Happy spring! What an excellent time it is to reflect upon new life and growth! Many seeds planted are now bringing fruition! I wish to thank all the people, known and unknown, who have been helping out at the local Virginia Beach Fellowship of the Inner Light center. Thank you to the Pastoral Council, the Board of Directors, the staff, and volunteers for your ongoing service.

Thank you to all souls for the love and peace that you bring into your corners of the world, whether in the home place, work place, the Fellowship Center, or in your relationships with self, God, and others! Let us continue to bring light and love into the world. We are indeed a true spiritual family. We are growing in our ability to be aware of the Divinity in us all.

In the past month, one of my closest friends and a dear friend of many people, Martha Rapoport, passed away. We all wish her well on her soul's journey. Her journey and the symbolism of the spring of the year have caused me to reflect upon life and death, endings and beginnings.

In the Inner Light Consciousness Seven Terraces Preparation for Meditation, it is on the second terrace, the Orange Terrace, that we focus upon forgiveness, letting go, dying to the past, and rising anew to new life, new birth, new beginnings on the yellow terrace where we proclaim, "I am new. I AM."

In the relatively near future, I plan to move to the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. I recently came upon some translations of ancient petroglyphs and writings from the Huna tradition of the island. I would like to share that translation with you now. These translated words speak of death and life and the journey of our souls. It is wonderful to hear of these loving truths from so many traditions and peoples. I thank these ancestors. Here are these sacred words from an unknown author who probably lived as much as thousands of years ago:

How comforting are these words from an ancient Hawaiian. The Aloha Spirit is a well known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous. However, it also refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind or body that you desire.

In the Hawaiian language, "Aloha" stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)." As you share this energy, you become attuned to the Universal Power that the Hawaiians call mana. The loving use of this incredible Power is the secret for attaining true health, happiness, prosperity, and success.

The vibration of the word, "Aloha" blesses all. There is a technique practiced in Hawaii which enhances your power to bless by increasing your personal energy. It is a simple way of breathing that is also used for grounding, centering, meditation, and healing. It requires no special place or posture, and may be done while moving or still, busy or resting, with eyes open or closed. This technique is called "pikopiko" because piko means both the crown of the head and the navel.

Here is the Technique (brought to us by Serge King with Aloha International):

1. Become aware of your natural breathing (it might change on its own just because of your awareness, but that's okay).

2. Locate the crown of your head and your navel by awareness and/or touch.

3. Now, as you inhale, put your attention on the crown of your head; and as you exhale, put your attention on your navel. Keep breathing this way for as long as you like.

4. When you feel relaxed, centered, and/or energized, begin imagining that you are surrounded with an invisible cloud of light or an electro-magnetic field, and that your breathing increases the energy of this cloud or field.

5. As you bless, imagine that the object of your blessing is surrounded with some of the same energy that surrounds you.

May we all be blessed and bless each other with our loving "Mana." Aloha from Pastor Susan Thomas to all of you.

Susan Thomas