Freedom Through Storytelling

Storytelling Workshop with Elaine

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

Witnessing Without Judgment

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

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. 

“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

“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

Turn on Some Lights

Photo credit: Susan Luddy

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

Kinship With All Life

     

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 rich novel, The Overstory. This caused me to want to know more, so I delved into the plethora of 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 those in need. We all know there is much to be learned from all of nature. It seems I remember The Celestine Prophecy addressing  trees and their auras. James Redfield 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. Such strong entities all around us, and we seldom notice what they’re up to! Today I think I’ll see if I can feel as much life in human beings 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

Consciousness Unfolding

Glacier Naational Park

In my never-ending quest to ascertain facts, I often listen to short videos from people whom I think are telling lies. I also utilize search engines which are not “mainstream”, seeking out news which does not arrive via corporate-owned sources, but also keeping up with what the big news guys are saying. It’s too easy to think others are wrong, either intentionally or mistakenly. The bottom line is that most media are owned by a few manipulators, and most people I know want nothing to do with either extreme. It reminds me of religion and how a well-practiced preacher can manipulate words to bring about a desired reaction in the congregation. I feel we are consciousness unfolding, and if we stay stuck in our strong opinions, if we remain unwilling to push past self-imposed boxes we have built, then we will continue to repeat destructive behaviors. We can’t change how anyone thinks, but we can question ourselves and find ways to practice what we preach.

“Above error’s awful din, blackness, and chaos, the voice of Truth still calls: ‘Adam, where art thou?’ Consciousness, where art thou? Art thou dwelling in the belief that mind is in matter, and that evil is mind, or art thou in the living faith that there is and can be but one God, and keeping His commandment?”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 307:31-4

“Miracles, however, are genuinely interpersonal, and result in true closeness to others. Revelation unites you directly with God. Miracles unite you directly with your brother. Neither emanates from consciousness, but both are experienced there. Consciousness is the state that induces action, though it does not inspire it. You are free to believe what you choose, and what you do attests to what you believe.”
A Course in Miracles T-1.II.1:4-9

May Reason Prevail

Glacier National Park

There was an article making the rounds on social media concerning a public school in Tennessee which is forcing children to participate in Muslim practices. The comments I saw concerning this article ranged from mildly ignorant to wildly speculative. Finally, someone named Doug calmly recited all the reasons this is not happening, stating that the article is a satirical joke, and nicely asking if all the responders felt silly for believing it. In other words, The Emperor has no clothes!! We see this same scenario taking place numerous times a day, in some form or fashion, and usually we look the other way — probably because it’s happening on the television news! We must speak truth to error of all sorts. It is far too easy to send disinformation through emails and social media posts, and I encourage everyone to refute lies which are “going viral”. May the calm voices of reason prevail!

“Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 297:12-15

“I want another way to look at this. Now you have changed your mind about the day, and have remembered what you really want. Its purpose has no longer been obscured by the insane belief you want it for the goal of being right when you are wrong. Thus is the readiness for asking brought to your awareness, for you cannot be in conflict when you ask for what you want, and see that it is this for which you ask.”
A Course in Miracles T-30.I.11:4-7

Beyond Conflict

We are living in a “grim era of demonization”. I’ve mentioned before a group called Beyond Conflict, which found that around 80% of those who call themselves Democrats or Republicans overestimate the level to which the other side dehumanizes them. In other words, I don’t think you’re as bad as you think I think you are! It’s time we all begin to realize these truths and start talking to each other with civility. Almost 70 years ago, Margaret Chase Smith asked her political party to “do some soul-searching” and not to ride to power on character assassination and unsubstantiated accusations of treason. She made this plea from the Senate floor, but she did not point fingers at the culprit. It was Joseph McCarthy who was making accusations unrooted in truth, but by not calling him out she exposed the emptiness of his crusade, which soon collapsed. We are currently hearing outlandish and unfounded accusations, and it is our duty to seek truth and celebrate it. Harmony is seeking our attention! I pray we will find it.

“Discord is the nothingness named error. Harmony is the soothingness named Truth.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 276:26

“There is a tendency, and it is very strong, to hear this song of death only an instant, and then dismiss it uncorrected. These fleeting awarenesses represent the many opportunities given us literally ‘to change our tune.’ The sound of healing can be heard instead. But first the willingness to question the ‘truth’ of the song of condemnation must arise. The strange distortions woven inextricably into the self-concept, itself but a pseudo-creation, make this ugly sound seem truly beautiful. ’The rhythm of the universe,’ ‘the herald angel’s song,’ all these and more are heard instead of loud discordant shrieks.”
A Course in Miracles P-2.VI.2:1-6