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.
Prayer, meditation, reading, journaling, listening to music… These and many other practices can be tools for self-discovery. However we spend our time should be fulfilling, fun, joyous and beneficial. And spiritual practice is ideally rewarding.
The idea here is to choose tools that resonate with you. Journaling, for instance, is a valuable practice for many people. However, taking up journaling just because it’s “recommended” may not be rewarding for you. Whatever tools you choose to deepen your spiritual practice must be beneficial to you.
If you currently have a journaling practice, is it working for you? Do you feel that it connects you to God at the center of your mind? If not, perhaps explore new journaling tools and techniques. Or try a different tool, like listening to music, another form of meditation, or prayer.
The purpose of true metaphysics is to connect with the God-within, and use that power in your life. Any practices you engage in regularly should meet this goal.
The question is, how do you discover the tools that work for you? The answer is so obvious that many of us (and I do mean US!) overlook it. The way to fulfilling, deep and beneficial spiritual practice is to ask for guidance. Maybe you feel you don’t pray, meditate or write well. But that’s ok! All you need to do is quiet your mind and ask with a clear intention, “I ask for guidance from the God-Mind within myself, toward the physical and spiritual tools that deepen my awareness of the Presence.” This simple affirmation will open your conscious mind to God-Mind, and truly, this is all we ever need to do.
May the God within you bless you, fulfill you, and bring you tools that are fun, joyful and rewarding for the enrichment of your life!
Christina Katz, The Prosperous Writer is one of my favorite inspirational authors. She writes for writers, particularly mom-writers. I have a child as some of you know, but Christina’s work goes far beyond offering practical writing advice to moms – although she does that too! What really draws me to her, is her joyful, prosperous spirit and consciousness.
I don’t know Christina personally and have no idea where she stands on religion and/or spirituality. And it doesn’t matter! What matters is that she applauds self-expression. Though she teaches writing courses, her approach is not a cookie cutter one where every author’s work comes out seeming the same. She encourages people to follow their own voice, heart, style and platform. I really enjoy Christina’s work and wish her continued prosperity, peace and joy!
I mention Christina now because she asked herself 3 questions in her Writer Mama Every Day in May Book Giveaway post. I loved these questions; they truly spoke to my heart so much that I want to answer them for myself.
So here they are…
1. Is self-expression an important part of your life today, why or why not?
Self-expression is a very important part of my life. In fact, it is my life.
“My life” to me, means what I, as a unique individual, am here to bring forth. Why am I a manifestation of God/Spirit now? Why me, in this particular body, with this mind, and these things I love? What am I as Spirit, here to express as this person?
Throughout my pre-training as I call it, ministerial training, music and more, I’ve come to realize that Self-expression is just that – Highest Self expressing in the world. That is my frame of reference, and I’m grateful for it!
Prior to that, I thought life was just, what can I do? But it’s not about what I, or anyone else, DOES. It’s about what I AM, and what YOU ARE. Because when we fully express that, the doing falls into place and is authentic, without us even thinking about it. That is Self-expression, and it’s important enough to put me right here, right now.
2. What does self-expression mean to you and how do you do it in the world?
Self-expression is Spirit expressing through and as me. I do it through contacting the God-Presence within myself, that is my True Self. Without this contact, it would simply be self-expression, with a lower case s, expression of personality and personal ego. There’s nothing wrong with personality, and having one! We all have one; I think it’s Spirit’s way of expanding itself and making the world colorful and beautiful! But when all we express is personality, we sell ourselves, God and the world short.
By making and maintaining contact with God-Within, we can Self-express. To me, this is always much deeper, more joyful and more fun than expressing a personality. It’s better than black and white vs. color TV. And you thought that was good!
So how do I self-express in the world? I contact the God-Presence, connect myself consciously to it, and express how it leads. Right now these means are writing, music, weaving, teaching, speaking and ministry in all sorts of ways! But I’m open to change! I’m conscious to stay open, not to be in a specialization rut, where “this” is “all I can do.” Instead, I affirm that all channels are open to me for Highest Self-expression. I allow Spirit to express through me into the world.
3. How does your self-expression impact the world—your family, your friends, your readers, and everyone else?
On this, I can only recall what I’ve heard others say. But I also know that nothing can exist in a vacuum. Let me explain…
I’ve heard people say that I’m easy to talk to. I’m glad.
People attend and benefit from my classes. Good, that’s why I offer them.
People read and enjoy my writing. Awesome, I do too. 🙂
And that, my friends, is the whole thing. I self-soothe with my self-expression. I soothe and re-align my personal ego to the God-Mind, using my own work. For instance, I keep many of my songs on my mp3 player. When I feel less than positive, I listen to them, or sing them, to remind myself that I’ve felt good before, and I can again.
How does this impact the world? Well, like The Butterfly Effect and You, one person’s alignment with Highest Good can and does have far-reaching effects! And thank God for that! My self-expression gives hope, encouragement, inspiration and spiritual law, so that others can contact and experience God-Within for themselves.
Thank you, Christina, for this reminder of what self-expression means to me and how important it truly is!
Try this. Go around looking for it, “Where is it? Where is it?” And you will find it, whatever it is. Remember too, that things do not happen to you – they happen through you, by the grace and power of God within you.
So look for the “miracle,” knowing as you do, that you are part of it. A drop of water on the sand is still part of the ocean. A grain of sand is a valued part of the beach. Each leaf, flower and fruit is just as important as the tree itself.
And you are a valued asset to your family, friends, community, the outer manifest Universe, and above all – the God-Mind that is the Source and Substance of all things!
Everything you say, do, think, feel, and believe contributes to the “rest of the world”. You’ve heard of the Butterfly Effect? Where a butterfly’s wings affect life on the other side of the world… Amazing, isn’t it?
But that’s not only true for our butterfly friends! It applies just as much to every person in existence now. Because we have the ability to think and to allow our thoughts and feelings to affect us, we also choose how they affect us. Our response, in turn, affects everything around us.
Will something good happen through you today? Yes, if you allow it! Choose positivity over negativity, not just in your thoughts, words and actions, but on a deeper level, for that is where it matters most and promotes lasting change.
This is not work! It’s pure joy and peace, found in contacting the God-Presence within you. Conjure up for yourself a feeling of oneness. Unconditional love, acceptance, and oneness with all things. Maybe start with the butterfly and feel yourself at one with it. This unity is the God-Presence. Then, meditate on – relax with, contemplate, be still with – this feeling, and when you’ve finished, take it back with you into your daily activities. It will color your thoughts and activities with a brightness and unity that can be yours any time, and all the time.
Enjoy this day and this eternal moment – because eternity is yours, right now!
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.
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.
* 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!
Follow along as we cover section VI. of the class outline. Explanations begin with * .
VI. Right Attitude for Affirmative Prayer
* What is the attitude, or mental atmosphere, that makes metaphysical prayer treatment effective?
A. Positive – State prayer with positive words and feelings
* When we pray in words, we use positive ones. Affirmations, present-tense statements that declare the prayer in a positive manner. That’s why it’s called affirmative prayer.
But, before we can say and mean positive words, we must feel them to be true for us. Consciously or not, the feeling always comes first. It may be a subtle feeling, but it still comes before physical manifestation in words.
When we consciously allow the feeling to create the words we use in prayer, our prayers become much more authentic, aligned with our Higher Self, and effective.
Often when we speak in daily life, we say what we’re expected to say, what we “should” say, and the kicker – we say what we really believe is true about ourselves.
For instance, you grab a second piece of cake and say, “I know I shouldn’t eat this.” And yet you eat it. So, the question is not, why am I eating this cake? It is, why did I say I shouldn’t eat this cake? Well, probably because others’ personal ego opinion of you is that you shouldn’t; you know that and respond accordingly. But deep down, do you believe that, too? The answer is often, yes, you believe you shouldn’t have the cake. That belief is what makes you say you shouldn’t have it.
Now you understand why adopting a positive attitude from the inside out, rather than through empty or habitual words, is the most authentic, effective, and real way to pray.
Feel first. Then speak, in prayer and in life. Feel the Truth, and speak from it.
B. Acknowledgment – God can, will or has – it’s already yours in the Mind of God
* God is infinite. Universal Consciousness is Life itself. You can’t ask for anything that isn’t already yours!
Think about that. The Universe is within you. That’s why the Bible says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” That Kingdom is the entire Universe. So, in this Universal God-Mind, what you’re asking for, already belongs to you, right now.
You may not see it yet; but as we said, believing is seeing and not the other way around. Ultimately, in a spiritual, universal sense, you own and have unlimited access to everything you desire!
“Reality” is no more real when you see it, than it was as a picture in your mind. That is, nothing is more real than anything else; the sports car you visualize is no more real when you drive it, than it was in your visualization.
However, if it does not seem real in your mind first, it will never be a physical manifestation. That’s what makes fear so powerful – the fact that it seems so real. How much more quickly could our prayers be made manifest if we let goodness seem that real to us?
C. Realized – feel that what you want is real and true for you now, adding details to strengthen mental picture and belief
* Taking this further, this reality is Ultimate, not just a mental picture or visualization. We can actually live in that reality now; and we must in order for it to manifest.
I often create what I call a feeling picture for myself. How do I feel in that reality? How do I feel within myself? Happy? Peaceful? Free? Financially prosperous? Creative? Blessed? And what do those things mean to me – i.e. how does that feel? My feeling experience won’t be the same as yours; you will have the joy of creating your own.
If I want to live on a farm, how does that feel? What do I do? What do I smell? What activities are my responsibility now that I live there? I see, hear and touch the animals. I bake bread, and make that a real experience to me. That’s helpful because I’ve baked bread before.
But what I’m doing, and what you’re doing with any visualization or meditation you choose, is bringing your personal conscious awareness into that reality. You’re moving, so to speak. You’re moving from one “house” (reality) to a new environment. The more real that new environment seems to you, the less you’ll struggle to get there.
Focus less on the visualization of specifics, because that could be limiting. Go more for the sense of well-being in this new place, situation, relationship, state of health, etc. The picture will fill in itself; the God-Mind will never short-change anyone – as long as you allow yourself to receive its best.
The key is to live that feeling now; not to wait for the manifestation. Not to say, “I’ll be happy when ___.” Be happy now and the ___ will fill in, usually better than you imagined!
D. Thankful – your prayer is already so and is becoming physical reality
* Even as you ask, your prayer is taking psychic form. Really think about that, not intellectually, but feel it to be true. Is that powerful or what?
Now, before getting specific about your desire, give thanks! Because as we’ve said, in Spirit it’s already done.
Before you form a prayer into words, already the Universe is moving to fulfill your desire. We cannot, and do not live in a vacuum. God gave you a desire. If, when you meditate or pray, you release personal attachment (This is how it must look…), then that desire will be fulfilled. The more positiveness you feel around it, the faster it will appear.
Yet long before that, like a seed in the ground, it exists in full. You don’t plant an acorn and return to the store to get a pear seed, because didn’t you know an oak tree can’t grow from an acorn, it needs a pear seed too? You don’t see the full-grown, majestic oak in that acorn. You don’t see a fully grown adult human in a baby. But it exists, and in time, we see it fully formed.
We don’t even think about those things. So if we let our prayers be fertilized with thanks, that they already are fully answered, that is allowing the Power of God to work in our lives.
Be thanks-giving before you see “something to be thankful for.” Be thanks. Make it your attitude, and you’ll have an overabundance of things to be thankful for!
E. Faithful, allowing it to be so – “seal” with “And so it is”
* Be faith-filled. Know within yourself that God is working for and through you. Cultivate a sense of thanks and faith. Give thanks from the faith that your prayer is heard, and what the Universe hears, it must answer!
Repeated prayers are not wrong. They are continual positive treatment of consciousness. So if you choose to repeat a prayer, do it with the faith that it is already so – you’re just repeating it for the benefit and focus of your personal mind.
This is why in metaphysics we say, “And so it is!” sealing our prayer with faith and letting it go, as it already is so.
5-finger Activity
1. Trace your hand on a piece of paper and cut it out.
2. Writing one on each finger, make yourself a reminder of the right attitude for affirmative prayer:
* Positive
* Acknowledge
* Realized (or real now)
* Thanks
* Seal of faith
P*A*R*T*S.
3. Decorate the hand as you see fit. 🙂 Carry it with you or hang it on your refrigerator or computer monitor where it will be a positive reminder.
As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me!
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.
Follow along below as we continue with IV. of the class outline. Again, further explanations begin with *.
IV. God: Traditional vs. Metaphysical
A. Traditional God
* How does traditional Western Christianity perceive God?
1. Is to be feared
* Which came first – the chicken or the egg?
Which came first – the fear of God or the contradiction between love and fear?
We don’t know and it doesn’t matter. However, there is often a contradiction between a loving God and one that should be feared.
My question to the class was: How can you love something you fear? How can you fear something you love?
To me, you can’t! You either feel love, or you feel fear. Love is the abundance of good, and fear is the lack thereof. So, can you both love and fear God? Metaphysics says no.
Can you respect God? Be in awe of God? etc? Yes. But where there is fear, there is always lack.
It’s this fear-lack that is stressed in traditional prayer. People fear God because He is powerful, mighty, all-seeing, all-knowing, and things we’ll get to – angry, jealous, and so on. It’s as if people don’t know what God will do with His power – sound like a human construct to you? Will God “like” me? If He does I can love Him. If I don’t know what He’ll do, or He hates me, I must fear Him.
I believe the only thing we ever fear, is the unknown. Traditionally we hear, “Only God knows…” As in, “You have no power over your life.” That doesn’t feel good.
But, we can hear the same thing in Metaphysics, and look at it differently.
“Only God knows…” But God is within you, so you can know too!
So, is God something or someone to be feared? You choose!
2. Vengeful
* God gets revenge. This is Old Testament stuff here, but it’s still so engrained in our society! If we don’t act as God wants, He will judge us or even cast us out entirely.
Also, if we mess with God’s people, we will be plagued by something. Whether locusts, boils or “just” fear and guilt, we will surely be plagued, until we do what God wants.
Do our parent-child relationships look like this today? We don’t want to admit it, but they do…
Imagine this: Parent takes child to church. Child misbehaves, runs around, talks during prayer or meditation, so parent takes something away. Or yells, or says, “If you don’t behave, I won’t…” or “You won’t…” Classic do what I want or I’ll plague (fear or guilt) you into it. Why? Because I am vengeful and my love is conditional.
Never has history repeated itself the way it does in our homes. And if this is so obvious, even just to some of us, how much more do we repeat this to ourselves, in our own minds, hearts and souls?
Do you want to be in a relationship with a God who gets revenge? Even if He’s on your side now, He may not always be. So then, who will get His wrath? That’s right – you will!
Even in the expressions we use, there is a vengeful God. Someone mentioned having good weather for instance, and hearing, “Well we’re gonna pay for that!” As if we can’t have more “good” than “Bad”. How sad!
And there’s always, “Bad things come in 3’s.” Because the traditionalists know, there’s a limit to how much of God’s good we can receive!
3. Angry
* When I was a child and learned that God is angry, I didn’t want to pray anymore. Yet I also heard that God is love, and that love does not anger. So I didn’t know what to believe, and still didn’t want to pray.
It’s no wonder the traditional God seems so far away, or that we feel so undeserving in many religions! It starts early – with our very idea of what God is.
4. Jealous
* It seems that in traditional religion, we remember the words and the feelings we attached to them. But we don’t remember, or even know, the meaning behind them. I read up a little on God’s jealousy, and what I found surprised me. When translated the word jealous means zealous. So that God’s jealousy, means He wants to protect something dear to Him.
In this way God’s jealousy seems less overbearing. But at first hearing, who would want to have a relationship with a jealous God?
Here and otherwise traditional Western Christianity wraps itself up in the letter of the Word, rather than the Spirit. I know I experienced this as a child, and clearly I’m still coming to terms with some of it.
If I, as an ever-unfolding metaphysical student, am still acknowledging and addressing these deep issues from childhood, how many more of us are too? How many of us wish we could leave the trap of tradition and know, in an intuitive sense, something better? All we know is that we don’t like jealousy in people, and we don’t like it, the way we understand it, in God either. Knowing what we don’t want is a good place to start, as long as through the God-Power within, we realize what we do want!
5. Gives to “the chosen ones”
* You have to be special for God to give to you. Good enough, deserving enough, worthy enough, prayerful enough, religious enough. You must be chosen by God, then you’ll receive “the keys to the Kingdom.” But not without a lot of hard work, prayer and supplication – mind you!
But traditionally, are we ever good enough for God? Many religions still say no. You know – original sin, all have sinned, the heart is deceitful – need I go on? So many messages in Christianity still stress that we are unworthy and always will be.
So why bother trying?
6. Allows bad things to happen
* Plus, if “only God knows,” then only God controls things. And things are not always good. So God allows bad things to happen? But why? No one ever had a satisfactory answer to that one.
B. Metaphysical God
* In contrast, how do we view these aspects of God in metaphysics? Well, first of all we leave behind all confusion and start with a clean slate! Thank God!
1. Universal
* “I think the most important question facing humanity is, ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves.
“For if we decide that the universe is an unfriendly place, then we will use our technology, our scientific discoveries and our natural resources to achieve safety and power by creating bigger walls to keep out the unfriendliness and bigger weapons to destroy all that which is unfriendly and I believe that we are getting to a place where technology is powerful enough that we may either completely isolate or destroy ourselves as well in this process.
“If we decide that the universe is neither friendly nor unfriendly and that God is essentially ‘playing dice with the universe’, then we are simply victims to the random toss of the dice and our lives have no real purpose or meaning.
“But if we decide that the universe is a friendly place, then we will use our technology, our scientific discoveries and our natural resources to create tools and models for understanding that universe. Because power and safety will come through understanding its workings and its motives.”
“God does not play dice with the universe,”
–Albert Einstein
God is universal. In fact, God is the Universe itself. God is everywhere – and you thought your cell phone plan was that good!? 😀
Ask yourself, as Einstein does, if the Universe is friendly. Then, ask yourself if God is friendly. If you get a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’, ask for clarity and guidance. In order to pray effectively in metaphysics, we need to accept the basic premise that God is Universe or universal consciousness.
2. Life-giving and Life itself
* God is life-giving. The only reason we have life, is because God gave it to us.
Yet, beyond giving, God is Life itself. God is our Life. People who don’t like the word God, often use the word Life, Source or Lifeforce. This is because Life runs through all things; and so does God-Presence.
3. Beyond ego, cannot experience anger
* It is the personal ego that gets angry. You didn’t do what I want, so now I’m mad. That’s fine. Yes, it’s ok to be angry! But there’s also more to life than that. Anger is not ultimate reality, and neither is the ego that creates it.
Therefore, God, which is ultimate reality, is beyond ego. God cannot experience anger. God can’t be angry with you or because of you, and you can’t experience the wrath of God’s anger. Because God cannot be angry!
4. Creator and substance of all, cannot be jealous of itself
* Just as God is life-giving and Life (period), God is also creator and substance.
A potter is a creator. The potter creates with clay. So potter is creator and clay is substance.
God is creator. But God creates from itself. So God is creator, and the stuff each creation is made of. All at the same time!
Things in the physical world are made of, for instance, clay. But ultimately, that clay is made of God’s substance. God creates everything from itself. So everything is made of: God.
You wouldn’t be jealous of something you made. No, you would be proud that you created it, and you would let it fulfill its purpose. So it is with God. God cannot be jealous of anything. To be jealous, as we usually understand the word, would mean God thought the creation was better than He.
God does not think that. God is creator and substance. To be jealous of something, would mean that God is jealous of himself. I ask you – Who would do that?
5. Gives to each creation as much as it will receive
* We can block the flow of God’s good to us. And we often do… But God’s purpose, as Universal Life, is to give each creation everything.
If a creation, a person in this case, blocks that flow, then they don’t receive the good. But that is not God’s fault. That’s your block.
God’s true nature is to give. But God can only give as much as any creation will receive. God does not force the giving onto us.
Know that God gives as much as we will receive. And know that if you feel you’re not receiving good, you can change that. Because God does want to give to you!
6. Knows neither good nor bad
* Nothing is good, or bad to God. This was a difficult one in class. Of course, someone mentioned murder, rape, child abuse, mass homicide, suicide and other acts. And I shared, as compassionately as I could, that while these acts seem hurtful to us and seem so real, they are not ultimate reality.
God, in its universal, timeless, limitless knowing, power and presence, does not label things as good or bad. We do. God sees the whole picture. We don’t.
But we can choose to look beyond what we do see. To see the reality of God. If we don’t do this, we’ll remain in turmoil, confusion, anger and fear. And we’ll keep wondering why these things happen.
If even for a moment, we can look beyond, we can know peace. And peace always begins, as the song says, “with me.” Within.
And to be a little blunt, does every murder affect you? No, because there are a lot of murders you never hear about. Or you hear about them, and because you didn’t know the people, or see the mass report of violence, you remain unaffected.
Just as you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to, you don’t have to be toppled emotionally by every violent event you hear about. Truly, you don’t.
These events, like everything in our lives, are just circumstances and experiences. God is still there, within. It seems many are not aware of that. But it’s still True.
Go back to the question of whether the Universe is friendly. Reread the Einstein quote, and look within to find your own answers. That’s all I or anyone can authentically urge you to do.
You hear many things. But they don’t all stir up negative feelings. So know that with God, you can have peace, no matter what takes place around you. And the best news, again: God is within, so you don’t have to look very far!
Or right click this link and choose “Save target as…” or similar to download the article in .doc format. Download What is God?
Prayer Partners
Everyone who has expressed interest in having an affirmative prayer partner, now has one.
We use positive intention, perception of ultimate/God reality, intending the highest good, and allowing of the God-Mind to work through us, in prayer with and for each other.
Partners contact each other personally by phone, email or in person as they feel comfortable. Some have chosen to treat/pray at their own convenience and check in weekly with their partner.
If you’d like more information or want to pray with a partner, please contact me.
I also provide Professional Metaphysical Practitioner services. Having a Practitioner can be helpful in seeing good where there appears to be none, and as a supportive presence while you look within for the answers that are true for you.
Both prayer partners and I, as a Professional Metaphysical Practitioner, hold all personal information in confidence. Anything you share is kept between you and the person you chose.
As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me!
Feel free to follow along below as we continue with III. of the class outline. Again, further explanations begin with *.
III. Prayer: Traditional vs. Affirmative
* As you read this, think about how much you identify with. What feelings about traditional prayer, if any, do you still have? Do you have negative feelings about prayer that you want to sublimate with positive ones?
A. Traditional prayer
* This is prayer as it’s often taught, and what is implied in and about prayer, in Western Christianity.
* These are synonyms of petition, from the dictionary. I looked them up and found it interesting that “pray” itself is one. So automatically, as a mass consciousness, humans think of prayer as having to petition, beg or beseech for something. Is that a good feeling?
* Again, we see plead, as well as implore. Not “Ask and it shall be given,” but “Plead and…” Well, we’re not sure what might happen after that…
What feelings underlie begging, pleading and imploring? Often these are feelings of guilt, fear, lack, and unworthiness. Am I good enough to be heard? Is what I’m asking important enough to be granted?
The idea of traditional prayer often goes something like this:
God is the all-powerful King, and feels so far away. SO in order to have a prayer heard, much less answered, I must be humble, lowly, begging and even apologetic that I’m even trying to get to God’s ear for a moment to make a request.
And then, even if God hears me, my request will only be granted if my petition is good enough to stir up God’s compassion and pity.
Also interesting is the concept of kneeling to pray. I didn’t read further into this, to see what others say. My personal sense is that kneeling comes from this obligation to be humble in prayer, submitting yourself to a much higher being – one you will never be even close to.
Ritual is another element in traditional prayer. If you want something from the King, you don’t just go to him and say, “Hi King, can I have this?” Sure you can, if you want to lose your head! But, if you complete the ritual, kneeling, praying say 3 times a day, and if your prayer is sincere and humble enough, knowing you’re not worthy… Then, the King may grant your wish.
I realize I’m painting a bleak picture here. However, in traditional prayer, that’s often the feeling people have. I’m bringing this out so that your own personal feelings about prayer come to the surface for you. There, you can respond to them and decide which feelings and beliefs serve you, and which don’t. Then, you’ll re-program positive beliefs about prayer for yourself, if you choose to.
3. Doubts that prayer will be heard
* If people really knew their prayers would be heard, they wouldn’t feel the need to plead, beg, beseech, implore, and so on. The doubt exists first though. We don’t doubt because we plead. We plead because we doubt. Keep this in mind as we continue.
a. Is unsure whether prayer will be answered
* Because you doubt that your prayer is heard, you naturally(?) are unsure whether the prayer will be answered.
Students in class brought up how we don’t always know how prayer will be answered. And sometimes it’s not answered in the way we think it should be. This is true, but it’s not what we’re getting at here. This is the simple idea of whether a prayer will be answered at all. In traditional prayer, doubt is often so integrated in the mind, that people aren’t even sure they get an answer of any kind.
4. Places Christ above oneself
* Whether Protestant or Catholic, traditional Western Christianity sees Christ as better than us. That’s got to be the understatement of the year, at least! These religions stress that Christ was a man, but is God’s Son; he’s special, chosen, the Messiah. In short, Christ is almost a hero, as in a fairy tale or myth.
We, as ordinary praying individuals, can never hope to do what Christ did. We will never be equal to Christ; in fact, it’s blasphemy to even think equality is possible.
Christ is Christ, and we’re just mankind. Christ is to be followed, but we’ll never teach or preach or heal or live as He lived.
Remember that these are traditional views, and it gets better from here! 🙂
5. Repetitious, to be sure it is heard
* Simply put, repetition is used in traditional prayer as part of the ritual I mentioned above. The question to ask is this: Why are you praying repeatedly? If it’s because you’re not sure it took the first time, don’t know if you’re getting an answer, etc, uncertainty is the motivation. Unfortunately, this is often the case in traditional prayer.
B. Affirmative Prayer
* And then there was Light! Sorry, I’m just re-realizing that traditional prayer doesn’t serve me in the slightest, and I’m grateful to be on more positive ground!
So, what do we do in affirmative prayer/metaphysical treatment?
* Now don’t these feel better? To declare, pronounce or decree something, means you already know, and expect it to be so. You’re positive that “so it is,” even before your “prayer” has begun. I like the synonyms above, which I also found in an online dictionary. Choose some that feel empowering to you, and know this is what you do in metaphysical prayer treatment.
2. Realize (to understand, perceive, comprehend, see, carry out, bring into reality)
* To realize, means to make real. But since my English teachers taught me not to use the word in the definition, I’ll say this. To realize, means to decide what is illusion and what is true for you. It means choosing what you give power to and what just doesn’t matter. (See week 1 for more on giving power to negativity.)
So you can see how realization, as it applies to prayer, means to perceive, understand, comprehend, or see.
But what is “carry out?” In this case it refers to demonstration – the act of making a prayer the reality that you live. Before you can demonstrate in physical form, you need to realize, bring the prayer into your own realm of possibility. Realization is a big part of metaphysical treatment.
You must always come to your own realization. Even if you use the services of a Metaphysical Practitioner, a prayer ministry, a minister, or a friend or family member, all of which are great supports. Still, realization must take place in your own consciousness. Learning to realize things for yourself, is like as the saying goes, teaching a man to fish and feeding him for a lifetime. People can assist, but no one can do this for you.
How do you realize something? Not from your personal ego, that’s for sure! Realization involves daily, or more than once a day as needed, giving up your ego. Don’t worry, this is not painful! You’re just allowing the presence of God-Mind within you, to control your life and realize your prayers through you. The more personal ego we give up, the more divine control we actually have!
Ego control is fleeting. Divine control is unchanging. Things around us change; we know that. But divine Truth does not change. We can experience the control, the peace of this unchanging Truth when we give up the fleeting “happiness” that comes from ego.
3. Knows that prayer is heard
* Basic metaphysics says that we are all one. So if we pray, we know our prayer is heard, by the very nature of our being one with whatever is “hearing”. I.e. we are one. We ask. We also hear. There is no separate being that hears us.
Where traditional prayer involves doubt, affirmative prayer is founded on faith. This doesn’t mean we never doubt. It means we have more faith, than doubt. For this you only need 51% faith, if you have 49% doubt. It’s a balance. As long as the scale is tipped more in a positive direction, you’re on the path to building faith and eliminating doubt from your mind.
a. It follows that because prayer is heard, it is also answered
* We take this a step further believing our prayers are answered. Again, we may not know how, or when. But that doesn’t matter here. We know we are heard. And we know the Universe/God responds to our vibration. Therefore, no prayer goes unanswered. Prayer, whether in thought, words, or feelings of desire, is vibration. And the Universe must, and does respond to it. This response is our answer.
4. Anyone can pray as effectively as Christ
* This might be shocking to some people. And even if you accept it, it may not feel true. So I recommend meditating on this for a few moments, asking for clarity, truth and understanding to integrate this into your conscious and subconscious mind.
It does not say anyone except ___ (your name). Anyone can pray as effectively as Christ. You can pray as effectively as Christ. And not after you learn, study, practice, sweat, and try! You can pray as effectively as Christ, now!
But how did Christ pray? He saw what he wanted (asked for it) and said thank you. Christ had complete faith that his prayer would be answered. In fact, he saw the answer before he saw it in front of him. Believing is seeing; not seeing is believing. When he had the realization of the answer in his mind, Christ said thank you.
And who or what was he thanking? “The Father within me that doeth these good works.” We see the Father as the God-Power and presence within everything and everyone. So we, too, thank the Father that works through us.
5. Repetitious, as treatment of your own consciousness
* The goal of metaphysical treatment is to bring the mind into alignment with our prayer, until it becomes real to us. This is why we use repetition – to continually lift up our consciousness to the level of prayer made manifest in our lives. It’s not because we don’t know the prayer is answered. It’s because the more we focus the mind on a prayer’s manifestation as if we already have it, the more quickly we perceive its answer.
Repetition is for us. It’s not for God or for anyone else, even those we pray for. It’s for our own mind, to bring our thoughts and other mental processes into alignment with the good we ask for in prayer.
As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me!
Mystical Strings 
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