Mysticism in Newburyport: Shadow Riders

By Peter James Ford

“SHADOW RIDERS” is the third book in this seven-book series under the title “MYSTICISM IN NEWBURYPORT.” It is the continuing unfolding story of just another soul’s re-awakening in this lifetime to the truth of his divinity. After Peter’s younger wild years growing up in Lynn, Massachusetts with heavy alcohol use and abusing all the drugs of the sixties, along with his love of riding motorcycles and physical training, he found himself crawling into the 12-step recovery program for alcoholics. Peter abused alcohol for seven years and he drank alcoholically right from his first drink. He used all the drugs of the sixties and combined both alcohol and drugs, which brought him to his knees at a very young age. He was to be involved in endless trouble with police, car and motorcycle crashes, high speed chases, arrests, and many broken bones. Peter’s journey in the recovery program began with a spiritual awakening and he began his education about the spiritual principles and the ancient wisdom from the past. While Peter was living in the Newburyport area and reading ancient writings from meditation masters, Peter was to have a profound spiritual experience and his journey back to his true self really began. Through the grace of a mediation master, Peter’s own inner spiritual energy (called kundalini) burst wide open and this energy flowed up his spine and chakras and caused incredible insights and experiences. It was later that Peter learned about ‘Kundalini Yoga’ and what had happened to him. Peter was to have profound experiences in long nights of meditation down by the Merrimac River and to have numerous past life experiences. To honor his spiritual awakening while in this historic seaport, he decided to use the name “MYSTICISM IN NEWBURYPORT” for the title. Peter’s first book was introduced at the Miami International Book Fair as a modern-day version of the Herman Hesse classic novel “SIDDHARTHA.” These tales are about all the great people from this time in Peter’s life and all the gifts and blessings that have flowed and continue to flow to this silly, Irish seeker. Peter hopes that his writings will be of some use to others or at least bring a smile to the reader’s face, about the unique life of just another seeker. This book is dedicated to Barbara Eleanor Parton. She is in the below pictures on our bikes…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Oct 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798765234648

Peter James Ford

Peter James Ford, The Unlikely Messenger, is a unique individual with a broad understanding of life from having lived life from many lifestyles. Peter experienced the good, the bad, the ugly, and then an awakening and redemption. His younger years found him struggling with alcoholism and the drugs of the sixties, with having learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder, and growing up in a violent environment. Peter turned to physical training and motorcycles and found much satisfaction in both. At an early age Peter crawled into the 12-step recovery program a broken man. This was the beginning of Peter’s spiritual journey. Over the years, Peter attained the promises of the program and began living a great life. Many years later, Peter was initiated into a yogic path that had begun thousands of years ago by an ancient lineage of Masters. Peter did not realize that his profound spiritual experience at that time was actually a powerful “Kundalini Awakening” within him. Shortly after his awakening, these mystic tales of past lives and powerful wisdom truths began flowing. Peter has just completed his seventh book about his life adventures and spiritual journey. Peter hopes people find something useful in his writings, or at least that they will bring a smile to your face when thinking about Peter, this “Unlikely Messenger.”

Book preview

Contents

In Memory

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

1       Mystic Rider

2       Wisdom Quotes , Part II

3       PJF (Peter’s Jewels Forever, Part II)

4       The Power of Beliefs

5       The Three Amigos

6       Conviently Forgotten History

7       The Curse of the Sevens

Shadow Riders

About the Author

Conclusion

In Memory

of

Henry And Anna

My three brothers and myself were fortunate to have Henry and Anna as our parents. I am sincerely grateful for the perfect parents for me and for my three brothers in this lifetime. If you read in my first book the tale called THE EARLY YEARS and in my second book the tale called A RIDER’S TALE you will know why they have earned a place in heaven for their unconditional love of these four troubled souls, FOUR BROTHER RIDERS. As we get older and we have time to reflect over our lives, we are filled with gratitude for those who were kind to us and that ‘were there’ for us. Henry and Anna were unconditionally there for my three brothers and myself. I remember at eighteen years of age being bailed out of what they call the ‘tombs’, which were special cells in the Boston jail system, for narcotics and conspiracy charges, and then riding home with my father. My father never said anything on that ride, we just sat quietly and there was a sense of peace. I believe it was one of the rare moments that I felt safe and that I experienced unconditional love in this lifetime. My father was there for me, with no questions asked. To me, that is unconditional love. In many ways my parents showed qualities of individuals that possessed wisdom and acceptance about life, above and beyond, what most individuals will ever know. They will always have a place in my heart, and I am sincerely grateful for their love, kindness, and acceptance that they showed me. Like my sobriety, their love was an unmerited gift. I have been truly blessed in this life with the best people to have shared this journey…

HENRY and ANNA and the FORD FAMILY

MICHAEL, BONNEY, and BOBBY ARE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

HENRY, ANNA, MY BROTHER SKIP, PAUL, and MYSELF

SKIP, PAUL, and ME

PETER, PHIL, PAUL, AND SKIP

THE FOUR FORD BROTHERS

(Many Years Later)

If your life has been a struggle and things ‘seemingly’ have not gone your way, don’t worry, as these eighty or ninety years we live are just one day in the life of a soul. We live thousands of lifetimes on our journey to reach complete freedom.

The point of this section is to thank Henry and Anna for playing the perfect role for me and my brothers in this incarnation of personal development. I have sincere gratitude and appreciation for the perfect parents.

No Regrets, No Tears Goodbye, WE WILL MEET AGAIN, until then you will be in our hearts.

Dedication

To

BARBARA ELEANOR PARTON

Willey House, Crawford Notch, White Mountains, New Hampshire

I used to say that I never forget anyone that was good to me and that I also never forgot anyone that ‘seemingly’ screwed with me. That was a heavy load to carry with having lots of ‘illusionary’ past wrongs done to me. I was always too busy looking to see how someone had wronged me and never looking at my part in any violent situations. Today it has changed, and I still say that I never forget people that are good to me, but I now let go and forget any ‘seemingly’ incidents of people screwing with me.

So, to the point of this dedication, even though it may seem that I am still in love with Barbara, because this is really an unusual dedication for a former lover, I have moved on (as Barbara has) to the next chapter of our lives. I love creating books full of the teachings, stories and pictures that uplift me and remind me of how blessed my life has been. Can you imagine ten years riding the best custom cycles in the White Mountains with the best companion? I have priceless memories of this time of my life. These are the reasons for this book’s dedication to this exceptional woman and the wonderful life we shared. There have been many very powerful individuals in my life and countless supportive friends. There also has been a few exceptional ones that caused transformational changes in me and my life. Barbara Eleanor Parton was at the top of the list for affecting me and my life in the most powerful way. One thing about Barbara is that she truly knows how to love unconditionally. Just as God loves us unconditionally, Barbara was one of the rare individuals that was consistent in her love for people in her life. Barbara’s unconditional love of me melted my heart and transformed my life. Not that different than how a Saint or Meditation Master can touch your heart and reveal your own love that was hidden, even to yourself. Barbara had said that she did not have all the information that I had about the spiritual path. I assured her that she was miles ahead of me and she was already established in unconditional love. I had worked my ass off attempting to attain what she already had.

The goal of every authentic spiritual path is to be established in unconditional love. It is that simple, that is the goal to be consistently established in unconditional love. Barbara was already there, and I benefited by having her in my life. I said that you can’t study and practice spiritual teachings, four or five hours every day, for thirty years, as I have and not gain some wisdom. So, on some level I have attained some level of accomplishment, but I was not continuously established in unconditional love as Barbara was. She seemingly came into this world in a highly evolved state, and I was honored to have spent ten years with her. I must work hard (a full-time job for me) at revealing the unconditional love that is in my own heart and for Barbara being established in unconditional love it just came naturally. Some of the great saints were completely uneducated and some of the most articulate speakers and educated people have only the words and never have had the actual experience. Words and other people can only point you in the right direction as it is a case of having to experience it for yourself. Barbara and I shared the best of what a man/woman relationship can give you. We also shared the best worldly pleasures and comforts in abundance. But the best gift to me was having my heart melted by being truly and unconditionally loved. It changed me forever. Barbara believed in me long before I did. She encouraged me to share my experiences in my writings with whomever was receptive to these teachings. Barbara gets the credit for the completion of these books. I learned so much about living in an unlimited world and my self-esteem, self-respect, and appreciation for myself grew beyond anything I had ever experienced. She believed in me before I believed in my own innate greatness. Barbara was such a gift…

We shared the best of everything (worldly and spiritually). I remember the story of Louise Hay and how she was not formally educated and when she married a wealthy Englishman she grew and learned so much about life. Louise was so grateful for him and that experience. I felt the same way as Louise did. I also felt a little like the Walt Disney character in The Lady and The Tramp. Our relationship was very similar. The female dog (The Refined Lady) seemed so far out of the male dog’s station in life, but it did not matter. They loved each other unconditionally. The junkyard male dog growing up in the streets was a tough cookie and he would fight to the death to defend the female dog in this movie. Barbara had told the owner of one of the biggest and one of the best Harley Davidson dealerships that she felt so safe, as Peter was her protector. She never feared going in anywhere with me and she never had any anxiousness anytime we were out on the open road. Over the ten years we were together I watched myself become a much better person and Barbara really softened my rough edges. It felt like I could wrap myself in her love in the way you would curl up in a blanket. She also showed me so much stuff to do with writing that I now use with my books. Barbara gets a lot of the credit for these books that I write today. I am sincerely grateful for our time together. God was so kind, as when our time together was over, God made the transition as painless and as quick as possible. Our purpose for each other (our karmic work) was completed and it was time to move on to a new place for our spiritual evolution. My books would never have happened without the time I spent with Barbara. She is an exceptional, smart, beautiful, kind, generous, unconditionally loving woman and I was blessed to share part of my life with her. Barbara is what they call A man’s woman meaning she was also a best friend that you could count on through thick and thin

Barbara saw the good in me, but she also "brought out the good in me." Other people around me see the dark/bad side of me. They seem to be drawn to that side. But I will mirror them back with the intensity that they came at me with and of what they gave to me as a pattern to work with. We all mirror back to people the beliefs that they have of us. It is all coming from them. There are mirror neurons in our brain and what we think about someone else they will be mirrored back to us. So always see the good even in the worst of others and you will get the good in them coming back to you. It is always about us and what we are seeing, thinking, feeling, and believing. That is why it is so important to only think good stuff about yourself, your life, others, and the world because what you think will be the world you live in. It is not easy today with all the ‘seemingly’ karmic nonsense going on in the world today, but if we want our little world to be great, you have only to think great stuff. It is so simple, What you think is what you get and You and your life will manifest as you believe yourself and your life to be. The world is but a mirror of our own beliefs, so make sure you are only sending out what you want to come back to you. When we blame people, places, and things, it is like we are blaming the mirror for this face we have. The world is but a mirror of our predominant and habitual thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.

In my personal life, I usually have the attention span of a potato. So, a woman that can keep my full attention for every waken moment for ten years is an exceptional woman. It was because of her being established in unconditional love. I maybe an Irishman but I am not stupid. I knew not to screw up an amazing life we had together. There is nothing more powerful than Unconditional Love. This kind of love opens hearts and minds. It can transform people’s lives and have an unlimited powerful effect on us. We connect with the very being of what we call God.

Barbara has moved onto a higher level on the spiritual path out in California and has married someone that shares the same beliefs and loves that she has today. I am truly happy that she has the perfect companion for her today. There was a time that I believe I was the perfect companion for her, but that time is over. I am truly happy she has someone to share her life with and someone to be there for her. I wish them health, happiness, and prosperity. I truly wish them the best.

So, Book III SHADOW RIDERS is dedicated to Barbara Eleanor Parton. Here a few pictures of Barbara and her/our bikes. We have so many priceless memories and pictures. It can be hard to believe that this is just a few of our bikes and a small part of the thousands of pictures of our life and rides together.

Barbara and her tricked out Softail Deluxe

Barbara’s Amber Whiskey Street Glide

Bentley Warren’s Saloon in Arundel, Maine

Barbara’s Thunder Mountain Custom Cycle

Barbara Softail Deluxe

(Short Sands, York, Maine)

Laconia Bike Week

Barbara at Pat’s Peak

At the home that Barbara and I created called Thunderhaven.

Barbara and my 120Race Road Glide

BIG CAT My 120 C.I. Pro-Street Racer

Barbara’s CVO 110 (Roman Bronze Convertible)

Barbara’s Softail Deluxe.

Barb’s CVO 110 Springer

Barbara at Thunderhaven Clubhouse

Seacoast Harley Davidson

White Mountains

Barbara riding the 120-Race Road Glide

Barbara’s CVO 110

Lover’s Leap

(White Mountains)

Barbara and I on Spring Run on Red Rider. There was

still snow on the top of Mt. Washington

Mt. Washington’s visitor center across from the auto road with my Road Glide and Barbara’s Amber Whiskey Street Glide. This was our last ride together before parting ways…

Sitting in the afternoon sun, feeling the warmth of the last bits of sunset before it disappeared behind the mountain, in quiet meditation at the feet of Mt. Washington in the White Mountains. Priceless memory… There is a huge parking lot at the visitor center across from the auto road and it is one of the best places to take a break in the White Mountains. I would ride up as often as I could (year-round) and just sit quietly at our picnic table and feel so grateful for my life. Another priceless memory.

My Spring and Summer office (our picnic bench) at the Mt. Washington Visitor Center

Crawford Notch, White Mountains

Mt. Washington Auto Road Visitor Center,

Ogunquit Beach, Maine

Nubble Lighthouse, York, Maine

Ogunquit Beach, Maine

Barbara sitting in the Sunday morning sun at Thunderhaven

Barbara at Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Maine

One of the many lessons that I had learned from my time with Barbara was how important it is to focus on the good… Instead of feeling sad that an amazing time in my life with her had come to an end, to instead be grateful for the precious time I shared with an exceptional woman. It eventually would have all gone anyways, with the death of one of us. I choose to focus on the joy of the happy memories and the gratefulness that I got to have lived so many exceptional years, with this incredible woman. I thank God with my whole heart.

Sweet Memories of a Special Woman and a life well lived…

A LIFE WELL LIVED

(No Regrets, No Tears Goodbye, We Will Meet Again.)

The other day I looked at the cover of this book with a picture of me on my bike angled in the direction of the rising sun. I thought it was almost symbolic of how I have lived most of my life now Heading towards the Light. As the years rolled on, I had more time to contemplate and reflect on my life. I was to see that I had lived the perfect life for me. It had been all preordained and I just experienced what I needed to for this lifetime. Nothing ever went wrong, nothing bad has ever happened to me. It unfolded perfectly for me to grow and make the most of my time that has been given to me for this present incarnation. I wouldn’t be where I am today if everything including all the seemingly bad stuff had not happened including losses and broken bones. I only experienced my own karma and the necessary experiences to get free of them. Somewhere along the road I was to see clearly that my life was not about the homes, wives, bikes, or stuff that I acquired and lost many times, but it was all about my personal development. We take none of the worldly things (homes, cars, money, wealth, people) with us when we leave this world. The only thing that we take is our inner state and any progress and growth we have made in this life. I became very aware to invest my time, energy and focus on only what was lasting and forget about the temporary stuff of the world. Naturally, we enjoy the pleasures of the world while we are here, but we learn not to hold on to them, not to identify them as ours, or to get attached to them. We enjoy what comes freely and we freely let them go when it is time. I realized that there was nothing to worry about and I began to relax and just enjoy this passing show, like the way you would watch a movie. Whatever I don’t finish or get to experience in this lifetime does not matter, as I will be back sooner that I can imagine.

Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson were known as The Highwaymen. They sang a song that was very profound, and the song was about their living different lifestyles and after they die that they would return. The words of the song went like this: I may not come back as a Bandit or a Highwayman, but I will return, I will be back. They were singing of reincarnation, not sure if they realized how profound their words were, but it was a pretty cool choice of words to describe our coming back into another life.

WE WILL MEET AGAIN.

To Live the Life you Love and to Love the Life you Live is one of the most priceless gifts. I had a career in the Teamsters Union driving all types of trucks and I loved every minute of it. I was to work in the construction division of the Teamsters operating giant Earth moving vehicles and huge oversized tractor trailer loads. It was something I was very good at and the companies that would come into the area from all over the country would call the union hall and ask specifically for me. I was blessed to have a career that I loved.

My passion in this life was mainly for riding motorcycles. I got to ride for over fifty years and fill all my riding dreams from the wildest choppers in the sixties, then years later with the best high-end Show and Go Custom Cycles and the best riding in the mountains. My garages and shop were more like a showroom for our Custom Cycles in our home in the country called:

THUNDERHAVEN

THE OVER-THE-HILL GANG

OUR BIKES

MY KEYTONE CHOPPER AND MY 120-RACE PRO-STREET

OUR CUSTOM SHOWROOM

MY KEYSTONE AT OGUNQUIT BEACH, MAINE

MY THUNDER MOUNTAIN CUSTOM CYCLE KEYTONE

MY 120-RACE TRICKED OUT CANDY ORANGE ROADGLIDE

DOING ‘INDIAN LARRY’ ON MY HARLEY SHOVELHEAD

MY PICTURE IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES IN A CALIFORNIA BIKE MAGAZINE

MY PRO-STREET 120-RACER

OUR THUNDER MOUNTAIN CUSTOMS

(Chopper, Highway Cruiser and Pro-Street Racer)

OUR HIGHWAY BAGGER

MAINE, THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE…

OUR THUNDER MOUNTAIN CUSTOM CYCLE FRONTIER

PAT’S PEAK

THE GIRL RIDERS FROM MONTREAL

MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD VISITOR CENTER WITH AMAZING VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAINS FROM THEIR DECK RIGHT ON RT. 16 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL FOREST. I HAVE MADE COUNTLESS RUNS ON MY BIKES TO THIS GREAT PLACE. THE HUGE BARN HAS THE ORIGINAL WAGONS THAT WERE HORSE DRAWN TO TAKE PEOPLE UP THE AUTO ROAD IN ITS EARLY DAYS. ALSO, THE FIRST ANITQUE AUTOS USED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN FROM THE EARLY DAYS. A SPECTACULAR PLACE TO VISIT, NEW HAMPSHIRE’S WHITE MOUNTAINS…

MY NEICE, BONNIE AND MYSELF ON MY HARLEY WHEELIE

BIKE. BONNIE IS ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND

PRAYERS ALONG WITH MICHAEL AND BOBBY.

HEADING INTO THE BACK ROADS OF MAINE ON MY KEYSTONE

MY THUNDER MOUNTAIN CUSTOM CYCLE,

KEYSTONE CHOPPER

MY 120-RACE CANDY ORANGE ROAD GLIDE

THUNDERHAVEN GARAGES

I BEGAN RIDING IN 1965 AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE WIND RIGHT UP TO THIS PRESENT DAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A LIFETIME OF GREAT RIDES. I HAVE LIVED A CHARMED LIFE. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO GOD, HE KEPT BARBARA and MYSELF SAFE WHILE RIDING ALL THOSE YEARS. THANK YOU GOD!!! IF YOU LIKE MOTORCYCLES and CUSTOM BIKES, THEN PLEASE GO and ENJOY MY LAST BOOK, MYSTIC RIDER THERE WERE 140 BIKE PICTURES.

MYSELF, WOLFMAN AND BROTHER PHIL BACK IN THE SIXTIES…

FOR AN AVERAGE MAN, I HAVE HAD MORE THAN MY SHARE OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN, AN ABUNDANCE OF ALL THE CUSTOM CYCLES I LOVE, AND NOW, I AM HAVING SUCCESS AT WRITING, CREATING AND SHARING MY BOOKS ABOUT MY LIFE AND MY PERSONAL JOURNEY. I TRULY HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS. MY WRITINGS BEGAN WITH MY FIRST BOOK MYSTICISM IN NEWBURYPORT.

MY SECOND BOOK WAS DEDICATED TO MY OLDEST BROTHER SKIP’S FAMILY.

THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE SEVEN-BOOK SERIES IS THE RECLUSIVE MYSTIC.

The gifts and blessings in my personal life have been amazing. When I started reading about the power of thought and how we can create anything we want and even change things in our life, this knowledge caused my life to take off. I had written in my first two books most of the techniques that helped me, and I will do the same within this book. I try to include everything that I have learned over the fifty years, starting with the 12-step recovery program, which is based in Universal Spiritual Principles. Then, for the last thirty years, I have studied and practiced from the Yogic teachings and the Eastern Philosophies and from every source that called to me. I used these techniques to reverse the aging process, to heal my body, and to be in the best physical shape of my life. At sixty-five I was the biggest, strongest, and most muscular I had ever been. I was in perfect health, and I was healed in my mind, my body, and my spirit. I was living in wealth in all areas of life, and I was successful at everything I did. I was richly blessed. I would have to say the most important thing, which was an unmerited gift that I had received, was my sobriety and freedom from alcohol and mind- and mood-altering drugs. The gift of understanding my mind and the power of my thoughts was so empowering and life transforming. Self-knowledge will be your road to freedom and the principles of truth are very simple and easy to practice. I continually keep finding these principles, that will free you, at the core of every religion, every philosophical teaching, and every authentic spiritual path, so there is plenty of access to the truth. As, Dr. Joe Dispenza often says: that ignorance is a choice today because everything is out on the internet and numerous other sources all through our societies. Today, school children have more access to knowledge than the great minds of the past, that were changing the world.

I learned that the most valuable principle in life was that thought was creative. Every thought was a prayer and God answers all our prayers, whether beneficial for us or destructive to us. God abundantly gives us everything we ask for and as far as God is concerned; What we think is what we want. When I started Conscious Living, being aware of what I was thinking and taking responsibility for myself and thinking good stuff, my life changed overnight. When I learned that whatever I am giving out is what I will give back, I became more aware of my attitudes and my actions. I began to wish everyone health, happiness, and prosperity. When I wished this for others, I would be the first to receive it in my life. It really was a gift to me. There is a part of the brain, the limbic part that cannot tell whether something is going out or coming in, so the brain will give you the experience ‘first’ of whatever you are wishing for someone else. The truth is much simpler than we think. We simply take control of our thinking, which affects how we feel, and we wish good stuff to others. We learn simple techniques that empower us and make us the creator of our world. Always remember that how you feel is directly connected to how you think. There is a literal release of chemicals in our brains and bodies that correspond to our thoughts. Healthy, loving, kind, forgiving thoughts release healing chemicals (cancer fighting chemicals) into our bodies. Negative thoughts release destructive chemicals (cortisol) the stress hormone, that will deplete your immune system and make you vulnerable to illnesses.

When I was in high school, I was a drunken, stoned 140-pound mess. Over the years, through the power of my mind, consistent training, great diet, and the right knowledge for training, I reached 210 pounds. I was also fight-training, and my hands were as fast as a middleweight. I started peaking in my late fifties and continued improving into my late sixties. At seventy years young, it does take a little encouragement to train like I am a twenty-five-year-old but watching the girls at South Beach in Miami gives me the needed motivation. The last book in my seven-book series under the title MYSTICISM IN NEWBURYPORT will be called MIAMI TAILS and that book will be dedicated to all the sweeties from South Beach.

THE POWER OF OUR MIND

I look over my life and I see that God has worked through so many people to help me on my journey. There is something magical about writing out your beliefs and feelings and it will reveal so many hidden treasures. I see the hand of God all through my life. One time I prayed, and I said: I never want to do this alone, ever again. I was to hear a gentle voice, from deep inside me say: You never will, and you never have done this alone. I was never alone. I temporarily blocked God out. It did take right understanding for my mind to open-up and for me to connect to this higher power. The eleventh step of the recovery program says: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Naturally, we need to do our part by being honest, open-minded, and willing (the HOW of the program) but we realize that it is not about us doing it, but about us aligning our will with God’s will, and leaving our will and life in the hands of God. It is not about us doing it, what happens (through Grace) is that for the first time ‘we don’t do it, we allow God to run the show’. We slide out of the driver’s seat and let God run the show. The day will come for everyone that does the best they can to follow a spiritual path, and that day will be when they surrender all the way. With this decision to go all the way, the inner doors of the program will open wide. So, the key of willingness opens the inner doors of the program and it will be right understanding that will give you your freedom and independence.

I had written a story in my last book MYSTIC RIDER called THE METAMORPHISM OF THE 12-STEP PROGRAM. I shared my strength, hope and experience from my fifty years practicing the program. Any alcoholic that hangs on long enough will get relief in the program; everyone will find their peace. My first ten years were filled with pain and struggle, but I stayed sober, and at ten years sober I came out the other side of the emotional ringer. There is a process of first getting physically sober, then the second part is getting emotionally sober. It is a painful process but so worth it. If you go through this process of getting emotionally sober without taking any mind- or mood-altering drugs, what happens is you will come out the other side and you will be free. You will not owe your sobriety to a pill as you were willing to feel your feelings and follow the simple path the founders had laid out for us to recover. I was nineteen years sober when I made the decision to go all the way, I was willing to go to any length. Prior to this I really worked the third step of the program, which is of turning my will and life over to the care of the God of my understanding, the best I could. It was this decision to go all the way that took my recovery and personal development to the next level. I believe that when the time is right that everyone (through Grace) will take this leap of faith. For many years, I took baby steps but it eventually all paid off and my path has brought me a place of unity and oneness. I had read about this experience of knowing there is only one. We are all connected by this one, and I never believed it would have been possible for me to attain. I truly believe that everyone that keeps putting one foot in front of another will eventually reach a place of peace and contentment. We eventually get tired of the self-will, and we give up, then God comes right into your life. Just like the boxer that by the fifteenth round gets tired and lowers his hands and the punch comes right into his face. In our case, when we get tired and drop our hands, Grace comes in with blessings and heals and transforms our life.

Life is simple and it is all about finding your true self and rejoicing in being reunited with yourself and God. The true purpose of life is just to realize that your own inner awareness/consciousness is the God that you have always searched for. God is alive and well in your own inner awareness. People look for God in the wrong direction and we just need to turn inward and there is the One that has been waiting for us to return home. Our own heart is the destination. When we understand that it is God peering out through your eyes at the world, a world that God has created. Out of God everything and everyone comes, and it exists for a while, and then everything and everyone is drawn back and absorbed back into God. Nothing really happened, it was not really my life, it was all just God’s Play or the Play of Consciousness. The saying, dust to dust, tells the story. After a high-speed ride on one of my Custom Cycles, I would joke that, I was just dust in the wind. I never realized how much truth was in that statement. I do realize I repeat myself often. It is interesting how we can like a statement of the truth and even agree with it, but if we only hear it or read it once or twice, we will forget it. It takes repetition of the truth over and over for it to be impressed into our subconscious mind. This repetition of the is how we can reprogram ourselves.

Your own inner consciousness is God. Your Subconsciousness Mind is a part of Universal Mind (God). All there is in the entire Universe is Consciousness, The One or The All. This truth has been known since the beginning of time. Consciousness pervades every inch of this Universe and has become everyone and everything. God is all there is, everywhere you look and everyone you look at are all part of this one God. There is but one life force that has given life to everyone and everything. God is all there is… The conclusion for my last book was that there was always and only One Story. As it turns out that when we were searching for God, That the one that you were searching for, (God) was the one doing the searching. That life force (consciousness) that is in you, that is searching for God is God. Our awareness, our consciousness is God, and it is God doing all our seeing, feeling, touching, smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeking. It is the God within us that sees the sunset. It is the God within us feels the wind on our skin. It is the God within us that hears the sweet words of the beautiful woman. Nowhere else to look, nothing to search for, nothing to acquire, as you already have it all with God manifesting as you in this present moment. When you are God, what is there to attain that could compare with God manifesting as you in this present moment? This last line can take a little contemplation as it is a very powerful statement of the truth. It takes a little while to swallow that You are God. By our being a part of God, that makes us God, and that means that God’s powers are our powers, which is the power to create through Thought.

When you have gotten to do all the things that you wanted to experience and pretty much got everything you wanted, you realize that you have lived a charmed life. Despite all the outer appearances of trouble in my life, I feel so blessed and so grateful for God filling all my desires, needs and wants. I have lived A Life Well Lived, and I appreciate every moment. I am grateful for the big stuff and the sweet women, and I am equally thankful for the simplest gift, like a sip of hot coffee in the morning or feeling the sun on my face. I want to truly open up everyone’s mind with this book, as my mind and heart have opened and that something in my writings will benefit them along the way. I want to wish everyone health, happiness, success, abundance, prosperity, and fulfillment of your dreams.

It is kind of interesting that God will fill all our desires, if that is what we wish, but then after we experience all the things that were important to us, something magical happens. All our desires fall away, and we are completely content in the present moment with whatever we have. They say that when all our desires are exhausted, That seeks you. What the ‘that’ is will manifest as peace of mind (the greatest gift), contentment, happiness, and the experience of God. We already have everything right within us, all the happiness, all the love and peace that we could ever imagine. The day comes that chasing the things of the world and trying to find fulfillment and happiness, it becomes obvious that it is an endless merry-go-round. For an example, if you have a house, but then you want a bigger house or even a beach house and maybe a vacation home, too. I had heard a guy speak at a 12-step recovery meeting who had been homeless and hungry. In the program things turned around for him and he ended up owning his own home. As, he sat at his kitchen table, he looked out the window at the house next door and thought: If I only owned that house then I would be happy. But you will never find satisfaction with your more, more, more mental illness syndrome. You will just be caught up in the endless chasing of the elusive happiness of the world.

When someone looks at something that represents beauty to them, whether a Picasso or a new corvette of a beautiful women and feel love. That love they feel is coming from their own hearts, not the objects of their appreciation. That is why the little yogi can turn inward and experience all the love that has ever existed. At the same time, the billionaire on his yacht with his trophy wife can be completely miserable and empty of love. All the love we ever desired is in our own hearts. We are already complete in all ways. The love that you feel when you are looking at the beautiful painting or person is coming from your own heart. There is no other source for love other than your own heart. When we see the beautiful woman, it is like she gives us permission to feel the love that is in our own heart. We look to the world for love and happiness, but you will only find fleeting moments of happiness along with endless problems. When we turn inward and look to our own heart, we finally find all the love we could ever need or want. The destination is our own heart. When they say, seek the kingdom of God first and all else will be put upon you, it means connecting with your own heart. The kingdom of God is right within you. When you put your connection with spirit first, then everything happens magically for you. Once we are established within our own selves, we will have our priorities right, and we can enjoy the gifts in and of the world. I have found that in the 12-step program that my willingness was the key to opening the inner doors of the program. But it was Right Understanding that was to give me my true freedom and my independence. I am not sure why I have been blessed with an open mind and an open heart, but I am sincerely grateful for both. I feel the purpose of my life was to open up to God and I found God right within my own heart. Well, I truly hope that you find something of benefit in my writings and that I wish you all the best in your life. You have the choice to pick a charmed life. If a silly Irishman like me can do it, it should be easy for you. Best wishes to you and yours on the journey.

MY SIMPLE BUDDHA STATUE THAT I LOVED AT THUNDERHAVEN

(THE PLAY OF CONSCIOUSNESS)

People will fear death, but you can look as death as a gift as it reminds us that we only have a very short time on this Earth. Make good use of your time, do something that will give your life meaning. It reminds us that if we awoke this morning that we have received the gift of another day of life. A million people each morning will not wake up. One day it will be our turn to answer the infinite summons. Make the best of every moment and cherish all the ones that you shared love with and be grateful for, A LIFE WELL LIVED...

A PAST MEMORY WITH MY SON, BENJAMIN, SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO…

I WISH THAT EVERYONE LIVES THE LIFE THAT THEY HAVE DREAMED OF.

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE

BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOURS.

Acknowledgements

(Ogunquit Beach, Maine’s early morning crop circles)

This is always a difficult section for me to write as there have been so many people that have played huge parts in my life and in my personal development that it could be a whole book in itself. In my first book MYSTICISM IN NEWBURYPORT and again in my second book MYSTIC RIDER I covered many of the influential people that have helped me or that I have learned from. I tried to make sure that I gave credit to everyone that has been there for me. It is important for me to acknowledge the kindness, unconditional love, understanding, compassion and helpfulness that I experienced from others on my journey in this life. So, I will do my best to give credit to all that have enriched my life and that have been there for me. They range from Yale to Jail and from every walk of life. God has worked through people from all walks of life to keep pointing me in the right direction. Many people have loved being included in the book and then, for whatever reason, some family members did not want to be included, so I must honor their request and leave them out of my writings. They are still in my thoughts and prayers. So, here are some of these wonderful individuals.

The perfect one to start with is Barbara Eleanor Parton. Barbara believed in me before I believed in myself. She saw the potential in me and mentored me in many ways of life. She also was responsible for me having a computer, learning Microsoft Word, even my having a cell phone. I had mentioned in my last book how Louise Hay, who had little formal education, was to marry a wealthy, worldly Englishman. Louise thanked him for teaching her so much about life and showing her another world that was possible for her to live in. I feel the same way as Barbara showed me so much about life and all the opportunities and possibilities for me in this world. She also softened my rough edges and made me a better person. Barbara was one of the rare individuals that was established in Unconditional Love. She also paved the way for me to be writing my books and she will always have a special place in my heart. Barbara’s believing in me gave me the confidence to reach my fullest potential in this life. She will always be my fondest memory…

Kay Butler has been someone that has been an immeasurable help in my life and with my creating of these books. Kay was and is someone that I have the utmost respect for and for her life of selfless service. She always has the right suggestions for me, and she did so much work with my books. I am sincerely grateful for her presence in my life. I don’t believe I would have completed my books without her help. God sent me the perfect guardian angel to encourage and help me with this new chapter of my life of being the typist for The Mystery Writer. Today I now know that The Mystery Writer is my own inner, higher self. I know that without Kay’s help and encouragement, I wouldn’t be able to get out of the way of my inner voice of The Mystery Writer coming through. Well, like usual, I got away from the point of this section which is to give all my heartfelt thanks to Kay Butler for being such a beacon of light and hope in my life. Love you girl…

My writing has gone from a painful struggle to a fun, exciting game of seeing what is coming next. I just write and I don’t care what goes down on the paper. I have nothing invested anymore and I have no agenda. I really don’t care how these books are used or if anyone ever reads them. I was willing to do my part and now my part is over. These are God’s books, and these books are for God’s purpose. God, for whatever reason, has given me the seva (selfless service) to create them, so I am willingly doing my part. My first book I had almost finished three times and then I tore it up and threw it in the trash. I really did not want to tell the world all about my depressions, my pains, my ‘seeming’ failures, my ‘seeming’ losses, my addictions, my countless issues, my ‘seemingly’ multiple personalities, my struggles, and my deepest secrets that I planned to go to the grave with. God had other plans for me. When you tell the world all your secrets, there is nothing to hide anymore and nothing to care about. Everyone already knows everything about you, and you realize no one even cares. All my struggle to hide who I was turned out to be a big waste of time and energy. After you unload all your baggage you can go live your life in freedom and peace. It really was freeing me of a huge ego, a truckload of secrets and a heavy burden of baggage. I just had a powerful insight from being willing to write and I am seeing what a gift it is to come out into the light and bear my soul. I thought Fu-k it, let the chips fall where they may. Complete honesty and open communication will give you total freedom.

After revealing all my stuff, I was to find that no one even cares and once again, the joke is on me. All that was wasted energy because of fear and ego. I was just trying to hide all the human traits that we all have. I now realize that my writing process (initiated by God) was all about my ego deflation. My writing has forced me out of the shadows and revealed everything about me, just what I did not want to do. It turned out a blessing as it has freed me by realizing no one cares as everyone is wrapped up in themselves. I walk a free man in this world with this purging of my soul. The paradox is that you actually feel better after getting your false image (ego) of yourself taken down a few pegs. They say that the spiritual journey is really about deflating our egos. That we already are everything (God) but our false identities, our ego, our fears, and false beliefs of ourselves block us from seeing the truth. There is nothing to search for or attain as we already are everything. God is manifesting as us in this moment. That makes us a part of God and there is nothing greater than that. It is like the sun is always there, but the clouds will block it. Our ego, our false identities, are the clouds that are hiding the God that lives right within you, as you. As the clouds clear, it reveals the sun. In our case, when the false identities are cleared away, it reveals our true self which is God. Do not be afraid of getting your ego deflated as it is the ticket to freedom and peace. Do not be afraid of who might read your inner most secrets, as it will only be people searching for themselves. There is something magical about honest writing.

So, after I would tear up the books, a little while would go by, and I would experience an awful pain in my heart, and it would not stop until I began to write again. So, I surrendered and followed this inner, painful prompt. Now, I am on my third book, and everything has shifted to a new enjoyable journey of writing. I had a vision for the tales in this book but once again an entirely different story is flowing. I was to see that all the ones that believe they are channelers for some specific individuals are really referring to the One that is the source of all wisdom and knowledge and that will flow through anyone that is open to this Grace. Everything comes from The One or as they say in the ancient writings of Hermes, the Greek God, in his book called THE KYBALLION that it is The All.

A special thanks to D. R. (Ram) Butler, author of the correspondence course called Living in the Truth of the Present Moment. I have been reading Ram’s lessons on a daily basis for over thirty years. I give Ram the lion’s share of credit for any or all the wisdom, insights, knowledge that I may have attained through the repetition of reading his priceless lessons. I have spent thirty years reading information from countless sources for personal development and understanding and I have to say, nothing compares with these simple lessons to awaken to self-realization. These lessons are a priceless tool to know your true self, your purpose, to understand the spiritual path, and even for understanding how to live in this world. Ram has often said that he was just the typist, and the flow was coming from an ancient lineage of masters. I know when I read any of his lessons that I am pulled right into the Truth of the Present Moment. Which the truth is that the present moment is the only time that actually exists and that in this moment that everything is alright, there is nothing wrong. It gives me a sense of well-being and peace which are priceless gifts in my life. The way you tell if something has credibility and integrity is by your own experience from reading the writer’s words. It is the conviction behind the words that will touch your heart. Many well-educated or formally educated individuals, who have all the words and are very articulate when they speak will give you an empty feeling. It is because there is no conviction behind their words as they have no actual experience with living the principles in their life. Ram’s writings are full of conviction and of actual experience of the principles from a lifetime of service and practice. So, a big thanks to Ram for a lifetime of selfless service (seva) and being willing to devote his life with sharing these lessons. A big thanks to Kay Butler, Ram’s wife who has worked with Ram for all these years and Kay continues to send out the lessons after Ram’s passing. So, big thanks to Ram and Kay, my life has been enriched through their friendship.

A special thanks to one of Ram’s teachers Hugh Greer Carruthers whose wisdom I will try to include in all my books. A fascinating Englishman that spent seventeen years in a monastery in Tibet and later came to America and began the correspondence course that D. R. (Ram) Butler began studying when he was fifteen in rural Mississippi, back in the sixties. Ram obviously came into this world in a highly evolved state to draw to himself a course of this caliber of teachings. In my second book MYSTIC RIDER in the tale called THE SEVENTH SON I included a lot of wisdom and history about Hugh. Some of Hugh’s teachings are my most valued possessions. So, I want to send a big thanks to Hugh Greer Carruthers.

The next acknowledgement is to my family and all my friends from all walks of life. The huge part that the 12-step recovery program, Unity on the River, Hard Nocks Gym, Yogic path, Riding Brothers and all the countless teachers and mentors have played in my life. I know today that it is God working through people, but I also like acknowledging the people that were willing to be the vehicle for God’s Grace in my life. Big Thanks to One and All!!!

Another miracle in the creation of this book was meeting Dianna Malone. Dianna was a Godsend at the perfect time to help with editing and encouraging me, at a time, I really needed it. So, a big thanks to my new friend, Dianna, who I believe with be my new editor for future books…

To Dan Svenconis who was so helpful with Book II MYSTIC RIDER. Dan had paid me the best compliment when he said that after reading the first story that he felt my style of writing is writing in a Stream of Consciousness. Dan said my style was very James Joycean. Dan’s encouragement helped me finish my second book and I am sincerely grateful for his help, so a big thanks to Dan.

And I cannot forget Via Nielsen and Tara Atkins, from Balboa Press, who have been there for me every step of the way. Via has gone above and beyond with helping me with the creation of my