Conference hydra::dejavu

	Imaging someone to do anything is imposing your will upon them.
	Would you want someone to 'image' something involving you, 
	resulting in your doing something you wouldn't ordinarily do?

	I don't think it is the right thing to do.

	Terry

A few years ago, I met a woman who asked me if I had ever heard of the
pyramid.  She explained that if we wanted someone to come into our life,
you picture them in your mind with a pyramid shape surrounding them.  /\
								      --
She said that this could draw the person to you.  This didn't mean the
person would stay in your life, but, nonetheless, would enter your life.
She said that the pyramid could work for material things as well.

I was just beginning my search for learning about visualization and things
of this nature.  I was quite attracted to a man I'd see once in awhile.
I thought I'd give it a try.  Sure enough, after visualizing him as many
times as I could, it wasn't long and he was in my life.  He didn't stay
long and that was ok.  I told a friend about this and she had met a man
one day in her office for a brief moment.  She knew nothing about him, but
decided to go with this theory.  Sure enough, one day, he phoned her in
her office and they've been seeing each other ever since.

I do believe in creative visualization.  I find it's a part of the way I
lead my life to visualize my life positively.  Good people and things
come into my life often.  Negativity and I do not mix and it shows it by
the wonderful people I draw into my life just from thinking positive.

I'm not so sure the pyramid, per se, has anything to do with drawing a
person into one's life, yet I believe that visualizing a particular person
a lot, can sometimes 'bring' that person into your life.  

Um, I haven't used the pyramid again after that incident.  Maybe it was
a fluke, I don't know.  I'm sure others could explain this better than I
can, more in depth.

Charlene
    

        While I wholeheartedly concur that positive visualization can 
    	yield wonderful results I would seriously hesitate attempting 
    	to force another person into doing *anything*.  Whether it's 
    	a friend, my Soulmate, or my boyfriend, we should be together 
    	because we *both* want it to be, never because one of us is 
    	utilizing some sort of power over the other.  Put yourself in
    	his shoes--I think you'll agree there'd be a desire to run if
    	you knew someone was trying to lure you into his life and you 
    	didn't want to go.
    
    	Relax, allow it to happen, and don't force the situation, as
        that surely will one day backfire.
    
    					With peace,  Carla
    

    I agree with Carla.  In my opinion I feel it is going against someone
    else's path to try to draw them to you.  I ain't perfect myself,
    but have now taken the understanding that if you just visualise
    for the right person/item/thing/action in your life at that particular
    time then what is right for you at this time in your life will come.
    
    If it happens to be somebody who looks a bit like Meeelll
    Gibson/Patrick Swayze/Dennis Quaid then who am I to put a halt to
    it.  But if you actually put a name or face to it then you are
    definitely changing that person's evolution for that time in their
    life, and whatever it is won't last as long as perhaps it should.
    
    ...dale
    

    
    Re: .0
    
    	well, as I see it..
    
    	What you are asking is... is there a law/force/order to the
    universe and is it ok to break ones self from its wisdom/plan in
    order to create your own independent reality.
    
    	Some folks would say "if you can do it... go for it!"
    
    	I have to agree that merging with what is "supposed to be" can
    sound like a downer to the ol EGO. But I believe you will find
    greater reward and creative possibilities if you let the relationship
    grow with the flow.
    
    	As far as imaging them as being happy...please think...What
    if the actions you are seeing are creating or are helping to create 
    your desire? "its not the kill but the thrill of the chase"?
                
      				what then?
    
    	it would be safer to build a perfect statue of your
    	ideal soulmate and iMAGE it to life! ;-)
    
    Craig-off-the-next-two-weeks-so-I-can-hide-in-the-grass-and-suggest
    	note-777-be-dedicated-to-Crowley-if-i-aint-back-by-then-thank-you.
    

    In Shakti Gwains book "Creative Visualization" she says that
    when visualizing the one thing that should be included is 
    your statement that you wish such-and-such a thing to become
    reality "if" all those involved with your visualization will
    benefit in a positive way as a result.
    

    
    	I'm wondering what effect *negative* visualization - holding
    thoughts of someone in contempt in one's mind - has on that person?
    Even if this is not actively done or pursued, it's just there?
    
    	Yeah, I just kicked my roomate out, whose been a close friend
    for the past couple of years. I *know*, by his behavior on_the_way_out,
    that he does not harbor positive thoughts of me. Know how I feel
    lately? Kinda like someone's sticking pins in a doll that looks
    like me. I'm actually sorta *gimped* - it's painful to walk or sit
    - and I'm *not* healing. I stubbed my toe badly the night he flipped
    out - did not break it - and in 2.5 weeks it's not healed. In fact,
    the damage is *propagating* - other secondary injuries are cropping
    up as a result. 
    
    	Of couse, a little stubbed toe hasnt slowed me down one bit,
    either, and *that* could be just as well an explanation...
    
    	But, I've always been curious about it. I've noted an uncanny
    correlation of people who've done *me* bad, later "get theirs".
    One instance, a fella unbolted my rear axle on my motorcycle (I
    believe, several bolts just dont come loose on their own...) as
    a joke, I guess. 2 weeks later, he crashed avoiding a dog, breaking
    both his legs. Now, I didnt will that to happen, but I recall being
    *extremely* pissed off taking off on my bike and having the rear
    assembly come undone - "just" after I said "Yeah, got my new bike
    - go check it out - it's parked right outside" to this guy.
    
    	If there is a shield to this force, then what is it?
    
    	Joe Jas                                             

    
    re.7
    
    I imagine(if any of this stuff works) that the best defense would
    be some sort of counter visualization.  Not an offensive move, but
    more properly a mirror effect.  
    
    Other than that I'm sure that if the positive works then so does
    the negative stuff.  Whoever actually uses it though would seem
    to me to be inherently evil.
    
    Guy
    

    re .7 (Joe Jas):
    
    >	If there is a shield to this force, then what is it?
    
    There are two basic ones (and variations).  One is a "reflective"
    shield, where whatever's aimed at you will go back to the aimer.
    Mikie? categorizes such a shield as "perfect vengance," and
    essentially, he's correct.
    
    The other kind of shield is a "grounding" shieeld, which takes the
    negativities, and (in effect) "shorts" them (like a lightning rod),
    dissipating the energies to the ground.  This is the kind of shield
    I prefer, because it prevents harm on all fronts.
    
    If you wish, you can try visualizing that shield by doing the
    following:  picture yourself inside a metal cylinder, covered at
    the top.  All energies striking this flow to the ground and disappear.
    
    There are other ways to do this, but that ought to work.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    
    >...shield to the force....
    
    Love, understanding, forgiveness and acceptance.  It's *SO* hard
    to do, but it is what must be done in the end.
                
    There was this absolute *jerk* I used to work with.  He would spend
    only about half the day working, if that, and he played upon the
    sympathies of our manager to the point where the manager let him
    get away with whatever he wanted.   He was also an expert rule-bender
    and really ripped off DEC in a big way in terms of lack of output,
    etc.  It used to make me furious, and I was that way for a very long 
    time....especially because I was really working hard and there seemed
    to be no justice at all.
    
    One day though, I was venting my frustrations at someone a bit older
    and wiser and more 'seasoned' in terms of life experiences.  At
    the end of it all, he said something that made a lot of sense (also
    my first introduction to karma or something close to).  He said,
    "Try to let the frustration go.  Eventually, that guy will get what's
    coming to him.  It may not happen tomorrow, or the next week, or
    the next year or even in the next lifetime, but it will catch up
    with him in the end. I can guarantee that."  I thought a very long 
    while on that and he must have struck a chord somewhere because I 
    started to become less frustrated and was finally able to 'let it 
    be where it was at'.
    
    5 years later, and it really did catch up with that guy after all,
    in a *really* big way.  I didn't experience happiness because I
    wouldn't wish what happened to him to my worst enemy, but I did
    finally believe completely what my friend had said.
    
    Joe, you're absolutely right - there is a direct connection between
    negative thoughts and your own wellbeing.  I'm not telling you to try
    to give up the way you feel right now, because you have every right
    to be angry at him for what he did to you.  I believe that anger,
    like grieving, must be fully experienced and worked through in its
    entirety in order to restore one to a complete positive mental health 
    and happiness state.  If you have the chance, I *highly* recommend
    "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by Bernie Siegel as it is a whole
    book full of true stories on the mind/body connection.
    
    Here's hoping you are able to eventually find the peace in your
    heart again.
    
    Cindy 
     

    
    
    Wow, that was close Steve!  I snuck in right ahead of you with
    virtually the same answer.  Of course I learned this from you
    in some other note on psychic vampires or something.  Which, BTW,
    might not be a bad place for .7 (Joe Jas?) to look for more info.
    
    Guy
    

    
    Oops - not to take back what I just wrote, but I'm not sure what
    I did write would apply to your exact situation.
    
    Cindy

re; visualizing something in to your reality...

It is my belief that we find, in our lives, what we magnetize to them.

Perhaps there are issues in your life, or in the life of the soulmate you are 
trying to magnetize, that are, as of yet, unresolved, and make the situation 
not ready to take place.  Therefore, trying to visualize the situation to you 
at this time, may be trying for something too early on in the light of your 
(and the other's) experiences.

I have found, personally, that meditation of the type that turns me inward to 
the real Truth, not just the truth that my ego wants to believe, is the best 
way to change aspects of myself, to welcome in the Universal prosperity.  In 
other words, I can make the changes necessary within myself, to be able to 
magnetize into my reality, that which I (think I) want.  (Sometimes,  after the 
changes are made, I find that what I thought I wanted, is no longer necessary).

Best to you
Meredith

	Ya know, there's karma to consider here.  For whatever reason,
	when the negativity comes, theres a purpose behind it.  What one
	might try to do is figure out what is trying to be said and what
	lesson is to be learned.  If you work it out, the negativity
	should go away.  Also, be careful with the 'you'll get yours'
	attitude.  You may be creating some bad karma to be worked out
	at some other time.  

	Terry

 
 Well I guess I am going to put on my adventurer hat as opposed
to my test it prove it hat and say a few things about visualization.
I do not believe that visualization can force a person to do
something.Strongly influence yes,but not force.
 When you focus intensely on a particular person and picture them
doing some desired things,it could be that you are communicated to
that person on some level.Like someone who is persistent about
asking you to go someplace with them,they may go just to end the
persistence.It is then very possible that you may feel empty because
the person did not really want to go.Of course the person might
have a good time and things could work out,but I feel it is more
likely that the means by which the events happened will tend to
overshadow the desired results.I suggest picturing the person
and mentally communicating how you honestly feel and what it is
you would like to have happen.

                      George D.

	re: .15

	> I do not believe that visualization can force a person to do
	> something.Strongly influence yes,but not force.

	> When you focus intensely on a particular person and picture them
	> doing some desired things,it could be that you are communicated to
	> that person on some level.Like someone who is persistent about
	> asking you to go someplace with them,they may go just to end the
	> persistence.

	The difference here is that in a persistant individual, you end
	up doing something after making a conscious decision knowing why
	you're doint it - to get the person off your back.  In visualization/
	imaging the 'influenced' individual doesn't have that luxury.  It
	is done at a much deeper level (more like subliminal advertising).

	Terry

 RE .16

       >The difference here is that in a persistent individual, you end
       >up doing something after making a conscious decision knowing why
       >you're doing it - to get the person off your back.  In visualization/
       >imaging the 'influenced' individual doesn't have that luxury.  It
       >is done at a much deeper level (more like subliminal advertising).


 Good point,in one situation the person is consciously aware and in the 
other the awareness is I believe at some other level.I think that although
the choice is not made consciously it is still made by the person that is
being influenced at some level.For example under hypnosis a person can
be told to do many things but I believe if they are told that a cliff edge
is a pool edge and they are told to jump in for a swim I doubt that they
would unless they were suicidal.Any experts on hypnosis out there?

                        George D.  

    
    Personally, I feel that everyone is 100% responsible for their own
    life.  I really don't believe that there is "manipulation".  You
    either do something or not.   You do the action, therefore you are
    responsible for that action...no one else is...  You are given a
    set of circumstances and should act based on an analysis of the
    circumstances.  Visualization may aid in letting your paths cross,
    but it is up to the two individuals to decide where it will go...
    
    It is my understanding that there is nothing karmically wrong about 
    visualizing a person "into your life", providing you tack on an
    affirmation at the end like "if this is for the highest and best
    for all concerned, then let in manifest in my life in time and on
    time, else let something/someone that is for the highest and best 
    manifest..."  I personally would not want a relationship if it were 
    not for the highest and best for BOTH of us.  It is still up to the 
    person's free-will choice to decide the path of his/her life.  BUT...
    warning.... be careful what you ask for... you may get it!!!  Do
    you REALLY want that person or situation to occur in your life???
    
    As for protection, I find that doing protective affirmations everyday
    are affective.  A good visualization for protection is to imagine
    yourself in a "golden armour of silver light".  The silver ray is
    an excellent protection against negativity and negative thought-forms.
    The gold ray is used for wisdom...

    Linda

    Um, getting back to my previous reply 3?, even if I am visualizing
    this person to come into my life.  If my 'power' is so strong, then
    that person is 'feeling' the draw-in.  As much as he 'feel's the
    pulling (for lack of a better word,) wouldn't it be that at some
    point, he has the free choice to say for instance, "I feel a strong
    attraction to this woman, but I choose not to act on it."
    
    Charlene

My opinion(s)...

I don't think I can 'influence' anyone with mere thought, or
visualization, or imaging (whichever you prefer).

My understanding of visualization tells me that when I can visualize some
'end', and in doing so invoke a desireable feeling in me, that somehow I
will acquire the necessary enegry to reach that end, be it material or
whatever. An example would be to quit smoking. If I can truly visualize
myself as a non-smoker, and that picture of me as a healthy non-smoker
brings a pleasent emotion, than I should be able to reach my end. But
reaching the end requires some physical tasks on my part (I must resist
temptaion, possibly modify my lifestyle). The physical actions may be
conscious acts or not. Some physical actions may result with no conscious
influence (I may avoid things without thinking about it because I
associate those things with smoking). But, there is always physical
action associated with reaching that end. To me, anything other than that
is merely wishing. I can image something I want in my life, but without
physical action on my part to make it happen, I'm merely asking. I
believe this is especially true when the image involves another person. I
don't feel there is any way I can influence physical actions on the part
of another by thoughts, images or visualization. Other humans have will
also. I can wish, I can pray (and I often do ;') and then I am ready to
graciously accept whatever I get. I don't believe there is a cause and
effect (that I can influence w/o physical action) between just my
thoughts and any end result.

My question is; how does this tie with YCYOR? If someone is off creating
their own reality, how can I possibly have an effect on it by my
thoughts? I can only create my own reality.

Just my opinion...
Jay

    
    
    It's interesting that this topic came up as it did because I can
    relate to it in an indirect way.  For the longest time after my girl-
    friend and I broke up I had trouble adjusting to the situation (as I'm
    sure some here can relate).
       
    Anyways, I got over the initial shock but the feelings of rejection
    continued to persist.  I felt that there was no one out there and that
    I would be a bachelor forever.  I know that this is not true, but it's
    how I felt.
    
    Last week as I lay awake in bed I imagined the person that I would like
    to meet.  Mind you, I did not even think of physical qualities because
    it is personality and intelligence that are tops on my list.  I
    imagined that this person would like (love) me for who I am, not the 
    outer crust.
    
    The following weekend was Memorial Day and some friends and I rented a
    room in Hyannis for the weekend to escape the boredom of Central Mass.
    On Sunday night we went out (not that we didn't go out Saturday too
    :-)) to a club.  As the night dragged on I felt a little itchy to leave
    but no one else wanted to.  I could have left them because I was the
    designated driver this night, but decided to stay to the end.  Well, I
    was standing next to the dance floor and this young woman comes and
    stands next to me.  So, I asked her to dance and she agreed.  Come to
    find out later she was going to ask me.  We danced all night long and
    later we drove down to the beach.  (After everyone in my room had passed
    out. 8-))  Well, we walked the beach until sunset and got along so well
    that we were amazed at how much we have in common.  It was as if we had
    known each other for years.  We could tell so much about each other
    that we were just flabbergasted.  Needless to say, the relationship is
    just a bud right now, but we both are expecting it to bloom into a
    rose.
    
    
    The next thing that I am about to say will sound strange (well, maybe
    not so strange after reading some of the replies in this conference.)
    After I dropped Sue off at her hotel I went back to mine and went to
    bed.  I dreamed about her, and also in this dream was my grandmother
    saying to me that she liked this girl.  What do you think about this?
    
    Ken  

.21 (Ken)

Like your grandmother, I think it's great.

Jay

    
    
          SUNRISE, not sunset. :-o
         
    
          (Boy, I bet our legs were sure tired!)

    
    	I keep dreaming about turtles...
    
    	Joe Jas
    

    Re .24 (Joe Jas):
    
    You could do worse.  Turtles are nice.
    
    Steve Kallis,  Jr.

I think that's great about your new-found friend.

re; 18 - If you're in complete control over your life, why do you need so much 
protection?  What I'm trying to say is, things happen on the subtlest of 
levels, and until we realize our own enlightenment, we are not aware enough to 
implement controls over everything.  That takes a lot of work, realization, and 
time.  In the mean time between where we are now, and the realization of 
complete Control, Mind over Emotion, we need protections.

re; thinking about what you want, and then getting it;

Some systems of visualization include thinking about what you want, but not 
imagining the specific person in mind.  Qualities, not specific flesh.  Studies 
I have done, have made it a point that to directly attempt to materialize a 
specific person or thing in to the life, rather than the qualities, is like 
forcing your will over it.

    
    
    .26    Maybe we visualized the qualities that we would like in
           each other and fate did the rest.
    
    Ken

    
    RE: .26
    
    You only have limited control over external stimuli, but you have
    100% control your of actions.  One protects oneself to try and avoid
    negative external stimuli.  You can only control what is within, how
    you act/react to the external stimuli.
    
    Linda

    If you can image this person to be drawn to be drawn to you, why
    can't you image them being drawn to you willingly.  For example
    image them sitting down and thinking good thoughts about you and
    image them imageing YOU into THEIR life?
    
    Mairon

    
    
    Do you think that possibly we were both yearning for the same thing
    and that the focus of our thoughts, energies somehow became interlocked
    like, using an odd metaphor here, two hydrogen molecules encircling an
    oxygen molecule?  Or, like a bat using sonar to avoid objects when it
    is flying we used our "sonar" to attract?
    
    Ken

    
    According to Lazaris in "The Sacred Journey", it is something like
    2 cogs fitting together in a wheel.                        
    
    Shirley MacLaine was at the point in one of her books where she
    wanted to have a tree stop swaying.  The person who was guiding
    her told her that she must ask permission first, but then when she
    did, the tree stopped swaying of its own free will.
         
    The same thing happened in a way to me involving someone I wanted
    very much back into my life.  I was semi-conscious of this desire
    but didn't actively pursue it.  At some level I believe that he
    also wanted me back in his life and so permission was granted by
    him (probably unconsciously) and the opportunity for us to reestablish
    contact took place at a later date (the circumstances were quite
    removed and unusual though, which leads me to believe that it wasn't
    a coincidence at all).  In a very strange way, I also believe that 
    there were greater forces involved because a I managed to learn a 
    *major* life lesson due to his presense in my life a bit later on.  
    In a paradoxical way, he also learned many things by having me in
    his life, as I became a mirror to reflect back to him the positive 
    energy he was putting out which affected me to such a great extent.
    
    For what it's worth.
    
    Cindy

    
    
    For those of you who have seen the "Witches of Eastwick" perhaps
    the power/perils of visualization was quite aptly depicted...
    
    Indeed, you have to be prepared; you might just get what you ask
    (visualize) for!
    
    By the way, I am a strong believer in "visualization"--it does
    work (or is this part of the discussion on synchronicity???)
    
    Go for it (with your third eye wide open, of course)!!
    
    --E
    

re; .30
    
I think...you were both wanting the same thing and you were both ready enough 
for it to happen.    

    I agree with .30.  I think you were both ready and wanting the same
    thing.
    
    I feel that it's fine to visualize someone into your life as long
    as it's for a first meeting.  Both people must *truely* want and
    desire a relationship with each other for it to be meaningful and
    lasting.  When one partner is coerced or forced to do something
    against their will (or knowing) then problems arise.
    
    
    Susan

    re: .21 (Ken)
    
    I think you're soulmates and found each other because the time was
    now right in both your lives.  
    
    alison

    	Ah yes, to image my Soulmate to image me into his life.  If
    	only it were that easy.
    
    	For me, sometimes visualization works, sometimes it doesn't.  
    	I've had great success in getting what I need, and usually 
    	what I want too ( ;-) ) with a few notable exceptions.  And 
    	it's always those biggies that seem to get away...
    
    						Carla
    

    
    
    i was talking to a friend of mine regarding soulmates.
    can anyone tell me more about it what are they and how we find that
    person??
    
    			wendy o'
    

    re: .20 (JAS)
    
          Your last question (CYOR vs. someone else's)...
                                                     
          THat is what is known as a paradox.  Yes, it is true that
    you create your own reality.  It is also true that they create theirs.
    (for some interpretations by Lazaris, see pages 160-204 of his
    latest book; particularly p.162.)  As he has pointed out, the 
    universe is in harmony...those who share the same energy as you
    will be in your reality to realize whatever it is they want from
    the "overlap", just as you want (whether conscious or not) the
    input from them into yours.  To paraphrase what he says, you are
    the scriptwriter, the producer, director, main actor, etc. of your
    play.  Their roles vary from large part to bit actors.  In their
    play, you may be a bit player or have a feature role.  There is
    total cooperation here, for, just as in cinema, people ask to be
    included in a film.  You accept or decline...and if you don't like
    the way the play is going, you rewrite the script.
      
         Lazaris' suggestion, which is similar to that expressed by
    others, is to add the admonition of "with harm to none" to whatever
    desire is expressed.
    
    Frederick
    

.38  (Frederick)

I don't see it as a paradox. I create my own reality, others create
theirs. I can write anyone into my 'script', but they have their own. I
cannot make someone follow my script by thought alone. I can manipulate
them into following my script through my actions, and my actions would
result from my visualizing some end (what it is I want from that person,
or what it is I want that person to do) but in order for *me* to bring
about that end I would have to use my 'powers' of influence, manipulation
or coercion. I have no power to simply manifest something; to 'think'
someone into my life. To express a desire, with any admonition; 'for the
greatest good' or 'with harm to none', is simply wishing. I've been doing
it all my life. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, but it's not a
power I can control it requires some higher intervention.

Also, (don't take this the wrong way) I am always interested in what
you have to say, but what Lazaris says makes no difference to me.

Jay

    
    Could someone please explain to me everyone's pre-occupation with
    soul-mates??  As I've said before, it's been my experience and my
    understanding that these can be really aweful relationships.
    (See previous note regarding soul-mates for my understanding of
    a soul-mate & twin-rays.)  Personally, I only want a relationship that 
    is for our mutual highest and best.  If that person happens to be my 
    soul-mate, fine, so be it.  If not, it does not really matter...  What 
    is important is the relationship and the commitment that is made by
    the two people.
    
    For example,  say you met 2 people, one of who is your soul-mate
    one who was a twin-ray.  You are not aware of which one is your
    soul-mate and which one is a twin-ray.  Say you make a commitment
    to the person who is a twin-ray of yours.  Say you find out later that
    this person is a twin-ray only, not your soul-mate, and that the
    other person was indeed your actual soul-mate.  Would you break
    up the relationship with the twin-ray in order to pursue a relationship
    (potential...you never know how things will work out) with your
    soul-mate???
    
    In my opinion, I think people should pay more attention to the
    relationship and the commitment themselves, rather than whether
    or not that person is your soul-mate.  A commitment should not
    be based on whether or not the person is your soul-mate....  There
    are not many people that are able to tell if their mate in this
    life is a soul-mate or not.   Unfortunately a lot of people assume
    that just because they are in a good relationship that that person
    "has to be" their soul-mate.
    
    Just my two-cents....
    
    Linda

    
    Linda,
    
    Very well said.
    
    A bird in hand.....
    
    Cindy

    RE: .41 (Cindy)
    
    > A bird in the hand.... <
    
    
    Is worth two in the afterlife.
    
    
    John M.  ~/~ ;-)
    
    
    

re:  last 2

     With a bird in the hand, sometimes all you end up with is guano...

     Terry  *<;')

    re: .43
    
    	And sometimes you end up with the sweetest song of all.  I'd 
    	rather have my Soulmate in hand (so to speak) than not...for
    	this lifetime, anyway.
    
    	Whether we find and/or spend our life with our Soulmate isn't
        the important issue--I agree with Linda that some people find
    	happiness and automatically assume they've found The One And
    	Only.  It's more important to find happiness and forget about 
    	labels.  If time comes to pass where you *know* (beyond belief) 
    	this other person is your 'mate, then by all means go with it,
    	but don't automatically assume that your Soulmate equals smooth 
    	roads and a carefree life.
    	
    						Carla
    

    I agree that one's soulmate might not be the best choice of a partner
    for (or in) life.  I find that I delight in the wide variety found
    in human kind.  Closer to home, I delight in the fact that my new
    husband Gerry and I are not carbon copys of each other.  As such,
    he is a source of endless discovery.  We just love experiencing
    new things together, and when we react to things in a dissimilar
    way, I am struck by our marvelous diversity.
    
    Marion

re: all

I don't know too much about the concept of soul mates, but it seems to
me that if we have 'soul mates', it's for whatever forever translates
into in the higher planes.   And... if that's the case, so what if we
miss a lifetime or two together out of 10,000 or so?  

Also, in a given life maybe it's not the 'optimum' thing to do (same sex, 
parent/child, brother/sister, etc).  All the talk up to this point has 
centered around 'romantic' kinds of relationships.  What about the other kinds?

We grow from them all.

Terry

    I almost got a reply in last night and then I lost the "LINK"
    g-g-g-r-r-r-r!  Anyway, here is some of what I wanted to say:
     
    re: .40 (Linda)
      
         I pretty much agree with you about the preocuppation with
    soul-mates being more or less irrelevant...unless it isn't.  :-)
    Actually, loving AT ALL, is more important than WHO.  
    
    re: .39 (Jay)
         
         I meant Jay, not Jas, in my earlier reply...sorry (but glad
    you got that.)
         I must disagree with what you wrote in this reply, though.
    Apparently, you have not gotten a handle on what creating your
    own reality entails or else the paradox would become fairly obvious.
    For starters, YCYOR leads to everything and everyone being an illusion
    and not really existing (ultimately.)  What this would lead to is
    nothing having an impact on you and you not having an impact on
    it or them.  But you know that that isn't true.  At least, it is
    fairly easy to recognize when others have an impact on us (though
    admittedly it is sometimes more difficult to admit we impact them.)
    But this cannot be if they don't really matter, since they are
    illusionary.  Herein lies a major paradox.  They do not exist, but
    they do have an impact.  They do not exist, but you do have an impact
    on them.  This is the "game", if you will...that physicality exists
    (illusionarily) for the purpose of creating an impact and vice versa.
    This, by the way, if another way to define Self-Awareness, a very
    important aspect of Self-Realization, which is the subset of 
    Unconditional Love.  
          (I think I had other thoughts last night, but I can't remember
    now and I am in a hurry to finish this)
          As for not manifesting anything, we're really on different
    approaches here.  From my vantage point, I see three possibilities:
    either we create nothing, we "share" it with *something/one* else,
    or we do it all.  As we have discussed in other notes at other times,
    if it is true that this reality is some part of a pre-ordained
    predetermined manifest destiny, then I find it useless to bother
    to live.  I can see no joy or pleasure in thinking that everything
    is preset for me.  I can see no justification for the varying degrees
    of pain that I observe in the world.  On the other hand, if we "share"
    this creative process, then please, anybody, tell me what part is
    shared.  And I mean in real numbers!  Do I create 5%?  14%?  35%?
    Maybe 53%?  And how come someone else seems to create more than
    I do?  Why is there such a discrepancy from one to another?  Do
    some people get 9% while others get 76%?   You see, Jay, for me
    this just doesn't get it!  I believe that I create 100% of my reality,
    whether I do so consciously or not matters not.  If this is the
    case, then of course I must be manifesting...it's just that I haven't
    consciously learned how to "control" it.  Anyway, this is the gist
    of it for now.
         So, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa "Clause"...you can manifest,
    you can have anything you want (speaking from ultimate levels, at
    a minimum) and you can create a soul-mate should you so desire.
    
    Frederick
    

    
    
       I hadn't heard the term "imaging" before reading this note, but
    the meaning of it seems pretty clear now. There seems to be a lot
    of concern as to whether it's "right" to image someone else. I think
    the reality is that we are doing this all of the time, both concious-
    ly and unconsciously. Just by co-existing in the same world with
    other people, you have a guiding effect on their lives (and they
    on your life). There's a "causality blur" even, to the extent that,
    say, when the thought of someone else pops into your mind it may
    be because that person just thought of you, or thinking of this
    person causes the thought of you yourself to enter his mind, or
    both simultaneously. Those things that fall under the title of tele-
    pathy or empathy and perhaps even premonition are probably of this
    nature. 
       The model I like to picture is--that since everything springs
    from the same unity, that this "unity" still exists despite the
    apparent diversities. In other words, everything is still one in
    the most fundamental sense, and all effects ultimately derive from
    this fact. To me this just seems like the most elegant explanation
    for everything from telepathy to synchronicity.
       Over the past few years I've started to recognize how some of
    my thoughts and feelings appear not to be my own, but from I believe
    intense mental and emotional activity on the part of others, concer-
    ning something about me. It's hard to prove something like this
    but I feel that it can be tested; try sometime "comparing notes"
    with someone that you are close to. In other words, in advance,
    agree on arbitrary times at which each person (while in separate
    locations of course) what's in his/her mind at the times in question,
    and then see what correlations appear later when you come back
    together.
       I tried this on a small scale with someone I was close to years
    ago and the results showed some definite "thought overlap". She
    and I pictured similar (but not identical) images at the same times.
    It was this same person whose feelings I was so often convinced
    were overwhelming me. At odd times I would get "rushed" by what
    seemed like emotional hurricanes which after many months appeared
    to me to confirm my whole theory. I learned to "recognize" some
    of the thoughts & feelings which were hers so I could **keep my
    sanity**.
     
       Anyway, it's all food for thought...
    
    
    Roy
                                                    
    
    p.s. By the way these things are most noticeable if you're in an
         alpha state.
         -----

.47 (Frederick)

Apparently!!!??? HA. The joke's on me!
I've hired the best gurus money can buy.
Oh well.
It's like I was saying the other day,
No, wait. That wasn't me.
Never mind.
Jay

    { from the person who requested this topic }

    Subj:   A request                                              
          
	Would you please thank everyone who responded for me?   
          
    To all of you -- You have been so helpful.  Thanks for your insight
    and caring.