Broadcasting from the beautiful Brentwood Ballroom at the fabulous 2101 Building in Santa Monica, CA, it’s time once again for the monthly John Morton Q&A on the Internet!! And tuning in from all around the world were Internet listeners from Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, and nine states in the USA (not to mention John-Roger’s office somewhere in the building). And, from all over Southern California, seekers of Light gathered together, opening their hearts to the wisdom and laughter of the Travelers. (Of course, watching the children play during the seminar was high entertainment. These little Souls emanate a Light force that is pure magic.)

Lawrence Caminite, the MC for the event, opened the evening with a welcome and an invocation, and the group chanted the Ani-Hu. Then everyone changed seats, moving closer up front.

Clea Rose sang for us, playing her guitar as sweetly as morning in May. John Morton was introduced, and began by discussing who was listening on the Internet for the evening.

The first question, from Brazil, was: “What happens when we die and have not fulfilled all of our initiations?” “Will the Traveler be with us in another life?” John-Roger suggested that we review the Soul Awareness Discourses. Once we are Causal initiates, we can keep going. If we don’t come back for reincarnation, the Traveler is there for us in Spirit. If we do come back for reincarnation, the Traveler will be with us in another lifetime, UNLESS we turn from the work of the Traveler.

From Seattle, the question was, “How do I move into greater Joy?” “How do I share my Joy?” John said, find your joy button, and keep pushing it. He suggested we do the Joy-full thing, take a risk, and go for it. J-R reiterated, “Go for it!”

A question was asked about the groups of people at the World Trade Center dying all together. “Did all those people there come together in Spirit?” “Was it a group movement?” John pointed out that it was God’s will, a part of God’s allowing. We can move in position to go through Death’s window when it appears, or we can be in a position of Grace. It’s according to God’s will. J-R added that, “Yes, it was a group movement.”

One person asked: “How can we grieve and express joy and love all at the same time?” J-R reminded us of when we were children, and asked if we had ever laughed so hard we cried. That’s the same process. The body is multi-dimensional, according to where the attention is pulled. In our humanity, we have feelings of sadness. So we take the “whacks” while we are moving through it. The Soul handles it, he said.

From Argentina, a woman online stated that she had a lot of fear around not having a baby, and a fear of abandonment. “Where does that come from, and how can I be rid of it?” John said that if we want to receive the most out of a relationship, it is best to give honestly and purely and fully. We might as well, since that’s the only kind of love worth having. It is fortunate to have someone we can love fully, and with whom we can be truthful. And if we have to walk away, at least we have been in truth and loving. The way through it all is to be honest and truthful. If it doesn’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be. J-R added another dimension when he said that this was a difficult answer to put down, and to think through, and to make sense. Many things don’t make sense on this planet. When we are off the planet, we gather understanding and comprehension, and we accept those things as educational. We take the wisdom from it.

A question was asked, “How can we live more fully by taking off our ‘masks’?” John explained that when we take off our “masks”, we take off our pretenses. We have that option. Another option is to live with untruth and pay the price of deception, the price of “masks.”

Another person asked: “Is it possible that the forces of Good and Evil are about to do battle, resembling Armageddon?” John offered that Armageddon is a battle in the Soul. Will we be loving and open and give over to Love? Or will we give in to this world? Will we live by the values of the Soul, or by the values of the world, of lust and greed? J-R expanded on that, reminding us that Jesus was gone from the world, and yet was seen by hundreds in many places. He described the Valley of Jezreel in Palestine, where the Battle of Armageddon is to take place. He said that nothing he has studied has indicated a change of any great spiritual nature. The Battle of Armageddon will be a bio-chemical or chemical warfare, and involving millions of people. And because our methods of communication are so great, millions will hear of it, but may not by affected. Many people on the planet have no knowledge of any of this current situation taking place. After the Battle of Armageddon, everyone on the planet will know. We must allow loving for others, and express our gratitude that everyone is getting what is theirs.

“What is the purpose of God’s whole thing from the very beginning?” “Why did God invent this school anyway?” John answered by telling the story of a man who went to church, and he had many afflictions in his body. The man lifted his hands toward Heaven, and cried out, “Why, God?” “Why?” And there was no answer. The congregation became very caught up in his pain and suffering, and they began praying with him. All of a sudden, the steeple and the roof parted, and the hand of God came down, pointed at the man, and said, “Because you piss me off!” (After much laughter) John explained that things work much better if they are toward the Good. He suggested we get involved and experience the Good. The greatest Good is around us and in us. John added that he has looked around, and he has had his moments of Not So Good. No one is exempt; everybody has a dose of it. But by being involved in the greater Good, and by going along with the way it’s working, instead of fighting it, we have an idea of how it works on a continuum beyond this world. In this part, here, we have separation and confusion; but when we are staying in the greater Good, we do not dwell on questions that lead to more questions from the mind. The mind doesn’t have the answer.

J-R clarified that there was misunderstanding in the question, and in the perception of life. That sort of characterization of God’s purpose will lead to, “Why me?” Instead, we are to learn from our own behaviors and from others. Focus on happiness. Learn to focus on higher worlds, and move that to the physical. God is responsible for It’s creation, and we are responsible for our creation. Learn to co-create with God. This world, he pointed out, is a big wonder thing, and it is what will be.

A sweet young woman said, “It seems as if things have just been heaped upon us. Is it better out of the body, or in?” John said that we keep going because of the opportunity to have it better. If we each do our part, do the best we can with what we know, just do our best, then we can let our “invisible partner” do the rest. There’s opportunity every day, all day, to come into equilibrium, and to allow Spirit to process with us, and to meet us. Then when we come into the world, the rough spots aren’t so rough. In the level of Soul, the dross of illusion and negativity drop. Soul is evolving consciousness without hindrance. It matches the form perfectly.

There was also a question about a world prayer day on November 11 (11/11) at 11:00 a.m., and whether that particular date and hour was somehow significant. J-R said, “I’m for peace no matter what the date or hour. I will be responsible for peace in me, and peace in the world.” He said that he did not think there would be some cataclysmic event. He told us to have no fear. We have been hearing prophecies for 2000 years that were wrong. Why didn’t the predictors of events tell us about September 11? He added that he cares little for what others say, and urged us to make more peace happen — like a random act of world peace.

“What happens to the Soul when the physical body doesn’t exist?” John said that the Soul’s destiny is to leave the body, and to re-source itself. To “materialize” the body is to die. The body has to change so that the Soul can function in it. And it never completes that task until the body drops. The Soul cuts the cord, and the evolution that has taken place determines what re-embodiment takes place.

From the Internet, a person said that they had been having financial difficulties, and could the Travelers recommend any particular meditation to help stay out of depression. John responded that any meditation will work that will take us out of this worldly binding, anything that will free us. There is an opportunity to learn something from these kinds of situations, such as “We do not live by bread alone.” The Life Force of who we are is more than that. We can treat it like a challenge or a game. If we come into cooperation, that leads us into contribution. We can find some way to give into the world more than we are taking. It could mean taking care of one’s self and asking for assistance, meeting one’s neighbors, turning to one’s family. We are charged to take care of ourselves, so that we can help take care of others. In times of need, if our life doesn’t generate assistance and response from others, we are not taking care of ourselves. We will have what we need. And we must be in a place to be nurtured by the Higher Consciousness. We must take time to take care of ourselves, to worship, and to fellowship. We must make ourselves available, as in, “I’m off right now, and I could use some assistance.” And we must keep asking until what is needed is provided.

A young man asked for some clarity about Jesus’ statement to “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.” “Where is my responsibility to the world in terms of service? How far does that go?” John told us to begin by loving ourselves, and love ourselves in order to love our neighbors. Find the balance points, and love and serve to the need, according to the consciousness that’s with us. Sometimes, if someone isn’t taking care of himself or herself, it’s best not to get involved. Consider what we are doing in actually serving them. “No, thanks,” is sometimes the loving response. Not doing for them may be best, and for a reason.

Someone asked, “How can I have greater devotion and sacredness in my Spiritual Exercises?” John said that worship is related to worth. When is the greatest worth inside? When we are on the journey toward the deity, the divine, with dedication. In some form of sacredness, we can prepare ourselves, focus on devotion, and manage our life so that it is not pulling on or grabbing at us. We don’t have to be like Mother Hubbard (with so many “children” we don’t know what to do). If we are leaving the time of worship to a time of day when the world is demanding of us, the world will pull on us. In the Jewish faith, in the Holy of Holies, it was considered to be a life-threatening event to get close to the Ark of the Covenant. Only those who were prepared and anointed could do it. Worshipping is “dying” to this world, holding nothing back, calling the name of the Lord, calling with the breath, without demanding that the breath be given back. It is like being reborn. It’s a reaching, a transmission of Life, as in the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Do everything to get in touch. Give God equal time, not the pittance left over. We are dealing with a God that doesn’t get mocked.

From Mexico, an Internet listener asked: “How can I train myself to be more present with the blessings, in a more constant way?” J-R answered simply, “Practice, practice, practice.” And use psychosynthesis: “Act as if.” Walk happy, sit happy, and happy will be our way. If we want to be down, we can slump, and focus on what we didn’t get. God is present always. We are not. When we connect with God, we find out we don’t have to connect. We are.

A young man sent in this question on the Internet: “What do I do if I have worries? How can I overcome them?” John said, “Make the leap of Faith.” There really is nothing to worry about. Have some trust. God is a full partner in our life. There are still things to watch out for, things for possible concern. But we can look for the best ways to choose, in whatever situation. Worry is like a disease. Yet, we do need to be conscious. Worry shuts down the ability to respond. Confidence comes by knowing things will work out, even if it’s not in this world. Solutions are still present. There is no pressure here to “work it out.” It’s already worked out, it’s done. We’re in process, either in harmony or in resistance to it. We can learn to cooperate with things that are taking place.

From South America, a listener asked: “How can I have discernment of God’s will, and how can I cooperate with it?” John said to just consider it’s all God’s will, and cooperate with any and all of it. We are big enough that whatever we choose, even the biggest blunder has good in it. He told a story of being in a restaurant with J-R, and J-R started laughing. John asked him what it was, and J-R said, “I just realized if we really could make a mistake, we would have had an eraser on our heads.” In our choices, there is a new opportunity right now to cooperate with the better. We are the ones who interpret and decide what is a mistake. We can open our Self up so more of the loving gets through by osmosis, and it goes through all the membranes. Love whatever it is. Just BE with it. Be with our upset. Then have a good time with the Good time.

“Is there a way to tell if I am Soul traveling or if I am sleeping?” J-R responded by saying, “If we’re awake in the Spirit, then we are Soul Traveling.” If we are dreaming, we are dealing with unresolved endocrine system conflicts. Conflicts of emotion often take place, coming through the sleep state. One technique we can use is, in the morning, write down our dreams. If we can’t recall our dream, we can write the fantasy of our dream. That will get the energy going, and awaken the Spirit. Sleep deals with unresolved issues. In Spirit, issues are resolved. We can either make sense of our dreams, and use them, or we can put them aside, to use them later. He also recommended that we read the book Dream Voyages an MSIA publication.

A young girl described how she had met another young woman, and that they discovered they had many similarities in their lives and in their connections. She asked if there were such a thing as twin souls. John offered that hers was a lovely description of what goes on at the level of Soul consciousness. The quality is bright, bold, vivid, true, and undeniable. We can process it from ordinariness, but the Soul is compelling, and speaks on its own authority. It needs no validation, and it is not necessarily rational. The experience itself is the authority. Maybe it cannot be explained, but it is not necessary, because the quality is alive inside. He offered that the experience was still being revealed, and there was some yet to be known, and very beautiful.

John added that we sometimes do our best to let Soul (what’s true in our hearts, what’s deeply sacred, what is revealed to us) authentically move and change us. We could have a new life written in a new way. J-R added that there are no half souls. There are many Souls on similar vibrations, with similar sounds, and similar levels of consciousness. He said that there is more in common with that person than with others in the community. We can make it appear, as if we have things in common. And it could be karma, drawing two together to complete, to become life-long friends. It’s joyful, like Christmas every day.

From Buenos Aires, a mother asked, “I love my children, and I feel guilty for not giving them my attention. How can I resolve their demands for attention?” J-R said, “Perhaps we should feel guilty for not giving them attention.” Sometimes in maturing and growing up, we get hooked on nurturing. When the children start to grow, and push away, and the mother feels rejected. John said that at conception — which is a sacred act — there is a lightning spark. The circumstances around conception are important. We have the responsibility of the sacred act of loving, and then a child comes forward to love. It is natural to be loving and welcoming. When conception is not harmonious to the sacredness of love, the result can be dissonance, disharmony. We must go past the resistance to extend ourselves, and to give that love. This is not an indictment of marriage. But we now have a product of that union, and we are to love the children as best we can. God will find a way to heal it all. And we must pass on to the children the correct ways to do that conception.

“How can I do a better job of taking care of myself?” J-R said the problem is the degree to which the problem has us. When problems take over without thought, we mistreat ourselves. And each time we say, “I’ll learn from this,” and we go toward a new focus in life. John added, to recall John the Baptist, and his admonishment to his followers, “Prepare Ye the Way for the Lord.” That’s the process we are all in. Life will convict us of our errors. The choices will be brought to us. In reading Discourses, the responsibility is to apply them to the practicality of our life. There is an immediate opportunity and an ongoing opportunity to apply it, to make our self straight for the One who holds the Spirit. If we are not doing that, the results are being crooked, of not being lined up, and life will convict us of it. John told a story from his own life, when he began reading Discourses, and he could not stay conscious while reading them. He was processing inwardly the “straightening” process. This world and its routine lull us, and we become unconscious. We miss opportunities to be truthful, to be aware, to be on track with the teachings.

At this point in the evening, J-R thanked John and everyone attending and listening for taking the time for the Internet Q & A Seminar, and to share the Spirit that was coming from the Divine.

John Morton offered a closing Blessing. He recalled a time at an MSIA Ministers’ Meeting, when he read from Herman Hesse’s book “Journey to the East.” He said that the great purpose that we fulfill in MSIA is endurance, that we keep showing up. It just really keeps going. There are lots of milestones, and we are progressing, we are being rewarded for choosing back.

At John’s suggestion, the evening closed with the playing of Bobby McFerrin’s recording of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Lawrence Caminite read a short description of MSIA’s purpose and mission, invited feedback on the evening’s program, and that was followed immediately by delicious snacks and coffee and tea.

If you would like to listen to this entire event online, click here.

THE NEXT INTERNET Q & A BROADCAST WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 29TH, 2002. Click here for more info