Portland Center For Spiritual Living Podcast

Faith does not come easily to everybody. Some struggle with the whole concept of a deity even existing, let alone being responsible for all creation. But, why not believe in God? This week, we look at faith and God from a pragmatic perspective.

The Great Thing Itself, what some call “God”, has no name, but goes by at least 1,000 names. We’ll explore the many names for “God” across different faith traditions and what those names tell us about “God”.

Is the course of our lives predetermined; one of fate? How much control do we have? What does that thing we call “God” have to do with it? Come find out as we explore the interplay of life, purpose, and God.

Happy Pride! Today is Pride Day here in Portland. Pride has been a source of confidence, self-respect and solidarity for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community for many years. Sounds like a spiritual practice we could all benefit from! [Oh, if you’re not clear on the whole alphabet soup thing, don’t worry, we’ll explain.]

Selfishness is putting one’s own needs before those of others. This is sometimes necessary, as in self-care. But, can showing care and compassion for others also be selfish? Yes, it’s what the Dalai Lama calls “wise selfishness,” and it’s so much better than regular selfishness.

Earth, Wind, Fire, Water – the four basic elements, each essential to life as we know it. This week, we take a look at the magnificent Intelligence at work in the Universe through the power of these four elements working together to create life.

All humans desire, and ought, to be free. In celebration of Juneteenth and July 4th, we look at the ultimate goal of life for all people, freedom from discord of every sort. And, it just happens to be one of the core principles of our teaching.

Every day, in every way, we are getting better and better, no matter what we think! How can we tone down any negativity in our lives, including negative self talk, so that we can truly live love louder?

What if there were one thing that could solve every problem, no matter what it is? No matter how big? No matter how entrenched? There is – The Golden Key.

Vulnerability is not being weak. Vulnerability is actually essential for real strength.

This week, we look at the profound importance of truth in our lives.

In our teaching, everything is from and of The One Divine Life. If that’s so, then isn’t everything sacred, connected to God in some way? Let’s explore how this expands our concept of what is sacred in our everyday lives.

Rev. Ruth Miller explores the possibility that our life, today, is in a different kind of womb--and we are about to be born.

There is a lot of what appears to be not Love active in our world today. Many of us ask, where is the humanity? It lies with and in us. As we renew our spirits, become our best selves, and have the courage to be non-conformists, we pave the way for more love in the world, a love that resurrects our collective humanity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay entitled “Self-Reliance,” encourages us to be non-conformists, if we are to become our best selves. But, refusing to conform has its risks. How do we muster the courage to be a non-conformist, and be our best selves, in an age of constant pressure to comply?

As we experience constant change in our lives, we get to ask ourselves – Who am I becoming? What is wanting to express through me? This week, we explore how to cultivate becoming our next best self.

Life is cyclical, and sometimes chaotic. We go through periods of growth, hardships, renewal, sometimes in neat orderly cycles, and sometimes it feels like everything is happening all at once – growth in one area of life, decay in another, complete transformation in yet another aspect of life. Here’s the thing – we are changeless and constantly changing at the same time. It’s all part of the renewal of the Spirit within.

The ego gets a bad rap. We spend a lot of time, effort, and spiritual practice trying to not let it lead our lives, and that’s good! But, let’s not get rid of it entirely. The ego has a beneficial purpose. Let’s get to know it and learn from it.

Health includes not only our physical well-being, but also our emotional, mental, financial, and spiritual well-being. And, our body, mind, and spirit are a unity, such that what is good for one aspect of our well-being is probably good for the whole. In that light, we explore the wide array of “good medicine.”