“Every day and every hour we are meeting the eternal realities of life, and in such degree as we co-operate with these eternal realities in love, in peace, in wisdom, and in joy – believing and receiving – we are automatically blessed.”
~ The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes ~

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~

“Is not prayer a study of truth, a sally of the Soul into the unfound Infinite?”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

There are very subtle differences between practicing the Presence, Power, and Love of God and engaging in, what has been termed spiritual bypass.  For example, the former may observe a negative condition and from a consciousness that God is all there is, becomes self-empowered, sees the polar opposite, and move forward in the solution; thus, becoming an agent of change through an action of right action.   Conversely, the latter may affirm that “God is all there is,” denying the negative experience, as if the affirmative words alone will make it all go away.  

Ernest Holmes tells us: “. . . we do not say everything is all right when it is all wrong. We do not say peace when there is no peace, but rather we try to discover what is wrong and why we do not have peace.” After all, God really is all there is, and God really is good all the time. Affirmations are more than sweet-talk, pretending what is, is not. They are declarations of the eternal realities of Truth, right here and right now, inspiring us to do what is ours to do as we align ourselves with the peace that is meant to be.

A regular spiritual practice that embraces Truth, fosters an unwavering faith whereby we remain centered in a consciousness of Unity, even when reports of human atrocities describe duality in great detail; i.e., them against us . . .  winners, and losers. etc. In other words, when we are anchored in Reality, we tap into the eternal realities of life and “see Beauty even when it is not pretty.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Even though one may not be aware that it is their divine nature to express Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Harmony, and Joy, there is, nonetheless, the urge to do so. Desiring to experience the fulfillment of these qualities, there is often a tendency to ‘make’ something happen instead of ‘letting’ something happen, and miss the mark in so doing. It has been said, “for every human aberration, there is a spiritual aspiration, trying to break through.” 

~ ~ ~ ~

Practicing the Presence to the degree that you know, moment by moment that there is a Power for Good in the universe and we can use it in the present moment and that It always hears and always answers are reasons to rejoice and be thankful; it is to this degree we experience peace of mind in an ever-changing world.  

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This Weeks Affirmation

“There is a power for good in the universe and I can use it.”

~ Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP ~

(Repost)

“There is one mind common to all individual men. Every man is an inlet to the same and to all of the same. He that is once admitted to the right of reason is made a freeman of the whole estate. What Plato has thought, he may think; what a saint has felt, he may feel; what at any time has befallen any man, he can understand. Who hath access to this universal mind is a party to all that is or can be done, for this is the only and sovereign agent.”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ 

“Attraction and repulsion are mental qualities and may be consciously utilized for definite purposes. Man, automatically and according to Law, attracts to himself a correspondence of his mental attitudes. Inner mental attitudes may be induced through right thinking and correct knowing.” ~  Ernest Holmes ~

“We see a world in which each and every person lives in alignment with his/her highest spiritual principle, emphasizing unity with God and connection with each other; a world in which individually and collectively we are called to a higher state of consciousness and action.”
~ Centers for Spiritual Living ~

Familiar terms like intuition, instinct, clairvoyance, and extra-sensory perception describe the subtle effects of the phenomenon of planetary oneness. In the meantime, and in tandem with this sensation, The Law of Attraction, an invisible force operating in the universe, is forever drawing to us the thoughts and actions taking place all around us.

All this activity of the one mind is our spiritual nature ~ the very essence of who we are.

~ ~ ~ ~

Our inseparable Oneness is far-reaching. For example, those who comprise our circle of influence are not limited to the people whose names we know or to the ones with whom we associate. The circle includes the known or unknown; the seen or unseen with whom we resonate. The circle extends beyond our geographic awareness. 

There are subjective agreements we make with 
words and images presented below our conscious awareness.
We are inherently attracted to each other. 

~ ~ ~ ~

The story of The Hundredth Monkey by Ken Keyes tells how the behavior of a small group of monkeys influenced the behavior of many primates of their island, though never having interacted with them. Soon, monkeys on neighboring islands began to adopt the same behavior. 

Psychologists tell us that parents inadvertently influence their young when they speak and act cordially to one another while secretly abusing each other with word and deed. Many children grow up and continue the unseen behavior of their parents.

Both accounts illustrate the great synergy that exists between beings. They demonstrate how, unspoken words and unseen behavior, have a tendency to impress the consciousness and influence the activity of the most susceptible; be it positive or negative. The most susceptible are our circle of influence.

~ ~ ~ ~

Through the spiritual practice of meditation, we become consciously attuned to subjective impressions and began attracting only that which resonates with our highest values. Soon, our mental attitude of Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards All begins to touch the hearts of the masses ~ creating a world that works for everyone. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

“Today I consciously affirm only the Good and become a Beneficial Presence to the world.”

By Judy Hilley

“Freely you have received; freely give.” 
~ Matthew 10:8 ~

~ ~ ~ ~ 

“Find me one person who is for something and against nothing, who is redeemed enough not to condemn others out of the burden of his soul, and I will find another savior, another Jesus, and an exalted human being.”
~ Ernest Holmes, Sermon by the Sea ~

The possibility of such a one that Holmes describes in the above quote, is synonymous with the possibility of a world that works for everyone. At least, that is my point of view. It seems easy enough to articulate what I am “for.” For example, like St. Francis of Assisi, I am for peace. I am for love where there is hatred; I am for pardon where there is injury; I am for faith where there is doubt; I am for hope where there is despair; I am for light where there is darkness; and, I am for joy where there is sadness.

Even though my high ideal is to be a conscious place and a space through which The Divine is constantly flowing through me, I seem to forget to pardon when the injury is the ignorance of hatred, despair, fear, and whatever seems to contradict what I am for. 

Howard Thurman writes about the emotional reaction that rises up in opposition or against my values, as follows: “Often there are good and sufficient reasons for exercising what seems a clean, direct resentment. Again and again, I find it hard to hold in check the sharp retort, the biting comeback when it seems that someone has done violence to my self-respect and decent regard. How natural it seems to give as good as I get, to take nothing lying down, to announce to all and sundry in a thousand ways that no one can run over me and get away with it.”

Such a response is indicative that I have momentarily forgotten that what I am for and who I am … are one and the same. Who I am can never be hurt, harmed, or disappointed. My inherent nature of peace, love, light, and joy are the changeless and immutable qualities of the divine within me. In this awakened state, I begin the forgiveness process as I release and let go of all sense of separation that clouds the Truth about me and about my fellow earth-travelers.

The healing modality of forgiveness has nothing to do with excusing negative behavior or fixing relationships. It is about acknowledging the Truth of Being; that God freely gives to everyone. God’s grace is for giving love, beauty, peace, joy, harmony, and wisdom to the world. Such a realization is like a reset button that aligns us, once more, with the Truth; and, letting God be God through all. 

The following chant, whose author is unknown to me, keeps singing in my mind.

“We are One!
We are One!
In the Spirit, we are One!
Let your Love flow,
So, the world will know,
We are One in Love!”

In silent meditation, I listen for the still small voice that tells me what is mine to do that contributes to a world that works for everyone. 

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This Weeks Affirmation

I now allow Love to flow through me and direct my thoughts and actions in every way.

Angela “Chris” Beam

“Perfect God, Perfect Man, Perfect Being.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

“Spiritual Mind Treatment is a spiritual science with which we can experiment in the laboratory of our own consciousness and provide empirical evidence that we live in a co-creative universe, that the invisible side of life is a tangible reality. Prayer is a direct link to our co-creative intelligence, intuition, and oneness with God.”
~ Rev. Dr. Michael B. Beckwith ~

When I was a child, I believed the word ‘healing’ referred to a phenomenon that defies all known science. I believed this phenomenon was exclusive to biblical times and performed only by chosen ones, like Moses and Jesus. I believed that anyone who claimed to have the power to heal blasphemed God. I have come a long way since those childish thoughts. 

When I began consciously exploring practical spirituality, I meditated on my beliefs about God, as well as my beliefs about my relationship with The One.  I came to realize that the healing of one’s body, mind, and affairs is more than a possibility, it is actually the revealing of our true nature; i.e., the unchanging Reality of our lives that never betrays Itself. This Truth, when realized, sets us free from every sense of limitation.

It stands to reason, I surmised since all things are possible with God, and I am the microcosmic image of God, then I too, have the power to heal human conditions. Ernest Holmes, when speaking about the teachings of The Science of Mind, declared: “We believe in the direct revelation of Truth through our intuitive and spiritual nature, and that anyone may become a revealer of Truth who lives in close contact with the indwelling God.”  Yes, we each have the power to speak Truth to our circumstances.

~ ~ ~ ~

 There is a Presence residing at the center of our being that has never been touched by human circumstances. It has never been hurt, harmed, or disappointed. It remains intact . . . always Whole, Complete, and Perfect.  It is the Originating First Cause of all that is.   It has within Itself everything that makes for a healthy life experience; i.e., Love, Peace, Beauty, Wisdom, Order Harmony, Abundance, Power, and Joy. The Perfect One is our True Self; our Higher Self, if you will. When we are in alignment with the attributes of our inherent divinity, we perceive It expressing as the perfect function of the body, mental and emotional clarity, fulfilling relationships, financial abundance, and satisfying creative expression.

When we are out of sync with our Divine Nature, there are symptoms to let us know this is so. These symptoms can be likened to the ‘check engine light’ in your car.  You are at choice as to how you respond to the symptoms. You can stew about ‘why is this happening to me, or you may seek support from a trusted healer as you step into your greater-yet-to-be.

At any moment in time, you may begin to align yourself with your Self. 

1. Begin to meditate on what you believe is true of God.
2. Meditate on what you believe is true of your relationship with God.
3. Stay in this process until you realize that your divine birthright is within you right now.
4. Let your heart become filled with gratitude for this awakening.
5. With no attachment to the particular form the healing takes, you simply allow it to be so.

This spiritual practice is called Spiritual Mind Treatment.

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This Weeks Affirmation

Truth be told, I know I can heal myself.

Keith Childers

(Repost)
During this moment in time when the collective consciousness of humanity is pulled between concepts of right and wrong; good and bad; them and us, and various pairs of opposites; I realize I am not an isolated being. I, too, am part of it all. I, too, contribute to the human consensus.

I begin to question if what I am thinking, saying, and doing are in alignment with what I say I value. After all, Ancient Wisdom teaches, “Where your treasure is, there is also your heart.” 

I notice that I have strong opinions, thoughts, and emotions. I am aware that these passions are the driving forces in the invisible realm that create my world of effects. I challenge myself to be “for something and against nothing.”

I begin to reflect on what it is that I truly treasure; i.e., what are my true values?

For sure I value practical spirituality. It is my principal treasure, inasmuch as it is all-encompassing when it comes to living life fully. The keyword is “practical.” For example, practical spirituality shows up as health, wealth, and love. They are by-products, or the out-picturing of the Wholeness and Perfection of The Eternal One.

In order to experience this natural goodness, I realize that I must provide an opening/or willingness through which the nature of God may express through me and as me.

So, I ask myself:

• Do my eating and exercise habits; my TV and social media choices; the books I read and the company I keep reflect my idea of health for the body and the mind?
• Do I invest in what I desire to see increase? Do I spend my energy, talents, and skills in life-giving projects?  Do I circulate the good that is mine so others may prosper in their worthwhile endeavors? Do I demonstrate my idea of wealth?
• Do I embrace my concept of love by practicing The Golden Rule at every turn, without exception and without the temptation to give as good as I get?

In other words, are my actions congruent with my ideas about the Wholeness and Perfection of the Divine?

My conclusion is: I must be the change I desire to see in the world and then notice the following results:

1. It stops me from judging others;
2. It replaces complaining about others with reflection on self;
3. It stirs me into taking action within the only thing in the world over which I have any control: myself. 

Mahatma Gandhi, a mystic of the 20^th century 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.”

The decision to change is indeed a defining moment. 

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This Weeks Affirmation

“As God expresses through me daily, I get to choose to treat others with kindness, respect, and love.”

~ Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP ~