Dying in War: From the Battlefield to the Afterlife

By Wes Annac, Editor, Culture of Awareness & Openhearted Rebel

This is an excerpt from Chapter 3 of Enlightened Afterlife, my new ebook centered on Spiritualist philosophy on life after death. You can purchase a PDF file of the book at the bottom of this post, or you can check out the Kindle version by clicking the book cover below.

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What’s It Like to Die in War?

This section will focus on war and the effect it has on those killed in battle. Despite that the Spiritualist movement isn’t what it once was, the tragedy of war is one reason the movement and the idea of the afterlife are popular today.

This aspect of the discussion will undoubtedly be dark, but there’s a silver lining in that most soldiers discover the same peace, bliss and freedom when it’s all said and done. Trauma and suffering leave so they can begin the process of healing and learn to enjoy their vibrant new surroundings.

As we learned in Chapter 1, the Spiritualist movement regained followers during World Wars I & II due to the mass amounts of people once again losing family to the battlefield. Most of the passages we’ll read in this section are centered on the Civil War and both World Wars but can be applied to the wars of today.

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Writing with Purpose

By Wes Annac, Editor, Culture of Awareness & Openhearted Rebel

Writing is a powerful tool that can be used to entertain, inform, and inspire people to change the world. Regardless of your reason for doing it, writing provides an outlet for you to express yourself and reach an audience of enthusiastic readers.

Research into any area of society (or spirituality) will show that there are plenty of topics to write about. Some topics are considered more important than others, and personally, I often write about things that interest me instead of using every article to search for truth.

For example: I like to write about spiritual topics some readers would think are silly. I consider myself “spiritual”, but I write about them because they interest me; not because I want to convince people they’re true. I’m just having fun and sharing something that could be true or not. You decide.

I enjoy writing about interesting topics, even if I’m the only one who finds them interesting. I also enjoy researching, sharing truth, and calling out the ruling elite. If a topic seems worthy of covering, I’ll give it a shot.

The Artist’s Responsibility

I’ll write about almost anything, but lately, I find I want to cover more meaningful topics. I want to write about things that are close to my heart, things that deepen my understanding of certain spiritual concepts, and overall, things that matter.

Most of what’s happening in the world is unaddressed by artists with a significant enough influence to encourage change. This makes it clear that the time for sitting and waiting for someone to address these problems is over. The time for writers, musicians, and artists of all kinds to devote their work to a meaningful cause is now.

Anyone with a talent that puts them in the public eye has an opportunity to encourage change. Even if you consider yourself untalented, you were put here to help this planet. To convince yourself otherwise is to deny your potential. We’re here to move the world forward, and we can do it by using the things we’re passionate about to help others and encourage change.

I can get more out of writing if I use it for a meaningful cause than if I use it solely for entertainment.

It helps to know I’m not alone in the desire to promote justice, peace, and prosperity for a world wounded by the greed and carelessness of the upper class. Ultimately, this movement will succeed because of our numbers and resounding unwillingness to give up.

Unwavering Dedication

Until recently, I lacked dedication. Now, I plan to work harder, address a wider range of issues, and produce more meaningful, high-quality articles.

History shows that only those dedicated enough to work consistently toward their goals (sacrificing themselves in some cases) will achieve success. Nothing less than unwavering dedication is required. I’m not saying we should exhaust ourselves or leave no room for downtime, but we should push ourselves to achieve more in a world where most are content to achieve less.

Don’t Be Afraid

For those who lack inspiration, I recommend addressing issues close to your heart that you might have ignored before. Don’t be afraid to express yourself or pour your heart and soul into your work, because it’s your passion. You’re supposed to get the most out of it.

Most importantly, use it to help people. The world could use more selfless people, and depending on what your passion is, there are probably countless ways you can use it to help others. You just have to discover the best ways for you, pursue them, and keep going when they challenge you.

When you reach a point where nothing can put out your fire, you’ll be in an optimal state to help the world by doing what you love.

About the author: 

I’m a twenty-something writer & blogger with an interest in spirituality, revolution, music and the transformative creative force known as love. I run The Culture of Awareness, a daily news blog dedicated to raising social and spiritual awareness and supporting the evolution of the planet.

I also have a personal blog, Openhearted Rebel, in which I share writings related to spiritual philosophy, creativity, heart consciousness and revolution (among other topics).

I write from the heart and try to share informative and enlightening reading material with the rest of the conscious community. When I’m not writing or exploring nature, I’m usually making music.

Follow me on Facebook (Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness) and Twitter (Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness)

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Recent articles:

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• Out-of-Body Experiences: Is It Possible to Leave the Body?
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• Does Your Family Criticize Your Cannabis Use?
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Featured image credit: davidcrank.com

No copyright. Share freely with attribution to Wes Annac and the Culture of Awareness.

Tap into the Source

By Wes Annac, Editor, Culture of Awareness & Openhearted Rebel

There is a Source of energy, inspiration, and abundance we can all tap into, but we have to be aware of it first. It’s here waiting patiently for us to realize it exists, but until we can be open to it, it’ll sit at the edge of our perception and guide our lives without us knowing.

It’s difficult to become aware of something you can’t initially see, feel or sense, but the more you’re open to this Source, the more it reveals itself.

When it comes to spiritual terminology, I tend to use different labels to define the same things. For example: to me, there’s no difference between the higher self, higher consciousness, and the Source. There are differences for other people, but to me, they’re all constructs that help us conceptualize higher states of consciousness and the idea of a creator.

Despite that they all originate in the human mind, we can use them to connect with a higher power through meditation and other spiritual activities.

Cannabis: Mental, Physical and Spiritual Benefits – Part 2/4

By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness

(Continued from part 1)

By conjoining both sides of the Autonomic Nervous System, cannabis ‘enhances’ both sides of the brain and allows for more (and cleaner) blood to enter. Thus, the mind becomes clearer and creativity is enhanced.

Since it works on both sides of the brain and unites the intellectually sharp left side with the creative, artful right side, it allows for relaxation and meditation or active, inspired creativity depending on the user and their intention. It works differently for everyone, and some might not feel as clearheaded or inspired as others.

Are You Ready for a Spiritual Revolution? – Part 2/2

Credit: lucyoccupy.wordpress.com

By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness

Continued from part 1 (read full post here).

We Don’t Need Them

We don’t need Big Brother watching our every move for ‘national security’ purposes and pouncing on us when they think we’ve done something wrong.

We don’t need militarized police forces causing mayhem in the streets, and we definitely don’t need political pundits in expensive suits screaming at us to conform to a corrupt system that serves them and their rich friends.

We need a new way of life free from the greed and corruption of the one percent, who’ll tell us any lie imaginable just to push their agenda forward. We also need a world free from the greed and corruption of the common man, whose negativity enables the world’s suffering.

Are You Ready for a Spiritual Revolution? – Part 1/2

Credit: megnocero.wordpress.com

By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness

If we want to create a new system out of the ashes of the old, we should think about the role we’ll play in creating it.

We should figure out what we can do right now to reflect the paradigm shift the world needs, and we should remember that if we continue to be angry, greedy or judgmental, a new world will be impossible because we’ll fail create it from within.

Any changes we’re able to make will be nullified shortly after, because we’ll fail to heal the underlying cause of the world’s broken condition; namely, the anger and greed we’ll continue to sustain.

My Prayer

Credit: stjohns.org

By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness

To the Source, I pray that you be with us all in times of uncertainty.

To life, I pray that in time, you reveal your greatest secrets.

To the planet, I pray that you find peace, healing and stability.

For humanity, I pray that we see the light in the darkness and come to terms with our differences.

To the plant and animal kingdom, I pray that you forgive humans for what we’re doing to you. As strange as it sounds, we know not what we do.

To the billionaires pulling the strings in our society, I pray that you return to your heart and put a stop to the greed and wickedness. I pray you find compassion for those whose lives you’ve destroyed, confess your sins and embrace the justice coming your way, but it’s coming no matter what you do.

To these people’s victims, I pray you find forgiveness so you can move forward and make a better world.

To religious leaders and spiritual teachers, I pray you learn that love is the most important thing you can teach and remember to practice what you preach.

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To their followers, I pray you learn to find God in yourself and be aware of your ability to instantly access higher states of consciousness where you’re one with your creator.

To my readers, I pray you never look to me or anyone else for what you can only find in yourself, because you’ll be unhappy and depleted of your authentic spirituality if you do.

To my friends and family, I pray you can forgive me for the times I’ve wronged you or made life harder for you.

Finally, for myself, I pray for daily guidance, insight and good vibes from the Source. I pray for food, water, a stable living situation for my family and whatever amount of money the Most High deems appropriate.

Most importantly, I pray for love to sweep the planet. I pray for people to see the direction in which the world is moving and make a change, and I pray that I can be the change this world needs despite my flaws and the fact that I’ve dropped the ball before.

Credit: yournextworth.com

I couldn’t tell you what kind of religious or spiritual value prayer has, but I can share what it does for me. Like writing, prayer is a form of meditation I can use to communicate with the Source and receive insight on things that are important to me, and it doesn’t have to be exclusive to religion.

I’m not religious, but I do think prayer has value and I utilize it often.

I make little prayers throughout the day instead of waiting until bed, and their spontaneity is one of the best things about them. I might thank the Most High for the food I’m about to eat or pray for guidance when I struggle, but this is enough to get the creator’s attention and receive valuable insight.

Source won’t express itself unless we request it, but when it does, it usually gives us exactly what we need.

This is one reason prayer is helpful, and it’s liberating to realize that you’re already constantly connected with God no matter how much outside noise seems to cover up the connection. For me, prayer illuminates it as much as meditation and creativity, and the best role to play in life is one that combines all three.

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I’m not saying you should pray, because we all walk a unique path and what works for one might not work for another. However, if you struggle or you feel like the world could use some protection and good vibes, maybe open that channel to the Source through prayer and see if it helps.

If it doesn’t, you’ll know it isn’t right for you.

But if it does, you’ll have a new way to feel the love and send healing to the world. The power to heal the planet lives within us regardless of how we channel it, and it starts with an inner transformation that inspires us to help the world reflect the peaceful inner reality we’re rediscovering.

We can use meditation, prayer, creativity and so many other things to raise our consciousness while inspiring the changes the world needs, and if we willingly and thoroughly utilize these outlets, we’ll make it easier for everyone to see and embody the light.

Credit: thesvas.com

You can spread the light by living it and expressing it in your every thought, word and action, and when you stop running from the darkness, you begin to learn from both. You learn to shed light on the darkness without letting it negatively affect you, and you become aware that the two opposing forces are one.

Let everyone who struggles find the love and guidance they need, because we’re on the verge of rediscovering the greatest spiritual secrets kept from mankind. We’re on the verge of an awakening, and prayer is one of many things that can speed up the inevitable rediscovery of our oneness with God.