17 Comments
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Laurie Z's avatar

Very well said. I think of presence also as a state of receptivity. Our collective willingness to tune into this is what’s needed most in this world… a unified audience of the infinite invisible.

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Justin Foster's avatar

Well said, Laurie! And it’s free and always available

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carolee's avatar

And so it is, we begin again and again

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John Moore's avatar

Powerful thoughts that ring true. I have often noticed how philosophers and other learned folk refer to complete silence. I don’t know if there is such a thing. I suspect they are listening to their own thoughts, rather than to the moment. In my experience of walks in the countryside, if you think there’s silence but you listen with real awareness, you hear a continuous hymn of faint chirpings and rustlings along with your own breath that merge into a single whole. Those are the moments when you feel at one with nature!

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Justin Foster's avatar

Thank you, John! Beautifully said. Whitman would be proud

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William Weaver's avatar

That really hit in an unexpected way. Sometimes you find something at a certain time and it causes a change in your awareness, in your soul.

This is one of those times.

Thank you for sharing this.

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Justin Foster's avatar

Thank you, William. I’m so glad it spoke to you.

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Mike Pearson's avatar

Beautiful, eloquent, and inspirational - a powerful exploration of an incredible power!

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Justin Foster's avatar

Thank you for your kind words, Mike

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Marshall Davis's avatar

Wonderful! One of your best writings. The Peace of Presence to you.

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Justin Foster's avatar

Hello, Marshall! An endorsement of my writings from someone I admire so deeply is quite an honor. Thank you!

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Lee Nellis's avatar

Your best essay so far

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Justin Foster's avatar

Thank you, Lee! Very affirming

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Richard Lloyd's avatar

Very nice post

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Lynn Sherick's avatar

I would add: The Holy Spirit is carried on the breath; arrives to a believer by breath. The continuing Presence of the Holy Spirit is in the breath.

Dominated by your thoughts, living in your mind is being your ego. Living for yourself and only for yourself; it is a very empty, lonely life. We see it in the empty stares of those lost into their electronic screens…

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Maria Santamaria's avatar

Nic Askew (Soul Biographies) shared your substack that begins "For the first time in the history of this country...." and voila! I discovered your writing! I'm delighted to have been introduced to you through your words.

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g.a.jennings's avatar

I learned it from nature too: psilocybin.

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