This is week 5/6 of Affirmative Prayer: What is it and why Should I Care? (Click to review previous weeks.)

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We began with some metaphysical prayer treatment. Talk is cheap as the saying goes; so I wanted everyone to participate in the treatment experience.

Treatment for Health

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!

What is God’s Body

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.

Treatment for Financial Well-being

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!

The Treatment Experience

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.

Where does prayer/treatment come from, and what should I pray for?

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!”

What is a Successful Treatment?

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.

Class Outline

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!

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

Meditational Prayer Treatment

We began with the following treatment, to integrate what we’ve discussed and open to new ideas.

Download treatment mp3

Follow along below as we continue with section V. of the class outline. Again, further explanations begin with *.

V. Truths Underlying Affirmative Prayer

* 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!