There is a golden thread that runs through every religion in the world. There is a golden thread that runs through the lives and the teachings to all the prophets, seers, sages, and saviors in the world’s history, through the lives of all men of truly great and lasting power. All that they have ever done or attained to has been done in full accordance with law. What one has done, all may do. ~ Ralph Waldo Trine~ 

“The great spiritual geniuses, whether it was Moses, Buddha, Plato, Socrates, Jesus, or Emerson….. have taught man to look within himself to find God.” ~Ernest Holmes~

While a “particular system of faith and worship” distinguishes one religion from another; there have always been mystics, sages, and prophets, if you will, who perceived a unifying presence that transcends any differences.  These emanations of Light are taught by the still small voice they hear within their own souls; and by the moon and stars they see above, and by the trees and the oceans surrounding them; and by the joy, love, and gratitude they feel in their hearts.  At every turn, they encounter the One Presence, the One Power. They recognize God everywhere.  

These illumined souls have imparted wisdom to the world through such precepts as “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Theirs is not a dogmatic teaching governed by an institution, but rather, what they know is universal truth, and cannot be denied.

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Yield not to the temptation that believes you have greater access to the Truth because of the number of years you have been practicing; or believing your viewpoint is the only one that imparts Truth.  Remember, (1) The Law responds to all alike, and (2) the golden thread of Truth is seen and understood in many ways.  

The seasoned traveler on the path of enlightenment meets everyone right where they are; neither expecting aspirants to be further along nor judging the direction from whence they have come. 

The practicing devotee of religion is mindful when sharing beliefs with a novice whose path has crossed with theirs.  He remembers the golden thread connecting the two of them to the One Source. He knows there is nothing lacking in this individual. He knows this one is fully orbed and infused with the magnificence of God. There is a keen awareness there is nothing to fix. The divine appointment is one of awakening for both the teacher and the student, as they share their human experiences, as well as spiritual revelations.  Otherwise, if not careful; i.e., full of care, the good intentions of both people may be inadvertently misunderstood as criticism. 

Parker Palmer writes: “The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out.” The devotee creates a safe space filled with compassion, empathy, and loving-kindness. Otherwise, the individual, feeling intimidated, may retreat, hiding inside his feelings and emotions.

Yes, there is a golden thread that unites all of humanity as One. All paths of faith and worship lead to The Presence of God that indwells us all. The sincere seeker of Truth, establishes a relationship with the Divine One within, through such practices as prayer, song, meditation, praise, and gratitude.  

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I am filled with a deep sense of unity with all. My life is complete!”

http://bmindful.com/

“Metaphysics is philosophical: it’s about explaining the fundamental nature of the world and what it means as humans to inhabit it. Spirituality, on the other hand, is experiential, and has more to do with spiritual practices and the development and discovery of the self.” ~ Google ~

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“The scientists of today are closer than ever before to agreeing with the metaphysician that God is Creative Intelligence, or Mind, everywhere present in the Universe, and manifesting through every created thing. – Metaphysics may be termed that which is beyond the known laws of physics.” ~ SOM Text p. 611 ~

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Ernest Holmes was a 20^th century philosopher. His ever-evolving theory deals with the mental aspect of humanity’s nature and its relationship to the Cosmos. He espoused, “we are surrounded by a creative medium that receives the direct impress of our thought, and acts upon it.” The action he references is the manifestation of our thoughts and ideas, infused with thepotentials we habitually perceive as reality. Therefore, his theory is one of a science of mind and spirit.

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Principles or Universal Laws are always impersonal. It has been said, “It will be done for you as you have believed.”(Matthew 8:13) For example, the misapplication of the principles of electricity yields impersonal negative results that cause suffering. Once the error is corrected, the results change. Likewise, the same is true about spiritual laws that are governed by thoughts that are motivated by beliefs. The image and likeness of that mental state create the myriad of experiences in the world; both the positive and the negative. Once we know, understand, and apply the principle of Truth; one’s experience of the world changes accordingly.

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The metaphysical philosophy of The Science of Mind and Spirit is one that teaches “how to think;” not “what to think.”“What” to think is always up to the individual. It is the gift of free will. “How” to think is also a choice. It is a deliberate practice of aligning one’s thoughts with ideas that accurately describes the quality of life one desires to experience in the world.   

To the degree that one believes that Love, Peace, and Unity, to name a few qualities of the Spirit, are indeed the nature of the Higher Self, or the God Within and are the “good we ought to have;” to that same degree these qualities are infused in our thoughts and become the people, places and things we experience in the world.

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Through reading, writing, and speaking, begin telling yourself the Truth about who you are and the life-affirming experiences that await your acceptance. This becomes an effective method of teaching yourself “how” to think. It also begins to establish thought patterns or your thinking habits.

Regular spiritual practices, such as meditation and journaling bring us into the present moment and quiet the mind. It is here, with no distractions, we are able to hear the habitual thoughts that influence our world.  This awakened consciousness is empowering when it comes to the choices we make, moving forward.

The power of creation is within us and always flows in the direction of our beliefs. Once you are clear about “what” you desire for yourself and the world; the Creative Medium of Mind knows “how” to bring it about.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~(Romans 12:2)~

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This Week’s Affirmation

“Through the Science of Mind teachings, I have learned “how to think”, not “what to think.”

By Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP

(REPOST) I notice whenever I am faced with the hardened facts of materiality, old thought patterns may cause me to perceive circumstances from a 3-dimensional point of view only; failing to include the 4^th dimensional me which is Pure Consciousness, One with God. It is in this state of limitation, the false beliefs of the mental realm SEEM all-powerful.

I am self-challenged to reconcile the apparent xenophobia,
misogyny, and racism running rampant, with the ever-present All-ness of God, which is Love. 

I must constantly remind myself that when I say the word “God,” I am not referring to a Being outside of myself, lest I slip into a victim mindset, believing there is a power doing something TO ME¹. A sure sign of this descent in consciousness is when I hear myself say something like: “Why does this always happen to me?” 

I use the word “God” interchangeably with words like: Spirit, Love-Intelligence, First Cause, and Divine Presence, to name a few.  This supports me in staying awake. 

An equally important reason that I remind myself that I am not referring to God as a Being ~ somewhere out there ~ is the possible misconception that when I use the Law of Mind in Action for the specific good I desire to see and say: “I control my thoughts and my life.” that I am doing something TO IT ², like changing God’s mind; although it sure feels like it at times. 

It is through affirmative self-talk that I catch glimpses of Reality and begin to say, “It is not I, but God who does the work.”  I begin to feel and sense the Presence doing something THROUGH ME³.

When I consider, what is mine to do, my spiritual practice of affirmative prayer supports me in the clarity I seek. My every prayer affirms that God, the Divine Presence, is the only power there is. This conviction deepens my faith in Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience. To the degree that I remind myself of my oneness with Spirit; it is to that degree that I realize God AS ME ⁴. My self-talk affirms, “I AM.”

So, in my process of reconciling the appearance of hatred and fear in the world, while fully aware that God is all there is; I consider the Love, Law, and Action of Spirit. 

The attributes of the 4th-dimensional aspect of my being are greater than that which is in the world. However, I do not ignore the hardened facts of ignorance that are prevalent. Jesus did not; Buddha did not; Confucius did not; Martin Luther King Jr. did not; Malala Yousafzai did not; Nelson Mandala did not. 

The enlightened mystics of the ages acknowledge they are in the world, though not of it. They unleash their awakened state of Pure Consciousness. What they give is who they are. Their Self-giving-ness lifts the collective consciousness to a higher vibration of Self-Realization.  

I give what I am. I unleash the energy of Divine Love each time I let my words ignite the Immutable Law of Cause and Effect by affirming Light where there seems to be darkness; affirming Peace where there seems to be pain; affirming Joy where there seems to be sorrow.  I practice lowly listening to the still small voice within me and become exceedingly aware of the Action that is mine to do.

I believe when error thoughts are healed among the masses; like herd-immunity, the seeming lesser issues will spontaneously fade away. The unenlightened ego that believes it is the dominant factor, will lose its power, and the new and enlightened consciousness of Divine Self surfaces, knowing Itself as all.

1.  Four Stages of Consciousness by Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith
2.  Ibid
3.  Ibid
4.  Ibid

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This Week’s Affirmation

Self-Talk is my body hearing everything that my mind says!

Keith Childers

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” ~ Matthew 7:7 (NIV) ~                   

~ Why does it rain? ~ 

~ Why do fish swim? ~ 

~ Why did my pet die? ~ 

Conversing with a two-year-old can be mentally challenging. The little one has a battery of questions about the new and fascinating things being discovered in its world. In an effort to end the endless conversation, you may find yourself responding to the inquiring mind by saying things like, “just because” and, “it is what it is.” The strong implication, though not the intention, may suggest, ‘just accept things as they are, there’s nothing you can do about it.  

Although the voice of the child is quelled for a while, the curiosity never diminishes. The emerging adult seeks answers about its world; i.e., Why are there wars? Why do people hate other people?   Why are there power struggles? The inner child remembers: “It is what it is.” In that mindset, we may, unconsciously, begin accepting the idea of being a helpless victim of adversity. Alas, a false belief of limitation becomes the operating force expressing in the world. 

When contemplating concepts like: There is only “One Power”¹ ~ “Perfect God, Perfect Man, Perfect Being”² ~ “Perfect Love casts out fear”³, and the like, a shift in the mental realm of thought and feeling takes place. One begins to hear the teacher within, saying, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” ~1 John 4:4~

The One who is within you is The Love, The Wisdom, and The Peace that is beyond human understanding. It is FIRST CAUSE… All Powerful and Changeless.  I envision the “them” that are overcome (referenced in the above quote) are the false beliefs operating in the world, and are subject to change.  Therefore, the overcoming is the effort and discipline that bring our beliefs into alignment with Truth.   

Ancient wisdom says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness (sic) in high places.” ~ Ephesians 6:12 ~ The philosophy of Ernest Holmes teaches, “change your thinking, change your life.”

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Each one of us may BE a contributing CAUSE of Peace on earth right now. When our beliefs are in alignment with Unity and Harmony, they become the healing power that is “for something, and against nothing.” We each, right now have the capacity to end the war within ourselves; i.e., the belief in separation. 

With an enlightened consciousness, all action that follows will be of the same essence, one that reflects in the world, the Oneness that we are. It is – what it is.

Principle, the Guiding Light of Truth remains the same; yesterday, today, and forever.  

1 Science of Mind, 245.1
2 Ibid, 309.2
3 John 4:18

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This Week’s Affirmation

“In the midst of seeming chaos, I stand in the Truth of Peace.”

By Angela “Chris” Beam 

“Be ye therefore transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
 ~ Romans 12:2 ~

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“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” 
~ William Shakespeare ~ 

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“Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added.”  ~ The New Testament ~

Creativity is the natural birthright of every living being. We all engage in it whether it is called play, work, or artistic expression, it’s within every one of us. Our habitual patterns of thought, words, and actions ignite our creative juices.

When I was a child, long summer days were spent playing ‘house, kick the can, jump rope, hide-go-seek,’ and other fun-filled games. At the end of the day, exhausted, I and my friends sat on the porch steps and played “That’s My Car.” We watched cars drive by, and when we saw one we liked, we pointed and yelled out: “That’s My Car.” We played until we were bored and then went on to the next pastime of storytelling.

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I love books with illustrations. I notice if I gaze at the images on the pages long enough, they begin to convey what the printed words alone could not. The same is true when I view a painting that depicts the soul of humanity through the lens of the artist. Likewise, when I look deeply into nature, her secrets are unveiled. These pictures in my mind, symbolizing some invisible essence, evoke feelings of possibilities within me. They become the inspiration for the things I desire to experience.

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When it first dawns upon us that creativity is our inherent nature, it may also dawn upon us that we have the power to consciously manifest the things we long for, and finally let go of the cycle of disappointment, regret, and feeling like the victim of circumstances. 

There are powerful tools we may implement like visualization, vision and/or dream boards, and affirmations that teach our mind (the mirror of consciousness) the images of what our happiness looks like… and with focused attention and discipline, the things we see in our minds begin to show up as our experience.

However, and interestingly enough, mastering the art of manifestation is not necessarily a change in consciousness. Like the game, That’s My Car, there may be a tendency to claim ownership of the outer appearance without claiming the qualities and feelings that the mental picture evoked. It’s not enough to have the lovely home if there is no peace there; or the beautiful prince/or princess charming, if love is not there; or the prestigious job, if there is no fulfillment there. This lack of substance may result in feelings of disappointment, regret, and victimhood, all over again. 

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The spiritual practice of Life Visioning is a great support in becoming an effective and conscious manifester.  Asking yourself questions about, not only what the good you are seeking looks like, but what it feels like, and what qualities of God it exudes; such as love, peace, harmony, abundance, joy, wisdom, etc. It’s about acknowledging what you are currently thinking, saying, and doing that is not congruent with your vision. Finally, the telltale question: are you willing to become the change you desire to experience? 

Engaging in this provocative self-inquiry aligns us with both Mind and Spirit and creates the perfect mental equivalent for the good you ought to have. Think on these things.

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I am capable of creating and maintaining a great life, and I’m worthy of the effort.”

By Debra Langley