Common Ground North Pembrokeshire

I’m glad to announce the Common Groundwebsite is up and running again, although not perfectly as yet. There are many  events coming up -you can see details of on the Events page.

Blessings,
Don MacGregor

‘Open Way’ starts on 2nd Nov at Llanrhian church hall, 7.30pm – a new venture rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition, but bringing in other strands of wisdom. It will be on the first and third Wednesdays each month, i.e. November 2nd and 16th

There are two Gong Bath events coming up in November in Haverfordwest and St Dogmael’s

12th November: Yin Yoga starts at Croesgoch School

22nd November: “The Power of Contagious Thinking” with David Hamilton in Queen’s Hall Narberth

23 November 2011 – Day of Refreshment for the Soul – St Davids Cathedral

Go to Events for details

The Spirituality of Food

The next ‘Day of Refreshment for the Soul’ in St Davids Cathedral Cloisters is on Wednesday 13th July from 10am to 4pm. Revd Dr Ann Paton (from the USA) and Revd Enid Morgan will lead the day with the theme: “The Spirituality of Food”
Anyone wishing to book a place should contact John Bennett, johns.bennett@virgin.net
Cost: £5, drinks provided. Bring own lunch or purchase at The Refectory

Breathing Space

Please also note: “Breathing Space” – a shared time for rest, reflection and quiet prayer in St Davids Cathedral Lady Chapel.
Every Thursday, 2-3pm, 9th June to 8th September 2011. You are welcome to stay for the hour or for a shorter time. Everyone is welcome.

Click here for directions

The Evolutionary Consciousness Day held at Trevaccoon proved to be an inspirational day for us all. About 50 people came from places near and far, with a wide range of interests and involvement in all sorts of different organisations, but united in the common theme of ‘evolutionary consciousness’. Trevaccoon hosted us beautifully, and the weather was kind. Much of the time was spent in groups sharing from our own awareness of the global shift in consciousness that seems to be happening. Many positive connections were made which we carry forward.
Some notes from the two main speakers give a flavour of the day:

David Karchere: Many feel caught in the spin of the world, with all the financial and ecological implications at present. There is a risk for humanity, but something marvellous also – there needs to be a shift in consciousness and awareness that we are not individuals, we are connected, we are one, and our fulfilment and destiny is together. The way in which we individually think and act affects the energy field for all of us. There needs to be a shift from the victim mentality of “The world is happening to me” to “We are happening to the world”. To be thankful is challenging, but we must live with an ‘attitude of gratitude’, and transform ourselves from victims to creators. We are creating something and we have choices about what we thing and feel – if we create consciously we can bring blessing. There is a lever in each of us that needs to move so that we can create consciously.

Don MacGregor: Don spoke of three areas of scientific understanding that have shifted his religious views. Firstly, the idea from quantum physics that consciousness preceeds matter, and the prime mover in the universe is consciousness. It is the ground of being from which everything emerges, like a divine matrix. The potential for the human being is that when we can put the ego, the self-conscious nature, down, we can become one again with that divine consciousness. Secondly, epigenetics has shown that we have a huge influence over which of our genes are ‘switched on’ by what we think and feel, and by the energetic fields of others as well. This opens the door to new ways of thinking about subtle healing energies, the power of prayer and intention, and places the responsibility for our own health firmly back in our laps. Thirdly, the theory of morphic resonance, that everything we do affects the morphic field for humanity, has profound implications for interpreting the life and death of Jesus the Christ as well as many other spiritual persons. He then outlined some of the ways in which these theories have changed his thinking about Christianity. Essentially, it is the path of transformative love, living from a core of compassionate consciousness that is God.

Coming Up (click on event for details):

Hopefully, in June, we shall be joining with the local GreenSpirit group for a Summer Solstice evening – more news soon.

A new group has started practicing Bio-Energy Shaking Meditation, every Wednesday at 7pm in St Nicholas Village Hall. This is a practice which is known in many ancient traditions. It aims to undo whatever blocks the free movement of energy in our bodies. For more information call Shayne on 07802287988 or Jonathan on 07776137171, or visit www.ratubagus.com  

The West Wales Pilgrimage is set for July 26th to 29th – Tuesday through to Friday. This Pilgrimage celebrating The Wrekin’s Trust’s 40th Anniversary takes pilgrims across The Golden Way, in the Preseli Mountains. Day two pilgrims visit Nevern Church and the Pilgrim’s Cross, lunch at the Castle and finally on to CarnIngli -Mountain of the Angels. The Pilgrimage comes to completion on Friday 29th July at The Temple of Unconditional Love in Brithdir Mawr. If you would like to join the Pilgrimage or want further information or flyers please contact  Karen Bishop: multikaren@yahoo.com

Open Forum

Our next Open Forum is on Saturday 12th March at Letterston Memorial Hall as usual. We shall be discussing the question ‘Who or what has inspired our spiritual journey?’ Full details of this and other upcoming events can be found by clicking on the links below.

7 March 2011	‘The Heart of Christianity’	St Mary’s Hall, Fishguard
12 March 2011	Common Ground Open Forum	Letterston Memorial Hall
16 March 2011	Days of Refreshment for the Soul	St Davids Cathedral
16 April 2011	Evolutionary Consciousness Day	Trevaccoon Country House

Radio Interview

Don MacGregor was interviewed recently by an American internet radio programme called “Contact Talk Radio”. He was talking about the book he is writing, which takes some new scientific insights that have relevance to spirituality, and applies them to a new and quite controversial understanding of God, Jesus and humanity. The radio chat with Larry Pearlman is punctuated with some very American adverts, but you can listen to it at http://feeds.feedburner.com/LarryPearlman

UK CENSUS 27 MARCH – WHAT WILL YOU PUT IN THE RELIGION BOX?

 You might be interested in this important campaign, which suggests that people might write ‘holistic’ in the Religion Box of the forthcoming UK Census — the word ‘holistic’ being shorthand for an approach that is open-hearted, open-minded and respecting the essence of all spiritual traditions.
 For more information visit http://www.whyholistic.org

 Additional information:

‘Holistic’ may not seem to be exactly the right word for you, but because of the way in which the government will analyse the statistics, it is important that the same word is used.  390,000 people put ‘Jedi’ in the last Census – which was a good protest and gesture, but was unfortunately a wasted opportunity, because it had no coherent rationale and was not taken seriously. 

The purpose of this campaign, however, is to support, for example, all those teachers and healthcare workers whose basic approach is spiritual but not religious, but who do not have any backing from those decision-making bodies which determine policy in religious education and pastoral care. The use of the same word by many of us will help to influence and guide local and national policy. Wouldn’t you like to see a quiet room in every school? And holistic pastoral care in hospitals and other organisations? 

‘Holistic’ here does not mean the creation of another religion, but is an approach that reflects the feelings and thoughts of an increasingly large proportion of the population who are currently unrepresented. In the House of Lords, Lord Stone who used to be CEO of Marks and Spencer, and Lord Lucas who publishes the Good Schools Guide, have expressed their support. Tim Freke, David Hamilton and Gill Edwards are on board. Professor David Peters of the School of Integrated Health at Westminster University is a supporter of this campaign and comments: 

“It’s 21st century common knowledge that everything connects to everything else; that our Universe was pregnant for 15 billion years before giving birth to humans, and loves complexity.  If you grasp the implications of this and you feel awe at the wonder of creation, then you have a holistic spiritual attitude. I am one of those people and as the Campaign progresses I intend to declare it at every possible opportunity!” 

WEBINAR: At 8pm on Wednesdays 9^th and 16^th March we will be hosting Webinars for people who would like to listen in or participate in a discussion about this campaign. More information on the website.
http://www.whyholistic.org

‘The Heart of Christianity’

 - a six week course on a book starting Mon 7th March in St Mary’s Hall, Fishguard which takes a look at a progressive view of Christianity. The book is ‘The Heart of Christianity’ by Marcus Borg,  author of a number of best-selling books that take a fresh and radical view.  He describes an emerging way of seeing Christianity that has arisen from the encounter with science, historical scholarship, religious pluralism and cultural diversity. See Events for full details.

Radio Interview

Don MacGregor, co-founder of Common Ground,  is being interviewed live from Colorado at 7pm on 10th Feb about the book he is writing on science and spirituality called ’Evolutionary Christianity’. You can listen in at http://www.contacttalkradio.com/hosts/larrypearlman.html

Open Forum

The next Common Ground Open Forum  will be exploring the question ‘Who or what has inspired our spiritual journey?’ Join us to greet, meet, and eat, 10am-1pm on Sat 12 March 2011 at Letterston Memorial Hall, Station Road, Letterston. Please bring some food to share for lunch at 12.30pm.
Full details on Events page.