Thoughts That Illuminate Page 2
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| When you are Upset, Tune into God’s Voice. Having Trouble Hearing? Try This. |
To hear God's Voice is to be at peace. To hear God's Voice is to have all of our problems solved. And yet, every Course student
at one time or another has been frustrated because they do not consistently hear the Voice that we are told is speaking to us all
through the day. In theory it sounds wonderful that we have God's Voice constantly communicating thoughts and feelings direct
from Heaven within, but in experience, it seems the wires get crossed more times than we would like to admit. Why does there
seem to be a short in the circuit when we WANT to hear His Voice?
at one time or another has been frustrated because they do not consistently hear the Voice that we are told is speaking to us all
through the day. In theory it sounds wonderful that we have God's Voice constantly communicating thoughts and feelings direct
from Heaven within, but in experience, it seems the wires get crossed more times than we would like to admit. Why does there
seem to be a short in the circuit when we WANT to hear His Voice?
| I Have no Cause for Anger or for Fear. |
Anger and fear are the two most common emotions and the reasons for them are endless and seem to be without a remedy. We
try to fix the problem by manipulating the outside world in some way. At best this works temporarily and at worst it does not
work to at all! The reason we are not free of anger and fear is NOT because they cannot be eradicated. It is because we are not
dealing with them at their cause.
try to fix the problem by manipulating the outside world in some way. At best this works temporarily and at worst it does not
work to at all! The reason we are not free of anger and fear is NOT because they cannot be eradicated. It is because we are not
dealing with them at their cause.
| Resolving Conflict |
Recently the hottest news item was the “Occupy Wall Street” campaign, where the “have-nots” protested against the “haves” to
draw attention to the conflict that exists between the winners and the losers. This conflict is no different than other conflicts we
see on the screen of our dream; countries at war, nature vs. man; businesses, neighbors, friends, families; all in conflict. No matter
how much we try to get along, perceptions are still varied, opinions are in opposition, differences divide us, judgments are made,
and those who believe they are right stand against those who believe they are right. Why is it that conflict still remains our
experience despite the efforts to get along? Because we are not resolving the conflict where it is!
draw attention to the conflict that exists between the winners and the losers. This conflict is no different than other conflicts we
see on the screen of our dream; countries at war, nature vs. man; businesses, neighbors, friends, families; all in conflict. No matter
how much we try to get along, perceptions are still varied, opinions are in opposition, differences divide us, judgments are made,
and those who believe they are right stand against those who believe they are right. Why is it that conflict still remains our
experience despite the efforts to get along? Because we are not resolving the conflict where it is!
| When you are Frightened; Surrender |
A Spiritual practice consists of one central idea: Accept that only what God Creates is true and every time you are tempted to
believe otherwise and have allowed an error in thought and perception to enter your mind, go back into Spirit to ask what is true.
Seems simple enough until you open your eyes in the morning and your world presents itself in living color! There are so many
pictures that terrify us and when fear hits, it is easy to forget this one simple practice. The hardest thing to remember in these
moments is to call on truth as the only thing you need do. If we are gripped in fear the first thing we usually do is scream and run.
believe otherwise and have allowed an error in thought and perception to enter your mind, go back into Spirit to ask what is true.
Seems simple enough until you open your eyes in the morning and your world presents itself in living color! There are so many
pictures that terrify us and when fear hits, it is easy to forget this one simple practice. The hardest thing to remember in these
moments is to call on truth as the only thing you need do. If we are gripped in fear the first thing we usually do is scream and run.
| What is the Goal of your Spiritual Journey? |
A mystic’s life is devoted to the pursuit of the spirit, rather than an intellectual understanding of the teaching. They yearn for a
deep realization of the Divine and want to move beyond belief to direct experience. Their single desire and only goal is to Know
God. Is not a mystics' goal, our goal when picking up A Course in Miracles or any other spiritual path? At first we may not
recognize this as our goal. Mostly we just want a way out of pain and fear and our solutions have ceased to work. But as we
begin to seek God for help we eventually open up to a deeper yearning of our heart.
deep realization of the Divine and want to move beyond belief to direct experience. Their single desire and only goal is to Know
God. Is not a mystics' goal, our goal when picking up A Course in Miracles or any other spiritual path? At first we may not
recognize this as our goal. Mostly we just want a way out of pain and fear and our solutions have ceased to work. But as we
begin to seek God for help we eventually open up to a deeper yearning of our heart.
| Do not be Afraid to Look Within |
When we decide to walk the path of A Course in Miracles to find a spiritual solution to the darkness of the world, we discover
the direction we are asked to go is inside, where love, peace and safety abide. A Course in Miracles teaches that as the dreamer,
you hold the dream within your mind. Therefore ALL healing lies in the mind because the ideas that make up the dream are in the
mind; along with the world that shape-shifts the content of the mind into form. So we begin ACIM with a promise of peace and
go happily within to find it, until we discover and are frightened by what else is within our mind …..darkened thoughts of guilt,
fear and hatred that obscure the Love and innocence that we are trying to reach.
the direction we are asked to go is inside, where love, peace and safety abide. A Course in Miracles teaches that as the dreamer,
you hold the dream within your mind. Therefore ALL healing lies in the mind because the ideas that make up the dream are in the
mind; along with the world that shape-shifts the content of the mind into form. So we begin ACIM with a promise of peace and
go happily within to find it, until we discover and are frightened by what else is within our mind …..darkened thoughts of guilt,
fear and hatred that obscure the Love and innocence that we are trying to reach.
| How can I be Innocent? Look What I Have Done! |
Are you feeling guilty about something you did? First let me say that you are not alone in experiencing guilt. Although your
story may have different characters, plot line and backdrop, in all of our stories of guilt we believe: we are guilty because we were
unloving either to ourselves or others, we caused hurt and pain (or even death), and/or others have suffered because of our
mistakes. These stories also share deeply rooted beliefs that we are unlovable, unworthy, or flawed, along with many variations of
our attempts to undo the hurts of the past.
story may have different characters, plot line and backdrop, in all of our stories of guilt we believe: we are guilty because we were
unloving either to ourselves or others, we caused hurt and pain (or even death), and/or others have suffered because of our
mistakes. These stories also share deeply rooted beliefs that we are unlovable, unworthy, or flawed, along with many variations of
our attempts to undo the hurts of the past.
| If you Want a Miracle, Turn Off Your Five Senses |
In some spiritual teachings our identity is described as a mix of ego and holiness, body and spirit; sinner and saint. These teachings
attempt to blend our True Self with the self that we see and experience. The teachings try to find reconciliation with the Self we
believe we are and the self we experience. In theory we may believe we are spirit created in God’s likeness, but our experience
witnesses to its opposite. We have murderous thoughts, behave in unloving ways, believe in and feel intense guilt, and see a
body. With our five senses constantly witnessing to the existence of a separated self, is it any wonder we conclude we must be
both? How can we possibly know again what we are when our experience of a false self is so strong and everything we see, taste,
smell, touch or hear witness to this false self?
attempt to blend our True Self with the self that we see and experience. The teachings try to find reconciliation with the Self we
believe we are and the self we experience. In theory we may believe we are spirit created in God’s likeness, but our experience
witnesses to its opposite. We have murderous thoughts, behave in unloving ways, believe in and feel intense guilt, and see a
body. With our five senses constantly witnessing to the existence of a separated self, is it any wonder we conclude we must be
both? How can we possibly know again what we are when our experience of a false self is so strong and everything we see, taste,
smell, touch or hear witness to this false self?
| How will the World End? (Thoughts about the recent news story on the rapture.) |
‘The Rapture’, a biblical term for the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus, was going to occur Saturday, May 21,
2011. What does ACIM say about how the world will end? "The end of the world is not its destruction, but its translation into
Heaven." And we all have a part to play in the world's reawakening. In this article we explore a practice that ushers in a new
world of peace, harmony and love.
2011. What does ACIM say about how the world will end? "The end of the world is not its destruction, but its translation into
Heaven." And we all have a part to play in the world's reawakening. In this article we explore a practice that ushers in a new
world of peace, harmony and love.
| This will Give me Everything I Want |
In this moment as you are reading this; what is it that you want? Your mind may first rest on something external such as a job, a
relationship, money to pay the bills, health etc. But if you closely examine these things, you will realize that what you are really
asking for is an experience; the form is merely something that you believe will bring about that experience. Change the question
from "What is it that I want” to ” What it that I want to experience?", and you will move away from form to content; toward what
it is you are really searching for.
relationship, money to pay the bills, health etc. But if you closely examine these things, you will realize that what you are really
asking for is an experience; the form is merely something that you believe will bring about that experience. Change the question
from "What is it that I want” to ” What it that I want to experience?", and you will move away from form to content; toward what
it is you are really searching for.
| A Practice to use When Others are in Fear |
T.28.IV The Greater Joining addresses what to do when we are with others who are struggling with fear, or experiencing pain or
attacking etc. When you are with someone who is experiencing any form the dream of fear and guilt might take, we can take
responsibility for: #1. What is occurring in our mind and #2. What we want to experience (separation (fear) or oneness (love).
attacking etc. When you are with someone who is experiencing any form the dream of fear and guilt might take, we can take
responsibility for: #1. What is occurring in our mind and #2. What we want to experience (separation (fear) or oneness (love).
| When There is Pain and Suffering, I am in Need of Nothing but the Truth? |
We can all agree that healing is needed where there is pain and suffering. The presence of pain in any form- whether it is physical,
emotional or just plain old fear-is an indicator that there is a need for help and healing. Once this is recognized we can be lead
astray in using the part of our mind that is sick (ego) to assess the problem and to find a solution.
emotional or just plain old fear-is an indicator that there is a need for help and healing. Once this is recognized we can be lead
astray in using the part of our mind that is sick (ego) to assess the problem and to find a solution.
| Lay Before Him all your Hurt and Guilt and let Him Heal you. |
A few months ago, there was an incident where a young boy was killed by a drunk driver. The friend of the mother of this young
boy was writing to a group of Course teachers asking for our support and suggestions on how to console the mother. As I was
going within to ask for clarity on how to comfort others who are in pain, a memory flashed into my mind. I was reminded of the
time when I was the one suffering and had asked Holy Spirit to comfort me. His answer was a Great Comfort and so I felt
inspired to share His soothing vision with this friend. Here is my response to her question.
boy was writing to a group of Course teachers asking for our support and suggestions on how to console the mother. As I was
going within to ask for clarity on how to comfort others who are in pain, a memory flashed into my mind. I was reminded of the
time when I was the one suffering and had asked Holy Spirit to comfort me. His answer was a Great Comfort and so I felt
inspired to share His soothing vision with this friend. Here is my response to her question.
| What will Ease my Fear? |
If you are feeling fear, no doubt you can link it to an event or situation happening in your life. At first glance, the cause and effect
relationship between the world and your fear is this: the scary world comes first and your fear soon follows. Believing this, you
try to contain your fear by changing or controlling what is happening in the world. Have you noticed that regardless of your
effort to manage fear, the fear still remains? The reason the fear is still in your mind is clear when you understand the true cause
and effect relationship between the world and your mind.
relationship between the world and your fear is this: the scary world comes first and your fear soon follows. Believing this, you
try to contain your fear by changing or controlling what is happening in the world. Have you noticed that regardless of your
effort to manage fear, the fear still remains? The reason the fear is still in your mind is clear when you understand the true cause
and effect relationship between the world and your mind.
| An Ego Temper-Tantrum |
Recently, I experienced a major rebellion to releasing the self-concept and practicing the Course. There was nothing little about it.
It was a tantrum -the good old fashion two-year old kind - where you refuse to budge and scream in rage over what “they” are
trying to get you to do. Why share these thoughts with you? In reading my account, I hope you can gain confidence that you
need not hide anything from Holy Spirit. To uncover our inner most thoughts and beliefs can seem terrifying, but the way out is
not through projecting them onto others or hiding them in our unconscious. The way out is through awareness, nonresistance and
a willingness to let them go. Although the ego speaks the loudest and sometimes for a very long time, these thoughts do not
represent our real thoughts or desire. This is what I discovered and the tantrum gave way to great joy.
It was a tantrum -the good old fashion two-year old kind - where you refuse to budge and scream in rage over what “they” are
trying to get you to do. Why share these thoughts with you? In reading my account, I hope you can gain confidence that you
need not hide anything from Holy Spirit. To uncover our inner most thoughts and beliefs can seem terrifying, but the way out is
not through projecting them onto others or hiding them in our unconscious. The way out is through awareness, nonresistance and
a willingness to let them go. Although the ego speaks the loudest and sometimes for a very long time, these thoughts do not
represent our real thoughts or desire. This is what I discovered and the tantrum gave way to great joy.
| Messages Show up in the Most Unexpected Places! |
Recently I received an e-mail from a friend who shared with me a story that I just had to pass along to you! It symbolizes so
many wonderful teachings of ACIM, but the one that comes to mind is the teaching that whatever we focus our mind on and desire
to see and experience- we will see it everywhere and in everything....even in a fortune cookie. Here is the story in his words and a
picture of the fortune that was tucked inside the cookie. Enjoy!
many wonderful teachings of ACIM, but the one that comes to mind is the teaching that whatever we focus our mind on and desire
to see and experience- we will see it everywhere and in everything....even in a fortune cookie. Here is the story in his words and a
picture of the fortune that was tucked inside the cookie. Enjoy!
| When Something Seems Unforgivable NEW POSTING |
This world is full of pictures that seem unforgivable and yet the Course teaches there are no order of difficulties in miracles.
Nothing stands apart from the miracle unless we purposely hold it apart because we decide "it" is unforgivable. What is our
motivation to bring everything to Holy Spirit to be translated into truth? We are motivated because holding others in prison with
their guilt, denies us our freedom as well. I had an experience with this teaching that opened up an opportunity for Holy Spirit
to show me the reason why we are always innocent and made it perfectly clear why it is in my best interest to ask for the
realization of innocence no matter what I see or experience.
Nothing stands apart from the miracle unless we purposely hold it apart because we decide "it" is unforgivable. What is our
motivation to bring everything to Holy Spirit to be translated into truth? We are motivated because holding others in prison with
their guilt, denies us our freedom as well. I had an experience with this teaching that opened up an opportunity for Holy Spirit
to show me the reason why we are always innocent and made it perfectly clear why it is in my best interest to ask for the
realization of innocence no matter what I see or experience.
| What Can I Learn from This? NEW POSTING |
Have you been frustrated with the healing process? Does it seem that although you ask for a miracle nothing is happening? Do
you wonder if Holy Spirit might be ignoring your requests for relief from pain? Do you entertain thoughts that either you are
doing it wrong or worse, there is no one hearing your distress calls? This article is a teaching that came from a question I asked
Holy Spirit; "When a miracle does not occur what has gone wrong?" This teaching restored my faith in the healing process. With
just a few slight adjustments, I was back on track to miracles.
you wonder if Holy Spirit might be ignoring your requests for relief from pain? Do you entertain thoughts that either you are
doing it wrong or worse, there is no one hearing your distress calls? This article is a teaching that came from a question I asked
Holy Spirit; "When a miracle does not occur what has gone wrong?" This teaching restored my faith in the healing process. With
just a few slight adjustments, I was back on track to miracles.