Transformed spirituality enhances better politics

In yesterday's Huffington Post interview, Rick Heller talks with author Mark Satin about "The New Age 40 Years Later". Satin posits in his book New Age Politics (1976) that "the best political change is inspired by a transformed consciousness." The book is "re-released and updated in a 40th anniversary edition". In their email exchange, Satin shares:

 "... I suspect most Americans now have a personal interpretation of God. It may be informed by the Bible, by what we hear at church, and so on, but it’s also informed by our own life experiences, by revelations we may have had, by our encounters with other faiths and with healers and teachers whose faiths may not be easily classifiable. And that was the essence of New Age spirituality, was it not — to take responsibility for our own pathway to the divine? The religious writer Thomas Moore captures the spirit of what I’m saying in the title of one of his recent books, A Religion of One’s Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World."

 Satin includes, "Without dominant mediating institutions, our relationship to God is more personal than it’s ever been, and we are more vulnerable and naked before God. Hopefully that will help us make more inspired political choices."

A stately chestnut tree reminds of family gatherings

Lucy Thomas, Montezuma Historical Society member and wife of Bill who is one of the many cousins Thomas Moore visited during childhood trips to the area, writes "Author, Thomas Moore, family roots remain here in Montezuma" on 11 April 2016 to commemorate Moore's appearance at Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn, New York on 15 April, 2016.

In her piece, Lucy Thomas includes, "Thomas’ great-grandfather, William Nugent and wife, Catherine, emigrated to America in the mid 1850’s and settled in Auburn, NY, with four sons and one daughter. Their son, William married Mary O’Brien and built a farm on land they purchased on Fuller Road in Montezuma. They raised eight children: five sons and three daughters. Daughter, Agnes Nugent-Owens, is Thomas’ grandmother. The farm is where Thomas spent many of his childhood summers, arriving with his parents Mary and Ben, brother Jim, his grandparents, aunts and uncles from Detroit, Michigan. The rest of the family would return to Detroit, but Thomas chose to stay on the farm the rest of the summer spending time with his three great-uncles, Joseph, Thomas and John. His Uncle Tom became his mentor while working in the fields, caring for a team of horses and other daily farm chores."

Echoing Moore's own focus on natural, soulful locations, Thomas writes, "Thomas returned each summer until his entry to the Seminary and studying in Ireland. Today, the farm house and barns are long gone with only one majestic Chestnut tree remaining as the sacred marker of special family times."