“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
~ Matthew 7:2 (NIV) ~ 

There is a universal law of choice that governs the life of the planet and all Its habitants. This law or principle is the creative life force of every individual. It is set in motion by the issues of the heart and mind; i.e., embodied thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.  The inevitable results that follow are evidence of conscious or unconscious choices made within the secret place of one’s very own being. There are no exceptions.

The Science of Mind refers to this universal spiritual law as The Law of Reciprocity. It is also known as karma; cause and effect; action and re-action; or simply, what goes around comes around. From this perspective, we may realize it is our very own “free will” that creates our experiences, both positive and negative.

Spiritual laws do not belong to just one group of people, one religion, one sect, or one culture. These laws, being universal, apply to all. All major religions of the world teach the law of reciprocity in their own unique way. 

The spiritual Law of Reciprocity is simply your beliefs, attitudes, and actions returning to you in the same way they are doled out by you. It is like there is a sign attached to your words that say, “Return to Sender.”  This law teaches us that we can only know for another what we know for ourselves. We are One! 

In our awakened state of unity, let us choose to let go of petty judgments, gossip, and all manner of false beliefs that suggest separation. 

The enlightened one who has evolved from a limited sense of self to an expanded sense of Self practices the principle: 

 “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”
and, in so doing, the Law of Reciprocity loves you back. 

The following quote by Evan Hodkins tells of the benefits of choosing Love, Harmony, Peace, and Joy as a way of life. He says, “The economy of blessing is speckled with boomerangs, sprinkled with collateral benefits, and slathered with mutuality, Blessings are apt to rebound and tend to reverberate down the corridors of time. Blessing is but another word for boundlessness.” 

Let us use our power of the word for blessings! 

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I AM always right where I AM.”

Keith Childers

“I have listened to the great Silence; and in the deep places of Life, have stood naked and receptive to Thy songs and they have entered my soul. “
~ Ernest Holmes ~

“…meditation is an emphasis on turning within, touching the depths of your inner self: the point where God is manifesting as you.”
~ Eric Butterworth ~  

I have this notion that meditation is a spontaneous response to an inner knowing that tells us it is time to pause and simply be alone with oneself; just like we know when it is time to drink water, or when it is time to sleep. This practice of being alone with oneself looks different at different times.

As a child, I bore witness to my mother’s way. Now, you must know that my mother never used the word “meditation.” However, as a busy mother of nine, she took a daily break from her chores to strategize and energize before beginning her next project.  Sometimes I tried to get her attention while she sat quietly, softly humming, and with her eyes closed. She would say, “Hush child, can’t you see I’m studying?”  I now know she was engaged in ‘contemplative meditation.’

Years later, I found myself replicating my mother’s behavior. The difference is, it was upon arriving home after working all day. I would kick off my shoes, and sit quietly for a while, with no agenda, as I released all that had transpired during the day and prepared for the fullness of the next moment. My two children knew this was my “quiet time.” Little did I know at the time that I had slipped into what is called ‘the silence.’

I recall times when taking a walk (‘a movement meditation’) helped to stabilize anxiety, stress, and other emotional occurrences. Or, how taking deep breaths served as a ‘centering meditation,’ before speaking or acting. 

There are unlimited forms of meditation, making it a challenge to define it as just one way. For example, early on my spiritual path, I followed the way of ‘guided meditations.’ Later, I encountered a teacher who told his students to let go of all concepts and words and would leave us suspended in The Great Nowhere. I had great resistance when entering this ‘Big Mind meditation.’ However, there soon followed extraordinary clarity regarding what was mine to do. 

Even though there is a natural propensity to meditate, it is nonetheless the trained mind that is most effective. For example, there are techniques that teach how to remain focused. The one who has learned to harness the energy of thought is not distracted by fleeting thoughts and incessant mind chatter. The trained mind distinguishes between hearing and listening.

No matter what the initial purpose, the practice of meditation awakens our awareness of our inherent unity with the Source of All Life and dissolves all illusions of separation.  The calmness, the insight, the healing of mind and body, the renewed energy, the intuitive impulses, the relaxation, and the peace of mind that follows are just some of the by-products of this practice.  

Meditation, whether it takes place in the special space you have reserved, or with a group; is always experienced alone, within the recesses of your very own being.

There have been times when it occurred to me, there are people all over the planet meditating at the same moment I am. In such times, I envision all of humanity as a beacon of light; vibrating, pulsating, and shining together as One. 

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This Weeks Affirmation

“Each morning as I enter into the silence of my daily meditation, I know I am one with the One.”

Mary Jane LaBonte

“I am a finger pointing to the moon. Don’t look at me; look at the moon.”
~ The Buddha ~

“The map is not the territory” 
~ Alfred Korzybski ~

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
~ John 8:32 ~

Ordinary language often falls short when trying to express in words a spiritual experience. Therefore, metaphors, symbols, idioms, and word pictures are some of the ways feelings of a transcendent event are evoked.  When considering such accounts, various interpretations or translations are added to the mix according to one’s own culture. Soon the original meaning becomes obscure and mysterious.

However, the one who is willing to take the time to exercise “lowly listening,” or, hearing with one’s heart, will soon tap into the one infinite mind, and like a great contagion, will “catch” an understanding of the Truth being imparted.

There exists a consensus among scholars that the language of Jesus and his disciples was Aramaic. The prayer that Jesus taught his students, known as The Lord’s Prayer, has been translated into many languages since spoken in his native tongue. However, it has never lost its effectiveness to heal. 

The Spiritual Principle of Prayer, when applied for a specific end, unifies with the Creative Power of God through which all things are possible. Interpreting the principle of spiritual realization, by using one’s own words, affirms one’s understanding and provides a beautiful space for Holy Communion. For example, I tell myself what the principle means to me:  

OUR FATHER:
I know there is One Universal Presence that is The First Cause of absolutely everything that is. “Our Father” is a perfect metaphor to describe the Creator of all.

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN:
This Presence lives in the highest realms of my consciousness. The kingdom of heaven is within me.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME:
The nature of this One, being Pure Perfection, is sacred and highly revered.

THY KINGDOM COME; THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN:
The realization of this Presence causes It to manifest as my environment. The appearance of my desired good is always in direct proportion to the mental equivalent held in the highest realms of my very own consciousness. 

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD:
This Presence provides that which sustains all the inhabitants of the earth according to one’s individual acceptance. 

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US:
The Presence of Unconditional Love, circulating as grace, moves in me and as me. I am “for something” and “against nothing.”

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: 
The Presence guides us into paths of right action, letting error thoughts and beliefs dissolve into nothingness. 

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY: 
I recognize that the Good I see; the Force that brings it about; and the inevitable Praise and Thanksgiving that is stirred up, is the activity of The One Presence indwelling all.

FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN:
I let all this be so, and so it is!

The next step is to apply The Principle of Prayer to the specific good being sought. Otherwise, faith without action is meaningless. I invite you to think on these things.

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This Weeks Affirmation

“With every step forward, I am faith-filled and faithful.”

~ unity.org ~ 

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
 ~ Mark 2:22 ~ 

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth   I tell you of them.”
 ~ Isaiah 42:9 ~

Consciousness¹ eventually shows up as “form.” This implies that we can look at our present physical, material environment, as well as our emotional state, and see our values represented as our lives … whether they are residual images from our past beliefs or are our present mindset.

Have you ever felt that change was imminent in your life without any apparent evidence? This intuitive impulse often motivates us to begin preparing for newness without knowing what it is that is about to be born through us. For example, we may find ourselves clearing out closets, emptying drawers, having a yard sale, or donating to charity those things that have served their purpose in our lives.

Yes, even before the new version of ourselves show up in “form,” the former things begin to gradually fade away. Change always means some unexpected newness is about to happen; new people, new clothes, new technology, or perhaps a new location. Whatever it is, it is an uncharted experience being birthed.   

As we step into our greater-yet-to-be, we may find there are old beliefs and habits still lingering in our atmosphere. These diehards, are forms of energy that are sustained by the attention we give them.   They now require our conscious and deliberate effort to let them dissolve into the nothingness from whence they came. Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul spoke when he said, “Be ye therefore transformed by the renewing of your mind.” While the language may be archaic, the message is timeless. 

Energy in its purest form is always giving of its creative power to everything it contacts. It is “the idea or strength, vigor potency, and vitality” that maintains and sustains the health of our body organs, as well as the love we experience through the people, places, and things we encounter along the way.  It is always giving.

“Unforgiving” denotes the space for the givingness of divine energy to flow is blocked by the mental and emotional attention to resentment, anger, and sense of victimhood. Once these concepts of separation are healed, the soul’s sincere desire is unleashed and begins to flow like water from a pipe that was formerly clogged.

The process of letting go of the old is not a one-time proposition. Each time we ascend to greater heights of awareness, we leave behind that which no longer serves us. All this is part of the process of “letting go” of our attachment to that which is subject to change. It is a process of letting God be God in our lives.

 ¹Mental awareness; both objective and subjective. (The Science of Mind page 580)

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I affirm–All the good there is, is mine now!“

Angela “Chris” Beam

Planet earth has often been compared to a classroom. It is here we learn to move through the material, physical realm, while completely dependent on the invisible, spiritual realm of our lives. The phrases, “we are in this world, but not of it,” and “we are spiritual beings, having a human experience,” describe this phenomenon.  Even the biblical phrase, “In my Father’s house there are many mansions,” suggests the various levels, or grades of awareness one may experience while traveling through this thing called life. 

Staying with the classroom metaphor for a moment, imagine with me how we gradually move from one self-created experience to another. Each stage providing a lesson that seems like a balancing act of our feelings, thoughts, and emotions in response to what is happening in our lives.  At the same time, the challenge is to cultivate the ability to stay in alignment with the Love, Peace, Harmony, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Joy of the Spirit. It is a process of moving to higher and higher states of consciousness; i.e., a continuous ascension from glory to glory. 

When I was a child, there was a little ditty taught in Sunday School that you may have learned as well. It went like this: “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings! Name them one by one! Count your many blessings, see what God has done!”

What a wonderful foundation it establishes in the mind of the young one! The instructions for this spiritual practice are very clear. It is one of focus and intention, resulting in a realization of Truth.   The “catchy” tune is inviting, making the process a joyful experience. 

Throughout the years, one may begin to remember overcoming a serious health challenge; or, experiencing the healing power of love; or, the blessing of financial sufficiency received in an hour of need.

Obviously, the simple lesson is to remember the many times we have experienced spontaneous grace. In so doing, there is a tendency of restored peace, faith, and harmony to the mind. The practice becomes an avenue through which more and more good flows.  Soon we move into a state of deep gratitude. 

Ernest Holmes defines “appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving as the motive power which attracts and magnifies the hidden potentialities of life.” He also teaches,” there is something in this attitude of thanksgiving that carries us beyond the field of doubt into one of perfect faith and acceptance, receptivity…realization.”  

These lessons support us tremendously as we move through the apparent uncertainty, separation, and division of the human experience, both individual and collective that are all around us. While we do not put our heads in the sand, ignoring the out picturing of these circumstances; we do not fall prey to the belief of hopelessness. Instead, we move with confidence, doing what is ours to do; while remembering God’s unlimited grace. 

In such a moment, the former things fall away … providing a space for the greater-yet-to-be to unfold. The Presence and Power of Unlimited Potential is within every one of us.

Let us join hands in the awareness that All is One, and the only time is Now, singing our new song:

“I am so blessed. I am so blessed.
I am so grateful for all that I have.
I am so blessed. I am so blessed.
I am so grateful. I am so blessed.”

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This Weeks Affirmation

“I am so grateful and blessed for the opportunity to live a life of love, joy, and peace.”

Keith Childers