Walking in Two Worlds
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Rev. Diana Johnson, with Chris Netto, RScP, Chris J. Johnson, RScP, and musicians Chris A. Johnson, &Dalton Fitzgerald.
Video Chapter Index
| 0:00 | Taizé | Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner:  To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button:  . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:  |
| 21:50 | Guided Meditation | |
| 45:56 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Inviting the Bell – 3 Bells
Chris N – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning. If you’re new with us here this morning, I am Diana Johnson, the Pastor and Spiritual Director here at Mystic Heart. We are an Independent Interfaith Community. We share Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, and we welcome you to join us in exploring the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We begin our Taizé with Musical Prayer.
Diana. Chris, Chris, & Dalton Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Circle of Fire Chant, written by Cari Cole & don Miguel Ruiz
Rev Diana – I settle into the stillness…becoming aware of the breath…allowing it to ground me…becoming fully present in the here and now…feeling the Presence of the One Life, moving through and all around me…sensing and knowing that I Am an expression of that Life…intentionally made, and here by design as part of a vast web of Consciousness that surrounds and infuses the planet…an emanation of Spirit…connected to everything and everyone else.
I Am a radiant point of Light in the web of Consciousness, as is every human being, every animal, plant, and microbe. We are all connected…every rock and grain of sand, every drop of water…part of one Sacred Whole…each and every part of the All That Is, a thread in the tapestry that is Creation…all necessary, all Divine, all a part of the one Light, the one Life, the one Source.
As I sense my connection with all of life, I Am empowered…as we gather together, we are empowered…our work here is potent. Our collective prayer and meditation leave an imprint of Peace, Harmony, and Grace, on the world…
We are contributing to the conscious evolution of humanity…the conscious evolution of the planet, and all that lies beyond. By the Presence of God within, we are that powerful, and so we use that Power wisely.
This month, we are reflecting on what Wild Wisdom has to offer. And this morning, we’ll be Taking a Mountain View.
We are so blessed living in Redding, CA. To the west, we see the Trinity Alps. To the north, Mount Shasta. And to the East, Mount Lassen. We are surrounded on three sides by the vast and powerful beauty of mountains. As we turn to our Sacred Mother for instruction, we realize that mountains have much to teach us.
When we set out on a mountain path, there is no telling what we will find. The first lesson of the mountain is that life can be unpredictable, and that we need to be prepared…durable…flexible…resilient.
Climbing a mountain trail, we breathe deeply, becoming more aware of the breath…of our muscles…of our physical bodies. And so, the mountain can bring us to greater awareness…teach us that there is no real destination, that it’s all about the journey.
Mountains have come to symbolize a movement into higher consciousness… as we climb a mountain trail, we can feel “nearer my God to Thee.” Mountains are symbols of transformation…the climb representing the journey of becoming, where our strengths and weaknesses are exposed.
From the mountaintop…from the place of greater awareness…we gain a broader view…we can see the big picture…how everything fits together. Some call this a God’s Eye view. Henry David Thoreau spoke to this in 1852, when he wrote:
Many people, when I tell them that I have been on a mountain, ask if I took a telescope with me. No doubt I could have seen further with such a glass and seen particular objects more distinctly. I could have counted more meeting houses, but this has nothing to do with the peculiar beauty and grandeur of the view that an elevated position affords. It was not to see a few particular objects, as if they were near at hand, as I had been accustomed to seeing them, that I ascended the mountain. It was to see an infinite variety, far and near, in their relation to each other, reduced to a single picture.
Mountains can represent challenges in our lives, but challenges that we are meant to overcome. They stand for persistence…consistency…constancy. They are powerful symbols of growth, transformation, and connection to the All That Is.
There are stories in the Christian Tradition of the Rabbi Yeshua going to the mountains to teach…and the people followed him, allowed themselves to be led to higher ground, to a consciousness of Love, Compassion, Inclusivity, and Oneness. And there are stories of Jesus going to the mountains to pray…to replenish himself…to reconnect with his Divinity, so that he might maintain his God’s Eye view and find the Strength and Courage to continue his Journey. We have much to learn from the mountains.
Chris J. J. – Guided Meditation
We often hear the journey of spiritual growth and evolution referred to as an upward spiral… we revisit many of the same growth points again and again… but from ever higher vantage points… the situations or challenges may still be the same… but we are different… responding from a higher consciousness…
When we climb a mountain trail, we don’t go straight up the side… it’s far too steep… Trails usually have many switchbacks… hairpin turns… Each more or less straight stretch is a segment of a spiral that goes all the way up to the top… and we zigzag our way up… spiraling to the left… then to the right… then left again…
The Cinder Cone Trail near Butte Lake in Lassen Park has few switchbacks… we begin by spiraling up the northwest slope… circle halfway around the rim… spiral down into the crater.. and back up to the rim… then we spiral down the southeast slope… at the base of the cone, we hike around its west side… and back toward the lake…
Trees cannot live on the Cinder Cone… so every step we climb broadens our perspective… gives us a wider view… we can see more and more of the terrain below… Similarly, as we grow in awareness, we begin to see situations differently… more clearly… and to use our higher perspective to respond more skillfully…
We all have recurring themes in our spiritual growth… familiar circumstances that we thought we had outgrown… and we have… though perhaps not completely… As we share our three minutes of contemplation and communion this morning, I invite you to meditate about one of your own recurring themes… how you reacted in earlier instances… and notice how your ability to respond skillfully progressed on each occasion… Consider how you might respond if and when it comes up again…
Silence – 3:00
O Divine Mother… Grandfather Spirit… Creator, thank you for this sacred time with you and with these blessed saints in our Beloved Community… Thank you for compelling us to grow through what we go through… and for leading us along the path our heart has chosen… May we never forget who and whose we are…
When climbing a mountain, we often focus on the rising path before us… But it is important to stop occasionally and turn around… to look back at the ever-widening view… and to acknowledge and celebrate just how far we have come…
As Taizé continues this morning, we center ourselves in gratitude for Rev. Diana’s wisdom and guidance… knowing that with every prayer… with each insight… we are gaining a higher perspective… we are Taking a Mountain View.
Rev. Diana – Once upon a time, there was an old man who began a long, steady climb up to the top of a mountain. The path was rough, as not many took the route he had chosen. It was muddy, and in places slippery underfoot; and there were many jagged rocks and thorny bushes to negotiate along the way. It was raining heavily, and the clouds had descended all around him, making his journey even more difficult. His mind raced on in constant complaint, causing him much suffering as he walked. He muttered under his breath with every step, his words harsh and cruel toward himself, yet onward he climbed.
The rain was relentless, but he kept to his chosen path. More than once his mind told him to give up, feeling hopeless and believing that the journey wasn’t worth it. Yet onward he climbed.
In time, his thoughts began to slow, and his harsh words lessened. He began to notice the clouds all around him part ever so slightly. The rain was easing.
Finally he pushed through the clouds and was greeted with a glorious blue sky and the sun shining its beautiful warming rays upon him. A smile crept slowly to his face, his thinking mind still. He saw the peak in the distance and the clouds far below. All of a sudden, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace, joy, and contentment as he recognized how far he had come, and how close to the peak he had come.
The moral of the story?
As humans it is the thoughts we have that play havoc in our lives. They can cause us stress, anxiety, and suffering. To see these thoughts and our inner dialogue as no more than passing clouds in a weather system of our own making can help us let go and stop giving them so much importance.
Thoughts lead to feelings, which often out picture as emotions. Our emotions create chemical reactions in our bodies, which can affect our behavior and our ability to navigate effectively in our lives. They can cause disease in body, mind, and spirit.
What can we learn? We can accept that like the weather systems surrounding the mountain, like the clouds in the sky, our thoughts come and go. We need not hold onto them. We can simply let them move through without attachment. Without the rehearsal of the stories our thoughts tell us, our feelings, emotions, and behaviors are innately peaceful.
When necessary, we can consciously redirect our thoughts. This is where Affirmative Prayer and Self-Reflection can be helpful. Let’s join in Sacred Practice right now…let my words be Affirmations of Truth in your life.
I allow the deep Peace of Spirit to fill me now as I settle into a state of Calm… settling into the gentle cycles of the breath…gentle, but Powerful in its constancy.
I reflect on the Powerful Presence of the One Life…I feel it moving in me now. I sense Its Omnipresence in the room, and throughout all of what we know as space. I Am most certainly a part of It…an expression of Its Radiant Light…here on purpose, by design.
I reflect on all that the mountain has to teach me…strength, constancy, patience…no matter the storm, it will certainly pass in time. In any circumstance, all that is required is a God’s Eye view…a higher perspective than my own tunnel vision. I Am humbled by the mountains…they are so massive, while I am so small in comparison.
And yet, as I look to the mountains that surround my beautiful hometown, I Am reminded of my inherent resiliency; I am not caught up in the workings of my thinking mind…rather, I let my thoughts move gracefully through without attachment. I allow myself to be taught, as those who followed Yeshua to the mountaintop…under their steadfast instruction, I become more loving, inclusive, and generous with every day that goes by. And I spend time daily in conscious connection with my Creator, being reminded of my Wholeness and my Oneness with All That Is.
What a Powerful Teacher is our Sacred Mother when I take the time to slow down and look for Her Wild Wisdom. I am so grateful for my growing awareness…so grateful for this space to gather with Chosen Family, and for each one sharing this space this morning. I give thanks for the countless hours of Sacred Service offered by members of this community in the preparation of our new Home…and for the thousands of tiny blessings that grace our lives every day. I commit to slowing down, so that I might witness them as the miracles that they are. Thank you, Spirit, for this day and for this amazing life. In closing our Taizé this morning, I know and fully accept the graceful unfolding of my Word in form and experience, as a prayer spoken is a prayer answered. And so, I release it now to the Power and Presence of Spirit, simply letting it be. And so it is! Amen!
We gently return our awareness to our bodies, connecting once again with our senses…noticing the sounds in the room…allowing the eyes to gently open and taking in whatever is before you.
Feel free to look around and say good morning to everyone who is here celebrating with you this morning. This is your Spiritual Family…one of your support systems. These are some of the people who care about you and are there for.
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share your financial good in support of the work we do in the world.
If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org. We thank you in advance for your gifts. We acknowledge and give thanks for the infinite abundance of Spirit.
Diana, Chris, Chris, & Dalton Offertory Music
- Magical World, written by Peter Mayer
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Diana, Chris, Chris, & Dalton – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris J. Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Opening Prayer – Chris N
Rev. Diana – Good morning… and welcome, or welcome back…and welcome to those joining online. If you’re new with us here this morning, I am Diana Johnson, the Pastor and Spiritual Director here at Mystic Heart. We are an Independent Interfaith Community. We share Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, and we welcome you to join us in exploring the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. Let’s begin our Conscious Conversation with a little upbeat with Musical Prayer.
Opening Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- Harvest Chant (live)
So let’s take a creative journey…calling upon the full power of both mind and heart…engaging the body…and joining with one another in the creative process of Visioning a Love-Soaked World.
See and feel with me now, a world in which all beings live from their Highest Potential…from Kindness, Generosity, Peace, Compassion, Joy, and Beauty.
In this world of our creation, all people honor, respect, and care for one another, for all of the life forms that share this beautiful planet with us, and for Mother Earth Herself.
We remember that we are connected to all of Life… that we are dependent on the planet to sustain us, and on one another.
By aligning every thought, word, and action with our Vision, we are creating a world in which all people are well-fed… have the safety and comfort of home and a deep sense of purpose and belonging…a world in which health, education, and healthy relationships are supported by social systems grounded in Integrity, Compassion and Wholeness.
Valuing every being for its uniqueness… we practice living truly Authentic lives where vulnerability is celebrated… there is no need to defend or protect. The work we are doing within ourselves shows up as a world free of hatred and violence.
We recognize and appreciate the abundance that surrounds us… greed is a thing of the past, generosity is the norm, and all beings gratefully receive all that is needed to live physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling lives.
The planet and its beings thrive like never before as we recognize the sacred in everyone and everything…we walk in reverence, humility, and gratitude for all that we have been given.
We are creating a new world moment by moment, aligning our actions with our Vision, living these changes first in our own lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors. One neighborhood, one community at a time, a new world is being born. In this process of profound change, this Beloved Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, Family.
By the power of our deep faith and inspired action, this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken, for Spirit knows our heart’s desire and intent. In full expectation of its Graceful unfolding, and with the deepest humility and gratitude, we release our Word to the Creative Power and Intelligence that I call God… to the One that gets it done… And so it is!… Amen!
Our theme this month is Wild Wisdom, and the topic of Conversation today is Taking a Mountain View.
This morning during Taizé, I reflected on some of the things we might learn from a mountain. We contemplated the strength, power, and resiliency of a mountain. We considered the mountain as metaphor for challenge in our lives, and as a more elevated state of consciousness. We looked at a mountain’s enduring nature, but considered how despite its apparent constancy, it is forever changing…slowly. It is forever evolving. And we reflected on the God’s Eye view, the big picture offered us when we are willing to ‘climb the mountain’ of greater awareness.
All of that said, I’ve had an unexpected direction come my way for our Conversation today. As I sat in meditation, asking what Spirit had in mind for this week, I heard “Wisdom from Walton’s Mountain.” What? Again I heard, “Wisdom from Walton’s Mountain.” Let’s see where this goes. Are you game?
How many of you remember the television show, The Waltons?
This was my favorite television show as a child. It may still be…yes, I’m kind of sappy.
Can anyone explain briefly what this show was about?
The Waltons was a long running program (9 seasons with the same cast) about a Depression era family in rural Virginia on Walton’s Mountain. It was developed by a man named Earl Hamner who developed the show and patterned the character John Boy after his own life.
What kind of lessons did The Waltons teach?
The show was packed with Spiritual lessons and examples of Emotional Intelligence. It combined cultural Southern Baptist religion, New Deal inspired Social Gospel and pointed toward mankind’s need for spirituality. It tackled some weighty topics…family struggles, and joys, issues of faith, racial relations, forgiveness, old age, death, disease, war, discrimination, and a host of broad and social moral issues. And it demonstrated the power of love and kindness in times of crisis. There was almost always a message of spiritual or moral development.
In one episode, John Walton makes this comment:
There are a lot of people walking around feeling very disappointed and unhappy about life. They were counting so much on their future, they forgot to live their lives.
What comes up when you hear this? I’ll read it one more time:
There are a lot of people walking around feeling very disappointed and unhappy about life. They were counting so much on their future, they forgot to live their lives.
Do we need to plan for our future?
But is there a balance between planning for the future and being present in our daily lives?
How do you juggle the two?
Where does faith come in?
We are taught to store away today’s treasure for tomorrow’s pleasure. But at what cost? We can get caught up in a tomorrow that for all we know may never come.
Questions that arose as I contemplated…What good is retirement if we’ve alienated our children in the process because we spent all of their childhood years working for a “better” tomorrow?
What good is saving for a “dream” home if we sacrifice vacations or weekend trips with our kids that help lay the foundation for healthy, long-lasting relationships that can be enjoyed for a lifetime?
Yes, planning is important. But enjoying the gifts and blessings of today is even more important. This cuts against the grain of what is being “preached” in the world.
Here’s another topic that was frequently covered: Damaged or broken relationships are painful, but almost any damaged or broken relationship can be repaired if both people want it to be.
Do you believe this is true?
What does it take to repair broken relationships?
(intentional, dedicated effort; patience and forgiveness love and compassion; humility; acceptance; flexibility)
Let’s wrap up with six important lessons demonstrated by The Waltons.
The Walton family commented on resiliency in difficult times. But it also spoke to the promotion of our general well-being.
Lesson 1: Spend time outdoors in nature.
What kinds of things did they do that we could use as reminders?
I found this commentary online:
The Waltons spent a good part of their days outdoors. Whether they were walking to school or town, climbing Walton Mountain, or fishing, they respected and enjoyed nature’s beauty. Breathing in the fresh mountain air and enjoying the sunshine, the Waltons were probably never in need of extra Vitamin D or time at the gym. The Waltons drew life and health from the outdoors. This is a good reminder to us to get our daily dose of nature.
How much time are you spending in nature?
Lesson 2: Spend time together as a family.
“Wellness is not all about physical fitness. It also includes loving and supportive relationships. The Waltons, like any family, had their arguments, but love was at the core. That love was built on spending time together and learning the importance of family. John Boy was right when he said, “I’ve done an awful lot of thinking of what makes this family work, and I think it’s because there’s enough love to go around and some to spare.”
How much time are we making for family, whether birth family or chosen family? Do we make other people a priority at least part of the time? How are we in service to others?
Lesson 3: Eat fresh food in moderate portions.
Do we eat a fresh and wholesome diet? Do we sit around the table with others, or at the table in solitude, in reverence for the gift of nourishment?
“Another key to wellness is eating fresh food fresh from the garden. In almost every episode, there is a scene where the family is gathered around the table for a home-cooked meal consisting of fresh food grown or caught locally. With so many people in the family, it was a necessity for them to keep costs down by growing and preparing their own food.”
Lesson 4: Enjoy your work and make time to play. How are you doing with this one?
The Waltons demonstrated a strong work ethic. They also enjoyed their different crafts and chores and the satisfaction of doing a good job. When work was done, they made time to relax.
Lesson 5: Get plenty of rest after saying goodnight to the ones you love. If they’re not with you, meet them in the imaginal realm…meet them in prayer…give thanks.
Getting plenty of rest is a key to personal wellness and to rest easily is a good practice to manage life’s stressors.
And Lesson 6: Be mindful and thankful.
Another important component of wellness is a mindset of gratitude. Be mindful of and grateful for the bounty in your life. As John Boy wrote, “I think if we learned to listen, we could hear all kinds of miracles.” Being mindfully present and thankful feeds your health on many levels. Stop and take time to listen.
You never know what you’re going to get when you walk in these doors. Is there anything else that needs to be spoken into the room?
Let’s join in Sacred Practice right now…let my words be Affirmations of Truth in your life.
I allow the deep Peace of Spirit to fill me now as I settle into a state of Calm… settling into the gentle cycles of the breath…gentle, but Powerful in its constancy.
I reflect on the Powerful Presence of the One Life…I feel it moving in me now. I sense Its Omnipresence in the room, and throughout all of what we know as space. I Am most certainly a part of It…an expression of Its Radiant Light…here on purpose, by design.
I reflect on all that the mountain has to teach me…strength, constancy, patience…no matter the storm, it will certainly pass in time. In any circumstance, all that is required is a God’s Eye view…a higher perspective than my own tunnel vision. I Am humbled by the mountains…they are so massive, while I am so small in comparison.
And yet, as I look to the mountains that surround my beautiful hometown, I Am reminded of my inherent resiliency; I am not caught up in the workings of my thinking mind…rather, I let my thoughts move gracefully through without attachment. I allow myself to be taught, as those who followed Yeshua to the mountaintop…under their steadfast instruction, I become more loving, inclusive, and generous with every day that goes by. And I spend time daily in conscious connection with my Creator, being reminded of my Wholeness and my Oneness with All That Is.
What a Powerful Teacher is our Sacred Mother when I take the time to slow down and look for Her Wild Wisdom. I am so grateful for my growing awareness…so grateful for this space to gather with Chosen Family, and for each one sharing this space this morning. I give thanks for the countless hours of Sacred Service offered by members of this community in the preparation of our new Home…and for the thousands of tiny blessings that grace our lives every day.
I commit to slowing down, so that I might witness them as the miracles that they are. Thank you, Spirit, for this day and for this amazing life. In closing our Taizé this morning, I know and fully accept the graceful unfolding of my Word in form and experience, as a prayer spoken is a prayer answered. And so, I release it now to the Power and Presence of Spirit, simply letting it be. And so it is! Amen!
Diana – Love Offering
I invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good, should you choose to.
If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.
We also have a Gracious Giving Program for those who would like to make a heartfelt monthly commitment of support so that we can more effectively budget and plan for our growth.
As we receive your gifts today, we’re going to celebrate playing music together by doing a couple of songs. Feel free to sing along.
Diana, Chris, Chris, & Dalton – Offertory Music:
- Walk Away, written by Karl Anthony
- Wrap Your Arms Around the World, written by Karl Anthony
Chris N. – Blessing for the Offering
Chris N. – Invitations
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets on Tuesdays from 3-5 pm. We are reading Conversations With God, Book 2 by Neale Donald Walsch.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets on Thursdays, from 12:00-2:00 pm.
- The Gospel of Thomas, Thursdays from 3 – 5 pm., beginning October 17th. Join Prayer Practitioner Chris Johnson for an intriguing journey through the Gospel of Thomas. Love Offerings are always gratefully accepted.
Mark Your Calendars…
- Inviting Cultures Beyond Borders, Saturday October 19th, 10 am – 2 pm: Join us for a real Celebration of Humanity at the Sikh Center in Anderson. Mystic Heart will have a booth and be in charge of recycling. This is always an enriching experience celebrating diversity and Unity. There is free food flowing all day long, speakers from a variety of traditions, and Sikh Martial Arts demonstrations, just to name a few. Please contact Rev. Diana to sign up to help out. You won’t be sorry you spent the day in Celebration of Humanity!
- Mystic Heart Fall Book & Bake Sale, October 25 – 26: Contact Rev. Diana for more information. Your help is appreciated!
- Gratitude Drum and Music Circle: Please join Mystic Heart on Friday, November 22nd from 6:30 – 8:00 pm at 3613 Bechelli Ln. Let’s come together for an evening of drumming and musical connection to give thanks and celebrate the past year’s gifts and accomplishments. Contact Rev. Diana or April Jimenez for more information.
- Namaste Café! Friday, December 6th, 6:30 – 9:00 pm at the Mystic Heart Gathering Place. Join Mystic Heart for its first Open-Mic Night. Mark your calendars…tell your friends. Check the bulletin for more information.
There is more information available in the October Bulletin and on our website.
Information Cards if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, or fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer – We invite everyone to help us make a private space for prayer here in the Sanctuary by joining us next door for lunch
Diana, Chris, Chris, & Dalton – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein & Gary Lynn Floyd
©2024 Mystic Heart Spiritual Center, All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.