I had a really amazing experience once. I do a great deal of walking in the mountains - spent several years in Tibet. Over the years I have begun to feel a deepening connection to the Christ - can't really explain it more that that. One day I was walking in Scotland and it was raining (as ususal!). As the rain cleared a circular rainbow appeared to me with an image of the Christ in the centre. The really strange thing is, I felt I was one with it. I've since heard sometimes pilots experience the same thing when they enter particular types of clouds. Know anything about it?

Sounds like a truly wonderful experience Rod. I have heard of it before and there is a term for it. A German author wrote about it once but I can't remember the name. I will check it out and get back to you.

Hi Chris,
For most of my life I had struggled to find meaning and purpose until one day I had a very powerful set of experiences which caused me to review how I was living my life - particularly that until that time, I had spent most of my life thinking only about No.1
One day I was in a pub and one of the guests next to me mentioned she'd had a severe back problem for many years that the Doctor's could not sure. A voice inside of me told me that I had the ability to heal her. I was of course in two minds as to what to do next - if I told her I could heal her she might think I was crazy, on the other hand if she allowed me to try and I failed, not only would I look a fool but she would be let down. But the voice would not go away. So I spoke out, she told me to give it a try and I placed my hand on her back - she was healed immediately. It was a tremendous and yet very humbling experience. I'm now involved in alternative health!

Hi Justin,
Thankyou for sharing this with us. Sometimes it's very difficult to listen to our inner voice. It can ask us to do seemingly odd things and it takes a great deal of courage to act on the guidance - well done for doing so. It is an inspiration to us all.

Hi,
I've been addicted to hard drugs for many years. My life has been pretty miserable as a result. Stealing from friends and family to support my habit. Then I began to hear an inner voice, quite quiet at first telling me to kick the habit. I didn't listen in the beginning - the other voice kept telling me I needed the drugs. I went through a roller coaster ride - sometimes able to quit, sometimes hopelessly falling again - tried to commit suicide. Recently I've been off the drugs for 6 months but I spend my days smoking and watching TV. I've looked at meditation but I can't stop thinking and horrible thoughts keep coming up of the things I've done. I feel like things could be improving but I'm terrified of slipping back again. Can you help?

Sounds like you've really had a tough time and my heart goes out to you. I think you realise however that you are getting help from within - your quiet inner voice which is getting stronger. I understand how difficult it is to still the mind but actually it's not necessary to still the mind completely to get the benefits of meditation. If you can focus on your breathing or get involved in a spiritual/martial art then the mind is caused to concentrate on movement and begins to quieten naturally. As this happens our consciousness - the spirit within - is able to move into other aspects of the self - the energy body around us for instance. As we begin to experience our inner selves in this way, we begin to find an inceasing sense of peace. Sure the negative thoughts you talk of will return afterwards but slowly we begin to realise these thoughts are not us - we don't have to identify with them. When we look at them in this way, we see it is not our fault that we think this way and stop judging ourselves for them. Then we can start to move through them and change our patterns of behaviour. I think meditation in this way will help you a great deal and would encourage you to join a group to support you. Email me if you need help on that. Finaly it's a great inspiration to others that you've gone through this and are beginning to come out the other side - you could help many people in your situation.
God Bless
Chris