2007-10-27 thru 2008-03-31 Journal – Co-Creative Team Process
CDT #1
Introduction
This Journal is an attendant part of the work of a Co-Creative Design Team. It is a loose record of “findings” from my (Daniel Raphael’s) personal experience from working with and within a new, undeveloped, local CCDT. My intention for making this Journal is to provide a “map” that may be typical for new CCDTs that develop in other locales. ~
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Background
During May ’06 – Jan 1, ’07, Monjoronson gave 12 lessons relating to sustainability of any civilization, but particularly our civilization. I was given the vision of a manuscript in mid-’06, but I didn’t attend to that nudging until mid-December when “The Guys” suggested that I read all of sessions first to last. I did. And what I found was a continuity of thought, subject, and earnest presentation that surprised me. It was a though they all came from a syllabus and had been segmented by lessons.
And that was the beginning of the manuscript, Global Sustainability and Planetary Management —The Revealed Future of Humanity As Seen Through Celestial Eyes. I shared it with others, some picked up the thread of the “team” concept that Sondjah had mentioned in his session of May 20, ’06, and which was alluded to by Monjoronson in his sessions, occasionally. Many people in the Teaching Mission and in a new group called the Magisterial Mission became excited about the Team concept, and thus I proposed to share a class at the Assn of Light and Life conference held at Unity Village, Missouri in June ’07.
I got excited after my presentation and proposed a Retreat and Workshop scenario for October ’07, to be held at Snowbird Ski Resort, just east of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Retreat/Workshop was attended by 16 people including myself and supporting individuals. I broke even financially! And, having received a grant of $2,000 from Starbridge Communications for this Retreat, I have money left for marketing, advertising, deposits, etc for the next scheduled CCDT Workshop, summer of ’08, hopefully in Pioneer Valley, located in western Massachusetts. ~
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1. October 28, 2007 (unrecorded)
The first Conifer-Evergreen Team meeting was held at our home in Evergreen, on S. Cedar Road. There were 5 of us from this area – more than enough to begin our first local Team. As no one from Conifer/Evergreen had experienced TR’ing (channeling) before the Retreat, they seemed enchanted, curious, and very much interested in experiencing Sondjah’s presence again. So, the first local Team meet-ing was one of exploratory questions, and familiarization. I expect the same to occur at our next meeting, tomorrow evening. And this may time to work out until they are able to engage the Team process and begin the exploration and development of a topic of sustainability that interests them. ~
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2. November 4, 2007 (unrecorded)
At Michael Lanier’s home, with three of us and several non-material spiritual friends present. Sondjah was our presenter. This meeting was a wonderful example of focused question asking. The first part of this second session was devoted to a message to Michael Lanier from his 7 member team of spirit guides. Michael has an IT executive’s mentality for succinctly asking questions that lead to the next question and so on. He is able to pursue a topic from beginning to end, and then make tight conclusions or summarizing thoughts about the completed sequence. Both talents are very valuable to a CCDT.
I see this second meeting as a natural development of the first, following the Workshop training they received at Snowbird. The first session involved wide-ranging questions, much like surveyors in new, unexplored territory, get-ting their bearings from peaks in the far distances. This second session took them into the broad fields of inquiry dealing with material sustainability in the broadest terms, dealing with oil, global finance and commerce, farming, education, and health services.
Interestingly, as God-centered individuals, Michael and Debbie Moulton finally came ‘round to the final end point: the sustainability of the individual. To me an even more interesting conclusion, but one which we did not vocalize, was that it appeared to us that people who are spiritually grounded in the universe probably will have a much easier time of understanding and incorporating into their lives any calamities, catastrophes, or cataclysms that are likely to occur in their rapidly changing world. And, further, individuals who have a broader relation-ship with God would see these changes around them as part of an unfolding process of the natural development and evolution of the relationship between civilization – individuals – and planet earth…Gaia, or Mother Earth, if you wish to name her. It will be interesting to see what develops in our next meeting, November 6, 2007. ~
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3. November 11, 2007 (unrecorded)
Four regulars and one guest.
This third meeting, after meditation and centering exercises, launched into a Q&A dialogue with Sondjah regarding health care, specifically new models for health care systems that are sustainable and support a sustainable society. As you see within this team process, we have moved from a general inquiry to a topical inquiry. One member was particularly concerned about her role in this global topic, as she felt she had little or nothing to contribute to such a large-scale topic. Sondjah explained to her that all sustainable models at the global level must always be enacted at the local level. She would be a very valuable asset the development of local health care activities. And this would be a “proof” that the global design was accurate and replicable.
Questions and comments arose about how to orient guests quickly, who had no prior knowledge of the UB/TM/MM or the CCDT process.
This was followed with a question and comments about providing our session to a larger forum of people who were like-minded. Sondjah said that we should limit our invitations to those who were “like-hearted,” as their interests would be more similar and familiar. How should we connect to others? By marketing and advertising? Sondjah added that we must as well project or radiate our consciousness of invitation to the “God Presence” within each individual, and let those who come, come. That way we would be awakening the connection between us, our common God-consciousness, and those who are like-hearted. For myself, I will be advertising the classes I will teach in January, classes that prepare individuals for working in a CCDT. I see, too, that I will have to advertise training classes for channels and TR’s to prepare them for the spontaneous development of other local CCDTs. Whew! this is rolling along very quickly!!! ~
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4. November 18, 2007 (unrecorded)
9 present.
It is clear from Sondjah that he and his own Team are willing to spend whatever time is needed by us to explore and fully grasp the content and context of the issues we are exploring. Our Team was able to maintain focus on the subject of sustainability, and again continued to explore the perimeters of health care, and moved forward some more towards embracing the future context of a holistic health care system.
Sondjah commented that of all topics that any CCDT could explore, this was the most all encompassing topic of all – it would come to encompass the whole lifetime and the phases of development of a human from pre-conception to death, and include dozens of supportive topics. For example: diet, nutrition, all phases of development including physical, mental, social, intellectual, spiritual, and many more. He went so far as to allude that our group, if it continued its diligent pursuit of this topic of health care, would eventually become known as and seen as a “founding-father” type of Team, setting example for other, newer Teams. I suspect that our Team will continue exploring and probing the perimeter of this topic for several weeks, and eventually decide how to approach the engagement of the topic from a sustainable perspective. I suspect, too, that we will attempt a global-then-to-specifics type of approach, i.e., a deductive approach. ~
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5. December 8, 2007 (unrecorded)
12 present.
We continue to have an increasing number of new arrivals/visitors. Many have never had the experience of being in the speaking presence of a spiritual being, as Sondjah. And this evening we had the privilege of Christ Michael’s opening statements. None of those attending had much acquaintanceship with The URANTIA Book, and none with the Teaching Mission. Yet, they seemed very accepting of the presence of Christ Michael and Sondjah, and some were moved to tears by the consoling, welcome words of Michael. I wonder, how many will come next week. and how do we move ahead with an ever-enlarging group? Are we ready to initiate another CCDT? We will know when someone asks to begin one!
The CCDT is such a new concept to the newcomers that they seem speechless to ask questions…any questions. Afterwards, they spoke of the sincerity, earnestness, forthright-ness and candor of the speakers, and seemed almost stunned by the grace of our spiritual friends. Our friend, Michael Lanier, continued to ask questions particularly of sustainable healthcare wellness, rather than a sustainable healthcare system. Members appreciated the distinction.
Sondjah, in reply to numerous questions, guided the discussion towards distinctions with-in the very broad field of health care — into sustainable physical healthcare practices, then mental, social, emotional, spiritual practices that attend to a full healthcare program of the future. He suggested that when the time was right, and those who are interested, to attempt a beginning in one of these sub-fields of healthcare.
Yet, I feel we could make a good deal of progress, first, by discussing and trying to dis-cover broad healthcare practices to guide dis-cussions in those sub-fields. I would look to Sondjah to give us guidance about that. A concern I have as the TR is that many questions come to my mind during the sessions, and during the interims between sessions, but I have no avenue to address them to Sondjah, except in private. I suspect that this will be an ongoing issue for myself and for each TR of every CCDT and CCWT. I think this is a wasted resource that we will need to attend to, and to have someone other than the TR facilitate the process of uncovering these questions and other contributions the TR has to offer. Our next meeting is scheduled for Mon-day evening, 6:30-8:30, at Michael’s home. ~
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6. December 10, 2007 (Recorded)
6 present — many had colds/flu, and others stayed at home due to a cold, heavy snow storm.
On Sunday morning (Dec. 9, ’07) during my waking-state of sleep, Sondjah presented me with the direction and material that our group would use Monday evening. The experience was preverbal, like looking at a 8.5×17 multi-folded outline of the material ahead. His point was to ask a very sensitive question of a con-temporary issue to get the attention of each participant, and to give them a topic familiar to every one.
On Monday evening, Sondjah moved the group into a new direction. It was his turn to ask the questions, after five orienting sessions of participants asking questions. After his brief introductory statements, he posed the following two-part question, “What does a sustainable marriage look like, and how does marriage contribute to a sustainable society and civilization?”
[His question was framed from the perspective, of a teacher in a 23d century history class, asking students to review events and developments in the 20th, 21st, and 22nd centuries that had brought their 23d century sustainable civilization into existence.]
He did not set any parameters to the answers that participants developed, and did not set any limitations for contributions and clarifications he would offer when asked. He then told the group to divide into two sub-Teams; and asked them to return when they were ready or if they had questions to ask. We broke into two groups of three members each. I was reluctant to participate in my group because I had too much awareness of what Sondjah wanted the sub-Team members to accomplish in the process of their group interaction. Nonetheless, I did participate, but will not in the future when the group is larger.
I am learning my way through this group process, too, as Sondjah admitted he and his associates were. In these early stages of Team development, I know that I will have to be the Team Facilitator and the TR. As the Facilitator, I know now that I will have to set time limits when we breakout into sub-Teams. When we return to the larger Team, I will need to limit the time for our eager and excited chatting before engaging Sondjah with our questions. When we returned to the larger Team, our excitement drew out the time until it was time to close the session. Sondjah encouraged us to think about our first working Design Team session during the week, and to write down our questions for him at the next Team session. It is my hope that someone would come forward to become the Team Facilitator who would conduct the “Group Opening Practices” at the beginning of our session, and time keeper and coordinator. ~
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7. December 17, 2007
10 present, one new visitor.
Sondjah took us to another layer and level of the CCDT inquiry. This time he asked the Team members to break out into working Sub-Teams of three each, (with myself not participating) to try to design a sustainable marriage, particularly a marriage where children existed. Again, he did not provide any limitations or parameters for the sub-team work; and he made himself available at the end of 20 minutes to answer questions. At the end of 20 minutes, the CCDT re-convened, with sub-teams reporting their progress and work. It was clear that much thoughtful work had been done, with a good deal of personal sharing about their individual marital relationships. It appears very clear that the Team members are on the right track as they all mentioned that mutual values and beliefs were necessary to initiate a marital relationship to exist. Sondjah then pushed the Team to a new level of inquiry and performance, in advance of the next meeting:
As Michael L. reported to members:
Pick one or two topics and let me know your preferences. I will then let everyone know the outcome and we can figure out how to cre-ate the appropriate teams to work on the various optional assignments.
1. Design a Family Relationship wherein both parties agree to raise children
2. Design a Family Relationship wherein the agreement is to remain childless
3. Design a Family Relationship wherein the child or children have already launched into their own lives (i.e., not living with Mom and Dad)
4. Design a Family Relationship wherein the parties are 50 years of age or older
5. Design a Family Relationship wherein the parties are 70 years of age or older
6. Design a Family Relationship wherein the parties agree to remain single.
● For the assignment’s) chosen, identify the parameters for termination of the relationship.
● What are the limits to termination (i.e., in terms of such as the minimum number of years of marriage before the relationship may be terminated; the age of the children; health issues; safety issues, etc.)
● For each assignment chosen, always start with identifying: “What is the intention of this relationship?” “Are there specific obligations associated with this relationship?”
● We are encouraged to consider the intentions each child may have (9 years or older) for their participation in any or all of the above forms of Family Relationships.
This was probably one of the most trying sessions I had TR’d for. It had been a difficult day, we had a new visitor, the group was larger, I conducted the opening meditation and ground-ing exercises as well as connecting to the Merkabah, unanswered questions remained from last session, and I was excited about the unfolding developments of our local CCDT. I realized that some of those issues were none of my business and, that they were Sondjah’s concern, not mine. // As the session went along, and I settled into the evening, my TR’ing quality became better. // As one member commented after the session, when I had made these same admissions to them, “I thought I detected that you were a bit cranky earlier in the session.” And this, too, is a good place to point out the necessity for the skills of diligent discernment. Our next meeting is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 28th, 6:30 pm, Sheralyn’s home. ~
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8. December 28, 2007
8 present, one new visitor.
We began with the intention of building and anchoring a Merkabah energy shaft into the living room in front of the hearth, in Sheralyn’s home, at her request and invitation. We did this with the assistance of Christ Michael, N-badonia, Sondjah, and our own Celestial Teachers, and Angels.
Sondjah gave the students a bit more information about the afterlife on the Teaching Worlds, and particularly pointed out the thou-sands of cultural and physical differences that we would find among them on the morontia worlds. And, if we like traveling now to see interesting, unique, and unusual places now, then we would love traveling to other worlds when we were on vacation, having time off from our studies.
Returning to the topics of our CCDT, Sondjah instructed us to find others in the group who had similar interests in the specific 1-6 relationships that he had identified in the last session. We were informed that as we did not have enough people to investigate the design of every relationship, we should assist a sub-Team so that there would be at least 2 people in the sub-Team. He revealed that by doing this the group would be fluid from one session to another, and in the end everyone would have a far better idea of the spectrum of relationships, and would be able to make contributions more quick-ly when enough were present to work on a specific relationship.
After 20 minutes, we regrouped into the larger Team, discussed what members had discovered or uncovered. Sondjah bid us a “good night,” and took his leave while remaining in our company as we celebrated the new Merkabah anchor, and the season’s goodies we had brought along.
Next meeting: Friday, 6:30 pm, January 4th, 2008, at Michael’s home providing there is no conflict of schedule. ~
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9. January 4, 2008
11 present, 3 new visitors.
It was a delight for me to have Debbie Moulton provide the invocation, dedication, centering, meditation, and Merkabah practices. I was able to become more still than I usually am prior to TR’ing. Monjoronson† gave us a welcome, and informed newcomers of the changes and challenges of participating in the conscious evolution of our communities, societies, and our civilization. Sondjah have us a quick start into the sub-Teams asking them to write a statement of intention for each relationship paradigm in the following 20 minutes. There were two sub-Teams: single individuals who chose not to marry or be in an intimate relationship, and couples age 50-70.
I saw that each team was engaging the issue differently. One group struggled to dis-cover whether they were supposed to write a single intention for the whole sub-Team or whether each individual was supposed to write their own. Eventually they did both. The second sub-Team worked on the essential elements that a single person in relationship to their neighbors, community, and society would have in this sustainable relation-ship. They presented a single intention using the contributions from each individual. …just like a single person would, huh?
When we reconvened, the sub-Teams gave a synopsis of their work and their intention. Sondjah used this to give the whole Team their assignments for the next meeting, Monday, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 14, at Michael Lanier’s home. We are to think about the four layered qualifications of intentional and sustainable relationships: values, beliefs, intentions, and actions (what we do, say, and think). He noted for us that in a sustainable relationship we experience these as being consistent, integrated, and constant for both partners of the relation-ship.
Again, and reinforced with the insight of Cayce, we learned from Sondjah that all of our work in this Local Design Team is to be used for the examination of our own relationships, now, as well as a means for designing sustainable relationships. What Sondjah hasn’t clued us into is how those who are in inconsistent relationships will motivate their relationships to evolve into con-sistent, integrated, whole relationships that provide a nurturing environment for two growing souls. I suspect the answers to this thorny situa-tion will be revealed succinctly and lovingly by Sondjah as we experience more of his wisdom and grace in our Team.
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† Monjoronson is a (divine descending son) {Ref. The URANTIA Book, [TUB, or UB])} who has come to Earth (Urantia) to precede the re-turn of Jesus (Christ Michael). His work involves advancing the social and spiritual evolution of all earth societies. He is a (magisterial son) and acts much as an over all grand project director of these efforts, with Machiventa Melchizedek, the planetary manager (nominal term) of Urantia. His work is conditioned by the necessity of developing and advancing the social maturity of this planet by co-creative means, i.e., with the mortals who live here! …a job much like herding cats.
NOTE: words and phrases in ()are referenced from TUB. If you are on the Internet, it may be useful to be able to read this Journal while having www.urantia.org/papers/ available for research.
You may be wondering, “Why is Daniel promoting The URANTIA Book now, when he has not done so in the past?” The answers are these: First, it has been the most influential spiritizing, and socializing agent of my entire adult life, that gave preface to the TR’ing that has come through me. Second, it provides a non-religious base of knowledge and orientation that allows us to understand what is occurring on our planet in the dual perspectives of these immediate years and millennia to come. Now double that from the mortal perspective and the perspectives of our Creators. I.e., it helps us make sense of our lives personally, socially, and spiritually in rational, compassionate, though linear, ways.
Using this document as a common base will help disparate groups of religious and spiritual interests find commonality in the future we are now living out day by day. We need to use the same conceptual base of spiritual evolution whether we are Jewish, Christian, Catholic, Protestant, Apostolic, Greek Orthodox, Hindu, Islamic, or any other religion, or whether we use French, English, German, Farsi, or any other language to communicate. ~
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10. January 14, 2008
13 present, 2 new visitors.
The group remains fluid, with newcomers showing up, some returning, some not. There exists a persistent core of steadfast old-timers who want to explore the CCDT process through its entirety.
Sondjah gave us a brief recap of the past sessions for newcomers. He noted that the work the sub-Teams had completed concerning the several relationship paradigms had a consistent theme: they had gotten to a core of values that were typical of most relationships. This uniformity was good, as it formed a foundation for all relationships, but that did not make them distinct from other relationships. So, he asked us to sub-divide once again, but this time to discern the intentions of each relationship paradigm that made each distinct from the other. And he asked each person to write down the instructions to help the individual and the sub-Team stay on task, and be productive.
After much milling about by those who were new and those who had not attended the last sessions, the sub-Teams formed. Several developments have finally come to the surface as noted by Sheralyn and a cou-ple others:
1) The introduction of the work of the CCDT to newcomers was taking a good deal of time away from the work of the sub-Teams;
2) As not everyone had taken notes during previous sub-Team sessions or had forgotten to bring their notebook along, they were not sure which group they worked in;
3) As there is not an on-going condensed recording of the work of the whole Team, or that of the sub-Teams, there was a good deal of redundancy of review. It almost appeared that they were covering the same ground over and over again in the sub-Teams.
4) There is not enough time (20 minutes +) in the sub-Teams for them to become productive. What we are seeing in this highly developmental and fairly unstructured Team and sub-Team process are the concerns of several members that their work is not being productive.
For #1, because I do not participate in the sub-Teams, I will take it upon myself to take the newcomers aside to bring them up to speed with the other members; and help them assign them-selves to one of the relationship paradigm sub-Teams.
For #2, Michael has offered to make his portable white board available to list the sub-Team relationship paradigms, with the sub-Team members listed below.
For #3, each sub-Team will need a volunteer facilitator/recorder — someone who attend the CCDT regularly to record the findings of their sub-Team during each session. This will provide a continuous record that can be distilled later.
NOTE: It will be very helpful to the sub-Team if the facilitator were to review Sondjah’s instructions and directions from the record to assure that his older directions do not slip through the cracks. His directions and instructions also provide clear clues (structure) as to where he is going and what we are to produce, and to foresee what is to come. This structure will be replicated in every examination of any sustainable topic, whether it pertains to relation-ships or a sustainable consumer based economy, for example.
For #4, Sondjah, overhearing the concerns of one sub-Team’s need for more time, has offered to release the sub-Teams promptly after the Opening Practices to begin their work. It looks like his intent is to reconvene when they have something to report, whether it is at the end of that evening’s session or after several sessions.
It is very clear that Sondjah and his Teaching Team are not defining the edges of the “box” that the Team and sub-Teams work within, but are letting them define their own parameters, and the requirements they need to fulfill their work. I am glad for the maturity of our Local Team members, as they could be complaining and grumbling about disorganization and lack of order. Rather, several members have offered excellent organizing and procedural suggestions for us to use in weeks to come.
When the sub-Teams came back to the larger Team to report several very enlightened conclusions seemed to slip from the lips of those who offered summations for their sub-Team’s work this evening. One that is grandly important is that one major characteristic common to all of the relationship paradigms we are working on is that “these are conscious and evolved, spiritizing relationships,” not unconscious reactive relationships.
This single statement sets the work of the CCDTs working on relationship apart from all other relationships. That is, these six relation-ship paradigms are seen as environments for growth: social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth! And that the intentions of the individuals for being in those relationships take that into account for the particular relationship paradigm they are interested in working. That may seem obvious, but it is a major block in the foundation of any intentional sustainable relationship.
Second, comment was provided that children from conscious relationships are already being raised into adulthood with that in-grained perspective of relationship. And that is surely a good development, a part of a sustainable society. Third, the troubles, problems, and difficulties that one experiences in a relationship, not-ed by their emotional reaction to those situations are reflections of unfinished social-emotional work of the person who is having that reaction. The pregnant question, “What in me makes me react in (anger, resentment, spite, etc.) when my partner says or does ____?” It was a whirlwind evening that seemed to have much dithering-about, but it was probably one of our most productive evenings. Next meeting: Monday, 6:30 pm, January 21, 2008 at Michael’s home.~
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11. January 21, 2008
Sherille and I were about 1 hour late, due to myself being kept in Boulder to finish up a crisis couching session with a young married couple. Sherille had called ahead to let the Team know that we would be late and to proceed without us. When we arrived, the whole Team, now numbering 10 had begun reviewing and com-paring the work they had done in their individual sub-Teams.
The sub-Teams had several points to make:
1) They had enjoyed the time off from their intense sub-Team work;
2) They were able to compare notes from one sub-Team to another;
3) They discovered that they were all on track and that no one sub-Team had wandered off into fields of discussions, but had stayed on-task;
4) They wished to have another time in the future to do this again; and
5) They wished to have more time for their sub-Team work. I was delighted, as the TR and Team Facilitator, to see that the sub-Teams had used their time effectively, and that they were pre-pared to re-engage Sondjah and his assignments next week.
Sondjah was available and did address the Team, though I do not remember anything about what he spoke about. I had arrived late, preceded by a physically demanding day as a Housewright, and then an intensive Coaching session with the young couple. What this gave me was a state of relaxed and detached presence during the TR’ing, which is to great ad-vantage for bringing through much higher quality TR messages. Looks like I will find out what it was all about when I get the Transcripts from Roxanne! What I do know, from a “drop-in call” from Sondjah yesterday (Tuesday), is that he is al-ready prepared for next Monday’s Team session. Next meeting: Monday, 6:30 pm, January 28, 2008 at Michael’s home.~
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12. January 28, 2008
Eight present, one guest.
Michael L. provided the Opening Practices, which was very much appreciated by myself and others. Sondjah brought us back to an earlier topic: the underlying values of sustainable personal relationships. He asked us, “What are the values that underlie sustainable personal relationships?” And, are the values of the six relationship paradigms different, one to another? He left the Team to discuss this on its own. Very early on, the Team rapidly came to several conclusions, but continued its discussion for another 45 minutes.
The Team returned to its earlier formation and waited for Sondjah to provide some insights into what they had discussed. Sondjah as-signed the Team to go home and research the basic core (life affirming) values that underlie personal relationships. He said that this would be the first of many occasions where Team members would engage in extra-Team social research to discover what social scientists, philosophers, theologians, and enlightened Teachers had learned in past decades and centuries. It is obvious that Sondjah and the Teaching Council he is associated are guiding us slowly but very surely forward to build the foundations of sustainable relationship designs.
On another note, I occupy the unenviable position of both TR and Team Facilitator. Doing both compromises the effectiveness of either, and both positions on occasion. Case in point: Some of you have voiced concern that you have not had opportunity to share your thoughts, or were talked-over when you tried. Upon inquiring about this, I discovered that a couple of our Team members have opted out of participating in the Team, either by not returning, or by remaining and withdrawing inside the Team setting by not actively participating. To facilitate the “river of discussion” I will begin using my “Tao Bell” to help maintain a sustainable group process. Not too oddly, several thoughts concerning democratic settings come to mind:
“In a sustainable democracy or democratic setting, it is not sufficient to simply allow for consent, but consent must be solicited and opportunity given for it to be shared.” †† A sustainable Team is much like a sustainable democracy, and they operate very similarly. A sustainable Team is composed of volunteer members who maintain what I would call a “gentle environment” where everyone is given a conscious equal opportunity to make a contribution to the Team discussion. And when a Team member is silent or quiet, other Team members actively solicit their input.
One of the basic values underlying a sustainable personal relationship is this: Each individual in the relationship is of equal value in the relationship. The corollary is that each has an equal contribution to make to that relation-ship. Silence does not convey consent or agreement, or even permission to assume that consent is given.
†† Reference: e-Democracy, The Development of Public Policy and the Next Step of Democracy for the 21st Century, (1992, 2002) Daniel Raphael, Ph.D. FREE PDF copies available upon request. ~
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13. February 4, 2008
Seven present, no guests.
Sondjah once again introduced us to the core values that underpin a sustainable relationship. He pointed us to sociological and social anthropological studies of other cultures to help us discern the core values of a sustainable relationship. And as very few sustainable relationships are easily identified in our culture, he told us that we might simply have to invent some of those values. He then set us to our work without a time limit.
As there was an optimal-maximum of us, we formed one team. Everyone had thought about and had gone to some effort to research the core values of humanity, civilization, societies, cultures, and communities, but few if any had any results from searching for “sustainable relationship values.” We struggled, too, with the definition of “values” and “beliefs.” It became obvious that we would have to go to our old college textbooks to find those definitions, or some other source.
It was a very enjoyable evening, very productive, with a good deal of sharing by everyone in the Team setting. I have found a nice niche of being a low-key facilitator to the Team, and able to participate as an equal, without dominating the group, (I hope!).
A very interesting topic developed about the evolution of relationships. It was pointed out that several religions espouse man-wife relationships that worked very well in historic set-tings but now seem very antiquarian. This, too, helped us point to a relationship dimension that will not evolve, but represents the highest relationship dimension available to intimate relationships — the sustainable intimate relation-ship. Several necessary values came to light to support that.
A question that has been puzzling sever-al participants, even to the extent that more than one person has left the Team setting, has to do with the painful situation of those who are in difficult, trying, or disintegrating intimate relationships. The work we are doing with Sondjah has given us a wonderful view of working, lov-ing, equal, spirit-inspired relationships that are additionally sustainable. Yet, members go home to less than perfect or less than equal or loving relationships to suffer through their days and nights with difficulty — obviously less than sustainable! How are Team members to deal with this incredible and painful difference? How are they to put that difference into terms that they can life with?
When we reconvened Sondjah provided a very heart-touching explanation for those who are grieving, and a good lesson for those who are not experiencing that. We look forward to the transcript of his delivery, eagerly.
Next meeting: Monday, 6:30 pm, February 11, ‘08 at Michael’s home. ~
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Journalist’s Note: February 24, 2008
Sherille and I have returned from Mexico and our honeymoon in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. Nine days without email, mail, computers, telephones, cell phones…YES! And a lot of time to reflect upon the Co-Creative Design Team process. I am concerned, and it is now validated, that if/when the facilitator/TR is absent, the local CCDT loses steam and would probably collapse. This points up the necessity of teaching others how to TR to replace myself during my absences. I feel that the CCDT process might well fail of we do not get new TR’s on line to maintain the connection with the Celestial Teachers and the Team members, and to expand it globally, which is our mission.
I have decided to begin a concerted effort to solicit volunteers locally and within the Den-ver Metro area to learn how to TR and engage the CCDT process. As there are several very charismatic individuals in our own small local Team, I do not feel this is an impossible task. If I could learn to TR, almost anyone can! It simply needs a will to do so, and perseverance to im-prove those skills.
On another front, I have been invited to return to San Miguel for the month of August to teach my Workshops classes, teach others to TR, and do personal/spiritual counseling and coaching. It looks like I have a place to stay and a stipend to begin the process. San Miguel’s population is composed of 10% foreign nationals from predominantly 47 countries. It is truly an international city about the size of Boulder, Colorado. I feel/see/sense that this may become the hub for the international development of the CCDT process, and global development of Monjoronson’s work.
We visited Celaya, an industrial city of about 600,000 population, 50 kilometers to the south. The organizer for the Spanish translation of Monjoronson’s manuscript (Damian Carmona) lives there! No small coincidence, huh? His wife, Teresa is a very gifted psychic-intuitive who has great potential to become a very competent TR. I would be delighted to begin a totally Spanish language Local Co-Creative Design Team there, and have been invited by Damian and Teresa to do so.
One very interesting insight I received in Mexico involved the “North American Anglo psyche,” which is very head-centered, mental, linear, and cerebral, whereas the “South American Latin psyche” is very heart-centered, passionate, and “other oriented.” For Monjoronson’s work to reach the world, his message must include both centers of energy, just as Christ Michael’s universe includes the heart-centered energy of Nebadonia, the mother spirit of our local universe.
It was quite miraculous process that brought Sherille and I to San Miguel and the individuals we met. Once we said, “Yes,” to the wedding present of using a grand home in San Miguel for our honeymoon, at least six Angelically generated co-incidences and numerous serendipitous occasions came into play. There, we were able to appreciate the combined synergy of the best of the Latin and the North American cultures. How this plays out will surely be interesting. I do know that we will have a sure idea of it all by Thanksgiving ’08. ~
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14. February 25, 2008
Ten present, no new guests.
Sondjah began the evening with a review of our search for the core values that sustain relationships, society, and a civilization. He did not said very clearly that his Teacher Group had determined there were three core values from which all other values, beliefs, intentions, and behaviors emanate: life, equality, and growth. Faithfully applying these values in all human relationships would sustain a civilization into the future.
He encouraged us to examine these values, then provided several minutes for the members to mull over in their mind the values they thought were central to sustainable relationships. At the end of that time several members brought forward their most cherished values. Sondjah discussed them in terms of the three central values.
Sondjah revealed that the Team must now begin a new facet of study — to learn how to TR. This is an important addition as it is easily apparent the Team will not sustain itself without alternate TR’s and new Teams will not be able to form without new TR’s. This, too, will provide Daniel with the necessary training experience to go out to form new Teams where he is invited. We discussed this to some length, revealing member’s trepidation, hesitation, and anticipation. It was unanimously decided that we would begin next meeting, using the last hour of our Team sessions to practice TRing. Nebadonia came forward to reveal that her angelic corps would assist in this process — to open the mind circuits of each individual who wants to TR, to make them more effective.
Next meeting: March 3, 2008. ~
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15. March 3, 2008
Thirteen present, no new guests.
This was a particularly interesting evening. For the first hour, Sondjah assigned the sub-teams to work on the beliefs that would emanate from the three core values he revealed last week. We did not reconvene to talk about those beliefs, but rather reconvened and were addressed by “Issah” (ee-saw) an incredibly powerful Arch Angel. Issah was here to facilitate the TR training.
As the TR, I experienced Issah coming through me to guide the Team into a deeper space of consciousness to became much more receptive and aware of the inner space of their mind. I don’t remember much about what he discussed or what he did to guide each individual, though it is all recorded and being transcribed as I write this. However, when Issah had completed his work and had closed the session, everyone was a still as a stone in a meadow. Not a word was spoken. The energy of the group was very subdued, and everyone seemed very airy.
Next meeting: March 10th. ~
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16. March 10, 2008
9 present.
The Journal was not published for entry #15, which is included today. Sondjah once again had us examine the core values of life, equality, and growth, and asked members to report to the group what and how they had performed in last week’s session.
It seems our Team is developing quite well as evidenced by the maturity and insights of the sub-Teams to recognize that some of the stumbling blocks, resistances, and diversions are simply developmental steps involved in experiencing the group process that are typical of every group or team. One Team reported that it had gotten tied up in the legalisms of words, particularly the value of equality. This week they have seen what they did last week and wish to move ahead.
This evening’s group was very settled and prepared for Issah’s work. Every group has its peaks and valleys of energy in its members, and sometimes even these undulations of energy affect individual members. But tonight the Team seemed cohesive and prepared for more. Issah, in all his auric eminence surrounded us once again and took Team members into deep spaces and places within themselves.
Ten years ago Joanne and myself held evening workshops teaching people how to talk to their Guardian Angels. Many could not make any progress because they did not feel they were worthy to be in the presence let alone talk to and dialogue with an angelic being. Yet, at our Local CCDT, members reported that they did feel worthy and that talking with their Guardian Angel, or other being of God’s great hierarchy of light, was a natural aspect of our relationship to them, and empowered their GA’s work with them! That is a huge step toward developing a regular relationship with the Divine. Next meeting: March 17. ~
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17. March 17, 2008
12 present.
Sondjah asked the Team to apply the three core values to a columnar format: values (and derivative values), beliefs, intentions-expectations, and the criteria for performance. He said that each core value would develop into a branching schematic with more and more branches emanating in each subsequent column.
The “criteria of performance” befuddled more than one person. He explained it as the end results (thinking, saying, doing) that fulfills the expectations, beliefs, and value(s). I.e., something behavioral and measurable. This schematic is a teaching device to show consistency, or lack of, between values and social interaction. Too many people espouse socially responsible values and beliefs while doing just the opposite, which does not support a sustain-able social structure individually, in a family, or socially.
I am finding my role in these Design Team settings to be very demanding. The change-up of energy and function from Sondjah’s work to that of Issah’s seems to create some sort of a whipsaw effect in my body-mind connection. Sondjah’s work is so linear and intuitive while Issah’s is very deep and trance-like that moves me into altered states of consciousness. Last night’s meditation by Issah was surreal! Self-observing in a deep, foggy sort of state of consciousness, I was performing as a TR while hearing his words come through my mouth – all the while going deeper into a meditative trance-like state.
I struggled to remain present enough to maintain the TR’ing state as my inclination was to go deeper into the I-Thou relationship and become even less aware of my body and surroundings. I am finding that I am remembering less and less of the sessions each week as Issah takes us deeper and deeper into the mystic’s relationship with the divine. I will be glad when Issah begins guiding Team members toward a conscious and active relationship with their own Teachers and/or Guardians, and trial TR’ing. We will have our next Team session again at Michael’s home, next Monday, March 24. ~
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18. March 24, 2008
8 present. We all remarked how unusual it was that the genders were evenly represented. Sondjah gave us a new perspective of the work we are doing. He told us that the fundamentals of our work had been completed, though on a superficial basis. He explained that what Monjoronson and the Teaching Team were most interested in was proving the process of the Design and Working teams used to come to “findings.” And we had completed that very well.
With that he said he would be away for the next two meetings to allow us to decide how we wished to continue in our Local CCDT. While he is gone, Issah will continue his exercises and instruction to help non-TR’ing members develop their inner abilities to TR. As the facilitator of our Local Team, I am curious to see what develops, and how my role will develop (or not).
It seems to me that our Local Evergreen CCDT has provided a platform for experimentation and the development of the process that makes it possible for our Spiritual co-creators to emulate or replicate other teams around the world. For us, and for myself, that leave us to sort out how we proceed. I hope our team members are up to sorting this out, deciding what options we have, and then taking action to proceed. As I see it, this is probably the most experienced and capable Local Team that I know of to initiate action in concert with our Spiritual Consultants.
As for myself, I feel that my role as Local Team Facilitator is waning as opportunities to initiate workshops and local CCDTs in other states and nations are developing. Recently, interest from Poland, South America, and Canada has come to the surface. Our next meeting is scheduled for Mon-day, March 31st. ~
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19. March 31, 2008.
8 present.
This was a very unusual evening.
1) I provided an excerpted lesson from the Workshop Lesson Plan, that included, “Angelic-Mortal Relations,” and “Discernment and TR’ing,” because soon others will be TR’ing and will need to know how to discern *the mes-sage, *the TR, and *the Spiritual being who is providing the transmission. I am including these two lessons as one document for this entry at the end of this entry.
2) We did not hear from Sondjah, and neither did we have time to ask Issah to work with us. It was an evening of determining where we go from here.
3) I shared with the Team that I was out of steam for TR’ing and needed a holiday from it for a few weeks but would be glad to help facilitate their work with designing relationships and for conscious TR training.
4) It was evident to all of us that our Celestial counterparts who had provided the inertia and direction for our work in the Team and sub-Teams, had withdrawn that guidance, for now, to see if we would continue on our own. Their work is not done, but their apparent withdrawal was necessary to determine if their mortal counterparts had it in them to continue on their own, on their own initiative.
5) The Team unanimously agreed that they wanted to continue the work of designing sustainable relationships.
6) They also agreed that they wanted to pursue TR training, but voiced some reservations.
a) Those who attend TR training must “remain present” to “hold the energetic space” so that everyone benefits.
b) Several team members said they did would like to learn to TR for their own benefit, without having to do so in a social setting. These members said that they benefited greatly from the TR training and the TR environment, but felt very self conscious about doing so in front of others.
c) Everyone agreed that TR’ing was for spiritual growth and upliftment, but not entertainment.
7) What I propose to do for the next several weeks is to support and facilitate the Team Design process; prepare members for TR training, bring Issah’s energetic guidance into play so that everyone is conscious of his energetic presence; then in a conscious state facilitate the TR training.
It is very apparent, as Sondjah mentioned weeks ago, that the number of those who attend from week to week would fluctuate, and that we would eventually distill ourselves down to those who will attend consistently and work diligently. We know, too, that several members are international travelers, and several others have obligations and responsibilities that take them from away for weeks at a time. Our next meeting is scheduled for Mon-day, 6:30 pm, April 7th. ~
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4 Angelic-Mortal Relations
Angelic-Mortal Relations
1. Remember that angels have a life too. Make appointments when you want to talk to them for special reasons, unless you and your angel hang out together all the time anyway. Keep appointments. Apologize if you forgot your appointment. Angels are always forgiving. They really are.
2. Don’t take angels or what they do for us for granted. They have discretion as to what they do and do not do for us. While they would never deliberately cause you grief or take any action that would harm you, they are most willing to let you stew awhile in a difficult situation or let you struggle with it without helping you. It’s your life and you are responsible for it, they aren’t. They are helpers, companions, and protectors, but not your surrogate mom.
3. Thank angels for answered prayers, requests, and even the small gestures of kindness that they give without having to be asked. A verbal “Thanks Guys!” is what I say often – it helps bond our relationship and add respect to our interaction.
4. Make your needs known. While they can read your mind if they estimate that it is necessary, they are very private beings and deeply respectful of your “space” and your personhood. If you have a need, make it known to them. State it aloud, write it down, or just say it mentally but deliberately.
5. Be sincere. While angels have an immense sense of humor and love a good time and a good joke, they do not take notice of sarcasm, biting comments, off-colored asides, or personal barbs.
6. Know your intention in all that you do. Angels are deeply guided by your intention. What is your intention for having a conscious, personal, ongoing, co-creative sacred relationship with them?
7. Angels wish us to examine our motives, thoughts, behavior, and actions so that they all eventually flow with the light of the universe: all-loving and purposeful. This does not mean to become self-analytical or subject to every-minute-self-examination. It only means to know why you are think-ing what you think, speaking the words you have selected to speak, behave as you do, and know why you take the actions that you do. Don’t be surprised if this takes most of your life to do!
► Behavior of Spiritual Beings of Light
Spiritual beings of light are easily identified by their infallible character. The etiquette of spiritual beings of light is a significant reference useful for discerning the character of the spiritual being coming through the TR.
Spiritual beings of light DO NOT: Lie, deceive, mislead, manipulate, gossip, or any of the other negative things that people tend to do. Spiritual beings of light also do not stimulate the development of fear or ego embellishment in mortals. Angels will never give you bad advice, steer you into trouble, or say anything to make you feel bad or look bad. They will never suggest that you violate your own will, the will of any other person, or that of God, Jesus, or the Infinite Spirit.
Spiritual beings of light DO: Lead, guide, inspire, counsel, advise; Remain honest, authentic, and transparent; Show up on time, stay present, and follow through; and frequently offer conscious insights about most anything that is meaningful to you, when asked. Angels will always defer to your own choices. They are straightforward and often very direct. They are not solicitous, conniving, “slick,” or seductive. They are honest and loving above all else. They will never force you into a corner of “making choices.” They will always advise you to make the highest value choice that leads to God, loving God, yourself, and others. Angels are angelic! and give you angelic answers.
► Integration and Separation
General statements:
Spiritual action brings integration, rather than separation.
Spirit moves us from separation to integration: wholeness and oneness.
Separation is not sustainable; even diversity does not bring sustainability. Integration provides the seedbed for sustainability.
Maturing mortals eventually move through the stages of separation, then the recognition of diversity, and on to integration, then wholeness of self, and oneness with the universe.
5 Discernment – TR’ing
Discernment and TR’ing
► Introduction
The message(s) that come through the TR is the key to discerning the message, the TR, and the spiritual being.
- 1. Is the message technically accurate or not? Is the “meta-message” of consistent with the TR and the spiritual being?
2. Discern the message to see if the TR is clear of ego or fear issues.
3. Discern the message to see if the spiritual being coming through is of the light.
1► Discerning the Message
- Does the message make sense?
- Is the message consistent within itself? Is it consistent with previous messages, and consistent with the larger aspects of our universe?
- Does the message make a meaningful contribution to our knowledge, or is it just more “fluff”?
- Does the message lead us in a direction that is consistent with our topic?
2► Discerning the TR
Ego issues and fear issues are a cause for constant mischief in any conscious or unconscious TR’ing process. Examining the message is the primary means for discerning the reliability of the TR. Due to the message coming through a conscious TR, the message can be colored by the unconscious and conscious personal involvement of the TR in/with the content of the message. TR’d messages should be discerned for bias from the TR. If the content of a TR’s messages are consistently colored with bias and personal involvement (fear, ego) then the TR should not be used in future sessions.
A TR’d message may or may not be obviously colored by some bias, opinion, estimation, prejudice, or judgment. When reading or listening to a TR’d message, try to find the “gems” among the “stones.” Although the message may lack 100% accuracy, there may be insightful contributions in it. Knowing the difference is the key to effective practices of discernment. The big issues of all humankind are ego and fear. These show up as controlling influences that work against a Team’s productivity, and integrity.
Ego — Ego issues color the “text” of the messages that come through the TR. The intention of ego involvement is always some form of “return” that comes back to the TR in some form of self-aggrandizement.
Ego usually expresses its presence as ongoing process in one or more several ways:
- ● Power in the forms of manipulation, control, authority, and position. This may take the form of an agenda-accomplishment that provides a political, financial, social, or other form of return to the TR.
- ● Self-aggrandizement, self-importance, self-centeredness, selfishness, conceit, arrogance, and sometimes as “Guru syndrome” either projecting or accepting same from followers.
- ● Envy, jealously, and more.
Fear — Fear makes statements of position, and may express as judgment, biases, strong opinions, prejudices, bigotry, distancing, or withdrawal, for example, causing separation. Fear positions become known in the form of statements, attitudes, and opinions that shock or im-mobilize the group. Repeated presentations of a horrific and terrifying nature that cause fear in the audience is a sign of fear in the TR. It, too, may be a method for the TR to gain power, control, and to be seen as the “guru” and/or savior of the group. Statements that cause fear that are NOT made often about horrific or terrifying topics may indicate the topic is real and that fear is an appropriate response. In that case, listeners may want to work with their own fears so that they remain effective members of the Team.
Mental Illness — In the case of aberrant thinking, i.e., what most people would call mental/emotional illness if diagnosed by professional psychiatrists or clinical psychologists, also falls into the realm of discernment. It is not necessary to devise a label for the thinking of the person who TR’d a strange and unusual message. If you discern a message to be far out of the ordinary, and, for example, appears to involve paranoia, extreme fear, or bigotry, to name a few issues of aberrant or bizarre think-ing, then you have discerned enough to reject the message. Dealing with the messenger then takes tact, skill, grace, and perseverance to persuade them not to TR again. And that may be of no avail.
3► Discerning the Spiritual Being
Spiritual beings of light are easily identified by their infallible character. The etiquette of spiritual beings of light is a significant reference useful for discerning the character of the spiritual being coming through the TR. (See, “Angelic-Mortal Relations”.)
Spiritual beings of light DO NOT: Lie, deceive, mislead, manipulate, gossip, or any of the other negative things that people tend to do. Spiritual beings of light also do not stimulate the development of fear or ego embellishment in mortals.
They will never give you bad advice, steer you into trouble, or say anything to make you feel bad or look bad. They will never suggest that you violate your own will, the will of any other person, or that of God, Jesus, or the Infinite Spirit.
Spiritual beings of light DO: Lead, guide, inspire, counsel, advise; Remain honest, authentic, and transparent; Show up on time, stay present, and follow through; and frequently offer conscious insights about the TR’d session, when asked.
They will always defer to your own choices. They are straightforward and often very direct. They are not solicitous, conniving, “slick”, or seductive. They are honest and loving above all else. They will never force you into a corner of “making choices.” They will always advise you to make the highest value choice that leads to God, loving God, yourself and others. Angels are angelic! and give you angelic answers.
► Integration and Separation
Generally, spiritual activity brings integration, rather than separation. Ego, fear, and mental illness cause separation in some form. Our first observations are actions, then moving inward we observe/listen to the words, and these two indicators tell us what is dominant in the thinking of the TR, the message, or the spiritual being who provided the message.
Spirit moves us from separation to integration, wholeness, and oneness. Separation is not sustainable; even diversity does not bring sustainability. Maturing mortals eventually move through the stages of separation, diversity, and onto integration. And these tell us what level of maturity, evolution and development that the TR has attained.
► Closing
Discernment is probably one of the most powerful mental activities we exercise in our lives – if we choose to exercise it. After a session of asking your guardian angels questions, and listening to their answers, discern if the answers were “of God” or other. During TR’ing, set aside question-asking about your thoughts of discernment. Just make note of them, then discern and judge the answers later.
When you do discuss your discernments, ask lots of questions from your heart. Listen with your heart. Let your mind judge later. When talking to angels, be a child—trust and accept what you hear, then discern the message so that you are not blind in your trust and acceptance.
