On December 29, 2023 June Edwards and I spoke a lot about relationships including how she sees the framing of soul mates, twin flames and karmic relationships; the lessons of self-worth, trust and communication, unconditional love, money and balance, and patience. We go deeper into growth, self-love, purpose, effective communication in relationships, and relationship lessons learned. We also get into: growth, plans, service to others, letting go, non-clinging, and more
About June Edward
I was a life long entrepreneur who was born with a lot of psychic abilities. Once they opened fully, I had no choice but to get training to control them. I have worked with several famous paranormal groups and authors. I have assisted on several missing person cases, and am the author of several books, and the Relationship Mastery Program, that helps people understand how energy works, get in touch with their own soul, and change by seeing life from a higher perspective.
Biography
June Edward has been psychic since a child; however she didn’t realize she was also a medium until later in life. Some of her gifts have been passed on, since her mother was also a medium. She also passed to the other side herself when she was 27 years old, and came back to this side by choice. She can offer firsthand experience that Life after Life does exist! She has a 100% success rate in bringing through souls from the other side, to give closure and help loved ones heal on both sides. Her sold out group readings can help give insight as to what’s going on in your life, and help to see what the Universe has in store.
June’s special gifts include working directly with the Angels, Guides and departed Souls. Combined these tools have made her a very strong and accurate psychic and trance medium, able to bring through validating details to prove the connection and messages from the other side.
June believes that her job as a psychic medium is not only to help those connect with their loved ones, and heal both sides, but to help encourage others to embrace this life, and be thankful for all the gifts they receive in their life every day!
In this sixteenth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we chat about what it’s like maintaining a consistent formal (international) mediation practice in/given sometimes significantly fluctuating and uncertain conditions. We also touch on some everyday meditative techniques possible outside of more formal sitting practice including various types of laying down, standing, and walking meditations as well as mindfulness of seeing (and looking). We emphasize how helpful it is sometimes, especially in certain conditions and circumstances, to change the view and relationship to our challenges. Safety, retreat, gender are a few more topics amongst others we weave, or stray into
*There’s naturally an ongoing open call for meditation (related) questions for the (roughly) monthly “Meditation Q & A” either by the various social media means listed; integratingpresence[at]protonmail.com or just showing to type/ask live.*
Background
Regular, current and past visitors to Integrating Presence may recall the monthly series “Ask Us Anything” I did with Denny K Miu from August 2020 until January 2022 — partially including and continuing on with Lydia Grace as co-host for awhile until March 2022.
For a fewmonthsthereafter I did various Insight Timer live events exploring potential new directions and/or a continuation of the Ask Us Anything format while weaving in other related teachings to these events.
Then, after chats with meditation coach Wendy Nash, it became clear to start a new collaboration similar to “Ask Us Anything” simply and clearly called “Meditation Q & A” especially due to the original intent of the Ask Us Anything’s being “discussions about meditation and related topics.”
On December 19, 2023 John Lawyer and I talked about approaches to healing from various forms of trauma, time, the nature of reality, beliefs, awakening, purpose, spiritual community, intelligence, discernment, the complexity of war and violence, changing ourselves to change the world, and more
Biography
From desert combat zones to a battle within, John Lawyer transformed from soldier to spiritual seeker. He acts as one of several guides for Kishar, a non-profit online spiritual community for people to share their journey and explore their own unique spiritual path. John is an Omnist and believes in the validity of great human thought from around the world and across time. He offers individual spiritual coaching and guidance services as part of the Kishar Spiritual Community.
About John Lawyer
My story is somewhat unique and I tell it fairly well. The transition from a warrior in Kuwait, Baghdad and Kandahar over many years to a spiritualist and universalist is a powerful narrative.
I was a counterintelligence special agent when I was in the Army and also an asymmetric warfare specialist responsible for coordinating various operations for a special USAF unit in Afghanistan for six years.
So I’ve gone from receiving a bronze star for counterterrorism operations to walking through a swamp of sadness to an amazing path of spiritual healing and awareness.
What and where are the oldest surviving copies of the Lanka?
Do we have any idea of how many alterations it went through before the most original source copies we have now?
Isn’t the notion that everything beings experience — described again and again in the Lanka — as merely “projections that are perceptions of their own minds” itself a projection that is perception of the mind?
Does, or could viewing everything as a projection that is a perception of one’s own mind neglect that which is our relative / consensual reality (in an impractical, irresponsible way)?
What then is the best way to bridge such (a) profound realization with our everyday lives?
How does reality differ for Yakshas/yakkhas vs humans (as this sutra opens Ravana, ruler of the yakshas)?
For example, is what’s (more) relevant in one realm not in the other?
What all differs on the wheel of dependent origination for 4 aggregate beings in formless realms vs 5 aggregate beings (other than namarupa)?
If everything “is merely a matter of projections, which are themselves nothing but perceptions of the mind,” and put another way just “habit-energy of projections of the beginningless past” how does this address abhidhamma teachings of the four types of kalapas or ultimate materiality? [Other than mind born kalapas there’s also said to be fire born, kamma born and nutriment born kalapas]
How can we best address the paradox of having to deeply discriminate in order to know there is nothing to discriminate or that such a thing as this is an illusion?
How ought we best go about (not) having this notion of “everything is an illusion” as an excuse for harmful actions?
How are manas consciousness and alaya consciousness not conceptual (consciousnesses)?
If everything is a projection of the mind why aren’t there weirder things in the world due to (instant) “manifestations”? And why does it (then) seem so challenging for many to “manifest” things?
How does the notion of “projections of one’s own mind” work with not-self? If there’s not a self who, or what, or where do the (mind) projections come from? And how? Projected on to what, or where?
What are the origins of perception and mind?
How does “everything is a perception of one’s mind” differ from the perception of the skandhas?
About truth:
“If they [tathagatas] taught the truth / in beings’ minds would be no truth” <– does this mean truth wouldn’t take or stick in the mind of beings?
Also: “. . . but nothing I reveal is real.” <– Does this then negate everything mentioned in the Lanka? Why?
The statement of “Akanishtha Heaven is the highest heaven in the realm of form. It is also the place where buddhas are enlightened and where they are said to attain their sambhoga–kaya, or body of realization.” What does Theravada say about this? How can a Buddha not already be enlightened before getting into that heaven? Or does this mean this Akanishtha Heaven is the place where buddhas are enlightened before entering into final human birth to attain Buddhahood? Or something else?
How and why have beings forsaken their good roots? How does this work? How does the process of a Buddha returning a being’s good roots happen?:
Mahamati, what is meant by forsaking good roots? This refers to slandering the bodhisattva canon247 and falsely claiming it is not in accord with the teachings of liberation in the sutras or in the vinaya.
Pine, Red. The Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary (p. 101). Counterpoint. Kindle Edition.
Who or what transcends?
Does the the emptiness of mutual exclusion — “the emptiness of this not applying to that” apply to the concept of tathagata-garbha? If so how?
[Why is tathagata-garbha sometimes hyphenated and sometimes not in this translation?]
Are the concepts of five lineages of realization, habit-energy, repository consciousness, transcendence, emptiness, non-arising, non-dualism, and being devoid of self-existence also a projection of one’s mind?
If there’s not even mind (because how can mind be proved?) how can there be the perception and/or misperception of anything, even illusions, ie. how is there even the possibility of experiencing what’s deemed illusionary?
If phenomena are “projections of one’s own mind” why not more projections of non-affliction, happiness, and good stuff in this world?
What does this mean:
5. Cessation is unceasing / one thought follows another / before they focus on form / on what do they depend to arise
6. Because this arises from that / arising from what isn’t real / how could something be momentary / if it was never complete
Selection from part LXXXVII of The Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary by Red Pine (p. 259). Counterpoint. Kindle Edition.
On December 16, 2023 Denise and I spoke much about the subconscious healing technique with various real life examples from her work; impact of childhood experiences; identifying archetypes, emotional patterning, beliefs, storylines; NLP; change; negativity bias; emotional scale; trauma; “I am” and “I can” statements; therapy; worthiness; the importance of enjoyment in starting a regular, consistent meditation practice; and plenty more
D Miceli Bio
Denise Miceli is an inspiring empathic guide, coach, and mentor in creating space for change and positive growth. She is known for her talent in energy healing, intuitive hot-seat coaching, and teaching new ways of accessing authenticity. Denise feels called to share her strategies and methods of self-awareness through subconscious healing, meditation, breathwork, and body-mind release, for continual self-reflection and growth. Her lifelong love of learning and sharing knowledge in manageable bites allows learning to occur naturally. She holds a supportive container for those ready to heal and allow their soul the freedom to awaken their infinite potential.
After enduring a difficult dark night journey, Denise cleared traumatic memories and emotional patterns that blocked her authentic self using subconscious healing. She has since been inspired to share this excellent healing modality. Denise transformed her health coaching business into Rock Your Blocks intuitive life coaching in 2023 after 25 years of teaching and guiding individuals and groups in improvement, health, and wellness. She holds degrees in Mental Health, Leadership and is a certified MAP Practitioner and health coach.
She now joyfully creates and publishes articles, audio, video, and healing collectives to share, inspire, and engage others in healing, personal growth, spirituality, and creating the life of their dreams. She is a compassionate, empathic soul that has a finely tuned intuitive sense that embodies the work of helping others connect with their soul’s purpose.
On December 11, 2023 Antonia and I dug into: how love is what’s underneath after clearing and healing pain; pain existing where consciousness doesn’t flow; being more creative on how to see beyond pain; noticing how pain changes; is pain real; not believing the story of pain; our relationships to pain; fear, shame, rage, resistance; buying out of identifications; clinging; outdated belief systems falsely posing as love; anger; boundaries; power of presence and attention; using spaciousness of meditation to bridge to higher realities
About
I am Antonia, and I assist people in seeing ancient stories of pain and separation. This pain is where we hold the 3rd dimension in our bodies, but to see it is to dissolve it. I help you dismantle the pain infrastructure through sharing energies of deep seeing as beneath the pain is your connection to your creativity and to our collective. I am here to share the energy of awareness and a vision into yourself and your connection to all. We are not separate; only our pain tells us we are. I invite you to walk with me on an often uncomfortable but magical journey into your next reality. It’s not an easy path because we must see our pain for what it really is. This is the alchemy of awareness. This is the transmutation of pain into love and dark into light. This is the next dimension.
Biography
Antonia’s accelerated transformation started in 2006 when she discovered her capacity to dissolve lifetimes of pain in her own body through a harrowing journey inward. Raising the vibration by inviting a deep seeing of the truth of pain, she now assists clients in enabling their process of dissolution of ancient trauma stories.
Antonia spent the early decades building up knowledge, intellect, data, and credibility. Now she is learning to unlearn. To expand awareness, she disassembles the infrastructure of the mind and surrenders it to the heart. As an integrative therapist, she blends Western modalities of therapeutic relationship with the metaphysical transmutation of the trauma of separation. Antonia helps people see the pain as a signal and opportunity for expansion; to bring awareness to pain and integrate our hidden suffering into the greater whole. She takes people into deeper levels of seeing and knowing through her one-on-one healing sessions, online modules, workshops, and retreats.
Her goal is to assist healers, seekers, and psychonauts get ready for a wave of healing as our collective, ancient traumas surface more rapidly and readily on our path to the next reality. This is her passion. This is her destiny. This is her collective.
By relics I mean the physical anomalies left behind after cremation. Likely among various other places such objects can be found today on the altars and shrines of various Buddhist monasteries and temples as I have seen close up for myself.
I don’t advocate associating these objects with any kind of worship or superstition nor leading to any trace of division amongst beings whatsoever. Could and/or would it be skillful and wise to look deeper than faith strengtheners?
Then after conversing with a few folks about this including a novice monk I’ve decided to release some of these curiosities as questions. While I would gladly accept, I make no claims to the following ideas nor request any recognition:
Could / would it make sense to allow something like a documentary film crew (approved by the monastic community who would also approve of any public release) — or just a sangha member filming (initially) for internal use — to film a prominent monastic cremation along with any anomalous “unexplained” substances in the ashes?
Where there any unusual physical / bodily phenomena or features reported while still alive? (This question would be to investigate any possible precursors to any post cremated (anomalous) relics / substances)
Could / would it make sense to afterwards submit (some of the) unknown substances to a lab for spectrum analysis and DNA testing; perhaps doing so initially without any agenda, just to have the data?
[Later the monastic community could decide what to do or not do with the data. Some possibilities include releasing the raw data — with or without any purposes — to very specialized researchers / projects and even releasing data to the general public.]
Or perhaps provide the data to any interested Ajahns writing about this as a topic on its own, or more likely as minor supports for other written works.
Spectrum analysis and DNA testing like this could also be done with existing relics / substances. It may also be possible to do such testing in various ways like via a lay supporters and maybe even without being required to explain what’s being tested, of course without any deception or falsehoods, in order to minimize biases via the “blind” and/or “double blind” methodology
This is a very niche thing these days with likely little interest, especially within Buddhism. What’s the importance or lack of importance here? What about any challenges, potential issues and benefits?
In this fifteenth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we explore meditation retreats both from our lived experience and otherwise including formally, informally, attending, teaching, what to look for, what’s important, what happens internally and externally, and how retreats “change” us and the world around us.
Somewhat related talk mentioning retreats:
(Ways to) join these Q & A’s when they happen live:
*There’s naturally an ongoing open call for meditation (related) questions for the (roughly) monthly “Meditation Q & A” either by the various social media means listed; integratingpresence[at]protonmail.com or just showing to type/ask live.*
Background
Regular, current and past visitors to Integrating Presence may recall the monthly series “Ask Us Anything” I did with Denny K Miu from August 2020 until January 2022 — partially including and continuing on with Lydia Grace as co-host for awhile until March 2022.
For a fewmonthsthereafter I did various Insight Timer live events exploring potential new directions and/or a continuation of the Ask Us Anything format while weaving in other related teachings to these events.
Then, after chats with meditation coach Wendy Nash, it became clear to start a new collaboration similar to “Ask Us Anything” simply and clearly called “Meditation Q & A” especially due to the original intent of the Ask Us Anything’s being “discussions about meditation and related topics.”
The December 1, 2023 Insight Timer live event description:
Inspired by a few months of monastery life in the UK, for 15 minutes or so let’s hash out these three qualities — of kindness, confidence and authenticity — pertinent for England and quite a few other walks of life
This is for anyone even remotely serious about Disclosure who’s already somewhat familiar with the governmental and “Truth Movement” or “alt media” approaches and who’s ready to get more expansive and deeper with firsthand otherworldly accounts as well as the resultant higher perspectives, analysis, wisdom and skillsets
Here’s the full HAL Processes to Full Disclosure playlist:
One can receive training to be able to do stuff like this as well as instruction for even more worthwhile work through Randi’s Higher Awareness Lifestyle Academy (HAL):
The HAL Transition Science Courses 1-7
HAL Basic & Advanced Clearing Work
Some immediate visuals from HAL Hidden History Illustrated:
Integrating Presence 