“We secretly perceive toward an object before thinking it, and it is only by having constant recourse by inward viewing that the mind goes on to know and comprehend.”
~ Hegel, “Introduction to Logic” ~

“Something always antedates thought. That something is Vision.”
~ Emma Curtis Hopkins, High Mysticism ~

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
~ Matthew. 5:8 ~

We’ve heard the phrase, perception is reality. However, perception is not always Reality.  This no doubt sounds a bit convoluted and certainly contradictory.  Actually, the subtle distinction is the lower-case “reality” represents the relative, while the upper-case “Reality” represents the Absolute. Or, one may say these distinctions represent the contrast between the human experience vs. the Divine Truth.  

Vision, intuition, and the mind’s eye (sometimes referred to as “the third eye”) all relate to perception. Perception is sensing, or, feeling something in the invisible realm of our nature. When the feeling vibration resonates with someone or something previously experienced, there is a tendency to interpret the feeling according to what is already believed or known. When the feeling vibration resonates with the idea of Infinite Love, there is a tendency to interpret the feeling as unlimited possibilities revealing something new and wonderful. In either case, we began a creative process. 

The conditions we experience in the world can be traced back to how we perceive the world to be. ““That thou seest, that thou beest,” declares the ancient wisdom of Emma Curtis Hopkins. While this all may be common sense and Mental Science 101; nonetheless, when we observe the evidence of humanity’s thinking, it is obvious that what is known intellectually, is not always practiced.

For example, on one hand we witness destructive behavior all around as a result of erroneous thinking based on erroneous premises. On the other hand, Truth-centered thinking based on Truth-premises yields all the beauty and harmony and joy and love we see all around. With a perception of Reality, Divine Love shows up as random acts of kindness; individuals sharing their overflow of abundance; and, social conscience is revealed in “every area of the political, corporate, academic, and social sector,” inadvertently creating a world that works for everyone.

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We’ve heard, or maybe found ourselves saying, I have an anxious or foreboding feeling.   Conversely, the phrase may be, I have a feeling something wonderful is about to happen. Even before these feelings morph into thoughts and eventually as our experiences, we may begin to purify our hearts through the spiritual practice of Life Visioning ¹.   

Adapt a meditative state and present these questions to your Higher Self: What is God’s highest idea for my life? What must I become in order to empower this vision? What must I release? What must I embrace? Is there anything else I need to know at this point? ² Listen for the intuitive impressions you receive. “Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration.”  (Mary Baker Eddy, Founder, Christian Science)

This Week’s Affirmation

“I’m ready to see my own life in new and exciting ways.”

www.mostinside.com/positive-affirmations-to-change-your-perception/

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¹ Life Visioning: A spiritual practice authored by Rev. Dr. Michael B. Beckwith

² Ibid.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

StillPoint ~ a doorway to the infinite ~  
www.stillpointcsl.org

P R E S E N T S

TECHNIQUE and FIRE

“In prayer our spirit makes its great demand upon the Universe. Through faith in the invisible Source of good, it claims the particular good it desires. And when our whole inner being is in continual harmony with the Source, knowing it is ever pressing forward into expression through our acts, then it is that we shall come to have and experience an abundance of good for all that makes life worthwhile.”
~ Ernest Holmes, The Spiritual Universe and You ~

~ This two-part experiential workshop is designed to awaken the Creative Genius within both the seasoned traveler as well as those new to the path. ~

Each stage of Spiritual Mind Treatment is an art and your mind the canvas.

The guided meditations, exploratory exercises, and authentic sharing become the blueprint for the manifestation of your soul’s sincere desire, in both form and experience.

~ ~ ~ ~

When: Saturday, February 11, 2022 and Saturday, February 18, 2022

Time:   10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Where: Zoom Room (Will receive link registration)

Facilitator: Reverend Mary L. Ruffner

Suggested Tuition: $75.00

Register Today: https://stillpointcsl.org/donate-2/

Indicate: T&F (Technique and Fire)

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Bring an open heart and an open mind. 

“We envision humanity awakening to its spiritual magnificence and discovering the creative power of thought; a world where each and every person discovers his/her own personal power and ability to create an individual life that works within a world that works for everyone.”
 ~ Global Vision for Centers for Spiritual Living ~

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“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ~ Rumi ~

~ ~ ~ ~ 

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”  ~ Michelangelo ~ 

I love the line from Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s poem, The Invitation, where she poses the question, “Can you see beauty even when it’s not pretty?

The one who is willing to dive deeply into the inquiry will discover an awesome lesson about the nature of being; one that becomes a transformative factor that yields something wonderful every time. For example, when we affirm that God is all there is, and that one of Its qualities is Beauty, it stands to reason that Beauty is as omnipresent as God. This is true about all the qualities recognized as The Divine; e.g., Love, Peace, Joy, Harmony, Beauty, and so on. These are all eternal verities, the inherent nature of every living being. The question is, do we see these qualities operating in the world even when the appearance and experience suggest otherwise?

The adversity in the world cannot be denied; so, how do we reconcile the concept of omnipresent goodness while observing tangible evidence that suggests otherwise? Once we gain insight about this dilemma, we begin to realize the ancient wisdom of scripture that tells us about “false evidence appearing real.”

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Emma Curtis Hopkins tells us that all of nature is driven by an instinctive impulse that declares “There’s good for me and I ought to have It.” However, as long as there is the belief that humanity is made up of separate beings struggling for their ‘fair share’ of life, rather than an awareness of our unity in the One Presence; our creative efforts have a tendency to be distorted. The unconscious belief that some “other” is standing in our way of our “good” causes fear, competition, not-enough-ness, and all manner of low self-esteem. This false belief has the tendency to conceal the original motivating factor. 

Some wise one has said that for every human aberration, there is a spiritual aspiration trying to break through. In other words, every flaw (sin?) that is not pretty is evidence of one’s missing the mark or being out of alignment with the Original and, Unchanging Source. The visionary pierces the veil of illusion and sees the beauty that is trying to express. 

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You may begin right now envisioning the good that’s trying to express and give gratitude for it. What we praise has a tendency to increase. In so doing, the Invisible Forces of Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Beauty, and Joy begin to flow through your life experiences, revealing fulfilling relationships; wellness in your body temple; success in your career and creative endeavors; abundance in your finances; and peace of mind in all your comings and goings. 

The good news is, it doesn’t matter how long we have been hypnotized by error thinking and action. The underlying Principle that governs all life is intact. We may begin right now claiming the sincere desires of our hearts.  Soon, as visionaries, it becomes clearer and clearer what is ours to do that contributes to a world that out pictures peace on earth and goodwill toward all. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I know, despite any seeming disparity, the Good is always (all ways) there if I choose to see.”

by Judy Hilley

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

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. 
~ Matthew 18:3 ~

There has always been the “high-minded” among us; i.e., certain individuals who aspire for things that are beyond their present circumstances. These ordinary people, while trusting in life, never compared themselves to anyone else. They simply believed they deserved the best in all things. Somehow these optimists moved through challenges with an attitude that transcended many of the seeming limitations they faced. 

The unillumined would say these people are “lucky” or believe they received some Providential favor. However, the illumined recognize the immutable mental law of Cause and Effect and realizes the inevitability that these ordinary people would, of course, experience the likeness of their expectations.

“Don’t underestimate the power of a mind that is made up.”
~ Miya Yamanouchi ~ 

The good news is, the laws of nature are never respecters of person but work the same for everyone. The outcome simply depends upon one’s mental position, because the law itself is automatic. It is forever in the mode of responding by corresponding with the impressions it receives.  In other words, it works the same for the one who knows nothing about The Law, the same as it does for the one who knows all about It. 

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We are all ordinary people with mindsets operating at various frequencies at different times. What I have noticed about myself and others is, it usually depends on what is going on with us at any given time. While operating at the optimum of high-mindedness there is an expectancy of peace, harmony, love, beauty, wisdom, and joy to prevail in all circumstances.

There may be other times when mediocracy is the mindset that vibrates with a frequency like the man without God that Howard Thurman describes as, “. . . a victim of the currents of life that carry him where they will with a bland unmindfulness of purposes and ends which belong to him as a living, thinking, feeling creature.”  

Finally, there’s a low vibration operating when one’s habitual mindset is focused on “ain’t it awful.” 

“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – ~ Napoleon Hill ~

Good News Flash! We each have the power to change our thinking and therefore change our lives. However, you cannot fool Mother Nature by just saying new words; we must begin to actually sense, feel, believe, think, and act differently. We must become like a little child who imagines and daydreams about their world. 

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We raise the vibration of our thought patterns and position ourselves in that kingdom of harmony within us by engaging in regular spiritual practices. Daily meditation, life visioning, and spiritual mind treatment (affirmative prayer) are wonderful companions that support us while we walk the path of high-mindedness. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I behold the expanse of the universe and feel, sense, and know that the same ever-expanding Life Force that created the universe also exists within me.”

Angela “Chris” Beam

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 
~ Mark 9:24 ~

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me . . .”
~ Philippians 3:14 ~

And I’ll always dream the impossible dream Yes, and I’ll reach the unreachable star.”
~ Mitch Leigh / Joe Darion ~ 

The Science of Mind teaches “there is no process of healing, but there is a process in healing.” This idea is far-reaching inasmuch as it suggests a manner in which to reconcile the human and the divine; two aspects of our one nature. On the one hand, there is nothing to heal; our spiritual nature within us is already whole, complete, and perfect. It is the image and likeness of our highest idea of God. ~ On the other hand, in order for this awareness to be realized, revealed, and activated in a practical way, there is a process in reasoning that takes place until the Truth dawns upon us. In that moment we are healed; i.e., the Spirit, Mind, and Body are in complete alignment.  In this state of consciousness, all things are possible.

Our faith leads us to the path; our doubt clouds the vision.

We’ve been told to walk in the direction of our dreams. Otherwise, we are subject to self-sabotage. Yet, in spite of this sage advice, sincere truth-seekers continue to report how they have inadvertently missed the mark of their desired good.

An example of this dilemma is like setting your car’s GPS for your final destination, only to ignore Siri’s directions.  As a result, you may find yourself running into roadblocks that cause unnecessary delays and missed appointments. 

This same thing sometimes happens regarding prayer. Even though we pray, affirming the destiny we envision for our lives, we are sometimes so accustomed to certain methods to get us to our goal, that we began to doubt the divine guidance received through intuition. Soon, we are right where we began, stuck in a mindset that lends toward temporary solutions, not lasting ones. Lasting ones are the embodied values that become the means to the ends we seek.  

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Mahatma Gandhi, a 20th-century mystic said: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change toward him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”

Walking in the direction of your dreams is practicing your innermost values in thought, word, and deed. In other words, it is letting values such as peace, love, wisdom, harmony, and joy be the means that deliver you to your desired ends.

Walking in the direction of your dreams is trusting and surrendering into the uncharted territory of a New Year that is filled with the promise of Light.

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This Week’s Affirmation

Each and every day, I confidently walk forward to my good with grace, ease, and joy.

Keith Childers

“Behold, I am making all things new.”
~ Revelation 21:5~  

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 
and all these things shall be added unto you.” 
~ Matthew 6:33~ 

The mystery of life is forever expanding and becoming more.  

The days of our lives are stretched before us with the full potential of either experiencing a greater degree of the same; or, stepping upon the next great rung on life’s upward-spiraling journey.

In either case, movement is imminent. Knowingly or unknowingly, we constantly use the creative power within us to move us into all of our tomorrows. The motivating factor is always connected to our faith or, what we believe is our inevitable destiny.   Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith teaches that we are either “pushed by pain, or pulled by a vision.” 

As long as our gaze is downward, believing there’s no possible way to receive more than what is presently at hand; the undifferentiated energy continues to flow in that direction.  I believe Jesus referred to this when he said, “The poor (in spiritual awareness) will always be with you.”

Conversely, as we begin to imagine a fulfilled life, having all that which is necessary for successful living; likewise, Life begins to yield the desired good as a present reality.  The creative juices having ignited the primordial energy of the universe, begin to materialize as the embodied beauty. In other words, our thoughts and beliefs are the power within us that creates our world – individually and collectively.

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You may say, ‘this is nothing new.’ And, it is not. This inborn nature of being has always been known by the great mystics who walk the earth. Science continues to harness the intelligence that pulsates through this Omnipresent Energy in whom we live, move, and have our existence. Philosophy employs the art of reasoning that asserts self-evident truths. The religions of the world are inspired by the revelations that the still small voice imparts in the silent night.  

Many of us have mastered the science of mind in one or more areas of our lives, while at the same time there are areas that remain a challenge. The good news is, the moment there is an awakened awareness that recognizes both Love and Law as a unified consciousness, we are ushered into the realm of the unlimited good we seek. 

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We are spiritual beings, and without that aspect of our nature realized here on earth, there is a feeling of incompleteness. Through the practice of the Science of Mind we may demonstrate the images we have embodied such as financial abundance, houses, mates, cars, careers, and all the “things” we imagine, and we may still feel empty. It is when we practice the Science of Mind and Spirit (SOMAS) that we truly experience that which our heart longs for. In other words, the thing desired, without the experience desired is futile.

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The spiritual nature at the center of all things is Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Joy, Beauty, and all the attributes of The Divine. When we seek these qualities first and foremost, we find them in the midst of the physical things we enjoy.

Remember!  When making your list of the more abundant life you seek in the coming year, be sure to get in touch with what that experience looks like and what it feels like.

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I am open to new possibilities.”

https://www.melanatedmisfit.com/articles/10-affirmations-for-new-beginnings