Blogs and forums  top^

Be the Change Interactive Forum

Hosted by CharityFocus, an interactive forum to enable people to contribute in meaningful ways to the world.
CharityFocus website, linked 08/10
http://bethechange.org/

Center for Spiritual Development Blog

Provided to allow the Center for Spiritual Development team to share what they are doing and thinking as their work progresses in order to stimulate dialogue with colleagues in the field.
Website, linked 08/10
http://spiritualdevelopmentcenter.org/blog/qryTopics.asp

Explore Meditation for Spiritual Growth

A meditation and spiritual growth blog with a range of aids for meditation.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.exploremeditation.com/

MetaPleroma.org Forum

A forum covering a wide range of spiritual subjects, hosted by MetaPleroma.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.metapleroma.org/forum/

Patheos (New)

A forum for global dialogue about religion and spirituality and moderated discussions on some of today's most talked about and debated topics.
Website, linked 09/10
http://www.patheos.com/

Rumi Forum

Designed to promote peace in the world and contribute to a peaceful coexistence of the adherents of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, and races.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.rumiforum.org

Service Growth Project

Provides blogs on harmlessness, joy, maturing as humans, our relationship with the universe, and spiritual effectiveness.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.servicegrowth.com/blog

Spiritualblessing

A spiritual development online community offering free psychic and spiritual development classes, resources, forums, and chat rooms to guide you through your spiritual journey. All religions, paths, and ages are welcome here.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.spiritualblessing.org/

Conscious dying  top^

Choosing How to End

A brief article on the process of dying as a powerful learning time during which we have an opportunity to resolve and complete the deepest lessons of our lives.
Lynn Woodland, Hospice website, linked 08/10
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/choosing_how.html

Death and Dying in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition

A short article on the spiritual processes in dying written from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective but useful more broadly.
Ven. Pende Hawter, Buddha Dharma Education Association (Jan 1995), linked 08/10
http://www.buddhanet.net/deathtib.htm

Dying to Live

This article suggests that we each learn how to die in order to live.
Lynne Forrest website, linked 08/10
http://www.lynneforrest.com/html/dying_to_live.html#dying

Finding a Spiritual Companion

An article reviewing the essence of a spiritual companion and how they may assist on life journeys including being present and available for spiritual conversation with those facing and managing life-threatening illness.
Canadian Virtual Hospice website, linked 08/10
http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Topics/Topics/Spiritual+Health/Finding+a+Spiritual+Companion.aspx

Heart Advice on Helping the Dying

Excerpts from "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" on how best to help someone who is dying with that transition.
Rigpa website, linked 08/10
http://www.rigpaus.org/WIR/TBLD/Ch_11.html

Helping a Friend Who Is Dying

A brief article about how to be present with a loved one who is in the final stages of dying.
Alan D. Wolfelt, Hospice website, linked 08/10
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/help_a_friend.html

How Disciples Can Prepare for Transition

An article discussing the two stages of work for disciples after the age of 65 - the Transitional Phase and the Final Phase - and the skills needed for the transition of death.
Dorothy Riddle, Esoteric Quarterly, Winter 2009, linked 08/10
http://www.esotericstudies.net/quarterly/Files040409/EQ040409--Riddle.pdf

International Association for Conscious Dying

An educational institution offering workshops to health care professions on how to care for patients with terminal illnesses compassionately and so that they can face death awake, aware and ready for this liberating experience.
IACD website, linked 08/10
http://www.worldu.net/iacd/statement.htm

Preparing for Approaching Death

An overview of the two parallel processes that form the final stage of dying: the body completes its natural process of shutting down, and the spirit completes its natural process of reconciling and finishing.
Haven Hospice North Florida (1996), linked 08/10
http://www.havenhospice.org/info_signs.html

Spiritual Needs of the Dying: A Buddhist Perspective

A short article on the spiritual needs of the dying written from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective but useful more broadly. When considering the spiritual needs of the dying, the basic principle is to do whatever you can do to help the person die with a calm and peaceful mind, with spiritual/positive thoughts uppermost.
Ven. Pende Hawter, BuddhaNet website (Aug 1995), linked 08/10
http://www.buddhanet.net/spirit_d.htm

Spirituality and Life-Threatening Illness

A brief overview of spiritual challenges and questions one may face dealing with a life-threatening illness.
Canadian Virtual Hospice website, linked 08/10
http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Topics/Topics/Spiritual+Health/Spirituality+and+Life_Threatening+Illness.aspx

Understanding Death

Excerpts from "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" regarding the nature of death.
Rigpa website, linked 08/10
http://www.rigpaus.org/WIR/TBLD/Understanding_death.html

What Is Death?

A brief article on the purpose and three stages of death from the perspective of the ageless wisdom teachings.
Paul Dempsey, School for Esoteric Studies website, linked 08/10
http://www.esotericstudies.net/articles/death-dempsey.pdf

Generating goodwill  top^

Affirmation of Goodwill

A personal affirmation of accepting responsibility for establishing right human relations and working actively with the principles of unity and goodwill.
Lucis Trust website, linked 08/10
http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/e_pamphlets/an_affirmation_of_goodwill

Energy of Goodwill

An excellent summary article on the meaning of, and need for, goodwill.
Lucis Trust website, linked 08/10
http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/e_pamphlets/energy_of_goodwill

Triangles: A Network of Light and Goodwill

Explains the triangles work that is shared by tens of thousands of persons from different spiritual and religious traditions to generate goodwill.
Lucis Trust website, linked 08/10
http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/e_pamphlets/triangles

Spiritual journaling  top^

Conversations Within

An on-line workshop on journal writing, using a journal as a 'mirror to the self.'
Website, Gerry Starnes, linked 08/10
http://www.journal-writing.com/index.html

Journaling: A Tool For Your Spirit

A brief article on the benefits of personal journaling to help you discover the wisdom you already possess.
Journal For You website, Susie Michelle Cortright, linked 08/10
http://www.journalforyou.com/full_article.php?article_id=7

Keeping a Journal: 10 Techniques

Ten techniques for journaling can help supplement your personal history, many of which you're probably already doing.
About.com website, Rachel Woods, linked 08/10
http://lds.about.com/od/1/a/les_journal.htm

Spiritual Journaling - Three Books to Assist Your Quest

A review of three well-known books on journaling, providing some good basic journaling information.
Ezine Articles website, Cheryl A. Chatfield, linked 08/10
http://ezinearticles.com/?Spiritual-Journaling---Three-Books-to-Assist-Your-Quest&id=2041608

Writing the Journey: The Spirituality Journal

Material presenting the spirituality journal as containing three main sections - your spiritual heritage, your present spiritual identity, and where you would like to grow from here.
Soulful Living website, Ray Whiting, linked 08/10
http://www.soulfulliving.com/spiritualityjournaling.htm

Stages in our spiritual journey  top^

Exploring Spirituality

An article, based on Maria Montessori's vision and lectures, reviewing the role of the classroom environment, the importance of freedom, and the value of work as contributing factors in nurturing the spirit of the child.
Montessori Life, 2009, by Cathleen Haskins, linked 08/10
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4097/is_200901/ai_n31512421/?tag=content;col1

Science of the Soul

A synposis of the spiritual evolutionary process described in the ageless wisdom as the integration of the physical, emotional, and mental bodies into the personality, which then integrates with the soul.
Corinne McLaughlin, WSI website, linked 08/10
http://www.visionarylead.org/articles/sos.htm

Spirituality and Practice

Devoted to resources for spiritual journeys, including an alphabet of essential practices of the spiritual life.
Website, linked 08/10
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/

Transformation: The Goal of the Spiritual Path

A short article describing the three-stage process, according to the ageless wisdom, by which a human being becomes a spiritual being: transmutation, transformation, and transfiguration.
Nancy Seifer and Martin Vieweg, linked 08/10
http://www.whenthesoulawakens.org/index.php?page_id=268

Towards synthesis  top^

Ashram of Synthesis: Building the New Civilization

An overview of the transitional process for Humanity as we move towards a "consensus reality" and conscious functioning in line with key laws and principles, namely: the Principle of Essential Divinity and the Law of Spiritual Approach; the Principle of Unanimity and the Law of Group Endeavor; and the Principle of Goodwill and the Law of Right Human Relations.
Gordon Davidson, WSI website, linked 08/10
http://www.synthesis.tc/Articles/AshramOfSynthesis.htm

Online Labyrinth

This contemporary online version of a 12th-century ritual includes music, meditations, art, media, and symbolic activities at intervals along the path. The path has three stages: the "inward" journey (letting go of things that hinder our wholeness, the center (a space of meditative prayer and peace), and the "outward" journey (relationship with self and others).
Labyrinth website, linked 08/10
http://www.yfc.co.uk/labyrinth/online.html

Pyschosynthesis

An excellent source of information about psychosynthesis, an approach to human development fostered by Roberto Assagioli, where the focus is to achieve a synthesis of the various parts of an individual's personality and to affirm the spiritual dimension of the person as a source of wisdom, inspiration, unconditional love, and the will to meaning in our lives.
Website, linked 08/10
http://two.not2.org/psychosynthesis/index.htm

Spiritual Renaissance

A thoughtful piece on the move towards synthesis among religious and spiritual traditions.
Lucis Trust website, linked 08/10
http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/e_pamphlets/a_spiritual_renaissance

Synthesis

A selection of quotations on synthesis from the Agni Yoga Series.
Agni Yoga Society (2007), linked 08/10
http://www.agniyoga.org/ay_talks/ay_talks_f2007_synthesis.html

Walking the Labyrinth

A brief article explaining the labyrinth, its history, and use in spiritual reflection.
About.com website, Wendy Bumgardner, linked 08/10
http://walking.about.com/od/mindandspirit/a/labyrinth.htm

What Is Synthesis?

A brief article that explains synthesis as the result of a creative tension that forces polar opposites to "integrate into a more expansive, fuller life, into a superior reality that contains them and at the same time transcends them."
Roberto Assagioli, Psychosynthesis website, linked 08/10
http://two.not2.org/psychosynthesis/articles/whatissynthesis.pdf

Understanding service  top^

Service

A brief talk on service from the Agni Yoga Series.
Agni Yoga Society (2004), linked 08/10
http://www.agniyoga.org/ay_talks/ay_talks_service_f2004.html

Serving With the Power of the Mind

A brief article discussing true service as originating from an impulse on the higher mental plane, with outer action grounded in inner subjective work.
Luisa Romero de Johnston, School for Esoteric Studies website, linked 08/10
http://www.esotericstudies.net/articles/serving-power-mind-romero.pdf

Spiritual Rx Prescriptions Chart

Provides an alphabet of 37 essential practices of the spiritual life with basic practice overviews, as well as additional resources related directly to each practice.
Spirituality & Practice website, linked 08/10
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/chart.php

Three Keys to Service

An overview of the importance of an awareness of the divine Reality, the Heart connection, and being able to work with others in order to be of service.
Esoteric Publishing website, linked 08/10
http://www.esotericpublishing.com/discipleship/three_keys_to_service.html