Village Square III
In our AcimVillage, we have the plane tree that stands in the central village square. Its enormous branches spread out to cover an area wide enough to provide shade on a warm day for many a traveller or tradesman. Water bubbles and trickles from a stone fountain on the eastern side. It is under the plane tree and by the fountain that wandering sages have traditionally lead conversation with the local people, before setting off again on their way; it is here that the townspeople come to exchange views and thoughts on their beloved spiritual philosophy, learning from each other in kindness and wisdom.
Rules to ponder…
Study of A Course In Miracles benefits greatly from sharing our experiences in its practice. Here you can talk about what works, or doesn’t, for you, taking obvious care not to be ‘preachy’, please. We all learn best when someone talks from their own experience, rather than tries to tell us what we should be doing differently. Let’s take the position that none of us are teachers, we are all at the same point returning on the path Homeward. All of us will still be making mistakes for a while yet, so let’s be particularly humble and caring in how we deal with each other. Please keep in mind that this is a site dedicated to the approach Kenneth Wapnick takes to teaching ACIM. I shall certainly do my best to bring everyone back to the core principles as taught by him.
I would also like to point out that AcimVillage is the place to come to explore our judgments, but not to express them as judgments. If you feel you need to gripe, criticize and vent, even subtly, then contact me privately (at bernard@pauloandthemagician.com) where I will receive you with kindness and understanding. Please do not do so in the forums where I will inevitably moderate out this kind of post. Remember, you will feel better only when you are able to move past the investment in your judgments, not simply by unloading them for everyone to see. This means taking responsibility for your perceptions and acknowledging that ultimately no one has prevented you from feeling completely peaceful and safe, despite what might appear to be the unfortunate conditions of your life at this time. (I know, this is hard. Contact me if you’re struggling.)
So, two basic rules here. One, we avoid mention of other approaches to the study of ACIM (non-Wapnickian) as well as to other philosophies we might be studying. This is purely to achieve a stable, comfortable learning forum where we are all aiming at the same goal, using the same symbols and language to get there. This is not to cast any judgment on any other approaches or philosophies. ACIM is a sufficiently difficult path to undertake without bringing more confusion into our study than our minds already contain! If you have benefited from other paths and would like to share your thoughts, by all means do so. Just please do this in the privacy of your personal emails. It’s also my personal opinion (take it or leave it) that at some point a student of ACIM is much better off sticking with one set of symbols and one teacher, and working with these thoroughly, instead of getting too dispersed. Rule two, we try not to play ‘teacher’ with each other here, reminding ourselves to be humble and always equal with our brother.
Enjoy the discussion!
I’m not on the Course bus yet (my Bentley is catching up though ! (=
But. Do so love being number 1 (I built an entire Universe around that desire ! (=
S here I am, with the first comment on Village Square II
(=
Congratulations, dear Anil!
🙂
My attack thoughts are attacking – my vulnerability?
I read through the words but rurally don’t get it….hmmmm.
Silly Rabbi-
Even auto-correct is on the fritz…actually – not rurally…
BUT I don’t get it “rurally” either! 🙂
Lesson 26.
My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.
Ahhh, back to these attack thoughts. I love this reminder that my attack thoughts are what hurts me.
“What would have effects through you must have effects on you.” So if I am spewing sarcasm it is burning my innards on the way out. Owww.
And it follows that if I send out kindness, my inside rawness is soothed with that soft flow. My DH cooked dinner tonite and when I came out to eat it, he seemed to be spewing resentment for having to cook. I started to mention the previous 40 years of fixing dinner, and then buttoned my trap and left the room. As I started to write this, i remembered that thinking he was attacking me was my attack thought, too! So i decided it wasn’t true. Next thing i knew he was coming in to ask what our son had said in the phone. Do you think i imagined he was mad? Can things change around and time backs up? Some thing must be messing with my usual linear thoughts and perceptions 😉
Anil, I am sure the last 5 days that you bask in the Great Rays are an experience of Peace that you will want to stay wrapped in, just following the certainty of the direction the light shines before you.
We’ll be watching for you, but happy to see you whenever you are led to jump in. The whole 2nd half are the most beautiful prayers, Jesus teaching us how to pray. You will be coming in with God in your mind.
Jamie once reassured me with the thought that I had not lost my mind – when I imagined that my day-time “life” is just like sleeping “life” and dreams… one minute you are riding a horse (for example) and the next you are in a store, and the next *some other random thing*
He said- No – you finally get it! (Yay!)
Why am I seeing all this crap go by? Crap Crap Crap! And Fear, Doubt, and Worry. Sin, Guilt, Fear. Depression and Angst. And some damn good times, too.
All I have to do is choose the HS? Seems like a sane person would strive to do just that – and only that – all the time – happily!
I’m guessing that is a rhetorical question. I had a hint from Anil.
Vision has no costs – it can only bless.
Above all else I want to see.
Lots of review here. Paint on – paint off.
Pain on – pain off
<3
Above all else I want to Si’
Lesson 28
Above all else I want to see things differently.
…You could, in fact, gain vision from just that table, if you would withdraw all your own ideas from it, and look upon it with a completely open mind. It has something to show you; something beautiful and clean and of infinite value, full of happiness and hope. Hidden under all your ideas about it is its real purpose, the purpose it shares with all the universe…
OK.
I get the part that I am dreaming. I made all this up.
I made a mess. Now the beautiful part?
Beautiful, clean and of infinite value?
Someone help me mend through this. Any thoughts?
Yes Tex,
That someone is J
And our willingness is the key.
So your asking means that your answer is waiting for you.
If its any consolation-I’m waiting for the Beautiful, clean and of Infinite Value too.
Together Sister we shall find it (:
I guess even guessing that i can know what a different interpretation of each slowly focused thing is defeats the purpose of the lesson. And happenings, too.
If something happens, the ego checks its past experience and judges what is going to happen next. It arrogantly already classifies what to fear, what is helpful, and what doesn’t matter. At no time does it check for help from HS. We are told to slowly spot each thing and ask for another meaning.
Of course, Ken’s JTW tells us the purpose of each thing, each happening is forgiveness. I guess i need to slow down my speedy gonzales ego and listen up for how i can see forgiveness in everything, even of my impatience to understand. I talk a good humility plan, but finding it deep inside seems to be work.
Oh Katrina -“speedy gonzales ego” is such a perfect description.
I just love when you think out loud!
Good night Sista
Before moving on to Lesson #29 I need to acknowledge post # 15 one more time. So succinct, so right on regarding Tex’s inquiry and the perfect follow up to Anil’s post back there at the Fireside or any question ever till the end of time.
I got giddy with the words “speedy gonzales ego” late last night and I let it distract me for a moment as to the depth and clarity of your response. Simply Beautiful Katrina.
We really do learn so much from each other in our postings. I just want to say I am so grateful that we have embarked on the doing the Lessons together this year.
And I am grateful that despite my ego’s shenanigans my computer is back on track for the joining (:
So back to content vs form which leads us right into Lesson #29.
God is everything I see.
In the JTW Ken offers much in clarifying todays lesson. Mostly I love when he shares his personal experiences; i.e., the Jesuit priest trying to save the nuns and priests “from falling into the depths of perdition” with Ken’s teaching of the Course. He mentioned he spent an hour with the priest-which I image Ken did very little talking. I could feel the fear, resistance and mostly the self righteousness of the priest and it gave me a glimmer of how far I have already come from my own Catholic upbringing.
The message Ken offers is so loving and it reminds me of that saying, ‘you will see it when you believe it’.
(3:7) And you will not understand how you could ever have found it difficult
You know that’s exactly how it will be(:
Now all I need to do is stop with the philosophying and on with the practice periods.
p.s. Went to see the Walter Mitty movie yesterday-
I enjoyed the quote/mission statement for the Life Corporation.
“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer,to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”
and as a Course Student-I tweaked it just a bit and changed the word Feel to Forgive.
Thumbs up is my movie review.
xoxo Annie
God is in everything I see.
Pan-Theism? *not*
Hmmm… I sure would like some biscuits and gravy right about now.
Pan… and Naan…
I bet Ken got a kick out of recommending that Mediterranean Restaurant to the Students….I think he got a kick out of a whole bunch of things!
Gos is in that body…bread …. wine…
Catholic School indeeeeeed!
*knuckle rap* for mis-spelling God
xoxoxoxo
aloha
in sunday school we learned, “there is no spot where God is not” …
God is in everything I see
my son, who is 41 now, when he was about 5 … we were walking along in Monterey, CA … and he whispers to me “God is in that plant” … so we stopped and looked closely
I still remember looking quietly at that plant with him …
and I said “Yes, I see Him too!”
it was so quiet and secret and sweet
God is in this village
God is here and there and everywhere
btw, on line at acim.org you can click daily lesson and have it read to you every day … nice to hear the lesson read … and a wonderful place to read the daily lesson too (it goes right to the lesson of the day)
hawaii update … we’ve been having glorious surf … up to about 50′ some days
hearing the surf when it’s huge like that is so powerful and comforting
love it
all is well on the north shore
beautiful sunsets
lots of rain
much to be thankful for
am also doing marianne’s book, “A Year of Miracles” …
may this 2014 be our best year by having each day be our best day
by really getting this forgiveness thing into my daily practice
by really getting this life is precious thing
by really enjoying the gifts of grace and blessings of gratitude
much love to you
very much
“Lesson 28 Above all else I want to see things differently. ”
I have done this as an exercise outside ACIM. You get to find something to look at and take off any previous label you have attached to it. Like a cup. And rose. here is a little poem i wrote after having “been” with a plactic stich-remover without labels – just meeting it. I still remember the space around us – it and me:)
It is transparent orange,
my little stitch-cutter
the color of a raspberry lollipop licked
halfway through, with mysterious spots
of glowing light
reflecting luminous spaces of
peace beyond all understanding
On its silvery head, a faint symbol is engraved:
a wispy omega-sign
It lies on a white paper now
its shadow is rosy pink
In the radio, a choir of Georgian monks
is expressing the same peace with a different hue:
deep and vast indigo
*
I also remember some times where i removed my name from the feeling of me and everything was new – it was not “me” sitting there, it was – have no words – yes: beauty and joy
Wow, I can sure tell God is in this website when I see Tex, and Annie, and Peggy, and Nina, (and Anil and Jaanette and Michele and Bernard) all here to “see it too). (The parenthetical crew must be sitting under the flowers in the Garden with Pam and Papa Lawrence.) i see God in the Garden – quietly and slowly . . .
ok… i love everyone here like a sister… or a bro.
BUT
I had a teacher who said once that we don’t want God to be in the physical world.
And when we think He is, we have merely projected the split onto the world.
I see that I judge everything… surely God is not in a trash can.
I tell myself it’s ok for God to be present in “pretty” things, but not in airplane crashes or coat hangers…..etc
Is it the best we can do now – to watch things go by – sitting there with J and HS?
I am at the point where I don’t even know what to ask anymore. I have forgotten what to decide.
I know complete abstraction is One thing…. and yet to deny the body (and body of affairs) is unworthy… and just impossible to do for more than a mount – here or there…
I suck at this, because my mind projects such trouble….. sick deformed little kids, all dying, with bitchy moms and over-the-top bosses.
I also know the Course is not for people who are happy with the religion and answers they have. It is for those of us who keep asking Why… or What or Whom or Whose… Wouldn’t it be nice to just bake some brownies for a sick friend, and say a quick prayer and know that all is well?
Yes, Tex…a quick prayer six times a day and on the hour…brownies and sick friend are optional.
But I must admit I failed our assignment today.
Although reading Peggy’s, Katrinas’, Tex, Nina’s and Anil’s post today should count for a few of the exercises.
Well, off to bed now and I shall give lesson #29 one more run.
“God is everything I see”
Yeah, Tex. This line afrees.
“(L.29,2:1-3). You will probably find this idea very difficult to grasp at this point. You may find it silly, irrelevant, senseless, funny and even objectionable. Certainly God is not in a table, for example, as you see it.”
Ken points out that J is taking symbolic license in saying God is in things here in this projected world. He doesn’t tune into our projections, doesn’t even abide with our separate identities. It might be better to look at each item and say, this shares the purpose of the each thing in my universe. It is here to prove that it never really happened, and i can make up this along with everything else.
My work was hard to be at and do the lessons. I’d be all lessony; and it would smack me in the face once again. I’d say a quick prayer and know all was well, and it would smack me in the face once again.
Real Vision is ready for viewing-I just need to use the other (right) Projector.
Reminds me of a Marianne Williamson Poem:
Our Greatest Fear
it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson
p.s. Did you know Marianne is running for Congress?
She is campaigning here in Southern California for the 33 District.
wow – go her!
I was all upset about chem trails and snow that would not melt and raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens….
then i had to remind myself that God is not angry. He merely could not let this happen. You cannot change His Mind. (The Choice for Completion)
Soooo -join with what I see …. hmmm…. I might like that… bed [night shift last noc] and a glass of vino and y’all!
ps….. after this odd experience, the room i was in suddenly became filled with the most unusual and beautiful pink and blue morning light…. It came in from all sides of the house. Quite unusual. That light lasted about 15 minutes… out was really beautiful!
Lesson 30
God is in everything because God is in my mind.
Nighty, Night, Tex.Perhaps the beautiful pink and blue light was God in your mind.
Thank you, Annie, so good to have your vision on board.
I hope Marianne wins. i heard she was not actually campaigning. But hope .. .. ..
So enjoying reading through all your comments. They are a real challenge, these two lessons about “God is in…” The key, I believe, is in the second lesson in the series: God is in everything I see because God is in my mind. It’s good to keep in mind that there is an archetypal ladder of learning involved here. We start with the idea that God is a ‘being’ that can ‘be’ in things, and then learn that it is all about mind and thought and purpose. Nothing can be in anything here, of course, because there is no thing for anything to be in, if this is all a dream. Who can possibly understand this, while he still believes he is ‘here’? But we can learn that God’s purpose is in our mind, and that is a purpose of kindness, release from judgment and differences, and forgiveness. I think this is all to make us aware that there is another purpose in our minds, that of the ego, which is one of separating, fragmenting, seeing differences, and making special. Then we get to learn that another purpose exists which can eventually replace the ego’s entirely. Once that happens, we will see that nothing was ever outside that holy purpose. Just my thoughts…
Lesson 31
I am not the victim of the world I see
How timely for me this Lesson.
Today I am returning to work.
(I have been home caring for my father the last 6 weeks-I was expecting him to make his
transition by the New Year and I thought by requesting a leave of absence till the end of January I would have extra time for myself and the rest of the family to process this monumental moment.)
But I got a letter from the HR department that my medical benefits would end if I do not report for duty by the 31st.
So I have already worked thru todays Lesson last Friday.
With letter in hand I knew what I was looking at-the choice to be a victim of this or this was just one more perfectly executed move by my ego to shake the ground below.
The realization was that quick; and quite frankly I impressed myself that I could sense my body releasing the adrenaline and at the same time a calming force quietly saying-that will be unnecessary. An acknowledgement was made with an almost inaudible sigh of Hmpff.
It is good this morning to revisit the lesson with Ken’s expanded explanation in the Journey Through the Workbook.
“Remind yourself that you are making a declaration of independence in the name of your own freedom. And in your freedom lies the freedom of the world.”
“Temptation has one lesson it would teach, in all its forms, wherever it occurs. It would persuade the holy Son of God he is a body, born in what must die, unable to escape its frailty, and bound by what it orders him to feel (T-31.VII.1:1-2)”
In Peace
I remember Ken talking about Classic Triangulation….
Victim
Perpetrator
Rescuer
I am the victim… the world (or ego – if you study acim – lol) is the perpetrator – all those evil deeds, ya know…. and Jesus, God, or the Holy Spirit is the Rescuer.
Now you go and tell me I am not the victim of the world I see.
I know I made this mess up… so that makes me — the perp?
And then I am the Savior – who brings or finds my own Salvation.
Yep – Within this kingdom the ego rules – and cruelly. And to defend this little spec of dust, it bids you fight against the universe!
Beautiful sharings and insights my brothers. I am reading a nonfiction book of an ugly time in our world’s history and was in need of a spiritual pick me up. My Village family has provided that. You know I have an index card as a bookmark and it has a lesson I look at fairly often. This lesson’s not that far ahead for you all.
I am doing some healing, but no worries. As the Salada Sage has said ” worry is interest paid before the debt is due”, Love to all. I will be under a tree, lying down with my hands cushioning my head and with my thoughts God knows where, and she does.
God bless us every one
Pappa lawrence
Lesson 32. I have invented the world I see. (=
Hi folks, nice to see everyone on this bus. Today I tried to practice the morning session, and in a few minutes I will call it a night and try to practice the night session. Taking control of my mind, letting the a Holy Spirit in my mind take over has been getting increasingly fun.
Not right now, as I deal with a sudden anxiety attack that feels like a mild earthquake. I can apply the idea to any distressing situation.
I have invented this situation as I see it.
if I let go, and ask for new perception, it will be given me. Just in the asking, my breathing slows down. Space opens for a saner experience.
Thank God.
Good night,
(=
Ps. Will write of the lovely chat I had with the mayor when I called him last night on his phone, he was on his way to His mother-in-laws home for her birthday celebrations. More on that by the Fireside.
And Pappa Lawrence, great to see you here again !
Yes She Does Bless Us All !
So So So good to see and read your post Lawrence!!!
And I can so envision you there with your hands cushioning your head.
In fact, I won’t be able to pass our Village tree now without imaging you there taking in a good read or just enjoying the view (:
Speaking of ugly history…while looking thru some old photos of my parents. I was reminded of the time my Father lived in Italy (he escaped as a political refugee and was placed in a refugee camp in Udine, Italy) He was sought out by a Croatian NGO (an organization set up to represent the Croatian people-seeking a free and Independent Croatia). All my life I was baffled with the who’s who in the political game of Nation building. Years later I learned that the man my Father worked under was a double agent.
(Who hired him so he could keep a close eye on his correspondences and who prior to his asylum to America tried several times to end his life-but that’s another story) So I google this double agents name and a book called ‘Unholy Trinity’ caught my eye. It is centered around the principle figures who participated in post World War II smuggling of Nazi criminals, transferring of monies thru the Swiss Banks, the Vatican’s participation, US intelligence of the holocaust and the suppression of that information to the American people. In short, no one looks good in this book.
Anyhow, this double agents name shows up in part of the book and it also mentioned this priest who worked at the Vatican. I did a double take on his name because earlier when I was looking through all the holy cards that my mother has collected over the years, I see the name of the priest the book mentions. It was a holy card celebrating his 50 years in the priesthood.
All my life I wanted to be part of The Freedom for Croatia fight-but it was so convoluted that I felt confused and repeatedly turned off by all the political organizations. Instead I focused on celebrating the Religious Freedom that America gave us. And just as the Course says that there are a thousand paths to God, now more than ever I see my fathers life, my life, every life with its victim and victimizer stories as just that, stories.
Todays Lesson # 32
I have invented the world I see
So as I’m reading the JTW I see that I made a notation in the margin of the book (back in 2011) right next to the paragraph:
“To repeat, I can give the world up as easily as I made it when I took the ego as my teacher instead of Jesus. I merely change my decision by dropping the ego’s hand and taking his instead.”
I wrote in pencil: “dropping dad’s hand” .
I don’t recall what I was feeling when I wrote that 3 years ago. But I am very aware how much my Fathers life story had became my story. And now as he seems closer than ever to making his transition I sense more than ever the need to drop all the stories.
I want to see him and me and Ken and all of You as the One Mind that we are. I say the words knowing it is true intellectually but I want/need to feel its Truth in my Heart. And Ken adds that admitting we were wrong and Jesus was right ” is the most difficult thing for anyone in this world to admit.”
Oh how humbling this path is…
and the baby steps continue.
Anil-your post was not there when I started to compose mine.
It took me over 2 hours to compose my post …
What I want to say is that I don’t want it to look like I am ignoring you.
Talk to you later at the Fireside.
And I join Nina in thanking Bernard for his tribute to Ken.
Love reading about peoples encounters and feelings with the Master Teacher.
I have invented the world I see.
I know I have invented my reactions to things “out there.”
I know many people like The Secret and things like that. Kinda Course like. Maybe what the Course would be in a non NonDuality framework.
Maybe a way to get more things. Even “good” things. Healing things. Happy things.
If I have invented this, why not clean it up?
So I read this lesson today. And my first thought was “Let all things be exactly as they are.”
Annie – I love your story!
I love all the stories.
<3
Wow…what a grand time to check in and do some catch up reading!
Great story Annie…yes like TEx says all great stories!
Love, Michele
OCD that I am (=
Time is running out in Feb 2nd land, so I think I can share here what happened for me the day of Lesson 33. There is another way of looking at the world. Below is a cut and paste of what I experienced and wrote in my private blog halfway through the day..
Falling, falling, falling….
February 2, 2014
Ostensibly the depression from learning yesterday, just one day after a nice submission to the NRF that our entry was 650KB over the 2MB limit. (Well, ’twas a nice deck when it lasted ! (=
I am never upset for the reason I think. Lesson 5. The one I skipped on this cycle through the workbook, because I was wrapping up my last cycle, and waiting to join the bus. Which I did. On Feb 1st.
And today, Feb 2nd, tells me
:: There is another way of looking at the world :: Lesson 32.
Perhaps this on-line diary is just a way to keep my sanity, to have me record that I exist, and that I matter. Just like the diaries of old. Keeping their writers companion, as they wound their way through a crazy world, an uncaring world ?, does anyone really care about anyone but themselves ?
The world is a mystery, what is this thing that I find myself part of, it’s solidness undeniable, yet, repeatedly, I read, am told that this world does not exist. That everything is just a dream, none of this happening, all of it just a way to usurp God’s power, and prove that separation is possible.
:: The full acceptance of the Atonement is the realization(understanding?) that the Separation never was ::
And today’s idea is to be applied all through the day, at any moment of distress, perhaps it needs a minute or two to settle into one’s mind..
:: There is another way of looking at this ::
::Remember to apply today’s idea the instant you are of distress ::
:: It may be necessary to take a minute or two to sit quietly and repeat the idea to yourself several times. Closing your eyes will probably help in this form of application ::
I want to remember the past, like how many times I did the workbook, and how many times I read the text, and when exactly I came across Disappearance of the Universe, all of this in an effort to buttress my story, my past. I guess that is the way of the world, the way of victimhood, the way to say that I am here.
WOW – Anil – you are an awesome writer!
<3
I have a friend who every time we talk about the Course, we fight and end up in tears! She does not want to think in terms of Non-Duality. She insists that God is a destroyer. For our own good.
I just can't go back to that.
My former pastor said that the Course is not for everyone.
So it's my dream. Maybe some parts we share. Cuz "you all" are in my mind.
MY dream. I made this up – or if there is a ego based sentinel being….. iI chose to listen to him (her or it)…..
o words – it's hard to put you into words!
Anil – “after a nice submission to the NRF” – what is NRF,please?
Lesson 34
I can see peace instead of this.
Have we found you here, Lawrence, reading under the tree?
This is the first lesson that says that if we use this lesson on something that upsets us, like this news of Pam’s transition, and find our mind unchanged still, to try to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you feel some sense of relief.
Up till now, do the lesson whether you believe it or not (kind of – fake it till you make it) was okay.
But at this point, He says do it till it works!
I can see Pam in pain free peace, walking with Zeph’s warm arm over her shoulder through the meadows to the grand city, stopping to whisper into Cory’s slumbering ear that she will watch and love and wait and come back with whispers through his whole life.
Pam’s passing on Lesson day 31 seems fitting.
With all the earthly challenges on her plate she faced them all with such grace.
I believe she overcame the temptation to see herself as a victim.
She was real, She was funny, she was wise.
I am glad she did make arrangements to have a friend inform us of her passing.
I share in condolences to the Cory, her mom and all her family and friends.
Her love lives on in our hearts.
Lesson 160:
Who fears has but denied himself and said, “I am the stranger here. And so I leave my home to one more like me than myself, and give him all I thought belonged to me.” Now is he exiled of necessity, not knowing who he is, uncertain of all things but this; that he is not himself, and that his home has been denied to him.
What does he search for now? What can he find? A stranger to himself can find no home wherever he may look, for he has made return impossible. His way is lost except a miracle will search him out, and show him that he is no stranger now. The miracle will come. For in his home his Self remains. It asked no stranger in, and took no alien thought to be Itself. And It will call Its Own unto Itself, in recognition of what is Its Own.
Nina, thanks for the quote in post number 45. I have no recollection of ever reading it before (=, but I am glad you excerpted it. It speaks to me.
(NRF is National Research Foundation re: your earlier question above).
Tex – thanks for the comment on my writing. It means a lot to me ! <3
I am wondering whether I have gone too deep with my practice of the daily lessons. Whether that is the reason I am experiencing the dreams that I am.
Scared, for the first time, in proceeding.
On the other hand, facing the stark terror of the situation, for the first(?) time ? and perhaps able to somewhat look it squarely in the face.
Hedda's comment with Jamie's quote is helpful, (and timely). "Let nothing disturb thee". (I love another one of St. Teresa's poems/advices as well)
Perhaps I can gather up my courage and keep moving forward ? Or perhaps I should rest awhile here, a little longer, allowing St.Teresa/Jamie/Hedda's advice to sink into my bones for some more time. Build up more courage.
In either event, I am grateful for you all, my companions on this journey.
My mind is part of God’s … I am very holy
Alrighty then – I feel as though nothing could be farther from the truth.
Ken said that when we dream at night, and wake up the next day – there is not an elephant or a kangaroo or whatever in the bed with us on the pillow there….
The image of me, seeing me – laying in a bed, dreaming – about what not….
And having some kind of nightmare – I (the “watching” me) know that no dream can touch me. Or harm me. But the “sleeping me”….. is in terror –
How can I get the sleeping me to know it is just a dream? How can I get her to wake up? Should I even try to wake her up? Whisper happy things to make it a happy dream?
And this is where I usually – no – always get stuck.
I pray for help. I wait. It gets worse. Now who’s dreaming, b!tch?
It was me dreaming all along. Scaring myself with dreams within dreams.
I know God is Holy. I know God creates from Mind alike. So I know it must be true, no matter what I feel right now. (Which is kinda unbalanced at times.) I know I trust the Christ – in symbol, in Truth.
Abracadabra – I create as I speak!
Hocus Pocus – “Hoc est corpus meum”, meaning “This is my body.”
What is for lunch, y’all? I have famine.
Anil – your post about your dream was not on my thread when I wrote this (above)
But yeah – thank God it is all just a dream.
I want so much to believe the happy parts of the dream… then the ego comes (it always comes because it is always here) and snatches it away… and in a moment it is all about the hungry dogs of fear And lips that are smeared with blood.
My former pastor once was asked why change is so terrifying, and he answered that is reminds us of the first change – when we chose to believe we could be separate from God!
What a good answer. Let nothing disturb thee. What a good quote!
Lesson 35
My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy.
Today i found lots of negative things to say about myself. And true ones they were, too.
I am selfish. But my mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy.
I am manipulative. But my mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy.
I am a status seeker. But my mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy.
I will lie ti get what I want. But my mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy.
And i kept admitting, and then the lesson. And I got this wave action coming through, as though I was moving back and forth from my wrong mind, and then to my right mind, back and forth, back and forth. And I remembered Jamie’s story of being in his hammock. Swing to the right, see my ego teacher’s perception. Swing to the left, see my truth in my right mind.
I judge myself as really a crud, But my mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy.
It was totally believable. I know i have a split mind, one part for my ego dream, and one part for the Truth. And I could see both sides, diametrically opposed, and slide back and forth. One side had a myriad of guilty faces, the other side always told one truth. Moving between them was smooth and easy. Nothing on one side means anything to the other side. Really only one side is true, but my ego likes being busy over on the projector side. Silly joker. But my true mind is a part of God’s. I am very holy. Thank you to Jamie for lending me time in his hammock!
My Wholeness envelops blah blah blah…
My former pastor would say that is because Holiness won’t enter unless it is asked to… so it just wraps us up from the outside.
Just a thought – protect my protection – that is comforting!