February
2015
Newsletter
MEYER LEMON COCONUT CREAM TARTS with MINT + LAVENDER
Delicious delicacies to tempt the taste buds. 

Try this fantastic recipe available here, from This Rawsome Vegan Life.
Christine Breese, Ph.D.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT UMS

" The coursework meditations at UMS has given me inspiration to aspire to the highest level of my being through service to humanity with a career as a holistic spiritual counselor.  I have never felt so blessed to be a student. My perception of life has changed. I've learned that life is not random at all, but perfectly designed by the Holy and Divine Creator. I have increased perception, tolerance and compassion for the differences in others. "
-Sophie Motley

"The meditations and spiritual exercises have allowed me to look at life differently, with a different viewpoint.  I have learned so much about myself and you gave me the tools to apply what I have learned to so many different aspects of my life. I do not take things so personally as I now realize there is a much 'bigger picture'. I realize that together we can change the mass consciousness, globally and cosmically. This is a new focus for me."

-Wendy 



" I have an enthusiasm that

I didn't have before, and am certainly more knowledgeable and passionate than before I started this course."

-Kara Cavanaugh

 

 

 "My coursework has given me a full spectrum of relevant metaphysical topics that range from nutrition to psychic powers. This integrative approach to UMS education has raised my consciousness in understanding the harmonic nature of the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual to personality. When I'm in contact with others, I hold this understanding in mind which helps them, in turn, understand their own multi-dimensional selves."

-Antero Manuel Barroso

Newsletter looking for Student Submissions

Do you have a submission for our newsletter?

 

Ideas? Comments? Feedback? Questions?    

 

We publish our school newsletter every month around the new moon, and are super excited about this publication as a way of sharing thoughts and inspiration from our students, and keeping our network aware of our goals and happenings. 

Please feel free to submit any work you feel might be appropriate (such as poetry, artwork or articles) to the email address, newsletter@umsonline.org.  

We look forward to receiving your submissions

and

integrating the knowledge and creativity of students into our publication.
Gaia Sagrada Retreat Schedule
Breathing Through Busy-
  by, Elizabeth Erenberger

Phew, February! As some of you might have noticed, our newsletter is a little behind schedule this month. This new moon has been a busy one here at University of Metaphysical Sciences, and it seems for many of you as well. 
So much is unfolding, and the earth is ripe with new possibilities. Our friends and families are all a buzz, and our talents and skills are needed now more than ever.
How do we remember in each moment, our role as spiritual teacher? How do we uphold the path which we have chosen for ourselves as the spiritual rock for so many in need? The answers are in our breath.
Many of us practice mindful breath when we are calm or meditating. But breath can often be the last thing we think of when we are scared or hurting.

Breath is the grounding life force. It has the power to bring us back into our bodies, and the power to take us back out. Breath is reassurance we are still alive, and therefore, "ok". In those moments of adversity our bodies contract, and our natural functions slow down and stagnate. 
Want to be your own wizard? Next time you get some news you weren't quite prepared for, stop yourself before you let the wave of emotions be your guide. Center, breathe, calm yourself with kind reassuring words that you will indeed be ok, and that life is unfolding your perfect journey in ways you can't yet imagine. Often all we really need to offer our loved ones is witness to their fears, the validity of being heard. 
Remember, you are the force which can calm, console, and comfort. You are the source; all that is, all that was, all that will be. Breath it in.
Featured Student Project
"The woman is me basking in the light from the tree illuminating to the right (the creative side). The tree of knowledge is large and its leaves (information) are forever moving across the sky. I am heading toward the tree while approaching the smaller trees representing lessons to be learned on the journey/path to more knowledge." -J. Winters  
Tree of Knowledge Painting by Jude Winters
"I started painting, didn't feel the message was conveying what I was feeling, so painted over top until I let go and let spirit take over. Interesting change in the paint stroke technique, and excitement as I started to see the message portrayed on canvass in a manner I hadn't planned. Much happier with the end result and the ease in which it morphed once I stopped trying to control each paint stroke and let spirit take over the paint brush."
New Spiritual Counseling Course at UMS
"To aid others on their unfolding paths of awakening is to help humanity as a whole go through the shift that is occurring at this time."
The Web of Unconscious Connections
(We are One) Computer Art
by UMS Student, Emanuel Gutierrez

We are excited to begin offering our newest master's level course,
Spiritual Counseling. This course is replacing
Channeling Skills II.

Spiritual Counseling was written by Laurel Sherer, who has contributed several courses previously, including
Herbs: A Spiritual Approach,
Finding your Life Purpose, and
Nutrition: Spiritual Eating and Cooking. Laurel has a Master's in Social Work. In this course she shares her research and personal knowledge of the importance of spiritual counseling, the differences and similarities between spiritual counseling and traditional counseling, the ethics involved, and many theories and tools for use in a spiritual counseling practice.
 
Holidays Around the World  by Elizabeth Erenberger
2015-Year of the Wood Goat/Sheep
February is a powerful month in which many cultural and religious holidays happen around the world. We have now moved into lent, and the Chinese, Buddhist, and Aztec New Years have begun.

We here at UMS, feel so proud to be a uniting force across the denominational divides, celebrating, and encouraging expression of the spirituality of students from around the globe. 
While our courses provide a wealth of information on different religions and their values, there is always more research that can be done to better understand the beliefs of others.

As an individual I strongly encourage you to try a religious ceremony this year that perhaps you never explored. Open your heart to those of other faiths, and become genuinely interested in what they practice, believe and know. We all have lessons to teach each other, and learning to love across all boundaries can add to the healing of the greater consciousness.

Deep selfless inquiry into the mystery of others makes more friends than not. We are the wizards and we are the witches; we are the flame eternal and pure. We cannot fully be of love until we accept and acknowledge, let us peacefully appreciate the diversity of this human experience.
Namaste
                ____________________________________________________
Student Artwork Inspired by a Dynamic Seminar
Artwork by, UMS Student Edward Anderson (Click to see artisit's website)

Spiritual Message:

  "There is always the golden ray of enlightenment among the lightness, the darkness, and the love.  It is just a small part of everything, but a great place to be in."


"I was on the New Year meditation call with Christine.  We were on the Q &A part, as I was listening I felt the need to open my fractal art program.  This is what came out of it.  I love making mandalas, I feel that this is one of my best ones yet." -E.Anderson

Gaia Sagrada: 
A Safe Sacred Space for Transformative,
Personalized Healing

 
Folks are talking, and the votes are in. Participants just can't stop raving about the
Gaia Sagrada experience. Have you been looking for an adventure to make this new year one unlike any other? Why not come bask in the sun; with like minds, powerful shamans, and the founder of our school, Dr. Christine Breese.

If you are ready to open your heart, to invite healing into your life, this is something you'll want to explore. Come learn from the medicines of the plants, and the ancients.
Come experience the serenity of the mystical tropical wild land's and make friendships that will last a lifetime. 
 
"There were no corners cut in the creation of this magnificent center. It's beautiful."  
 -Trace Miller, Gaia Sagrada Retreat Participant

Learn more about our retreat center at gaiasagrada.com .
Check out the monthly blog for more insight on the latest news from Gaia
(Ad created by, Elizabeth Erenberger)

Love and Light  

A Poem by UMS Student Julie Loukus

  

If it is all about yin and yang and balance and flow, 
then, when peace is made more bombs will blow.

If it is all about being politically correct, 
then both of New York's Twin Towers would still be erect.

If it is all about everything being equally black and white, 
then our laws wouldn't be laced with only shades of ambiguous gray 
and would actually support what is right!

If the sky was only blue and the grass always green, 
then people would have no reason to be so mean.

So for those of you who only follow the universal flow, 
then you could find yourself stuck into one cycle of life 
with nowhere else to go.
 
If you don't fight the current and try to understand the essence of your soul, 
then you may find yourself losing focus and living out robotic days with no spiritual goal.

And when your gut feeling reminds you that there is more to life, 
Explore where this notion comes from and then what it means into afterlife.

Now your head is spinning and yoga instructor preaches following Buddha, 
while others starve your brain of oxygen like a Barracuda.

Some people feel there is no hope, and go through the motions of day, 
remember to eat right, hug their loved ones and never once pausing to pray.

And as time goes on, the darkness offers no hope 
so many will still forget God and choose to follow their horoscope.

The drumming in your head is pounding and your breath is weak 
Once strong, now nothing but weak.

The days seem so long and air so dry, 
and now nothing is left in your heart to even be able to cry.

You look to the left and then the right, 
all you do is feel cornered, and prepare to fight.

You feel trapped like a bird in a rusty cage, 
and the more you contemplate your option, the more you fill with rage.

Still, forgetting to seek God's grace in light and love, 
you now turn towards ways to face hell... still ignoring the power and support from heaven above.

There is a knock at your door and so you cock your loaded gun 
there, in your face, is a middle eastern nun.

She tells you she is Persian and asking people to worship the moon 
and if you ignore her warning, days before your death will be only filled with gloom.

Now your brain is in overdrive and you have no where to turn 
you contemplate the temperature of hell and how fast you'll burn.

All these options to choose from and no one is right,
Then, you see a white dove fly... leading your eyes towards the light.

 
Your eyes drop salt water and your heart begins to pound,
 and in that moment, the earth was beautiful and not just a battleground.
 
You felt this hint of hope and dash of joy
and in that moment you knew there was so much left in life to enjoy.
 
You closed that door and dropped to your knees
and bowed your head contemplating how you could secure these positive guarantees.
 
And then your heart warmed and instead of worrying about darkness, you looked towards the light,
This simple prayer offered more to your days than preparing to fight.
 
Light and love filled your veins and you felt so surreal,
You prayed out for the first time for God to reveal. 
 
Your hands begin to tingle and heat with perfection.
You intuitively placed them together and felt your solar plexus radiate like the sun.
 
All these past years of following flow was missing one thing,
the belief in God's love and light was how to bring upswing.
 
God's people may need love, balance, and yoga hereof,
and when we honor ourselves and each other... we honor God's light and love...
 
There is MORE than balance here on earth.
God's light and love radiates throughout and beyond this entire UNIVERSE!