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Natural Awakenings Lehigh Valley

Metaphysics Practitioner Uses Spirituality to Unravel Life’s Mysteries

Anthony “Tony” Kenton

Pennsylvania native Anthony “Tony” Kenton was never one who just accepted simple explanations to the enigmas of life and human existence. During his high school and college years, he questioned the status quo educational structures and religious leaders in whom he came into contact, and that got him into a lot of trouble with educators and other authority figures. His quest to dig deeper into the mysteries of our world eventually led him to metaphysics—a philosophy that explores the fundamental nature of reality.

“Many educational structures and religions failed to offer guidance or alternate positive thought, and instead often encouraged submissive behavior and conformity,” Kenton observes. “Even studies in philosophy only provided a learning process. Unfortunately our society and culture do not provide all the answers to life and our physical reality. To understand life, we must first understand that man is a spirit experiencing a human physical life.”

While Kenton didn’t believe those establishment systems were entirely bad, he felt their practices limited people to the idea that they have no control over their own lives and fates. “I just couldn’t buy into the dogma of organized religion, so I sought other avenues,” he relates. “First, I read a lot and found a number of books to guide me on my search, and I found that metaphysics provided a lot of answers. Still not finding all I wanted to satisfy my own questions about spiritual journeys and our origins, I wrote my own book, Who Am I? Where Am I? What Am I Doing Here? A textbook for Life, Living, and Reality. Actually, the book wrote itself. It is a long book of questions, answers and technical data. The book basically was designed to help me understand what life is all about. The title of the book is the same questions that an amnesia patient would ask after waking up. In addition, it’s also a howto textbook for life, living and reality.”

Over the years, Kenton has worked full-time running his manufacturing business, Nova Finishing Systems, Inc., but metaphysical practices were and have become part of his everyday life. He was involved with and became president of the New Hope Channelers Support Group (now known as New Hope Metaphysical Society), an organization started by Bill Tomaszewski in 1990. When Tomaszewski moved to England, Kenton, along with John and Amy Gialuco, managed the organization at different times; however, disagreements over structure and goals led Kenton to forge connections with other metaphysical practitioners and form his own metaphysical group, The Society for Metaphysical Enlightenment (SME) in 1999.

“I like to run an organization of equals, and we were having some difficulties on deciding where we were headed,” he recalls. “That’s when I gave operations back to John and Amy, and founded SME with Rose Moyer, a spiritual and gifted medium.”

The SME group promotes togetherness and spiritual bonds throughout eastern Pennsylvania through events such as Spiritfest and Solstice Expo & Holistic Fair. SME also networks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with other like-minded groups and organizations, all of which promote creative loving, caring and sharing.

The study of metaphysics has grown over the years to encompass astrology, meditation, self-help, psychic abilities, numerology and other holistic practices. “There are a lot of ways to help the physical body and mind exist in this physical realm, and these disciplines all help in life’s journey and growth,” Kenton says.

Kenton and the board of six directors at SME are excited about their annual fall event, Spiritfest, which takes place this year from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 29. Kenton and his fellow SME members try to seek out the most engaging and informative guest speakers, services, products and people who promote the value of oneness of all. SME also hosts the Solstice Expo & Holistic Fair every June, and proceeds from both our events are donated to charities and interfaith churches.

Regarding the expos, Kenton says, “One of our strong suits is the quality of our speakers. We try to line up the most interesting and challenging speakers that we can get. We were the first organization to recognize John Schaeffer, who authored a number of books and invented the Holographic Acupressure Therapy Discs. He’s an amazing person, and his products are very helpful for pain relief and energy enhancement and are used by professional athletes.”

The lecture program is still being finalized; however, other lecturers have recently included psychic and author Elizabeth Joyce; numerologist Jack Toffler; Greek clairvoyant Thalia Alexiou; herbal remedies specialists Katie Moyer and Susan Stein, offering cannabidiol hemp oil as medication and treatments; energy systems experts, including energy healer Suzanne Werfelman; and many others. Kenton says there will also be talks and demonstrations on Reiki, crystals, stones and gems, aromatherapy, psychic mediums and more.

As one that has employed metaphysics to find answers to the deep questions of life and the universe, Kenton believes metaphysical concepts can help people realize that despite abysmal headlines and negativity in the nation and worldwide, we will all come together.

“I’m disappointed by our current divisive political climate, but I’m also optimistic that good will overcome self-interests,” Kenton says. He cites the rescue efforts after recent hurricanes as recent examples of how of people can work together to be their best selves, even in bad situations.

Kenton shares content of his book Who Am I? Where Am I? What Am I Doing Here? on the SME website. He’s also working on a new book, yet untitled, with the premise that we are all one. “The universe is mental first, and then manifested into tangible reality. That’s physically and spiritually correct, because we’re in a physical reality, which is also a duality, so all I can say is we are closer to one another than people realize,” Kenton says. “That’s going to be recognized more and more as the years go by. I’m still optimistic that things will improve; maybe not the monetary aspects, because there’s always going to be an element of greed and self-indulgence. But generally speaking, I think we’re on the right track.”

For more information about The Society of Metaphysical Enlightenment or Spiritfest, call 267-261-2768 or visit WeAreSME.com.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines through the country.