Body as Idea

Art by Duy Huynh Studio 

A Poem by Cleo Wade 

a love note to my body:

first of all,

I want to say

thank you

for the heart you kept beating

even when it was broken

for every answer you gave me in my gut

for loving me back

even when

I didn’t know how to love you

for every time you recovered when I pushed you past our limits

for today,

for waking up.

~ Cleo Wade 

“Temple: Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth; the shrine of Love; a material superstructure, where mortals congregate for worship.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 595:7-10

“The many body fantasies in which minds engage arise from the distorted belief that the body can be used as a means for attaining ‘atonement.’ Perceiving the body as a temple is only the first step in correcting this distortion, because it alters only part of it. It does recognize that Atonement in physical terms is impossible. The next step, however, is to realize that a temple is not a structure at all. Its true holiness lies at the inner altar around which the structure is built. The emphasis on beautiful structures is a sign of the fear of Atonement, and an unwillingness to reach the altar itself. The real beauty of the temple cannot be seen with the physical eye. Spiritual sight, on the other hand, cannot see the structure at all because it is perfect vision. It can, however, see the altar with perfect clarity.” 

A Course in Miracles T-2.III.1:4-12