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

Perception is a Choice, Not a Fact

Photo credit: Teresa Pellicco DeVito

 We, as humans, have a tendency to focus on what we don’t want, rather than what we do want. I remember a teacher once telling me to reinforce behaviors in our children, rather than trying to turn them away from things we do not want them doing. For example, if you say, “Don’t play in the street”, all they hear is “play in the street”. I see similar behavior in ways we affirm our safety in different situations. Rather than knowing that we are all a product of divine Mind and by listening for this still, small voice we are led in paths of safety and harmony, we tend to defend against the dangers we see around us. With this in mind, my goal is to listen — to listen quietly, inwardly, for that intuition which tells me when to slow down the car, when to delay leaving the house, what to do in any and every situation. I am one with and inseparable from divine Love, And I need only remember this glorious fact!

“The still, small Voice for God is not drowned out by all the ego’s raucous screams and senseless ravings to those who want to hear It. Perception is a choice and not a fact. But on this choice depends far more than you may realize as yet. For on the voice you choose to hear, and on the sights you choose to see, depends entirely your whole belief in what you are. Perception is a witness but to this, and never to reality. Yet it can show you the conditions in which awareness of reality is possible, or those where it could never be.” 

A Course in Miracles T-21.V.1:6-11

"It is only by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator."

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 491:12-16

Choose to Listen

 

Photo credit: Blake Lasater

I often remind myself that if I have a choice of being right or being kind, I’d rather be kind. Another personal reminder is to choose peace over specialness. I’m sure I’ve self-righteously proclaimed to others about my pain, my divorce, my cold, my sciatica, my low bank account — you get the picture! It’s much nicer to look past MY specialness and follow the guidance of divine Mind, which is everywhere and I need only listen. Divine Love is eternal, and when I follow Its lead I don’t need reminders to be kind. Living with the excitement of Spirit in daily activity brings miraculous adventures, which occur when I stop dictating reality. Living in gratitude and appreciation brings a peaceful, easy feeling. I choose the harmony of unity, releasing separation and relaxing into infinity!

"Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true spiritual growth." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 91:5-8

“‘Many are called but few are chosen’ should be, ‘All are called but few choose to listen.’ Therefore, they do not choose right. The ‘chosen ones’ are merely those who choose right sooner. Right minds can do this now, and they will find rest unto their souls. God knows you only in peace, and this is your reality.” A Course in Miracles T-3.IV.7:12-16

Truth Makes A New Creature

 

I have always felt as though there is a tipping point in mass consciousness, a point where everyone sees their perfection and recognizes there is no difference in their own self and the self of that person over there. In this view, there is a world bathed in peace and contentment. There are no conflicts because everything good and pure is done for the good of everyone, and nothing contrary exists because we do not have such thoughts in the face of beauty and Love. There is no world of separation because we are all One and happily recognize this Truth. In order for perfection to emerge, error must be washed away. A dear friend, who has never believed the things I espouse, called to ask me what’s happening to this tipping point of Love, as he feels we’ve tipped the other way. Once again, I reiterate: Every thought is important! I feel like we're getting close!

Mary Baker Eddy quote: "We cannot build safely on false foundations. Truth makes a new creature, in whom old things pass away and ‘all things are become new’."  Science & Health Page 201: 7-9

“Now are we one in thought, for fear has gone. And here, before the altar to one God, one Father, one Creator and one Thought, we stand together as one Son of God. Not separate from Him Who is our Source; not distant from one brother who is part of our one Self Whose innocence has joined us all as one, we stand in blessedness, and give as we receive. The Name of God is on our lips. And as we look within, we see the purity of Heaven shine in our reflection of our Father’s Love.” A Course in Miracles W-187.10:1-5

Forgive Your Madness

 

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Art: Adrian Borda

 Therefore, dark past,

I'm about to do it.

I'm about to forgive you

for everything.

~ Mary Oliver

“Forgive yourself your madness, and forget all senseless journeys and all goal-less aims. They have no meaning. You can not escape from what you are. For God is merciful, and did not let His Son abandon Him. For what He is be thankful, for in that is your escape from madness and from death. Nowhere but where He is can you be found. There is no path that does not lead to Him.” 

A Course in Miracles T-31.IV.11:1-7

Activating Empathy

 

A Meeting of Novel Women

Do you feel connected to others? With the proliferation of wireless connections through phones and other electronic devices, it’s easy to be in contact with friends and strangers all over the globe. But what about having face-to-face conversations about meaningful topics? I belong to a book club which has met once a month for almost 20 years. The books we read are the vehicles which drive our conversations deeper and wider. The discussion following the reading of Kristen Hannah’s book Magic Hour filled our hearts with compassionate empathy for children who could be termed “feral”.  In our Novel Women group we have both adoptive parents and child advocates for little ones who can easily get lost in our broken system. More than once I was moved to tears by the thought of babies surviving without the love of a parental figure. How do you build community in your area? I would suggest starting a book club, developing relationships with others, and allowing empathy lead you from there. Compassion is not an idle boast, but a nurturing action. Let us not be afraid of caring…

“To empathize does not mean to join in suffering, for that is what you must refuse to understand. That is the ego’s interpretation of empathy, and is always used to form a special relationship in which the suffering is shared. The capacity to empathize is very useful to the Holy Spirit, provided you let Him use it in His way. His way is very different. He does not understand suffering, and would have you teach it is not understandable. When He relates through you, He does not relate through your ego to another ego. He does not join in pain, understanding that healing pain is not accomplished by delusional attempts to enter into it, and lighten it by sharing the delusion.” A Course in Miracles T-16.I.1:1-7

“God is the Principle of divine metaphysics. As there is but one God, there can be but one divine Principle of all Science; and there must be fixed rules for the demonstration of this divine Principle. The letter of Science plentifully reaches humanity to-day, but its spirit comes only in small degrees. The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science, — pulseless, cold, inanimate.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 113:1-8

A Song of Freedom

Woman in France protesting treatment of Iranian Women

“Iran’s anthem for changing rusted minds” — this editorial headline pulled me in immediately! The writer tells us how a protest song became an anthem. The song is “Baraye” and was composed by a young Iranian man named Shervin Hajpour after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was arrested by Iran’s morality police for not covering her hair sufficiently. The song reflects “exhaustion with theocratic rule, gender inequality, economic sanctions, and lack of opportunity”. A professor at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, Christian’s Karam, who grew up in Lebanon during the civil war, speaks from her experience: “Music has that ability to cut through our defenses and go straight to our hearts. It brings us to a place where we’re reminded of our shared humanity.” It’s inspiring to see how music in general, and this song in particular, reflect changes in thinking. As Ms. Karam says: “It goes beyond ideology; it goes beyond politics. It becomes a human affair. This is how momentum is built. A momentum for positive change and momentum where we are reminded that we are all in this together.” I pray that we listen and learn from each other, finding ways to celebrate our commonality and bypass the need to be always right. Namaste, dear ones…

“Eternal Truth is changing the universe. As mortals drop off their mental swaddling-clothes, thought expands into expression. ‘Let there be light,’ is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 255:1-6

“The song of freedom, which sings the praises of another world, brings to it hope of peace. For it remembers Heaven, and now it sees that Heaven has come to earth at last, from which the ego’s rule has kept it out so long. Heaven has come because it found a home in your relationship on earth. And earth can hold no longer what has been given Heaven as its own.”  A Course in Miracles T-21.IV.7:4-7