Change of character – Is it possible?

change of character

By Stephen Russell-Lacy New Year resolutions are quickly forgotten. What happened to that plan to gain control over an unhealthy habit? Where did the resolve go to be more tolerant of the noise and untidiness around us? When did we forget we were trying to find time for people who need us? It is all very … Continue reading Change of character – Is it possible?

Religious practice – What is the secret?

Religious practice

By Stephen Russell-Lacy Dogmatic religious believers give religion a bad name.  No wonder then that religious practice sometimes gets equated with hypocrisy and rigid beliefs in outdated doctrine.  Perhaps not surprisingly, researchers persistently find that about 25% to 30% of individuals in Western cultures identify themselves as spiritual but not religious.  The very word ‘religion’ … Continue reading Religious practice – What is the secret?

Inner personal change – How to do it?

inner personal change

By Stephen Russell-Lacy It’s never too late for inner personal change despite our ingrained habits.  We don’t have to reach rock bottom in our lives before making the necessary effort.  Looking at one’s faults can be an uncomfortable business.  The spirit of kindness to oneself is necessary.  This is needed to acknowledge the habitual presence of … Continue reading Inner personal change – How to do it?

Higher self – How to get in touch with it?

Higher self

By Stephen Russell-Lacy Just as there is an ego so there is a higher self.  But what is it? People often think that human beings are inherently good.  And that personal development simply involves getting in touch with one’s true self.  They believe a life, filled with compassion, joy, and peace, defines the true nature of … Continue reading Higher self – How to get in touch with it?

Mental images – Are we responsible for them?

mental images

By Stephen Russell-Lacy Emanuel Swedenborg was an 18th-century Christian mystic. He has something to say about the origin of our mental images. He claimed he could converse with people occupying, what for most of us is usually, a hidden spirit realm. This he termed the ‘spiritual world’. He said this communication took place in full … Continue reading Mental images – Are we responsible for them?

Ego – What causes its illusions?

ego

By Stephen Russell-Lacy As we grow up, we become aware of our being a separate, self-contained individual.  This sense of ego can be a positive thing as with self-development of personal skills, or self-reflection on inner feelings.  The trouble is there is a risk that self-occupied thoughts can also lead us to: Seeing things from … Continue reading Ego – What causes its illusions?

Inner searching – But how?

inner searching

By Stephen Russell-Lacy If we have an inner searching attitude then I’m sure a growing number of higher thoughts will come alive in daily life.  In practical terms, you might help this happen by: Talking about ethical issues with people you know. Reading spiritual books including sacred writings Joining discussion groups concerned with important matters … Continue reading Inner searching – But how?

Are aliens human?

Are aliens human?

By Stephen Russell-Lacy It doesn’t sound so weird these days to talk about intelligent life of aliens. Scientists have discovered not just a few but lots of potentially inhabitable planets outside the solar system. So far they have confirmed 5,506 such planets. Given the size of our galaxy, it is estimated there are 11 billion … Continue reading Are aliens human?

Cheap energy – What’s stopping it?

Cheap energy

By Stephen Russell-Lacy Climate change, risk of nuclear devastation, world poverty and global debt are all things that need to be addressed urgently. Cheap energy would be one important solution. Is the lack of significant progress is creating cheap energy due to random factors or human design? Or a bit of both. Climate change and … Continue reading Cheap energy – What’s stopping it?

Self-observation and spiritual presence

Self-observation talk at Well Spring House

  By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Contents of a talk about self-observation and spiritual presence given at Well Spring House Swedenborg Open Learning Centre 1/7/23 We have a natural tendency for mindless reactivity Jumping to conclusions Travelling to the venue where I presented this talk, I indignantly watched a driver ahead of me stall in the queue … Continue reading Self-observation and spiritual presence