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| Frequently Asked Questions Is financial aid available? 
Financial aid of any kind such as FASFA, Military education grants, or any other 
government/federal aid is not accepted here because we are a religious, 
non-secular educational facility. We do consider financial arrangements, and 
when available, will provide scholarships for those in need.
 
Do I have to pay all of the tuition at once? 
Courses can be purchased one at a time or up to as many as the student wants. 
Do I need to take all of the courses at once? 
How much are the textbooks? 
CIAMSS courses are sent to the student in a PDF 
	format. If the student requires a textbook, they will need to contact us for 
	printing and shipping costs. We feel that the PDF format is much more cost 
	effective for the student as well as helpful for our environment. 
What other expenses are involved? 
When do classes start? 
Can I take a single class without having to enroll in as a degree or certification student? 
How long will it take me to become 
certified or obtain a degree? 
Is there an opportunity for me to 
work at the College? Why is positive thinking important to a metaphysical belief system? 
Positive thinking is important because metaphysics 
teaches that the mind controls our reality. It you think it, it is so, We 
encourage ourselves to believe in the best so that we can manifest this in our
 
God knows what is best for our Highest Good, and it 
is the Highest Good of the body, mind and spirit that we are trying to achieve. 
What pleases us one minute may not always please us the next God, the Eternal, 
knows what is always the Ultimate Best. When we pray we say "Thy will be done". 
Since we create our own world, our attitude toward our world is all that we can 
completely control, and is the key in creating the best world for our Soul. 
In what kind of God do metaphysicians believe? 
To the Metaphysician -- God is the creative, active force in the Universe from 
which
all scientific, natural and spiritual laws are derived, This beneficent force is 
creating a friendly Universe today, as
it was in the beginning. The more we go into quiet meditation and seek this link 
with Good the more we know and the greater our awareness becomes. A wonderful 
and unseen force is alive and active through us. Life is a precious gift from 
the creative intelligence of God. We express this force best through Love, 
Understanding, Wisdom and Truth. Each creative thinker knows there is a Source
somewhere within. Each child knows that he/she, alone, is not enough! We are not 
alone. God, referred to in 
various 
religions by different names, is the same God - The Creator of us all. Is metaphysics a religion? 
     What is meditation? 
We have mentioned meditation, just 
what is it? Meditation is a formal time to relax and go within - to dwell in the 
Silence and to become increasingly aware of the God within. Meditation is a key 
ingredient to Metaphysics, as it is the single most important act in a 
metaphysician's life. All the great Saints and Mystics have reported that their 
quiet time of "practicing the Presence of God" was the most important experience 
in their quest to became 
closer to God.  
Meditation is used to quiet oneself externally (turning off distractions such as 
TV, telephone, etc.) and internally (turning off everyday thoughts such as 
school,
 
Here in the quiet, one can realize a connection 
with the Universe and a commonality with all of life    Do metaphysicians believe in the Bible? 
To the Metaphysician the Bible is based on inspired 
revelation. This ancient and inspired book has a great deal of food for thought, 
We believe that each one of us is capable of inspired revelation as we seek to 
understand what Jesus, meant when he said certain things. For example he said, 
"He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater 
works than these shall he do." (John 14:12)  Do metaphysicians believe in Jesus? 
Metaphysicians believe that Jesus was a master metaphysician and a great teacher 
of metaphysical principles.
 Do metaphysicians believe in prayer? The Metaphysician believes in prayer. One kind of prayer we use is called an Affirmation. It is a simple statement of Truth. We do not cajole, bargain or plead with God. We know our Good is here now and we look to recognize this within ourselves. Ever present help is ours through this method of acknowledgment of God at work in our lives.
 Do metaphysicians believe in life after death? 
Most metaphysicians believe in life after death. 
Certainly the continuity of life is very important to those who believe in 
reincarnation. The current research done of those returning from a death 
experience shows that there is a "somewhere" beyond "here". Even before this 
modern research, Mystics have told us of their experiences visiting in other 
realms. It is easy to see in Nature the changing of one energy into another. 
Consider the acorn and the Oak Tree. So it is with human energy. It is 
transformed rather than terminated.  
Do metaphysicians believe in reincarnation? 
Most metaphysicians believe in reincarnation. The cycle of life is a tenant of 
many religions, even that of early Christians. More than three-fourths of the 
world's population believe in some form of reincarnation,
 
What Is Karma? 
Karma is an eastern term used to express the 
scientific law of cause and effect. It is one of the Universal Laws that explain 
how life works. Each molecule is made up of a positive and negative force, these 
two act on each other to cause a vibration. Without these two opposing forces, 
there would be no life. Everything in life acts and reacts because of this pull. 
Science teaches that everything is vibrating, including matter which includes 
the physical body. With each lifetime, we are trying to reach a balance as we 
create our reality from these two forces. That is why the law of sowing and 
reaping is a scientific and spiritual law called Karma.  
Do metaphysicians believe In ESP? 
Many Metaphysicians
 
Do metaphysicians believe in Faith Healings? 
Metaphysicians throughout the ages have practiced what you know
 
Is there a relationship between the holistic movement and metaphysics? 
Both recognize the interaction of Mind, Body and Spirit. Metaphysics teaches 
that as a person thinks, so he/she is. If your thoughts are negative, you will 
manifest illness. In Holistic medicine, like Metaphysics, self-responsibility is 
stressed. Patient participation is encouraged in every aspect through attitude, 
diet, exercise and education. There can be no separate compartment called 
"Health". All of life reflects our level of consciousness. 
What is an aura? The Aura is 
light which surrounds any object. This light is actually electromagnetic 
particles vibrating at a higher speed than the mass they surround. 
Metaphysicians have known about the aura for centuries, but only within recent 
years has the scientific world acknowledged its existence. Now, through Kirilian 
Photography, we are able to photograph and note the changes in the aura affected 
by our health, emotions and mind set. Much research is needed in this field. Do metaphysicians get involved in prosperity and abundance training? 
Metaphysicians believe that life is abundant. We do not have to be poor in order 
to be spiritual. Our goal is "Everything we need and Desire". We know we can 
stop the flow of Good if we hoard or are greedy. A big part of prosperity 
thinking is giving and letting the flow came to us. Ideas are energy and that 
energy can be converted into worldly goods
 The 
quest for God takes us everywhere into the market place, into the schools, into 
human relationships. The mind, through divine inspiration can provide abundantly 
for everyone. To achieve this prosperity we use meditation, prayer, and creative 
visualization.   
Do metaphysicians have Gurus? A 
Guru is only a teacher. Some people in metaphysics have Gurus — most do not. 
Often we find people studying with a variety of teachers. We also teach that 
each person can be inspired on his/her own and became his/her own teacher. The 
great devotion that Eastern religions teach by the Guru method can be an 
important step in a person's growth and development. There is much to be learned 
from one who has traveled the Path of Truth longer than you. Nothing is more 
inspiring than a spiritual life, well lived. But self-responsibility always came 
first.  
When all is said and done we find that whenever we have ever needed guidance, 
God has never failed to give it. For any sincere questions we have asked, an 
answer has come. It is not always an
 
Are there metaphysical laws and 
rules that must be observed? 
There is no dogma or strict code for a Metaphysician. Most metaphysicians 
 
For every action there is an equal and opposite 
reaction. We call this Universal Law (Cause and Effect) or sowing and reaping. 
There is no escaping responsibility for an action. There is always a reaction 
based on your action. We hold this for thoughts, too. As you think, it is 
reflected back to you.  
	Self-responsibility is stressed because there 
	is no one else to blame. God does not punish. We create our own problems and 
	solutions. 
	Harmlessness is important because we feel the 
	connection with all living things. God gave us custody over all the earth, 
	all of its creatures and the environment. His human family must take care of 
	and be responsible for this. There is no one else. 
	The law of Grace is our way of acceptance. 
	There is nothing that cannot be forgiven. First you must forgive yourself, 
	then God's Grace is waiting for you. Just ask. All things are forgiven. 
	Learn the lesson behind it and do not repeat it, then you are free of it.
	 
	Life is teaching us. We want to be aware of the 
	opportunities to learn and awake enough to see the connection with the rest 
	of life. 
Do We Have Free Will, Or Is 
Everything Destined? 
This philosophical question is one of the more curious
 
	Some metaphysicians would argue that a rational 
	universe is always based on cause and effect. That is, every effect is 
	preceded by a cause, all the way back to the First Cause, that being God or 
	the Divine.  
	 On the other side, the act of pure, genuine, 
	uncaused free will is considered somehow to negate the divine 
	rational order and makes the universe seem irrational.  
Although 
certain things may occur in one's life that may be destiny, we do have free 
will. This is important. And as time passes, our ability to manifest things and 
situations will accelerate so quickly that we will see that we can create and 
manifest results quickly and easily. If we can bring about such change, this 
means we do in fact have free will.  
Does metaphysics claim to be the 
one path to Truth? 
 
What Is The New Age? 
The New Age movement means different things to different people. However, I feel 
that most all New Age topics have one basic underlying theme. That theme is 
personal spiritual development. Every day there are thousands upon thousands of 
people around the world who are waking up to the knowledge, understanding and 
realization of who they really are, where they came from, and why they are here.
 
This collective transformation of individuals can be described as the New Age 
movement. As
 The 
New Age movement itself is somewhat of a paradox, since to organize into some 
kind of "movement" could be considered to be contrary to the fundamentals of 
individual spiritual development. That is why there is some ambiguity to the 
meaning of the New Age, because it can mean different things to people. But 
that's okay. What is important is that each individual embarks on their own 
journey of learning, adventure, and discovery.  
What about Metaphysics in the New Age?  The 
New Age is strongly related to some of the concepts defined in the branch of 
philosophy commonly referred to as metaphysics. Although the academic 
branch of metaphysics is most concerned about the nature of ultimate reality, 
popular metaphysical topics often include discussion and analysis of subjects 
beyond the physical third dimension. Some examples of metaphysical topics 
include: free energy, out of body experiences, UFOs, psychic phenomenon, 
alternative healing, and other topics that our conventional sciences find 
difficult to explain.  
What about All the Various New 
Age Tools? 
   
What about Astrology, Numerology, Psychism and all that sort of thing? 
 
Is the New Age A Kind of 
Religion?  
Although it may be spiritual, the New Age like 
metaphysics is far from being a formal religion. In fact, many New Agers tend to 
shy
 
Are There Any Common New Age 
Beliefs? 
 Here's 
an unofficial list of beliefs that some individuals in New Age may have in 
common: 
  
	You create your own reality and destiny. This is a planet of free choice, 
	and you have your own free will.  
	You have certain challenges to face and overcome in this lifetime. If you 
	don't learn your lessons this time, you'll get them again.
	 
	There is no such thing as coincidence. 
	There is more to life than meets the eye, much more.  
	Nothing really matters in this life unless it is done for the benefit of 
	others. 
	We are not alone. 
	We are multidimensional beings currently having a human experience. 
	 
	We are all receiving more help than we know, from angels, spirit guides, 
	ascended masters and others.  
	We can heal ourselves, our society, and our world. 
	The ultimate 
	transformation for mankind is ascension. 
What is a Lightworker? 
A lightworker is a person who is defined by their 
mission. That mission is to share light and love with others on this planet, 
empowering them toward their own paradigm shift and spiritual awakening. The 
lightworker's goal is to help show others that they have a unique spiritual 
energy, and that they are free to explore and connect with the unlimited 
universal life force energy available to us all.  
As people awaken to their true nature and connect 
with their higher selves, they too may choose to perform lightwork by 
manifesting unconditional love into the physical world around them. This goal of 
manifesting the Christ consciousness onto the earth plane, also known as 
creating heaven on earth, is a key component of a lightworker's mission. 
 
Do New Age beliefs contradict 
science? 
Many people feel that new age thinking just simply 
isn't rational. Traditional scientific models often include observation, 
analysis, testing and measurement. Quite often these things cannot be
 
It all comes down to beliefs, and often a deep 
inner knowing. It involves intuition and trust. It involves listening. It 
involves a whole lot of things that are currently beyond the scope of accepted 
scientific thinking.   
The important thing to remember is that new age 
beliefs don't reject science. Modern science has brought tremendous good to our 
society in many ways. New age beliefs simply expand beyond accepted thinking in 
the exploration and search for life's eternal truths.  
What is a shaman?
 
The word “shaman” is often used 
to refer to a person in a 
 
  
Joseph Campbell's description 
Shamanism as: "The shaman is a person, male or female, who has an overwhelming 
psychological experience that turns him (her) totally inward. The whole 
unconscious opens up, and the shaman falls into it." (Campbell, The Power of 
Myth, p. 86) 
  
What are the Shamanic Arts? 
  
The shamanic arts explore modern 
applications and benefits (emotional, mental, physical and spiritual) of 
consciously voyaging into the wilderness of one's mind for the purposes of 
healing, increasing communication skills and inspiring arts.  
  
Are Shamans Supernormal Beings? 
  
Shamans are ordinary people, just 
like everyone else. They happen to have an ability to be able to connect with 
the spirit world and enter trance, and they dedicate themselves to honing this 
gift. The shaman is a member of a community who participates in the daily life 
activities of the group. The old saying goes "before enlightenment, chop wood 
and haul water. After enlightenment, chop wood and haul water." In the book 
Trances, anthropologist Audrey Butt wrote of Akawaio shamans in the Amazon, 
There is no wonder the Akawaio shaman is sometimes called eneogei,"the one who 
perceives". Yet there is nothing surprising about shamans: they are just like 
ordinary people. Seeing them hunting each day and fishing, teaching the young 
how to survive in the forest, or even on a drinking spree with their pals, you 
would never suspect their skill in the art of trance. 
    
 
  
NO! Each culture is different. 
There are similarities between shamanic cultures, such as Nature connection, 
belief in the power of the Ancestors and the spirits, and herbal awareness. One 
similarity is that in many old-ways cultures the shaman was the physician of the 
group, expected to diagnose and treat sickness. Keep in mind that throughout 
time people have believed differently about the causes of illness. In our modern 
culture, people generally believe that sickness is caused by disease. A physical 
ailment. In pre-technological cultures they most often believed that illness was 
caused by bad magic. A curse, spell or sorcerer. As our culture uses doctors, 
shamanic cultures used(s) shamans. 
    
How is Shamanism different from 
"Religions"? 
  
Shamanism is different from the 
main religions of the world because the God of shamanism, the bringer of 
salvation, is Nature. Not some God-type human.  
  
To honor Nature, we don't need 
doctrines, a priest, or a monk,
 
  
Once a person opens their mind 
and heart to the truth that the world around them, Nature, can speak directly to 
them, then they don't need an interpreter anymore. Religions tend to want people 
to believe that the figurehead is needed to assure communication, or even worse, 
that the figurehead is the only one who can communicate. They seem to ignore the 
fact that each person on the planet is connected to Nature. The point of 
religion (from the Latin "to tie again") is to support each person in their 
practice of letting the Nature outside of them talk to, and guide, the Nature 
inside of them. 
  
Humans have become so 
self-absorbed that we have forgotten the great power that we live in every day. 
This power is the power of the Earth and all that grows on her. Nature is what 
provides for us, not humans.   
Any religion that puts the 
prosperity of their human followers above the well-being of Nature is not in 
alignment 
 
  
Who can become a Shaman? 
  
Eligibility varies from group
to group but there 
are themes. Generally, there is a "calling" that happens in some way. A person 
could be called to follow the path of the shaman in two typical ways, to come 
from a family of shamans, or to have a spontaneous calling such as a near-death 
experience, a sickness or, for the Akawaio people of the Amazon, epilepsy is a 
sign of a possible shaman. There are many people who could be eligible to "try 
out" to be a shaman but this does not mean that all who attempt to do so will be 
successful. Just as it is probably wise in our society to warn a person not to 
become a doctor unless she/he is willing to be totally dedicated to the 
profession, it is not advised to become a shaman apprentice unless she/he is 
prepared to submit her/his mind to the vacillating and demanding needs of the 
spirit world. To achieve a receptive condition- to learn how to perceive- 
requires training, technique and discipline.   
Can Women become Shamans? 
  
 
    
What is the difference between 
Shamanism and Wicca? 
  
Wicca is one spiritual tradition based on an 
agricultural pagan culture of pre-christian northern Europe. Shamans come from 
cultures all over the world. Most of them were migratory or hunter/cultivator 
cultures, not agriculturally-based farmers. Settling down in permanent villages 
and farming was the beginning of the shift away from shamanic culture. 
  
What is "Animism"? 
  
Animism is the understanding that everything is "alive". The rock, the 
tree, the cloud and the moon all have a spirit, an energy that we can 
communicate with, if we believe that we can. Animism is the original, worldwide 
religion. Since every human culture lived together with Nature for thousands, 
even millions, of years, every human is an Animist at heart. 
  
 
  
"Magic" is the Force That Runs Through All 
Things, as in "The Force" of Star Wars, The Tao of the Taoist Chinese, that 
which created the Universe and all of us in it. Magic is the force that is 
constantly creating, and we have to ability to read It, to learn to understand 
It, to feel It in our lives. 
  
Why is Shamanism Important to 
the World Today? 
  
Shamanic culture is where we came from, each one 
of us. Shamanism is important now because in the last thousand years more and 
more people around the world have turned their backs on Nature, on our host, the 
Earth. Not only do we not honor it anymore, we are actually poisoning it with 
our choices. If Earth is poisoned, we are poisoned. Reconnecting with our 
collective shamanic soul, the part of us that is at one with the cycles of 
Nature, is the only hope that we, as a human species, have to not make our home 
completely toxic and barren of the diversity of life on this planet. 
  
Shamanic connection, and service, to the Earth 
and the Oneness Of All Things is essential to us being able to tie together 
again the individual will with the cycles of Nature. 
A Call to Action 
 
We are one. To grow individually means we all grow 
a little bit. And that is why now, at this time, it may be essential that all 
New Agers, lightworkers, starseeds, walk-ins, and others who choose to make a 
difference work together at this critical time and help each other. It is 
vitally important to get together with like-minded spiritual souls at this time 
and amplify the effects of positive energies. Try to link up globally, via the 
internet, and locally, in your own community. We will leave no one behind.
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