A Joy shared is a Joy Multiplied!.
I’m grateful to share a joy of my own:
The CD Baby release of
Grab yourself a copy in CD or mp3 format! Discounts apply when purchasing more than one, so share it with a friend! Expand this ministry and get some fun law of attraction based, New Thought Metaphysical music! Use it like I do, to remember who you truly are, and enjoy!
Thanks and blessings!
I started writing this song while working on Do not Worry – Metaphysical Service. I finished it for Who Does the Work Around Here?
I have a past full of worrying myself sick… Which thank God is just that: PAST! And it helps me offer compassion to those who still worry.
Instrument: Yamaha NP31 76-key digital piano
Refrain:
Come unto me, all ye that labor,
And I will give you rest.
Come unto me, ye heavy laden!
Lay down your burdens, put me to the test.
1. Take my yoke now upon you,
For it’s an easy load.
You will carry it with me
And never on your own.
Refrain:
2. Take my burden upon you,
For it is very light.
Learn from me to be gentle,
And keep a heart that’s right.
Refrain:
3. All these things that you carry
Are only in your mind!
Take my love and my caring;
Let me guide your life.
Refrain:
And rest, rest, rest your soul!
We often hear the word “self-soothe” regarding babies. It usually means they shove a tiny fist in their mouths to keep from crying. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like self-suppression to me. So, how can we, as spiritual beings living a human experience, self-soothe for the better?
Self-soothing means gently lifting the ego and personality to a higher state of consciousness. The object isn’t to have no ego or personal uniqueness at all! Instead, it is to willingly rest the personal ego and character in the hands of Universal, Higher, God, or Cosmic Mind. How you do that will depend on what resonates with you at any moment. Here are some ideas:
* Music–music is a powerful force. It’s an expression that comes right from the heart. When used for good, music can bring us back from a negative physical, mental, emotional or spiritual place.
Types of music are so diverse! With a little asking for guidance and a search of your music collection, you’re sure to find some that can, as I often say, “Match you, then take you higher.” Maybe you’ll need to start with a piece that reflects where you are–sadness, anger, etc. But consciously choose to move on from that, with a better-feeling piece of music. Keep doing this until you are where you want to be in consciousness and vibration.
Meditation–Of course, meditation is always recommended. 😀 Connecting with the God-Power within you is the best way to drop what you don’t want, for what you want.
But sometimes meditation isn’t practical, or you’re just so caught up in feelings and emotions that it seems pointless, or even fuels the negative feelings. At times like this it can be helpful to use something else first. Music as above, writing, or walking can help. Or take a coffee or tea break, talk to a friend–but be careful not to dwell on the negativity! So distract yourself from the negative feelings, then meditate to affirm well-being.
Writing–No, this is not “for writers!” In fact, self-professed writers might have trouble with this! This is for you, and you don’t even have to read it, not even once. This is stream of consciousness writing. You write what you think, as you think it. Your hand or fingers might have trouble keeping up with your thoughts, but that’s ok. Just write.
Write until you feel the burden lift, until you feel soothed. Then choose what to do with it: keep it, burn it, read it, don’t read it, bury it. Do whatever will add to a positive state of mind–that’s why many people don’t keep the writing, because it doesn’t serve highest good to do so. 🙂
Review your creations–In What is Self-expression? I mentioned using my songs to self-soothe. I know you’ve created something you’re proud of! Or maybe someone has given you something that reminds you of your achievements. Use these things to remind yourself that you’ve felt positive before. When you’re “there,” you can shift to the idea that you can feel positive, be creative, and achieve goals again. This is my current favorite way of coming out of the fog of negativity.
Realize that the same thing may not work all the time. Just because music usually works, for instance, doesn’t mean it always will. Be open to new ways of bringing your personal mind into alignment with Higher Mind. Because as we evolve, so do our ways of responding to life.
Self-soothing in this case, is not escapism. It’s not about just forgetting how you feel or what’s bothering you. It’s about truly sublimating negativity with positiveness. It doesn’t mean you’ll never feel negative again. But as you practice this true self-soothing, you’ll reach for positiveness more quickly. You’ll connect intuitively with the God-Presence within you, maintain contact with it, and allow it to express itself in your life.
And that is what Life is about!
This is week 5/6 of Affirmative Prayer: What is it and why Should I Care? (Click to review previous weeks.)
Right click and choose “Save target as…” or similar to download this post in .doc format. Download Affirmative Prayer Week 5 Notes
We began with some metaphysical prayer treatment. Talk is cheap as the saying goes; so I wanted everyone to participate in the treatment experience.
This treatment and the following one, are spontaneous, channeled prayers. I transcribed them later from my class recording.
Right click and choose “Save target as…” or similar to download this treatment with harp accompaniment. Download Metaphysical Treatment for Health mp3
I acknowledge and recognize that there is one Mind and one manifesting body in the Universe. This Mind is the God-Mind, and the body that is the Universe, is God’s body. This body that is God’s is my body now. I know that God within me is the source of health, strength, and vitality in my own physical body.
I know that when I experience pain, it’s a signal to my mind and body to reconnect with the Presence of God within me. Pain is only a signal; it is neither good nor bad. Illness and the appearance of any sickness, is an opportunity to reconnect and bring my awareness back to the health that is my divine right.
I realize and I accept that health can be mine, through the God-Presence within me, that is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-seeing. Limitations as to how health can come to me, or what has to happen for me to be healthy, fall away. I bring my faith and my awareness – my inner knowing – back to the God-Presence. And I release physical outcomes. I accept that God knows I have physical needs, and that I can have the health that is my divine birthright. God-Mind wants its creations to be healthy, and I as a child of God, am healthy now.
I allow the reality of my ultimate, divine health to manifest itself in all perfect ways. These include mental health, physical health, emotional health and well-being, strength and vitality whenever and wherever I need it.
In the peace and calm of this time, I release attachments to having to do things to create my own health through a personal ego sort of action; physically oriented steps. I know that when I must take physical action to manifest health, I do so with divine inspiration. SO that the actions I take are the right actions for my path, according to the God within myself.
As I realize my own health on all levels of my being, I give thanks. I let it be so, now and always. And so it is!
I’ve never used those words in a treatment before. But they came up this time, and someone asked what they meant. 🙂
If God-Mind is Universal Mind or consciousness, then God’s body is the physical universe. The manifest Universe, everything that has any form at all, is God’s body.
If your personal mind is an individualized manifestation (form or part) of God-Mind, then what is your physical body? An individualized part, as a drop is of the ocean, of God’s body.
In the Bible the body is called the Temple of God, Temple of the Holy Spirit, body Temple, or body of Christ. What is it really a Temple of? God-Mind. Our bodies, as the physical forms they are, contain the God-Mind. They contain it in that they are vehicles to manifest God-Thought. And they contain it, because our bodies are made of, and come from, God-Mind or Universal Consciousness.
Christ Consciousness is another name for the God-Presence within us. So the body of Christ, is truly our body (including our physical bodies) as well.
Right click and choose “Save target as…” or similar to download this treatment with harp accompaniment. Download Metaphysical Treatment for Finances mp3
God-Mind within me, Universal Consciousness of all, I know that You know I have financial needs.
I know that Your desire for me, as one of Your creations, is that I have all I need to have a fulfilling life on this earthly plane of existence. I know that my desire to fulfill all my financial obligations is good, and I know that it comes from You, the Source of all things.
I know that the people I receive services from are one with You. They come from Your oneness, and they are made of Your presence, just like I am. It is right that they receive their compensation for the services that they provide.
I know that money is a form of exchange here on this earthly plane. And I know that at its essence, money is Your presence. All desires of my heart and my mind are implanted by You, and where there is a desire, there is always fulfillment.
And so I release all attachments that I have to sources of income, means of payment, ideas of how money must come to me, or how obligations must be met. You must have ways of meeting obligations that I, in my personal mind, know nothing about. I accept the possibility that somewhere, beyond my ego and any attachments I hold, all my financial needs are met, now.
In Your peace, I rest in the realization that the people who provide me services, the people that I owe money to on this plane – their needs are met as well. Because You are the Source of all desires, you are the Source of all fulfillment. Nothing can exist apart from Your presence.
I allow Your presence to meet all of my needs and the needs of those who provide me services here.
I accept that all my financial obligations are immediately met. I do not need to know how they are met, and by what means. I only need to know and realize that in Your ultimate presence, all needs are met.
I give thanks for the meeting of these needs, in whatever form that manifests. It could be money, but it might not be. And I give thanks for the infinite number of ways, that You have in Your wisdom and presence, of meeting the needs of all Your creations. In peace I realize that I am one. I am one with You; I am one with any desire and its fulfillment. And for this, I give thanks. I let it be so. And so it is!
Everyone in the live class, myself included, felt relaxed after our prayer treatments. Some felt a sense of possibility and openness, and that their focus shifted from the problem, to a better state of mind.
The rest is yours! It is for you to take the time to pray/treat. It’s up to you to allow the God within you, to expand your conscious mind. Even when working with a Practitioner, it’s still your allowing that makes a treatment successful – or your not allowing that makes it seem like it didn’t work.
Prayer comes through us. If you’ve ever enfolded someone in love, sang and wondered where “that voice” came from, or felt amazed at something you created or accomplished; then you’ve had the experience of being a channel.
“Lord, make me a channel (or instrument) of Your peace…”
When we pray out loud, the words flow through us. We simply allow them to be spoken, or written by our voice, or our hands. Our sense of personal, solitary existence falls away; and we feel divine oneness. This is like a meditative experience and can also be felt in prayer. For me, that feeling comes when I know, no question, that the prayer is answered. We call this step realization.
Prayer comes from the Divine Mind. It comes from God, the Source of all desire and fulfillment of desire.
And that is how we know what to ask for in prayer. We ask, aloud if need be, for the prayer to come through us. We ask to be a vehicle or channel of God-Thought. And the prayer is carried out, answered or demonstrated through us.
If we don’t know what to pray for, or how to pray, or what words to use, we ask for divine clarity and intuition. Then, we let go of personal agendas and give thanks for the ability to channel God-Thought into our minds, hearts and lives.
Letting go is the key. Put down the personal ego, release the intellectual thinking mind, set down the monkey-mind (you know, the one that chatters on and on endlessly all day long…), and go within where Truth lives. This is a peaceful place, and many of us have trouble being here. It’s because we’ve been taught to struggle. But whatever we’ve learned, we have the choice and opportunity to unlearn. Whatever we’ve accepted to be true and real, we can sublimate with something better – Ultimate Truth. Meditation and prayer, done separately at different times, work together to bring us back to oneness, where isolated, personal existence is less dominant. And all I can say to that, is, “Thank God!”
Simply and beautifully, a successful treatment shifts perception and perspective.
Did you start our treatment for health with a list of issues? Possibly, and that’s ok.
Did you end with a peaceful knowing? A sense of possibility and openness? Even relief on any level? If so, then the treatment was successful for you.
A successful treatment brings our awareness and perception back to ultimate, divine reality. Now, it’s not far off and something we just read about; it’s ours and we know it in a conscious way.
Yet metaphysical treatment itself doesn’t do that “for us.” Neither does meditation or any other practice. Metaphysical practices are just tools. Each of us individually, needs to allow and cultivate our own connection to God-within.
Follow along below in the last section of the class outline. Explanations begin with *.
VII. Prayer Practice Guidelines
* You are encouraged to create a prayer practice that is a joy to you! Below are just some things to consider as a starting place.
A. Quiet yourself as much as you can
* Using meditation, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and/or focusing our attention on a calm feeling, we allow the mind to become quiet. Anyone can pray anywhere, at any time! And the more consciously we pray, the better. This is why inner quiet is encouraged.
B. Go within, directing attention to God at the center of your mind
* Phrases like:
* God-Mind at the center of my mind
* God within me
* Higher Mind at the nucleus of my mind
* Universal presence within
* Spirit at the core of my being
And more are used to direct our attention inward. Christ said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This is where we direct our attention before and during prayer – to the core of our being which is Universal, God, Spirit, Cosmic or Christ Consciousness.
C. Adopt the right attitude of prayer
* See last week for a refresher of the attitude or mental space to hold for effective prayer.
D. Pray at least 3 times daily
* Why? Isn’t that a little strict?
1. As continual treatment of your consciousness
* Prayer, like any other thought, is cumulative. The more we pray, the more our mind is being opened and expanded. And the more we live as though our prayer is answered. So we pray for instance, 3 times a day, to continually tune up our mind to the Truth.
Since prayer doesn’t take long and can be done anywhere, it doesn’t have to be a large time commitment. Prayer may take longer at the beginning, but the more we pray, the more quickly we realize–make our prayer real to us. The more quickly we “realize,” the less time prayer takes.
2. To expand this “treated” positive consciousness
* Again, this is an opening of consciousness, or personal mind. As we pray, positive thoughts, feelings and beliefs accumulate. Where? In our subconscious mind, which controls our surface, or conscious mind. So regular prayer expands both the subconscious and conscious mind, improving the root of our beliefs and our daily attitude all at once.
3. To keep consciousness open to the power of God to answer
* We’ve said before that more doubt than prayer, breeds answers that take longer. Regular prayer keeps positive, ultimate reality at the forefront of our minds and hearts. It keeps us open to and conscious of the God-Power within, and its ability and desire to answer our prayers.
4. To strengthen your faith that the prayer is answered
* Prayer feeds itself. It feeds strength, faith, intuition, knowing, and daily life. Doubt and negative feelings feed themselves too… So our choice is, which will we feed? Prayer, or negativity? Faith, or doubt? Knowing, or wobbling? More faith, through prayer, gives us more faith. When we live this faith, from an inner knowing that it is so…
5. As a tool, use with visualization of, and meditation on the prayer in completed form (demonstrated)
* then so it is! Use verbal or written prayer as a tool. Combine it with meditation and/or visualization. Be conscious of visualization, as not to limit the outcome. Ask for, “This (visual or feeling picture) or something better.” This way we don’t limit what the God-Mind can express to and through us. See the prayer already manifest, answered, formed or demonstrated. See it done; live it done. Because in God-Mind, it is already done. The sooner we intuit this, the sooner manifestation happens.
As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me!
People often tease me because I braid or twist things more easily away from me, rather than working toward me. So, when I braid ends or twist fringes, I hold the ends in my mouth. The standard comment is, “Are you eating yarn again?” And I say, “Well, fiber is good for you!” 🙂
But today I’m not eating yarn. I’m eating popcorn instead. And I admit it, popcorn tastes better than yarn!
What causes our experiences of taste? Our subconscious mind, and the patterns, beliefs and experiences stored there. I think most of us would agree that popcorn tastes better than yarn. But could someone enjoy the taste of yarn? Yes, someone could, and for myself I’ve come to look upon the bits that get into my mouth with humor. I may not be able to braid or twist moving toward myself. But hey, I can braid and I can twist, so nothing is wrong here.
But that taste? It’s so much more than just a taste. It’s a whole lot of things, rolled up into what we experience as taste. Mostly, it’s beliefs.
If the popcorn were ice cream, what might some of us think?
* Ice cream tastes good.
* It’s smooth.
* It’s cold.
* It’s creamy.
* Eating ice cream feels refreshing on a hot day.
Now watch, this is where the unproductive ones start, if they haven’t already!
* That ice cream is going right to my hips!
* It tastes good, but now I have to walk it off.
* What price do I have to pay for this little pleasure?
And now, suddenly the ice cream is bad…? Yet it felt pretty good when we focused on the fun stuff?
The taste of fiber – if you will – is like everything else. We create our own reality. In an ultimate sense, we are one with all things – the popcorn, the yarn, the ice cream. And we can choose how we experience them.
I could gripe about how I can’t hold my braiding ends on the edge of a table “like everyone else does”. I could complain about it so much that I don’t even want to braid anymore. And I could quit an activity that could have been really fun and rewarding.
Or I could laugh about how funny it is to get that little bit of extra fiber! How others will always remember my crafts because who would ever forget seeing someone with braids in their mouth?
I could eat the popcorn, or the ice cream, and reflect on good, funny things like this. Or I could let them be a catalyst for creating more negativity.
The choice is mine.
You see which I’ve chosen.
And now, as always, the choice is yours!
You may not find braiding or weaving or “creative arts” appealing. But you do eat! SO will you eat with gratitude, humor and joy? Will you allow yourself that pleasure? If you will, Universal God-Mind will respond with more goodness, fun, light-heartedness and also bring you people who radiate those qualities.
Try it! Next time you eat something you enjoy, but your pre-programmed thoughts say you shouldn’t, do this:
Bless what you will eat, with positive feelings. Eat it, enjoying the taste, the texture, the smell and any other elements you identify. If you have a negative thought, gently let it go, and find a positive one. Eventually your good ole’ subconscious will get the idea, and start supplying positive thoughts for you. Until it does, it can be gently guided, with love, expectation, peace and yes, humor!
This is week 3/6 of Affirmative Prayer: What is it and why Should I Care?
Right click this link and choose “Save target as…” or similar if you’d like to download this post in .doc format. Affirmative Prayer Week 3 Notes
We began with the following treatment, to integrate what we’ve discussed and open to new ideas.
Follow along below as we continue with section V. of the class outline. Again, further explanations begin with *.
* What is the mystical/metaphysical Christian basis for affirmative prayer practice?
A. “Your Father knoweth you have need of these things before you ask.” –Christ
* Who knows you have need before you ask? Your Father. But who, really, is your Father?
“Father” is the Mind, the Presence in Christ and in all of us. It is Cosmic Consciousness, Universal Life, Source, Creator. Christ also said, “The Father and I are one.” He didn’t just say these things because they applied to him; Christ said them on our behalf. Everything that was/is true for Christ and the Christ-Mind, is also true for us.
Christ on earth, was a manifestation of God. So are we. The difference, if there is one, is that Christ knew and acknowledged his divine connection. Many times we don’t; however, as Truth students we “remember” and bring our awareness back to that knowing.
1. So why ask?
* Why bother to pray, if the Father (within you) already knows you have need?
a. TO align your personal mind with God-Mind
* We are individualized expressions of the One-Mind. We come from oneness; at the same time, we have an individual, unique, personal mind. In prayer we align the personal mind with the Higher God-Mind within us.
We do not come from oneness, drop, and then live in a pile of subconscious goo. Thank God! We come from oneness, take the oneness with us as we manifest as human individuals, and have a choice. What is that choice? It is whether we allow the oneness to create our lives, or we let the subconscious and personal ego live our lives.
In prayer the subconscious mind, the personal ego, the personality, and conscious mind are being aligned with the God-Mind. We’re coming back into step with the oneness we came from.
So, we ask in prayer, so that the mind (human mind) is in line with Mind (God-Mind). We don’t ask in order to benefit God-Mind; the benefit is to the human mind.
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” –St. Paul
b. To match daily attitude with your prayer
* We also ask in order to match our daily attitudes with our prayers. We’ve already mentioned that praying 10 minutes daily, and doubting 23:50 is tipping the scales in the direction of what we would call “unanswered prayers”.
That’s an obvious comparison. But our daily attitudes are often much more subtle. So, besides prayer itself, how can we stay aligned (in line) with what we’ve asked?
In class we talked about timing. Generally morning and evening are great times to pray and/or meditate. One student discussed noticing her surroundings in the morning, giving thanks for what she perceives (sunshine, rain, birds, other sounds), and asking that God/Spirit “keep me ever mindful of your presence in my day.”
Personally, I find night time is easier for me. So before I sleep, I meditate, then pray. I find that if I haven’t done that, my night sleep and the next day just feel off somehow.
The important thing is to continue in a positive direction.. That is, when you realize you feel off, just say a prayer or do what works for you. This, as opposed to beating yourself up for forgetting morning meditation AGAIN! Always intend to be in the flow, going downstream, not resisting. In this way your daily attitudes are more flexible, more positive, and more easily directed by the Universal Mind within you.
In this alignment, we’re focusing more on the spirit of alignment rather than the letter. For instance, if you pray for health, you’re not just aligning your daily attitude with a healthy body. That would be limiting. You’re aligning yourself with health in all things – your body, mind, spirit, finances, relationships and every aspect of your life.
And more than that, we’re aligned with the spirit of oneness. That’s where our prayers and meditations come from. So the more we align with it, the more our lives will reflect that.
What is that reflection? It can be many things, including physical things. It can also be, and first often is, a knowing, a good mental feeling, a sense of joy or peace. Detach yourself from purely physical manifestations as answers to prayer. Every spiritual and mental step toward oneness, is as celebrated as a new home, a fulfilling relationship, money received, etc. As we said last week, nothing is bigger (or better) than anything else. We know this intuitively when our daily attitude comes from a divine Mindset.
c. To more easily allow your good to manifest
* For good to manifest in physical form, it must already exist in our minds. Beyond that, it does already exist in God-Mind. However, if we don’t believe it personally, we won’t see it manifest. Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing.
Also, before good is a physical form we can point to and say, “This is good,” it is a mental form. It exists first on a spiritual level in the God-Mind. Then, we sense it, not knowing how or why or when it will come to us, but also not caring. It’s a knowing, an intuitive sense of calm that it’s already done, formed, answered, manifest.
Maybe we also hold a mental picture of it, though we need to be mindful of that picture. Are we limiting God, telling Universal Life exactly what we want to see? Or it a general picture of happiness? I call these feeling pictures. Though I have no physical sight, I still visualize in my mind. I find it far more effective, though, to feel the picture. Not so much, “What do I have and what does it look like?” but, “How do I feel with this goal manifest?”
Then, when you already know, believe, feel and live as if that good is yours, it quietly slips into physical form. But that won’t happen easily, unless we ask.
We talked a lot about physical manifestation in class. Some parts of metaphysics have become mainstream. I.e. Law of Attraction, scientific prayer formulas, The Secret, As a Man Thinketh, etc. However, in many ways they miss the key point of metaphysics – meta – and focus on the physical things. Those looking for a quick fix often begin some form of (meta)physical study, but they want the material benefits first.
There is nothing wrong with having material things! But if we are committed metaphysical students, we know that good does not only manifest as physical things. There are ideas, creativity, mental clarity, intuitive senses, laughter, peace, and all manner of good things! Wonderful things I think we all want, but things that are not physical forms.
Some people come briefly to metaphysics, not wanting to let go of the urgency of physical needs. They miss the spiritual foundation, where you truly know “Your Father knoweth you have need of these things before you ask.” They still feel pressured to have what they lack.
I truly feel for people in this situation. But at the same time, I can’t hand them the metaphysical experience all wrapped in a nice package. It must be their own, as it must be your own.
I focus on the “meta” meaning “beyond” physical. Because only when we go beyond the physical appearance, can we be truly free, secure, and loved. And in the end, that’s what we all want. Many of us are just still wrapped up in how real appearances seem to be.
Lasting love, lasting security, does not come from material things, no matter what anyone says. We also talked about addictions of all kinds. People choose these things to fill a void. But it never works. We need the spiritual basis of metaphysics to be our security and our love. When we realize this for ourselves individually, addictions will be a thing of the past.
So what does this have to do with good manifesting in our lives? Plenty! 🙂 We need to realize (make it real) for ourselves, before we can physically see it. And if we are so attached to the acquiring of material things, we need to ask, “Where does my security come from? What is my lasting security?” When that becomes clear and real, we ask, and act, from a divine place. And then, good does easily come into our lives, even as material things.
Along with manifesting material things, we talked about giving material things away. I encourage detachment, allowing yourself to be guided as you give things away. Sometimes you think you know where you want the things to go, or who you would want to have them.
However, the God-Mind does not short-change anyone! The Universe won’t sell anyone, or anything short! So when we pray, we ask for “(this) or something better.” Because the God within knows, and when we cultivate the mindfulness of allowing, we can carry out what is best. When we do, we know that it is best for all involved – for us, who give the things away, for the person receiving them, and for the things themselves. This stretches farther than we can imagine; this is why we ask for the highest good to be done.
d. To shorten the “required” time interval between prayer and its manifestation/demonstration
* Often, prayers “take long” to be answered, because of our own use of thought time.
What do many of us spend the most time doing? Worrying, being afraid, feeling like we lack something, wondering whether we’re good enough… We’ve said before that this is a waste of valuable thought time.
By worrying and so on, we create our own time intervals between our prayers, and their answers, manifestations, or demonstrations.
Allowing, on the other hand, creates the openness for answers to come through us. It’s been said, “God can only do for you what He can do through you.” This is a powerful metaphysical Truth.
So, is there a “required” time interval between a prayer and its answer? Only if we let it be so!
Answers seem to take longest when we’re struggling against something. So the key is to release the struggle. We can do this through prayer itself, or I like a combination of meditation, prayer, and visualization. Whatever removes your focus from struggle, is a tool for you. Use your tools and focus on the good. Remember, “Time flies when you’re having fun!”
B. “It is your Father’s pleasure to give you these things.” –Christ
* We said the Father is the God-Presence and Mind within each of us. It’s also Mother, Spirit, Love, peace, joy, oneness, Source, Life, Cosmic Consciousness, Universe, and more. Whatever source of goodness you relate to, that is the Father. And Its pleasure is to give you all you need.
We don’t need to suffer. We don’t need to struggle through life. We can have an abundant life, a good life, one that feels peaceful, fun and joyful. Why is that? Because it is Life’s pleasure to give us everything.
This concept is repeated throughout Christian metaphysics. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.”
These are all saying the same thing. The Father, or Kingdom of God, is already there. Where? Within you! And you ask, so that you receive all you need.
C. “All of you are equal unto me.” –Christ
* The things mentioned above come from Jesus. He repeated them in different forms throughout his teachings. They applied to him; they were true for him and he knew and acknowledged that.
What was true for Christ, is true for us! That is why he says, “All of you are equal unto me.” Christ is not better than the ordinary praying individual (You or I). We are all equal.
The Father (God Consciousness) took care of Christ. And it takes care of us, from within us, as it did from within Christ himself.
Christ didn’t have anything better than we do. He had no more, and no less, access to God-Power than we have right now. Christ simply chose to live in the awareness of that Power, and to use it for the highest good. We can make the same choice. To God, there’s no difference between Christ and You.
D. “Greater things than these, you shall do.” –Christ
* It’s said that Christ walked on water. If you truly believe you can do that, and you want to do that, you can! The power that Christ used when he walked on water is the same God-Power you activate with every desire of your heart.
In class I said I don’t care about walking on water. It’s not something I personally want to do. So it doesn’t mean anything to me. But I go beyond that. I see “greater things than these” meaning “greater things than you think.” So, “Even greater things than you think, you shall do.”
I use “think” here to mean intellectual thinking. I described wanting to weave tapestries. But tapestries are woven pictures, and I can’t see. So how could I weave a tapestry?
I released the limitations my intellect put on me, and decided, no matter how I physically accomplished it, that I was going to weave a tapestry.
For several days before starting to weave, I meditated to open myself to the belief that I could, indeed, do this. And I’ve woven several small tapestries. I still can’t physically see them. But I know what they look like because I was part of the creation process.
What are the “greater things than you think” that you want to do? What do you truly dream of and desire, that maybe your intellect says you can’t do?
These things, you can do, because the Christ Consciousness within you has the power and resources already. All you need to do is be open and allow them to flow through you.
TO be open, we give up all sense of personal ego identity. When I wove these tapestries, I let go of everything I thought I knew about weaving. Everything I’d been taught, or thought, or read, I released. It was a feeling of being guided by something. And that’s truly what it was – the God-Power within guiding my heart and hands to fulfill that desire. The manifestation, or answer to that prayer, was the physical tapestry, and more than that, the realization that I could create it.
Had my ego been a part of it, the weaving would have been a struggle, instead of the fluid, peaceful process it was. And I’m sure the tapestries would have been less beautiful as well. 🙂
“Let the mind be in you that was in Christ.” –St. Paul
One student started an interesting discussion about whether Christ was taught to perform miracles. I don’t have an opinion on that; it’s not important to me whether he went to schools as a child, studied mysteries, etc. But some students were interested in that.
So we talked about some of the mystical schools Christ may have attended, religions and philosophies he might have studied, and what he might have learned. Possibilities mentioned were Buddhism, meditation, a school called The Right Eye of Horace, Egyptian and Tibetan mysteries…
Someone asked, “If Christ was the manifestation of God on earth, why would he have to be taught anything?”
A revelation for me that could have only come from within, was that we can only be taught what we are open to learn. And even if we attend schools, classes, retreats, etc, the teachings are only a vehicle. Through them, we remember what we already know in Divine Mind. It’s not the schools or other people that teach us anything. They are vehicles for the answers and knowledge that really come from within ourselves.
Maybe Christ did attend various retreats, mystery schools or other things as a young person. But if he did, it was just the fruition of what he already knew.
Someone else asked if negativity is necessary for God. Is it a “must” that we experience negativity?
No, God doesn’t require negativity. Suffering, fearful feelings and so on, are not “allowed” by God.
However, what we call negativity, can also be called contrast. Contrast is necessary on a human level, because without it, there can be no creation.
If you experience contrast, and you don’t like it, then you’ve established what you don’t want.
Obviously that means there’s also something you do want. So we use that seeming duality to create what we want in our lives.
What is truly not necessary, is that we call things negative. We can change what we call them, and we can change our reactions to them. That’s beyond the scope of this specific class; but the answer is, negativity is not necessary to God, and when we experience it, we can use it to our advantage, rather than playing victim and letting it control us.
E. “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” Job 22:28
* Picture this – a prayer treatment:
You turn inward. Here, you are aligned with Universal Mind. The Presence that lives and moves and breathes all things, is the same Presence within you. You know and acknowledge this Presence as your Life, the Source of all you have, and the Creative process itself.
In this oneness with the Higher God-Mind, you feel your attitudes and feelings aligning now. You realize that your thoughts are God’s thoughts; Your words are God’s words.
In this realization, you decree a thing. You declare in prayer, what you desire. You know that the God-Mind within you, knows you have need of this. You accept its manifestation in your life.
See the Light of the Universe shining within you. And see it shining on your path, and on what you just declared.
You give thanks for this realization. You now release it and allow it to be so.
And as you let it be so, so it is!
In the U.s. today, many communities have Earth Day celebrations. They focus on living in harmony with nature, cooperation, environmental responsibility, and the general idea that we are one with this planet. Which means, whether we like it or not, we’re also one with all the others, including people!, who live here too!
So I ask you: If this is true, how can we also push for self-sufficiency and independence?
Answer? We can’t! There is no such thing as self-sufficiency as we understand it. And there is no such thing as independence.
Even if you are self-sufficient, growing your own food, raising your own animals, spinning yarn, dying it, and weaving it into cloth… Even if you live in an intentional community, even if you’re a monk in a spiritual community. You are not self-sufficient.
No matter how much you appear to do for yourself, something else is always living out its purpose. And that helps you live out your own.
Spiritual communities like convents, monasteries, and ashrams exist because there are also “other worlds”. That is, some people realize that what exists doesn’t serve them, so they create other structures and communities. However, if they hadn’t experienced the contrast of the secular world, their outward, spiritually-oriented society would not exist. It wouldn’t need to. Without contrast, the desire for such a world wouldn’t have been born.
Yet, as cloistered as some communities are, and as isolated as many more people are within themselves, there is still no such thing as independence!
Everyone is interdependent. On a physical level, you have a house because you own it. You either have or had a mortgage, and the only reason you had that is because of the bank that “gave” it to you.
Or, you have a rented house. It’s yours to live in because you pay someone rent. Or you live with someone else. In any case, if you have a house, it’s your house. Yet yours is not the only ego involved here! Someone built your house. Had it not been for the builders, there would be no house.
Whatever exists in your life, comes from somewhere. That “somewhere” is God, Spirit, Source, The Universe, Life itself. In its infinite wisdom and joy, this Energy sees fit to use circumstances, other people, thoughts, feelings, and tangible and intangible things, to manifest your desire.
So whatever you have, is from, and because of, God. That’s why in metaphysics we sometimes call God “First Cause.” Our own thoughts are cause too. They create things with the same creation process as God does. But even behind our thoughts, is the First Cause, the ultimate reality, that is God.
So, the “bad” news is, no matter how self-sufficient you think you are, you will never, ever get there!
And the good news is, no matter how alone you feel, you are never, ever alone!
Source is with you always. God is there, even if you deny it. And no matter what you experience in life, you are never independent. There is always someone, or something working to fulfill your desires. It may be unconscious work on their part, and yours! But it’s God’s universal work–work meaning action. Through the universal, good action of God-Mind, your desires are fulfilled.
The means of fulfillment, the “how”, often comes through other people, events, circumstances, a piece of paper here or there, or a process of some kind.
So you cannot be independent or self-sufficient on this beautiful Earth Day, or on any day!
But what you can be, is gratefully interdependent on your Source, God-Power, and all the other creations (children of God-Light) who live here!
Embrace wholeness as your true nature. Embrace your connection to Earth and all things. Honor your connection to other beings, not just Earth, on this day we set aside to celebrate the divine harmony and order of God-Nature itself.
Companion song to The Heart of the Matter. I’m thankful for expressions of Truth, in all their forms that come through me!
Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele
S: = spoken
Refrain:
You have a heart, don’t you?
Just look inside, won’t you?
And let yourself see the truth.
Is there a dark shadow,
Or a cave, a grotto?
If you want to, you can choose something new!
S: And why would I want to do that?
1. Because the image that you hold
Is what will unfold in your life.
And any error in heart –
It pulls you apart,
Leaving strife when life could be nice!
Refrain:
S: But what could I choose?
2. The greatest image of you –
The Spirit of Truth, is divine.
But mental thinking alone
Can’t bring you back home –
That’s inside, don’t hide, ’cause it’s yours and theirs and mine!
‘Cause
Refrain:
S: And how do I choose it?
3. This metaphysical stuff –
It isn’t a bluff or a dare.
While living this life you know,
You can make it your own
And be aware, you care, living “God is everywhere”:
That means in you!
‘Cause
Refrain:
If you want to, you can choose something new!
Not just a paraphrase from Shakespeare, but something I think we all need to hear now and then. 🙂
You know that feeling, when you’re *this* close to something, but it’s not here yet, or you don’t have it, can’t touch it, and yet you feel like you can taste it?
It’s a lot like that feeling of discontent I talked about before. Again I use the analogy of the pearl. It’s bugging you! You’re saying, “Get it out! Make it go away!” And at the same time, “All right already! Let me see it!” You want the thing in your hands, in your life, right now thankyouverymuch. Can you tell I know the feeling? 😮
So what do you do? I mean, what do you do, if you’re tired of it bugging you and you want something else? You do want to feel better rather than worse, right? Because if you’re happy feeling bad, stop reading now because we’re not on the same page.
What to do, to feel better and flow with the river already bringing your demonstration to you? How to work with it rather than against it? That is the question… Or 2 questions.
And I say, visualize your goal already done. Of course, you’ve already done that at some point, or you wouldn’t have gotten this far! But this is a journey, and journeys have steps. And now, it’s more important than ever to see the thing completed.
Why? Because the alternative, which you may be feeling now, is frustration, impatience, being all fed up with the blasted goal, and what possessed me to want this in the first place? That’s also the reason some people say, or people unfortunately say about others, they never finish anything. That can’t possibly be true! But we say it, and worse, we believe it. When really, all that’s happening is that we lost focus of the thing already done.
Which do you want? You want to see the goal accomplished. You know you do. So that’s where you need to shift. Do what you did when it was just a dream, because it’s still just a dream, and when it’s done and you can see it, guess what! It will still be just a dream!
So be happy about it now. Imagine it done. See it. Feel it. Smell it if it has a smell–which it does, even if you can’t conjure it up. Imagine what you do now, with this accomplished. Now live your life that way, today.
Yes, I’m saying, visualize the goal. But it’s much more than that. Live like you have it. But there’s still more. Know in your heart, in your gut, that it’s yours. Because the Spirit that gave you the desire is the same Spirit that makes it tangible in your life. For you and for itself.
“Whatever you do for the least of these, you do also for me.” ~Jesus Christ
This means, whatever good you do in seeing the Truth of any situation or any goal accomplished, you’re doing it for Christ, for that Spirit within you that wants only to manifest itself more and more! And you, co-creator that you are, are the vehicle that brings forth your unique life.
So do it for you and do it for God/Spirit. Live your life, now! Don’t wait for a better time, “because everything will be great when I have ____.” Why can’t life be great now? It can, and it is, if you allow it to be.
What is your reality? The frustration and lack that comes from the personal ego? Or the Truth and abundance of the Christ-Mind? St. Paul said, “Let the mind be in you that was in Christ.” The key word is “let”. Let it be so, this day, for this goal, and any day, for everything. And so it is!
The week of May 5-12, 2013 is Unity of Reading’s second annual Purposeful Acts of Kindness Week.
Each day at least one kind act will be done on behalf of our Unity center as a whole. In addition, and more importantly for each individual, we encourage everyone to take this into their own hearts and hands! What can you do to spread simple kindness in your community?
This post by William Kelly really sums up these random acts nicely. It doesn’t have to cost you money, or much time. The only requirement as it were, is that the act is heart-felt. I would add spontaneous – it’s fine to have a list of things you’d like to do, but many times what truly will help someone feel blessed is not something you pre-plan!
During your daily meditation period (You do have one, right? 🙂 ) ask for openness. Ask for guidance toward the special, unique kindness that God/Spirit wants to express through you.
You could easily make a list of kind things, without meditation. But the answers you get in meditation will be so in line with your soul, happiness and purpose for being right here, right now… that they will make your heart soar! And how much more will people appreciate them, and pass on the kindness, when it is given from your heart and spirit?
Unity has a list of things it wants to share. Putting quarters in parking meters. Giving out soup. Creating a kind of survival kit as a reminder of who we truly are as spiritual beings. And other things.
You can tell I’m not too excited about any of these! The one that got me feeling all fuzzy inside is the letter-writing. People so often feel under-appreciated, or not appreciated at all. I’ve felt that way myself at times, and it’s just about as bad as it gets. So, I’m helping to write letters to companies and individuals who contribute to Unity in some way. My favorite is the piano tuner – I marvel every Sunday when I play how wonderful our piano sounds, and it’s over 100 years old!
Think about it. How many services do you receive? If you’re going, “Uh, what services?” start with the bills you pay. Obviously you’re paying for something, whether you think it’s worth it or not… 😀
How impressed would you be, say, as an employee of your electric company, if you were the one to open a letter of appreciation? How profound would that be to you, and to the company? And what would you do? You’d go home and tell everyone! You’d give your partner or kids an extra hug! Heck, you might even let someone cut you off in traffic!
So, if letter-writing, or phone-calling is your thing, you have a starting place. Now take this ball and run with it! Make it your ball, your pet, your heart-felt expression. Because there is something you can do! In fact, there is something that ONLY you can do! Someone may not feel blessed by my brand of letter. But maybe yours is just what they need!
All you gotta do, is do what you gotta do!
P.S. Remember the children! They’re often much better at this than we grown-ups! Even the really little ones… Ask them what they would do to be kind? And let them do their own random acts among their community of family and friends.
Kids already know how to be kind… It’s time we truly encouraged their openness to possibility, love, peace and happiness!
Mystical Strings 
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