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Frequently Asked Questions
Is financial aid available?
Financial aid of any kind such as FASFA, Military education grants, or any other
government/federal aid is not accepted here because we are a religious,
non-secular educational facility. We do consider financial arrangements, and
when available, will provide scholarships for those in need.
Do I have to pay all of the tuition at once?
Courses can be purchased one at a time or up to as many as the student wants.
Do I need to take all of the courses at once?
How much are the textbooks?
CIAMSS courses are sent to the student in a PDF
format. If the student requires a textbook, they will need to contact us for
printing and shipping costs. We feel that the PDF format is much more cost
effective for the student as well as helpful for our environment.
What other expenses are involved?
When do classes start?
Can I take a single class without having to enroll in as a degree or certification student?
How long will it take me to become
certified or obtain a degree?
Is there an opportunity for me to
work at the College? Why is positive thinking important to a metaphysical belief system?
Positive thinking is important because metaphysics
teaches that the mind controls our reality. It you think it, it is so, We
encourage ourselves to believe in the best so that we can manifest this in our
God knows what is best for our Highest Good, and it
is the Highest Good of the body, mind and spirit that we are trying to achieve.
What pleases us one minute may not always please us the next God, the Eternal,
knows what is always the Ultimate Best. When we pray we say "Thy will be done".
Since we create our own world, our attitude toward our world is all that we can
completely control, and is the key in creating the best world for our Soul.
In what kind of God do metaphysicians believe?
To the Metaphysician -- God is the creative, active force in the Universe from
which
all scientific, natural and spiritual laws are derived, This beneficent force is
creating a friendly Universe today, as
it was in the beginning. The more we go into quiet meditation and seek this link
with Good the more we know and the greater our awareness becomes. A wonderful
and unseen force is alive and active through us. Life is a precious gift from
the creative intelligence of God. We express this force best through Love,
Understanding, Wisdom and Truth. Each creative thinker knows there is a Source
somewhere within. Each child knows that he/she, alone, is not enough! We are not
alone. God, referred to in
various
religions by different names, is the same God - The Creator of us all. Is metaphysics a religion?
What is meditation?
We have mentioned meditation, just
what is it? Meditation is a formal time to relax and go within - to dwell in the
Silence and to become increasingly aware of the God within. Meditation is a key
ingredient to Metaphysics, as it is the single most important act in a
metaphysician's life. All the great Saints and Mystics have reported that their
quiet time of "practicing the Presence of God" was the most important experience
in their quest to became
closer to God.
Meditation is used to quiet oneself externally (turning off distractions such as
TV, telephone, etc.) and internally (turning off everyday thoughts such as
school,
Here in the quiet, one can realize a connection
with the Universe and a commonality with all of life Do metaphysicians believe in the Bible?
To the Metaphysician the Bible is based on inspired
revelation. This ancient and inspired book has a great deal of food for thought,
We believe that each one of us is capable of inspired revelation as we seek to
understand what Jesus, meant when he said certain things. For example he said,
"He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do." (John 14:12) Do metaphysicians believe in Jesus?
Metaphysicians believe that Jesus was a master metaphysician and a great teacher
of metaphysical principles.
Do metaphysicians believe in prayer? The Metaphysician believes in prayer. One kind of prayer we use is called an Affirmation. It is a simple statement of Truth. We do not cajole, bargain or plead with God. We know our Good is here now and we look to recognize this within ourselves. Ever present help is ours through this method of acknowledgment of God at work in our lives.
Do metaphysicians believe in life after death?
Most metaphysicians believe in life after death.
Certainly the continuity of life is very important to those who believe in
reincarnation. The current research done of those returning from a death
experience shows that there is a "somewhere" beyond "here". Even before this
modern research, Mystics have told us of their experiences visiting in other
realms. It is easy to see in Nature the changing of one energy into another.
Consider the acorn and the Oak Tree. So it is with human energy. It is
transformed rather than terminated.
Do metaphysicians believe in reincarnation?
Most metaphysicians believe in reincarnation. The cycle of life is a tenant of
many religions, even that of early Christians. More than three-fourths of the
world's population believe in some form of reincarnation,
What Is Karma?
Karma is an eastern term used to express the
scientific law of cause and effect. It is one of the Universal Laws that explain
how life works. Each molecule is made up of a positive and negative force, these
two act on each other to cause a vibration. Without these two opposing forces,
there would be no life. Everything in life acts and reacts because of this pull.
Science teaches that everything is vibrating, including matter which includes
the physical body. With each lifetime, we are trying to reach a balance as we
create our reality from these two forces. That is why the law of sowing and
reaping is a scientific and spiritual law called Karma.
Do metaphysicians believe In ESP?
Many Metaphysicians
Do metaphysicians believe in Faith Healings?
Metaphysicians throughout the ages have practiced what you know
Is there a relationship between the holistic movement and metaphysics?
Both recognize the interaction of Mind, Body and Spirit. Metaphysics teaches
that as a person thinks, so he/she is. If your thoughts are negative, you will
manifest illness. In Holistic medicine, like Metaphysics, self-responsibility is
stressed. Patient participation is encouraged in every aspect through attitude,
diet, exercise and education. There can be no separate compartment called
"Health". All of life reflects our level of consciousness.
What is an aura? The Aura is
light which surrounds any object. This light is actually electromagnetic
particles vibrating at a higher speed than the mass they surround.
Metaphysicians have known about the aura for centuries, but only within recent
years has the scientific world acknowledged its existence. Now, through Kirilian
Photography, we are able to photograph and note the changes in the aura affected
by our health, emotions and mind set. Much research is needed in this field. Do metaphysicians get involved in prosperity and abundance training?
Metaphysicians believe that life is abundant. We do not have to be poor in order
to be spiritual. Our goal is "Everything we need and Desire". We know we can
stop the flow of Good if we hoard or are greedy. A big part of prosperity
thinking is giving and letting the flow came to us. Ideas are energy and that
energy can be converted into worldly goods
The
quest for God takes us everywhere into the market place, into the schools, into
human relationships. The mind, through divine inspiration can provide abundantly
for everyone. To achieve this prosperity we use meditation, prayer, and creative
visualization.
Do metaphysicians have Gurus? A
Guru is only a teacher. Some people in metaphysics have Gurus — most do not.
Often we find people studying with a variety of teachers. We also teach that
each person can be inspired on his/her own and became his/her own teacher. The
great devotion that Eastern religions teach by the Guru method can be an
important step in a person's growth and development. There is much to be learned
from one who has traveled the Path of Truth longer than you. Nothing is more
inspiring than a spiritual life, well lived. But self-responsibility always came
first.
When all is said and done we find that whenever we have ever needed guidance,
God has never failed to give it. For any sincere questions we have asked, an
answer has come. It is not always an
Are there metaphysical laws and
rules that must be observed?
There is no dogma or strict code for a Metaphysician. Most metaphysicians
For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. We call this Universal Law (Cause and Effect) or sowing and reaping.
There is no escaping responsibility for an action. There is always a reaction
based on your action. We hold this for thoughts, too. As you think, it is
reflected back to you.
Self-responsibility is stressed because there
is no one else to blame. God does not punish. We create our own problems and
solutions.
Harmlessness is important because we feel the
connection with all living things. God gave us custody over all the earth,
all of its creatures and the environment. His human family must take care of
and be responsible for this. There is no one else.
The law of Grace is our way of acceptance.
There is nothing that cannot be forgiven. First you must forgive yourself,
then God's Grace is waiting for you. Just ask. All things are forgiven.
Learn the lesson behind it and do not repeat it, then you are free of it.
Life is teaching us. We want to be aware of the
opportunities to learn and awake enough to see the connection with the rest
of life.
Do We Have Free Will, Or Is
Everything Destined?
This philosophical question is one of the more curious
Some metaphysicians would argue that a rational
universe is always based on cause and effect. That is, every effect is
preceded by a cause, all the way back to the First Cause, that being God or
the Divine.
On the other side, the act of pure, genuine,
uncaused free will is considered somehow to negate the divine
rational order and makes the universe seem irrational.
Although
certain things may occur in one's life that may be destiny, we do have free
will. This is important. And as time passes, our ability to manifest things and
situations will accelerate so quickly that we will see that we can create and
manifest results quickly and easily. If we can bring about such change, this
means we do in fact have free will.
Does metaphysics claim to be the
one path to Truth?
What Is The New Age?
The New Age movement means different things to different people. However, I feel
that most all New Age topics have one basic underlying theme. That theme is
personal spiritual development. Every day there are thousands upon thousands of
people around the world who are waking up to the knowledge, understanding and
realization of who they really are, where they came from, and why they are here.
This collective transformation of individuals can be described as the New Age
movement. As
The
New Age movement itself is somewhat of a paradox, since to organize into some
kind of "movement" could be considered to be contrary to the fundamentals of
individual spiritual development. That is why there is some ambiguity to the
meaning of the New Age, because it can mean different things to people. But
that's okay. What is important is that each individual embarks on their own
journey of learning, adventure, and discovery.
What about Metaphysics in the New Age? The
New Age is strongly related to some of the concepts defined in the branch of
philosophy commonly referred to as metaphysics. Although the academic
branch of metaphysics is most concerned about the nature of ultimate reality,
popular metaphysical topics often include discussion and analysis of subjects
beyond the physical third dimension. Some examples of metaphysical topics
include: free energy, out of body experiences, UFOs, psychic phenomenon,
alternative healing, and other topics that our conventional sciences find
difficult to explain.
What about All the Various New
Age Tools?
What about Astrology, Numerology, Psychism and all that sort of thing?
Is the New Age A Kind of
Religion?
Although it may be spiritual, the New Age like
metaphysics is far from being a formal religion. In fact, many New Agers tend to
shy
Are There Any Common New Age
Beliefs?
Here's
an unofficial list of beliefs that some individuals in New Age may have in
common:
You create your own reality and destiny. This is a planet of free choice,
and you have your own free will.
You have certain challenges to face and overcome in this lifetime. If you
don't learn your lessons this time, you'll get them again.
There is no such thing as coincidence.
There is more to life than meets the eye, much more.
Nothing really matters in this life unless it is done for the benefit of
others.
We are not alone.
We are multidimensional beings currently having a human experience.
We are all receiving more help than we know, from angels, spirit guides,
ascended masters and others.
We can heal ourselves, our society, and our world.
The ultimate
transformation for mankind is ascension.
What is a Lightworker?
A lightworker is a person who is defined by their
mission. That mission is to share light and love with others on this planet,
empowering them toward their own paradigm shift and spiritual awakening. The
lightworker's goal is to help show others that they have a unique spiritual
energy, and that they are free to explore and connect with the unlimited
universal life force energy available to us all.
As people awaken to their true nature and connect
with their higher selves, they too may choose to perform lightwork by
manifesting unconditional love into the physical world around them. This goal of
manifesting the Christ consciousness onto the earth plane, also known as
creating heaven on earth, is a key component of a lightworker's mission.
Do New Age beliefs contradict
science?
Many people feel that new age thinking just simply
isn't rational. Traditional scientific models often include observation,
analysis, testing and measurement. Quite often these things cannot be
It all comes down to beliefs, and often a deep
inner knowing. It involves intuition and trust. It involves listening. It
involves a whole lot of things that are currently beyond the scope of accepted
scientific thinking.
The important thing to remember is that new age
beliefs don't reject science. Modern science has brought tremendous good to our
society in many ways. New age beliefs simply expand beyond accepted thinking in
the exploration and search for life's eternal truths.
What is a shaman?
The word “shaman” is often used
to refer to a person in a
Joseph Campbell's description
Shamanism as: "The shaman is a person, male or female, who has an overwhelming
psychological experience that turns him (her) totally inward. The whole
unconscious opens up, and the shaman falls into it." (Campbell, The Power of
Myth, p. 86)
What are the Shamanic Arts?
The shamanic arts explore modern
applications and benefits (emotional, mental, physical and spiritual) of
consciously voyaging into the wilderness of one's mind for the purposes of
healing, increasing communication skills and inspiring arts.
Are Shamans Supernormal Beings?
Shamans are ordinary people, just
like everyone else. They happen to have an ability to be able to connect with
the spirit world and enter trance, and they dedicate themselves to honing this
gift. The shaman is a member of a community who participates in the daily life
activities of the group. The old saying goes "before enlightenment, chop wood
and haul water. After enlightenment, chop wood and haul water." In the book
Trances, anthropologist Audrey Butt wrote of Akawaio shamans in the Amazon,
There is no wonder the Akawaio shaman is sometimes called eneogei,"the one who
perceives". Yet there is nothing surprising about shamans: they are just like
ordinary people. Seeing them hunting each day and fishing, teaching the young
how to survive in the forest, or even on a drinking spree with their pals, you
would never suspect their skill in the art of trance.
NO! Each culture is different.
There are similarities between shamanic cultures, such as Nature connection,
belief in the power of the Ancestors and the spirits, and herbal awareness. One
similarity is that in many old-ways cultures the shaman was the physician of the
group, expected to diagnose and treat sickness. Keep in mind that throughout
time people have believed differently about the causes of illness. In our modern
culture, people generally believe that sickness is caused by disease. A physical
ailment. In pre-technological cultures they most often believed that illness was
caused by bad magic. A curse, spell or sorcerer. As our culture uses doctors,
shamanic cultures used(s) shamans.
How is Shamanism different from
"Religions"?
Shamanism is different from the
main religions of the world because the God of shamanism, the bringer of
salvation, is Nature. Not some God-type human.
To honor Nature, we don't need
doctrines, a priest, or a monk,
Once a person opens their mind
and heart to the truth that the world around them, Nature, can speak directly to
them, then they don't need an interpreter anymore. Religions tend to want people
to believe that the figurehead is needed to assure communication, or even worse,
that the figurehead is the only one who can communicate. They seem to ignore the
fact that each person on the planet is connected to Nature. The point of
religion (from the Latin "to tie again") is to support each person in their
practice of letting the Nature outside of them talk to, and guide, the Nature
inside of them.
Humans have become so
self-absorbed that we have forgotten the great power that we live in every day.
This power is the power of the Earth and all that grows on her. Nature is what
provides for us, not humans.
Any religion that puts the
prosperity of their human followers above the well-being of Nature is not in
alignment
Who can become a Shaman?
Eligibility varies from group
to group but there
are themes. Generally, there is a "calling" that happens in some way. A person
could be called to follow the path of the shaman in two typical ways, to come
from a family of shamans, or to have a spontaneous calling such as a near-death
experience, a sickness or, for the Akawaio people of the Amazon, epilepsy is a
sign of a possible shaman. There are many people who could be eligible to "try
out" to be a shaman but this does not mean that all who attempt to do so will be
successful. Just as it is probably wise in our society to warn a person not to
become a doctor unless she/he is willing to be totally dedicated to the
profession, it is not advised to become a shaman apprentice unless she/he is
prepared to submit her/his mind to the vacillating and demanding needs of the
spirit world. To achieve a receptive condition- to learn how to perceive-
requires training, technique and discipline.
Can Women become Shamans?
What is the difference between
Shamanism and Wicca?
Wicca is one spiritual tradition based on an
agricultural pagan culture of pre-christian northern Europe. Shamans come from
cultures all over the world. Most of them were migratory or hunter/cultivator
cultures, not agriculturally-based farmers. Settling down in permanent villages
and farming was the beginning of the shift away from shamanic culture.
What is "Animism"?
Animism is the understanding that everything is "alive". The rock, the
tree, the cloud and the moon all have a spirit, an energy that we can
communicate with, if we believe that we can. Animism is the original, worldwide
religion. Since every human culture lived together with Nature for thousands,
even millions, of years, every human is an Animist at heart.
"Magic" is the Force That Runs Through All
Things, as in "The Force" of Star Wars, The Tao of the Taoist Chinese, that
which created the Universe and all of us in it. Magic is the force that is
constantly creating, and we have to ability to read It, to learn to understand
It, to feel It in our lives.
Why is Shamanism Important to
the World Today?
Shamanic culture is where we came from, each one
of us. Shamanism is important now because in the last thousand years more and
more people around the world have turned their backs on Nature, on our host, the
Earth. Not only do we not honor it anymore, we are actually poisoning it with
our choices. If Earth is poisoned, we are poisoned. Reconnecting with our
collective shamanic soul, the part of us that is at one with the cycles of
Nature, is the only hope that we, as a human species, have to not make our home
completely toxic and barren of the diversity of life on this planet.
Shamanic connection, and service, to the Earth
and the Oneness Of All Things is essential to us being able to tie together
again the individual will with the cycles of Nature.
A Call to Action
We are one. To grow individually means we all grow
a little bit. And that is why now, at this time, it may be essential that all
New Agers, lightworkers, starseeds, walk-ins, and others who choose to make a
difference work together at this critical time and help each other. It is
vitally important to get together with like-minded spiritual souls at this time
and amplify the effects of positive energies. Try to link up globally, via the
internet, and locally, in your own community. We will leave no one behind.
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