The Gifts Offered by Nature

My favorite dogwood tree is dying. I’ve been watching it and sending love. I became interested in the inter-connectivity of trees after reading the novel, The Overstory. This book caused me to want to know more, so I watched numerous YouTube videos on the subject. It’s quite fascinating! Not only do they communicate with each other, they send needed nutrients back and forth to trees in need. We all know there is much to be learned from nature. I first began to think about these topics after reading The Celestine Prophecy, which made me aware of trees and their auras. James Redfield, the author, suggests that we practice bringing back our innate ability to see auras by practicing on trees. He tells us the tree’s energy is strong and we can stand with an open mind and heart in front of the tree, holding our hands just an inch away, and feel, then see, the tree’s energy. These beautiful, strong entities are all around us, yet we seldom notice what they’re up to! Today I think I’ll put my attention on human beings, noticing if I can feel as much life in them as the beautiful trees emit!

“Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect. The floral apostles are hieroglyphs of Deity. Suns and planets teach grand lessons. The stars make night beautiful, and the leaflet turns naturally towards the light.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 240:1-9

“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift to you. The waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head.” 

—A Course in Miracles W-156.4:1-4

Am I Hearing What You’re Saying?

We would all love to save the world, would we not? Yet we know we can’t change someone else; change only happens within our own thought. But then again, I’ve found many people are simply regurgitating things they have heard all their lives, and when they find something which turns on a light (or rings a bell, if you will!) deep inside them, they suddenly want to know more about these ideas which have piqued their interest. It may seem as though we are not doing anything when we interact with people in our day-to-day activities. When we notice our thoughts, we may find we're listening to another for the purpose of responding to their words. Real listening allows true communication, not just our interpretation of what is being said. I've discovered that my perception of what someone is saying to me may not be what they are really saying, and I am twisting their words to fit what I expect them to say. Every time I catch myself doing this, my desire to understand is renewed. Hallelujah!

“The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace. Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each successive stage of progress.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 506:11-14

“I have already said that miracles are expressions of miracle-mindedness, and miracle-mindedness means right-mindedness. The right-minded neither exalt nor depreciate the mind of the miracle worker or the miracle receiver. However, as a correction, the miracle need not await the right-mindedness of the receiver. In fact, its purpose is to restore him to his right mind. It is essential, however, that the miracle worker be in his right mind, however briefly, or he will be unable to re-establish right-mindedness in someone else.”
—A Course in Miracles T-2.V.3:1-5

Witnessing Without Judgment

One of our learned behaviors is to place blame on others for things they have said, or done, which we perceive as detrimental to us or others. We are learning that we can simply witness these events, without apportioning any blame or cause to them. Then we can see things as they really are, without placing our own, personal meaning on them. As often happens, I am reminded of The Four Agreements, as interpreted by Don Miguel Ruiz: don’t take anything personally, and don’t make assumptions. I thank him for helping me to realize I can witness events, without constantly blaming and questioning why. Again, this doesn’t mean we don’t take action when necessary. It helps us to know what to do and when to do it.

“The question, 'What is Truth', convulses the world. Many are ready to meet this inquiry with the assurance which comes of understanding; but more are blinded by their old illusions, and try to 'give it pause'. The efforts of error to answer this question by some ology are vain. Spiritual rationality and free thought accompany approaching Science, and cannot be put down. They will emancipate humanity, and supplant unscientific means and so-called laws”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 223:14-24

“Without attack thoughts I could not see a world of attack. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. And it is this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now.” 
—A Course in Miracles W-55.3:3-5

Learning Not To See Them

Heather Cox Richardson mentioned how many trolls there were on her broadcast today. She counseled us: “Learn not to see them”. Is that a perfect statement or what?? When you see something which seems awful, even though you know it’s not real, often we can’t help but make it a reality in our experience. Sickness comes to mind as the ultimate unreality which persists in appearing real. In the loosely quoted words of Albert Einstein, even though we know it’s not real, the illusion can be persistent. When addressing the persistent trolls writing comments on her live broadcast today, the historian/analyst mentioned that it was a sign that certain people were frightened. The groups which pay trolls to broadcast ugly comments — in whatever format they appear — are squirming like any creature trying to save itself. They feel the end is near, and they are struggling to gain footing with those of us who don’t know what to believe. Whether it’s a political movement shouting louder, or a physical symptom raising its voice to a scream, we must learn to look through it. Focus on Truth in every facet of life. The truth is that you are a spiritual being, not subject to material so-called laws. The truth of lying political figures can seem difficult to see past, but it’s really not. Give up your learned beliefs and look at what Is, not what seems to be. Stay strong and be not afraid. Love always outshines lies. Namaste …

“Whatever you accept into your mind has reality for you. It is your acceptance of it that makes it real. If you enthrone the ego in your mind, your allowing it to enter makes it your reality. This is because the mind is capable of creating reality or making illusions. I said before that you must learn to think with God. To think with Him is to think like Him. This engenders joy, not guilt, because it is natural. Guilt is a sure sign that your thinking is unnatural. Unnatural thinking will always be attended with guilt, because it is the belief in sin. The ego does not perceive sin as a lack of love, but as a positive act of assault. This is necessary to the ego’s survival because, as soon as you regard sin as a lack, you will automatically attempt to remedy the situation. And you will succeed. The ego regards this as doom, but you must learn to regard it as freedom.”
—A Course in Miracles T-5.V.4:1-13

“The optical focus is another proof of the illusion of material sense. On the eye’s retina, sky and tree-tops apparently join hands, clouds and ocean meet and mingle. The barometer, — that little prophet of storm and sunshine, denying the testimony of the senses, — points to fair weather in the midst of murky clouds and drenching rain. Experience is full of instances of similar illusions, which every thinker can recall for himself.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 122: 15-22

Freedom Through Storytelling

Storytelling workshop at Writer’s Colony

Circa 2015

I once took a weekend workshop on the art of storytelling. We had a great instructor named Elaine Blanchard, and the group consisted of nine beautiful, passionate women, all of us as different as we were the same. We were all there to release a story from where it had been hiding within us. It was an emotional weekend, full of tears and laughter, with joy being the frontrunner coming down the stretch when we were through. Elaine, our instructor, has gained national attention from going into women’s prisons, gathering stories, writing them into screenplays, performing them, and allowing the prisoners to see their stories on stage. This process frees everyone involved and many of the inmates have been empowered to release the past and go forward into a new life. Sometimes you just need someone to listen in order to understand what must be done. Truth does set us free!

“Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:21-23

“Truth will correct all errors in my mind, and I will rest in Him Who is my Self. Then let Him lead you gently to the truth, which will envelop you and give you peace so deep and tranquil that you will return to the familiar world reluctantly.”
—A Course in Miracles W-107.9:5-6

A New Leaf

Leon Wyczolkowski - Spring in Goscieradz

"The chief beauty about time

is that you cannot waste it in advance.

The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you,

as perfect, as unspoiled,

as if you had never wasted or misapplied

a single moment in all your life.

You can turn over a new leaf every hour

if you choose.”

Arnold Bennett

“Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite; eternity is forever infinite.”

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 468:27-1

“Each day should be devoted to miracles. The purpose of time is to enable you to learn how to use time constructively. It is thus a teaching device and a means to an end. Time will cease when it is no longer useful in facilitating learning.”

A Course in Miracles T-1.I.15:1-4

A Priceless Visit

For several years I avoided one of my neighbors, who was 90-plus years old, because it seemed there was no such thing as a short visit. She would tell me things I didn't want to know about her family and other people, so I began to avoid her. One morning she was sitting on her porch and asked for my help. Her phone was not working and it's connected to a Lifeline button which she can push if she needs help. As it was going to take some time to get the phone company there to reconnect her, I told her I'd come over every hour and make sure she was okay. As we sat on her porch, she started talking about herself, from childhood through more recent times, and it was fascinating! She told me the happiest times of her life were picking cotton with her sisters in the 1930s on a farm in Mississippi. Every visit that day brought me new stories from her life. When she wandered into condemnation of others, I would simply tell her I had to go, but would be back soon and wanted to hear more stories about her -- not others. It was like watching a documentary -- and I'm glad I was tuned in! She’s gone now and although I’ve forgotten all of her gossipy news, I remember some delightful looks into her early life experiences — and I am grateful. 

“The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace, patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father’s loving-kindness.”
—Mary Baker Eddy - Science and Health - Page 365:31-2

“Without judgment are all things equally acceptable, for who could judge otherwise? Without judgment are all men brothers, for who is there who stands apart? Judgment destroys honesty and shatters trust. No teacher of God can judge and hope to learn.”
—A Course in Miracles M-4.III.1:8-11