“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.” 
~ Carl Jung ~

“In the beginning was The Word; and The Word was with God; and The Word was God.”
~ John 1:1 ~

“Our word of power can be spoken in fullness only as we recognize the unity of all life, only as the good we desire for the self includes all others.” 
~ Ernest Holmes, This Thing Called Life ~ 

In response to the request ‘Tell me about yourself,’ the narrative that follows usually begins with the words, “I am.” The story may include “I am” statements about one’s physical, mental, and emotional condition at the time. It may include “I am” statements about one’s relationship to another, one’s career, and financial status at the time. It may include hobbies, such as, ‘I am a cook,’ ‘I am a gardener,’ ‘I am a photographer,’ etc.  In any case, the words “I am” describe one’s experience in the world.

While these statements may be factual, they nonetheless exist in the human realm where change is always taking place.  In “old school thinking,” the one seeking a new experience would change jobs, change partners, or move to a new location, and very often experience more of the same they left behind. However, Ernest Holmes teaches, “Change your thinking, change your life.”  With this approach, you may very well make the same changes; however, the new experience you are seeking is attained. The kind of thinking referenced here can only be done in the solitude of your own being. 

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“I AM” is a great mystery that lies within us.   When we are engaged in quiet contemplation, It is the still small voice that we hear. It is the Originating Word that is the beginning of everything that is. It is the Creative Power, forever proclaiming Itself into existence. That which I AM is fully imbued and infused in every cell, nerve, tissue, organ, fiber, bone, and muscle of every being. I AM is The Presence of the soul’s sincere desire; i.e., Love, Peace, Harmony, Joy, Wisdom, Intelligence, Power, etc. To the degree that we identify with this, our spiritual nature, it is to that degree that we begin to experience the power of that which the indwelling I AM is. It is within every one of us!

~ ~ ~ ~

It is when we understand the nature of our entire being, the human and the divine, that we accept with clarity and conviction the Truth of who we are at the core of our being. The Law of Mind in Action receives the direct impress of our thought and acts upon it. Wholeness is revealed. 

It seems reasonable to say that when we align ourselves with the nature of our Higher Self or the Creative I AM, the qualities we seek for fulfillment are realized as they express in, through, and as the person, place, or thing we desire. 

I AM The Way 
of Love, Peace, Harmony, Joy, Wisdom, Intelligence, Power.

I AM The Truth
that sets you free from all belief in limitation.

I AM The Life
that energizes and unifies all as One.

I AM is God; Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“Today I say Yes to the Universe for all that I am, and the Universe says Yes to me—and it is always today!”

Angela “Chris” Beam

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” ~ Rumi ~

 “There is one mind common to all individual men. Every man is an inlet to the same and to all of the same.” 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

“…It will be done just as you believed it would.” 
~ Matthew 8:13 ~

“Cosmic Consciousness is the perception of the Whole. 
~ Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind p.581.8 ~

Mystics, philosophers, scientists, theologians, and deep thinkers throughout the ages have arrived at the same conclusion; i.e., there is a Presence permeating the universe that always hears and always answers, which is another way of saying, ‘The Presence responds by corresponding’ with one’s perception of Reality. 

The Presence is Universal Creative Energy through which all things are possible. Its nature is Pure, Unadulterated Consciousness. It is Omnipotence (all-powerful); Omniscience (knows Itself as all); Omnipresence (everywhere at once). It is a Power for Good, emanating Love, Peace, Harmony, Beauty, Wisdom, Abundance, Joy, etc., endlessly. It is the First Cause of all life forms.  This Originating Life Force is God. 

I love what Emerson says regarding humanity’s accessibility to God-Consciousness, as follows: “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.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Spiritually speaking, the word “consciousness” is often used to describe one’s awareness of universal principles (individual or the collective). However, there is a vast difference between being aware of a principle and actually embodying it as a guidepost for one’s life.  The embodiment of the divine qualities of Spirit, coupled with the belief that they are operating in the midst of your affairs, all the time, is a realization of The Divine, or, God-Consciousness. 

Staying anchored in the Consciousness of Truth during “trying times” requires courage and self-discipline. Daily spiritual practices that affirm the Truth regardless of what the form looks like, are essential. Cultivating this kind of consciousness often takes place in the Secret Place of the Most High. The one who is diligent in moving in the direction of their dreams pierces the veil of illusion, and on that clear day, sees the magnificence of The One stretched into infinity, and bears witness as the former things fall away, and new forms are birthed.   

Yes, the one who understands that God-Consciousness is always ‘for us’ and never ‘against us,’ perceives spiritual attributes operating in, through, and as the physical, material, mental, and emotional experiences of our lives. 

And, so it is!

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This Weeks Affirmation

I AM always connected. Peace be with me!

Keith Childers

Years ago, I had the pleasure to hear the late Dr. Joseph Murphy deliver a message entitled, “Fourth Dimensional Prayer.” I recall that he spoke extremely fast and used terms that were new to me or were used in a context I was hearing for the first time. I found myself moving closer and closer to the edge of my seat as if this postured me to focus with greater clarity as I strained to understand what I was hearing.

While I do not remember the details of his message, I do remember the feeling it invoked within me. The talk lifted my consciousness to heights I had not previously experienced.  When the presentation was over, I stood and applauded along with the hundreds of others in attendance. Later, when reflecting on this profound experience, I realized that the message was not new.  

As I continued to reflect, I realized what I experienced was a confirmation of all that I had been hearing, reading, studying, talking about, and practicing.  Every minister, teacher, practitioner, and fellow traveler with whom I associated throughout the years affirmed this same Life Principle, laying a strong foundation for this heightened state of receptivity. 

My soul recognized the energy of Pure Spirit as it expressed through the speaker, and responded with a resounding YES!”  It was in this heightened state of consciousness that I was ready to embody the Truth at a higher level of understanding.

It has been said, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Through practice, practice, practice, a strong foundation of faith is established and it seems that we are suddenly catapulted into a greater awareness of the possibilities stretched before us. It is in this cultivated readiness that the veil of separation is pierced. We become receptive to Divine Wisdom, operating through the individuals who guide us into new ways of thinking and being. 

While the Divine Presence inhabiting the universe transcends words and concepts, the human aspect of our nature utilizes the Creative Mind by using words and concepts to construct a world of objects and forms. The consistent practice of loving-kindness, affirmative speech, unifying images, and meditation, etc. are the doorway to the infinite. In moments of illumination, we know what is ours to do and we begin to build structures that serve the highest good for everyone. 

~ ~ ~ ~

The Divine Teacher of all things appears when we are ready to receive the divine message from our higher consciousness. 

Emma Curtis Hopkins, the renowned teacher of teachers in the field of metaphysics, says this about practicing the principles announced in Truth: “I think it: I speak it; I write it; I live it.”

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I openly accept spiritual guidance from a higher power.”

https://zannakeithley.com/spiritual-affirmations/

“Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?
~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet ~

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” 
~ Socrates ~

Who am I? What is mine to do? What is my purpose? How do I make a difference in the world?   These are common questions that arise for the spiritually inspired who have taken an assessment of their personal beliefs, values, and worldview.

Based on the premise, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” (Matthew 7:7), I imagine Divine Wisdom’s response, saying in effect: ‘You are pure spirit, an individualization of the One Spirit which is the Sole Creator of all life. Everything that you do is the creative nature of the Creator expressing through you, as you.  The purpose-driven life of the one aligned with spiritual principles is a conduit through which Unconditional Love, Peace, Harmony, Wisdom, Wholeness, Abundance, Beauty, and Joy are unleashed, creating a positive force for good in the world.’

~ ~ ~ ~

When one is in alignment with the nature of the One Source, God, there is a natural tendency to ‘give’ to the world. They are service-oriented people, serving humanity with their time, talents, skills, and abilities, regardless of the avenue used, be it academic, corporate, political, or the arts. The choice is always ours, and the ever-present creative energy flows the same through all. What matters is the motive (or driving force) for doing what is being offered.  It is from a consciousness of unity and a sincere intention for the highest good of everyone to be realized, that a world that works for everyone begins to emerge. 

The blind spot for the one who has never questioned their existence and inadvertently seeks to ‘get’ something from the world, may be as simple as the attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and actions, inherited from the error-thought and worldview of the unenlightened.   

Rev. Michael B. Beckwith teaches: “Disagree with any thought-form that says, “My good is coming from someone else. My answer is coming from someone else.” All good comes directly from the Source of all Creation.”  

~ ~ ~ ~

From outer appearances, there may be no evidence based on one’s occupation that distinguishes the enlightened from the unenlightened. As the Zen Proverb teaches: “Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.”However, those who, in the recesses of their being, are awake enough to practice their spiritual identity, their personal mission, and goals, are a beneficial presence in the world. 

These ones, also being aware of their own unenlightened parts, engage in a daily practice of Love, Forgiveness, Peace, and Compassion for all. They are forever growing into their greater-yet-to-be, whose consciousness is making a difference in the world.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I AM a conduit expressing the attributes of the Divine, which I know creates a positive force for Good in our world.”

Mary Jane LaBonte

“We believe that the Universal Spirit, which is God, operates through a Universal Mind, which is the Law of God; and that we are surrounded by this Creative Mind which receives the direct impress of our thought and acts upon it.”
~ Ernest Holmes~

“The world will persist in exhibiting before you what you persist in affirming the world is.”
~ Emma Curtis Hopkins ~

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
~ I Corinthians 13:11 ~

When I was a child my favorite Bible verse was: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” I reasoned if I were honest, and wished no one harm, I would come face to face with the Super Man-Being who resides in the sky and rules the universe. As a result of memorizing the verse, and telling myself what the words mean, it became a spiritual practice. 

In my sweet innocence, I unknowingly began to establish certain beliefs; albeit some true and some false.  However, the universal laws governing the mental realm, just like the universal laws governing the physical realm, do not differentiate between who has activated the Law, but fulfill its own nature by the process of becoming, in the physical world, an exact facsimile of the feelings and beliefs it receives. 

The belief that God is separate from Its creation is the biggest error that humanity makes. It sets up all sorts of ideas of duality; i.e., good and evil; reward and punishment; a blessing and a curse; love and fear; all kinds of cross-currents.    However, when there is a realization that the Highest God and the Innermost God are one, the new paradigm begins to establish new beliefs for the Law of Mind in Action to act upon.  

Having reached a level of spiritual maturity and insight, I have a greater understanding of the words I affirmed as a child.  I now realize that the “pure in heart” is a consciousness for which there are no opposing mixtures of thoughts.  Also, Charles Fillmore tells us that the blessedness of God is the joy that comes to those whose thoughts are stayed on the presence of Good (God).  In this exalted view, God is seen exhibiting Itself before us in the world; not as a physical man, but as a spiritual presence centered in all. 

Saying affirmations is a wonderful spiritual practice, even when the words are spoken by rote.  They are not said to make something happen, but rather for the purpose of coming into a realization of what is already so. Spiritual Practice is always for the purpose of having a revelation of Truth. It is a process where one consciously participates in her own evolution– always moving in higher dimensions of awareness through understanding.  

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This Weeks Affirmation

“With purpose and intent, I pour all the Good into this uncreated day!”

Judy Hilley