By Chandra Alexandre, Ph.D.

This article invites the reader to journey with a new face of the western Divine Feminine as a re-visioned Mary who within Herself encompasses and extends beyond a traditional Christian notion of “Mary.” As Virgin Mary, she is a power that has for millennia stimulated the imagination and hearts of peoples the world over, a goddess in her own right who is being claimed and reclaimed as such by many seeking the Divine Feminine in the west. This article introduces the many facets of Mary, reclaims her from a subordinate role within the Catholic Church, honors her as a goddess of antiquity who has taken a Christian name, and helps to broaden understanding of her within a philosophical framework that includes a vision of an unpathologized God/Masculine Divine.

One of the first priorities of the Universe Spirit mission statement is to be a supportive place for individuals to have or expand transformative, direct spiritual experiences with Ultimate Reality. The direct spiritual experience of Ultimate Reality is one of the most powerful, quickest and most directly transformative spiritual growth process that has ever existed. With a process this powerful there are historic spiritual safeguards developed throughout the ages to help the individual know that they are having an authentic spiritual experience or a safe spiritual practice and --- these safeguards shown be known by all! By Lawrence Wollersheim

In a telephone survey of 1,200 American college students, 7 out of 10 said religion was somewhat or very important in their lives, and 1 in 4 said they'd become more spiritual since entering college.

Fifty-four percent said they were concerned about the moral direction of the country.

Students who were surveyed said abortion policy, stem cell research and gay marriage provoked questions of morality. In a finding that surprised the institute, 50 percent said the U.S. government's response to Hurricane Katrina raised questions of morality.

Only o­ne of the 1,000 adults polled in the telephone survey could name all five freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment. Yet more than o­ne in five (22 percent) could identify all five major characters in Matt Groening's cartoon family.

Similarly, o­nly 8 people in 100 could name at least three First Amendment freedoms. Four in 10 surveyed (40 percent) could name two of the three judges o­n the star-making show American Idol, and o­ne in four (25 percent) could name all three.