No matter who you are, where you live, or how you identify, its fair to assume that the coronavirus pandemic has touched your life and shifted the way you go about it in some way. Whether that means your plans for milestone events have moved, your job security has been compromised, youve experienced financial strife, your mental health has taken a toll, your physical health has been called into question at the hands of the virus, or some combination, your world has undoubtedly been shaken in some way by this illness. For Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who have historically had less access to social determinants of health, these effects of COVID-19 are especially pronounced. More specifically, research has shown that Black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, which is crucial to know given that as Black people fight to survive the pandemic, we simultaneously bear the burden of tirelessly fighting against racial injustice following a public reckoning with systemic racism that reached an inflection point in response to the May 25 murder of George Floyd.

Tirelessly fighting for racial justice period, let alone in a landscape where an invisible virus threatens a persons very existence is tiring. And yet women of color, Black women in particular, are often looked to as sources of strength, even when we want toand deserve the right tofall apart. While its okay not to be okay right now, some female-identifying people of color are finding that spirituality is helping them find healing energy that allows for rest, replenishing themselves, and persisting in resistance.

Whether you tend to your spirit via an organized religion, an ancestral tradition, or through meditation and journaling, spirituality can be a great tool for self-care and coping that in turn can benefit mental health, emotional health, and physical health.

If youve been looking to develop your own spiritual practice, or have been wondering how other women of color are using spirituality to cope with the stress that this year has brought about, keep reading. Below, four women of color share how spirituality for healing has helped them find solace during these difficult times.

If anything, quarantine has given me more space to focus on my emotional and spiritual well-being. Before it was a nice to-do when I could fit it in. Now it is a nonnegotiable, daily practice. When I get off-balance, which is easy to do these days for all of us, I know the exact tools to get me back aligned, at peace, and in my power.

Lenora, 36, New York

Meditation and grounding ceremonial practices have allowed me [the energy] to continue to be on the front lines of protests and come back to the recurring theme of ancestral guidance and this long-standing fight that Black and Indigenous people have been up against for centuries. When we take time to care for ourselves, we are making room to be able to care for othersrest is radical!

Alexis, 21, Philadelphia

My spirituality keeps me grounded in a world where everything is changing and uncertain. I know that I have a practice to sustain me, that I have angels and spirits and ancestors and a God that is always here for me when I need them. I know that no matter how scared or alone or hurt or drained I feel, Im never truly alone.

Olivia, 28, Washington, DC

My healing is in focusing on what I can control and how I respond to things, not focusing on triggers. Fox, 33, Philadelphia

The pandemic and continued racism have forced me to focus on mindfulness and awareness of what I can control. Im not in control of racism or the state-sanctioned violence or oppression against us. But what I am in control of is my physical spacemy home. When I find myself feeling anxious about the fact that we are still harmed for simply wanting to be treated as human, I pray. I count joy. I [celebrate that I] woke up today. My healing is in focusing on what I can control and how I respond to things, not focusing on triggers.

Fox, 33, Philadelphia

Be prepared to expand your mind. There are so many gifted content creators who focus on spirituality; try and find some who resonate with you. Be prepared to feed your spirit daily, and stay curious.

Lenora

Try connecting with others in your life, and see if they have their own rituals or practices that stick out to you; mentorship and community within spirituality is greatly rewarding. The internet is also a powerful tool full of online communities and free knowledge regarding different ways to utilize everyday objects and environments to ground yourself and meditate. That said, its important to research the kind of medicines or practices youre adopting to ensure sure youre not appropriating other cultures or contributing to the colonial co-opting of certain practices.

Alexis

Find people who are also on a spiritual journey, and ask if they would be willing to share what their spiritual journey has been like. Understand that your spiritual journey does not have to and likely will not look like anyone elses. Also, do not assume that there is one spiritual path that is right for you; be open to learning about multiple traditions if you are called to do so.

Olivia

However you identify and whatever divine entity you believe, allow yourself to explore. I was hellbent on things needing to be the Christian way, and once I allowed myself to explore, it helped me a lot.

Fox

My daily routine consists of morning meditations, spending time in nature, praying, talking to my ancestors, and talking to God. I notice immediately when I take days off from my spiritual practices, especially in this climate, so I try and stick with it.

Lenora

I say a mantra I learned from spiritual advisor Emilia Ortiz:

May my highest vibration guide me night and day.

May my ancestors protect me always.

May my blessing come in plentiful, like rain.

May my heart assist me in my growth every day .

May my loves light always illuminate the way.

I also often take meditative baths with salt soaks or turn showers into a meditative space. In these moments, I imagine the water washing away any negativity, anxiety, or heaviness I am carrying in my body and mind. I try out different forms of these rituals, and when I feel relieved or grounded afterward, I stick to or revisit them later.

Alexis

I meditate every evening and write down whatever visions I have while meditating. I light candles every evening as well. I sleep holding crystals that correspond with the energy I need. What works for me changes depending on what Im going through. I can always tell when Im feeling spiritually stagnant and need to switch things up.

Olivia

I wake up, say a few prayers, or meditate. I keep lavender and eucalyptus around for their energy-cleansing properties. I make different sprays that I use for protection. [But] it doesnt matter what you practiceconsistency in anything is going to put you in a better place. Consistency in your spirit is important, too.

Fox

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4 Women of Color Share How Spirituality Has Helped Them Heal, Rest, and Resist - Well+Good

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BEST FOR... BREAKDOWNS, BREAKUPS AND BREAKTHROUGHS: ESTELLE BINGHAM

When you are running on zero, feeling physically, emotionally and metally defeated, Estelle Bingham is the healer to get you out of your funk and restore your hope, thanks to her uncanny talent for finding the root of problems and illnesses, deep-seated emotional issues and bad habits. And it works quickly. What is quite amazing is Estelle's healing technique: there are no consultations or conversations to find out what brought you to see her. Instead, she tunes into her psychic skills to pinpoint the exact issue, as you lie down on her couch, with huge chunks of crystals placed on various points of your body. Bingham is particularly strong on opening and healing your heart and getting you to, ultimately, love yourself. And while everyone reacts differently, be prepared for the physical side effects too, which might leave you feeling spaced-out and weepy. Her devotees attest that the outcome of her sessions are always an enriching and eye-opening experience, so its no surprise that it can be hard to get an appointment straight away. Book now. estellebingham.com

BEST FOR... TRANSFORMATION: EDDY ELSEYSeeing as, right now, we cannot travel to the depths of Peru, the ashrams of India or make a weeklong retreat in Ubud to realign mind, body and soul, as part of the Mandrakes newest holistic spa programme, The Soul Reset, you can hole up in their loft-style rooms and enjoy a range of esoteric treatments from some of the best spiritual practitioners in the country, even just for a weekend. Dynamic and proactive in his therapy, Eddy Elsey is a no nonsense, straight talking, shamanic healer, who splits his time between the Midlands and as a resident spiritual practitioner at the Mandrake. Combining shamanism and his own philosophical teachings, Elsey prepares you for sessions, where you are stripped back to your purest self - no sex, drugs, alcohol for 24 hours before the session, and no perfume or makeup on the day of the healing. Whether on a distant healing or in person at the Mandrake hotel, Shaman Eddy is exacting and works quickly, tapping into your body and spirit - his sessions are intense, from the consultation to the drumming and calling on his spirit team and yours, bringing clients on a deep experiential journey. Afterwards, things just seem to shift, dreams are often intense and prophetic, and lots of weird synchronicities seem to happen around you. Of course, its a strange experience, but Elseys down to earth manner keeps you in check, plus he equips you with all the spiritual tools to be able to approach lifes crossroads with a new perspective. Even after just one session (unless it's special circumstances, Elsey does not like to see clients again for at least two months), the end result is on point - and somewhat life-changing. .themandrake.com; streetspirituality.com

BEST FOR... QI GONG: PER VAN SPALLA spiritual tour de force, Qi Gong Master Per sets you on the path to peak condition: mentally, physically and emotionally. When he is not working from the Como Shambhala retreat in Bali, you can catch him at Como Metropolitan London. A nirvana of holistic healing, this urban retreat has Como's signature fresh ginger tea on tap to gently ease you into a more meditative state as you talk Per through what you would like to achieve from this session. Per always gets his clients to take a good, long look at themselves, including your posture in front of a mirror before he starts to work on you. An ancient practice stretching back more than 6,000 years, Qi Gong is based on energy work that opens you up to your truest nature and removes the blocks that keep your natural life force from flowing freely - a powerful tool for combating stress and bolstering immune systems. First, Per gets his clients to take a long look at themselves (including their posture in front of the mirror) and then the magic begins. Afterwards, you feel as though you've emerged from a holistic car wash: brighter, noticeably less bloated, generally glowing and just high on life. For maximum results, book yourself in for an Indian Head Massage directly after your Qi Gong session, to ground you and heighten the euphoric effects of Pers transformative energy work. comohotels.com

BEST FOR AN AYURVEDIC OVERHAUL: NATALIE EVEMuscles hum following this Mauli Time treatment from Natalie Eve at the Bulgari hotel. One of the industrys most knowledgeable Ayurvedic specialists and ambassador for the beauty brand, Mauli (the prettiest and most powerful ayurvedic products, including the best Hilamalayn and rose quartz bath salts), Eves two-hour sessions are next level blissed-out affairs: from the in-depth consultation, where you will find out your dosha type, to her signature deep massage strokes along your marma points, where you are drizzled in different oils all over your body, and then massaged along the spine, your legs and arms - throw in some hot stones, crystal massage, reiki, Indian head massage and a pada abhyanga (foot massage), for an out-of-body-experience. Eves understanding of the emotional language of the body is unique, where by applying degrees of manipulation, she releases long-held trauma and hidden emotion, and just relief of deep tensions and stress. You leave feeling energised, emotionally grounded and spiritually replete. The sybaritic sense of space at the Bulgari, with its fabulous pool and loft-style treatment rooms, combined with soothing Ayurvedic pastes, oils and tonics, plus Natalies phenomenal holistic understanding of mind, body and soul, makes this, without a shadow of a doubt, the best healing ritual in London. bulgarihotels.com; natalieevelondon@gmail.com

BEST FOR...RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW: LIZ KINGSoul Alchemist is the enigmatic title that this renowned seeress goes by. Working with her phenomenal psychic skills to tap into whatever is going on around you, Liz King cannot be beaten for her spookily on-point advice on past, present and future situations, from career counselling to navigating a divorce, buying or selling properties and general love life conundrums. Thanks to her kind and calming manner, you instantly feel at ease. For best results (without a trip to her practice in Rutland, or monthly base in Soho), nothing beats an over-the- phone session in the jewel-box surroundings of the Fumoir of Claridges, accompanied by a pot of Lapsang Souchong. Here, the concentration of crystal (Lalique, naturally) and good energy is the densest. If you crave time to pause and reflect on Kings prophetic words amid great luxury, this is the place. sanctuary1960@aol.co.uk

BEST FOR... HEARTBREAK: KRISTINA EVANS While there is never a quick fix for emotional issues, the ancient Mayan ritual of a cacao ceremony can definitely help heal the heart-sore by shifting emotional blocks and improving self-love. Cacao is a non-psychoactive yet deeply powerful transformational remedy that is an integral part of healer Kristina Evans' monthly rituals, which combine sound healing, guided meditation, a thorough smudge (a spiritual cleanse that involves being wafted with palo santo smoke) and breathwork. During the two-hour sessions, following drinking a cup of dark sludgy hot chocolate (incredibly bitter not sweet), everything seems bathed in an endorphin-charged glow, its intoxicating and you become an observer of your emotions, as you lose yourself in a flowing slipstream of sound. Kristina does group sessions from her house in West London, alongside private sessions for manifestation work, visualisation and healings inspired by Peruvian spiritual medicine, which helps you make sense of the bigger picture and leaves you feeling stronger and with an understanding of just being kinder to yourself. meditationontherise.net

BEST FOR TOTAL RELEASE: ANNIE PENNY Expect to feel transformed under the skilled hands of Annie Penny, the most calming and quietly powerful healer, who specialises in an Emotional Freedom Technique known as tapping, which involves targeting your energy channels (chakra points) and gently hitting your meridian points all over your body, from your face and third eye and along your heart, collar bone, hands and stomach. Surrounded by crystals, Annies hour sessions begin by thinking of what it is you want to remove from your life, which might include any emotional or physical blocks you might be aware of, repeating affirmations, incantations and a statement of exactly what you want to release, followed by her tapping technique. You might feel disorientated to start with, followed by intense tiredness after the session, but over the next few days feelings of clarity and joy rise, and even months on, you can still feel the deeply enlightening effects of the treatment. Annie operates from her London base in Queensgate Terrace, but dont miss her legendary chakra courses at her dreamy Cotswolds bolthole. anniepenny.co.uk

BEST FOR...A GOOD GLOW: MARY WHITEFIELD AT GLOW BARUnder the skilled and magical hands of facialist Mary Whitefield, expect to look and feel transformed. Whitfield, who works at Londons most glamorous wellness emporium, Glow Bar, combines lymphatic drainage massage technique, a mix of naturopathic oils and the use of rose quartz crystals in her sessions, which eliminate wrinkles and gives youthful dewiness without surgery. Make sure to have an infra-red sauna afterwards and Glow Bars signature Moon Milks (made with adaptogens), which will no doubt see guests' skin gleaming and feeling drenched in wellness. glowbarldn.com

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Hot on the healers: The best spiritual practitioners in London - Tatler

CANTON A multi-church tent revival drew up to 200 per night during the four-day event at Crestview Baptist Church outside Canton last week.

Called Breakthrough Haywood, the focus was on a spiritual breakthrough in Haywood County.

"I challenged our church, Crestview Baptist, and numerous pastors and churches across Haywood County, including Haywood Baptist Association churches, to join with us in praying and fasting for spiritual breakthrough in our community," said Pastor Dan Page at Crestview.

As a result, for 40 days preceding the meetings, many fasted and prayed, including Sheriff Greg Christopher.

"His heart is to bring genuine life transformation to our residents of Haywood County," Page said, noting that the sheriff posted daily prayer prompts for 40 days through the prayforhaywood Facebook page starting Sept. 1 and ending Oct. 11, when the revival started.

Several churches participated and assisted in the meeting, including Jenny Murray, Emily Nagle and Brian Edwards (drummer), all of whom are leaders of New Covenant Church of Clyde and assisted with the worship ministry, along with Tommy Payne, worship leader of Pinnacle Church of Canton.

Churches represented in the meetings included Mt. Zion Baptist Church, New Covenant, Dellwood Baptist, Burnette Cove Baptist and others.

After a rainy start on Sunday, the meetings swelled in attendance Monday evening with Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening seeing over 200 attendees in the tent both nights," Page said.

"Our inspiration for the tent meeting came from our sister church, Dellwood Baptist, and pastor Bobby Rogers," Page said, referencing the multiple tent meetings that focused on revival and spiritual renewal in Haywood.

The guest speaker was Pastor Timmy Blair from Angier, who pastors Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church.

"As we met in the tent for the first time, we began to feel the presence of the Spirit of the Lord in the tent, named The Tabernacle. As we have been fervently praying and seeking God for a move of His Spirit, we were overcome with the weight of the presence of the Holy Spirit there, especially around the stage and altar," Page said. "And the power of the Spirit of God was so evident when every night, the altar filled with people praying, culminating on the last night, Wednesday evening, when we witnessed a young man (previously an atheist) literally run down to the altar, fall on his knees, and express his newfound faith in Christ as Savior. He gave his life completely to Jesus Christ."

Page said prayer is continually going up for Haywood County asking that God move all across this county and bring "miraculous life transformation to people from one end of Haywood to the other."

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Tent revival focused on spiritual breakthrough | Religion - The Mountaineer

Oblate Fr. Ron Rolheiser

One size doesnt fit everyone. This isnt just true for clothing; its also true for spirituality. Our challenges in life change as we age.

Spirituality hasnt always been fully sensitive to this. True, weve always had tailored instruction and activities for children, young people, and for people who are raising children, carrying a job, and paying a mortgage, but weve never developed a spirituality for what happens when those years are over.

Why is one needed? Jesus seemingly didnt have one. He didnt have one set of teachings for the young, another for those in mid-life, and still another for the elderly. He just taught. The Sermon on the Mount, the parables, and his invitation to take up his cross are intended in the same way for everyone, irrespective of age. But we hear those teaching at very different times in our lives; its one thing to hear the Sermon the Mount when youre 7 years old, another when youre 27, and quite another when youre 87. Jesus teachings dont change, but we do, and they offer very specific challenges at different times of our lives.

Christian spirituality has generally kept this in mind, with one exception. Except for Jesus and an occasional mystic, it has failed to develop an explicit spirituality for our later years, for how we are meant to be generative in our senior years and how we are to die in a life-giving way. But theres a good reason for this lacuna. Simply put, it wasnt needed because up until this last century most people never lived into old age. For example, in Palestine, in Jesus time, the average life expectancy was 30-35 years. A century ago in the United States, it was still less than 50 years. When most people in the world died before they reached the age of 50, there was no real need for a spirituality of aging.

There is such a spirituality inside the Gospels. Even though he died at 33, Jesus left us a paradigm of how to age and die. But that paradigm, while healthily infusing and undergirding Christian spirituality in general, was never developed more specifically into a spirituality of aging (with the exception of some of the great Christian mystics).

After Jesus, the desert fathers and mothers folded the question of how to age and die into the overall framework of their spirituality. For them, spirituality was a quest to see the face of God and that, as Jesus makes clear, requires one thing, purity of heart. So for them, no matter your age, the challenge was the same, trying to achieve purity of heart. Then in the age of the persecutions and the early Christian martyrs, the idea developed that the ideal way to age and die was through martyrdom. Later, when Christians were no longer physically martyred, the idea took hold that you could take on a voluntary type of martyrdom by living the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. They believed that living these, like the quest for purity of heart, taught you all you needed to know, no matter your age. Eventually this was expanded to mean that anyone who faithfully responded to the duties in his or her life, irrespective of age, would learn everything necessary to come to sanctity through that fidelity. As a famous aphorism put it: Stay inside your cell and it will teach you all you need to know. Understood properly, theres a spirituality of aging and dying inside these notions, but until recently there was little need to draw that out more explicitly.

Happily, today the situation is changing and were developing, more and more, some explicit spiritualities of aging and dying. Perhaps this reflects an aging population, but theres now a burgeoning body of literature, both religious and secular, thats taking up the question of aging and dying. These authors, too numerous to mention, include many names already familiar to us: Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, Kathleen Dowling Singh, David Brooks, Cardinal Bernardin, Michael Paul Gallagher, Joan Chittister, Parker Palmer, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, Paul Kalanithi, Erica Jong, Kathie Roiphe and Wilkie and Noreeen Au, among others. Coming from a variety of perspectives, each of these offer insights into what God and nature intend for us in our later years.

In essence, heres the issue: Today, were living longer and healthier late into life. Its common today to retire sometime in our early 60s after having raised our children, superannuated from our jobs, and paid our mortgages. So whats next, given that we probably have 20 or 30 more years of health and energy left? What are these years for? What are we called to now, beyond loving our grandkids?

Abraham and Sarah, in their old age, were invited to set out for a new land and conceive a child long after this was biologically impossible for them. Thats our call too. What Isaac are we called to give birth to in our later years? We need guidance.

Oblate Fr. Ron Rolheiseris atheologian, teacher and award-winning author. He can be contacted at http://www.ronrolheiser.com.

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Spirituality in the second half of life - Catholic Herald

Burnt food. When I heard the smoke detector go off and saw the flashing lights, I must have turned ten shades of red. I was in my hotel room. Dad was just getting out of bed. I had planned to surprise him with a toasted English muffin. To be able to cook a meal or two, was one of the reasons I chose a suite with a kitchenette.

My first muffin was a little light and undercooked. I adjusted the "darkness" knob so the muffin would cook a little longer. Moments later I looked over. I saw the smoke and smelled the burnt muffin. I quickly went to the toaster and popped up the handle to remove the muffin. Little did I know that I had already set things in motion.

I took my first bite of the muffin when the alarm sounded. Panic set in. I've been an active member of a volunteer fire department for the last two years. In my head I envisioned the worst-case scenario with guests flooding out to the parking lot as the fire trucks arrived. The image of Hester Prynne in Hawthorne's, "The Scarlet Letter," came to mind.

I have been to homes where burnt food was the cause of the alarm. As a volunteer firefighter, I always walked away thankful that it wasn't anything more than that. There should be no embarrassment. Yet, it is different being on the other end of that scenario. As a firefighter, I believe I'm supposed to be an example to others in fire prevention.

Thankfully, the alarm was localized and the manager arrived to remedy my situation with a fan and an open window. The embarrassment was mostly my own. It got me thinking. Imagine if we got as embarrassed when we stumbled in matters of faith. The Apostle Paul says we are going to fall down. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

In other words, there are going to be "burnt food" moments as Christians that come back to embarrass us. If you want proof, just scroll through the Facebook feed on a typical day. Where is Christ in our posts? Yet, the Apostle Paul declares that we are called to be "Christs ambassadors" and tells us that God is "making his appeal through us."

Paul suggests in various places that we are held to a higher standard once we have accepted Christ. We are now called to represent him. Our old self is dead and buried. Christ now lives within us. When people see us, Jesus should shine through. I like what Paul says in Philippians 2:

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life."

I hope people will see Jesus in us when we show up. It's kind of like putting on our gear as firefighters. People know who we are when we arrive. They know we are there to help. I'd like to think the same would be true "when we put on Christ." When they see us coming, they will know we are coming to bring forgiveness, grace and the love of God.

The Rev. Cal Lord is the pastor of Central Baptist Church of Westerly. Reach him at calstigers@gmail.com.

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Spirituality: Know that you represent God when you show up - Norwich Bulletin

Spiritual and emotional abuse of LGBT people is a ticking timebomb for churches in the UK and could lead to legal action and demands for redress, campaigners have said.

Churches urgently need to wake up to spiritual, emotional and psychological abuse. If they dont protect young people, the consequences will be massive. This is coming, and it will be a disaster, said Steve Chalke, a Baptist minister and founder of the Oasis charity.

About 400 church leaders from different denominations are expected to take part in an online conference on Saturday to discuss how churches can be made safe for LGBT people.

The practices of many churches amount to serious and sustained abuse, said Chalke, who has organised the Creating Sanctuary conference. Without action, the coming years are likely to see a crop of high-profile prosecutions that, following the current scandals about child sexual abuse, will further damage the reputation of the whole church.

In a message of support to the conference, Elton John said: The failure of many churches to welcome, accept and include LGBTQ+ people creates stigma, loneliness, fear and denial, causing lasting damage to their wellbeing and mental health. Churches must be safe and affirming, he said.

Jayne Ozanne, a prominent figure in the Church of England and a speaker at the conference, said spiritual abuse of LGBT people was the next big scandal for the church following decades of disgrace over child sexual abuse.

Its a ticking timebomb. When I first spoke out, I felt I was the only voice. Now Im one of thousands, and people are feeling more and more emboldened to tell their stories, she said.

Campaigners say charismatic and evangelical churches that tell LGBT people they are an abomination or possessed by demonic forces are driving some towards self-harm and suicide.

Some churches practise deliverance ministry, which can include physical violence. Ozanne was hit with a Bible during healing therapy to cure her homosexuality, which led to a breakdown.

If you are told that your desires are sinful, you desperately want it to work and your prayers to be answered. You submit yourself, thinking youre doing the right thing. When it doesnt work, when you still have those desires, the result is terrible anguish, she said. People think this is only happening in developing countries, but actually its happening here in the UK in white, middle-class churches too.

Churches also cause damage by excluding LGBT people. Simon Butler, the vicar of St Marys, Battersea, and a member of the Archbishops Council, the C of Es executive body, wrote last week: For as long as I can remember, I have had to listen to simply dreadful stories emerging from certain evangelical and charismatic churches [LGBT people] find themselves silenced, removed from every ministry and leadership role and generally treated like pariahs.

He said a culture of fear existed in such churches, alongside the subtle and overt withholding of love or placing conditions on it, and silencing of dissent. It is, by any stretch of the imagination, a form of abuse.

Following the publication this month of a damning report on the C of E by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), the church needs to get to grips with other forms of abuse like spiritual abuse, Butler told the Guardian. There is a culture in some places that must be challenged.

Last week the bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, was accused of virtue-signalling vacuousness after she responded to the IICSA report by tweeting that the church needed to act and change.

Robert Thompson, the vicar of St Marys and St James in Kilburn, said he had reported to the diocese three concerns around the spiritual and emotional abuse and safeguarding of LGBT people in the past two years. Due diligence and process has not been followed in any of them, he said.

Six years ago a Manchester teenager, Lizzie Lowe, took her own life after telling friends she feared her church would not accept her if she came out as a lesbian. The church has since adopted a policy of inclusion.

In another diocese, in the south of England, a mother has formally complained to church safeguarding officials after her child, who was struggling with their sexuality, was given books by their church saying LGBT people needed to be cured. I felt my child was unsafe and I was being silenced, she told the Guardian.

In 2017, the C of Es ruling body, the General Synod, condemned so-called conversion therapy as unethical and potentially harmful and called on the government to ban it. In July this year Boris Johnson said the government would take action against the abhorrent practice once it had completed a study.

Chalke said the aim of Saturdays conference was to advise churches that they had a legal duty to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from abuse. People are more willing to say publicly that they have been abused, and they will take it to court if necessary, he said. Whether churches are driven to take action because they genuinely want to care for people, or whether this is just about self-preservation, its wake-up time.

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UK churches urged to wake up to spiritual abuse of LGBT people - The Guardian

For those who are directly affected, the new wave of Covid-19 is a matter of life and death. For the majority who are not, however, it feels like business as usual. Most people are trying to live as normally as possible, under increasingly difficult circumstances. Yet all is not quite as it seems. We know, in our hearts, that life will never be quite the same again. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a vacuum at the heart of our society. It is spiritual, moral, intellectual, existential. We can see it manifested in all kinds of ways.

Why, for example, are we allowing those who live in care homes to end their lives cut off from their loved ones? For those with dementia, which means more than two thirds of all these residents, such isolation is medically catastrophic and unutterably cruel. For their families and close friends, too, the loss of contact is a deprivation that compounds the tragedy of dementia. Patients have become prisoners, while the rights of those who love them most are set at naught.

Johns Campaign, which campaigns for the right of families to stay with dementia sufferers, is seeking a judicial review of the Governments harsh policy on access in care homes. Those who wish to contribute can do so here . Why, though, should it be necessary for the courts to force ministers to show compassion to the hundreds of thousands of families caught up in this predicament? Most carers hate the rules they are obliged to impose, but fear the legal consequences of tempering their rigour. But life expectancy in a care home is only between two and three years in normal times, so the loss of contact for more than six months is irreversible. The right to family life must be given more weight in the rules that govern dementia care to prevent this scandal from becoming even worse.

Another gaping hole in our humanity exposed by the pandemic is the plight of those who suffer from conditions other than Covid-19, whether physical or mental, but whose treatment has been postponed or cancelled by the NHS. Cases are coming to light already of cancer sufferers, for example, who would almost certainly have survived if their treatments had not been so brutally interrupted. There will be thousands more such people. Yet already we are hearing of cancellations because hospitals lack capacity. No doubt the NHS will handle this second wave of Covid-19 better than the first. But even those patients who do ultimately survive will have been put through dreadful anxiety while they wait in limbo, hoping that their conditions will not deteriorate beyond repair. None of this should be happening in a wealthy, humane country such as Britain. Those who run the NHS have shown a deplorable lack of empathy with the millions whose lives have been put on hold. Meanwhile the queues lengthen and the lack of face-to-face primary care consultations means that danger signals are less likely to be spotted.

The failures of our politicians are well-known and relentlessly scrutinised; less so those of our spiritual and intellectual leaders. Today, for example, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, plus the Archbishops of Armagh and Wales and the most senior Scottish Episcopal bishop, have signed a letter in the Financial Times, protesting about the Internal Market Bill. They claim that this measure has enormous moral, as well as political and legal, consequences. They may, or may not, be right. Christians and non-Christians can and do disagree about Brexit, for which this Bill has become a proxy. As things stand, talks between the EU and the UK have been suspended and a No-Deal outcome is looking more likely. That would render the whole argument about the Bill irrelevant.

Is such a political debate, however important, what we expect our church leaders to pronounce on? If they wish to influence legislation, they can contribute to debates in the House of Lords, where the Established Church is heavily overrepresented. But when they speak to the nation, surely they should focus on matters for which they are qualified. The absence of spiritual and moral guidance on the pandemic has been acutely felt. Yet none of our senior clerics, whether Christian or from other faiths, has made much of a mark on the national consciousness during this ordeal.

Unprecedented as it has been in recent times, the pandemic is surely an opportunity for those whose mtier is morality to thunder from their pulpits. Even those of little faith or none are more likely to be open to comfort or consolation in this time of trial. The awful truth is dawning, however, that most bishops are merely ecclesiastical bureaucrats. They can preach about mundanities such as Brexit or Trump ad nauseam, but on matters that transcend this world, they have nothing to say.

Across the Channel, France has been traumatised by the beheading of a teacher by an Islamist fanatic for the crime of showing his pupils cartoons of Mohammed. Tough words by President Macron and a heartfelt show of solidarity by the country cannot disguise the stark reality: it is no longer safe to teach the French creed of secularism, lacit, to students whose parents may have extremist sympathies. Slowly but surely, the gap left by Judaeo-Christian decline is being filled by a version of Islam that seems incompatible with the official values of the French Republic.

In Germany, meanwhile, Chancellor Merkels appeal to the nation to stay at home and temporarily renounce social life outside the immediate family has been met with widespread indifference. Having failed to persuade regional leaders to tighten the rules, she has resorted to exhortation. Such a voluntary approach has worked well in some societies, notably Sweden, though its efficacy remains controversial. What is touching, though, about Angela Merkels address is that it is directed at her compatriots sense of moral obligation. Rather than threatening them with fines, she places the responsibility squarely where it belongs: How winter will be, how our Christmas will be, will be decided in the coming days and weeks. We all decide that through our actions. In this invocation of conscience by the daughter of a Protestant pastor, we hear the echo of Martin Luther: Here I stand. I can do no other.

As the priests sound like politicians, so the politicians are obliged to sound like priests. Neither, however, has been able to fill the hole in our hearts. We yearn for words and actions that will uplift us, at a time when we are more downcast than ever before. Whence will those words and actions come?

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Coronavirus has exposed a moral and spiritual vacuum. Who will fill it? - TheArticle

On the surface it seems harmless enough: a philosophy of love, kindness, non-violence, and a concerted practice of positivity. But is it possible to be too positive? What is hiding underneath all the smiles and the well-wishes? Is there such a thing as too much light? Can positivity be toxic? In the immortal words of Ursula K. Le Guin, To light a candle is to cast a shadow.

While mainstream religions tend to vilify the darkness, equating it to evil and creating an impossible conflict within ourselves, modern Paganism tends to deal with the issue fairly well, in that it often seeks to balance what are thought of as both light and dark energies a polarity echoed in the pairing of both goddess and god in the more Wiccan forms of modern Craft, or as non-gendered complimentary forces elsewhere. Modern Paganism also gets bonus points for mostly forgoing the all-too-common urge to demonize one while exalting the other. But, alas, this is not always the case.

What evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. Or perhaps an elf-on-the-shelf. [Image credit: Envato Elements]

I spent a good number of years working in the spiritual and metaphysical retail world, having owned (until quite recently) a good-sized shop that catered to the magical practitioner and spiritual seeker alike. While my Witchy interests were fully on display, a good portion of our clientele werent necessarily Witches, but more what we might think of as a non-specific spiritual practitioner. This person often takes inspiration from many faiths, and crafts their own practice, whether that be robust or spartan. One of the strengths in these eclectic paths is that the practitioners can create a system that is better suited to their individual needs and interests. One of the inherent weaknesses, however, is that it provides a system that often does little to nothing in terms of challenging the practitioner to grow beyond their comfort zones. In essence, they can become paths that validate and encourage our own weaknesses instead of prompting us to strengthen and to grow.

One such weakness in the body spiritual, as I see it, is a determined drive toward positivity at all costs. No one is purely light, and to strive for such an impossible state creates an internal conflict which must be addressed in order to truly grow. Herein lies the danger of forced positivity; when difficult feelings arise, a positive-only mindset demands that they be squashed down and denied, creating a cognitive dissonance that places the individual at odds with reality. And worse, in a community that purports itself to be spiritual, this behavior promotes a cult-like mentality that ultimately leads to compartmentalization and the bypassing of rational thought. Once rational thought has been eschewed, its really just a stones throw away from QAnon or flat-earthers.

One of the biggest proponents of this flawed approach was the spiritual teacher Doreen Virtue, who for years, through her numerous books and oracle cards, peddled a psychologically imbalanced view of spiritual practice that denied all things scary or dark and simply replaced them with images of forced positivity.

An example of this imbalance would be her Angel Tarot Deck, which specifically changed any of the cards that depicted challenges or less-than-rosy messages. For example, the Tower card was replaced with Life Experience, Death with Release, and the three of swords (which traditionally depicts a heart pierced by three swords, meaning a pain in ones heart) has been changed to depict a family of unicorns. Rather than admit to the trials inherent in life, the Angel deck elided them in favor of candy-coated nonsense.

I would hope for my spirituality to have more substance than this. [a selection of candy, Pixabay]

While Virtue has since denounced her previous involvement in New Age spirituality and has quite publicly converted to Christianity, the core of her spiritual approach appears to still be rooted in this lopsided denial (as well as now peddling a special brand of fear, such as warning that her former angels may actually be demons.)This can only lead to an inability to deal with lifes problems, and it adds insult to injury when negative emotions or conflicts arise.

Certainly, there is life experience to be gained from the veritable calamity that the Tower traditionally represents, and we should do our best to frame lifes painful and difficult experiences in ways that are useful and ultimately positive for our evolution and growth. But to assert that pain, and fear, and even anger are somehow less important than our joy, our courage, and even our love, is to do a grave disservice to our collective mental and spiritual health. By promoting the denial of ones base emotions, these systems fail to seize the opportunity for self-exploration that these emotions provide us.

By religiously defining these emotions and experiences as being unholy (or the New Age equivalent, not of the light), groups that embrace this mode of thinking have effectively ensured that they can mutually avoid anything that might challenge their cultish mindset. Angry over injustice? Youre just living in a lower vibration. Afraid of contracting a deadly virus? You just dont trust Jesus enough.

This level of denying our basic humanity cannot be forever maintained. It creates a growing imbalance within the psyche, akin to that of a building pressure; an internal pressure that eventually seeks release in some form, and whether that manifests as mental or physical illness, harmful behaviors, or even a psychotic break, is anyones guess.

Mainstream Christianity is no stranger to this approach, labelling nearly all that is painful, or difficult, scary, or even challenging, to the side of Satan, where it can conveniently be buried and forgotten. This inability of mainstream churches to deal with their collective shadow is what fuels the polite hatred that infects much of their social and political stances against queer people as well as those of differing spiritual practices orpeople of color.

While the majority of our businesss clients and customers were and, as we have transferred to an online-only model, remain to be compassionate, intelligent, and introspective people, we would also encounter those who would take personal offense at some of the darker aspects of magic and spirituality that were represented in our products and practices. Our spirit boardsnever failed to incite amusing rants about evil spirits and the Devil from those who whom I think of as concern trolls: those who insist on inserting their (ill-informed) opinions into a conversation under the guise of concern, when really their main (if perhaps unconscious) motivation is to simply cast judgements in an effort to feel superior to those with whom they disagree. (Yawn.)

OK, guys. Which one of you moved it?: a spirit board[courtesy The Mystic Dream]

As Witches and Pagans, we tend to pride ourselves on not buying into the cultural baggage of the Christian over-culture, but really, who are we kidding? As a group, we can be just as judgmental and vacuous as any other group of humans, only we tend to have more candles while we do it. This is one of the pitfalls of being in a sub-culture: we can perhaps more easily be led to believe that we are doing things differently, doing things better,than those who are in power and who have shaped society in its current form. And while in some ways that might even be correct, in other ways we have perhaps just bought a repackaged version of what that society has been handing down since forever.

Case in point: Donald Trump.

From the beginning of his ill-fated presidency, there has been a massive and vocal movement against him directed from the Pagan and magical communities, and this has caused some rifts between us. While it would seem that (at least in the United States) most Pagans and Witches find themselves in various degrees of being left of the political center, this certainly does not describe all of us. There are also Trump supporters, Republicans, and Libertarians, along with those ever farther to the Right. But this isnt necessarily where the problems lie. We have to look within, as well.

When Trump recently fell ill with COVID-19, this brought a sense of satisfaction and perhaps even delight among some magical practitioners (myself included) who felt that perhaps their righteous hexes were finally taking affect. But immediately came the chorus of Harm none! Remember the Rule of Three! and my personal favorite, A real Witch doesnt hex!

Aside from the outright absurdity of that last statement (I know Witches from Gardnerian, to Alexandrian, to Faery, to Eclectic who will hex and heal in equal measure), what I feel is happening here is a bit of what might be seen as a spiritual contamination: though we may give lip-service to the idea that we as Witches and Pagans embrace the dark as well as the light, we have collectively embraced the over-cultures set of values and we find ourselves using the very tools that our own oppressors have used against us.

This is the Pagan version of shaming others for their low vibrations while denying the complications of the fuller picture; complications like the real suffering of people of color and other minorities, of immigrants, of the poor, the sick and the elderly, all who have suffered and continue to suffer under an administration that demonstrably practices disdain for its people and embraces authoritarian principles and tactics. Life isnt black or white. Life is nuanced and intricate, and messy. And to deny that is to walk down the road to madness, divorced entirely from reality and set to wander aimlessly, lost, and incapable of living an effective life.

Im not trying to make the argument that somehow hexing makes one more inherently witchy; there are just as many ways to be a Witch as there are Witches who practice. But it is important that we all allow ourselves to process the full range of our emotions without shame or ridicule. And when it comes to disempowered and often abused people using their anger and their magic for defense and for justice, I feel compelled to assert that it is not the place of those who are not abused to judge the behavior and morals of those who are. Standing up to oppression is part of the Witches heritage, and to embrace that fact is to embrace our full humanity as well as our full Witchiness. Only by facing the darkness within ourselves, and channeling it into goal-oriented actions, can we ever hope to heal what ails our collective heart.

Sometimes, we need our anger, and our pain, and even our fear to help expose the hypocrisy and even the abuse that causes so much pain and suffering. Its not easy, or fun, and its certainly not painless, but it is work that desperately needs to be done. We all need to look deeply into our own abyss and see what demons may stare back. Whether we work with them toward our mutual betterment, or we deny them and continue to give them our power, is entirely up to us.

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Opinion: Love, Light, and Spiritual Bypassing | Opinion, Paganism, Perspectives, Politics, Witchcraft - The Wild Hunt

Kangana Ranaut was all praise for Hollywood star Will Smith, who recently met Sadhguru. Sharing a candid video of the Men in Black actor in conversation with the spiritual guru, Kangana wrote, How heartwarming to see a huge star like Will Smith being so grounded so spiritual", indirectly adding a word for Bollywood celebrities, Kangana wrote, "really hope at some point our own stars show same keenness and curiosity for spirituality and sciences of Yoga, @SadhguruJV has a lot to offer hope people make most of his time here.

How heartwarming to see a huge star like Will Smith being so grounded so spiritual, really hope at some point our o https://t.co/YNlOGQwmzh

Will, it was a pleasure to spend some time with you and your wonderful family. May your Sangha be strong and Dharm https://t.co/N8Y7tVpigA

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Kangana Ranaut is all praise for grounded and spiritual Will Smith, wants Bollywood to show same keenn - Times of India

The Office of Religious & Spiritual Life will host their eight annual Crossroads Lecture on Faith and Public Life today, inviting medical professionals to discuss how their faith and careers intersect.

The Crossroads Lecture has partnered with the Center for Career and Professional Development this year. Kim Satz, the associate director for employer development in the career center, said the purpose of the event is to highlight religious diversity in the workplace and show how faith can inform career choices.

The lecture will include TCU alumni panelists Dr. Ryan Huey, who graduated in 2008, and Rachel Rudberg, who graduated in 2017.

Huey is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a member of City Church Houston. Rudberg, an active member in the Dallas Jewish young adult community, works in the cardiothoracic and transplant intensive care unit at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

Through our alumni panelists, we hope students gain a better sense of how faith can inform their choice vocation and the impact COVID-19 can have on work and spirituality, said Satz.

An associate chaplain in RSL, Britt Luby, said the lecture will talk about pressing issues in mainstream media and how it intersects with religion. She plans to interview the alumni panelists for this event.

COVID-19 caused issues for RSL when it came to planning this event, said Luby. She believes this event will enrich the TCU community because it will help students who care about their faith and career see how to navigate the workforce.

Understanding, especially students who choose to work in healthcare, how COVID-19 has changed work and what their work looks like now, said Luby. I think thatll be interesting, especially for our pre-med students and our pre-health students to think: What I thought being a nurse or doctor two years ago looks really different than what it looks like now, and theyll get first-hand accounts of that.

For more information on the event, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. via Zoom, students can visit this website.

Original post:

The Office of Religious & Spiritual Life to host eighth annual Crossroads Lecture - TCU 360

Published onOctober 13, 2020

CategoryFeatures

As legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders celebrates his 80th Birthday, Shabaka Hutchings explores how the transcendent musician has influenced his life, through the lens of Sanders 1971 opus Black Unity.

Writing about Pharoah Sanders seminal album Black Unity started out innocently enough a desire to express how this album has shaped me, an acknowledgement on this 80th birthday of the maestro himself of what he has done to mould my sense of musicality and form. However, as I put words to paper it feels like Im regurgitating poetic sounding ideas that fulfil a myth that Ive outgrown.

Such is the paradox of matters concerning spirituality, I guess, to understand something about your devotion to the light is to drift inadvertently towards a notion of infinity whereby one is in a constant state of wonder as to how far the depths can reach and how much there is to learn. So, I decided to start from scratch, and discover on listening to one of my favourite albums at this stage of my life spiritually and professionally, though in truth the two worlds intersect continually what it speaks to me about.

I find it difficult to regard Pharoah Sanders as an individual. I intuitively consider him as representational of a creative principle that centres communalism as the driving force from which spirit is manifested through sound. Spirit can be seen as the life-force that animates matter, that which provides the energy which activates our will to act. Linear conceptions of this musics formation force us to imagine a hierarchical basis whereby one element or player is ahead of another in terms of contribution importance this way of seeing must be rejected for the cyclical view which sees the prominence of individual players as transient but the group contribution as reaching for eternity.

The centring of spirit and negation of individualistic focus begets a cyclical construction whereby metaphysically there is no start or end to the music, this is furthered in the exclamations of the audience members at the sounding of the final note. A seemingly benign acknowledgement/participatory gesture for me signifies a furthering of the groups energy. The baton is passed from performer to audience and within the spirit of reciprocity we at home separated by time and space are asked to join in the praise, to interpret the message however our intuitive knowledge guides us and to give back to the source of the energy that fuelled the players.

My understanding of Pharoahs music has developed in tandem with a growing awareness of myself as the object of inquiry in relation to it. Prior to this paradigmatic shift, I considered myself as the subject, able to analyse and know what was happening at any given stage of the sonic flow. This way of hearing is adequate for a surface level appreciation of the music, but Pharoah Sanders is deep!

So, more is required if the surface layer is to be breached, revealing the levels of meaning that constitute the whole spectrum of his musical vision. The subject is often defined as the thinking/doing entity, as opposed to the object which is the thing acted upon. Hence to objectify something or someone is to deny (or ignore) the existence of a consciousness outside the knowledge or comprehension of the subject and to assume a degree of control in relation to how the object can act on that same subject.

To see oneself as the object in relation to a piece of music is to prostrate oneself before it, to assume humility in assuming levels of depth that span further than potentially even the individual performer envisioned. This requires a muting of the mind, allowing visions and ideas to manifest themselves outside the scope of what is thought to be known about the music. This is increasingly the only way I see fit to engage with the music of Pharoah Sanders. In this state, the concept of time reveals itself to be a construct that is very much societally engendered. After listening to this album, I remember trying to combine all the songs in my own sets, so that my music could be regarded as a singular presentation of an idea. The inadvertent effect of this on my perception of time while on stage was that moments became significant in terms of their overall drama and poetic power. I interpret this shift in focus to mean that the time itself was sacralised and allowing for the potential of transcendence. This space was unlocked by Black Unity.

The first time I saw Pharoah perform live I was struck by his poise, it seemed as though he was rooted to the ground and was able to draw power from throughout his whole body to be channeled through the saxophone. I hear this in the music of Black Unity. There is a feeling of the music being both of the sky and of the earth, as above as it is below. There is no way of me quantifying this statement, it is not to be rationalised in terms of logic. It is an intuitive reasoning, powerful for what it symbolises to the listener: that it is open to ancient concepts stretching back to the time of the kemetic civilisation.

My final reflection on the seminal album Black Unity is that the title is the answer to the question which hovered over the civil rights movement in America, that lurked in the underbelly of all the anti-colonial movements sweeping Africa during the 70s and is still relevant today. How do we as Black people triumph over a system of white supremacy that has affected even our scope to define the parameters of the real? Pharaoh says it simply and best..Black Unity!

Banner image courtesy of Impulse!

Additional photos by Christian Rose via Transversales Disques.

Original post:

The Spiritual Power of Pharoah Sanders - The Vinyl Factory

The Saint Marys Student Government Association (SGA) is composed of seven committees, each with its own respective responsibilities and areas of expertise.

The Mission Committee strives to improve faith and spirituality among Belles, while maintaining a connection with the Sisters of the Holy Cross, sophomore committee chair Angela Martinez Camacho said in an email.

In addition the committee is responsible for maintaining a relationship with Campus Ministry, vice president for mission Judy Fean and SGA as a whole, she said. As committee chair, one of Martinez Camachos largest responsibilities is to collaborate with SGAs alumnae relations chair to plan and execute an annual Heritage Week.

According to Martinez Camacho the Mission Committee differentiates itself from other committees by types of events it hosts.

This year we were motivated to collaborate with Campus Ministry for Bible study and offer meditation sessions, she said. We try to correlate with the main focus of the committee but generally strive to foster the sisterhood bond. Regardless, we want to give back to the students in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the school and their academics.

Kathleen Hannon, a first-year committee member, said the intimacy of the group is a blessing in disguise.

The Mission Committee is actually only three people, so we have all bonded since the committee is so small, she said. This has been really neat as we have created friendships that have allowed us to work better as a group.

Last month the Mission Committee sponsored the Letters for Sisters event during which students wrote a letter to a Sister of the Holy Cross. Martinez Camacho said the event had a high turnout rate from students.

The committee is also responsible for hosting weekly meditation sessions in Regina North Lounge on Wednesday nights.

We encourage you to take a mid-week break to focus on yourself and wind down from stress, Martinez Camacho said.

Hannon added that it is rewarding to see people attend and enjoy the events.

The mission committee does a great job of bringing a source of light to campus, she said.

Despite the high reward of the events the committees largest challenge has been determining what they can and cannot do in light of the pandemic, Hannon said.

When asked about the importance of the Mission Committee to the greater Saint Marys community, Martinez Camacho said, We believe students should take the time to focus on their faith and spirituality.

Martinez Camacho also spoke to the Mission Committees objective to support both students and Sisters of the Holy Cross.

Mission is perfect for that because we offer opportunities to explore those aspects of life. It is one of our schools core values, she said. And the Sisters play a huge role in our school; we have to show that we appreciate them and are thinking about them, especially in these difficult times.

The Mission Committees next event will take place in November.

We are so excited about the first of the month event: [a] sticker handout, Martinez Camacho said. We designed these cute stickers with a motivational quote to inspire Belles for November, as we enter the homestretch of the semester.

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Mission Committee strives to improve faith and spirituality among Belles - Observer Online

Meanwhile, acclaimed fine artist and performer Sellone Moeti, also from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, whose work advocates the marginalisation of black women, says that her work draws from her spiritual journey.

My work speaks loudly about cleansing, healing, dislocation, and relocation. My paintings were an attempt to trace and understand my lineage as a Mosotho 'womxn', born, raised and still living in KwaZulu-Natal.

Moeti says her late grandmother, who had a gift of healing through prayer, inspires her visuals that explore spiritual gifts and burdens transmitted from one generation to another.

My body of work was highly influenced by my late grandmother who used to heal through prayer and that was passed on to my mother. It talks about spiritual gifts or sometimes burdens that are passed from generation to generation. I portrayed these spiritual dreamscapes in my paintings.

The award-winning artist identifies herself as an African woman before being an artist who is led by divine forces in her art.

I'm an African woman first, before an artist. I wouldn't go as far as calling myself a medium at all. I'm more of a conduit or vessel of the unseen forces that guide me specifically. I'm on a spiritual journey and I'm using my art as a form of documenting the collection of my dreams.

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Crossing over from spiritual world of ancestors to visual art - SowetanLIVE

Whether youre trying to better manage your money or stay mentally or physically fit, you might be surprised what you can find in the app store. USA TODAY

While theres not much the average person can do to stop the spike in new COVID-19 cases shy of social distancing, wearing a mask and regularly washing hands technology may help reduce the financial and emotional impact of a second wave.

In fact, there are several apps for iPhone and Android devices, designed to help individuals and families in several ways.

Whether youre trying to better manage your money during uncertain times, or stay mentally or physically fit through it all, you might just be surprised what you can find at the App Store or Google Play.

The following are a few recommended downloads for your smartphone or tablet.

Especially given the stress many are under, its recommended to take mental breaks throughout the day or to help fall asleep. Freemium apps like "Simple Habit" offer a variety of sessions.(Photo: Handout)

There are several apps tied to mindfulness and mediation, including Simple Habit, designed specifically for busy people.

After all, not many of us can afford to take an hour out of our day for Tai Chi by the beach or online yoga classes.

With 5-, 10- or 20-minute lessons, the app features more than a thousand meditations guided by mindfulness teachers from around the world and for a more tailored lesson, you can choose the time, place and cause of your stress. For example, tap Tough Day, Morning, Commute, SOS or Sleep.

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You can also pick a lesson by Series (such as Simple Tips for a Meaningful Life or Let Go of Anxiety), and by Teacher of your choice (check out Julie Seibts nearly 140 sessions).

Several dozen sessions are free, with the option to upgrade to a premium subscription for unlimited access to more than 2,000 meditations (and new videos added weekly), the ability to download when offline, tracking progress, and more.

COVID-19 isnt just a health crisis but has spawned a financial crisis for many. Personal finance apps like Simplifi, powered by Quicken, can sync with your bank and credit card accounts, and more, and show you a snapshot of your financial picture.(Photo: Handout)

Especially given the unexpected and unprecedented year weve endured, many are trying to get their finances in order.

Apps can help you clearly see whats coming in and going out, to ensure youre staying in the black.

Simplifi by Quicken, for example, can show your full financial picture by tracking all of your accounts in one place and showing insights that keep you on track.

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Powered by Quicken, this personal finance app and website, provides a snapshot of bank accounts, credit cards, loans and investments (with more than 14,000 financial institutions supported), and is always up to date.

Simplifi automatically categorizes transactions, to show where your money is going, with an intuitive and elegant interface. The ad-free app can also project future balances, to help avoid setbacks and surprises, and help you work towards a goal.

Prices start at $2.99 per month.

Youve heard of the Freshman 15, but what about the COVID 19? Shed excess weight youve amassed since the start of the pandemic with apps like Lose It! (free to start), which can help you achieve your weight loss goals.(Photo: Handout)

Finally, while many are preoccupied with keeping their family safe (and fed) during the pandemic, they might be neglecting their own physical health.

Apps can help you get back on track.

The free Lose It! has you set a goal such as lose 10 pounds in four weeks and the app will then calculate what should be your caloric intake each day. Tap in what youve been eating (by food, such as one large banana) scan the box of a brand, like a DiGiorno Original Rising Crust Three Meat Frozen Pizza, and it will show the calories youre consuming (and even fat, sodium, and so on, if you like).

Exercise is also factored into your daily routine.

A similar app is MyFitnessPal, with more than 11 million foods and restaurant dishes in the database, plus you can scan product barcodes to automatically log the caloric info per meal.

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Similar to Lose It!, all app info is synchronized with the web version of MyFitnessPal, should you want to log in on a computer.

For exercise, Map My Fitness lets you easily calculate the impact of your physical activity whether its a walk, jog, run, hike, bike ride, and so on.

Your workout is analyzed including your time, pace, and estimated calories burned so you can see you progress and stay motivated. The app can also connect you with other users in your area to join a group. If you like, you can even share your fitness goals and results with your social network. Devices, like activity trackers and heart rate monitors, are also supported.

To work out in the safety of your home, many also use the Peloton app to access thousands of live and on-demand video classes.

You dont need Peloton equipment to take advantage of this app, featuring a collection of exercise videos, led by celebrated instructors, and covering several different kinds of exercises.(Photo: Handout)

Taught by dozens of instructors, there are several kinds of workouts to choose from, ranging from running and strength training to cycling and yoga to HIIT (high-intensity interval training). Many stream workouts from a phone or tablet to a big-screen TV.

After the 30-day trial, a digital membership costs $12.99 per month.

On a related note, the just launched Peloton Bike+ offers several enhancements over its predecessor.

The 24-inch HD touchscreen, with integrated soundbar, can now swivel around if you want to continue your workout on a mat for stretching, yoga or strength training. Also new is an Auto Follow feature on Bike+ that can automatically adjust your tension (or resistance) to the instructors callout.

Designed primarily for spinning and cycling, Peloton Bike+ focuses on its live classes led by motivational instructors, or if you prefer, pre-recorded video classes where you can choose the length (from 5 to 90 minutes), difficulty level, style of music (recommended: Prince Run with Andy Speer), exercise theme, and instructor. There are even scenic rides through beautiful locations, and such.

Peloton Bike+ starts at $2,495, plus theres a monthly cost to access the classes, too. The original Peloton Bike has now dropped to $1,895.

Follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. Email him or subscribe to his Tech It Out podcast at marcsaltzman.com/podcasts.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

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Fight the second wave with apps for financial, spiritual and physical success - USA TODAY

Two priests, one Catholic and one Church of Ireland, are to go on the run in their east Galway parish as a way of combating the impact of further restrictions on public religious services.

Under Level 3 restrictions no church or faith in Ireland may hold public services, except for weddings and funerals at which attendance is strictly limited

Fr Gerard Geraghty and Rev John Godfrey both minister in the East Galway village of Aughrim and plan to run three kilometres a day to pray for their parishes. They also hope to encourage fitness, well-being, community cohesion and spiritual enrichment, as well as raise money to help with the loss of finance every parish is experiencing.

They intend continuing the run until Level 3 restrictions are eased.

Rev Godfrey, who came up with the idea, believes it could be rolled out across every parish in Ireland.

Fr Geraghty also wants local people to join them.

We learned during the first lockdown just how important it is to look after our mental, physical and spiritual health, he said, so we want local people to join us in doing 3K a day until the churches open again.

Rev Godfrey added that it doesnt matter if you run, walk, cycle, scooter, skip or swim and if three kilometres is too much for you on your own, three people in a household could do a kilometre each. What matters is the spiritual discipline of doing this every day for your local church.

He added that just like other charities, church finances have been hit hard by the pandemic. It was why we are asking people to sponsor the 3K a Day to Pray appeal, as a way of making sure that their local churches have the finances to keep running properly, he said.

Ecumenical collaboration is not new in Aughrim. During recent renovations at St Catherines Catholic Church there, weekly Masses were celebrated at the Church of Ireland Holy Trinity Church and in June of last year both priests jointly led celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Holy Trinity Church.

They also shared a Lenten bible Study earlier this year and are currently working together on plans for the Aughrim Climate Action Park, a community ecological project on church land.

They have organised a Go Fund Me page for those who may wish to donate, at gofundme.com 3K a Day to Pray - Aughrim & Creagh Parish Unions or 3K a Day to Pray - Aughrim & Kilconnell RC Parish.

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Galway clergy pledge to run each day during Level 3 for spiritual and financial reasons - The Irish Times