Dear ,

The second edition of Journey of Your Soul: A Channel Explores the Michael Teachings ( JOYS) is being published April 23rd by North Atlantic Books. I have rewritten it extensively, and it has a new index. You can order it anywhere books are sold. Barnes & Noble should be stocking it in some of its stores (please let me know if you see it in yours) as well as online. Amazon is currently offering a 38% pre-order discount, at $12.34. The book is longer than the first edition, and still retails at $19.95, the same as in 1995! Ebooks are available in all formats for $9.99. To order on Amazon, here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/JOYSAmazon

I have a few copies of the original edition (collector's items?) available on my site.

I've done a couple internet radio interviews for JOYS so far. My format is usually to explain the host's Michael chart as a way of introducing the teachings to listeners:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/trianglevariety/2013/04/10/patricks-tuesday-night-review-with-shepherd-hoodwin

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johnfortuna

Here are two upcoming shows:

Tuesday, April 23, 6 p.m. Pacific, with Jim Malliard on "The Malliard Report":

http://italkparanormal.com/live/

Friday, May 10, 5 p.m. Pacific, with Rob Sharpe on "Mystical Cruise":

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/biteradiome/2013/05/11/journey-of-your-soul-with-shepherd-hoodwin

It would be very helpful if you would post reviews of it (and my other books) on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, goodreads, etc. Also, please "Like" it on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Journey-of-Your-Soul-A-Channel-Explores-the-Michael-Teachings/336212523147215?fref=ts

This is the sales page at North Atlantic Books:

http://www.northatlanticbooks.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781583945490

This is the press release from my publisher:

http://eepurl.com/wV9tj

Many thanks to those who read drafts and offered feedback for both editions: Kathy Anderson, Kent Babcock, Emily Baumbach, Uma Berliner, Dawn Barker, Allison Blakley, Deborah Bloom, Laurel Bradshaw, Fiona Camberun, Nancy Cross, Janet Elam, John Friedlander, Bill Getman, Nancy Gordon, Dave Gregg, Stan Grindstaff, Michael Grossberg, Ed Hamerstrom, Sandra Heggen, Kathy Lew, Ulla Sarmiento, Val Schleicher, Kathryn Schwenger, Leslie-Anne Skolnik, Donna Stirling, Lynne Walker, Margaret Winecoff-Egner, Phil Wittmeyer, Tina Wong, and the late Tony Rullo and Mayo Gray.

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AMAZON ASSOCIATES LINK

I've had an Amazon Associates link at the bottom of my site's front page since the 1990s but I've never promoted it. Since one can't receive commissions from one's own purchases, I started making my Amazon purchases using a friend's link. If you make your Amazon purchases by starting with my link (below), I will earn commissions, and that would be really nice! The Amazon book buttons on my site have this built in.

http://www.amazon.com/?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&link_code=hom&tag=summerjoypress

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LOVING FROM YOUR SOUL INTERVIEW

I had a great interview with C.J. Liu on my book Loving from Your Soul.

http://www.fireitupwithcj.com/2013/03/12/how-do-we-love/

The book is available on Kindle at:

http://tinyurl.com/lovingkindle

And on Nook at:

http://tinyurl.com/lovingnook

For Kindle links outside the U.S. for my books, see my site:

http://summerjoy.com

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MICHAEL STUDENTS GATHERING

Barbara Taylor and I will be hosting an Orange County, California, gathering on a Saturday in June, tentatively June 8. Please email me if you're interested, and let me know if the 8th doesn't work for you.

I'll be attending a West Coast Michael gathering in October (as well as doing some live book events in Northern California):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MichaelWCG/?yguid=415111917

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For this month's Perspectives, I am sharing the final chapter, 31, "Parallel Universes," from the second edition of JOYS. I extensively rewrote it from the first edition.

PARALLEL UNIVERSES

Just as there are seven vertical planes of existence layered on top of one another, there are many horizontal levels of existence side by side. These are called parallel universes. A parallel universe is an alternative reality similar to this one in which people make different critical choices and go in different directions as a result.

The concept of parallel universes sounds like science fiction. In fact, many science fiction authors have tapped into universal truths through the free play of their imagination. According to Michael, as well as Seth and other channeled teachers, ours is but one of many realities that our wholeness is experiencing. We know ourselves as having a particular identity, address, body, job, parents, friends, and so forth. However, we have many parallel selves whose experiences range from being very similar to almost unrecognizable as being us.

Michael: Theoretically, there is an infinite number of parallel universes, just as there is an infinite number of possible television stations. However, only a finite number are of interest to a particular essence, and they are not the same ones from essence to essence. The number varies greatly, from a few hundred to several thousand.

Parallel selves are different from reincarnational (past-life) selves, which are all within one parallel. The latter have different overleaves, life tasks, circumstances, and (usually) time frames. Each parallel has its own past-life selves.

Like our reincarnational selves, our various parallel selves have the same essence, including role and male/female energy ratio. Unlike them, our parallel selves have the same overleaves. Our basic life task is the same, although each parallel explores different aspects of it. They are in the same equivalent era, but minor variations in their time frames are inevitable, since free will exists in each. The year called 2013 in our parallel may be called 1985, 2024, or G47 in others. One parallel might have more primitive automobiles but more advanced (or different forms of) air transportation.

Other characteristics usually predominate, but not exclusively. For example, we are either male or female in most of our parallels. We are often working in the same general field, such as the arts or business, in several (but not all) of them. At least one of our parents (the one with whom we have a child agreement) is our parent in most of them, and both parents may be the same in many of them. However, if those essences aren't in some universes we wish to be in, don't have children in them, or it otherwise doesn't work out, we might make different arrangements in those parallels. Although we may look quite different in some of our parallels, our basic appearance is frequently similar. Events of our parallel lives, however, can vary a great deal.

Parallel universes provide the means for our essence to experience a range of its significant possibilities, and therefore more of its wholeness. To our essence, these various parallels are not separate, although they seem separate to our personality. On higher planes, essence continues to experience a range of possibilities without apparently separate parallel universes, since it is only the solid nature of the physical plane and the limitations of our brains that need to create the illusion of separate parallel realities. Being consciously aware of more than one parallel at a time would be disorienting.

Michael: You affect your other parallels, so if you have a particularly worthwhile growth experience in one parallel, you might increase the percentage of your parallel selves who avail themselves of a similar experience wherever that is convenient and possible. However, it will not become a very high percentage-no one specific activity dominates all your parallels, because your essence wants to explore many sides of your life. Someone who is, say, a superstar in this parallel universe may have such superstardom in perhaps a maximum of fifteen percent of her parallels.

Essence incarnates into several parallels at roughly the same time. In addition, new parallels sometimes spin off from existing ones. Whenever we reach a crossroads in life, where the choice we make will affect everything that follows, our essence may want to experience more than one path.

Which choices are pivotal may not be obvious to our personality. For example, the choice of a mate may be less significant than it seems because our path will end up at roughly the same place regardless. On the other hand, a choice that seems trivial, such as whether to go to a particular concert, may have a large impact because of whom we might meet there.

Suppose there are three major worthwhile alternatives. If we choose the first in the majority of our parallels in which this choice comes up, there will be added pressure on those aspects of us who have not yet chosen to go with the second or third. Let's say that at least one parallel self goes with the second alternative, but none choose the third. A new parallel where we choose the third may then spin off. That universe has the same past as the one that spun it off but moves in a different direction from that point forward. Since other people are also continually reaching crossroads, each individual doesn't have to spin off new ones just for his own use, which would not be possible anyway; new parallels are created in collaboration by many souls. The universe practices economy in all things.

Picture an incarnate essence as a sphere, and each parallel life as extending in a line from the center to the periphery. Just as an infinite number of lines can be contained in a sphere, we have an infinite number of possible parallel selves. A certain part of that sphere contains main trunk lives, those that are more central to the essence's purposes in incarnating. The rest of it contains fringe lives, more peripheral or experimental for the essence, as well as possibilities that essence isn't pursuing (which are the vast majority of the sphere).

As hard to believe as it may be, each of our parallel selves is as real to itself as we are to ourselves. It is not that this is the primary one and all others are parallel to it. There is no one parallel life that is primary, no one parallel self that is the real one-they are all real. The parallel universe you are in as you read these words is just one of a large number. All our parallel selves are part of the total reality of who we are. When we also take into account our reincarnational selves and the whole of our essence, our present experience of self accounts for perhaps only about one twelve-thousandth of our total self, according to my channeling. Many factors are shared in common among parallels, especially among those on the main trunk. That is why Michael didn't say that our present experience of self accounts for an infinitesimal fraction of our totality.

Not only do parallel universes spin off, but when two or more universes have become essentially the same, they can recombine, merging onto the same track. There is a continual expansion and contraction. We may feel it when that happens-it's an odd time when something seems different; things may look slightly rearranged or different-but usually we do not consciously identify the shift. When parallels merge, various features of little importance morph. An example is the arrangement of plants in your garden. It's not that your memory is tampered with, but that the actual reality has changed. Reality is not static, although the illusion of it being static is necessary for our sanity.

Michael: Each parallel universe keeps an integrity of movement. It is like Highway #212 that might merge into #487. It may remain there permanently, or just for a few miles and then again go off on a track of its own. It is more complex than this, but still, each parallel has its own history.

This universe shares a track with several others, not all of which were on this track, say, two hundred years ago and not all of which will share this track two hundred years hence. Even though they were essentially the same when they recombined, they do not have exactly the same history. That is partly why there are conflicting accounts of past events.

Michael: You have access to the pasts of all universes on your present track. If one of them moves onto a different track, it will take its past with it, and that past will fade from your awareness.

Let's say that four of your parallel selves currently share your native track. Because they are not currently on their native track, they are dormant and experience this parallel passively, but still with possibly different slants that would be activated if they again spun off. Our soul has unlimited potentials; the same ones aren't always activated at the same time. Although the circumstances of all five parallels are identical for now, merging isn't the same as dissolving into one thing; it's more a form of cosmic recycling, with different parallels using the same resources. When there is a need to spin off a new parallel, one of these dormant ones may be used if it interests those in it.

In drama, there is the concept of through lines, or unifying themes that push characters forward through the narrative. Parallels each have their own through lines. They have their own gestalts (coherent patterns) and maintain their basic consistency. However, individual essences can slightly shift which parallel selves are in which collective parallel. In other words, the parallel self reading this doesn't always stay on the same collective track. As we go through life, it is possible to share tracks with different parallels of other people.

Michael: Individual tracks are superimposed over collective tracks. Your essence determines which aspect of self can most benefit from and contribute to which parallels, and may rearrange itself accordingly, but its work is seamless and unapparent to you-this is not something of much relevance on the level of personality.

For example, there may be a time when our situation could lead to either devastating war or a breakthrough in world peace. At least one of our parallel selves will probably experience each outcome. Individual essences have a choice as to which aspect of self experiences them.

Sometimes a parallel self is at least subliminally aware of the possible outcomes and requests a particular one. She may feel that she doesn't need the experience of war, or she may volunteer for it to be of service. Essence takes such preferences into account. For one thing, it may find it useful for that parallel self to have the experience of "creating her own reality" if possible. Essence, however, decides based on what seems to be the highest good.

Some channeled literature suggests that we visualize the collective future we wish to live in, such as one of harmony and prosperity. It doesn't hurt to ask, but most parallel universes are highly imperfect. The spiritual path is about making the best of whatever happens. Ultimately, we can only control our own personality-level choices.

Sometimes lifetimes we remember in past-life regression are not from this universe, but one that now shares a track with it.

Michael: If you need to work on an issue that you also dealt with in a particular past life in a parallel universe now sharing your track, you might pull in that lifetime during past-life regression, just as you might pull in a past life from your own universe. This could help you gain more insight and bring to bear the healing power of your current level of consciousness on a greater part of your wholeness. Probably less than ten percent of the past lives you might remember in regression are from other parallel universes, and all presently occupy the same track as your own universe.

Question: "If the Earth is destroyed from nuclear war in another parallel universe, what does that do to us in this universe?"

Michael: If you are affected, the effect would probably be subtle. You might find that your resolve to prevent nuclear war strengthens. Incidentally, you will probably not have a nuclear holocaust in this universe.

Each parallel universe has its own past, and therefore its own akashic records.

Déjà vu may be a memory of having met in a past life, or of an out-of-body "rehearsal" for the current event, such as a meeting. Often, however, it is an awareness that you just had the same meeting in a parallel universe that is slightly ahead of this one.

Question: "Would artisans, being so fluid, have more access to their parallel selves than the other roles do?"

Michael: All have the same access. Artisans tend to take advantage of it more, which is important for them, being so creative.

This discussion may sound wholly theoretical. However, it can be useful as well as broadening to be aware of our parallel lives. Knowing what we are doing in some of them can give us added perspective. Also, we are probably doing in at least one parallel what we can't in this one, if it is important. Understanding that can help us relax and enjoy what we are doing, rather than worrying about the things we are not. That should not be used as an excuse, though, for not doing what we'd rather be doing now. If we'd rather be doing something, that may be an impulse from our essence to do it.

We can learn about our parallel selves from a channeled source or a psychic. We can also access them from within, through meditation, for example, or regression techniques.

We can draw upon the experience and knowledge of our parallel selves, just as we can with our reincarnational selves. The key is to hold the intention to access it and deliberately open to it.

I heard the story of a man who, upon retirement, wanted to be able to play the piano. He went into an altered state for several hours and downloaded the ability from another aspect of self. I don't know if that really happened-I've never gotten such dramatic results. However, I have communicated with both past-life and parallel selves who have different strengths and weaknesses from mine. I've found that insightful, and learning about their cultures and lives has been fascinating.

Robert Monroe wrote memorably about visits to parallels in books such as Journeys Out of the Body. I have validated parallel universes and learned about some of mine through vivid, unique dreams. I don't tend to remember my dreams, and when I do, they are usually lackluster. However, these have stayed with me.

We have many kinds of dreams. Those that are visits to parallel selves are realistic and detailed, not surreal and symbolic. A clue is a society ordered in different yet plausible ways.

In one I had, I knew while I was dreaming that I was observing myself in a parallel universe. I was in a version of New York City, on the lower level of the FDR (East River) Drive near where I used to live. In that universe, it was a double-decker highway with nine lanes going in each direction. The traffic was lighter and everything looked quite clean compared to the New York I know. The road was paved with a rough, shiny material. It didn't have crosswalks or overpasses; pedestrians were expected to just make a run for it, which I did, despite the cars' very high speeds. Drivers were alert to and careful of pedestrians.

On the other side, I met a pleasant policewoman whom I figured was a young or mature warrior in acceptance. She told her male partner to take the car (which had no siren) and go after a driver who had been going especially fast to tell him that he was speeding. They didn't issue tickets; they just asked people to slow down. Then we started talking.

I knew this soul. She told me that since she's not incarnate in my universe, I should tell a friend of mine that "Suzie says hi!"

The next day, I emailed my friend about the dream. Unbeknownst to me, her mother called her by the nickname "Suzie" although that's not her name. Not only was it charming to have the experience of relaying a message from another parallel, but it also seemed to be a validation that parallels are real.

I joke that I put this chapter last because by the time readers get to it, it is too late for them to bail. This book has a lot of far-out sounding material, but the concept of parallel universes is probably the farthest out. Still, what one person considers to be too far out may be acceptable to another, and vice versa. Simply communicating with a causal-plane entity will sound preposterous to most people. Many religious ideas seem similarly preposterous to non-believers. You've read this far, so I trust that you're at least enjoying considering the Michael teachings.

Some parts of the teachings are easier to validate than others. For example, once you learn the roles, you can easily see them at work in people's lives. The parts of the teachings we can validate are also the most useful. Parts we can't may still be expansive, but rejecting any idea you don't find plausible and constructive utilizes the most basic tenet of the teachings: conscious choice.

Some people feel diminished when they realize the vastness of the universe. The idea that we have many parallels might make this one seem less important. However, the opposite is true: every moment of every aspect of life is infused with the full import of all life. Each "now" is an expression of the Tao's exuberant urge to be and do.