic rhetoric of their religious origins.

Over the years I have become acquainted with numerous mystics – those who seek to personally and intimately know the “God Presence” within them.  Each one has said how lonely they have been as a practicing mystic.  And with each new mystic I meet, their first reaction is usually of surprise and joy to have found a fellow spiritual traveler, much like a reunion of old friends long parted.

Their second reaction, not too ironically, is that they seem averse to “joining” into some association with others.  I have consistently seen with each new mystic I’ve met an inner conflict between the need for fellowship and association, and their bedrock truth that they are so complete and fulfilled in their isolation and relationship with the Divine that they couldn’t possibly find anything to help them feel more fulfilled.  That is definitely one of the products of a long conscious and intimate relationship with the Divine.

Yet, each of us is a social being.  Our social existence validates our world and universe views, though its existence is not necessary to validate the truths of our relationship with the Divine, or of that of the Divine to us.  Our social existence validates us experiencing our self with the Divine…that it is possible to do so because others are too!  Any competent mystic has already observed themselves in relationship to the Divine, and has wondered as well if that is real and not a figment of their imagination or a manifestation of some mental health issue.

As I see it, a social existence with other mystics is an essential component of my life as a member of a larger society of non-mystics.  Doing so in an association, as the Mystics Circle for example, provides the more socially inclined mystic to feel more comfortable in their immediate and larger communities.  I suspect, though, the unique individualism of mystics who have lived their beliefs in isolation for many years will assure that they probably will not join.  Younger, newer mystics, however, will find solace with others who will help them deepen their mortal-Divine relationship even more as the years pass.

One product of association is service.  It is in the name of service to budding mystics, old and young, that the Mystics Circle will be most effective.  As more and more educated people grow up in secular societies many will wonder, ponder, and contemplate the possible existence of a Creator.  And some will do so about a possible relationship with the Divine — apart from any religious form or authority.  And some few will have a “God experience” and come to experience the presence of God, as IT reaches down to make contact with that curious mortal.  Then a Mystics Circle would be of tremendous help and support.

Definition: mysticism, the belief that direct knowledge of God or ultimate reality is attainable through immediate intuition or insight. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).  Also, mystic – one who knows God.   // The progression to a mystic relationship usually takes this journey:  hope that there is a Creator/God;  faith that there is a Creator/God;  belief that God exists;  trust in the assurance that God exists;  and knowing God exists because that person has actually experienced the presence of God.     //Daniel Raphael

The Mystics Circle

Sometimes I’m pretty thickheaded when it comes to noticing Spirit’s direction in my life.  About a year ago during meditation, I received the insights to begin development of a “Mystics Circle.”  But…it wasn’t until very recently that I’ve actually took steps to establish a local Mystics Circle here in the Evergreen, Colorado area.

This development, for me, comes about as a natural evolutionary development of my own spiritual growth.  As some of you know, I was raised as a Lutheran, studied for 2 quarters at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (I dropped out because it did not deepen my relationship with the Creator), then turned to Christian metaphysics in the form of Unity founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and then after 30 years dropped out of that, too, as it could only take me so far in my quest for a conscious, personal and intimate relationship with the Creator.

What has fed my growing mystic relationship with the Divine has been an ongoing practice of meditation for the last 35 years.

So it was during my mediation last year that I received insights about the Mystics Circle that needed to be established.  These Circles would have several intentions to:

1.  Enhance and deepen the personal/intimate relationship of each individual with their God-source;

2.  Develop local communities of mystics who can enjoy the energetic support that a Circle will provide;

3.  Provide an extension to the continuum of spiritual development which god-centered religions do not address;

4.  Provide a safe and friendly environment where beginners can be trained in the mystic traditions, and to develop conscious relationships with the God-presence within themselves;

5.  Provide a safe and supportive environment for the development of a conscious working relationship with spiritual individuals in the Creator’s hierarchy of Universe Management and Administration (read:  Guardian Angels, Guides, Personal Teachers, Melchizedeks, Archangels, and many, many more orders of spiritual beings) in an inner conversational mode;

6.  Provide training to those who wish to become conscious clairaudient TRs (Transmitter-Receivers), described in a prior Post to this blog);

7.  Develop methods for validating the messages received by members of the Mystics Circles, and by conscious clairaudient TRs;

8.  Serve as an incubator for mystics who have been “talking with Spirit” and who wish to develop their skills as a TR in service to all of humankind through the Co-Creative Design Teams;

9.  Provide a model for the development of new Mystics Circles, globally and locally;

10.  And, finally to give mystics from every god-centered religion, those who have discovered the presence of the Creator in their lives without religious reference, and the curious a supportive environment where their individual concept of the Creator can evolve and grow in striving to match Its eternal eminence.

Curiously, people from around the globe have somehow discovered my insights about the Mystics Circle(s) and have asked how to start their own local Mystics Circle.

HOW TO BEGIN:  (Remember, the Mystics Circle is a meditation group of people who want to enhance and deepen their relationship and contact with the Divine.)

1.  Build a network of people you know who are mystics; make an inquiry with similarly related meditation groups, spirituality groups, and others.

2.  Discover a meeting place where the energy is inviting, supportive, friendly, and in alignment with a mystic mediation group.  I discovered that the local fire house training room does not work!  What I have discovered is that the best meeting places are already dedicated to spiritual work such as a church or some facility that has an intention that supports the work of Spirit.  //  Be totally open to any religious meeting place.  Mystics are indigenous to all god-centered religions.

3.  Set a date/day/time to meet; and, invite everyone who is interested to attend.

4.  The Mystics Circle does not have a religious function, is not an organization, does not have positions of authority, rules, or dues.  The organization and functions of the Circle flow into completion much as the Taoist way of belief.  And, the Circle is not a committee or a team.

5.  Someone will need to volunteer to facilitate the Circle to assure an opening, program, and closing.

6.  Functions:  Site coordinator, Circle facilitator, program presenter.

7.  The “program” is totally flexible to enhance the individual’s approach to the Divine.  (Seating will almost always be in a Circle — more about the energetics of the Circle and formation/dedication of a local Merkabah. )  The program will usually include a meditation practice someone wishes to present (guided or individual), perhaps music, incense, and other aspect to enhance the ambiance of the Circle.

It may be informative sometime to include an history of mystic traditions, practices, and references by famous mystics; but! present this rather linear, mind-centered activity toward the end of the Circle.

For your first Circle gathering, it will be important for each individual and the collective Circle to declare (silently or aloud) their intention for participating in the Circle.  The Mystics Circle is an conscious and active co-creative environment where individuals and the Circle will be working with the active support of their spiritual companions.  As the Circle matures, this conscious, collaborative process will become more and more open for everyone’s awareness.  Declaring your intention will help your spiritual companions fulfill your growth and practice.

The immediate energetics of the Circle are those of the mind and heart.  Mind will only be sufficient to organize what you do, but the heart will fulfill everything else.  So, rest in the river-flow of the presence of Spirit which assists you in this project.

The intentions of Spirit for establishing a global network of Mystics Circles is to feed a growing yearning and desire by individuals to know the Source more directly, clearly, and regularly.  The second intention is to develop a network of capable and competent TRs who can be called upon to populate the position of Team TR in hundreds of Co-Creative Design Teams around the world.  This last intention is in alignment with their work to develop a sustainable civilization, sustainable societies, and supportive social institutions.

Lastly, of course, deliberately ask Spirit to assist you to connect with mystics in your local area.  Angels and Midwayers are excellent networkers who bring about those wonderful synchronicities, and coincidences that are sooo enjoyable to experience.  Good luck!  //Daniel Raphael