Spirituality and Personal Growth

June 13, 2011

Writings on Spirituality and Personal Growth

Fred Jennings Rogers (Grants Pass, OR), Aquarius Books and Gifts. "Books to expand your mind."

Fred Rogers is a practitioner and teacher of meditation, spiritual philosophy and mysticism. He owns Aquarius Books and gifts in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Rogers is an advocate of service to others and the Earth as a way of self-improvement and fulfillment. Lives that touch others also touch the fabric of the Earth and you become part of the environment rather than being alienated from it.

This can be done anywhere, including a business setting. Just stop once in a while and look around or go outside. This also helps with stress and relaxation.

Rogers questions the theory that humans can ever exert responsible "stewardship" over the Earth. He advocates living with nature and understanding that you cannot change nature. But you can make it work for you.

He is a protégé of Agnes Baker-Pilgrim, also of Grants Pass. Pilgrim is 86, a medicine woman from the Taklema Tribe and an elected member of the "International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers."

Rogers differentiates between "prayer" which is asking questions or favors of an unseen higher power, and "meditation," in which you open yourself to receive answers. And always there is the "still small voice within."

Sharon noted that spending time on self, and self-improvement are not necessarily selfish and that to truly help others, you often must first heal yourself.

Sharon asked how to meditate. Rogers noted that everyone has their own path. He suggests sitting and relaxing, and focusing on a mantra or a word to clear your mind, quiet your mind and focus on nothing - or on something basic like a flower.

We are all connected, we all know our own path deep down and there is only the present. A health diet is vitally important to a healthy attitude.