January 2026

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful New Year!

Dear Readers,

Last month, I announced the release of my new book, The

Little Blue Book of Recovery & Spiritual Foundation. For those who enjoy reading on tablets, the book is now available for free on Kindle!

This month, we present the last installment of The Beatitudes, The Blessings.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so

persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

This last Beatitude can be very confusing for someone without a mentor, advisor, or teacher to help them understand its meaning. Up until now, Jesus has been sharing the benefits of His teachings, but now He warns us of the dangers in duality, the material world in following them.

As mentioned in previous newsletters, we must be cautious with today's interpretations of words used thousands of years ago. Let’s reflect on the term "righteousness."

Some believe it refers solely to moral actions; however, in this context, it

also involves right thinking. Holding immoral thoughts while acting morally is

hypocritical. As the great metaphysical law states, “what you think about, you

bring about.”

My spiritual advisor often reminds me, “The mind is like water; it will take on the form of whatever container you pour it into.”

In duality, we may not be accountable for our thoughts, but spiritually and metaphysically, we are.

The Beatitudes are urging us to rise beyond moral standards and elevate our

consciousness, aligning with what the Bible terms the "new Adam."

I have learned that there are three levels of persecution that spiritual aspirants endure, the first one and most prominent one is ourselves.

Ourselves:

The first type arises from within. When we struggle to maintain right thoughts

and righteous thinking, it’s often due to internal emotions like fear, anger,

and self-judgment. This internal persecution stems from our lower nature—the

part of us that primarily focuses on desires like sex, control, survival, and comfort.

Without aspiring to our divine nature, we can feel lost and persecuted. Our

greatest persecutor can often be our own mind.

To rise above our lower nature, we must be willing, but willpower alone won’t suffice. Righteous thinking and putting God first are crucial.

Engage in prayer, chanting, meditation, and contemplation of sacred scriptures.

In the silence of prayer, God's work is done within the core of our Being.

As we progress spiritually, when negative thoughts arise, gently replace

them through prayer and the holy essence of God.

Only Love

Michael John

The Eight Beatitude

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Others, will also persecute you.

As we observe in the world today, expressing our views on spiritual laws or sharing our religious beliefs can lead to attacks—be it through criticism, mockery, or even violence, assassinations, mass murders, etc. This unfortunate reality has persisted since time immemorial. The more we speak out against evil, the more it becomes apparent—a form of spiritual purging.

Such persecution occurs not only across the world but also within families. Some may not want to hear about your relationship with God, preferring to share their own perspectives, their “gods’ and how things should be. This leads to silencing in many cases, which can hinder individuals from reaching their full spiritual potential.

Governments can persecute us as well.

Furthermore, persecution can come from governments, which may redefine our rights, counter to the belief that all human beings are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights from our Creator. Systems like socialism or communism dictate what rights we have, rather than recognizing our innate divinity.

We must remain vigilant against attempts to undermine the foundational principles of our beliefs, ensuring that politicians and governance acknowledge our right to worship and express our spiritual beliefs freely. This is not a political statement, but a spiritual one.

So, what does it truly mean to be "persecuted for righteousness' sake"? My spiritual advisor once shared that righteousness refers to a state where the soul’s expression of love and obedience to its Beloved (God) is completely unencumbered.

This essence highlights how persecution can obstruct our relationship with God.

Our government permits us to evolve and love God without obstacles, but we must be cautious of those who try to replace our spiritual freedoms and impede our beliefs. These are the challenges we face on our spiritual journeys.

Only Love

Michael John

All of the above might sound daunting, but that's just the mind unable to understand the unlimited possibilities of Divinity. The value of Spirituality in the world today is needed, which is Love Itself, Being One Spirit, Unity Consciousness. This results in Peace. Make time to be The Peace you want to see in the world.

You can start by joining the weekly retreats, which last only one hour. See below for more information.

Please join the StillPoint community (see below) for our weekly retreat. Until then, be the peace you want to see in the world.

Only Love

Michael John

Let's Connect!

Following are some links that will help you get to know me better and, perhaps, enable you to assist those who rely on you for information and resources.

Here is a link to the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery web site, where you will find a wealth of information about me and the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Program, past newsletters and if there are any upcoming events and appearances: Ah-Man Website. 

Go to Amazon to purchase my latest book The Little Blue Book of Recovery & Spiritual Foundation.

Join me on Facebook at Michael Hoare on Facebook and on LinkedIn at Michael Hoare on LinkedIn. 

Like the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Program at Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Facebook Page.

You can follow my tweets at Michael Hoare on Twitter.

If you're interested in obtaining copies of my published articles or scheduling a personal appearance or interview, contact me at mh@ah-man.com.

I look forward to connecting with you!