For many of us it may feel as though we just rang in the New Year and wished our loved ones a happy 2011, but once again, the holidays have snuck up and are right around the corner. With the celebrations come the joyous festivities of sipping hot chocolate, penning letters to St. Nick, waiting under the mistletoe…and of course crowding around the living room to watch Christmas films with our families. So because of the theme of the impending season, a classic movie to reflect upon as we hang the stockings with care is a beloved and favorite to all: It’s a Wonderful Life.

In this 1946 American drama, Jimmy Stewart plays the role of George Bailey, a troubled man who believes that the world would be a better place without him in it. After spending his entire life giving himself to other people and taking care of his family and his town, a series of unfortunate events cause George to contemplate suicide as the best option for his future. On the edge of a bridge and ready to end it all, George meets his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who intervenes in an attempt to save George’s life. Clarence gives George a glance into the world if he had never been born. When George is faced with what could have been had his existence not come to be, he sees the impact his life has had on touching the many lives around him. George then begs God to live and realizes that it really is a wonderful life.

It’s a Wonderful Life sends the message that each person has the capacity to change the world. One of the most important spiritual themes to take away from this movie is that everything you do matters because your actions and thoughts have a ripple effect—despite how small you may think you are in this great big universe. Your life, actions and thoughts impact the lives of every person in yours.

Think about the ripple effect like this: should you pass on a good deed to someone, there is the chance that they will be moved by your act of kindness and be inspired to share a good deed of their own with someone else. When you emit positivity, you attract positivity in return and it washes like a wave over others. Those who are overcome with negativity are more likely to pass on the effects of their bad attitude. As spiritual human beings, we must believe that everything has a point of origin—be the point of origin to make a difference in the world and spread joy. Before every decision made, consider how it will affect those around you.

Use this classic film as a template for living. Try to approach every encounter as if it is a part of your spiritual contract and an opportunity to do good for others. You never know when your call to service might come—that’s one of the things that make life so thrilling. Understand that there is a bigger reason behind even the most seemingly insignificant or minor events. Wherever you go give someone a smile, pass out thoughtful compliments and spread your laughter. Everyone you meet is facing their own struggles—for all you know your smile at that stranger on the street may have made all the difference because it came at the lowest point in their life when they thought all faith in humankind was lost. Don’t ask why, instead just trust that the universe is guiding you to the right place, at the right time, where you are meant to be.

Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, reflect upon the spiritual questions it triggers and let it inspire you…not only this holiday season, but every day of your life. Make it wonderful.

Ellie Stevens is a guest post author contributing this movie review and spiritual analysis of It’s a Wonderful Life. In her free time, Ellie also composes articles focused on dating and relationships for senior dating websites.

-

It’s a Wonderful Life continues to touch people’s heart and soul year after year with its message of love. Many movie critics ripped it apart when it was released. But, it is arguably the most successful movie ever made. The director of the film, Frank Capra, believed in the inherent goodness of life and humanity. This was not easy considering his career as a filmmaker took place during the Depression and World War II. His belief that people are basically good inspires hope.

Another valuable message of his film is the importance of the love between family and friends, both seen and unseen. During George Bailey’s (James Stewart) dark night of the soul, he looks over a bridge and contemplates suicide. At that moment a guardian angel in training, Clarence, enters into his life. This reminds us that in our darkest hour, the power of love — even from sources unknown to us — is transformative and can bring us out of our moments of despair.

Global Alliance of Transformational Entertainment (GATE) is the pioneering and leading organization shepherding the emerging and rapidly expanding Transformational Entertainment and Media genre and worldwide movement.

They have their second event scheduled for February 4, 2012 where YOU can join them and others from around the world to help establish GATE and further their vision/mission of “Transforming the World by Transforming Entertainment and Media.”™

While GATE will be presenting a variety of programs, some for members only and others open to the public, there are two major annual events in February that they hope you’ll attend:

GATE 2 – Saturday, February 4, 2012

6:30 PM to 11:00 PM – Los Angeles

This evening event will be a celebration of transformational entertainment, media and arts — an exploration of the new, emerging genre, and an inspiration to share the energies of your personal transformation with the world through your work.

Presenters and performers include -

* Jim Carrey * Barbara Marx Hubbard
* Eckhart Tolle * Edward James Olmos
* Jean Houston * don Miguel Ruiz
* Marianne Williamson * Ben Lee
* Here II Here* Peter Sterling
* Exhibit of original artwork by John Lennon, Jim Carrey. and Heyoka Merrifield. Plus much more!

GATE 2 is a Benefit Event — proceeds will endow the organization, providing most of the operating funds for their next year. Advance ticket sales only! Limited seating. For the whole line-up, more information, and tickets, visit:

http://gatecommunity.org/gate2.

SECOND EVENT:
GATE Transformational StoryCon

Saturday, February 4, 2012

9:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Los Angeles

GATE StoryCon will examine the role of story in promoting personal, social and global transformation. Story is explored from a variety of perspectives, with special emphasis on the human transformational journey — the transformational arc: life-death-life.

Presenters include -

* Jean Houston – scholar, philosopher, author
* James Bonnet – writer, teacher, story consultant
* Dara Marks – script consultant
* Mark Matousek – memoirist, teacher
* Marta Mobley – writer, producer
* Louie Schwartzberg – documentary filmmaker
* Norman Seeff – filmmaker, explorer of the creative process. Plus much more!

GATE StoryCon is also a Benefit Event with proceeds helping to endow the organization for our next year. Advance ticket sales only! Limited seating. For the whole line-up, more information, and tickets, visit:

http://gatecommunity.org/storycon.

Below is a video of Jim Carrey speaking at the first GATE event about how he believes part of his purpose as an entertainer is help relieve suffering.

Videos like these of animals showing affection to human beings remind me that animals are capable of expressing love and displaying their own unique personality, spirit or soul.

The miraculous is often discounted as luck, fortuitous, accidental or just the natural part of living. However, some events that take place defy statistical probability and their only rational explanation can come from the Divine or some Higher Power. For example, scientifically verified miracles have been documented by thorough investigations such as the long-term incorruptibility of the bodies of dead saints, religious stigmata and the many miracles at Lourdes.

Additionally, many survivors of natural disasters report a state of exquisite beauty, deep surrender and peace that often precede heroic rescues. Storm Stories is a documentary on television’s the Weather Channel that shows these first-person accounts among survivors of major disasters such as a hurricane, avalanche, flood or tornado. The show also often has footage of the actual disaster along with the heroic rescues. Nearly all the survivors on the show report that they prayed deeply. Some were even lifted up by a tornado into a state of Stillness and Infinite Peace. Thus, it appears the miraculous favors those who are in state of deep faith or surrender.

Storm Stories normally airs Sunday nights on the Weather Channel. For more information you can visit http://stormstories.weather.com/

Chris Cade is the creator of www.spiritual-short-stories.com, the most comprehensive website on the internet devoted specifically to spiritual short stories. Spiritual Short Stories is a very large collection of parables. Many of the spiritual stories are written by and for people just like yourself. Contributions are welcome, so please feel free to visit the site and submit your own spiritual short story.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Chris about Spiritual Short Stories. In our candid conversation, he talks about some of the challenges and rewarding parts of running Spiritual Short Stories including a fascinating story about the genesis of the site. He also discusses how and why telling stories can help support one’s spiritual growth. Additionally, Chris shares with us his new Inscribe Your Life project – where he asks: “Could the Words You Write Change Your Life Forever.”

For more information, please listen to the interview below or visit http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/

In the video clip below, Will Smith talks to Tavis Smiley about creating the life you desire.  He emphasizes how important it is to decide who you are going to be and what you want in your life.  He says in that moment of decision, the Universe will open up and get out of your way.  The underlying message is that you need to develop the mindset that you deserve to live the life of your dreams and that you are in the process of living the life of your dreams.  Once you become committed to to following your dreams, all of the obstacles in your life transform into building blocks that help you develop the necessary muscles to carry out your life purpose. 

Will Smith not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk.  He knows that his calling in life is to be actor and once remarked that it would be spiritually criminal for him to ignore his talents as an entertainer.  This type of mindset propelled him into stardom and also inspires him to give back to his community by spending his time working with inner city youth.

Will Smith’s interview with Tavis Smiley is below:

Jonas Elrod was leading an ordinary life until he woke up one day to a totally new reality. He suddenly could see and hear spirits of dead people, angels, auras and extraordinary energy fields.

The documentary Wake Up follows this fascinating story of an average guy who inexplicably developed the ability to access other dimensions. Initially skeptical of his own extrasensory perception, Jonas feared he might have some psychological, physical or emotional impairment that was causing him to apparently see beyond science’s current three dimensional explanation for reality. However, after visiting with doctors, physicians, and psychiatrists, Jonas received a clean bill of physical and mental heath and also reassurance that he was not suffering from delusional thinking, schizophrenia or some other type of psychological disorder.

So, what was it? Why was it happening to him? One thing was certain for this 36-year old man — life as he had known it would never be the same. With his loving but skeptical girlfriend by his side, Jonas crisscrosses the country as he searches for answers and delves deeper into this thrilling world of the phenomenal and spiritual. Along the way, he encounters an amazing group of religious teachers, scientists, mystics and spiritual healers who help him piece together this intricate puzzle.

Most people who claim to have the type of experiences that Jonas has usually hold them self out as something special or as some type of glorified sage, mystic or prophet. However, Jonas is clearly a regular guy who takes a very nonchalant and inquisitive approach to trying to figure out why he has been gifted or possibly cursed to see spirits, angels and beyond our three dimensional perception.

This is refreshing, entertaining and inspiring to watch. While we may be hesitant to acknowledge these unusual experiences to other people or even to ourselves, I think most people have spiritual experiences similar the ones Jonas had — whether it is feeling the love of a family member who has passed away, gaining insight from unexplainable sources of inspiration or simply experiencing an unmistakable moment of synchronistic grace. Wake Up is an invitation to accept that these type of phenomenon do occur, while still being grounded and attentive to the activities of our normal, everyday lives.

For more information, you can visit the film’s web site at http://wakeupthefilm.com/

This video is really cool and going viral…It’s a poem recited in the style of Dr. Seuss filled with humor, insight and illumination summed up with the following line: “There’s no need to hurry, you’re taking it slow, cause the journey’s as rich as the places you’ll go…”

Gary Renard has created a TV series based on his Disappearance of the Universe books. According to his newsletter, it’s called The Disappearance of the Universe. He’s written (along with his co-writer and future co-executive producer, Elysia Skye) a great pilot episode and a five year Treatment for the series. They have a high powered Hollywood agent and are talking to Networks and producers.

The description from the Facebook page states:

“Journey to the past and future to reveal to the masses the shocking truth about past lives, religion, sex, death, relationships, and a radical kind of forgiveness that will help save an entire world in jeopardy.

The Plot Outline states:

“Part comedy, part historical drama, and part reincarnation mystery, The Disappearance of the Universe (D.U.) is the edgy, episodic story of Gary, a former successful guitar player and now struggling day trader who retreats to the Maine countryside in despair over a recent bankruptcy and pending lawsuit, only to find that once he arrives two mysterious strangers appear in his living room to give him an assignment.”