New Beginnings

Every 60 years, a unique combination occurs with the Chinese calendar. There are twelve animals which cycle through yearly; and elements (such as fire, wind, etc) rotate every five years. And this year we have the year of the Fire Horse. This combination occurred in 1906 and 1966. These were times of great upheaval and change. I think most of us feel that the turmoil of our current days is coming to a head in some way. In our lifetimes, we have watched our environment become ravaged from selfish behavior on all our parts. We have seen inhumane treatment of people all over the world, including in our back yards. We have become complacent in too many ways. I quote for you an explanation of the symbolism of the coming New Year: “The combination of the Horse sign and the Fire element creates an exceptionally high-energy year of dynamic change. The Horse naturally symbolizes vitality and independence, while the Fire element adds intensity and drive.” We are all feeling something shifting in our lives. New beginnings are afoot, don’t you think?

“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself;’ annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science. & Health Page 340:23-30

“Rejoice in the power of forgiveness to heal your sight completely. Be confident that on this day there is a new beginning. Without the darkness of the past upon your eyes, you cannot fail to see today. And what you see will be so welcome that you will gladly extend today forever.”
—A Course in Miracles W-75.9:3-7

Pay Attention …

“Wonderment”

A Creation of Sandy Wythawai Starbird

I was reading Mary Oliver and these words jumped out at me: “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” This is the full paragraph:

“Yes! No! How necessary it is to have opinions! I think the spotted trout lilies are satisfied, standing a few inches above the earth. I think serenity is not something you just find in the world, like a plum tree, holding up its white petals. The violets, along the river, are opening their blue faces, like small dark lanterns. The green mosses, being so many, are as good as brawny. How important it is to walk along, not in haste but slowly, looking at everything and calling out Yes! No! The swan, for all his pomp, his robes of glass and petals, wants only to be allowed to live on the nameless pond. The catbrier is without fault. The water thrushes, down among the sloppy rocks, are going crazy with happiness. Imagination is better than a sharp instrument. To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
—-Mary Oliver - Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays

“Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:18-21

“To be in the Kingdom is merely to focus your full attention on it. As long as you believe you can attend to what is not true, you are accepting conflict as your choice. Is it really a choice? It seems to be, but seeming and reality are hardly the same. You who are the Kingdom are not concerned with seeming. Reality is yours because you are reality. This is how having and being are ultimately reconciled, not in the Kingdom, but in your mind. The altar there is the only reality. The altar is perfectly clear in thought, because it is a reflection of perfect Thought. Your right mind sees only brothers, because it sees only in its own light.”
—A Course in Miracles T-7.III.4:1-10

More Powerful Than Hate …

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, is the talk of the world today. Of course, most of the world already knew his music, but a few sheltered folks (like me) have just been introduced to him and his beautiful unifying spirit. And so today, I’ve watched him on a Tiny Desk Concert, in an episode of Carpool Karaoke, and an interview with a woman who has written a definitive history of this talented young man. I also loved a video I saw of his today, one which is depicted in the photo which accompanies this writing. In multiple ways, I have learned about the kindness and compassion of this young musician. His message of unity has brought forth many reactions. I am basking in the beauty of his performance, along with the feelings of hope he has inspired. As the ending billboard reminds us: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” This man, this performance, is exactly what humanity needs right now. And I am grateful …

“My weary hope tries to realize that happy day, when man shall recognize the Science of Christ and love his neighbor as himself, — when he shall realize God’s omnipotence and the healing power of the divine Love in what it has done and is doing for mankind.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 55:16-21

“Healing is release from the fear of waking and the substitution of the decision to wake. The decision to wake is the reflection of the will to love, since all healing involves replacing fear with love. The Holy Spirit cannot distinguish among degrees of error, for if He taught that one form of sickness is more serious than another, He would be teaching that one error can be more real than another. His function is to distinguish only between the false and the true, replacing the false with the true.”

—A Course in Miracles T-8.IX.5:1-4)

All Creations United

Wild Turkey at Ninestone

Photo courtesy of Don Matt 

Have you seen a documentary entitled, "My Life as a Turkey"? I found it to be profound in many ways, but today I relate it to our practice of seeing the unreality in everything we have come to think of as real. For more than a year, Joe Hutton lived with a flock of 16 wild turkeys, which he incubated and bonded with while they were still in the eggs. He didn't just live with them as you and I might. He was with them 24 hours a day to the exclusion of seeing any humans. He spent his days walking the woods as part of the flock, seeing through their eyes, speaking their language, striving to match their awareness of nature and their ability to live totally in the moment. The dedication and love expressed by this man is wonderfully inspiring to me. By his all-encompassing need to understand nature, to be a part of it without any of the learned beliefs he has acquired in his life, he has shown me what is possible when a discipline is approached with a "single eye". It is this singularity of purpose which we are learning to recognize in our metaphysical studies. I want to feel our Oneness with all that Is the way Joe wanted to know turkeys. He gave it his all, and so will I!

“Miracles arise from a mind that is ready for them. By being united this mind goes out to everyone, even without the awareness of the miracle worker himself. The impersonal nature of miracles is because the Atonement itself is one, uniting all creations with their Creator. As an expression of what you truly are, the miracle places the mind in a state of grace. The mind then naturally welcomes the Host within and the stranger without. When you bring in the stranger, he becomes your brother.”
—A Course in Miracles T-1.III.7:1-6

“As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought, and leads it to ‘where the young child was,’ — even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, chasing away the darkness of error.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 191:8-15A

The Substance of an Idea

“Lupine Milky Way” by artist Jolene Ewert

Many mind-over-matter systems are practiced in the world. In the 19th century, mesmerism and hypnotism were thought to be the route to changing our physical experience and getting us what we want. Today we have "The Secret" and other systems telling us how to get the mate of our dreams, hot cars, and other material desires. Some may think A Course in Miracles or Christian Science falls into the same category, because we are "resolving things into thoughts". Here is an example of how it differs: Let's say we need a place to live. How do we think about this in order to manifest it in our existence? By understanding the substance of an idea! What are the spiritual qualities of this place to live, this house, this home? What does it represent? Some of the qualities of home could be warmth, comfort, peace, safety, beauty, love, hospitality. So the thought of "home" is really a spiritual idea, and these qualities of home already exist in our individual consciousness. We don't have to go out and find them, because they're already a permanent part of our being. And we can express all these qualities included in the concept of home, no matter where we are. And when we express these qualities, we are cherishing our spiritual home, and this blessing is extended to others as well. 

"Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science and Health Page 123:12-15

“When you want only love you will see nothing else. The contradictory nature of the witnesses you perceive is merely the reflection of your conflicting invitations. You have looked upon your mind and accepted opposition there, having sought it there. But do not then believe that the witnesses for opposition are true, for they attest only to your decision about reality, returning to you the messages you gave them. Love, too, is recognized by its messengers. If you make love manifest, its messengers will come to you because you invited them.”
—A Course in Miracles T-12.VII.8:1-6

There Thousand Years of Longing

After reading an article concerning the fact that record numbers of people are feeling isolated and lonely, I began to ponder the reasons people feel this way. Then I saw a movie which helped solidify my thoughts: Three Thousand Years of Longing. Tilda Swinton plays a woman who is happy in her solitude, reveling in her intellectual endeavors and leading a lovely life. A djinn (or genie as we call them) is played by Idris Elba. He has spent most of his eternal life in solitude, in a bottle, hidden away in various places. When these two meet, they open up to each other with complete honesty. Two things became abundantly clear: It is a wonderful thing to love someone and share a life. And it is also a wonderful thing to love someone and not share a life. And so, as we all know but oftentimes do not want to admit — Love truly is all you need. And it matters not how it is manifested, only that it is acknowledged and embraced. And we are never alone. Love is a palpable Source of all that Is, and we are a creation of that energy. Next time something opens your heart, leave that door open, okay?

“The world I see holds my fearful self-image in place, and guarantees its continuance. While I see the world as I see it now, truth cannot enter my awareness. I would let the door behind this world be opened for me, that I may look past it to the world that reflects the Love of God.”
—A Course in Miracles W-56.3:2-4

“Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:18-23

Being Happy is a Duty to Others

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

In line with yesterday’s writing on bringing joy to sadness, I ran across an affirmation of this thought through a book I’m listening to: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser. The paterfamilias in this lovely novel is showing his granddaughter great works of art, with the intention of teaching her about beauty. He quotes a French philosopher, Alain, who wrote in his Propos sur le Bonheur: “Those who strive to be happy deserve a medal — a civic medal — because their personal resolution to put on a cheery, happy face sometimes demands quite an effort of will power. Just the way a burst of laughter can produce a chain reaction, the search for happiness isn’t a personal development, it’s a political virtue. Being happy is a duty to others.” (loosely translated) Many events have reminded me that grief and sorrow are a part of this earthly existence, but suffering is a choice. We can express joy through our pain, and as the quote by Alain reminds us, it is our duty and, also, a political virtue. Scatter joy freely, my friends!

“It is no dream to love your brother as yourself. Nor is your holy relationship a dream. All that remains of dreams within it is that it is still a special relationship. Yet it is very useful to the Holy Spirit, Who has a special function here. It will become the happy dream through which He can spread joy to thousands on thousands who believe that love is fear, not happiness. Let Him fulfill the function that He gave to your relationship by accepting it for you, and nothing will be wanting that would make of it what He would have it be.”
—A Course in Miracles T-18.V.5:1-6

“Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 265:23-30