Category Archives: Spiritual practices

Play Without Ceasing – Unity World Day of Prayer

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You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Pray without ceasing.” But what is prayer? Taking what may seem like a bold leap, I’m asking you to consider that prayer is play.

So what is play? Children know this better than most, but if you ask them what it is, they can’t describe it in words. That’s because play is a state of mind, a state of being. Play is fun, carefree, joyful, happy, imaginative… In short, anything is possible in play.

Anything is possible in prayer, too. And traditional religions (Christianity in particular) aren’t the only ones teaching this.

“The world is your oyster.” –Shakespeare

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Anything the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” –Napoleon Hill

“It sounds counter-intuitive but the more you give, the more you will receive.” –Dr. Joe Vitale

“All things are possible when you claim your Goddess-self. Imagine you are a Goddess, Now, be the Goddess you imagine.” –Abby Willowroot (1997)

The key is in Abby Willowroot’s quote: “Be the Goddess you imagine!” Call it Goddess, Universe, Source, Spirit… Call it whatever you can relate to. But first imagine it. Then, be it.

When children play, they convince themselves that they are super heros, princesses, firefighters, unicorns, and all mmanner of seen and unseen things. They imagine so vividly that they become their play.

We need to imagine being who, what, where and how we want to be, ideally. We must imagine it so vividly and persistently that we can’t help but become it.

This is not work. It’s play at its finest!

So the play-prayer connection? Prayer is not work. It’s a recognition of, and identification with the universal truth that all things are possible, for you, right now, and they’re happening now, for you. This is why we use affirmative prayer in Metaphysics – because begging doesn’t feel good, and being positive feels great. 🙂

You may need lots of prayer treatments, at least once a day for many days. The truth is, you can “be there” in one treatment, no problem. However, consistently treating/praying helps convince your logical, human mind that what you are praying is so now.

Keep your thoughts, words and actions elevated. Act as if you’re already where, who, and what you want to be. Because every thought, word and deed is a prayer. This is why I say play without ceasing. The more fun you have, the better you feel more of the time, the better your life looks and feels to you.

Play without ceasing… Starting now!

Manifesting… Computer?

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I bet you’re wondering why I haven’t posted. I try to post at least twice a week, but sometimes the Universe offers something better, like an opening to realize something, and then share it. Allow me to explain… This is gonna be great!

I’ve been “meaning to” get anew computerfor a long time. About 2 years at least. But at the same time, I’ve been saying, “I’m gonna run this one into the ground first!” Lately though, I’ve been seeing the new computer in a positive light, like this:

* Laptop: I can carry it around…
* Record on location
* Take notes at meetings, whereas now I record them with a stand-alone recorder and transcribe the pieces I want afterward
* Post on the go… Now what fun would that be!
( Take picsand videosmor easily, to increase visibility ultimately to share more things,with more people

Those are just some things. Abraham (channeled by the wonderful Esther Hicks) says weneed to affirm why we want something. That really struck me. Because this isn’t the why as in, “Why do you want that?” “Well, it will bring in more money. I did this, so I should have that.” You know, like when we were kids, said we wanted something, and got the infamous response… “Did you do your homework first? Clean your room? Take out the trash?” “No…” “Well then, no (thing) for you.”

When you look at “why” that way, it’s no wonder you don’t want to explain/justify/clarify why you want something! But Abe’s “Why” is much different. Abe means, “How will it feel to have that thing?” Needless to say, a lightbulb, or a thousand of them, went off in my head. I actually laughed out loud when I heard that on the workshop CD, because it felt so true for me.

So I decided to feel now, how I will feel with a new computer. I felt good! It felt good to have that thing. Abe goes on to “explain” all the reasons why we could want anything. Ultimately it boils down to, “I want it because it feels good!”

Society doesn’t teach us this, but the truth is, there is nothing wrong with wanting something for the fun and/or good feeling of it! Like attracts like… So if we feel good now, wanting something because that feels good, what do we attract? That’s right… More good feelings, and the tangible and intangible good things that go along with them!

Remember how I said I’d run my PC into the ground before getting a new one? Well, guess what I got… The thing will no longer even start up properly, let alone get far enough to post or do anything else. And I don’t care. I didn’t lose much data, and what I lost isn’t gone… It’s stored elsewhere, it will just take time to re-download it all. . I feel good about starting over with something better. And my new computer is on its way, coming from agood place, rather than a grudging, “Well, I guess I really have to get one now…” It’s more like, “Yay! Now I can pick out my favorite laptop!”

Be well! And remember that how you feel improves your present, and attracts your future!

Prayer of Faith – Metaphysical Talk

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This is a recording of my talk on August 26, 2012, at Unity of Reading. Below are companion readings.

From the book Teach us to Pray

by Charles Fillmore

from “Healing Through the Prayer of Faith”

The prayer of faith is not supplication, a begging God to give things to man. Prayer at its highest is the entry of the ego through faith into a realm of mind forces that when rightly contacted change the character of every cell in brain and body. One who has mastered even the primary technique of prayer has made contact with the spiritual ethers that connect all minds, high and low, and by means of which great reforms for the good of man can be projected into the world’s thought ether.

When Jesus prayed, sometimes the whole night long, He did not plead with God over and over to do what He asked. Through positive faith Jesus was laying hold of new ideas, which through His spiritual understanding He incorporated into His consciousness, which included both soul and body. Through this mental process He became a living demonstration of spiritual man.

Today Jesus Christ is our helper and teacher. Every man when he prays should recognize and take advantage of this truth. He can profit much by realizing that the same Spirit is in him that was in Jesus, who became the Christ. Paul wrote, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Jesus is teaching us today that to pray effectively we must believe and know that there is a dispenser of the thing asked for and that by reaching out in prayer we can receive it from the one great source. This is truly the prayer of faith. “All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The Prayer of Faith

God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.

I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving, too;
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ the Truth, that is in me.

God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and Love and Truth are here
–Hannah More Kohaus

Faith – Spiritual Song

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This song has a
companion talk.

Recording Updated 2015
Instrument: Brio – Red Cedar Concert Ukulele

(A)
1. Faith is believing in things you don’t see… yet!
Faith is a knowing with calm certainty.
And all you need is the size of a mustard seed of
Faith… to move mountains in life.
2. Faith is the feeling that all needs are met… now!
Faith is the giving of something you get.
Because there’s always enough when you just say yes to
Faith… and remove fear and doubt.

(B)
1. Because you know you’re provided for,
Even if you don’t understand how.
And you know that there is a Source
That loves and keeps you now and always.

(A)
3. Faith is expecting that all things are done… well!
Faith is accepting the gift of each one,
And the confidence that you deserve life abundant.
Faith… the assurance of peace.

(B)
2. Because you know you’re provided for,
Even if you don’t understand how.
And you know that God is the Source
That loves and keeps you now and always.

Repeat (A) 1.

Faith… to remove fear and doubt.
Faith… the assurance of peace.
Faith! Faith! Faith!

Handwoven Shapeshifter Bag

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This bag looks like a child’s drawing of a house – a tall rectangle with a triangular top.

It started out as a long, narrow strip of woven cloth. I wove this to test a thicker warp (vertical threads) and thinner weft (horizontal threads). When it worked, I put the strip away, not knowing what to do with it at the time.

I pulled it out again when I decided to use cloth I’d already woven to make bags for Angel Days (see previous post). But how do you go from a long, narrow strip to a bag about 6″ wide and 10″ tall? Without extreme sewing that is… 😮

Enter Noreen Crone-Findlay, a wonderful weaver who is aware that she can create anything she imagines! Noreen developed a mitered loop technique that was perfect for this project.

Basically, it works like this:

1. Weave a long, narrow strip of cloth. (You’ll have dimensions if you know what it will be in the end 🙂 )

2. Tie off the weaving to keep it together, and trim fringe close to knots.

3. Sew the ends of the strip together to form a loop.

4. Lay the loop on a flat surface, and fold it outward. It will be twice as wide and half as long as the original strip, with a point at each end. (This is not as hard as it sounds, really!)

5. Sew the center seam and the top and bottom seams, securing the pointed ends. Press with hot iron.

Noreen stops here, since she created a scarf with this technique. But I continued by folding the new shape – this pointed-end fabric – in half, and sewing the side seams.

The completed bag is twice the width and 1/4 the length of the original strip – remember, that “useless test strip”?

The Shapeshifter Bag, and a patterned shawl I didn’t get a picture of before someone joyfully claimed it, are my favorite projects so far.

Takeaways

No matter what shape your life is in, you can create a better shape starting now! Decide to transform the past into a beautiful and useful future through your conscious thoughts, prayers, emotions, reactions, and awareness and acknowledgement of your feelings.

You can do this, because your Spirit is the One who creates all things and continues to live eternally through each one!

Prosperity Song

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In Metaphysical Science, Unity, Religious Science and New Thought, we “pray for” what we want, as if we already have it.

This practice of affirmative prayer – affirming, confirming and already having – is called spiritual mind treatment, scientific prayer and positive prayer. No matter what you call it, the prayer method is similar throughout the paths listed above.

In a future post I’ll describe the steps of affirmative prayer. For now, realize that the following prosperity song includes all of them.

I offer you this as a prayer, a meditation, and something to focus on. Ponder this until you believe it is so. Only when you believe you are prosperous, will you appear prosperous in the world – with more than enough money, happiness, time and love to be fulfilled.

Whatever you do, affirm prosperity, rather than begging for money! Sometimes it isn’t really money you need. And even when money is needed, begging for it attracts… more feelings of lack and having to beg.

And if you believe somewhere within yourself that having money is not spiritual, that poverty is a virtue, then meditate on removing that belief first. Would Spirit, God, Universe, Life itself create you to be poor?

No! Because if You are poor, then Life is poor too. And poor things – beings that lack something – cannot survive. Life does not create itself, to sabotage and destroy itself. Therefore, you must be prosperous: Prosperity is your divine right!

If this is the only thing you realize from my sharing here, it will change your entire consciousness, and through it, your entire life experience.

Prosperity – Lyrics

Instrument: Soprano Flea ukulele

1. I know your omnipresence
Transforms all seeming lack.
My Spirit is of plenty,
And plenty I attract.

2. Prosperity and blessings
Are flowing clear and free.
The Spirit of abundance
Fulfills my every need.

3. I speak the word of wisdom,
And now the law receives
And manifests directly
My great prosperity.

4. I thank your omnipresence,
Transforming every lack.
My spirit is of plenty,
And plenty I attract.

Are you Sick?: Healing Consciousness

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1. Have you received a diagnosis of illness?

2. Do you feel sick?

3. Do you think about being sick right now?

4. Do you resent your disease?

5. Do you think about how much you want this problem to go away?

Are you sick?

You may answer yes to the first 5 questions. But in truth, the answer to the last one is no.

You are not sick. Your essence is wholeness, life, health and vitality. You are the creator of your life, and you are a creation of Spirit, God, the universe… Neither the creator (you) nor the creation (you) can be sick.

Sick is not what you are. It may describe how you feel and more importantly, how you think. But it is not what you are.

There is little need to delve into the past and ask yourself why you became sick. What specific thoughts and feelings contributed to the outer manifestation of sickness in your experience? What you need to realize now is that no matter what happened in the past, it was your own thoughts and feelings that contributed to the experience of illness.

And if your thinking and beliefs made you sick, they can restore wellness just as easily.

This may seem hard, but it’s a matter of awareness. Before this, you weren’t aware of what you were thinking and maybe not even aware of your true feelings. But now you must be, because only by being truly aware, and without judgement, can you make yourself well.

Wellness is a process. All of life is a consciously evolving process. If you want to have a healthy mind and body, you need healthy thoughts and feelings.

Use affirmative prayer, meditation, music, books and other materials, and the conscious support of like-minded people to evolve toward wellness. You may choose to find a holistic practitioner and/or one who offers Reiki, ZPoint, Quantum-Touch, or other services, along with any other treatment of your choice. Competent professionals in any field will be willing to work with you and accept the ttreatments you choose, medical and non-medical alike.

You don’t have to be sick… Unless you think you must. Do you choose to believe what an outside source (doctor, relative, friend, etc) tells you? Or do you believe the spiritual truth of your being: that you are complete wholeness, immediately, now and eternally?

The choice is yours!

Are you sick?

Shades of Consciousness Handwoven Scarf

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The pinks in this scarf gradate from one shade to another. And though you probably can’t see this in the picture, the textures change too. These different shades and yarn textures interlock with the warp to create Shades of Consciousness.

“Life is consciousness” is a Metaphysical concept. Basically it’s saying that both your individual life and universal life itself are conscious, aware, and intelligent.

There are many aspects of intelligence and just as many kinds or aspects of consciousness. Like shades and textures, none is better than the others. You are, where you are, and that’s ok. It is when you acknowledge just where you are – truly becoming aware of it without judgement – that you can move forward to consciously, knowingly create the life you want.

These shades of yarn weave themselves through the standard warp. But the warp here is variegated. It is one solid texture, but the color changes now and then.

So, when you look at one shade of pink on the scarf, then move to the next time it appears, it doesn’t look exactly the same. It’s the same yarn, same shade, and same texture. But it interacts differently with the variegated warp.

Your life is like this too. You may seem to have the same experience over and over. However, it’s not exactly the same, because your consciousness is not the same all the time.

Even without realizing it, your state of mind changes from moment to moment. So if you become discouraged by repeating patterns, simply acknowledge that you’ve had this experience before. Then, knowingly, deliberately change your thoughts about it. Choose a better thought than the one you’re thinking now. As you do this, you become a different person, your mind and consciousness expand, and you react differently to the experience.

Just because you reacted in one way before, doesn’t mean you absolutely must react in the same way every time.

Life is consciousness. You are consciousness. And because you know this, you can make sure you interact with the threads of your life the way you want, to create the picture you desire.

Light – Metaphysical Christmas Song

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Merry Christmas… in July!

Metaphysical science, Unity, religious science, and New Thought have many common beliefs. One that stands out at Christmas time is the idea of Christ. Although most of us believe Jesus existed, we see him as a teacher, a wayshower, and no better than any of the “rest” of us humans experiencing life on earth.

Christ is a state of consciousness. It is already within us; our purpose is to become knowingly aware of it and to demonstrate, or show it in our lives and the world around us.

It is at Christmas that we focus on the Christ mind within us. Though every day we can renew the Christ child within, we’re especially mindful during Advent and Christmas.

Remember that the season of miracles and giving is not just when it’s magically bright, cold (or hot), with carols ringing through the air. These are just outward manifestations of an inward consciousness or state of mind: the belief, as in Santa Clause, that anything is possible.

Because truly, anything is possible, not just at Christmas, but all year long. And the more we let the Christ light shine within us, the more light we see in the world.

Light – Lyrics

Instrument: Celtic harp

1. The Christ in me lights up the world
As peace and love are now unfurled.
I give and through it I receive
The greatest gift of Christ in me.

2. I see the Christ in others shine,
Lit from within by God divine.
And as each candle lends its light,
In harmony we all unite.

3. So like a baby love is born
Where there was not a light before.
And in the light, the darkness fades.
Now comes the dawning of the day.

4. And so it is in every life-
Each one can choose to be the light,
To hold a candle high above,
And share with all your gift of love.

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Crystal L. Howe: And so It Is, Vol. 1

Handwoven Perception Scarves

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Take a good look at these scarves.

What is your first impression?

What thought or feeling came up when you saw them?

Do you think they took a long time to weave?

Are they well crafted?

Do you admire anything about them?

Would you buy them?

Would you wear them?

Would you give them to someone as a gift?

Does knowing I wove them bring up any thoughts about me? What “must” I be like if I’ve woven these?

Now, what if I told you these scarves were woven on a potholder loom?

Many remember those little frame looms – a square with 18 or 20 pegs on each side – that you stretched cotton loops across. Then you wove more cotton loops over-under-over-under the first ones to make a square. And if you got tired, a parent or other long-suffering adult would finish the edges for you.

How many kitchens did these squares adorn as potholders, maybe stitched together into placemats or trivets for protecting the table from hot dishes?

Are these scarves made from potholder loom woven squares inferior to my
Transformation Scarves?

Maybe, if you think the others were woven on a “real” loom. Or if you have preconceptions of what small frame looms can – and can’t – weave.

But it’s all in your perception. And therein is the whole “secret” of life: How we think of, feel about, and experience things is all a matter of our perception.

And the best part is, we can change our perceptions at any time! Feel bad? Then change your perception to one that feels better. Feel good? Great, then it can only get better.

Your perception is your responsibility. You can’t blame anyone for anything – well, you can, but that’s still just how you believe it is. Doesn’t finding something better, feel better than being stuck in blame?

I speak from experience when I say it absolutely does! But don’t take my word for it… After all, my perceptions are my own, and not yours!